Co Washing

A few things to keep in mind: Conditioner Only (CO) washing is a method of washing your hair using only conditioner instead of/in place of shampoo or whatever else people wash their hair with.

First – Conditioner Only washing will not make/leave your hair dirty. It might not be a “strong” enough cleaning method for your hair (CO is not for everyone), but for many people it is the perfect balance between moisture and cleansing. Conditioners contain surfactants that gently lift oils and dirt from your hair and scalp, instead of stripping and drying your strands like many shampoos do. Even if you normally don't get conditioner on your scalp because it makes your hair greasy faster or makes you break out, C/O may still work for you - for some reason the result can be totally different. Some people with scalp troubles (itchies/flakies) may find that simply switching to CO washing can alleviate those issues because they are no longer stripping out all of the oil with a detergent shampoo.

Second – CO washing does not (usually) result in a “clarifying” or “chelating” wash. If you use lots of heavy products in your hair or products that use silicones, you may need to clarify and remove build-up before you begin experimenting with CO, so you can start with a “clean slate” so to speak. You can use a clarifying shampoo to do this, or just mix a bit of baking soda with your regular shampoo. For people with less build up, a cone free shampoo with some of the more cleansing sulfates may be enough.

Third – CO washing takes some adjustment. If you are used to washing your hair with a shampoo twice a week the CO wash method may be much gentler and less stripping. One CO wash might give you an idea of how your hair will react, but it takes several washes and several different “hairdays” to determine whether this washing method is for you! Keeping a journal can really help you manage what you do or don’t like about different haircare methods, and CO washing is no different. Just give it time, try out new things, and remember to not make too many changes too suddenly! One wash won't give you the full answer, you'll have to do a few of them and find out. Also, remember that not everyone's hair likes CO washes.