What Is Co-Washing (and Is It Right for You)?

Here’s what you need to know about this hyped-up alternative to shampooing.

Knowing how to properly wash your hair is tricky because you can’t just rely on generalized information. The best way depends on what your specific hair type is and how it behaves.

What is clear is that the old method of shampooing daily is out. At most, you should be shampooing every other day, and that’s a good approach for most guys.

Then there’s the no-poo movement, which advocates ditching traditional shampoo completely. No poo techniques range from making home-brewed alternatives to just using water. Not all no-poo methods are right for everyone, so if you’re interested, you’ll want to explore your options.

Co-washing is one of the more moderate hair-washing techniques that fall into the no-poo territory. However, co-washing can also be used in alternation with regular shampooing.

Learn more about what co-washing is, how to do it, and whether it might be right for you.

What Is Co-washing Hair?

Co-washing is washing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. Specifically, it refers to using conditioner both as a shampoo replacement and as a regular conditioner.

Normally, you’d apply shampoo only to your scalp and conditioner only to the ends of your hair. With co-washing, you use conditioner to wash everything: scalp, roots, and ends.

Why Co-wash?

Co-washing is recommended for the same reasons as no poo in general: it’s easier on your hair.

Most shampoos contain sulfates that strip your hair of its natural oils. This can also lead to breakage since your hair will be drier.

Conditioner, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as harsh because its job is to restore and moisturize your hair. While conditioner isn’t formulated for hair washing, it has mild surfactants that can clean the hair.

Conditioner doesn’t provide as deep of a clean as shampoo — and that’s entirely the point. It will still remove residue, so unless your hair is really dirty, conditioner should do the job just fine.

While you can get sulfate-free shampoos that are much gentler, some people still prefer a completely shampoo-free approach.

That said, co-washing experts recommend using a sulfate-free shampoo every 7 to 10 days.

Some people can get away with only co-washing and completely foregoing shampoo. However, most people will benefit most from a balance of shampooing and co-washing.

Is Co-washing Right for You?

Not everyone can reap all of the benefits of co-washing. Whether co-washing will be effective for you will depend on the type of hair you have.

Broadly speaking, co-washing works best on tough, coarse, and heavily textured hair. That said, you can’t know for sure how your hair will respond to co-washing until you try it out.

One important note is that you shouldn’t co-wash if you have a flaky scalp. Conditions like dandruff and psoriasis need to be managed using strong cleansing ingredients, so conditioner alone won’t suffice.

Here’s how each major hair type tends to respond to co-washing:

Straight Hair

Out of all the hair types, straight hair is the most prone to oiliness. The straight hair shaft provides a slide for oil to glide down, which results in an oily scalp and roots.

This means that straight hair typically gets dirtier faster — especially if it’s fine or thin. The buildup of oil weighs the hair down and can also make it look greasy.

While you can co-wash straight hair, you will need to use shampoo on a regular basis. This is because conditioner doesn’t cut through oil as effectively as shampoo. In short, whenever you notice any oiliness or hair product buildup, it’s time to break out the shampoo.

You might also want to consider using a lighter conditioner so your hair can retain as much volume as possible.

Wavy Hair

The effectiveness of co-washing on wavy hair depends on the hair’s specific properties.

If you have wavy hair that’s fine and thin, then you should treat it like straight hair. Stick to a lighter conditioner, and use shampoo when you notice oiliness or excess grime.

If you have wavy hair that’s thick and coarse, then you can go with a more rigorous co-washing routine. These types of hair tend to dry out more quickly, so they benefit more from co-washing. You can use a conditioner that hydrates more strongly, and you can also go longer without using shampoo.

Curly Hair

Curly hair generally responds positively to co-washing. Because of its texture, curly hair catches oil before it can slide down the strand. That’s why curly hair is typically more prone to dryness and breakage. (This can also lead to frizzy hair.)

If your hair is extremely curly, you might want to let the conditioner soak in longer than you normally would. You also might want to consider getting a separate hydrating conditioner to use as well.

Coily Hair

Coily hair often benefits the most from co-washing. Because of its texture, coily hair has trouble holding in moisture, so using conditioner only is a good move. (This hair type also typically benefits from being washed less in general.)

If you have coily hair, you can likely drop shampoo entirely and use an extra-moisturizing conditioner.

Co-Washing Conditioners

If you’re considering co-washing, keep in mind that you might need to spend some serious time trying out conditioners.

Of course, you should consider your hair type. If you have finer, less textured hair, look for more lightweight products without any heavy cream- or butter-type ingredients. If you have rougher and more textured hair, look for products with proteins and moisture-heavy oils and butters.

Here are a few good conditioners for co-washing:

Jack Black Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner

Pound for pound, Jack Black is one of the best men’s grooming brands around. Its Nourishing Hair and Scalp Conditioner is a great choice for a first co-washing conditioner.

Formulated with tea tree oil and basil leaf, this conditioner works to provide a healthy dose of moisture. It also has silk protein, which makes this an especially good conditioner for drier hair.

As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner

If you have straighter hair that needs a gentler conditioner, try As I Am’s wonderfully alliterative Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner.

This easygoing product uses ingredients like coconut oil, tangerine, and saw palmetto to lightly but effectively cleanse the hair. It’s also completely free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.

Unwash Bio-cleansing Conditioner Hair Cleanser

For tougher hair that’s also frizzy, the Unwash Bio-cleansing Conditioner Hair Cleanser is a good choice. It’s formulated with keratin, organic evening primrose oil, and sea buckthorn to hydrate and strengthen the hair.

Unwash says this conditioner works well for all hair types. It’s also color-safe (as are some of the other options on this list).

R+Co Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner

For guys who prefer foamier products, the Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner from R+Co is a noteworthy option.

Because of its foamy texture, the Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner is great for fine, thin, and straight hair. Nutrient-rich ingredients like argan oil and nettle leaf extract soften and hydrate the hair.

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