A good hair day always lifts the mood — but sometimes they feel like a rarity. If you don’t want to commit to styling your hair each morning, we can’t blame you. Enter: wash-and-go hairstyles.

Wash-and-go styles look like you spent hours perfecting your hair even when you’re rushing out the door. 

Whether you’re looking for a protective natural hairstyle or are tired of an arm workout every time you do your hair, a wash-and-go style can be a great place to start.
Keep reading to learn more about this hairstyle and book an appointment on StyleSeat to talk to a stylist about achieving your low-maintenance hair goals.

What is a wash-and-go?

A wash-and-go is a low-maintenance hairstyle that requires minimal effort to look fully styled. Many different braid styles, such as soft locs, are considered wash-and-go because once you leave the salon, you don’t have to do much beyond keeping them clean to look great.

Most people want heatless wash-and-go styles, but a quick session under the hooded dryer or a “rough” blow- dry (not a full blowout) can be considered wash-and-go, too. Typically, if you’re not changing your hair texture with heat, as you would straightening, curling, or getting a blowout, you can still consider it a wash-and-go.

How to perfect the wash-and-go

Wash-and-go styling is very similar to the curly girl method. While a wash-and-go hairstyle can technically work for any hair texture, it’s typically aimed at wavy and curly hair types. If you’re not sure what your hair texture is, take our hair type quiz to help guide your styling. 

Now, let’s talk through the basic steps of a wash-and-go style.

Step 1: Cleanse your hair and scalp

The first step for any hair care routine is to wash your hair. Focus on lathering shampoo at your roots and scalp. You should wash your hair one to three times per week, depending on your lifestyle and how quickly your scalp gets oily.

Everyone loves a hot shower — but unfortunately your hair doesn’t. Washing your hair with cold water cuts down on frizz and can make your hair shinier. Get it out of the way and wash your hair first thing so you can warm up through the rest of your shower routine.

Step 1: Cleanse your hair and scalp

The first step for any hair care routine is to wash your hair. Focus on lathering shampoo at your roots and scalp. You should wash your hair one to three times per week, depending on your lifestyle and how quickly your scalp gets oily.

Everyone loves a hot shower — but unfortunately your hair doesn’t. Washing your hair with cold water cuts down on frizz and can make your hair shinier. Get it out of the way and wash your hair first thing so you can warm up through the rest of your shower routine.

Step 2: Deep condition your locks

After shampooing, you should always follow up with a conditioner. Natural hair, in particular, needs a lot of moisture. Usually, the curlier your hair is, the more moisture it needs. If you find that your hair is frizzy, experiment with how much water you use to dilute your conditioner. Many curly-haired people “squish 2 condish,” meaning they add their conditioner to soaking hair while showering and scrunch it in to reduce frizz.

Step 3: Detangle while the conditioner soaks in

People with different hair texture types can agree that detangling dry hair is futile. Not only will you be stuck tugging on your scalp and ruining your curl pattern, but curly and wavy hair tend to frizz up the most after brushing dry.

Keep a comb in your shower so you can detangle while your conditioner soaks in. The slip from the conditioner helps the comb glide through tangles and will minimize hair loss (though it’s normal to lose some hair while you’re detangling). Let your conditioner sit for a few minutes before rinsing.

Step 4: Rinse hair and apply styling products

Wash-and-go styles are all about finding a way to cut down on your morning routine without sacrificing a good hair day. To save time so you can afford to hit that snooze button, do more of your hairstyling in the shower.

After rinsing your conditioner, try applying your styling products as the last step in your shower routine (yes, while you’re still in the shower.) The extra moisture from the shower helps certain products work better and combats frizz. If you use hair gel to define your curls or a similar product with hold, applying to soaking hair keeps your curls soft and makes it easier to “scrunch out the crunch” later. 

Different hair types might do well with different products. Here are some suggestions to try:

• Type 1 hair: Light leave-in conditioner and volumizing spray 
• Type 2 hair: Leave-in conditioner and mousse
• Type 3 hair: Leave-in conditioner and gel
• Type 4 hair: Leave-in conditioner and curl cream

Step 5: Let it dry

The ideal wash-and-go hairstyle includes air drying your hair, but that’s not always realistic. Some peoples’ hair takes too long to air dry or just looks better when it’s diffused. Test out different ways to dry your hair, like partially diffusing or using a hooded dryer.

If your hair dries frizzy or your curls don’t last, that’s a sign it’s time to switch something up in your routine. If you struggle with frizz and have a low-porosity hair type, check your products and see if you’re overdoing it on protein. When you notice your hair frizzing up, try adding some water to smooth it out. Frizzy damp hair will only get frizzier, so it’s important to smooth it early in the styling process.

Step 6: Prolong your look

Once you nail your wash-and-go routine, there are some things you can do between washes to prolong your style. After all, it can take some time to find your perfect wash-and-go routine, so you’ll want those locks to last!

The golden rule for prolonging any style is to reduce friction on your strands. Some easy tips to do this include:

• Touching your hair as little as possible
• Sleeping with a silk or satin bonnet or pillowcase 
• Drying hair with a microfiber towel or cotton T-shirt
• Avoiding dry brushing your hair (detangle with your fingers if necessary)

It’s always good to keep some styles in your back pocket for when you’re trying to stretch your hair to the next wash day. Some favorites to try include:

• Any style with braids
• Slicked-back ponytail or bun
• Bubble ponytails
• Space buns

Wash-and-go hairstyle ideas

Looking for some wash-and-go inspiration? Here are some of our favorite low-maintenance styles:

Curly or Deva cut

Curly cuts, sometimes called a dry cut, are haircuts specifically tailored for curly hair. They work with your curl pattern so you can achieve a salon style at home. Deva cuts are a specific kind of curly cut.

Knotless braids

Knotless braids are a great wash-and-go style. Once you leave the salon, there’s very little upkeep until it’s time to get your hair rebraided. Knotless braids are also great if you love braids but have a sensitive scalp because they pull less than other braid types.

Goddess locs

Goddess locs look carefree and gorgeous without much styling effort. Because goddess locs are typically extensions, you don’t have to worry about styling them after wash days. Just be careful about over-conditioning them, as this can make them unravel.

Mistakes to avoid when styling

Everyone’s hair is a bit different, so there will be a period of experimentation when you’re trying to find a wash-and-go routine that works for you. However, it could also seem like you’re doing everything right and not able to achieve your desired result. Here are some common mistakes you might be making:

• Type 1 hair: Don’t overdo it on the moisture. Type 1 hair is easily weighed down, so sometimes less is more.

• Type 2 hair: Type 2 hair doesn’t need as much hold to maintain its texture. Some hair gels can weigh down type 2 hair and make it look greasy.

• Type 3 hair: Type 3 hair tends to dry in a triangle shape without the right haircut. Try a Deva cut or curly cut for layers that frame your face.

• Type 4 hair: Type 4 hair tends to get dry on the ends, but don’t neglect your scalp. Give scalp or hair oiling a try to nurture healthier coils.

FAQ

Is wash-and-go good for your hair?

Wash-and-go styles can support your hair’s health. These styles use limited to no heat styling, keeping your hair protected from heat damage.

What do you use for a wash-and-go?

Everyone’s hair is different, so different products will help you achieve the perfect wash-and-go. Most hair types will need a leave-in conditioner to moisturize strands and a product with hold, such as a gel, to make your hairstyle last.

Not everyone wants to spend their mornings perfecting their hair, and that’s OK! A wash-and-go style is great for days when you want to focus on other things but still look your best. 

When you’re ready for your next haircut, book it on StyleSeat for expert hair care you can trust.