My favorite hairstyle is a “wash and go” which is a routine that is an art and takes time to perfect. But before you get to be an artist in this, you have to assemble the necessary arsenal (best wash and go hair products).
In case you don’t know, a wash and go is when you wet your hair and use styling products on your natural curl pattern. You literally wash/wet your hair, put gel or cream on it (styling products), and go! You may choose to use a hair diffuser or just let it air dry.
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What products to use for wash and go hairstyles?
There are many wash-and-go products in the market and it can be hard to figure out which products work best. As we know, there is no one-size-fits-all and it really takes trial and error to find your groove.
However, to help you navigate the oversaturated internet and store aisles I will go through some of the best wash-and-go products on the market.
This list is my personal picks and is also endorsed by many natural hair influencers as well as natural and curly hair women who choose “wash and go” as their hairstyle of choice.
I also included some of my Instagram Curl Friends – Candice @curltinue and Shalanda @blkcurlsbuy who share their favorite wash-and-go products in videos at the end.
11 Best Wash and Go Products for Natural and Curly Hair
1. TIGI Catwalk BLUE Curls Rock Amplifier
TIGI’s Catwalk is what I mostly use for my wash and go’s. It provides definition, separation, and hold which is what you need in a wash and go product. TIGI Catwalk is all about amplifying and enhancing your natural curls. It is best applied by separating wet hair and applying the cream in small portions with your fingers and/or a brush. This is to ensure every curl gets an even amount of product.
This product is one of the best wash and go products for types 2a to 4a hair. It also protects against humidity which is a must in humid weather. If I had to choose the best all-in-one product for a wash and go it would be TIGI Catwalk!
2. Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Sculpting Gel
Paul Mitchell is a classic and I always find my way back to this product. It is thick and also has amazing slip. It is one of the best moisturizing gels while still providing hold. It also delivers high shine with bold texture and ideal for all hair types.
This body-building hair gel contains thickening ingredients that add fullness to fine and thin hair with flexible hold, which allows for touchable hair without stickiness or flaking. Paul Mitchell will always be a staple in my wash and go routine.
3. Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
There is no better wash-and-go product for thick, curly hair than the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. It comes with a thick creamy consistency with a combination of lush coconut and hibiscus fragrance. The product contains silk proteins and Neem and Coconut oils that help define hair curls, reduce frizz, restore moisture and create shine.
Enriched with organic Shea Butter, this wash and go smoothie combines the tropical effect of Coconut juice with a host of other top choice oils to provide that unique hydrating experience. Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie is so rich that you only need a little dab to smooth those stubborn split ends.
The curly hair formula also works wonders for taming those stray flyaway strands common in over-dried, damaged, or over-processed hair. It works excellent when you want to transform from permed hair to something natural, or when you want an ideal treatment for your favorite hairstyle.
The curly hair cream is free from silicone, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, or other petroleum products.
4. Cantu Coconut Curling Cream
Are you looking to add a natural hair curl enhancer to your wash-and-go perm rod kit? The Cantu Coconut Curling Cream should be first on your list. It is an excellent product for both wet and dry hair as it instantly defines, moisturizes, and adds some sheen to your natural hair.
You will love this product from its packaging. It comes in an easy-to-access, wide-top tub that you can freely deep your hands in and take what you need. The packaging ensures that there are limited wastages as you can always return if you scoop excess.
The award-winning hair formula features pure Shea butter and does not contain any harsh ingredients or artificial additives like petroleum products, mineral oils, or silicon. It restores natural, authentic beauty and helps you embrace that curly, coily, or wavy style.
You can use it alone or combine it with other holding hair products like gel. However, be careful with what you combine it with, as some products will leave noticeable residue and flake on your hair. It doesn’t come with that coconut smell but still bears a unique sweet scent that lasts for days.
5. Denman Brush
You never talk of the best wash-and-go products without adding the Denman brush to your list. It is necessary to achieve your wash-and-go tool because you will need it to detangle those strands before you style your hair.
Apart from detangling your hair, the Denman Brush is also a perfect hair styling tool. It comes in different row sizes with soft-pointed bristles that penetrate your hair without scratching the skin. The brush also helps create springier curls and ends by smoothing your strands and enhancing your curl definition.
Pro tip: I mostly use the Denman Brush to style after detangling my hair with a wide-tooth comb.
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6. Kinky-Curly Curling Custard
Kinky Curly Curling Custard is the Holy Grail in most people’s wash and go routine and a favorite to the curly hair community. It is an all-in-one product that gives your hair the moisture and curl definition it needs to hold and have a brilliant shiny look. KCCC, as some people call it, reduces bulk, defines, and elongates curls helping your hair to hand better.
I strongly recommend trying this product if you are trying to achieve a wash and go on type 4 hair.
It consists of natural extracts like organic aloe vera juice, which nourish and strengthen your hair. It fully utilizes the agave nectar extract properties that remove frizz, defines your curls, and provides that long-lasting hold and shine.
Other ingredients include natural fragrance, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), nettle, marshmallow, and water botanical infusion. All these ingredients combine efforts to work wonders without ever making your hair greasy, crunchy, or dry.
7. As I Am Curling Jelly
Whether you are buying the 8-ounce or 16-ounce jar, this product has the same mission for your hair; defining your natural curly hair without sacrificing any moisture. Its consistency resembles that of gel except that it comes with more slip. Because of this, it remains a favorite product for those looking for a strong-hold styling wash and go product.
As I Am Curling Jelly contains aloe vera, giving it soothing properties. It also features nature’s best moisturizers and curls boosters that lock in the previous moistures and give your hair those beautiful, long-lasting curls.
