If you wear your hair in protective styles, then you already know about all the benefits: less manipulation on your hair, less breakage of your mid-lengths and ends, and less day-to-day maintenance. Plus, protective styles allow your hair time to experience re-growth. 

Prep and aftercare for your protective styles are extremely important (scalp care reigns supreme!), but let’s not forget about wash day. That’s right: the less-maintenance nature of protective styles doesn’t mean no maintenance at all—and practicing a good wash day routine while you’re rocking your braids, twists, or locs can go a long way in maintaining the health of your scalp and hair.

Your ultimate wash day routine for protective styles

With protective styles, the perfect wash day routine focuses on cleansing and hydration, gentle care, and adding plenty of moisture back into your hair. When it comes time to wash your hair, follow this easy four-step routine for to nourish your scalp and strands: 

Apply our Scalp Revival™ MegaStrength+ Dandruff Relief Shampoo directly to your scalp to help remove any product buildup or dead skin. Give it a gentle massage with your fingertips, being careful not to disturb your style too much, then rinse thoroughly. 

Post-cleanse, follow up with our Scalp Revival™ Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask to hydrate and soothe your scalp. Allow the naturally powerful formula to sit on your scalp for up to 10 minutes to replenish lost moisture, then rinse thoroughly. 

After cleansing and conditioning, apply a few drops of our lightweight Destined for Density™ Caffeine + Biotin Peptide Density Serum to any areas of concern. With protective styling, sparse areas tend to be the hairline perimeter where hair is pulled especially tight, but can also be the crown and in between any braids or cornrows where the scalp is exposed. Gently massage a few drops of serum into your scalp; do this daily (consistency is key!) to help prevent breakage and promote denser, fuller-looking hair. 

Spritz our Superfoods Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-in-1 Leave-In Spray onto your lengths and ends to infuse the hair with hydration and protect it from UV damage. 

Always handle braids and twists gently to avoid over-manipulation.

Air dry hair if possible to avoid heat.

Wrap your style in a silk or satin scarf or bonnet while sleeping to prevent frizz and breakage. 

If you aren’t comfortable with a weekly wash routine and want the benefits of a clean, hydrated scalp, you can apply our Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment drops daily. They’re infused with tea tree oil, known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, plus peppermint and spearmint oils to help soothe and hydrate scalp skin. Alternate these drops with your Peptide Density Serum in the morning or evening to keep your scalp balanced and hydrated and your hairline’s edges healthy and strong.