Has every person in your friend group been raving about co-washing hair, leaving you utterly confused? We’re here to help you get back in the loop.

Co-washing is a hair-washing practice that allows you to toss your shampoo out and substitute it for a single product- conditioner. Conditioner helps keep your hair moisturized and nourished. It cleanses the scalp to get rid of gunk while keeping it hydrated and clean.

Co-washing hair is a wonderful practice to adopt during all seasons, especially in the summers when humidity is at its peak. On warmer days, we wash our hair frequently to get rid of sweat and exposure to chlorine and salt water.

Switching to conditioner is a great way to ensure that you are not stripping your hair of natural oils during this period.

Why Does Co-Washing Get Rid of the Use of Shampoo?

There are loads of popular shampoos available in the market that use questionable ingredients. One of these ingredients is a detergent called sulfates. Even though shampoos containing sulfates create a frothy lather and leave your hair squeaky clean, they are terrible for your hair health.

Overuse of such shampoos can cause the hair to become brittle and dry. This is because the formulation strips the hair of its natural oils and increases breakage. A common word used to describe such hair is “hay-like.”

On the other hand, using conditioner to co-wash hair prevents the hair from damage. It leaves the hair feeling super moisturized and shiny- something that shampoo alone cannot achieve. You can co-wash your hair every day without worrying about damaging it.

Moreover, chucking your shampoo into the trash means that you have one less product to use on your scalp. You could save up lots of money during the year because, let’s admit it, shampoos are expensive.

Getting rid of your shampoo also helps create space in your bathroom. It also minimizes your use of plastic products which is great for the environment.

Does Co-Washing Suit All Hair Types?

Mostly, co-washing hair is perfect for all hair types. It is better suited to those who have curly, wavy, brittle, dry, medium-textures, coarse, or color-treated hair. These individuals have experienced how shampoo leaves their hair dry and hard-to-manage.

However, co-washing is not for those who have fine or oily hair. The use of conditioner over shampoo will only make these kinds of hair feel flatter and more weighed down. They also risk increased buildup on the scalp.

What is the Process of Co-Washing Hair?

Co-washing does not mean you cut out shampoo and use conditioner the normal way. Instead, it means that you need to use conditioner to wash your scalp. Conditioner essentially plays the part of a shampoo. All you have to do is wet your hair thoroughly so that no area is left dry. Then, you have to evenly distribute conditioner on your scalp.

The key is to use lots of conditioner when washing your hair. While shampoo lathers up, conditioner does not, so don’t worry. You have to use more conditioner than you did shampoo. With the help of your finger pads, massage the conditioner in your scalp.

Make sure to keep adding water to create a nice slip and keep scrubbing your hair to loosen all the gunk.

Once you are satisfied, wash it out while scrubbing your scalp. Then, use a regular amount of conditioner on your length and let it stay for 2 minutes while you scrub your body. Make sure to rinse well so that no conditioner is left behind. No product should be left on the scalp if you want good hair health.

Will You Have to Throw Out Your Favorite Conditioner?

As long as your favorite conditioner does not contain silicones, you will not have to throw it out. Co-washing hair is all about using safe products. Many conditioners contain an ingredient that increases shine in the hair.

However, with constant use, it starts to weigh the hair down and increases buildup. Hence, you should look for conditioners without SD alcohol and polymers.

Here are some ingredients that are great for co-washing hair:

• Humectants such as vegetable glycerin and honey. These help lock water into the hair.
• Emollients such as shea butter and oils. These help soothe the hair cuticle and get rid of frizz.
• Protein such as soy or wheat protein. These coat the hair length to prevent breakage.
• Moisturizers such as amino acids and aloe vera. These help keep the hair soft and shiny.

Is it Necessary to Ditch the Shampoo for Good?

Switching to co-washing is a huge change, we get it. Since we were kids, we have been told to shampoo our hair. Most people are used to the lather that a shampoo builds because it makes them think that their hair is getting cleaned. However, you must get rid of shampoo if you want to co-wash.

That being said, you can still use silicon-free shampoo to get rid of buildup. Over time, conditioner, sweat, and products create buildup on the scalp. You can choose an affordable shampoo to get rid of oily roots and remove buildup while moisturizing the length of your hair.

You can use a clarifying shampoo every fortnight or once a month if your hair can handle it. If you find that your hair has lost all its volume, you can alternate between shampooing and co-washing. The key is to find a balance that works for you.

If you are still unsure about co-washing, you can find a bar of soap to wash your hair. Of course, we don’t mean any bar of soap- Lush Avocado Co-Wash is a popular shampoo bar that is great for the hair. It contains a four-fifth portion of conditioner and a one-fifth portion of shampoo.

Also, it’s loaded with cupuacu butter, avocados, and olive oil, creating a perfect balance; it is sure to cleanse your hair of dirt while keeping it moisturized.

Popular Conditioners Suited for Co-Washing Hair

There are loads of conditioners you can find that are great for co-washing hair. Below, you will find some of our favorites.

Remember, you may have to try a couple before picking out which one suits your hair the best.

1. Pantene Pro V Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash 

This conditioner contains argon oil, which works wonderfully on drier hair types. It is also a great ingredient for curls and helps moisturize and hydrate the hair.

Thousands of customers have reviewed this product to give them bouncy hair. The best part is that it does not cost too much.

2. Ouidad Curl Immersion Coconut Cleansing Cream Conditioner

The Ouidad Curl Immersion Coconut Cleansing Cream Conditioner is popular for coarse and dry hair, as well as curly hair.

With nourishing ingredients like Abyssinian oil and mafura butter, this conditioner helps keep the hair smooth and frizz-free. The sage oil present in the formulation gets rid of all the gunk on the scalp that builds up because of pollution and environmental factors.

3. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Conditioner

The SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Conditioner is free of sulfate, silicon, and parabens. It uses shea moisture to provide intense hydration to the hair.

This conditioner is ideal for textured and curly hair. According to the description present on the bottle, those with 3A, 4A, 4B, 3C and 4C hair types can use this conditioner. You can also find different variations of the conditioner with different sizes that are safe to use.

4. Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Conditioner

This is one of our favorite conditioners. Not only does it help cleanse the scalp, but it is also extremely moisturizing. It gets rid of all the dirt in the hair without stripping it of its natural oils.

Moreover, the Hask Monoi Coconut Oil Nourishing Conditioner smells amazing and is easy on the pocket.

5. L’Oreal Paris EverPure Cleansing Balm

If you have color-treated hair, you might benefit from the L’Oreal Paris EverPure Cleansing Balm. It has a 2-in-1 formulation and is a cleanser as well as a conditioner.

The ingredients are free of silicones, sulfates, and all kinds of parabens. Usually, these three ingredients strip the hair of color when used regularly.

Conclusion

Co-washing hair is a reliable and effective way of keeping your hair clean, as well as ensuring that it is in its best health. Brittle, dry, and frizzy hair is hard to deal with. However, co-washing is the perfect solution.

You no longer have to straighten your hair or blow-dry them for that smooth finish. Washing your hair with conditioner will leave you with perfect hair, making you want to flaunt them everywhere you go!