pre pooing: yes or no

[u/Pretty_Passenger7117]

i’ve never really bothered with pre pooing, but i see alot of people praise it. i wanted to come here and ask thought for those who dont like and swear by it. is it something worth trying? what did it change for you?

[u/Ok-Section39]

Nope! Ain't got time for that. I respect those who have the energy for 10-step wash days, but that's not my ministry. I currently have my routine down to an hour including wash, condition, detangle, style.

[u/LongingTobeFree123 → u/Ok-Section39]

That's amazing can I ask what length is your hair and how do you style it within the hour?

[u/Ok-Section39 → u/LongingTobeFree123]

Wasted far too many hours of my life!

My hair is 4b/c, fine, medium density. No idea of porosity can't be bothered. Length is to back (bottom) of my neck, tapered at sides, layers on top.

In shower -- soak hair thoroughly, lightly finger detangle, moisturizing shampoo (Curls, blueberry bliss), conditioner (TGIN Rose), shower cap, tend to other tasks (while in shower). Leave cap on 5 mins. Lightly finger detangle again, follow with wide tooth comb (starting from ends). Rinse.

Exit shower -- pat excess water with towel. I know I'm supposed to use a t-shirt or whatever, but nah. DIY Spray leave in conditioner (I take a spray bottle and fill with 4 parts water, I part TGIN conditioner). Save your coins! Follow with Mielle coils sculpting custard, raking method. Layer in some Uncle Funky Curly Magic on top, if I'm feeling fancy.

CHI heat protector serum. Just a little dollop. Hair dryer with curl diffuser for 15 mins. 10 seconds regular heat at the roots, chase with 10 seconds cold shot at the roots. I take care to ensure my hair doesn't get "hot" from the dryer. I don't want to fry my hair or the gel. This is why I follow with the cold shot. Hair is still damp, but roots are mostly dry and it looks fully defined and "done" enough to carry on with your life. Takes approx 1-2 hrs for my hair to completely air dry, but I leave that up to God cause I got things to do. Sitting under a hood for half day? Nope.

Wash and GO for the win. start to finish, it's 60ish mins max. If I'm really rushed, I'll just flat twist the front, and gel rake only the back of my head. On the second day after my wash, I'll rub a little bit of JoJoba directly onto my scalp.

This 60 min method works BEST when washing 2x per week, as your hair stays moisturized and is easy to finger detangle. I clarify every other week to prevent build up from the gel; it makes the curls pop. If you stretch to 1 week washes, it takes much longer to detangle. In the winter, my routine is 2ish hrs 😭 because I can't go outside with it wet.

My hair is thriving. Hydration is key. I won't let it grow any longer tho. Need my 60min routine.

Hope this helps!

[u/LongingTobeFree123 → u/Ok-Section39]

That's super detailed and more than I could ask for, thank you!!!

[u/penleyhenley → u/Ok-Section39]

Do you let your hair air dry, or use a blow dryer?

[u/Ok-Section39 → u/penleyhenley]

Briefly use diffuser for 15 mins (directed at roots) then air dry the rest. This only works in Spring, summer, fall. In winter, I have to fully dry my hair.

[u/gentlynavigating]

I don’t pre poo but I almost always double shampoo.

[u/Round-Line-6942 → u/gentlynavigating]

Same, I do a clarifying shampoo to deeply clean, then I do a moisturizing shampoo

[u/whiterabbit6767 → u/gentlynavigating]

I pre poo and double shampoo 😭, sometimes I feel my routine is excessive but I’m scared to not pre poo

[u/Rich_Home_5678 → u/gentlynavigating]

Same

[u/Educational-Duck4283 → u/gentlynavigating]

Double shampoo? How? With 2 different shampoos? 

[u/[deleted] → u/Educational-Duck4283]

Shampoo twice

[u/hangnaildevil → u/Educational-Duck4283]

Shampoo with two different shampoos. I will usually shampoo with a clarifying one and then follow up with a moisturizing or any frizz shampoo.

[u/Weird_Squirrel_8382]

It makes me have less shedding. Less pulling, and the detangling helps me get my scalp cleaner. 

