Curly hair needs extra care in order to look amazing and alive. Co-wash is one of the most popular methods out there, but making mistakes is quite easy. Here's what you should avoid.
Co-washing is short for conditioner washing, which means you cleanse your hair without shampoo because this way you maintain the natural oils of your hair and you keep it hydrated. However, as simple as this sounds, getting the hang of it can be quite difficult. Check out these common mistakes (and avoid them!)
Using a conditioner
This might sound quite contradictory because this method is literally cold conditioner wash, but there is a specific product for it. "Using a conditioner to co-wash instead of an actual co-wash is one of the biggest mistakes naturals make," says Faith Huffnagle, director of education at Prose. "Co-washing will cleanse the scalp in a way that conditioner cannot on its own, as long as you focus your fingertips [on massaging] the scalp and [rinsing] thoroughly."
Co-washing after using oil-heavy products
Although you might get anxious to finally master co-wash, you can't exclusively do it if you use other oil-based products. Your hair will be clean, yes, but co-wash will not get rid of excess oil and buildup will end up being worse. If you want to stick to co-wash, then use lighter products that are water-based.
Ignoring your scalp
We can't stress this enough: the key to healthy hair is a healthy scalp. You can't have one without the other. "There are many co-washes on the market, so finding one that really focuses on ensuring your scalp is clean is key," says Huffnagle.