I’ve been a wash and go girly since 2021, a curl artist showed me it was possible to set my hair in a Wash and Go, and I have been enjoying the journey ever since. Experimenting with different products and building an my list of “go to” products for my wash and go.
Topper Hair Gels are layered over a humectant rich gel to create your desired finish for a wash and go. Different combinations of Topper Gels Create Different outcomes for wash and gos. I might choose one topper if I need a faster drying time and I am ok with a firm hold. I might choose a different topper hair gel if I want some volume. I might choose a different topper hair gels for touchable hold. I would choose different toppers based on how long I want a style to last.
I learned alot about topper gels from the See Some Curls visual library by Black Girl Curls. You can learn more about See Some Curls here. There is a much longer list of topper gels/ Creams/Foams inside of See Some Curls, but these are some of my personal favorites.
Fast Drying Brilliant Shine
Trepadora Bamboo Ginseng Glaze
Back in 2021, I got my first salon Wash and Go. I’ve been hooked on Trepadora Bamboo Ginseng Glaze Ever since. It gives a beautiful shine. I always use Bamboo Ginseng Glaze with a humectant Base Gel. If you’ve ever used botanical base gels they take FOREVER to dry. Bamboo Ginseng Glaze forms a cast quickly over the humectant gel. Greatly reducing my drying time. My hair is dry to the touch, but the humectant gel is still drying underneath.
Easy to Find Great Results in the Summer
On a hot humid summer day in NJ, I had to immerse my head in the pool to get something that one of my kids dropped to the bottom of the pool. My hair was sopping wet, but after standing in the sun for about 20 minutes, I felt my hair was starting to form a cast again…that is one of many reasons why Bee is forever my summer girl
Bee is that Girl. In a pinch I can use her as a one and done styler for a wash and go. But she can get a little crunchy on her own. Bee Girl is thick and gives a nice weight to my hair and like Bamboo Ginseng Glaze, she dries quickly. I like to use her with a THIN coating of humectant gel underneath Bee Girl to soften the hold a bit, and to protect my hair from dehydration.
Bee Girls is also easily accessible in the US at stores like Walmart, Target and Amazon. So Bee Girl is a staple especially in the summertime.
Luxurious Touchable Hold
My Stylist also introduced me to this one. Papaya Slip has a softer hold than Bamboo Ginseng Glaze, it gives fluffier hair and doesn’t dry quite as fast as Bamboo Ginseng Glaze. Lots of Hold, zero crunch and Papaya Slip does play nice with other stylers. Like Bamboo Ginseng Glaze, Papaya Slip is a bougie imported product, so it is pricy. To me it is worth it haven’t found anything quite like Papaya Slip in the us.
Untwisted.shop is an authorized retailer of Trepadora and we carry Papaya Slip.
Lightweight Fast Drying Control
Ok, so this is another stylist recommendation for my hair. It is an Aloe based serum, I personally finds it helps form curl clumps without adding weight or increasing drying time. Honestly in my hand it doesn’t feel like it is going to do much, but it does at control to my wash and go, gathering my curls together.
In the salon my stylist used curly magic, Innersense I Create Volume , and Trepadora Bamboo Ginseng Glaze. I use it in a similar way humectant gel, Innersense I Create Volume , and a topper gel.
Smoothing Shine and Control
I originally tried Treluxe Reflex Serum with other Treluxe products like Treluxe Untie the Knot , Treluxe Curl Supreme , and Treluxe Hi Def Gel. The Reflex serum felt the most special to me, it is a lightweight serum and when I applied it to my hair it gets a little frothy like a styling foam. The results are more control and more shine I liked it, but I wasn’t sure where it would fit in my regular line up. When I found the reflex serum on sale, I stocked up.
One day, I ran out of Innersense I Create Volume , so I decided to try the Treluxe Reflex Serum in its place. Worked like a charm! I got curl clumping and control which is what I needed. I use Treluxe Reflex Serum just like I would use Innersense I Create Volume. That is humectant gel base, Treluxe Reflex Serum, and then another gel topper. I actually prefer Treluxe Reflex Serum to I Create Volume.
New to my Wash and Go Line Up
I’ve Recently Picked these toppers up and used them with good results. However, I’m not sure if they are permanent additions to the styling line up…yet.
I Create Hold is extremely popular with Cut it Kinky Stylists and Black Girl Curls followers, but I haven’t used it since 2021…Let me explain…
Way back in 2021, I tried I Create Hold. I was new to wash and gos and had no clue how to use it. I finished the bottle and never repurchased. At my first visit with a Cut It Kinky Stylist, she used Trepadora Papaya Slip and Bamboo Ginseng glaze as toppers. At might second and third visits she used just Trepadora Bamboo Ginseng Glaze as a topper.
At my fourth salon visit, my stylist introduced Innersense I Create Volume as a topper along with Trepadora Bamboo Ginseng Glaze. You see, I’ve seen my stylist for wash and gos and curly cuts like 5 times now, she never used I create hold on my hair, despite carrying Innsersense products. So I assume she believes the other combos are better options for me.
I decided to give Innersense I Create Hold another try to see how I like it now that I have healthy hydrated hair. I will keep you updated about how that works out for me and whether or not it stays in the rotation.
Trepadora Acai Berry Fix was re-released this year. The previous version was the gel with the least amount of hold. I’ve tried this new version, (Is this a New Holy Grail? First Impressions Trepadora Acai Berry Fix Gel) and it has more hold! It has more hold than Papaya Slip, but less hold than Bamboo Ginseng glaze. I will have to try it out some more to see how it will fit into my routine.
Innersense I Create Definition
This foam came out about a year ago. I’ve used it once and It has a ton of hold. What I like about this foam is that is full of botanicals and I it doesn’t seem to have any plastics. It is nice. Look forward to trying it out some more to see how it will fit into my routine.
Want to Learn More
See Some Curls is a Great resource to learn how to care for your natural hair especially if you are a Wash and Go Girl. In See Some Curls there are live demonstrations and peer mentors to help you trouble shoot any issues you may have with your wash and gos. I started, in see some curls and normally spend about 3 or 4 months in there every year to refresh/learn new skills. Lately Black Girl Curls has been adding alot of new video content, demonstrating new products as they come out. You can learn more about Black Girls and See Some Curls here.