Co-Washing

When I first started my hair journey, I was confused about what exactly the point of co-washing or conditioner washing was. My thinking was that conditioner was suppose to put moisture back into the hair after shampooing. Not to cleanse the hair like I have read over and over again. Well a lot has changed over the past few years since I started my hair journey. I have broken down co-washing into two catagories.

1. Instant Conditioners:

 

The conditioners pictured above are just a few of the conditioners that are used to add moisture back into the hair. I have seen a lot of ladies, especially in the beginning of my hair journey, that only co-washed their hair. That is not the case. The purpose of these conditioners are to add moisture back to the hair that shampoo has taken away. Nothing more, nothing less. They will not, I repeat, not CLEAN YOUR HAIR. These conditioners are great for quick washes after working out. Just rinse your hair with water to remove as much of the sweat as possible, add the conditioner, and rinse. Also, if your hair is feeling a bit dry use them to add a boast of moisture. I have also seen people use them to deep condition with. If you do that and it works, more power to you, but the molecules of these types of conditioners are not small enough to penetrate the hair like conditioners that are designed specifically for deep conditioning. Your hair isn't getting a true deep condition with these. These conditioners are very thin in consistency and because they care also water based they wash away pretty easily.

2. Cleansing Conditioners

Now if you want conditioner that are suppose to cleanse these are your best bet. 

The last couple of years or so have brought on a myriad of natural products. Clearly companies have been keeping a very very close eye on hair boards, you tube videos, and blogs to see what is going on in this booming hair journey world. As a result, cleansing conditioners have been added to plenty of hair care lines. They are used by ladies who are saying no to drying shampoo and opting to use these products to remove build up from their hair but still keep their hair moisturized. I use the As I Am Coconut Cowash regularly but I still use something to clarify my hair every once in awhile.

Cowashing is a very helpful aspect of our hair journeys but it is also not a MUST. If co-washing's not for you then don't do it. Do what you feel is best for your hair.