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Top 10 Wash & Go Tutorials for Coily Type 4 Hair

By · Published January 27, 2015

Mastering your wash and go can take a few attempts, a few months, and sometimes a few years. After four years of being natural, I think that the essentials for a defined, long lasting wash and go are technique, products, and length. Since a wash and go is a wet set style, technique is of the utmost importance, as it directly affects the longevity of your style. There are six popular techniques that most textured-hair women use to achieve their wash and go’s and below are my favorite tutorials from vloggers with Type 4 hair. Whether you are 4a, 4b, or 4c, sometimes a minor change makes all the difference. Read more: How to Tame Frizz Hair, According to Science

Technique

Styling on wet hair is a must. Most women with Type 4 hair style directly in the shower. By doing this you are capturing the moisture and lengthening of your curls and coils from the water and weight of the water, which reduces the amount of frizz. Shingling or thoroughly distributing your styler in your hair lessens the amount of shrinkage and provides better hold. Also, if you are not applying product close to the roots, then that could be the main reason you experience frizzy roots.

Styling on wet hair is a must.

Products

Products matter! You always want to apply a moisturizer or leave-in conditioner under your styling product, because your hair is most defined in a moisturized state and stylers may not be formulated to sufficiently moisturize the hair. Remember that curl definers only capture curls and coils, they do not create them. Applying your styler directly to the hair without a moisturizer is not ideal, as you may experience dryness and the product may not apply well. Most women with coily or Type 4 hair use gels or viscous custards and puddings to maintain curl definition. For style longevity, most opt for maximum hold products and simply scrunch out the crunch with an oil, butter, or hair milk. Make sure to read the products labels! For example, the Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Crème is formulated for maximum hold while the Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Pudding Souffle is formulated for light hold.

Curl definition is a reflection of genetics and maintaining the health of your hair. Also, it is much easier to maintain a wash and go with longer hair simply because of the overnight maintenance. When your hair is long enough to do a pineapple or modified pineapple, you are less likely to wake up with compacted, matted coils. If you have not discovered a way to maintain your wash and go on short hair without a detangling nightmare, then consider finger coils. They last for at least a week and do not take long to install. Here are some of my product suggestions for your coily, Type 4 wash and go.