How To Pre-Poo

A "pre-poo" is a  pre shampoo treatment that you leave on your hair for an extended amount of time before you want to shampoo your hair. Its purpose is to protect your hair from the harshness of the shampoo process and protect your hair from drying out or being stripped of essential oils. It achieves this by creating a barrier around your hair or a coating the sulfates in the shampoo can't penetrate. It adds softness, shine, and moisture to your hair leaving your natural oils alone for the most part. It can consist of conditioner, oils, or edible items. I've heard of bananas, avocado, honey, yogurt, eggs, and mayonnaise being used in the hair. You can combine these or apply them by using any method. I use the LOC method which you can learn more about in my last Transitioning Hair Regimen post.

Pre-Poo How-To:

1. I start by wetting my hair with a mixture of bottled water and olive oil.
2. I apply my oil solution focusing on my ends that consist of Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and Tea Tree oil. The oil traps the moisture from the liquid component in my hair preserving moisture for a longer period of time. It also helps with an itchy scalp, gives my hair shine, and helps my split ends. I purchased both plastic bottles for my liquid and oil at Sally Beauty Supply. 
3. Then for my cream component I use conditioner. Get a cheapo conditioner because you'll be using a ton of it! I use Simply U Moisturizing Conditioner which I bought at Wal-mart because it contained none of the icky chemicals hair hates, it was cheap, and it had a great pump on it. 
4. Start at your ends and work your way towards your roots. This locks in moisture and creates a barrier around the hair protecting it from the shampoo.
5. The final step is to finger comb and then detangle the hair using a denman brush, wide tooth comb, or a Tangle Teezer. I don't put any product in my hair for this step but I would recommend Kinky Curly Knot Today as a GREAT detangler. By finger combing first you get rid of the knots in your hair gently causing less breakage.

Kinky Curly Knot Today

My Disco Purple Tangle Teezer

Ideally you should pre-poo before every shampoo containing sulfates allowing it to sit on your hair for 30-60 minutes. The time length is needed in order for your hair to have time to absorb and lock in the treatment. You can put a shower cap and a towel/turban over your hair or sit under a heated hood dryer if you prefer. 

Hot Oil Rinse

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If you want to skip the heated dryer another way to prepare your hair for a shampoo is to apply your oil solution warmed up onto your hair. This can be called a hot oil pre- poo or a hot oil rinse which will leave your hair softer, shinier, and more manageable after 30-60 minutes. Check out YouTube for great recipes or visit your local beauty supply store because places like Sally Beauty Supply sell oils in one time use microwaveable containers as shown below. 

Who Should Use Hot Oil Rinses?

1. Chemically textured hair like permed and relaxed hair can become damaged.
2. Chemically bleached or lightened hair. The bleach is very drying and damaging to the hair.
3. Color treated hair can become dry and dull looking.
4. Dry hair which can be caused by genetics or even the climate can leave the hair dull and lifeless while being more prone to breakage.
5. Heat tools like flat irons, blow dryers, and curling irons can break and damage the hair.

Pros:

• Softer Hair
• More Manageable Hair
• Shinier Hair
• Helps Split Ends
• Smooths Cuticle
• Budget Friendly
• Easy To Make
• Helps A Dry Scalp
• Prevents/Reduces Dandruff
• Adds Body
• Prevents Frizz
• Prevents breakage
• Prevents Dry Hair Shaft
• Moisturizes Scalp

Oil:

1. Coconut Oil- This is my favorite oil and can help a dry scalp.
• Conditions the scalp.
• Stimulates hair growth.
• Adds softness and manageability.
• Adds a great shine to my hair.
• It can reduce or eliminate dandruff.
2. Jojoba Oil- 
• This is a good lightweight option for oily hair.
• Will leave the hair soft.
• Helps a dry scalp.
• Prevents dandruff.
3. Almond Oil-
• Conditions and nourishes the scalp.
• Great for a dry scalp
• Packed full of moisture.
• Stimulates hair growth.
• Softens the hair.
• Smooths the cuticle.
4. Castor Oil- 
• Good for oily hair because of its drying properties. 
• It will strengthen your hair.
• A good option for damaged hair
5. Olive Oil- 
• High in antioxidants A and E.
• A great nourishing oil.
• Has anti-aging properties.
• Can be used on any hair type. 
• It can add softness and manageability.
• Makes the hair shiny.
• Has disinfectant properties.
• Heals and soothes the scalp. 
• Great for dry itchy scalps.
• Improves Elasticity
6. Avocado Oil- 
1. Contains vitamins A, D, & E.
2. Great for dry or frizzy hair.
3. Has tons of protein.
4. Contains follic acid, magnesium, copper, iron, and amino acids.
5. Promotes hair growth.
6. Nourishing and moisturizing.
7. Easily penetrates the hair and skin.
8. Great for all hair types.

