Back To Curly After A Week Without Full Water Immersion

Curls spring back after co-washing

I've noticed that my curly hair elongates and looks straight after a week without full water immersion.  I co-wash once a week and have been wearing a wash and go ponytail.  Next, I do braidouts on day 3 or 4 until the end of the week.  I also mist my hair with water daily.  By the time Friday comes my hair is typically so elongated that it looks like my hair has been pressed and there's only a few resulting waves to show that I'm a naturally curly girl.  My hair is frequently blah! after a long week.  The photo below is a peek at how my hair typically looks after a week without being fully immersed in water.

Here's my quick fix-it strategy.  Co-wash (rinse hair with conditioner) in the shower.  Add some conditioner as a leave- in.  Finger comb some some coconut oil through my strands.  Finger comb gel through tresses (kinky curly curling custard is my fave!) and Wallah , I'm back to curly.  I finish off by securing hair with an elastic.  Sometimes I grab a claw clip and direct hair upward.  Claw clips give my hair a new look and a new feel as compared to my typical ponytail placed in a lower position on my head.  After my hair is secured with an elastic and before adding a claw clip, I take a microfiber towel and scrunch some of the water out.  It does a great job of grabbing some of the moisture without disturbing my curl pattern or causing frizzies.  Use of microfiber towels helps me to eliminate dripping wet hair in cooler weather and allows me to head out right out the door.  Here's how my hair looked when I raised up my curls to show my claw clip that angled my hair upward.

Since my hair has gotten longer it doesn't coil as much as it used to.  In fact after a week without full water immersion, some of the same fears cross my mind in the shower as if I'd had it pressed.  You know like "Is my hair going to curl back up?".  I'm also grateful for a little bit of gel, which helps my ringlets form and hold them lightly in place.

I love how a fresh co-wash after a week without full water immersion brings me back to curly!

Does your hair elongate over the course of the week?  How do you revive your curls?