My wash day routine happens once a week because my scalp tends to get itchy and flaky by day 4-5. I choose to wash my hair on the weekends because I can take as long as I want. Whereas, if I wash during the week Iβd have to rush and ensure my style is dry before work. Nothing is worse than unraveling your hair from a twist/braid-out, bantu knots, etc. when itβs still wet.
Below is my step-by-step guide of my wash day routine and the products I use:
Pre-shampoo Treatment & Detangle
A pre-shampoo treatment is when you apply some sort of conditioning treatment to your hair prior to washing with shampoo. Pre-shampooing helps moisturize your hair and gets it prepared for the wash day process. Which can consist of washing, deep conditioning, styling and the manipulation that comes in-between. Pre-shampooing is crucial since your hair will be stripped of oils through the shampooing process. I usually leave my pre-poo treatment in for 30 minutes to a couple of hours.
Lately, I have been pre-shampooing with Apothikarieβs Triple Threat Magic Serum. This serum is loaded with so many beneficial oils such as: coconut, shea butter, peppermint, tea tree, olive oil β and more! This serum has worked wonders on my hair when pre-shampooing. And Iβm not just saying that because this product is made by a friend of mine .
When pre-shampooing, I:

- Section hair in four parts and apply Apothikarieβs Triple Threat Magic Serum.
- Detangle hair using my Q-Redew hair steamer; the prongs of the Q-Redew are perfect to comb through your hair! Just make sure youβre combing from ends to roots.
- Twist or braid each section of hair once theyβre fully detangled.
Shampoo
When shampooing my hair, I only lather the product on my scalp. Thatβs because thatβs where my hair is the oiliest. Shampooing the ends of your hair isnβt necessary because the ends are the oldest and driest part of your hair. Shampoo will only dry the ends out more. Allow the water to do its magic with cleansing the length of your hair. Also, when shampooing I dilute the product with water so it isnβt drying my hair out as much.
When shampooing my hair, I:
- Unravel one braid/twist at a time and shampoo my scalp with my favorite shampoo (Lately, Iβve been in between Shea Moistureβs Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil & Jamaican Black Castor Oil lines)
- Re-twist/braid that section and continue this process through each section
- I only try to use my shampoo once since that typically gets my hair clean and doing more than one lather may dry out your hair too much.
Deep Condition

After shampooing, I dry my hair off using a cotton t-shirt. I use a t-shirt because a towel can cause split ends and breakage . It can also make your hair feel rough/dry.
When deep conditioning my hair, I:
- Apply my deep conditioner (DC) treatment; as of late, Iβve been using Shea Moistureβs Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque. Make sure to focus on the ends of your hair when applying the DC treatment as your ends are the oldest part of your hair.
- Attach my Gold nβ Hot bonnet dryer attachment to my blow dryer and sit for 15-25 minutes. You can sit under a normal hooded hair dryer. If I donβt have my dryer attachment, or blow dryer, then Iβll use my Q-Redew hair steamer and deep condition section by section. I find that deep conditioning with the Q-Redew boosts moisture in my hair. And makes it very soft. But, if you donβt have any of these heating options, then you could:
- Apply your deep conditioner
- Put a shower/plastic cap on, or saran wrap your hair
- Sit around for 45 minutes, or longer, and let your body heat do the work
Conditioner
After I finish deep conditioning, I donβt immediately wash out the deep conditioner. Instead, I:
- Unravel sections of my hair and use a wide-tooth comb to make sure my hair is fully detangled. Combing my hair after deep conditioning is really simple because my hair has extra slip and isnβt soaking wet. Manipulating your hair when itβs soaking wet can cause breakage.
- Apply my regular conditioner on top of the deep conditioning treatment.
- Re-twist/braid each section after I finished detangling and applying my regular conditioner.
- Rinse with cool water to seal in moisture
Tips
- I never fully wash all the product out of my hair. I try to keep some conditioner in my hair to help with retaining softness. Unless Iβm straightening my hair, in which I rinse out everything from my hair.
Style

After rinsing, I dry my hair with my cotton t-shirt. I let my hair air dry until itβs damp to start styling. When styling, you should try using the L.O.C (leave in-conditioner, oil, cream) or L.C.O method. Layering your products in the L.O.C/L.C.O method helps to retain the moisture in your hair.
When using the L.C.O/L.O.C method, I:
- Leave in-conditioner: Use Shea Moistureβs Raw Shea Butter Extra-Moisture Detangler as my leave in-conditioner.
- Cream: Use Shea Moistureβs Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie as my butter-based moisturizing cream.
- Oil: Use Jamaican Mango & Lime Black Castor Oil to seal.
- Style my hair in either: a braid-out (my go-to), a twist-out, bantu knots, flat twists or a perm rod set. If Iβm doing a braid/twist-out then I curl my ends by using my perm rods. I personally havenβt mastered the wash & go so I avoid this style at all costsβ¦ for now.
Other Tips/Advice:
- I keep my hair braided/twisted in 4 sections throughout my entire wash day process. Only unraveling when shampooing, detangling and styling. This really helps minimize knots and tangles and elongate my curls.
- I do a protein treatment once a month. So when in the deep conditioning step, I add a protein treatment to ensure my hairβs strength.
What products do you use on wash day? Is there anything interesting you do on wash day ? Let me know in the comments!
6 comments
Iβve never used a Shea Moisture Deep conditioner how long have you been using the Superfruit?
Iβve been using the Superfruit deep conditioner for 2-3 months now. But Iβm alternating between this one and the Manuka Honey masque. The second one extremely moisturizing for my hair, it feels so soft afterwards!
Always learning from your articles Paula! Next Iβm gonna try pre-poo treatment before shampooing.
Let me know how it goes and what product you choose for your pre-poo
Love this, thanks for sharing! I have a different curly hair type, but itβs still super useful to read your ideas. Iβve been trying to make my own products lately, and am about to travel with one of my concoctions since itβs so hard to find my favorites when Iβm in other countries. Hopefully it doesnβt freak out airport security ?
Iβm glad to know this post was helpful for you! I have also make my own products every now and then when Iβm feeling creative. Iβm traveling tomorrow and literally have small bottles filled with different hair products just in case, so I totally understand ?
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