Source
r/curlyhair•
Initially5

Cowash? With conditioner? Or need to be a cowash-labeled product?

help

So, I started this beautiful journey probably like 2 months ago and I am still learning...I live in Alberta, Canada, and the options in the drugstore/supermarket for cowash is reduced to one product: coconut curl dippity do cowash....there is nothing else...

I was reading other posts and some people are using regular conditioner for cowash...don't you get more build-up with that? I understood that cowash has a cleansing ingredient and I am not sure that regular conditioner has it. Or did I get it wrong?

I am still not shopping online because, well, I like to smell the product before buy it (sometimes certain fragrances are weird and give me headaches)...Deva curl right now is expensive so I am leaving it out for the moment.

Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences...

Posted Jun 16, 2019, 6:41 AM UTC

210
IcemanBlizz3A, Low Porosity, Dense/Medium Texture•

Cowashing involves washing with conditioner. Some people can get away with this because it has a light cleansing abilities. However, many find it insufficient as an actual cleanser to remove more than light dirt and build-up and use a low-poo. A gentle cleanser that works to remove styling products is a baby shampoo.

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Initially5OP•

Thank you! I'll consider baby shampoo next time I am shopping

2
freesmarches•

For better or for worse, I currently use a sulfate-free shampoo once a week and stick with cowashing (with my regular conditioner) the rest of the time.

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Initially5OP•

Is your regular conditioner....regular? Like, no "deep nourishing", "extra hydration" or "soothing effect"? Or do you look for something for frizz, for curls, or for dry hair (according to the hair, I mean)? Any recommendations?

2
freesmarches•

I like to cowash with anything with a good amount of fatty alcohols in it, bonus if it is has behentrimonium chloride. Lighter-ish, but slippery.

Currently I use Love Beauty and Planet Murumuru Butter and Rose Conditioner. For most of the previous four months I used something called Jocott Brands Nature Love Tea Tree Oil and Mint conditioner (bought in litres at Winners, really great stuff). I've co-washed with Kiss My Face Whenever Daily Conditioner, and Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat, and any number of natural beauty brand conditioners ( JASON used to make a henna conditioner that I loved), but I've also used DevaCurl One Condition original. Basically, sulfate and silicone free, with decent slip.

When I cowash, I actually do wash with the conditoner. I apply it to my fingers and then massage/scrub my scalp with my fingertips, gradually moving up the crown. I make sure I get all of my scalp, paying special attention to my hairline and the nap of my neck. I detangle my hair and rinse thoroughly. This process takes probably 2-4 minutes to get in a good scrub. Then I condition and style as usual.

The only labeled co-washes I think I've used have been DevaCurl NoPoo Original and DevaCurl NoPoo Decadence, and Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Coconut and Hibiscus co-wash cleanser. I love the NoPoo original. I'll probably try the AsIAm Coconut Cowash next week.

My hair is below my collarbone unstretched, high porosity, coloured (for years), dense, medium textured, mostly a mix of 3a/3b. When I don't condition regularly it gets dry, not oily, and I would say my scalp is neither dry nor oily, no skin conditions.

I hope this is helpful info!

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Initially5OP•

A lot! Thank you so much! I'll have this in mind for my next shopping time!

2
dodoconundrum•

You can use either-or. Cowashing covers both using regular conditioner as a cleanser, and actual cleansing conditioners that are marketed as such. It's up to you which one you prefer.

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Initially5OP•

Sorry, I am trying to understand...so, cleansing cowash and regular conditioners are not that different? I am assuming then that I might wash my hair with low poo/shampoo, when I feel the build up, independently of the product ( I am doing two cowash, one low poo, two cowash, regular shampoo right now, so maybe I should make some changes if I feel it before). Obviously I understand that is according to life styles, like gym/hot weather, or pollution, or work with AC the whole day, or dry environment, etc....

Thank you so much, now my wallet wont suffer that much any more....dippity do is good, but not a cheap choice....

3
dodoconundrum•

They're sort of different in that things marketed as "cowash" usually have cleansing ingredients in there. Whereas regular conditioner you use as a cowash doesn't, but just having a product and the friction of scrubbing means it still cleans your hair/scalp somewhat. People were using the word "cowash" for a long time, literally just combining the words "conditioner wash." Then companies began noticing and they started putting out "cowash" products. So some people say "cowash" and they're referring to the original usage - meaning a regular conditioner you use as the cleansing step. And some people say "cowash" but they mean an actual cowash product that's designed to clean. It is a little confusing.

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Initially5OP•

Thank you so much... I was really confused...now I have a better idea of what I am doing....

3