Co-Washing seems to be all the RAVE now-a-days, to the point that brands have their own co-washing products to be used specifically for this method of washing your hair. But what is this bizarre form of washing your hair and how is it beneficial to you? If you are deciding if you should jump on the co-washing bandwagon, you should know a little about it first. I for one co-wash my hair and have been for about a year. In this year I have seen a vast improvement in my hair's texture and strength. (If you are wondering, my hair is in it's natural state.) I transitioned about a year ago. I have very fine soft hair almost like baby hair honestly. A gift and a curse I suppose, but my hair is VERY dry. No matter what I put in it, within about 10 minutes it would be as if I never touched it with oil a day in my life. So I began co-washing to keep it moisturized. Ok enough about me, let me talk to you about what you're here for. What Is Co-washing Exactly, And Is It For Me?
Co-washing basically is a shorter term for "conditioner washing" hence co-washing. With this method you are replacing shampooing your hair with conditioning it instead, also known as the "no-poo" method. Branded by the "curly girls" at first, co-washing has expanded to include many different hair types. Co-washing is great for keeping your hair moisturized without stripping it of it's natural oils. It still gently cleanses your hair, allowing for better hydration for super-dry and
frizzy hair types and less color stripping for colored hair. A bonus of co-washing your hair, allows you to wash it more frequently than you might if you were to wash it with shampoo. Co-washing is gentler than using harsh
detergents on a daily basis.
Perfect For The 3 D's
Would you consider your hair to be...
Dry
Dehydrated
or
Damaged
If you answered yes to any of the above then co-washing is for you, and those of us with textured natural hair.
BUT...
Be reminded that co-washing is not for all of us, and it is not a cure for
every hair problem. If you have naturally fine or oily hair or live in a highly
polluted environment, or you are often exposed to a lot of dust or dirt this method is not recommended for you. Co-washing will do more harm than good to weak or
over-processed hair. Conditioners soften your hair and may weaken hair that is already thinning and highly damaged. There are certain properties that shampoo has that may not be found in co-washing conditioners. Many shampoos are
formulated with a low pH, the acidity of shampoo raises the hair
cuticle. Shampoos
also have detergents or surfactants that clean the hair and scalp, properties found in shampoo are meant to wash oil and dirt from the surface,
those found in conditioner are intended to cling to the hair. Some co-washing
conditioners exhibit some of these properties.
So How Do I Do It?
I personally only shampoo my hair about twice a month or every other week. I co-wash my hair with As I Am Coconut Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner, about 3-4 times a week depending on how much it is needed at the time. Many people do the same. But like I said in the beginning, my hair is extremely DRY, so doing it this way is very beneficial for me. Just don't 100% dedicate yourself to co-washing, your hair needs to be shampooed every once and a while to remove dirt and oil build up.
If you want to know what other co-washing products I have tried let me know in the comments. What do you use? Do you co-wash your hur? Talk to me :-)!
