A Go-To Summer Hairstyle

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Last updated on January 7th, 2024 at 10:57 am

Earlier this week I shared my hair care regimen for the summer. It was all about how I’ll be caring for and maintaining my fine tresses when the humidity starts to kick in – some time around June. In this post, I’ll be sharing one of the easiest summer styles for natural hair that gives a lot less shrinkage than your typical wash and go.

Fine natural hair requires consistency with care but sometimes you have to re-evaluate your regimen when the seasons change and then make the necessary modifications. I mentioned that in my summer hair regimen post.

Summertime Hair Style

Normally, I’d just do wash and go’s all summer long. At least, that’s how I’ve done it for the past few summers. Wash and go’s are easy and carefree. Plus, wash and go’s don’t need to defy humidity. Hair is already in a shrunken state so you can just roll with it.

I decided to do things a little differently this summer so that I would experience less shrinkage.

One thing about wash and go’s is they do set the hair up for single strand knots. Normally, I don’t get them but with a wash and go, I get at least one or two every single time.

In order to avoid the knotting fiasco that comes with the territory of having super shrunken hair, I decided to style my hair in a semi-stretched state this summer.

The twist out wash and go!

Now, you may be thinking, “Why would you do a twist out in the summer when it’s just going to shrink up anyway?”

Duh, I’m not totally clueless not to expect any shrinkage. The key to rocking a twist out wash and go for your summer natural hair style is to sport a style that will incur much less shrinkage, thereby reducing the likelihood of getting those single strand knots..

When I do twist outs in the summer, my hair ends up looking like a wash and go anyway so it’s almost like I still get to enjoy my wash and go “look.”

The Twist Out Wash and Go vs. The Normal Wash and Go

When doing a normal wash and go, after washing my hair I just smooth thru my leave in conditioner (after applying an oil in the shower) followed by applying a cream styler and a gel (this is the LOC method + gel).

For the summer twist out-wash and go, my normal product application will change to accommodate the style as follows:

• Sealing my naked hair with oil and skipping my leave in conditioner
• Applying my styler (full of botanicals so it will also serve to keep my hair conditioned) followed by gel
• After working on one section (working in fours), I will split that section up and create two large chunky twists
• Hair will be in 8 chunky twists (that’s the twist out part of the deal).
• When my hair is 90% dry, I will release those chunky twists to allow my hair to completely dry for the full wash and go look that has elongation….thanks to drying in the twists.

If it’s late and my hair isn’t dry, I’ll go to bed with my hair in 2 ponytails banded with spaces between the bands to maintain the stretch but preserve the curl. In the morning, I’ll simply remove the bands, fluff and just let my hair do what it’s going to do.

Because it will be summer time, the humidity will kick in but because I’ve applied my products in a layering fashion with the gel being the shields, the affects of the humidity will be less impactful…similar to my regular wash and go. Only this time, it will be much less shrunken.

Suggested Products for this Summer Natural Hairstyle

To shield my staple summer hair style from the humidity as best as possible, I’ll be using the following combo of styling products as my go to’s:

• Curls Blueberry Bliss Twist and Shout Cream – an excellent styler and sealant that helps to smooth my hair’s cuticle layer while also defining my curls with elongation.
• Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly – this lightweight gel works wonders for keeping my hair frizz free. It also helps keep my curls elongated.
• Thirsty Roots Apricot Castor Oil (to seal moisture and add “weight” to my hair. This is a heavier oil which will help defy shrinkage. I’ll only be applying it to the crown of my head because this is the area that tends to frizz the most. Plus, it takes the brunt of abuse from the sun’s hot rays.

Are you trying out any summer natural hairstyles for less shrinkage?

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