Commonly, girls will wash their hair with usual shampoo and then use the usual conditioner after that. They may not be so sure about those products which are advertised ostentatiously in the media. However, our hair types are not all the same. Your hair should be listened to and treated in a unique way. If you have heard a bit about co-washing and are curious to know whether you should do it instead of your recent products combo, just keep figuring it out with us.
What is Co-washing?
Co-washing refers to the act of washing your hair with conditioner only. But why?
Most shampoos contain sulfates which help clean your hair thoroughly, yet could remove natural oils and moisture from your locks. Your hair, hence, will be left dry and breakable. Getting rid of shampoo is to maintain moisture levels, making your hair grow healthier and endurable. Nevertheless, co-washing does not mean that you skip the shampooing step and just apply conditioning your strands. You shall have to use your conditioner in place of your shampoo.
Related article: How to beat frizzy hair.
What type of conditioner is recommended?
The first thing you should know: your conditioner should be silicones-free. Silicones are usually available in shampoos as they make your hair look shiny. However, the effect is temporary, and silicones will accumulate day by day, leaving your strands heavy, dull and lackluster.
Things that are beneficial to your locks are emollients, proteins, humectants, and moisturizers.
Emollients’ sources are shea butter, wheat germ, oils, etc., helping soften and smooth the cuticle – the outer layer of each strand, and reduce frizz.
Soy, wheat, wheat germ, etc. are rich in proteins that act as hair strands’ coat for protection.
Humectants in panthenol, vegetable glycerin, honey, etc. will absorb water and lock in moisture.
Lastly, moisturizers (aloe vera, amino acids, etc.) shall help your tresses soft and shiny.
Who should Co-wash?
You should really know your hair type before deciding how to treat it.
If your hair is afro, mixed-textured, very curly or extremely dry, there’s a good chance that your hair care routine could benefit from it.
As you understand thoroughly the content above, co-washing aims to get rid of harsh detergents in shampoo and moisturize your strands. That means Co-washing is highly recommended for women whose hair is afro, mixed-textured, curly or verily dry. Otherwise, every strand of yours is thin and your hair is oily, co-washing may not be your best hair care tip.
If you are going to try co-washing, it is essential to choose your own condition. Because, once again, my hair problem and yours are different.
How should you co-wash?
If you decide to remove shampoo from your bathroom, your conditioner, instead, will have to clean your scalp. Make your hair wet, then take a small amount of conditioner to massage your scalp. Gently rub the surface by your fingertips to remove accumulation without stripping out natural oils.
Secondly, condition your strands along their length with a regular amount of conditioner. Patiently remove tangle with your fingers. If your hair is extremely coarse or curly, you should try retaining a little conditioner on your hair instead of rinsing out completely. This is you who will find out the best way for yourself after some testing times.
How often should you do co-washing?
You could start with the frequency that you used to wash your hair with your shampoo and conditioner, then make adjustments after the first trials.
In general, women with oily scalp should wash their hair every 2 or 3 days. While the other may need to do co-washing once per week.
Hello there. I’m Vincent Daniels. I’m a hair stylist and blogger about hair extensions, i wish to share my knowledge and experience with others. Thanks!
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