Cowashing 101

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When I began my healthy hair journey, the first bit of information that ever etched its way into my new regimen was this one; 

“Water is your friend!”  

I had pretty much gleaned from girlfriends, hair dressers, sisters, et al, that water and relaxers were arch enemies, and should, at best, only maintain a barely capped hostile coexistence.  While I was relaxed, I would anticipate the ensuing ‘tsk tsk tsk’ of my hair dresser, as she would roughly attack her way through my hair while making sure to enlighten me on how dry it was.  

Each time, I would come away confounded- I shampooed and conditioned my hair twice a month, and I always followed up with a squirt of pink oil moisturizer.   I never understood why my hair still always failed the moisture test each time I was held hostage in my hairdresser's chair.  

I’d never heard of cowashing, until I began my natural hair transition.

What is cowashing?  

Cowashing (conditioner washing) is a method of washing your hair without the use of a shampoo.  Instead, a conditioner is introduced as a hydrating and cleansing medium for the hair.   As I continued my transition, I would cowash my hair weekly.  When I became a full natural with a TWA or when I would wear braids or twists, I would cowash daily.

Cowashing allows your hair to be nourished by water and conditioning properties on a regular basis.  If done consistently, you can encourage an increase in your hair's moisture content; i.e.- your hair being regularly hydrated won't be dry and  prone to breakage.

 There’s a liberating element in moving against manufactured societal norms.  

When I cowash, I like my conditioner to have these three qualities in common:

1.  Accessibility and Affordability

2.  Consistency

3.  Slip

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 Access and affordability = home run!  

I always make it a point to only use conditioners I won't mind having to repurchase frequently, as well as, conditioners that are easily accessed.

VO5 conditioner- these are virtually everywhere and super cheap!

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Consistency = I like my cowash conditioners to be sorta thick to sorta runny; a healthy in-between.  It needs to be light enough to be easily rinsed off during the cowashing process, but also, thick enough for my hair to feel moisturized once the process is through.

Trader Joe's Nourish Spa Conditioner-  a perfect 'in between' conditioner.

Tip:  I concentrate my conditioner mostly on my actual hair strands and away from my scalp, during my cowash.  This prevents itchiness that can result when the conditioner isn't washed entirely off of the scalp.  It also aids in decreasing excess product build up.

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'Slip' = Slip is the decreased friction that occurs when the hair is coated with a slippery substance.  You want your conditioner to have slip because any amount of friction imparted to the hair is an opportunity for hair damage (splits, breakage, weathered hair).

Aussie Moist Conditioner- a favorite.  Off the charts slip!

Does it seem like everything under the sun, hell, including the sun, is a veritable threat to your hair? 

Unfortunately, this is actually quite true.  In order to keep your hair "healthy", you must work to "preserve" the strands that are already present on your head.  

Cowashing should be one more tool in your arsenal to help you achieve optimal hair.