The Art of Pre-Pooing
Wash day is the best day of the week for curly-haired beauties! So many of us type 3 and type 4 hair beauties have been wrongly taught to dread wash day. The very idea of the time, torment, and tangles conjures up unpleasant images of less-than-satisfactory results. It's time we quit blaming the hair and start looking at ways to improve the process behind the look. In comes what we call the “pre-poo.”
Wash day is your spa day. This is your time to unwind and refresh. Most importantly, celebrate your natural hair by giving it all the love and attention it deserves.
Prep is an integral part of the wash day process that often gets left out of the routine. Pre-pooing is the best way to treat your hair right, simplify your wash day routine for curly hair, and achieve your most radiant natural hair yet.
Take back wash day and love your curly hair care routine with the beauty of a pre-poo treatment.
What Exactly is a Pre-Poo?
The hair care secret for glamorous curly locks may have the oddest-sounding name in the beauty and wellness sphere, but at RevAir, we swear by the power of the pre-poo. A pre-poo is a shampoo prep that typically consists of a nourishing oil treatment applied before shampoo and conditioner. Some variations of the classic pre-poo include utilizing all-natural hair care items to create a moisture dense mask that enhances your hair's shine and brilliance. This blend is applied to your natural tresses like a high-quality protectant that helps lock in natural oils (normally stripped away during the wash process).
Think of the pre-poo as the ultimate wash day prep. This is your time to massage in a pre-wash treatment, kick up your feet, do a face mask, read a few pages of your favorite book, and relax while the pre-poo works its magic.
The Amazing Benefits of Pre-Pooing for Natural Hair
Curious to learn the health and wellness science behind the magic of a good pre-poo? Look no further for the simplest, cleanest natural hair care remedy for type 3 and type 4 hair, as well as every texture and type in-between. The benefits of pre-poo treatments are as extensive as the number of reasons to love your natural hair.
Moisture Rich
A pre-poo treatment is the ultimate moisturizer. Much like a facial, it allows the luxurious blend of natural oils and hair-friendly vitamins and nutrients to soak into your lovely locks, as restoration for any moisture lost during the washing process. Thanks to the natural emollient properties in coconut oil and other popular pre-poo oil formulas, the hair is not only hydrated but protected by a powerful pre-poo barrier. This means you can wash your hair with confidence knowing the natural moisture that creates volume, shine, and elasticity is locked in tight.
Color Care Friendly
Being a natural hair goddess doesn't mean you have to commit to the lifestyle of 100% natural, virgin hair. The curly hair experts at RevAir support a little experimentation when it comes to highlights, bold fashion colors, and seasonal hues.
Pre-poo treatments are a must for colored hair. Chemically processed hair is more prone to breakage and brittleness, making the wash day routine extra trying. By implementing a color-safe pre-poo before shampoo and conditioner, you can effectively protect your color. Prevent breakage and hair loss while keeping your color fresher for longer with a little extra prep before every shower.
Detangle in Style
There are no snares in this beauty routine! A pre-poo treatment can effectively detangle hair before showering.
One of the most common mistakes is failing to detangle natural hair before getting it wet.
Combing through freshly washed locks can be a pain－and painful, no less! The nourishing oils of a pre-poo treatment create smoothness and soften each curl. A boar bristle brush easily brushes out any stray tangles for type 3 and type 4 hair. The added time of pre-pooing your hair is well-worth the time saved detangling.
Softer, Shinier, Sleeker You
Pre-pooing your hair is the easiest way to achieve flawless glamour in a simple wash day routine. Rich omega-3 fatty acids contain the nutrients necessary to unlock your hair's true potential. A pre-poo treatment enhances softness, which minimizes any brittle texture or breakage that may result in hair loss. Pre-pooing is especially vital when rocking a protective style and utilizing clarifying shampoo as part of your weekly routine. While clarifying shampoo is a great way to care for your hair and scalp, the deep cleansing process often dries out natural hair.
Balance your natural hair mood with pre-poo treatments designed to enrich and hydrate without making your hair too oily or build-up prone. Softer hair is easier to style, bounces back from environmental damage like harsh UV rays, and creates an effortlessly gorgeous appeal. Implementing the right pre-poo for your hair type will make wash day your favorite day of the week.
Everything You Need to Know About Pre-Pooing
Now that we've established why pre-pooing is the best part of any wash day routine, it's time to look at the techniques, ingredients, and methods behind the magic. The right pre-poo will leave your hair feeling soft and refreshed.
The best oils to use for a pre-poo treatment include:
Pre-poo oils include:
- coconut oil
- avocado oil
- almond oil
- argan oil
Curly-haired beauties with type 3 or 4 hair often benefit the most from coconut oil. This much-loved ingredient is key in any health and wellness routine that incorporates hair care, as well as scalp and skincare.
Other helpful natural hair ingredients include aloe vera gel for combatting build-up. Aloe vera is highly effective in preventing dandruff. Natural astringent properties cleanse the hair and scalp, preventing fungal growth and adding another layer of clarifying magic to your routine. Aloe vera gel also reduces inflammation and irritation along the scalp that can lead to itching.
Lastly, you'll want to choose high-quality hair butter for your pre-poo mask. A few options include:
- shea butter
- cocoa butter
- hempseed butter
These rich, holistic haircare must-haves help strengthen the hair shaft and prevent breakage caused by heat, coloring, and chemical treatments. They also promote hair growth by rebuilding damaged follicles while strengthening the root. Hair butter makes a great base for a pre-poo treatment and gives any DIY hair mask a dense, flexible tone and texture.
Grab a shower cap and leave your pre-poo treatment on for at least 30 minutes. If your hair has had a particularly rough week and you could use a little extra self-care, aim for an hour. Looking for the best DIY pre-poo recipes?
Try a banana pre-poo to fight frizz and repair split ends. Bananas are high in potassium, a hair fortifying ingredient perfect for natural hair. Simply start with:
- Mash or blend one ripe banana.
- Combine the banana with 2 tbsp. of extra-virgin olive oil.
- Mix well and apply the banana pre-poo to pre-divided sections of hair.
- Allow the pre-poo to sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes before washing and conditioning.
- Complete this treatment 1 to 3 times a week.
If bananas aren't your favorite, try an egg pre-poo instead. This delicious formula utilizes the natural protein in eggs to bind and protect the hair follicle, revitalizing tired, damaged strands. It's a great formula for protection against future damage as well.
To begin:
- Beat 1 to 3 eggs, depending on the length of your hair and how much pre-poo you'll need to cover it.
- Combine the eggs with 1 tbsp. of honey and 2 tbsp. of olive oil.
- Section your hair and evenly distribute the mixture over your strands.
- Allow the pre-poo to sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes before washing and shampooing.
- Complete this treatment at least once a week.
Of course, there are plenty of natural hair brands that have already formulated the perfect pre-poo treatment for your hair. If you're feeling less DIY and more like going shopping for dazzling curly hair products, there's no shame in adding some salon-purchased pre-poo treatments to your at-home haircare kit. After all, even goddesses keep a busy schedule. When it's time for a natural hair spa day, reach for your favorite pre-poo blend, and get ready for the best curly hairstyles of your life.
Pre-poo treatments are great for protecting and perfecting curly hair. Make wash day even more of a treat by ditching conventional hair dryers that fry, damage, and dry out natural hair, and join the RevAir revolution instead. Reverse air hair dryers are designed specifically with natural hair in mind for the most glamorous, yet gentle, way to style, and dry.
Let us know what your favorite wash day routine is, and keep dazzling!
