Co-washing, short for “conditioner washing”, is a hair-care trend that is picking up popularity among celebrity beauties and other ladies alike. It’s catching on quickly, so much so, eco-friendly hair-care companies are offering co-washing cleansing conditioners as an added perk for buying their sulfate-free shampoos.
This new hair-care trend can be beneficial to women of all ethnicities. Read the quick Q&A below to find out more and if it’s worth trying on your hair.

What is co-washing?

Co-washing, or conditioner washing, means only washing your hair with conditioner and not shampoo. The result of this technique is hair that is silkier, softer and easier to manage.

Why co-wash?

Co-washing is gentler on your hair in comparison to shampooing. Shampoos often contain harsh ingredients such as detergents, polymers, fillers and binders, and strips hair of its natural oils whereas conditioner does not. Co-washing also doesn’t strip color pigments (something shampoo does), which helps your hair color stay vibrant longer.

Which hair types are ideal for co-washing?

Women with dry, curly, frizzy, textured or color-treated hair are perfect candidates for co-washing.

Which hair types are not ideal for co-washing?

Women with oily hair or silky straight hair should avoid co-washing because it may weigh hair down and leave build-up on the scalp making the hair look greasy.

What conditioner should I use?

All conditioners have a small amount of gentle cleansers. However, for optimal results, use conditioners that don’t have silicones. Silicones are not water soluble and are harder to wash out of hair without the use of harsh chemicals. Also, make sure the conditioner has a low pH balance. The pH balance of hair is typically low and if a conditioner with a higher pH is used, it will have the opposite effect.

How should I apply the conditioner?

Apply two coats of conditioner to your wet hair. Massage the first coat of conditioner into your scalp and evenly apply to your lovely locks from root to ends. Leave the conditioner in your hair for about five minutes then rinse out. The second coat is reapplied after the first coat has been rinsed off. Leave the second coat on for another five minutes and this time concentrate on applying more conditioner to the area of your hair that needs more care, for example, the tips.

How often should I co-wash?

You can co-wash as many times you want, because it doesn’t dry your hair or scalp. However, keep in mind, your hair may start feeling oily after a while because of environmental factors and/or other hair products. To get rid of that, use a sulphate-free shampoo every few weeks.

Co-washing works for my “normal” hair type. I don’t do it often because I prefer waiting two to three weeks before washing my hair, which requires the use of shampoo for waiting that long. However, if I do need to wash my hair twice in a week’s time, then I definitely opt for co-washing.

Try co-washing and report your results by posting a comment below.

Article written by Avni Parekh