How to have an extremely low-manip regimen?

[mischka]

I had my hair straightened about a week ago and noticed I gave myself a set back. I knew prior to this that my hair had been breaking off a lot, probably because I was constantly washing it since it was easier to deal with wet than dry. I started cottoning on awhile ago that my hair does not like a lot of manipulation (but with constantly running in and out and needing to do something with my hair, it was just easier to hit the reset button and just wash it).

So now I'm trying to figure out how basically to leave my hair alone. I figure I have a good two months where I don't really need to leave the house so that will help. But in general, what are the basics of having a low/no manip regimen? I haven't washed my hair in a little over a week and Idk if it's just in my head, but my fricking scalp is constantly itchy

 

[mikimix]

Maybe just do buns all the time?
Wash and condition once a week, then just put it in a bun
if it feels dry during the week, i would co-wash

that is what i plan on doing during the summer

 

[FearfullyMade]

I have been wearing short wigs lately, I love, love ,love it Its been warmer where I live and I thought I'd try something new. My other low manipulation regimen was sew-ins.

I wasn't sure if I'd like how I would look with a short style, but I am really loving it so much so that I've been experimenting with different short styles and colors.

 

[darlingdiva]

Twists! Just twist your hair & that's it.

 

[temfash]

Twists! Just twist your hair & that's it.

Maybe just do buns all the time?
Wash and condition once a week, then just put it in a bun
if it feels dry during the week, i would co-wash

that is what i plan on doing during the summer

I agree, alternating these styles helps. I also think you may need to master finger detangling as well so even if you wash often you don't use a comb all the time.

 

[Vshanell]

I just do wash n' go's and wear them for a week. I've got it down to where it looks good the whole week, sometimes the humidity messes me up but then I just braid it or just deal with it until the week is up.

Twist-outs would work good too. You could keep your hair in twists while you're home which would be a lot going by your post, and if you need to leave the house you could un-twist if you wanted.

 

[lilyofthenile]

Twists, braids, wigs. I used to keep braids in for six weeks at a time, it was extremely low manip and my hair loved it.

 

[nikolite]

I think the basic rule is protective styling like twists, cornrows, or box braids and leaving them in for weeks at a time or a month.

Braids or cornrows under weaves, wigs, or crochets are the best because you can wash them and take care of your hair without manipulating it at all.

What simpler regimen than style, moisture spritz and tie down at night, wash and DC in 2-4 weeks, and then repeat!

 

[TLC1020]

Ditto this

This is what I do and it definitely works for me..

Maybe just do buns all the time?
Wash and condition once a week, then just put it in a bun
if it feels dry during the week, i would co-wash

that is what i plan on doing during the summer

 

[**SaSSy**]

Do rotations of two-strand twist and if your hair can handle it WNG, or puffs.

 

[Yoshi3329]

I think the basic rule is protective styling like twists, cornrows, or box braids and leaving them in for weeks at a time or a month.

This is what I did for all last year and what I've been doing all this year.

I'm lazy, so doing PS'ing is helping me retain length.

 

[mischka]

My problem is how do you deal with washing and combing? I can finger comb the length of my hair but my roots are much harder to deal with - it's basically a fro and won't lay down or be weighted down by the hair. And I know I can no longer was as frequently as I would like to. My hair is just too fragile to withstand it. So what is a good approach to take as far as maintenance not just styling?

 

[Jewell]

This is what I did for all last year and what I've been doing all this year.

I'm lazy, so doing PS'ing is helping me retain length.

Same here. I'm abt 30% hair lazy at times and 70% genuinely fatigued from being anemic, so I do styles I can either leave in for weeks at a time or I bun b/c I can just spray with leave-in to re-wet it, gel it back, and go. I'm low-maintenance and low-manipulation when it comes to my hair. It take good care of my scalp and condition regularly...but as for styling I don't do a whole lot of that on a daily basis. It saves my hair!

As for the OP, if your hair is easier to deal with wet than dry (as is mine), you don't have to wash it every time to style it...you can mix water and conditioner in a spray bottle and wet it down with that. This is what I do. It loosens the curl, enables me to style it, and adds moisture. I only CW once per week to once per 2 wks.

 

[beana]

I think so.

I wash every 10-14 days, and wear my hair in a ponytail 85% of the time.

During wash day, i lather 2x's, oil rinse, DC, apply leave in blow dry and style.

 

[Poohbear]

Two-strand twists is the style I've been wearing for my hair. Heat straightened is a low-manipulation style for me too since I only wash my hair once a month, but I've been trying to avoid direct heat for right now. If I wear twistouts, buns, puffs, or any other style, I will manipulate the heck out of my hair!