How to Wash Kinky, Natural Hair

Let’s face it! Washing natural hair is not the favorite item on anyone’s to do list. It’s a daunting task. And as hair grows, it gets harder. As my hair has reached each hair length, I have learned to adjust my hair washing regimen to better meet the needs of my hair. My hair is kinky with about 80% shrinkage. So washing my hair is no easy task. When your hair is bra strap length but can shrink to a teeny weeny afro (TWA), then a good hair washing regimen is necessary.

Pre-Poo Your Hair

To reduce the drying effects of the shampoo process, many women pre-poo with conditioner and/or oil. To pre-poo, you can spritz hair with water then add your conditioner or oil of choice. A favorite is coconut oil, since it protects the hair from protein loss during the wash process. Personally, I deep condition my hair prior to washing so that I don’t have to hop back in the shower after washing my hair. It has significantly increased the likelihood that I will actually deep condition my hair.

Wash Hair in Sections

When my hair was shorter, washing my hair as a whole was OK. But as my hair has grown longer, that is no longer an option. Some opt to wash their hair in large twists or braids. (When washing your hair this way, the key is to leave the roots loose so you can scrub your scalp properly.) I personally, braid my hair in four sections. I then unravel each braid to wash that section. Try each method and see which one works best for you. The key concept to remember is, “Divide and conquer”. It is the key to natural hair care — otherwise it becomes overwhelming.

Don’t Scrub

Remember when you had a relaxer? (Well, IF you had one.) You would scrub all of you hair in a circular motion. DON’T do that with natural hair — unless you want a head full of tangles. Instead, scrub your scalp and run the shampoo down the hair shaft. The focus of your wash should be to scrub all the surface dirt off your scalp. When you rub the shampoo down the hair shaft, it will still get clean.

As you probably guessed, the key to washing natural hair is to 1) reduce moisture and protein loss and 2) limit tangling during the wash process. It’s that simple.