The Benefits of Pre-Pooing in Natural Hair Care

From running errands to working late hours and cooking for your family - women are natural-born superheroes. If you’re a busy professional woman who’s always stretched for time, we understand how intense life can be - but don’t let your hair suffer because of it! Hair care is extremely important. When you look good, you feel good and ultimately, it sets the mood for the day; so why not make sure you do and look your best every day?

If you’re a hair enthusiast and lover of all things hair care, you might have heard about pre-pooing. Pre-pooing is a natural hair care practice that involves applying a treatment or conditioner to your hair before you shampoo it. In this article, we will be discussing what is pre-poo for natural hair, how to pre-poo and what you can use to pre-poo your hair.

What is Pre-Pooing?

First things first, pre-pooing is another word for pre-shampooing. Basically, it’s the art of prepping your hair before you go ahead and shampoo. Now, this important step offers several benefits for women or men with natural or curly hair. One of the main reasons is that it helps to lock in moisture and prevents products with harsh ingredients from stripping the natural oils from your hair. It’s also good to note that a pre-pooing routine looks different for everyone, and depends on their hair type and specific needs.

Here are some benefits to pre-pooing natural hair:

1. Reduced breakage: By adding a protective layer to your hair before shampooing, you can reduce the risk of breakage and damage that can happen during this process.

2. Detangling: Pre-pooing your hair can make your hair easier to detangle. Applying either a conditioner or oil before shampooing helps loosen knots and tangles.

3. Softening: Many pre-poo treatments contain moisturising and emollient ingredients that can help soften the hair.

4. Enhanced cleansing: Pre-pooing can enhance the actual shampooing process. How? It breaks down product build-up and loosens debris, helping the shampoo do its job more effectively.

5. Frizz reduction: When you pre-poo your hair, you’re helping beat the frizz and creating a protective barrier that minimises moisture loss during the shampoo process.

How to Pre-Poo Natural Hair

Are you curious to learn more about how to pre-poo your natural hair? It’s a relatively simple process that can create so much difference once you make it a habit in your routine. Here’s a handy step-by-step guide on how to pre-poo natural hair:

1. Start with damp or dry hair

2. Apply your favourite or go-to treatment, such as a conditioner, oil or hair mask and cover your hair from root to tip

4. Pro tip: You can also pre-poo your hair overnight as an additional option

5. Once the time has completed, shampoo and condition your hair as per normal

Once you start adding pre-pooing to your beauty hair care regime, you will learn new tricks and techniques to do it even better. This can be anything from trying different products, using oils or leaving it overnight. Here are some useful tips and tricks for the best results:

• Select pre-poo products that cater to your hair’s specific needs

• Give your pre-poo treatment ample time to work

• Divide your hair into sections before applying the pre-poo treatment

• Gently detangle your hair before application

• For better absorption, warm your pre-poo treatment slightly before applying it

• While applying the treatment, gently massage your scalp for increased blood circulation

• Experiment with different ingredients and create a blend that suits you

What Can I Use to Pre-Poo My Natural Hair?

When choosing a pre-poo product or ingredient, consider your hair’s unique needs. If your hair is dry, focus on moisture-rich options such as oils or deep conditioners. If your hair needs protein, consider using eggs or yoghurt. It’s important to experiment and find what works best for your hair type and desired results.

You can use a variety of ingredients and products to pre-poo your natural hair. Whether you prefer natural or store-bought products, the following list is suitable for pre-pooing natural hair:

• Natural oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, argan oil and castor oil are popular choices

• TRESemmé professional hair conditioners are great for pre-pooing

• Hair masks or deep conditioning treatments designed specifically for this purpose

• A mix of honey and conditioner can be beneficial for dry or frizzy hair

• Natural ingredients such as eggs, yoghurt, bananas or avocado are packed with vitamins and minerals

Tips for Balancing Style and Professionalism While Pre Pooing

Balancing style and professionalism while pre-pooing can be a challenge, especially if you need to do it in a professional or public setting. Here are some tips to help you maintain a polished and professional appearance whilst taking care of your natural hair:

1. Plan ahead by choosing a pre-poo day when you have some free time.

2. Consider wearing a protective hairstyle that looks neat and professional, such as a bun, twist-out or braids.

3. Opt for clear or neutral-coloured pre-poo products

4. Use the pre-poo product sparingly to avoid excess residue

5. Use a stylish hair wrap, scarf or turban to cover your hair while pre-pooing

After a successful pre-poo session, styling your hair is the fun part. Here are some styling suggestions for various hair types and preferences:

• The wash-and-go style is ideal for those with curly or coily hair. Simply wash out the pre-poo treatment, apply your favourite leave-in-conditioner and scrunch your hair to enhance your natural curls.

• A stylish bun can give you a professional look. Smooth your hair with a brush and secure it neatly with gel or bobby pins.

• Protective hairstyles such as box braids, twists, cornrows or faux lox are excellent options after pre-pooing.

• Beach Waves, ponytails, and more are fantastic styling options to explore.

Managing Hair Damage While Achieving Your Desired Look

Natural hair can be prone to various forms of potential damage. Breakage is one of the most common issues for natural hair. It can happen due to excessive manipulation or insufficient moisture.

To minimize damage to natural hair, it's essential to adopt a healthy hair care routine that includes proper cleansing, conditioning, moisturizing, and protective styling practices. Additionally, embracing protective hairstyles and gentle handling techniques can help maintain the health and beauty of natural hair.

Regular trims can also prevent split ends from travelling up the hair shaft, preserving hair length and health. Consulting with a professional hairstylist who specializes in natural hair care can provide valuable guidance on maintaining healthy natural hair.

Pre-pooing your hair has many benefits and can contribute to healthy-looking natural hair in the long run. It adds plenty of moisture to your natural hair and leaves it feeling silky soft. It can also help detangle any knots or tangles. Lastly, it provides an excellent barrier against any harsh chemicals found in shampoo.

You deserve to feel like a goddess in your skin, and that can start with great hair! Transform your natural hair today and purchase your TRESemmé hair care products to start your pre-pooing journey today. To stay up to date with all things hair and hair care, sign up for our newsletter to receive more tips and product recommendations.