Co-wash: Do i need to be doing it?

At some point in your natural hair journey, you will have come across the word Co-wash. Usually you hear it and think WTF, but today i am going to break it down for you!

I remember when i first heard this word, and i had to scratch my head and hop on google. I had never heard of it. 

What is co-wash?
To co-wash hair, it basically means to conditioner-wash it. This means washing hair without the use of shampoo. 

So can i use just any conditioner to do this?
Some people will say yes, but i disagree. There are products out there that are designed especially to be used as a co-wash, and these are the ones you should use. These are formulated to have cleansing agents in them that a regular wash out conditioner may not have. 

Why should i co-wash and not shampoo?
If like me you have thick, curly hair, then you will notice how dry it feels when using shampoo. That's because shampoo strips your hairs natural oils, especially those with sulphates in them. A co-wash is more gentle on your hair, while still being capable of cleaning it. 

If you have coloured hair, then even more reason to co-wash. This method will make your colour last longer between salon visits as it won't strip away the hairs pigment the way a shampoo does. 

If you are someone that goes to the gym often or needs to wash their hair more than once a week, again this method will be much better for your curls.

How often should you co-wash?
This is down to personal choice. Personally, i co-wash my hair every 7-10 days, and only shampoo every other wash or monthly. I don't overload my hair with product, which means wash days last me longer. It all depends on how often you wash your hair, but co-washing more often and saving shampooing for bi-weekly or monthly will make a lot of difference. I have read articles where it has been recommended to co-wash 1-2 times a week and only shampoo every 2-4 weeks, but as i have said, this is all a preference. 

Are there any rules to co-washing?
Not rules as per say, but there are common mistakes when co-washing, which will affect the outcome.

1. Ignoring your scalp: Because this is a conditioner, people often use it this way. A co-wash is like a 2-in-1. Yes, it is a conditioner, but it is also a cleaner. Make sure that you apply it like a shampoo and then like a conditioner. Massage it into your scalp as well as the length of your hair. 
2. Not De-tangling: If you don't de-tangle you won't get the best out of the co-wash process. Saturate hair, and de-tangle well.

How do i co-wash?

Remember to treat a co-wash like a 2-in-1 and the process will be simple and easy. 

1. Wet hair thoroughly: Make sure the strands are completely saturated with water
2. Get a healthy sized amount of product (dime sized right *wink*)
3. Massage this into your scalp as you would with a shampoo, to leave scalp clean.
4. Distribute through the length of your hair as you would a conditioner, remembering to de-tangle so that it gets to all of your hair.
5. Leave for 3-5 minutes (optional)
6. Rinse and dry

OK, i'm in. What co-wash do you recommend?

I have 2 which are my holy grail when it comes to wash days. I 100% prefer to co-wash, so these are my babies!

Curlsmith curl quenching conditioning co-wash 
available here

As i am coconut co-wash
Available in superdrug stores or here Naturalistic Products