Use your conditioner or leave-in conditioner as normal.Spend twice as long rinsing as you did lathering. Massage conditioner into your entire scalp, just like you would shampoo.Moisturizers, such as amino acids and aloe vera.Humectants absorb water and lock in moisture. Humectants, such as honey, panthenol, and vegetable glycerin.Proteins coat the hair shaft and protect it. Proteins, such as wheat, wheat germ, and soy protein.Emollients help soften, smooth, and reduce frizz. Emollients, such as shea butter, oils, and wheat germ.

Otherwise, you may only need to wash your hair once a week. If you have an oily scalp, you may need to wash your hair daily. Ideally, you’ll co-wash your hair every time you would normally wash your hair. Silicones can cause buildup that coats your hair, leading to dull and lackluster locks. The first thing to do, no matter what hair type you have, is to make sure your conditioner doesn’t contain silicones. If you’re ready to give it a try, you’ll need to find the right conditioner for your hair. “If you like how your hair feels after co-washing, one option is to alternate between co-washing and shampooing to ensure that your scalp is cleansed,” she says.Īccording to Corson, shampooing cleanses what co-washing can miss, including: “Many people report having softer hair once they have co-washed their hair, but the ‘benefits’ are often short-lived, with the practice leading to a host of hair and scalp issues,” says Corson.įor this reason, Corson and Afrocenchix recommend shampooing with a gentle sulfate-free shampoo every 7 to 10 days. However, there are some things to be aware of, and you may want to consider finding a healthy balance between the two. If you cut down on shampoo by using a co-washing regimen, your hair may be more likely to maintain its natural moisture levels, allowing it to grow healthier. This leaves your hair drier and more prone to breakage. However, sulfates can also strip natural oils and moisture from your hair. Many shampoos include sulfates, which are detergents that clean your hair thoroughly. “Humans have been cleansing their hair and bodies since our hunter-gatherer days,” Corson says, “with some early soaps being made of animal ashes, cedarwood, wool, and hyssop.” The way we choose to wash our hair may change and evolve over time, but one thing is for sure: Having clean, healthy hair is a nice feeling that has a long, long history. The act of co-washing has become more and more popular with those who who have curly and coily hair.Īccording to the co-founding managing director of Afrocenchix, Rachael Corson, LLB Hons., MSc, co-washing is considered “a method of deep hydration, rather than a way to cleanse, as conditioners typically contain ingredients which hydrate and moisturize rather than cleanse.” Fortunately, it involves more alone time than that: Co-washing is a method of washing your hair. If you’ve never heard of the term “co-washing,” you may think it sounds a bit like co-sleeping. What exactly does it mean to co-wash? Why has it become so popular? And, finally, should you also be doing it?

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