The shine and moisture this formula preserves make it the best wash-and-go product for cold and warm conditions.
For best results, use the As I Am Curling gel after applying As I Am Leave In Conditioner liberally to small sections going from root to end. That will help detangle your hair while it is still soaking in the gel.
8. Jane Carter Solution Curl Defining Cream
- All natural product
- Soft shiny bouncy finish
- Washes and dries without leaving any film
Jane Carter Solution Curl Defining Cream is an all-natural product designed to elongate and define natural curl patterns while reducing frizz and shrinkage. The specially made formula eliminates any concerns that may come from excessive build-up or flakes.
The product gives you an authentic luxurious feel of a wash-and-go hair product perfect for eliminating curl shrinkage with the least effort. It is a water-soluble, curl-defining cream that washes and dries hair without leaving even a film trace.
The curl-defining cream features shea butter and avocado oil, the two ingredients that give it sheer versatility. You can use it to blow-drying cream on to lay down untamed dreadlocks.
For best results, we recommend that you apply it on super wet hair working through small areas. Use a cotton cloth or microfiber towel to crunch your hair to hold the curl. You may also diffuse to enhance the drying time.
9. Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey
Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey is a citrus-scented shine promade that moisturizes your hair and scalp, removes frizzes, and soothes edges. It is an excellent product for your wash-and-go routine and guarantees you healthy hair.
The product is an excellent sealant with a faint scent that resembles lemon and spice or twinning lemon and ginger tea. It is a combination of top ingredients, including oils, beeswax, and kinds of butter. The oil content is more concentrated, meaning that you get more value because it belongs to the mid-priced hair products line.
You can always use this product for hair growth to provide that shine and moisture. It is parabens-free, petroleum-free, mineral oil-free, meaning that you will not have any irritations whatsoever.
10. Eden BodyWorks Curl Defining Crème
Are you looking for the best wash-and-go product with humidity resistance and formulation? Look no further than Eden BodyWorks Curl Defining Crème.
It bears everything you need to define and separate those curls and waves. It has coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil, aloe vera, and other top ingredients. The composition absorbs into your hair and works in unison to hydrate and seal the moisture preventing your strands from drying out.
The formula does it all, from infusing moisture, controlling frizz to optimizing medium style definition. It does all these without crunch, making it one of the best for wash and go, braid outs and twists.
It has a thick and creamy texture and is slightly thinner than other conditioners. It has a delicious coconut scent that lingers on your hair for days.
11. Mielle Organics Pomegranate and Honey Curling Custard
- NATURAL & ORGANIC TREATMENT: Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Sculpting Custard fuses pomegranate extract, honey, citrus extracts, babassu and coconut oil, and other natural, restorative ingredients to moisturize and strengthen thick, curly hair
- LIGHT LUXURIOUS DEFINITION: Our weightless, nutrient-rich curling butter defines curls and adds body and definition to dry, damaged, and dull hair instantly without weighing it down or leaving behind a greasy or sticky residue
- FRIZZ-FREE SHINE: This rejuvenating defining gel quenches even the unruliest type 3A to 4C low and high porosity natural hair, taming stubborn frizz and flyaways while strengthening coily or curly hair for silky shine and long-lasting hydration
- EASY TO USE: Our 12 oz. deep moisture curl activator gel is ultra-gentle and ideal for daily use, deeply penetrating damaged hair for visibly improved texture; Apply to wet hair and style as usual for soft, manageable hair and powerful damage repair
- BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN: Mielle Organics aims to empower women of all hair types and styles with powerful products and gentle, organic ingredients that amplify your natural beauty and are the “root to results” that leave you looking and feeling your best
Mielle Organics Pomegranate and Honey Curling Custard is your ideal product if dry, thirsty curls are causing you sleepless nights. It gives you the hydration you long for with prepossessing curl definition coupled with long-lasting shine.
The thick, delicious scented formula features organic ingredients such as babassu and coconut oils without artificial additives or harmful chemicals. It also has a pomegranate extract that reduces frizzes while detangling and moisturizing the hair. On the other hand, the honey ingredient acts as a humectant that provides extra nourishment and conditioning.
For best results, apply generously to dripping wet hair taking a small section and fingering through strands to spread it evenly. You can use Mielle Mint Almond Oil while hair is still wet to provide that extra conditioning.
Instagram Curl Friends Video Recommendations for Best Wash and Go Products
Candice @curltinue
Candice is a digital creator, wife, and mom. She does natural style tutorials, product reviews and an advocate for women’s health.
What is your favorite wash-and-go hair product(s)?
“Mane Like Me “ Smooth N Curl Hair Gel – I’d choose it because it does everything I prefer in a wash and go – moisturizes, defines, shines, and has decent hold, all in one product. Plus it’s black-owned 😉.
Shalanda @blkcurlsbuy
Shalanda is a Digital Creator and promotes black-owned hair brands. Her goal is building black economic power one day at a time.
What is your favorite wash-and-go hair product(s)?
Naptural Queen Hair Care- Pumpkin Cheesecake Leave-in Conditioner and Healthy MUHF#@KIN Hair- Moisture Cream. These products give a nice hold and moisture and of course black-owned.
Make sure to follow these Natural Hair Digital Creators on Instagram for more tips and favorite natural hair products.
Last word on Best Wash and Go Products
Whether you want to try a wash-and-go product or upgrade from the one you are using, the above products are some of the best recommendations to start with. They have everything you need and will not only restore your natural hair but will make it healthy and shiny.
Like I mentioned before, there is no one size fit all but the above wash and go products are a great place start!
What are some of your favorite wash and go hair products?
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