If you have a thick, curly mop on the top of your head, like I do, then you may not wash your hair every day ... or maybe not even every other day. In fact, if you are anything like me, you will let a good blowout last as long as it possibly can ...
I was blessed to be born with long, thick locks - enough to be presented to my mother with a bow in my hair (thank God, because she woke up from her C-section thinking she had a boy).
You can enjoy the gallery of my hair over the years, below. And yes, I left out a few questionable and rather embarrassing haircuts ...
I have finally learned to embrace my curls and depending on my mood, prefer to leave it curly more often than not. Sometimes it will air dry to perfection and others, I wake up looking like Howard Stern with a halo of frizz. This incredibly long, dry winter hasn't helped one bit and in a desperate plea to my mother on the phone, as I screamed about how my hair felt like a combination of hay and rubber, she told me to try the "co-wash". The "WHAT!?" I asked ... enter, the co-wash. Curly hair wearers, rejoice!!
Co-washing is short for "conditioner-only washing". Yes, it means SKIP THE SHAMPOO! If your hair is dry, thick, curly or wavy, I believe that you will benefit from co-washing. Shampooing our hair every day can strip it of it's natural oils, and according to recent studies, it's not even needed! You can co-wash with your every day conditioner, or you can look for something called a Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner. These contain more cleansing ingredients than typical conditioners, but through all natural ingredients that wont strip your hair; such as coconut or aloe vera.
Once again, if you are anything like me, and too impatient to order a product online and need instant gratification, it may take some searching in your local CVS or Rite Aid to find a Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner, as the trend is just starting to take off. Alas, after scouring Target and Walgreens, I finally found a Coconut & Hibiscus Co-Washing Conditioning Cleanser by Shea Moisture.
After only one washing, I instantly saw a difference in my hair! This is one trend I definitely recommend! If you're reading this and still asking "Why Should I Co-Wash?", here's why:
- Preserve the natural oils in your hair, while still gently cleansing
- Increase hydration for super-frizzy and dry hair
- Overall healthier hair
Try what works for you! If you have ultra-dry hair like me, you can probably get away with only co-washing. Other people may choose to shampoo once a week or once every other week.
Co-washing requires A LOT of product, you want to make sure to coat every strand from root to tip and leave it in for about 3-5 minutes. There are several brands that have cleansing conditioners out right now including L'Oreal, Head & Shoulders, Shea Moisture, Wen and V05 Herbal Escapes.
I hope your dehydrated strands benefit from this trend as much as mine have. Good luck and research Co-Washing 101 tips and tricks. Hopefully in a few weeks I have beautiful, shiny, bouncy, frizz-free curls, that everyone is envious of!