Shampooing vs Co Washing... Which one is best for Kinky and Curly Hair
Shampooing vs Co Washing... Which one is best for Kinky and Curly Hair?
By Pat Moore
Owner and Creator
Terra Veda Organix
Since becoming natural in 2012, I have been a huge advocate of Co-Washing. So much so, that I formulated Apple Cleansing Co Wash, which by the way happened to be one of the best sellers in my online store. However, in the words of Maya Angelo, “When you know better you do better.” I have had an epiphany and now believe shampooing is definitely the way to go! Curl Bath Shampoo and Curl Bath Clarifying Shampoo are quickly the new best sellers.
Here’s what I have learned: Lots naturals live by conditioner washing (co-washing) only. Co-washing is using conditioner only to cleanse your hair and scalp. You can achieve a co-wash with any conditioner of your choosing. All conditioners contain small amounts of mild cleansing detergents. It’s very popular for hair product companies to create and marketing products to specifically meet the purpose of Co-washing. These products have additional cleansing properties while providing moisture at the same time. Co-washing allows for more hydrated, manageable, softer, and smoother hair during and after the cleansing process. Sounds amazing right? Well consider this, although co-washing has great benefits it also has many disadvantages. It can cause more buildup than it actually removes and may lead to dull, over conditioned hair. If you suffer from any scalp conditions, co-washing could make your condition worse. Also, depending on your hair porosity, you may not see the best benefit from co-washing. If you've been heavy into co-washing, but it seems like your hair is drier than normal - it's probably time to start regularly shampooing. If you use a lot of styling products like heavy gels -its probably time to start regularly shampooing. If it takes a long time for water 💦 to penetrate your hair- it’s probably time to start shampooing. I believe that most of our hair and scalp related issues can be solved with a good sudsing using shampoo. Shampoo is the more traditional way to cleanse the scalp the hair of buildup and residue. Because shampoo has a negative charge on the hair it gently lift the cuticles. Raised cuticles allow more water into the strand, improving internal hydration. That’s why your hair looks so shiny after shampooing it. I have been experimenting by using shampoo for the last 6 months. I shampoo my hair every 3-4 days and results have been amazing. My hair is softer, hydrated and shinier. My styles last so much longer. Who knew that shampooing your hair could be such a Game Changer! Don’t just take my word for it... try it for yourselves!
