Wash Day, the Honey's Handmade Way

Wash Day, the Honey's Handmade Way

A gentle, intentional approach to caring for your hair

Wash day isn’t just a routine for our owner— it’s a ritual. It’s my time to slow down, listen to my hair, and give it exactly what it needs. Over the years, I’ve learned that healthy hair care doesn’t come from rushing or overloading products. It comes from intention, patience, and understanding your strands.

Here’s how our owner approaches wash day, especially when her hair has been in a protective style or needs a little extra tlc.

Step 1: Start With a Pre-Poo (When Needed)

If my hair has been in a protective style for about a month or feels dry and deprived, I always begin with a pre-poo.

I apply a lightweight serum or oil to my strands before washing. This step helps:

  • Soften the hair

  • Add slip

  • Begin loosening shed hair and knots

Pre-pooing gives my hair a head starts before cleansing and makes the entire wash day smoother.

Step 2: Detangle Gently — Let the Knots Do the Work

Before shampooing, I gently detangle using:

  • A detangling brush

  • A spray bottle with a little water

I don’t force tangles apart. I let the hair saturate and allow the knots to slowly release on their own. This protects the cuticle and helps prevent unnecessary breakage.

This step is especially important after protective styles.

Step 3: Cleanse With Intention

Once detangled, Continuing the Wash Day Ritual.

That cleanser is always my go-to — it’s the one I trust on my strands. After cleansing, I move into conditioning with intention.

I don’t co-wash during this process. For me, co-washing isn’t necessary when I plan to deep condition, and wash day is when I really want my hair to receive that deeper level of care.

Step 4: Deep Condition with Gentle Heat

Once my hair is clean, I apply a deep conditioner — something rich and nourishing, like those from our moisture-focused collections.

I let the deep conditioner sit for about 10 minutes, allowing gentle heat penetration. This isn’t about high heat or rushing the process. I want the conditioner to do its work without overwhelming my strands.

When it’s time to rinse, I use cool water, not hot. Cool water helps:

  • Keep the hair from feeling overly soft or weighed down

  • Support smoother, more manageable strands

  • Leave the hair feeling balanced, not over-moisturized

Step 5: Condition & Section

After rinsing, my hair is soft enough to freely section without resistance. This is when I follow up with a regular conditioner from my collection — especially my moisture favorites. I love this step because it helps restore slip and prepares my hair for styling.

Wash day, for me, is about listening to my hair. I’m very much a hair-care-with-intention type of person, and this step helps me stay connected to what my strands need in that moment.

Step 6: Style — Twist Out, the Honey Way

For styling, I keep it simple and consistent.

Because I usually wear a twist out, I apply Honey to my strands, working section by section. I twist gently, focusing on smoothness and definition rather than tension.

I let my hair air dry completely — no rushing, no forcing it. Once the twists are released, I’m left with soft, defined curls that feel light, hydrated, and healthy.

Wash Day Is a Ritual, Not a Chore

Wash day doesn’t have to be stressful or complicated. When you slow down, use intentional products, and respect your hair’s natural rhythm, it becomes something you actually look forward to.

If you want to see this process in action, be sure to check out our Wash Day Tutorials and Gems on the Honey’s Handmade website — where I walk you through each step visually.

Your hair deserves patience.
Your wash day deserves intention. 🍯

 

Back to blog