WASH DAY SIMPLIFIED: The Details Of A Realistic Curl Routine That Actually Works

Let’s be real: wash day can feel like a whole event.

The soaking.
The sectioning.
The styling.
The waiting.
The anticipation whether you're doing it right...

Sound familiar?

At CABELA, we believe curl care should be simple, joyful, and effective — not exhausting. That’s why we’ve put together a realistic 4-step routine that actually works. No 10-step marathon. Just great hair, less fuss.  Once you have these steps nailed, it requires less mental agility than brushing your teeth!

 

STEP 1: CLEANSE GENTLY

Healthy curls start with a clean, balanced scalp. Choosing a cleansing product that removes buildup without stripping your strands is essential here!

• Focus the product on your scalp, massage with your fingertips (not your nails), and let the suds rinse down your lengths. 
• Thoroughly rinse your hair (most people miss this step to the demise of their scalp)!  Think about it.... cleansers are designed so that their cleaning power wraps around each individual strand on your head so no dirt etc is left behind.  Therefore, a quick duck under the faucet does not correspond to the instructions of "rinse thoroughly".  

 

STEP 2:  DETANGLE & CONDITION

Part 1 - Detangling.  The WHY here is pretty obvious.  The HOW often needs some refinement to execute well without causing damage to your strands.

• Always use a quality conditioner with plenty of slip to help with this process.  You want to start with the ends and work your way up towards your scalp. Never start from the top with a brush in a downwards motion - by doing this you're using force to break apart any knots which will definitely cause breakage and stretch out any weaker ends.  One hack to remember this is to think of it like you're having a tasty beverage and saying to yourself "cheers, bottoms up!"
• If you have some particularly stubborn knots, spend a little time squishing the watery conditioner in the knot before pulling it apart horizontally with your fingers instead of trying to pull the knot down the length.  Try it, it works!
  

Part 2 - Conditioning.  The more optimally your hair is conditioned, the juicier your curl clumps - and that's a fact!

• Wait?! Didn't we just condition our hair whilst detangling?  Yes ma'am! and for some of us, that may be enough, for others (especially if you're new to looking after your texture) your curls will need more "hydration" as it's called in the community.  
• If you had some troublesome knots and employed the squishing action described in the detangling section, then we're going to continue with this method for our whole head of hair.  This technique is affectionately called "squish to condish" and it's fabulous for curl hydration. 
• A couple of key points to remember, always drizzle more water on your hair before reaching for more conditioner.  So often, people focus on adding more product but the magic happens when the product is married with the water, then lovingly used to hydrate your locks.  How do you know when to stop?  Your hair will feel slippery like seaweed, curl families or clumps will be apparent and there will be no "wet frizz".  The more severely dehydrated your curls, the longer the process is likely to take - but over time, it's likely to decrease as your hair finds its way back from being super thirsty to hydrated, or rather optimally conditioned. 
• Try CURLFECTION CONDITIONER or NO MISSION TO CONDITION if your curls are extremely dry.  If you're in "curl rehab" due to damage, our CURL RESTORER will be your best friend!

 

STEP 3: STYLING

Now for the fun part — styling! This next step can be the make or break of your routine and is key to giving you the aesthetics you're searching for.

• Apply your products to soaking wet hair.  Yes, if you're a follower of various social media accounts, they may tell you that "damp styling" is back in vogue.  However, we find that those who have nailed their hydration and styling routines CAN afford to move into the realm of damp styling.  BUT, if you're still confused by your curls and aren't getting the definition and frizz-free result that you seek - then you NEED to be all about that soaking wet styling - trust us!  We're talking, no squeezing excess water out of your hair before you exit the shower.  It may be a bit of a unique sensory experience to have water dripping from your hair and down your back, but wrap that towel around your body (not your hair), keep calm, trust the process and carry on!  Use your preferred application technique whether it be raking, praying hands, brush styling, scrunching.  Not sure on your styling techniques?  Let us know if you would like more information and we'll be sure to give you some clarity in future blogs!
• A layered approach is usually best when it comes to styling.  For your base layer we recommend using CREME SUPREME to help seal the nourishment from your hydration session in your curls.  It's packed with botanical actives to keep your hair healthy, strong and also has pro-bonding technology to help prevent future damage (so therefore quite possibly the best leave-in product you could ever use)!
• The final layer is going to be your gel of choice.  Gel's act as a film former on the outside layer and have a fixative quality to help hold your results in place.  They can be scary for newbies who are hesitant from departing from their softer curl cream routines, but once you've nailed a curl gel, you'll never go back!

 

STEP 4: DRY & SET

Often considered the most tiresome part of a wash day.  Whether you're on team diffuser or team air-dry there's a few tips you need to know.

• Resist the urge to constantly touch your hair!  If you're diffusing this means allowing the curl families to sit in place, no lifting, swirling the hair or picking it up and trying to stuff it in the diffuser.  Just hover your diffuser around 10-15cm away from your hair until a cast begins to form.  If you want more volume, tip your head to the side and focus drying the roots first and foremost.
• For the air-driers among us, the 'no touching' rule can be more challenging for you because your drying time is likely to be longer.  Consequently, if you want maximum definition you have a longer chunk of your day taken up where you absolutely need to refrain from touching and playing with your hair until your cast is set, and your hair is dry. 
• Then it's finally time, it's time to "scrunch out the crunch" or "SOTC".  Your hair is dry, it may be crunchy.  It's time to gently scrunch out any residual hardness (aka the cast) to reveal soft, defined, bouncy curls et voila!

 

💛 KEEP IT REAL

If  you're looking at social media influencers and becoming overwhelmed, remember, you don’t need a complicated routine to get beautiful curls.  Start with doing one thing at a time, nailing it, then moving on to the next.  It's a bit of a change from treating your curls as if they were straight, but soon it'll be second nature.  Remember, the most effective wash day is one you’ll actually do — consistently, confidently, and with love.

CABELA
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