Many of my favorite curly bloggers and YouTubers swear by co-washing and credit this practice with hair growth and maintaining moisture. I've just started using Curls Creme Brulee curling creme after my shower and scrunching, scrunching. Think of co-washing hair conditioners (aka cleansing conditioners or no-poo) as a shampoo-conditioner hybrid. All experts agree that co-washing turns over the best results for women with thick, coarse, dry or curly hair. When most people refer to co-washing hair, they’re referencing cleansing hair with a conditioner as an alternative to shampoo. With that said, let’s look at the Curly Girl Method routine for fine wavy hair. These tangles can cause hair breakage and be painful to remove when brushing and styling your hair. The Great Detangler by Taliah Waajid. Gentle shampoos marked for volume and daily or frequent washing, however, are good bets. Cleansing conditioners or "co-washes" are two-in-one formulas that claim to wash and condition hair without sulfates for hair that's cleansed, but not squeaky-clean (a.k.a. Relaxed hair can break and be susceptible to free radicals. Every cleansing conditioner is different -- some contain more cleansing ingredients than others. Co-washing a couple of times a week for a few weeks at a time is fine but pay attention to your hair. 50:50 conditioner. Fine hair tangles easily when worn long. However, those with fine hair, straight hair, or oily hair may want to steer clear of co-washing. I know—a product that claims to work on all hair types sounds like a scam, but I swear, this cleansing conditioner is actually legit. It is important to know there has to be a balance between moisture and protein for relaxed hair. I have fine, soft, very blonde, straight hair, that is currently to my collarbone with some layers around my face. Standing in the mirror trying to detangle natural hair can be a nightmare. The main benefit of co-washing our hair versus regular shampoo is by co-washing, we are not stripping our hair of natural oils which dries out the hair leading the excess frizz and unmanageability. Ouai. Fine hair is much more fragile than coarse thick hair, so you really do need to treat it with care. Believe it, you can use a co-wash even if you have straight hair. If your hair is dry because of your work environment, co-washing hair can help you protect it, but if you are not, co-washing may cause unwanted build-up. "Co-washing is an alternative to harsh shampoos because it cleanses the hair while maintaining some of the hair's natural oils," says Whiteman. The first step of the Curly Girl Method is to co-wash. Co-washing means to wash your hair with Curly Girl approved conditioners only. The best deep conditioners and hair masks will deeply nourish, repair, and hydrate hair that's dry, damaged, broken, or chemically-treated. As someone who has really fine hair that’s thinned out within the past few years, it’s safe to say that I’ve tried tons of different hair tricks and hacks for managing fine and thin hair. Co-wash. Co-washing is most beneficial to those blessed with curls, to help keep hair more moisturised and less prone to breakage. How often you co-wash your hair is a matter of preference. Wind, sleeping and sports activities all contribute to fine hair tangles, and it often seems impossible to prevent this from happening. I want to share this with you so that you do … Often times we hear horror stories about how shampoo leaves our precious curls feeling dry or stripped. Jump straight into co-washing and you’ll be absolutely fine. Your hair gets protected from breakage while becoming stronger and hydrated. It can be used as a co-wash or a leave-in, has great slip for detangling and can even be applied as a daily moisturizer. Co-washing may also help your color last longer since you are not stripping it out with shampoo. Co-washing can be a part of your weekly hair care routine, and some people with ethnic hair co-wash several times a week. Fine hair can often mean oily hair. Co-washing relaxed hair is a little more difficult. Use your fingertips to rub over your entire scalp before rinsing thoroughly. Hey guys, in this video I share my experience with a natural hair setup I have discovered in the past 6 months! I've always wanted to grow it really long, but once I get it to say, mid back by my bra-strap, I have to cut a few inches off because it always looks like straw or a broomstick. This eliminated the use of sulphates (from shampoo) and the use of silicone (from regular conditioners). The biggest draw for co-washing