How Wash Day Affects Hair Growth & Length Retention for Natural Hair

Wash day isn’t just about getting your hair clean—it’s one of the most important steps in your length retention journey. If your curls are constantly breaking, feeling dry, or not retaining length despite your best efforts, your wash day routine might be the reason.

Let’s break it down—and help you protect the growth you’ve worked so hard for.

Why Length Retention Matters More Than You Think

So many of us focus on “hair growth” when what we really need is length retention. Your hair is growing—every healthy scalp is capable of that. But if your ends are snapping off as fast as your roots grow in, you’ll never see the progress.

The secret?
Your wash day routine plays a huge role in whether your strands stay strong or break down.

Wash Day Mistakes That Sabotage Growth

Here’s where things go left for a lot of our curlfriends:

Skipping detangling or being too rough
Using drying shampoos or harsh cleansers
Not conditioning enough—or conditioning at the wrong time
Ignoring scalp health
Not sealing in moisture afterward

These habits lead to breakage, scalp buildup, and weakened strands that just can’t hold on.

The Tree Naturals Wash Day Ritual (for Growth + Retention)

Here’s how I treat my hair every wash day—and it’s helped me grow it, love it, and keep it:

Step 1: Gentle Finger Detangling Under Water

Detangle under the water stream to reduce friction and minimize breakage. Start here to protect your ends and prep your hair for cleansing.

Step 2: Conditioner Bar (Yes, First!)

Before shampooing, apply the Tree Naturals Conditioner Bar to soften knots and add slip. This reduces shedding and breakage when you cleanse. It’s called pre-conditioning—and it’s a game changer for retaining length.

Step 3: Shampoo Bar – Double Cleanse

Use our Shampoo Bar to cleanse the scalp and hair. If you have buildup, do a second lather. It’s clarifying but still nourishing—your curls won’t feel stripped.

Step 4: Conditioner Bar (Again!)

After shampooing, reapply the Conditioner Bar. Your hair is primed to soak in all that nourishment now. Think strength, softness, and manageability.

Step 5: Deep Conditioner

Finish strong with the Tree Naturals Deep Conditioner. It deeply penetrates the strands, restoring elasticity and moisture—two essentials for length retention.

Bonus: Don’t Forget Your Scalp

If your scalp is feeling flaky, itchy, or congested, it’s time to reset. Our Detoxifying Earth Mask clears buildup, balances oil production, and creates the perfect foundation for growth.

Healthy scalp = healthy hair.

Grab everything mentioned in our beautiful, luxe Wash Day Kit.

New to This Routine? We Got You.

We created a Wash Day Guide + step-by-step video to walk you through each part of the routine—no guesswork, no overwhelm. Just simple, proven steps to healthier, stronger curls.

📥 Grab the guide here
🎥 Follow along with the video and see exactly how we do it

Because real results come from real care—and we’re with you every step of the way.

If You’re Not Doing This… You’re Missing Out

Thousands of our curlfriends have transformed their hair with this exact routine—and if you’re still battling dryness, breakage, or stunted growth, it’s time to make the switch.

✨ Imagine hair that feels soft, strong, and easy to manage.
✨ Imagine seeing real length this year—not just in your dreams.
✨ Imagine loving your wash day instead of dreading it.