Friday, June 10, 2011

What does it mean to "pre-wash?"

As most black women know, our hair is very delicate with a tendency for dryness and breakage. Adding
insult to injury, we further assault our hair with heat, relaxers, chemicals and tight, pull-back hair styles. This leaves weakened strands of hair calling out for help!

Sadly, many of us have the mistaken idea that washing and conditioning will put back the nutrients or undo the damage.  Not true. Traditional shampoos containing sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens and antimicrobials, further damage the hair by stripping it and causing protein loss.  Hence the need for extra-extra pampering.  In comes pre-wash.

What is pre-wash?

Pre-wash is the process whereby a penetrating natural oil, such as extra-virgin coconut oil, olive oil, argon oil or avocado oil is applied to the hair to restore moisture, impart nutrients, strength and elasticity. The good news is that the process will be successful, if bad hair practices are left alone.

The hair is coated with the oil and covered with a plastic bag for about twenty minutes. It is then removed and the shampoo process is continued. 

To ensure success, seek out sulfate free-shampoos. Be fore-warned: they gently clean the hair, but do not produce lather as the conventional shampoos do.  The hair is, however, left clean and healthy.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you I was wondering what it meant. I am new to all of this.

    ReplyDelete