Wash Day Routine for Beginners
A step-by-step guide to your first curly hair wash day. Everything you need to know to cleanse, condition, and style your curls.
The bottom line: Wash day is your weekly ritual for cleansing, conditioning, and styling curls. Master these fundamentals first—cleanse your scalp, condition your lengths, apply products to soaking wet hair, and don’t touch until dry.
Quick Picks: Starter Products
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Not sure where to start? Here are beginner-friendly picks:
need a budget-friendly gel for all curl types
Not sure about your hair type? Take our quick quiz to find out.
What is Wash Day?
Wash day is the ritual of cleansing, conditioning, and styling your curls. Unlike daily washing (which can be too stripping for curly hair), most curlies do a full wash day 1-2 times per week.
This guide will walk you through a basic wash day routine. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can customise based on what works for your hair.
Before You Start: What You’ll Need
Products
- Cleanser - Sulfate-free shampoo or co-wash
- Conditioner - Regular rinse-out conditioner
- Leave-in (optional) - Lightweight leave-in conditioner
- Styler - Gel, mousse, or cream
Tools
- Wide-tooth comb or detangling brush
- Microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt
- Diffuser attachment (if you have one)
- Hair clips (optional)
Your Beginner Wash Day Routine
Complete Wash Day Routine
Cleanse Your Scalp
Wet hair thoroughly with warm water. Apply cleanser to your scalp only, using fingertips (not nails) to massage. Work in sections if you have thick hair.
Condition & Detangle
Squeeze out excess water. Apply conditioner generously from mid-lengths to ends. Detangle gently starting from the ends, working upward with a wide-tooth comb or fingers.
Rinse Strategically
Fine/low porosity hair: rinse completely. Dry/high porosity hair: leave a little in. Try 'squish to condish'—squish water up into hair with conditioner still in, then rinse.
Apply Leave-In (Optional)
On soaking wet hair, apply a small amount of leave-in using praying hands, then scrunch upward.
Apply Styler
Use praying hands to smooth styler through sections, then scrunch upward from ends to roots. Hair should feel 'coated'.
Dry Your Hair
Air dry or diffuse on medium heat/low speed. Plop first in a t-shirt for 10-20 minutes if air drying.
Scrunch Out the Crunch
Once fully dry (cold to touch, no damp spots), scrunch gently to break the gel cast. Add a tiny drop of oil to hands for extra shine.
Open in Routine Builder to customize, save, or share this routine
How Often to Cleanse
Application Methods Explained
Praying Hands: Smooth product between palms, run palms down lengths of hair like you’re praying with your hair in between.
Scrunching: Cup your curls and scrunch upward toward your scalp.
Shingling: Apply product to individual curl clumps, smoothing from root to tip.
Air Drying vs Diffusing
Air Drying
Pros: Less effort, less heat damage Cons: Takes longer (2-4+ hours), more frizz risk
Tips:
- Plop first (wrap in t-shirt turban) for 10-20 minutes
- Don’t touch while drying
- Position yourself near a fan for faster drying
Diffusing
Pros: Faster, more volume, less frizz Cons: Requires a diffuser, can cause heat damage if overdone
Tips:
- Use medium heat, low speed
- Hover method first (don’t touch curls to diffuser)
- Once curls are partially dry, cup them in the diffuser
- Diffuse roots last for volume
- Stop when 80% dry to avoid frizz
Troubleshooting Common Issues
”My curls are frizzy”
- Apply products to wetter hair
- Use more gel
- Don’t touch while drying
- Try diffusing instead of air drying
”My curls are limp/weighed down”
- Use less product
- Try a lighter formula
- Clarify to remove buildup
- Apply products upside down
”My curls are crunchy”
- Wait until fully dry to SOTC
- Use a drop of oil when scrunching
- You may have used too much gel (this is fine, just scrunch more)
“My scalp is still dirty feeling”
- Shampoo twice
- Use a clarifying shampoo monthly
- Focus more time massaging the scalp
”My curls fall flat by day 2”
- Sleep in a pineapple (high ponytail) or silk bonnet
- Refresh with water and a bit of product
- Try a stronger hold gel
Your Starter Product List
Beginner-Friendly Products
| Product | Weight | Hold | Protein-Free PF | Fragrance-Free FF | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Umberto Giannini | Light | | ✓ | – | £ | All curl types, great starter gel |
| Giovanni Direct Leave-In Giovanni | Featherlight | | ✓ | – | ££ | Fine hair, lightweight moisture |
| As I Am Coconut CoWash As I Am | Medium | | ✓ | – | ££ | Dry hair, gentle cleansing |
| Garnier Hair Food Banana Garnier | Medium | | ✓ | – | £ | Budget conditioning, dry hair |
| Curlsmith Hydro Style Flexi Jelly Curlsmith | Light | | – | – | ££ | Upgrade option, touchable hold |
Find Your Perfect Products
Browse All Beginner-Friendly Products
Curated picks for those starting their curly journey
Lightweight Products for Fine Hair
Won't weigh down waves and loose curls
Moisturising Products for Thick Curls
Rich formulas for thirsty 3C-4C hair
What’s Next?
Once you’ve mastered basic wash day:
- Take our Hair Quiz to understand your hair profile
- Experiment with different techniques (plopping, finger coiling)
- Add deep conditioning to your routine (weekly or bi-weekly)
- Learn refresh techniques for day 2+ hair
- Build your routine in our Routine Builder
Welcome to the curly community!