Wash day: noun. Definition: formerly known as a day in which a household's clothes, bed linens, etc., are washed on the same day each week.
Now known as the foundation of ensuring hair health.
While wash day is interpreted differently from household to household, many Black women celebrate their hair care routine once every 1-2 weeks, when their hair is wet and most vulnerable. When wash day rolls around, for me it’s on Sundays, you need a shampoo that's going to give you the freshest curls and coils.
The right shampoo and conditioner should awaken your hair and cater to your curl type. My hairstylist, Karen Miller of Spoke & Weal says, “using the right shampoo and conditioner is so important because it’s one of the first steps to a healthy hair journey.”
Between boosting scalp circulation, smoothing cuticles for ultra-shiny hair, elongating curls, increasing moisture retention, and strengthening, you’ll notice the difference immediately when using the right products to kick-off your wash day.
Remember: Not shampooing and letting product residue build-up will not grow your hair.
Here is a list of tried and true shampoos and conditioners that I recommend for natural hair:
OUAI Fine Shampoo & Conditioner
You can finally be fine, with being fine. The Ouai fine shampoo and conditioner cleaned my hair and got rid of build-up without having to shampoo twice. My hair felt more balanced after rinsing.
If you don’t like a duo with a fragrance, then this shampoo is not for you. There is a strong scent with provocative notes of Italian lemon, Turkish rose, jasmine sambac, iris, lily, and white musk.
PATTERN Hydration Shampoo & Conditioner
The queen of curls, Tracee Ellis Ross, created this product and delivered. My hair looked moisturized and felt softer post-shower, without any styling products! The products are creamy and boosted with a blend of glorious oils (avocado, safflower, and coconut) the hydration duo kept my curls full of bounce. I recommend this if you’re looking for products rich in moisture.
Mekabu Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner by Masami
Miller recommends these products as her go-to! “My favorite go-to for hydrating the hair. Masami is created using Japanese seaweed, which adds hydration and shine to the hair without weighing it down.”
Aveda Botanical Repair™ Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner
If it’s important for your wash day to include plant-derived products, this one's for you. This product changes the game in the way that it strengthens and repairs damaged hair. This left my hair softer and I followed with a serum for an extra refresher.
Tips & Tricks
When cleansing and conditioning, always massage in the direction of hair growth. Rubbing in circular motions can create unnecessary tangles and knots. Applying conditioning products with a wide-tooth comb can help with application and detangling. Rinse with cool water to close the hair cuticle and promote shine.
