What Is Co-Washing

You may’ve heard the term “co-washing” before but you may not have known exactly what it is or what it means to “co-wash” your hair. Co-washing is actually short for “conditioner washing” which is the act of using a conditioner to wash your hair instead of shampoo. The method of co-washing is primarily used by African American women to increase moisture in their naturally dry hair.


There are several different ways use the co-washing method. It can be done along with a regular regimen of washing and deep conditioning. It can even be used in place of regular shampooing, with the intention of using a clarifier when needed to cleanse the scalp and hair from product buildup. Some may choose to co-wash their hair once a week midway between shampoos. Or some may co-wash up to 3 times a week if they suffer from very dry hair and scalp.


When co-washing the hair really any type of conditioner will do the trick. Many prefer to use cheaper brands of conditioners like Suave, White Rain, or VO5 because you still get the benefit of quick conditioning without having to break the bank replacing your conditioner! I personally like to take advantage of conditioners I’ve tried and didn’t love. That way I don’t have to feel bad about wasting money on trying out new products. I presently have about 3 different conditioner brands in my shower that I use solely for co-washing because they don’t work as well for deep conditioning.


With co-washing it is necessary to exercise caution so as not to over-moisturize the hair. If you start to notice that your hair is beginning to feel sort of gummy you may need to ease up a bit. If you are concerned, but unsure if you are over-moisturizing try this little test. Take a strand of your hair, hold both ends and pull. If you noticed the strand seemed to stretch for a while then snap, even possibly coiling up on the ends, you may be going a bit overboard on the co-washing and you might want to either ease up a bit or try incorporating a protein conditioner into your co-washing regimen.


All-in-all co-washing, or “conditioner washing” can be a very beneficial addition to a hair care routine for a person who tends to suffer from chronically dry hair. If you are unfamiliar with the concept of co-washing but are interested in finding ways to increase the moisture of your hair, try it out once a week and see how your hair responds. It may turn out to be just the thing you needed for soft, healthy, MOISTURIZED hair.