The wash day that does not ruin your weekend

Wash day has a reputation for eating a whole afternoon. It does not have to. With a little order and the right products, you can be done in under an hour and your hair will look better for it.

Detangle before water, not after. A few minutes with a slip cream and your fingers or a wide-tooth comb saves you from the painful, breakage-heavy detangling that happens on soaking-wet hair.

Cleanse the scalp, condition the lengths. Focus the cleanser where the buildup is — the scalp — and save the rich mask for mid-length to ends, where your hair is oldest and driest.

Detangle again under the conditioner, while the slip is at its best, then rinse with cool water to seal in shine.

Style on damp, not dripping, hair with a leave-in and a little oil. Let it air-dry where you can — your hair will be softer, and your weekend will still be yours.