Tips For Successful Co-Washing (Conditioner Washing)

If your new to the healthy hair scene and your wondering what co-washing is, it's basically washing the hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Shampoos containing sulfates tend to strip the hair of it's natural oils and make it super dry. Conditioner washing is a great way to get the hair clean enough and still have a moisturized head of hair.

I have a few a rules for co-washing that have yet to steer me wrong. It's short, straight to the point and easy to live by.

1. Skip The Deep Conditioner For Your Co-Wash

If your conditioner is labeled as a "hair mask", "deep treatment" or requires that you leave it on for more than 5 to 10 minutes, chances are that it's not meant to co-wash with. These conditioners are meant to bind to the hair, and this binding can cause product buildup if used too often. Stick to a normal wash out conditioner from lines such as Pantene, Tresemme and the like.

2. Make Sure Your Conditioner Has "Slip"

What you talking about, Willis? I'm talking about the ingredients in certain conditioners that allow your wide tooth shower comb to cut through your hair like warm butter. These are usually silicones and they aren't something you need to avoid when co-washing. New technology has made a lot of them water soluble, which means that they won't block moisture from your precious strands!

3. Don't Drop The Soap

Yeah, I know this is about co-washing, but the truth is that co-washing won't give you that moisture you long for if the hair is coated with product buildup. This is where shampoo comes into play. Feel free to use a sulfate free shampoo as well, I really don't mind as long as you get the gunk off. Once a week, once every 2 weeks or once a month is really up to you, just do it at some point during your regimen.

4. Find A Conditioner That Works For You

What weighs my hair down may not weigh your hair down. What gives you slip may rip my hair out. My point is that you must find what works for you through trial and error. Use a product for a least 7 days and make an educated decision about it. Remember that you can always shave your legs with that conditioner that didn't work on your hair.