Who this guide is for
This guide is for anyone who has Botanic by J.Amila batana products and wants a clear wash-day order to follow. It covers shampoo, conditioner, butter or oil, and leave-in, and when each step fits. It does not promise a particular hair result, and it does not make health claims.
What 100% unrefined means, in plain language
"100% unrefined" means the oil has not gone through a refining process after extraction. In plain terms, it is the oil in a less processed form, rather than an oil that has been refined to remove its natural colour, scent, or texture.
That also means the product may feel and look different from a refined oil. Always check the label on the product you hold for its own ingredients and directions, and follow those directions.
The wash-day order
A simple order to follow is:
Shampoo → conditioner → butter or oil → leave-in
Here is what each step is for in this routine, and when to use it:
- Shampoo. Wash the hair and scalp as the shampoo directions state. This is the cleansing step. Rinse fully.
- Conditioner. Apply conditioner after shampooing, as the conditioner directions state. This is the step where most people detangle, working gently from the ends upward. Rinse as directed.
- Butter or oil. After conditioning and rinsing, apply Botanic by J.Amila butter or oil. This step is used after washing, when the hair is damp, to work product through the hair as part of the routine. Warm or melt a small amount in your palms first, as described below, then apply.
- Leave-in. If you use a leave-in, this is the final step in this order. Apply it after the butter or oil step, as the leave-in directions state. Leave-in products are not rinsed out unless their directions say otherwise.
If you use only some of these products, keep the same order for the steps you do use: cleanse, condition, then butter or oil, then leave-in.
How much to use, by hair length and texture
Start small and add more only if needed. It is easier to add a little more product than to remove too much.
- Short hair: start with a small dab, warmed in your palms, and work it through.
- Medium-length hair: start with a little more than for short hair, and work in sections if that helps you spread it evenly.
- Long or thick hair: work in sections, using a small amount per section, and add more section by section rather than applying a large amount all at once.
- Fine hair: start with the smallest amount, and apply mainly to the mid-lengths and ends first, then use what is left on your hands for the rest of the hair.
- Coarse, curly, or coily hair: sectioning helps most here. Work a small amount through each section so the product is spread evenly, rather than sitting on the surface in one place.
These are starting points, not fixed amounts. Your hair length, thickness, and how much product your hair absorbs will change how much you need.
Warming and applying
For a butter or oil product that is solid or thick at room temperature, warm or melt a small amount between your palms first, until it is soft enough to spread. Do not heat the product in a microwave or on a stove unless the product directions say to do so.
Then:
- Scalp massage. If you use oil on the scalp, apply a small amount to the scalp and massage gently with your fingertips. Keep the pressure light and do not scratch with nails.
- Mid-lengths and ends. Work the remaining product through the mid-lengths and ends, where hair is often driest and most exposed to styling.
- Check as you go. If the hair still feels dry in a section, add a small amount to that section only, rather than reapplying to the whole head.
Rinse-out vs leave-in
- Rinse-out products are applied and then rinsed out, as their directions state. Conditioner in this routine is a rinse-out step.
- Leave-in products are applied and left in the hair, as their directions state. The leave-in in this routine is the final step and is not rinsed out unless its directions say otherwise.
- Butter or oil in this routine is used after rinsing out conditioner, and before leave-in, as described above. If a specific Botanic by J.Amila product's directions give a different order, follow that product's directions.
Common mistakes and limits
- Using too much product at once. This is the most common issue. Too much can leave hair feeling heavy and coated, and it does not help the product spread evenly. Start small and build up in sections.
- Skipping detangling. Detangling during the conditioner step, gently and in sections, makes the later steps easier and helps product spread evenly. Skipping it can leave tangles that are harder to work through later.
- Expecting an overnight change. A wash-day routine is a routine, not a one-time fix. Judge it over several wash days, with consistent use as directed, rather than after a single application.
- Applying to soaking-wet hair without checking the directions. Some products work on damp hair, others on dry hair. Check the directions for the product you are using.
- Mixing too many new products at once. If you are trying a new routine, change one step at a time so you can tell what is working for your hair.
- Ignoring the label. If the label on the product you hold gives different directions from this general guide, follow the label.
Where to look next
Use the order above as a starting routine, adjust the amount by section, and follow the directions on each product you use.