is that it allows for hair to be clean and moisturized in one step rather than stripping everything away along with the dirt with shampoo and trying to replace the moisture and oils later with conditioner. A boon for those with fine hair, which also tend to be prone to having oilier scalps. I don't know why! Co-washing may be gentler on hair, especially hair already prone to breakage. For optimum hair health, reapply every three to five days. The best way I can describe the way my hair felt after co-washing is to say it was like second-day hair. Image Source: dotcomm.asc.upenn.edu. Bonus: you can mix it with olive or … I try to co-wash since I do wash my hair daily. Soft, but with a little texture (not slippery like squeaky-clean hair can be). How-to: “Pre-braid your hair before you wash. Since these hair types tend towards greasiness, your best bet is to continue to wash your hair with both shampoo and conditioner three to four times per week. Cleansing conditioners soften your hair and will help keep your scalp moisturized, a benefit for anyone with persistent dry hair and a dry scalp. Quite simply, co-washing is the process of only using conditioner to wash, condition, and moisturize your hair. The product should be clear, not thick and creamy. How to co-wash Wet your hair and massage your naked co-wash into the scalp. On the other hand, when life gives you fine hair, skipping a wash makes you look like a hardcore greaser from the 1960s. As fantastic as co-washing is, it shouldn’t be your default way to clean your hair. Because of this, you should avoid creamy shampoos. Co-washing curly hair is touted as a way to cleanse without stripping the hair of natural oils; and since all curlies can understand the need for more moisture, you can see how this would catch on. Below are three of our all-time favorite shampoos for fine hair, that are suitable for all budgets. However, removing buildup should always be a priority, especially for those with oiler hair types and heavy product user. What does co-wash mean in the world of hair care? Use a clarifying shampoo every 2 weeks to clear the buildup. Just make sure to choose a gentle shampoo that won’t strip your hair, like Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Shampoo. With water, coconut oil, shea butter, mango seed butter, cetyl esters (lubricant), and kaolin clay, you get a potent co-wash from the 2014 Editor’s Choice list. They contain a mix of cleansing agents and nourishing hair conditioners to gently cleanse hair without stripping it of oils that keep curls from becoming brittle. Despite its benefits, there are some things to look out for so you don’t experience hair loss in the long term:-1. Thankfully, Oropeza has the perfect compromise. Right now I'm washing with Shea Moisture sulfate free shampoo and conditioning with one of the Loreal EverPure conditioners, or with Giovanni (sp?) You can try co-washing a few times and feel your hair. Those with fine or oil-prone strands run the risk of looking like their manes are dirtier due to the heavy moisturizing agents. So if you had told me that I would be washing my hair with conditioner I would have thought you were joking. In our Lab tests, women with fine hair reported the lowest satisfaction and performance scores, but if you're worried about co-washing being too heavy on your hair… *Spoiler* But guys, this is awesome! This product is a find. Try this guy, which has the added benefit of being made from 98% natural ingredients. Co-Washing Hair Exclusively. It seems to help ok. Co-washing is short for “conditioner-only washing.” It means skipping shampoo and relying solely on conditioner, whether you’re a daily or a weekly washer. Cleansing conditioners lightly cleanses your hair to remove some product build-up from your hair and condition your hair at the same time. According to Amos, pre-braiding your hair before you wash it is the perfect hack to help prevent a tangled mayhem. Alternatively, create a lather between wet hands, then work through the mid-lengths to ends of your hair. If you are a heavy product user, be sure to have a clarifying shampoo on hand to bust that buildup. A moisturizing, sulfate-free powerhouse that removes impurities without stripping those precious natural oils our tresses need to stay healthy. But it will leave a lot of excess product on the hair. I often co-wash my hair mid-week as a “pick me up” to refresh my hair in between wash days. I’ve compiled a list of my own personal experience of the do’s and don’ts for fine hair: How to co-wash relaxed hair.