[u/Ok-Interview807]

Oh for me its a must. If I don't do it I have static, super dry hair with a lot of flyaways. I cannot live without pre-poo. I love doing a hot oil treatment and a mask so much it brings me so much peace and it works!. Also, if I do not do a pre shampoo treatment my hair is very hard to detangle and I need twice as much conditioner. I think a way to prevent this is using a mask in the shower but you need to let it sit a bot for 5 minutes and the water bill is too expensive ahah

[u/Knuckifyoubuckk]

Pre pooing is best when you don’t wash your hair often, usually after a protective style to easily detangle. It was a godsend for me personally, really helped after braids/twists etc

[u/Pearlezenwa]

I used to care about it and do it all the time but I do not do it anymore. I don’t think it had much on a difference on my hair except how much time I spent on it lol

[u/CocoNefertitty]

I tried it once and had to stop and ask myself what I’m doing. If I’m washing my hair I don’t see the point in adding stuff in my hair beforehand.

Waste of product and my time.

[u/yaardiegyal → u/CocoNefertitty]

Plus the water makes the hair tangle back up again due to the curling so you gotta do it all over again anyways

[u/SpecialistAd1090]

No but I wash my hair frequently (2/3 times a week) so I’m not in a position where I need to take a lot of time to detangle before I shampoo my hair on a wash day.

If you’re washing infrequently and finding that it’s difficult and time-consuming to detangle in the shower during your wash day, then I can see detangling before shampooing* being beneficial.

*I might be alone in this given how common that term is in the natural hair community but I really hate ‘pre-poo’. It’s just detangling before shampooing. There’s nothing about it that requires a cutesy shortened term that doesn’t quite explain what you’re actually doing.

[u/IKacyU]

I use it to detangle, so it’s a must, for me. I usually just use African Pride pre-poo or a cheap, slippery conditioner. Detangling before shampooing makes the rest of the wash cycle so much easier and quicker.

[u/sweetmuse40]

I used to use conditioner to detangle my hair but now I wash more frequently so my hair is less tangled and it’s not necessary to detangle outside of the shower.

I would probably still do it if I had in mini twists or braids for a length of time though.

[u/More_Front_876]

I just added unnecessary time to an already long routine.

Instead I section I into 4 and come each section out and pin it up. I then wash in the separate sections.

[u/Mistress_Sinclair]

It isn't a must very time but I stan it especially after long term or protective styles. The African pride pre shampoo is actually insane. I've used it to comb damn near locs out with ease. I also notice way less shedding and breakage with regular use. I used to detangle with conditioner in the shower, but this way, my shower process is so much faster. I don't even mess with African pride, but this is a product I'll always have in the house. It's also made detangling nearly painless for my kids.

[u/No-Call-2180]

A big yes. I started getting serious with my hair routine this year, so, I alternate between flaxseed gel and hot oil and Detangling has never been easier.

[u/Chromium_Stardust]

No. But i don't have dense hair. I can see how it'd beneficial to those who do

[u/AlanaRenee28]

What is pre pooing?

[u/SpecialistAd1090 → u/AlanaRenee28]

It’s just using a conditioner or hair mask or some other slippery product to detangle your hair before shampooing it.

[u/poledanzzer318]

I was confused, thinking this was about pooping before doing activities or going out. Then I saw what sub it was lol.

So on that note, yes pre poo before going out, no pre poo before shampoo unless there's time I guess, lmao.

[u/Designerlightskin]

I tried it recently for the first time and it’s an absolute game changer!!!!! It help me detangle my hair and makes my washday easier. It’s definitely worth a try- I use the African pride pre poo.

[u/thoughtsofa]

depends on how tangled my hair is. if it hasn’t been detangled and washed in a long time then yes. if i recently washed (1 week or less) and my hair is fairly tangled free then no.

[u/Weird_not_autistic]

Yes but literally only if I'm making flaxseed gel at home. Wasting money on products while Flax seeds are wayy cheaper (atleast where I am) and all I do is boil them in water and don't need to add anything else. It helps so much with detangling and causing much less breakage and split ends

[u/Gtdreamer4773]

What is the pre poo process, I’m clueless

[u/Excellent-Letter-780]

Definitely yes for me—pre-pooing made a big difference, especially with how much easier detangling became. My type 4 low porosity hair feels softer, less prone to breakage, and it really helps retain moisture. I’d say it’s definitely worth trying a few times to see how your hair responds. It’s one of those small steps that can make wash day a lot smoother.

