How to Co-Wash Wavy, Curly and Coily Hair
You'll have heard about ‘co-washing' by now. Also known as ‘conditioner washing', it involves swapping your foaming, traditional shampoos in favor of a cleansing conditioner. It's hailed as a must-try in the curly hair community, and for good reason. This definition-boosting, frizzy-defying hybrid product is not only efficient, but ultra effective too.
So, whether you're upgrading your own hair care routine, or you're a hairdresser advising a client, discover if a cleansing conditioner is what your curly care kit has been missing...
First, What Does a Co-Wash Do?
A co-wash combines the best benefits of a shampoo and a conditioner, so you can gently cleanse and nourish curls and coils in a single step. It’s low on lather, high on moisture, and gets hair clean in the most nurturing way. That’s why it’s so great for textured hair types; it purifies delicate strands, while pumping in extra moisture.
Is a Co-Wash Better Than Shampoo?
A co-wash isn't necessarily 'better' than traditional shampoo – it's just different. When deciding which one to use, it all comes down to the hair type you're working with, as well as the results you want.
Use a Co-Wash When:
- You’re caring for frizzy curls that may be hard to manage after washing. A co-wash will help you (or your client) enjoy extra bounce and definition.
- Textured hair is calling out for a dose of hydration. Cleansing conditioners maintain moisture, so wavy, curly and coily hair types look and feel soft and healthy.
- Curls are highly porous. This means there are gaps and tears along the hair cuticle, through which moisture can easily escape. Using a co-wash can help to 'plug' these gaps over time, locking in nourishment.
Use a Traditional Shampoo When:
- You're working with an oily scalp that's in need of a deeper cleanse. Even if you’re usually a co-wash loyalist, you may want to lather up with a clarifying shampoo each month to detox locks.
- You want a rich foam. ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo transforms into the most luxurious lather, while still delivering the intense nourishment that curly hair craves.
- Hair is fine and needs a specialized shampoo that feels weightless. While a cleansing conditioner isn’t ‘heavy’, sometimes thin and fine hair is better suited to a volume-boosting formula.
Of course, you don’t have to use just one or the other. To reap the rewards of both in your hair routine, you or your client can alternate between co-washing and traditional shampooing. It’s all about finding your fit.
Who Should Try Co-Washing?
One of the first questions that crops up with co-washing is ‘will it work with my hair?' And the answer we give to all of our clients is: just try it. You won't know if co-washing suits you or your client until you give it a go. What you should keep in mind is the condition and the texture of hair, as the biggest benefits are seen when dealing with:
Dry Hair Types
Because a co-wash is packed with conditioning ingredients, it's the ideal cream cleanser to rehydrate dry waves, curls and coils. It's not going to strip away the natural oils that keep hair soft, so the cuticle layer is respected throughout the cleansing process. It's that boost of moisture that helps ringlets regain their shape, so they appear bouncy once more.
Damaged Hair
Gentle cleansing is a must for damaged hair. That's why we recommend those with overworked tresses use a co-wash, or a deeply reparative shampoo like ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo. When hair is stressed, it requires a 'gently, gently' approach to prevent hair breakage, split ends and brassiness. The conditioning properties of a co-wash will ensure even heat damaged or bleach damaged hair is cared for.
Frizzy Hair
Frizz happens when hair becomes dry, so by using a moisturizing cleanser, you help to give wavy hair, curls and coils their spring back, reducing flyaways. Broken strands can also appear frazzled, so the boost in strength and nourishment from co-washing may also protect locks from a future of frizziness.
Can You Co-Wash With a Regular Conditioner?
No, you can’t wash with just any conditioner. You need the low lather and special cleansing ingredients found in a co-wash to effectively rinse away dirt, oil and impurities. Otherwise, if you massage a conditioner into roots, curls could appear weighed down, and the scalp won’t be clean. That's why we recommend you only wash with a shampoo or cleansing conditioner to level up scalp and hair health.
So, What's the Best Co-Wash For Curly Hair?
Image Credit: @romeufelipe
Now we come to the really important part: the perfect co-wash for curly hair. NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner is specially formulated to boost smoothness and shine in wavy, curly and coily hair types. With a blend of Jojoba Oil and Panthenol, textured strands enjoy root-to-tip radiance, while the exclusive Nourish-In Complex elevates nourishment for softer yet stronger curls. Plus, it even helps to protect hair color, enhancing vibrancy with every wash. So, if you or your client are working a new shade, you can lather up with confidence. The low-foam formula gives you that clean feeling you want on hair wash day, leaving the scalp, roots, lengths and ends gently purified. It's the co-wash every curly hair routine needs.
How Do You Use a Co-Wash?
Step One: First, choose a co-washing product, like the NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner, which gently cleanses hair while boosting luminosity with camellia seed oil.
Step Two: Through wet hair, start massaging the cleansing conditioner into roots as you would a traditional shampoo. Smooth it through to the ends of hair.
Step Three: For a few minutes, keep massaging NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner into hair from root to tip. Then, rinse thoroughly, and…that's it, you're done.
It really is as easy as that to co-wash – and the best part is, you don't need to follow it up with any extra conditioner. Simply blot away excess water with a microfiber towel, then dry hair and enjoy those healthy, bouncy ringlets.
How Often Should You Co-Wash Hair?
Hair can be co-washed as often as you like. You can use NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner for every hair washing day, or make it more of a 'treat' for curls on days when they're dry and frizzy. Then, when you want the richer lather of a regular shampoo, try ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, followed by ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner. This intensely nourishing duo is infused with a skincare-inspired blend of AHA and Omega-9 to rebuild strands from the inside out.
What Comes Next?
After co-washing wavy, curly or coily hair, boost the results with the right hair care products. First up, that means misting ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue through clean, towel-dried tresses. Allow it to absorb before applying your go-to styling essentials. The TikTok-famous leave-in treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds* for 99% less breakage**. Plus, because it's weightless, it layers perfectly with curl serums or creams. Lightly scrunch NutriCurls Milky Waves (for wavy hair) or NutriCurls Curlixir Balm (for curls and coils) into lengths for extra definition.
Now you've got all the co-washing insight you need, we'd love to see your NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner results. Share them on Instagram and tag us @WellaHairUSA. We can't wait to see those healthy curls!
