It was a very, very scarily long overdue wash day for me—like, over a month since I last detangled and did my hair. I’d been wearing 28-day tiny twists (California trip, then getting stranded in Chicago… it was a whole thing), and Will helped me take them out, which was genuinely so sweet I could cry if I talk about it too long. After I finished the takedown, I threw my hair into big twists just to keep it contained until I could finally do a deep cleanse, detangle, and get my curls back. For deep conditioning, I went back to a super old favorite: Aubrey Organics GPB Glycogen Protein Balancing Conditioner—one of my go-to protein conditioners way back when I first started wearing my hair curly again. My hair felt like it needed that hit of protein but also moisture, especially coming out of protective styling. I talked through the texture, that super unique herby “Christmas-y” scent, and my one concern: some of the ingredients sound a little astringent, so I wasn’t sure if it would moisturize enough. After letting it marinate and rinsing, I was honestly really happy. My hair felt smooth, soft, and like I had a nice balance of strength + moisture, with extra curl pop and elasticity (especially in my damaged sections). I even left about 15–20% in as a base because it had been so long since wash day, and my hair needed all the help it could get.