Day 31 - Pre Pooing

I did a pre-poo this weekend. Hmmm, some of us may be wondering what is a pre-poo? Well, let me just tell you that it is something that my mom my did back in da day to my hair and of course I had no idea why or what it was for. Also, when I decided to transition, my beautician did this as well. So what is pre-pooing? It is a treatment that is done BEFORE you shampoo, which most call pre-shampoo or the slang, pre-poo. African-American hair is drier than most, therefore performing a pre-poo is very beneficial. The treatment coats the strands and forms a protective barrier over the cuticles to keep the hair smooth. It also keeps the harsh detergents in the shampoo from stripping the hair of moisture.

So how do I pre-poo? Since I am transitioning and trying to prevent breakage, I pre-poo once a week. This is how I make mine:

1. Take a small bowl and pour in my favorite conditioner (I use the carrot cholesterol deep conditioner - pic below). I add coconut or olive oil. I switch off between the two. Coconut oil absorbs into the hair faster, olive oil is ultra moisturizing. You can also use grape seed oil or castor oil or whatever kind you like. Mix your oil of choice in the bowl with the conditioner, and make sure it has a smooth, creamy consistency.
2. I then part my hair into 4 sections (do 8 if you have longer hair or super thick hair). Then do one section at a time. Separate the hair and apply the mixture to the roots. Then apply to the hair concentrating on the ends of the hair. Do this for all sections. Don't forget the edges. Once the mix has been applied, use your fingers (this is what I do) or a wide-tooth comb to make sure it is evenly distributed.  This is the time when you want to comb out your hair from root to tip!!!
3. Place a shower cap on your head (cheap plastic kind or use a wal-mart bag and secure with a clip) and allow the treatment to sit for 30 minutes to and hour. I usually do some housecleaning or internet surfing while I wait. You can also wrap your head with a warm towel, to make sure the conditioner really penetrates the hair shaft.
4. Remove your cap or towel. Rinse and shampoo your hair as usual. If you want you can just do a conditioner wash using a mild shampoo.

Personally, I love the results. My hair is SUPER DUPER soft once I do this. When I am all natural, I might only do this once or twice a month depending on how my hair is acting and the weather outside. I am sure in the winter I will need to pre-poo more often.

Peace, Love and Deep Conditioner Treatments
~GNH~