Building a Wash-Day Routine for Coily Hair

Wash day is a ritual, not a chore — and building a routine that fits your hair, your time, and your energy is the single best thing you can do for healthy coily, curly, or textured hair. Below is the wash-day flow we recommend for most Coily customers. Adapt it to your own hair.

Step 1 — Cleanse

Start with a gentle clarifying wash every two to three weeks to remove product buildup, environmental residue, and excess oil. On in-between weeks, use a moisturising co-wash or sulphate-free shampoo so your strands keep their natural oils.

Focus the shampoo on the scalp, not the lengths. Let the lather rinse through the rest of your hair — that's enough to lift surface grime without drying out the ends.

Step 2 — Deep condition

Follow with a creamy deep conditioner. Apply it in sections from mid-length to ends, detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb, and leave on for 15–30 minutes. Heat helps — a steamer, a warm towel, or even a plastic cap with body heat under a beanie all do the job.

Step 3 — Moisturise in layers

The LCO method (Liquid, Cream, Oil) or LOC method (Liquid, Oil, Cream) both work well for coily hair in South Africa's variable climate. Water is the moisture — everything else is there to seal it in.

• Liquid: water, a leave-in, or a water-based refresher spray.
• Cream: a moisturising cream or butter that softens strands.
• Oil: a lightweight oil to lock everything in — jojoba or grapeseed for fine hair, castor or shea for thicker textures.

Step 4 — Style with intention

Style while the hair is still damp so your products have something to hold on to. Whether you're doing a wash-and-go, a twist-out, a braid-out, or a simple puff, the key is to define each section while the hair is wet, then let it dry undisturbed.

The golden rule

Consistency beats intensity. A simple 4-step routine done every week will outperform a 10-step routine done once a month. Start small, learn your hair, and layer in more only when you need it.