How Sink Washing Creates Shorter Wash Days, a Cleaner Scalp, and Healthier Hair.

Long ago, I adored wash day. The idea of dedicating endless hours to caring for my hair seemed like the best thing ever.    I always figured that, in order for wash day to be effective, it had to be a long process.  But super-long wash days got old after a while. Instead of putting my mind to work on ways to make the process more efficient, I opted to extend the time between wash days instead.  Spreading out wash days seemed like a good idea, but we all know the risks associated with infrequent washing.  

I've been stretching out wash days for as long as my scalp could handle but that wouldn't be the case if I could execute a full wash day experience in a fraction of the time.   

It seems like my prayers have been answered.  

This week I was reminded of a solution that I can not wait to try.   

Basically, instead of jumping in and out of the shower a hundred times on wash day, we move the entire process to the sink. 
 

Let's talk about the impact of sink-centered wash days.

Now that temperatures have dropped, I recoil at the idea of getting in and out of the shower over and over for the purpose of washing my hair.  What would happen if I washed my hair in the sink instead?

I'll tell you what would happen....

[ 1.]  My scalp would be fully cleansed.

My wash routine is sort of a guessing game.  I know that I should focus the shampoo application directly on my scalp but I have no idea how well of a job I'm doing because I can't see a darn thing.  Because of the lack of visibility, I have to make up for it by using more product to cover areas I may have missed.  After wash day, I never have any real peace of mind that my scalp is thoroughly cleansed because I'm not 100% certain that I've washed every inch of my scalp.  But if I were to wash in front of a mirror, I could see exactly what's going on as I work section by section. 

[ 2.] My hair would be less tangled.

Another unwanted side-effect of shampooing in the shower is how I'm unintentionally tangling my hair.  I've tried washing in sections but it's hard to do while standing under the showerhead.  But if I were to wash and rinse each section in a sink I could easily cleanse individual sections without having to worry about the rest of my hair.  Especially if I used the spray nozzle of the kitchen sink.  I could even wash and detangle sections one at a time before moving to the next.  The worst thing you can do, as a "sink-washer" is to scrub the scalp and hair vigorously like they do in the salon.  

[ 3.] My skin would be protected from product run-off.

Not long ago, I wrote about how I was able to free myself from chest acne after changing how I apply my fragrance. In the same way, some of those who've stopped washing their hair in the shower seemed to notice that suddenly, their backne is gone.  Could it be that product runoff was no longer clogging the pores on their back?  It's hard enough to make sure that your hair is squeaky clean on wash day but you also have to be sure to remove any product residue from your back otherwise things could go left.  Washing your hair in the skin might be a game-changer if you struggle with backne. 

[ 4.] My hair would be properly conditioned.

Whenever I suffered a setback or noticed signs of obvious damage, I would ALWAYS change up my conditioner application by stepping out of the shower and applying conditioner (in very small sections) in front of the mirror.  If it did this for months, the areas of damage would miraculously disappear.  All because I finally applied conditioner evenly throughout my hair.  If I transitioned to sink-washing, applying conditioner in front of the mirror would be a given.  Imagine the amount of length retention possible if I was consistent on executing this simple practice of deep conditioning in tiny sections. 

[ 5. ] I'd reduce the time it takes to wash/deep condition. 

I've read some feedback from those who sink-wash and the one thing I keep seeing over and over is how much this process saves so much time.  Someone even mentioned that she mastered this process so well that she "washes" her hair while watching her favorite show.  Instead of wetting her hair in the sink, she opts to use a spray bottle of shampoo diluted with water.   Others have said that their wash day was cut down to two hours just by taking the shower aspect from the entire process.  I don't know if I'll ever experience a 2 hour wash day but if I could just reclaim some of my time, I'll be happy. 

Even if it takes me just as long to sink-wash as it does in the shower, I'll still come out on top because my scalp will be cleaner.  My hair will be shinier because I probably won't skip the cold water rinse.  I'll do a better job of deep conditioning, I won't have to keep needlessly jumping in and out of the shower, and I'll finally love wash days again.