Perfect Winter Wash and WHAT!?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 10:56AM Hey Guys!
So on my last upload, "The Perfect Winter Wash and Go" I received a lot of questions on why I considered that style a Wash and Go instead of a twist out. I answered a couple of the comments, but realized that I couldn't answer them all, so decided to post my response here.
I agree, it is definitely a twist out, no disagreements here! However, for me, it's also a Wash and Go. If any of you know me, you know that I wash my hair in twists 9 out of 10 times. It's what I've always done, so every time I wash my hair, It'll be in twists. Does that mean I can never wear a wash and go because my hair will always be in twists?
There's not one definition of a wash and go. My personal definition, is when I can wash my hair and immediately leave the bathroom. No styling, no fuss, just time saved. And I feel like that's what I did in this instance. I washed my hair and didn't have to re-comb it, no products, no scrunching.. just went on my business. I just happen to prefer to wash my hair while in twists. The twists are so big that I don't get that zig zag pattern of a twist out anyway, it just helps to stretch my natural pattern.
Let me ask this question: If I wash my hair and then put it into a bun for 30 minutes to let it dry, do I have to call it a "Bun-out"? Or if I wash my hair and then stretch it using a diffuser, do I have to call it a "Diffuse-out" or "Wash and Diffuse"? Lol, you see my point...? They all fall under the term "wash and go", there are so many different versions...
My definition of a twist out includes combing the hair to stretch it out and to get rid of the natural pattern, applying a product, and re-twisting in sections to adapt a new pattern. That's just how I view it, we're all different.
In this instance and this style, even though my hair was in twists after I washed, I feel more connected to the word "Wash and Go" than the word "Twist Out," simply because I didn't feel like I did what I would traditionally do to achieve my version of a twist out. My definition of a twist out will be different from the next person's; that doesn't make it wrong and it doesn't make it right... it just is.
I did this style again, and completed it in 30 minutes; 30 minutes! I mean, that's crazy! I've seen a traditional wash and go that could take a woman an hour and a half to complete. So why is it that their wash and go is more "wash and go-ier" than this version, when this takes less time?
I'm not writing this because I want you to call it a "wash and go," trust me, it doesn't matter to me. I would've just not responded, but I received so many questions about it that it got me thinking... why is it so important to figure out what it should be called, that we go back and forth on it? To me, it can be both! But why do we as people always need to be "right" and prove others to be "wrong" in hair care? Can't we just say "hmm, interesting perspective"...
I think everyone has their own definition of styling and hair care, and there's no way that everything can always fit it into this perfect little box... there are way too many different points-of-view on this earth, we'd be going back and forth forever, lol!
Anyway, it's like I've said before, in my world, there's no rules to hair care. I like to mix it up constantly, which is why I hardly ever do a wash and go the same way, (except this version, because I LOVE it!), it's all about how I feel in that moment. And the moment I completed this style, I thought "This wash and go rocks!!" and haven't looked back since. But honestly, it doesn't matter to me what you call it, call it a "Twist Out", "Twist and Go", "Wash Out", "Poop on a Stick", it really doesn't matter, I just hope it helps you save some time and energy while doing your hair.
XoXo Whit
Reader Comments (48)
I get it Whit, but you know the hair police will cite you every time for violation of Code Natural Hair Rule 181! LMBO! :)
Totally agree! We are making natural hair so much more complicated than need be! I guess as humans we just have the need to categorize everything and it looks like that includes hair care!
Love your blog! Keep it up! :)
I completely understand....I didn't understand why there were so many questions about it. Hahahaha that's definitely a wash and go for me :) or at least it will be when my hair gets longer.
I love this wash and go method. I could care less what its called. I just appreciate your perspective and thanks so much for sharing these tips. :)
Whit, you had me at THIS line: "But why do we as people always need to be "right" and prove others to be "wrong" in hair care? Can't we just say "hmm, interesting perspective"..." -------> My sentiments exactly and I couldn't agree with you more!!! ***Drops Microphone and walks away*** :-)
~We appreciate the time and effort you take out of your PERSONAL life to share your knowledge of natural hair styles/products/regimens etc.Your personality makes the videos memorable~
Thanks!
I like your method...I also like that you only used your fingers to detangle in the shower. I have recently started using only my fingers and i find out that i have less hair on the bathroom floor or in the shower.
BAHAHA @ "poop on a stick"!
I am really glad you addressed this, because folks are getting pretty dang legalistic over natural hair... Ten years ago, if you had complimented me on my "braidout" I would have looked at you sideways, backwards, and upside down because back then I would have called it "what happens when I take down my cornrows after two weeks and it gets all crinkly and it's funky cuz I need to wash it and I really shouldn't be wearing it outside of the house."
I'm not the hair police, but I would say that if you wash your hair with chunky twist and take them down when dry,,,,it is not a WNG,,,,no matter how long it took. That is the classic definition of a twist out...whether you do the twists before, during or after washing hair....or dry hair. The twists do set and stretch the hair....WNGs typically set with your natural curl pattern.
