Shelbie's Revamped Wash 'n Go--A Simple and Fast TWA Style

So this is a style I do fairly frequently. Its cute, simple, fast, and more importantly FUN!

While in the TWA phase, you can get very bored and discouraged especially when you see your longer haired natural sisters *Cough Janel*. This style is for us that are just embarking on our journey!

1. Start with freshly washed (and when I say washed I mean clarified) and deep conditioned hair (dc'd) hair OR freshly co-washed hair. Detangle your hair as best you can. Usually I'm lazy and just use my fingers, but now that I have a shower comb, I use it. lol.

2. Apply your favorite leave-in/ oils. Remember, less is more. When you pile on ingredients, you hair becomes gray and gunky. Ew. I use Giovanni Direct Leave in, and now, I also add a small squirt (small being the operative word) of my co-washing conditioner, be-it Herbal Essences Hello Hydration or Curls Coconut Sublime (yum--review soon to come!). Giovanni Direct leave in has some protein in it, which while it defines your curls, can also dry them out. Adding a co-washing conditioner adds some necessary moisture. I then seal with a mixture of castor and jojoba oils.

3. Depending on how defined you like you curls (or how much you care), you can opt to add gel at this point. I've gotten to a point in my natural hair journey that rubbing gel into my hands and smooshing it around doesn't suffice. Thus I must shingle, which is in no way shape or form fun. I start in the back and work my way forward. Takes me about 20 minutes if I'm actually trying to be thorough. If your hair develops white filmy gunk, you've used too much product (I'm still learning this balance. It takes time).

If you want to really make your curls POP, comb the gel through your hair. It should not take that much effort as you have already detangled you hair. If you cannot easily comb your hair, don't force it! Anyway, BE WARNED!! When you comb the gel through, YOUR HAIR WILL SHRINK ALOT. It comes with the territory. The wider toothed the comb, the less shrinkage.

4. Now we get to the braiding and probably the most simple part. Pick the side of your hair that you want braided. I pick my right side. I don't have a real reason why. Make a part that is about 3-4 inches from your ear going back. Make this part about 3-4 inches long and then make another part going back toward you ear. In a sense your making a square on the side of your head. Clip all remaining hair away from this section. Part one section going back and then flat twist. I usually add a little more gel just to make sure it looks clean and remains firm when it dries. I can usually make about 3-4 flat twists in my little square. When you get to the end of each twist, secure with a mini-clip. Thats it. Fluff your hair and go!




Have fun!

--Shelbs