I Wore My Hair Stretched for 6 Weeks – Here’s What I Observed (And Why I’m Going Back to Wash-and-Go’s)
For the last six weeks, I’ve been living in stretched styles–and honestly, I enjoyed it more than I expected. There is something about seeing your hair in full view that hits different. You can see your ends, your length, your progress, and even what your hair needs without guessing through shrinkage. These are exactly what I track inside me Wash Day Tracker. But after this stretched season, I’m ready to go back to what has worked best for me long-term: wash-and-go’s. 😍
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In this post, I’m sharing what I observed during my stretched-style season, why I’m returning to curls for the next few months, and how I’m planning to make wash day easier with weekly pre-poo updates.
My weekly routine (my baseline)
I wash my hair weekly and wear it in a wash-and-go most of the time. Once my wash-and-go is styled, I keep my hands out of it. I’m not combing or brushing my hair again until the next wash day. During the week, I keep it simple–all I do is refresh my edges.
At night, I wear a silk scarf to protect my style. And when I want to stretch my curls without fully changing my routine, I use satin scrunchies and do the banding method. That’s my usual rhythm: weekly wash-and-go, minimal manipulation, protect it at night, refresh the edges, repeat.
How I achieved my stretched styles
This stretched season was made possible with help from a few tools that really supported the look I wanted: RevAir dryer, Conair Double Ceramic Thermal Brush, and the Conair 1-inch curling iron. These tools were clutch. They gave me the stretch and sleekness I wanted with no damage at all.
Even with tools I enjoy, I still try to be mindful about heat: I use heat protectant, keep passes minimal, and stay focused on healthy maintenance so my curls bounce back.
Having my hair stretched allowed me to get a good look at the ends of my hair. I had my ends trimmed about three months ago, and my ends still looked good. They did not look thin, frayed, or like they were begging for scissors. Seeing that up close was reassuring–and it helped me feel confident that my routine is supporting length retention.
It felt like a quick “hair audit” that gave me proof my maintenance has been working.
Observation #2: Easier detangling and less shed hair
On wash day, it was easier to detangle my hair before washing. With my hair stretched, my sections stayed more controlled, tangles felt less stubborn, and I was not fighting tight coils wrapping around each other the way they sometimes do in a fully curly/shrunken state. I also noticed way less shed hair–both before wash day and after washing my hair. When my hair is curly, I usually see more shed hair.
Important note about shedding with wash-and-go’s
Important note: When I wear a wash-and-go, I do not comb or brush my hair again until it’s wash day again. So some of the “shed hair” I see on wash day is actually normal shedding that has been trapped in my curls for days. Once I finally detangle, that trapped shed hair gets released at one time–so it can look like a lot more than it really is.
Observation #3: Easier to assess moisture needs
Another thing I did not expect was how much easier it was to assess my hair in a stretched style. It was easier to tell if my hair was dry or needed a light moisturizer applied to it. When my hair is curly, it can look fine on the outside even when certain areas are thirsty, so sometimes I do not catch dryness until it shows up as tangles, frizz, or rough ends.
Observation #4: Seeing my length boosted my motivation
Lastly, I just appreciated being able to see the length of my hair that I’ve been working hard to retain. Shrinkage is real. In stretched styles, my length was visible, and it reminded me that consistency is paying off. That visual confirmation kept me motivated.
Why I’m going back to wash-and-go’s
Now that I’ve learned what stretched styles can teach me, I’m returning to wash-and-go’s for the next few months. For me, wash-and-go’s have been the most beneficial long-term because wearing my hair in its natural curly state is what allowed me to successfully grow my hair from neck length to full mid-back length. That is my proof that my curls are not the problem–my consistency is the secret.
Stretched styles were a helpful “check-in season” for my ends, moisture needs, and progress. But wash-and-go’s are still home base for my healthiest growth.
My plan: More pre-pooing ahead of wash day
Since I tend to see more shed hair when my hair is worn curly (and some of that is trapped shed hair), I’m going to be more intentional about pre-pooing ahead of wash day. My goal is to add slip, soften the hair, and help trapped shed hair slide out during detangling without turning wash day into a tug-of-war.
My go-to will be a watered-down conditioner mixed with a little Jamaican black castor oil. The goal is simple: more slip, less stress, and a smoother wash day.
Weekly updates: Pre-poo methods that actually help
To keep myself consistent, I’ll be doing weekly updates on pre-poo methods that help me detangle before washing. Each week I’ll share what I used, how I applied it, how detangling went, what I noticed about shed hair, and whether I’d repeat it. I want these updates to be practical and real–not just theory.
Final thoughts
Stretched styles gave me a clearer view of my ends, made wash day detangling easier, helped me assess moisture needs, and let me see the length I’ve been working hard to retain. But now I’m taking those lessons back into my wash-and-go routine for the next few months.
I’m keeping the lessons–and going back to my curls.
Pre-poo method (simple steps)
Mix in an applicator bottle: 6-8 tbsp conditioner + 2-4 tbsp warm water + 1/2-1 tsp Jamaican
black castor oil (start small because it’s heavy). Split hair into 4-6 sections and lightly mist each section (damp, not soaking). Apply the mix generously, focusing on ends and mid-lengths. Finger-detangle first, then use a wide-tooth comb/brush if needed. Twist/braid each section and cover with a cap for 15-30 minutes. Shampoo and continue with your regular wash-and-go routine.
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Here are previous blogs you may find helpful:
1-Hour Wash Day for Busy Queens 👑 – inspiredbybea.com 1-Hour Wash Day!