The (dreaded) Wash and Go: A Love/Hate Relationship: How I got acheived this look!

This is my hair after zumba

The title is slightly conceiving, Wash and Go, it makes it sound as if you could actually wash (cleanse) your hair Go about the rest of your day.....Puh-lease! I have yet to have a "Wash and Go" in its true meaning. I personally am not a huge fan of Wash and Go' because they bring about a lot of issues; fairy knots (a single strand of hair actually curling up on itself, it’s so impossibly tiny that only a fairy could have done it.) I'm here to tell you there is nothing cute about fairy knots, the shrinkage (naturally curly hair has the ability to shrink about 30%-40% of its actual length, and then there is the weather, not matter how much you compensate with products, it can cause fizziness. Okay before I go on about my hate relationship with Wash and Go', I'm going to share with you how I achieved this look.

Here's what you need:
*Curly Hair (type 3a-4c)
*Seamless Elastic hair ties (or something to hold hair)
*Pure Aloe Vera Juice (I used Aubrey organics, purchased at the Vitamin Shoppe, any brand will do.)
*Alcohol Free Gel (I used Eco-Styler with olive oil gel, you can use whatever gel you want, just make sure its Alcohol Free) All Eco-Styler gels are alcohol free.
*Spray bottle filled with water
* 1/2 cup of water


Before we begin:
Mix the following ingredients together (I don’t have an exact measurement, I use eyeball it, but let’s say 1 cup of gel, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 cup pure aloe vera juice). and then place this mixture into the fridge for 30 minutes. On the rare occasion that I rock a Wash and Go, I like to have movement, and flexibility with my curls. I found that this mixture, hydrates, fights frizz, and creates defined curls. If you want a true max hold then do not add anything to the gel.
Application:
I always cleanse, condition, and style my hair in sections. It helps cut down on fairy knots, it ensures that I apply the product evenly, and it makes the process less daunting.
Okay let’s get started (finally), my hair is already cleansed, conditioned, and moisturized. Whenever you are using gel you want to make sure that your hair is protected, for my hair when I moisturize I follow the same steps each time: I apply my leave-in (KinkyCurlyKnotToday) then I apply GrapeSeed Oil (it’s very light in comparison to Olive oil).
1.) I allow my hair to dry slightly before I start applying product, this helps to cut back on shrinkage, and it cuts down on the drying time. The longer your hair is wet, the more likely you are to develop frizz, the gel acts like a barrier to the environmental elements.
2.) If my hair has dried to much then i will lightly mist my hair, I work I take medium sized sections within the sections that I created in my cleansing, and conditioning stages (remember work in sections) Start applying the gel mixture to the smaller sections, make sure that you evenly distribute the product, from root to tip. I rake the rake through my hair with my fingers, after I have applied the product to intensify my curl definition. I continue with this method until I have completed my entire. * In the application description, I said to place the gel in the fridge, that’s because icy what water helps to seal the cuticle. Gel with naturally add sheen, but a smooth cuticle allows light to reflect off the smooth surface, thus creating shinny hair. I keep a lot of my styling products in the fridge during the summer time, it helps to seal the moisture in, it creates more of a defined look, and its holds the style.
3.) The next step will not apply to everyone if you have over applied product; this is the time to balance the equation. If you have short hair then grab a few paper towels, and gently place on your hair and lightly PRESS, not RUB, the paper towel to your hair to absorb some of the product. If you use anything other than a paper towel, or an authentic terry cloth towel, or t shirt to will disturb the curls and cause tangles, and frizz.
4.) After you completed the application process, DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT TOUCH your hair, the friction from your hands will cause frizz. If you need to speed up the drying time then use a diffuser on the coolest section or allow to air try (recommended) I have found that when I use a the my gel recipe, my hair dry’s within the hour or less. If use gel then it takes at least four hours for my hair to dry. During summer months I use products that are light, so it doesn’t weigh my hair down.
5.) Once I am sure my hair is dry I take a dime sized amount of Olive oil, or any oil I have on hand, rub it in my hands to emulsify it, and then I gently scrunch my hair to break up the cast formed by the gel.
Maintenance:
I maintain my wash and go' buy sleeping with a bonnet on at night, and in the morning I refresh my hair with plain water in a spray bottle to reactivate the gel, loosen my curls, and to give my hair what it loves water. If some places seem a little frizzy apply more gel, and finger curl.

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