The first thing you think of when you hear “wash day” is a whole day dedicated to washing your hair. Well that’s not the case. You can totally get your wash day routine completed in less than a day. Most of us dwell in the myth ‘taking care of natural hair is difficult’ when it actually isn’t. All you need is clean healthy hair and I know it can be quite tedious especially if you don’t know the steps or products to use. But worry no more because with these steps you will be able to achieve your wash day routine without any hussle.

Step 1; Hydrate your hair

4C type hair is very delicate therefore before you need to hydrate it as much as possible especially before you start your routine. This is because hydrated hair is stronger and easier to work with. It will also help detangle and soften your strands before cleansing. Water is the best way to hydrate your hair so start by rinsing your hair on running water most preferably in the shower.

Step 2; Double cleansing

Cleansing your hair does not necessarily mean stripping your hair. Clarifying your hair helps create a suitable environment for healthy hair growth. Clarifying shampoos are the best solution to getting rid of the buildup caused by heavy products like shea butter and castor oil. Therefore be sure to shampoo your hair with clarifying shampoo so your hair can be able to properly absorb the moisture it needs. You can double cleanse by using the same shampoo twice. First focusing on your scalp and roots then second focusing on strands.

Step 3; Conditioning

The function of a conditioner is to lock in moisture after cleansing your hair. This will help to strengthen and soften your hair by smoothing your strands’ cuticle layer. It also helps to prevent breakage, slow formation of split ends and lubricate your hair hence easier detangling.

For application, use a deep conditioning treatment since it has an added benefit of penetrating your hair strands. Then leave it on for about 30 minutes. You could include heat and steam your hair for better results.

Step 4; Detangling

Ever tried detangling dry 4C hair? Panful right? This is because the best and easiest way to detangle 4C hair is while it’s soaking wet and covered with conditioner. Water and conditioner helps ensure gentle detangling without tension on hair strands. Tension could cause hair breakage therefore do not detangle your hair while it’s dry, oily or shampooed.

Your fingers are the best option for detangling super curly hair. Then afterwards you could try a wide-tooth comb or tangle teasers. To do this start by detangling the tips of your hair then work your way through to the roots. While doing this add bits of water to keep your hair lubricated.

Step 5; Masking

Natural hair needs all the moisture it can get and for this, we can’t skip masking. To do this, work in small sections since is easier and ensures even product distribution throughout the entire surface. To section your hair, make sure it’s wet with conditioner first. Next, do a middle part to separate it into two sections. Then further divide the two sections into smaller equal parts. Finally add product to each section and tie or twist them so as to differentiate the masked hair from the unmasked ones then leave it on for about 5-10 minutes.

Step 6; Rinsing and Drying

To rinse your mask of, first wash your hair thoroughly with warm water. Then to seal the hair cuticle and lock in moisture, rinse your hair with cold water.

To dry your hair, use a soft cotton t-shirt since a regular towel causes a lot of friction that can lead to breakage.

Step 7; Moisturize

The hydration you get from the shower isn’t enough therefore continue by moisturizing your hair before completing your routine. You could do this by adding a leave-in conditioner to keep your strands hydrated for days then add a lightweight oil to seal in all that moisture and keep your hair moisturized for as long as you want.

Step 6; Make it a weekly affair

The final step is to make sure you don’t go ten days without a wash day. Our 4C hair coils regularly and needs to be hydrated as often as possible. Therefore make it a habit of washing your hair every 7-10 days. This will make sure your hair gets everything it deserves frequently and definitely give you the results you desire.