I mainly do WNGs and I now that I have 7 inches of hair (13 months since BC) I think I need to venture into actually styling my hair with twists or braids. I love this style and I will definitely give it a try....as winter approaches in MD. I just wondering how my hair will do with no additonal products....maybe I should try the mud wash.
Someone always has something to say! Jeez! Your hair clearly looked like a wash and go and not like the normal twistouts that you do. Either way I love it! <3
@CurlyTonya What is a "Classic definition of a twistout." I agree with @Kathy I have been natural for 6 years and to my knowledge this terminology was recently created by the growing community of naturals. You didn't use these terms to describe the hair styles. When my twist got old...I would untwist. When someone asked me what I did...I would say...I untwisted my hair and it is crinkly, LOL.
I think people are being nit picky. I don't want to create a crazy debate because I think Whitney was very eloquent and clear on what she did with her hair and I have seen other naturals do the exact same thing she did with a holding gel (Kinky Kurly Custard or Eco Styler) like Freeworship and AfricanExport on Youtube. They wash their hair, put a holding gel on their hair, twist their hair in big twist (to help elongate WNG), and then untwist and separate the large twist. Within the twist are the curls. They to referred to it as a WNG as well so I am not sure what the problem is if semantics is what is being debated. Whitney didn't use gel because her shampoo product seems to help her natural curls to pop. You can clearly see her curl definition in this style. I think the technique is nice and could work for a lot of women...at the end of the day does it matter what she calls it. This isn't biology class where DNA has to be called DNA...it is hair care.
lol @ wash and go-ier...
Does the style really need a name? Call it Flip Wilson. :)
I think your video and your explanation here is fabulous. If you called it "poop on a stick", I'd be right behind you! :)
Everyone....the name really doesn't matter to me. It was a good video and I loved how the style turned out. I'm a Whit fan and I love all her videos!
@curlytonya-- Not trying to pick a fight, but it always kind of befuddles me when someone who is fairly new to the game starts to "drop knowledge" on others. Like others posted here, I have been natural for almost 10 years and we never had names for what we did with our hair ( outside of TWA and Afro). I love that people like Whit have exposed me to so much more since I've gone natural. I take what applies to me or what I can do reasonably from her videos and the rest? Well, then it is not for me. In addition to the debate about name, people were commenting ( read: complaining and whining) about how "their hair would never come out that"... AND SO WHAT?. I mean if her calling it a WNG is affecting your health, work, or bills... then maybe I can see where people are coming from:/
I see where Whitney is coming from. If you're going to call parting your hair into little sections and raking product through for an hour a WNG then why not this?
On the other hand, wash & go = wash, condition, and go...not twisting, raking hair in itty bitty sections, etc...that kinda takes away from the "go" part lol.
I got what you meant by it. It was really cute.
this is sooo funny. You do not have to explain yourself Whit!
Whatever it is I love it
Wow! Hi naptural.....I mean Whitney. I'm A HUUUUUUUUGE fan of your channel on youtube. I have to say you are awesome and this is my first time seeing and arriving to your website.(The hilarious part is that Im actually sitting on my couch doing your Egg and Mayo Deep conditioning recipe as I write this lol-im interesting).
But I just wanted to say that I absolutely agree with you. I loved the right and wrong part. It really seems like to me that as women, we have this innate need to compete, over-analyze, opinionate and question every(single, little, microscopic and subatomic) thing. ITS SO FRIGGING ANNOYING. We can't just let things be what they are. But I'm glad you addressed it they way you did in this blog: A WASH AND GO. You rock my socks!:))
Ummm ok so I really appericeate that you took the time to i guess try to explain why you title them wash n go's I didnt personally think it was so important and to all of those who took offense.......take a nap. Regardless (for some reason I wanted to say irregardless ;p) of the name it worked well for you and I will try *whispering* this wash n go this weekend. Again thanks a TON for sharing and again for even trying to clear up the foolishness.
Hey Whit... I love ur WNG, to me what makes it a wash and go is just like you stated... no products on it to make it curl you just washed it and go even though you washed it at night. Your hair is so pretty. Can't wait to get my mud wash.... my hair is not long enough to wash and go like that yet but I am getting there. Keep up the good work and don't pay attention to the hair police. Call it what you like it is what it is....just hair lol
Since people don't know what to call it but love their labels, let's just call it The Whitney.
I didn't even know people had an issue with what it was called, lol...? I think it's a wash and go. I've never done a twist out with twists that big unless my hair was dry and I wanted a stretched look rather than a twist out...lol. Anyway, thanks for the tips as usual. You rock!
@NAPTURAL85 you are the mother of natural hair and you said it is a wash and go soooo it is what it is being that you have all authority over this.i love your was and go and now i know how to preserve it