Co-Washing Guide for Natural Hair
As a new mum, I've had little time for self-care and my usual long and frequent washdays have been sidelined for now. For the time being I am speeding up my hair washday by co-washing my natural 4c hair. Read on for more information on co-washing, the benefits, how to co-wash and my top recommendations.
What is co-washing?
Co-washing is essentially conditioner washing - so skipping shampoo and washing your hair with a conditioner or a specially formulated cleansing conditioner aka co-wash or no-poo.
Benefits of co-washing
Time-saving
It's time saving. Some co-washes are an all in one product so replace the need for shampoo, conditioner and leave-in.
Gentle on hair
Many shampoos can be stripping to hair particularly if they have sulphates. Co-washes are gentle on hair, non-stripping and help maintain hair's natural moisture levels.
Aids detangling
Rich, creamy co-wash formulas aid detangling.
Perfect for a mid-week refresh
When I was do a lot of running and weight training I would sweat loads and unable to wait until my main wash day because my scalp became itchy due to build up of sweat. So I'd co-wash mid week if i had been working out in the gym a lot or running a lot to help keep my hair and scalp refreshed.
Any conditioner will do
One of the good things with co-washing is you can use with a specially formulated co-wash product or any standard rinse out conditioner.
My natural 4c hair with a co-wash…
How to co-wash hair?
When co-washing I follow the below steps.
Saturate hair with water then add loads of product (be generous on the mid-lengths and ends if you have thicker hair) from root to tip.
Emulsify the product and work it into scalp as you would a shampoo to help remove dirt and build up from your hair and scalp.
Rinse.
You can leave a bit of the co-wash in as a leave in.
Depending on how your hair feels and how much time you have you can follow with a regular conditioner. Personally I don't always use a conditioner after as the co-washes I use are all very nourishing for my hair.
4 of the Best Co-Washes for Natural 4C Hair
In no particular order here are my top co-wash picks for natural 4c hair. I interchange between these depending on which one is in my product stash.
Mielle Organics Detangling Co-Wash
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin e, marula oil. The texture of Mielle Detangling Co-Wash is quite lightweight compared to the others mentioned below but it's very hydrating too the scent is not overpowering. I discovered this beauty via TreasureTress but you can find it here.
Activilong Actiforce Black Castor Oil Co-Wash
Key ingredients: Coconut oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein, sapota seed butter, castor oil, shea butter. I've mentioned this Activilong cowash previously in my Activilong Actiforce Black Castor Oil range review. This Activilong Co-Wash has a strong scent and a little goes a long way. Does a great job at detangling too.
As I Am Long and Luxe Gro-wash
Key ingredients: aloe vera juice, pomegranate juice, coconut oil, passion fruit, castor oil, caffeine, biotin.
This As I Am Long and Luxe Gro-Wash is super creamy and detangles perfectly. I've mentioned this As I Am co-wash previously in my As I Am Long and Luxe range review. I still have the As I Am Coconut Co-Wash on my list to try so I will report back when I do… it's very popular with most naturalistas that I know and has great reviews online.
Palmer's Olive Oil Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner
Key ingredients: olive oil, vitamin e, Jamaican black castor oii, keratin, peppermint, sage, nettle, hyssop and rosemary. I love the super rich texture of Palmer’s Olive Oil Co-Wash and the blend of nourishing and stimulating ingredients in the formula, plus a fresh scent which lingers for days… It’s quite stimulating to the scalp too due to the presence of peppermint oil in the formula.
Whilst co-washing is great don't forget to clarify hair once a month if you have lots of product build up by using a gentle clarifying cleanser like Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo, Palmer's Natural Fusions Micellar Rosewater Clarifying Cleanser (Shampoo) or Camille Rose Sweet Ginger Rinse to give your scalp a thorough clean and remove buildup.
Do you co-wash your hair? Have you tried any of the co-washes mentioned in this post? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by!
Krista x
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Healthy and clean scalp is the foundation for healthy hair and to help you get the best results from your conditioners, protein treatments and stylers. So, if your goal is to retain length and to have healthy, nourished hair, shampooing regularly is essential.