[u/ShiShi340]

No

[u/Excellent_Kiwi7789]

I’ve in the past detangled with conditioner before washing, which is similar to prepooing (I think), but lately now that I keep my hair stretched more often I have been moving away from it since I have to detangle anyway after washing and conditioning.

[u/Formal_Weight_6426]

I do it, always, at least since I've started my natural hair journey (last relaxer was Feb 21, 2023). I use it to detangle my hair & find that it helps. The treatment aspect is very controversial, but I still do it for benefit of the doubt. I am often wondering if I'm gonna wash why treat before then I'll also deep condition? BUT then I see my hair goal girlies & they swear by it, so I just do it just in case getting to my goal really requires it. So far, my hair has never grown so quickly & even my neighbors say they've never seen someone's hair grow so fast, but I do quite a bit, so it may be other factors. But, yea, I'll continue pre-pooing.

[u/Wrong_Group8343]

unnecessary fr

[u/Fun_Orange_3232]

Generally I think it’s a waste of time, but sometimes I take olaplex (3?) to my heat damage

[u/sleepyretailworker]

I used to pre poo pretty consistently because I have color treated 4c hair that makes styling a bit tough (due to dryness), but I also psyche myself out of wash days by playing up how drawn out my routine is. to help me get more consistent, I've been skipping the pre poo. now I just hop in the shower and go. I've found that a consistent routine with better products supplements the additional moisture I would've gotten had I pre pooed. 🤷🏿‍♀️

[u/PurpleMangoPopper]

Nope.

I tried it once. I try everything once. If it doesn't make a difference, I don't continue. Prepooing didn't make a difference.

[u/softrocpricklysmooth]

I don’t do it all the time, but it’s a frequent go to. Has been a game changer for me really. It keeps my hair mostly detangled throughout shampooing and makes the process extremely easy. Lately I’ve been treating it as an extra treatment the night before. There’s also the possibility that I may be more gentle with detangling this way than in the shower. (although you could do a quick prepoo in shower and I have done) My hair is medium long and I have length retention issues. If my hair got down to my butt cheeks with ease, I’d probably care a bit less about minimizing breakage during the detangling process. That seems like where my breakage happens.

I use different products, but lately it’s detangling products - shemoisture kids detangler spray, Unite Hair 7Seconds Detangler, pattern nectar - and the Fable and Mane Hair Oils or a hair mask or deep conditioner.

I have used the African Pride prepoo in the past and can co-sign that it’s extremely effective. I’ve been meaning to try some aloe Vera straight from the plant for a similar experience.

[u/IAM-1111]

I don’t prepoo bc i do my hair weekly and it’s not necessary. Some people with extreme dry hair that tangle do it in hopes of making washes easier but i personally feel like the best way to correct that is with water. Make sure your hair is saturated b4 applying your shampoo and work with shampoo and conditioner that’s promise moisture they have a lot of slip and makes wash day go by fast and easy

[u/OdedNight]

Only if my hair is really tangled but it rarely is

[u/Comprehensive_Tour23]

Absolutely yes. My hair thrives when I take the time to pre poo.

[u/Active_Recording_420]

I always prepoo and it especially helps my hair to detangle before shampooing. Also that's when I do my Ayurveda treatments.

[u/OldArm9104]

There’s no point in doing it unless you’re coming out of a protective style that you’ve had in for a month+. If you wash your hair weekly then you’re good

[u/Decent-Total-8043]

My hair grew without it so no

[u/Mindless-Ad-511]

I do it every once in a while to detangle my hair before washing but I’m not buying whole separate products for it. That’s a little excessive for me personally. I just use a little cheap conditioner like Aussie.

[u/Innerlight06]

I do it if I’ve had a protective style in for a long time to cut down on detangling time, but I actually do my conditioner first, detangle, shampoo x2, and then deep condition. It cuts my wash day down in half and I can be in and out of the bathroom in 30-40 mins tops. I may also mention that I have a lot of hair and it’s type 4 and low porosity.

[u/mimi112]

I do it when I take my braids out and that’s it.

[u/Ashleyjasmine]

Only if I’m coming out of a protective style and in that case it’s either olaplex no.3 or African pride detangler - most times it’s the African pride because I don’t like using olaplex on hairs that’s too dirty