Optional Ingredients:

1. Essential Oils- Adds a great smell and can be relaxing.
2. Finely Ground Coffee/Chamomile
3. Honey- Honey is a humectant meaning it attracts and retains moisture in the hair.
4. Conditioner- Use a moisturizing conditioner.
5. Bananas- A banana will help the hairs elasticity.
6. Aloe Vera Gel- Stimulates hair growth and helps breakage.
7. Herbs- Can add a lot to your hair depending on the herb.
8. Egg Yolks- Just use the white if you have oily hair but eggs have tons of protein and nourishing qualities to help the softness and shine of the hair.
9. Avocados- These are packed full of protein and add shine to the hair. Great for dry, breakage prone hair
10. Lemon, Lime, & Grapefruit Juice- Lemon juice adds a great smell and can be used for someone with highlights. The grapefruit juice will clarify your hair.

My Homemade Recipe:

• 3 Tbs. Olive Oil
• 2 Tbs. Coconut Oil
• 1 Tbs. Honey
• 1/4 Cup. Conditioner 
• 1 tsp. Lemon juice

Supplies:

1. Shower Cap
2. Wide Tooth Comb
3. 4-6 Clips
4. Sulfate Free/Gentle Shampoo
5. Cleansing/Moisturizing Conditioner
6. Ingredients Of Choice- There's no limit to how many ingredients you can mix and use.

Stove Top:

1. Place your oil in a plastic bottle that is heat safe or a glass container.
2. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
3. Turn the heat off and place your container in the water for 1-2 minutes
4. Let cool slightly and then test mixture on the back of your wrist before application.

Microwave:

1. Place oil into a microwave safe bowl.
2. Heat for up to 20 seconds.
3. Do not let the oil pop or boil.
4. Remove the bowl ad let the oil cool slightly.
5. Test the oil on the back of your wrist before application.

Hot Oil Rinse How To:

1. I start with clean, damp hair. You can just dampen the hair with warm water in a spray bottle instead of shampooing. You can apply the treatment to dry hair as well in the winter months if you prefer.
2. Part your hair into 4-6 sections depending on its thickness.
3. You can apply your ingredients by:
• A color (tint) brush and bowl.
• Pouring it onto your hair over the sink.
• Applicator bottle directly to the scalp in 1/4 inch partings.
4. Massage the oil into your scalp and finger comb.
5. Pin up the saturated hair.
6. Throw a towel into the dryer for 5 minutes on high heat or dampen a towel with warm water and ring out the excess.
7. Place a plastic cap over your head and put the towel around the cap. Drape a towel over your shoulder in case of leaks also.
8. Sit for 30 minutes to an hour with the solution on your hair to assure it is absorbed.
9. Rinse the solution out with warm not hot water and then cool water to seal your cuticle back down to create a barrier the shampoo can't get past.
10. Shampoo and condition as normal and your done.

Tips:

1. The hair does NOT need to be soaked with oil or it will just run down your face and back.
2. You can use a hot oil rinse up to once a week.
3. Play around with ingredients and keep trying new things.
4. The hair should not be soaking wet with water before applying the treatment because the hair will be filled with water and not have any room left for the oil to be absorbed. The oil could slip right out of the hair and be a waste.
5. Don't burn yourself applying HOT oil to your hair. It only needs to be WARM.
6. If you don't want to use a warm/damp towel you can sit under a hood dryer or a soft hood dryer. A heat free option is to use your bodies natural heat by placing a turban on your head or a plain towel to hold the heat in.
7. Leave the treatment in for as long as possible because the heat opens your hairs outer-most layer called the cuticle. The cuticle raises up allowing the oil to be absorbed deeper into the center of your hair strand. If you wait long enough your cuticle will lay back down sealing in the oils which is why the full 30-60 minutes is needed.

"The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair." - Audrey Hepburn 

~Good luck with your natural hair journey.~

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