How to Cycle your Wash Days for Beginners

If you’re just getting started with your naturally curly hair, I know it can be so confusing knowing when to clarify versus when to shampoo, when to use protein deep conditioners, and when to use just moisturizing deep conditioners.

This video explains a beginner wash day cycle with you based on your hair’s unique needs.

Reset Wash Day

• Purpose: Start fresh and remove any buildup for a clean slate
• When to use: Hair feels weighed down, sticky, product-y, curls are not springing up like usual, appears dull, frizzy, scalp has a residue or flakes
• Frequency: 1-2x month
• Products: Clarifying/detox shampoo & deep conditioner/mask

Steps:

1. Clarify: Use a stronger shampoo (high lather) to clarify and remove buildup from the hair and scalp
2. Deep condition: Use a deep conditioner to replenish moisture. For damaged hair use a deep conditioner with protein ingredients. For low porosity hair and/or coarse hair, opt for a protein-free deep conditioner or only use protein sparingly.
3. Style

Refresh Routine

• Purpose: Touchup hair in between washes to extend the life of your curls
• When to use: Scalp is not dirty, hair may be frizzy, stretched, or tangled
• Frequency: 1-6x per week
• Products: Styling products used on wash day, refresh sprays, dry shampoos

Steps:

1. Spritz hair with a little bit of water
2. Mix some of the styling products that you used on wash day with water in your palms and smooth over any frizzy areas. Finger coil to redefine and limp or frizz curl clumps.
3. Diffuse or air dry

Regular/Mid-Week Wash

• Purpose: Gently cleanse the scalp and hair to restyle
• When to use: Scalp is not super dirty but may be oily, hair may feel dry, be frizzy, tangly, and undefined
• Frequency: 1-3x per week
• Products: Shampoo & conditioner

Steps:

1. Shampoo: Use a mild shampoo (low to medium lather) to cleanse without stripping
2. Condition: Use a regular conditioner to moisturize
3. Style

Treatment Wash Day

• Purpose: Treat a problem such as damage, prevent breakage, strengthen the hair
• When to use: Hair has split ends, breakage, not holding onto products and drying out quickly, after getting highlights or color. This can be done in place of the “Reset wash day routine” described above.
• Frequency: 1-2x month
• Products: Bond building treatment, protein treatment, scalp mask, oil treatment, etc.

Steps:

1. Bond repair treatment: Use a bonding treatment to repair your hair
2. Shampoo: Use a mild shampoo to cleanse it out
3. Deep condition: Use a deep conditioner to replenish moisture
4. Style

Products Used:

• Twist Hit Reset Clarifying Shampoo
• Malibu C Un-Do-Goo pH 9 Shampoo
• Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Mask
• Twist Sunday Feels Deeply Hydrating Mask
• Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Shampoo
• Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Care De-Frizz Conditioner
• Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve
• Ouidad UNBREAKABLE BONDS™ Bond Building Shampoo, Use code GENAMARIE for 20% off
• Ouidad UNBREAKABLE BONDS™ Bond Building Conditioner, Use code GENAMARIE for 20% off

Download the Calendar

I know how confusing it can be to rotate certain types of shampoos and conditioners, so I’ve created a wash day schedule that includes a calendar view so you can visually see an example of a full month’s schedule of routines. Also included is a blank, printable version that you can fill in with your specific routine. I also have included a guide to help you understand when to use each routine.

If you already downloaded my first edition of this guide back in 2020, you can still complete the form below to receive the updated version which has been revised with new knowledge.

If you have any trouble receiving the PDF, please email me at [email protected] so I can assist.

Let me know if you’d like me to create more downloadable guides like this to help you along your hair journey.

Watch this playlist for more beginner videos.