What is a Co Wash and Who Needs it?

Some of you might already know about Co-Wash, and some of you don’t, for me however, it is something new! The only thing I am sure about is, I cannot live without a Hair Conditioner! Because my hair is dry, wavy, and puffy! If I don’t wash my hair with a hair conditioner, I look like a lion, and I may as well hunt you down! When I found out about Co-Wash, I was like what?! I was surprised that it was even a thing! Then I decided, I should try it asap. But the question was, what conditioner should I use? What is the Cleanser Conditioner? And where do I buy it from? So I made my research, found clues, tried them on me and today, I will spill the perfect beans for you here in this article.

This is how my hair looked after washing it with Maui and air drying without combing my hair.

What is Co-Wash?

I can’t believe I am saying this, and I can’t believe I am doing this! But yes! I am washing my hair only with a Conditioner! Not only washing my hair but also cleansing my scalp with a Conditioner.

I tried a Co-Wash, and I loved the results, so did my friends notice the beauty of my hair. I created a video on how I washed my hair; you can watch below. (I will share a video here)

Steps:

Distinguishing part about the Co-Wash from other regular wash is that here following the right steps is highly essential to get the desired result. In this context, here, I provide the steps to be followed in exact order. Check it out!  

1. Rinse your hair to wet
2. Apply conditioner to the scalp and go thoroughly through to the tips.
3. Keep like 3-10 minutes (3-5 minutes for wavy hair, 10 minutes if your hair is curly)
4. Rinse off with Cold Water
5. Air Dry (if you are going out blow-dry a little, so it doesn’t leak on your clothes, air-dry for ideal result)

This is how my hair looked after washing it with Maui Conditioner and combing it.

Who Needs a Co-Wash?

Those having high porosity hair should want to go with co-washing. Those with dense and curly hair should also go with co-wash. In comparison to the thin straight hair, the textured hair is indeed comparatively drier. Similar is the case about coarse hair as well. Co-Washing works magically on such occasions. Hair specialists often recommend that one should make use of co-washes one or two times in use, and may use the usual shampoo on the other days, along with conditioners.  

Who Should Avoid a Co-Wash?

Co-wash is not suitable for all. In other words, co-washing is a good option, except you relate to any of the following cases. 

People with thin and flat hair:

Those with thin and flat hair should not go with co-washing as it doesn’t improve the hair texture.  

Those with existing scalp issues or accumulations

Those dealing with scalp issues or extreme buildup should not go for co-washing. In those occasions where there is already some scalp issue, things are complicated with co-washing as it leads to a hair follicle clogging. 

Those use extensive coating oils or anything containing silicone

In general, coating oils accumulate and get established on the hair shaft. Yes, these indeed have their advantage. But, anything, no matter what it is, when gets excess is not recommended. To allow the entering oil a scope of thoroughly invade coating oils, and at the same time ensuring silicone is taken out, co-washing is not a good choice.  

Those who work in a comparatively polluted environment 

Those who have to deal with excessive dust and polluted surrounding are advised not to go with co-washing. By doing so, on such occasions, one will accumulate dirt or polluting agents. Instead, the best suggestion would be to go for non-lather cleansing, at least once in every couple of days. The frequency of this, though, varies as per the surrounding. Moisturizing shampoo would be a better recommendation as well. It is also best for such people to make use of a clarifier a couple of times a month. 

What is Porosity?

Hair porosity is primarily a term used for defining the ability of the hair to capture and maintain moisture within. It’s the porosity of the hair that determines the extent to which oil and moisture penetrate within and of the most external surface of the hair, often referred as the cuticle.  

• If the cuticles are pretty adjacent to each other, it means that the porosity level is nominal. 
• When the cuticles are loosely bounded, one can understand that the porosity level is medium. 
• When the cuticles are comparatively spacious, it means that the level of porosity is higher.  

So there you have it. I hope this article gives you a good idea about co-washing. It is a perfect alternative to maintaining healthy hair. However, it would help if you considered checking your conditions since we have all different scalp and hair conditions.

RELATED ARTICLE:

15 Shampoo Ingredients to Avoid read here