A few terms have been floating around the beauty industry that may have you confused. Co-washing? Cleansing conditioners? What exactly is this latest hair washing trend? We’ll explain it all and what our favorite cleansing conditioner is!

Co-Washing Means No Shampoo

Co-washing, short for conditioner washing, is the act of washing your hair without any shampoo. Because shampoos typically strip hair of natural oil (that’s why your hair doesn’t feel greasy anymore after a shower), many people have searched for an alternative solution. You want your hair to feel clean, but you also don’t want to strip away all the oil your hair naturally has. Without natural oils, hair can feel dry and break. Your hair color can also fade prematurely. To combat this, we condition our hair after we shampoo, which puts moisture back into our hair. It’s a tricky balancing act. With co-washing, though, you skip stripping your hair of its oil and cleanse solely with conditioner. Cleansing conditioners cleanse, balance and revitalize your hair without removing the healthy hair oils.

Why Should I Co-Wash?

If you struggle with dryness, co-washing would be perfect for you. Cleansing conditioners are gentle and have little to no sulfates so they can clean and condition all in one. Cleansing conditioners also don’t need to be aggressively rubbed through your scalp. They are slippery and they don’t lather, so you can run them through your hair without damaging it. You’ll be left with smoother, frizz-free hair. Co-washing is also ideal for people with colored hair, people with very curly hair, or people who have lost natural oils in their hair due to age.

How Often Should I Co-Wash My Hair?

Your schedule, your hair type and your climate can all affect how often you should wash your hair. If you shampoo your hair every other day or every three days, you could co-wash on your days off. You could probably shampoo even less if you started co-washing. If you already shampoo rarely, then you could skip shampooing all together and just stick with a cleansing conditioner.

A Cleansing Conditioner We Love

We love Kerasilk Color Cleansing Conditioner. It’s made with keratin and tamanu oil. It gently cleanses hair and keeps your hair color fresh. This luxury conditioner will make every day feel like you just came back from the salon. Stop by any of our salons and pick one up if you’re ready to be done with shampoo.

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