Wash day can be tricky for naturals — eliminating dirt and product buildup without leaving hair with that “squeaky” feeling that can mess up the curl pattern and lead to knotting.
Here are a couple tips I’ve developed:
1. Pre-pooing: I didn’t really know what it was until I tried it recently. Before washing my hair I rubbed in some melted shea butter. It did seem kind of counter-productive, loading my hair with product just to clean it back out, but the shea butter helped to reduce the “squeaky” feeling and it makes detangling easier.
2. Using natural products: In my experience, natural products are often (but NOT always) more gentle than shampoos. Bentonite clay and baking soda are two of my favorites to gently reduce buildup.
What about you? What are your wash day tips and tricks? Oh, and please share your hair texture & thickness.