By George, I think I got it (4th Day Hair Wash and Go Regimen)

[Cherokee-n-Black]

OK, I'm geeked. Although this is a bad pic, this is 4th day hair on my current regimen. Now, you must understand (as I know there are some who get 5 days, 8 days, and beyond) that I have been a 1st day hair girl pretty much since I went natural! 2nd day hair was my absolute limit. Well, this is me on Day 4, and quite possibly into Day 5:

So, how did this miracle of modern technology come about you ask? It sounds more complicated than it is, but here goes:

Night before: Overnight oil treatment--any will do: Ojon, Wildgrowth, Coconut, I've tried several. Oil is applied to dry hair and left overnight

Day of:
1) Pre-condition with Deep Condish - I like Jane Carter, but also use DevaCurl Heaven in Hair, I usually put on 30 min. before the shower
2) Cleanse with L'oreal Evercreme Cleansing Conditioner
3) Condition with L'oreal Eversleek Reparative Smoothing Conditioner (Rinse out thoroughly)
4) Style with L'oreal Everstyle Curl Defining Gel
and...Go!
Whole routine (minus the overnight and pre-condition) takes about 20 min.

I'm down to washing my hair 1 - 2 x's a week...and I'm lovin' it!

 

[DDTexlaxed]

How do you refresh yr wash n go in the morning?

 

[virtuenow]

What was your routine before? What is the key change? I noticed you don't use shampoo, that's cool; and only 20min extra 20points. Thanks for sharing. ETA what is your night routine for maintaining the style 4days? Do you pinapple or free style?

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

How do you refresh yr wash n go in the morning?

That's just it, I don't. I don't TOUCH it for 3 - 4 days, I don't even pineapple. I think when I was "Scrunching out the crunch" and adding moisture I was disturbing the curl pattern more than anything else. The crunch scrunches itself out over time. I also sleep on a satin pillow case, which I think helps a lot.

What was your routine before? What is the key change? I noticed you don't use shampoo, that's cool; and only 20min extra 20points. Thanks for sharing. ETA what is your night routine for maintaining the style 4days? Do you pinapple or free style?

I'd say the key change was the product mix. I've had, oh about 8 or 9 routines. LOL. Previously I co-washed, meaning only conditioner. This was just OK for me. The L'oreal product is a cleansing conditioner, so it's 1/4 cleanser (sulfate free) and 3/4 conditioner. It actually conditions better than cheapie conditioners, and I like the fact that my hair is getting cleansed. I used to leave in the rinse out conditioner. Not a good look for me. First it takes half a day to dry (not OK for wash n' go's for work) and I wasn't jazzed with the results. They were OK, but not great.

I've also used a combination of Giovanni Direct Leave-in and Royal Curl. This was a great look--but only lasted one day. As I said above I used to try to "refresh." This does not work for me at all. I follow Mahogany Curls on YouTube and she also really does nothing to her hair for the 5 days (or more) that she goes between washes. This really worked for me, so I hope it helps!

P.S. - I also think the oil treating and pre-conditioning is a BIG factor (sorry, forgot that). Basically getting all your moisture up front. And using the cleansing condish afterwards helps keep it from being too much. The smoothing conditioner from l'oreal is great, also, but it does need to be rinsed out thoroughly if you have fine hair (and in my case applied lightly, maybe a bird's egg size?)

 

[suns4i6e]

That's just it, I don't. I don't TOUCH it for 3 - 4 days, I don't even pineapple. I think when I was "Scrunching out the crunch" and adding moisture I was disturbing the curl pattern more than anything else. The crunch scrunches itself out over time. I also sleep on a satin pillow case, which I think helps a lot.


I totally agree with the bolded. I know most people don't want it, but I actually need / look for crunch in a styler. It's how I get multiple day hair and it always de-scrunches, softens by itself. I almost always get 3 to 4 day hair. I don't attempt to go any longer because my strands are fine and tangle easily. I either wear a loc soc or pineapple at night, smooth a little gel on top in the morning (if necessary).

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

That's just it, I don't. I don't TOUCH it for 3 - 4 days, I don't even pineapple. I think when I was "Scrunching out the crunch" and adding moisture I was disturbing the curl pattern more than anything else. The crunch scrunches itself out over time. I also sleep on a satin pillow case, which I think helps a lot.


I totally agree with the bolded. I know most people don't want it, but I actually need / look for crunch in a styler. It's how I get multiple day hair and it always de-scrunches, softens by itself. I almost always get 3 to 4 day hair. I don't attempt to go any longer because my strands are fine and tangle easily. I either wear a loc soc or pineapple at night, smooth a little gel on top in the morning (if necessary).

suns4i6e - Yeah, I'm over "touchably soft strands!" I don't mind crunch either. Pretty much anything that has ever given me a good or better result has initially been a little crunchy to start. And I must say your hair is da bomb!

 

[suns4i6e]

[Awww *blush* than you dahlin!