For a woman who has grown her lustrous hair to knee length, planning ahead for her wash day is crucial.
Zelda told us what products and measures she takes to keep her 4’6″ locks clean.
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Zelda from Savannah, Georgia, shares hair-related ASMR content with over 46,000 subscribers on YouTube.
The 23-year-old is currently trying to grow her curls to floor length.
In an interview with The US Sun, she revealed the method she swears by for clean, healthy hair.
WEEKLY WASHING
Zelda said she is very “specific” about the products she uses on her curls and has to plan wash day in advance.
She said her routine can take up to 24 hours, with each step perfectly planned.
“I’ve slowly increased the frequency of my hair washing so that I only wash my hair about once a week,” she said.
“I comb and detangle my hair the night before to save time on wash day.
“About an hour before washing, I apply deep conditioning oils all over my hair.”
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She admitted that she prefers coconut oil because there is scientific evidence supporting its use in hair care.
“The oil fills gaps in the hair shaft where its hydrophobic moisture prevents excess water from entering the shaft,” she said.
“Excessive water intake can lead to hygral fatigue, so it is important to rub oil into the hair before washing.
“While the oil is soaking, I prepare a mixture of my favorite shampoos and conditioners in two separate bowls.”
She said her goal was to give her hair the benefits of multiple ingredients at once while also saving time.
What is hygral fatigue?
According to Healthline, hygral fatigue occurs when excess moisture causes hair follicles to swell.
The damage is evident through matting, hair breakage, frizz and dullness.
Hygral fatigue is irreversible, so the only option is to wait for healthy hair to grow back.
She lets the oil work into her curls for at least an hour before using shampoo and conditioner as usual.
Zelda then applies a care mask and leaves it on for 90 minutes with a shower cap over it.
“It may be too long for other people, but it works for my hair,” she said.
I occasionally use dry shampoo and arrowroot powder to absorb some oil.
“In the meantime, I enjoy sitting in the bathtub for those 90 minutes.
“I’ll give my hair one more quick wash to make sure there’s no oil left on my scalp, but that’s it.
“I rinse and dry as usual. It takes a few hours to air dry.”
KEEP CLEAN
Zelda admitted that the method she uses to keep her hair clean between washes is not scientifically based.
“It’s a hotly debated topic, but the idea of ’reactive seborrhea’ actually worked for me,” she said.
“The idea behind it is that the less often you wash your hair, the more your scalp gets used to it and therefore produces less sebum.
“When I was young, I started increasing the frequency of my hair washing to every other day.
“Then I would try every third day, every fourth day, and so on.
“After about 7 to 10 days, I reached my natural limit and maintained this washing schedule.”
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Dry shampoo and arrowroot powder are occasionally used in their routine to extend wash days as they help absorb oil.
“Cotton fabrics like pillowcases or headscarves can also help absorb excess oil,” she said.
“And finally, boar bristle brushes have been used for centuries to remove dirt from hair and leave a healthy shine without the need for water.”
Zelda had previously revealed to The US Sun that she would not be “cutting her hair much” for the next six years.
In August 2023, she reached over 10 million views when she decided to cut off a few inches of her hair.
She said that everyone should use the “seek and destroy” method to remove split ends instead of getting regular hair cuts.
Your search for split ends takes 10 minutes per week.
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