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January 12, 2021 7 min read
By Toia Barry
During the Curly Hair Dark Ages, cleansing curly hair was almost always a stripping process, and products just didn’t do enough for curly tresses.
Then one day, a fed-up curly girl picked up a bottle of conditioner and said, “I’ve had enough of dry, tangled hair! This is my cleanser now!” Just like that, co-washing conditioner was born.
Or something like that.
Now that the Dark Ages are over and there are so many options for co-washing, you want to know the best co-wash for curly hair. No problem! Today we’ll discuss why the best co-wash conditioner for the curly hair type should:
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump in!
What is co-washing hair, and which natural hair products are best for your curl type? Curly hair is so incredibly unique, which means that every hair type needs something a little different.
Whether you choose a regular conditioner or a co-washing conditioner to co-wash your hair, there’s a very important type of ingredient you should look for in your co-washing product: cationic surfactants.
Surfactants are the ingredients in shampoos (and conditioners) that have the ability to clean your hair. Basically, surfactants cling to the oil on your hair and allow that oil to be rinsed away by also clinging to water. So surfactants grab the oil on your head, then hitch a ride down the drain on the water you use to rinse your hair, leaving you cleansed and stunning.
Conditioning products should have cationic surfactants. This specific type of surfactant is used in conditioning products because it clings to the hair and allows other moisturizing ingredients to soak in. Cationic surfactants can also gently cleanse your scalp and hair without stripping away excess oil for maximum moisture retention. You may be asking yourself, “is shampoo bad for your hair?” And the answer is, yes, it can be. It can strip your hair of its natural oils, so you may want to consider a co-wash.
Here is a list of cationic surfactants to look for on an ingredients list:
Okay, but you didn’t come here for a chemistry lesson, did you? The main point is: Look for both moisturizing ingredients and cleansing ingredients in your co-washing product.
The whole goal of co-washing is to minimize harsh ingredients and maximize moisturizing ones.
So, any co-wash that contains sulfates probably isn’t a good co-wash for curly hair.
Sulfates are a type of surfactant (anionic surfactant), that yes, cleans your hair, but really has no business being in a co-wash. Sulfates are big-time strippers—of oil, that is. Over-stripping your hair can lead to dryness, breakage, and wearing out your least favorite hats to cover up your bad hair days.
It’s tempting to jump into co-washing with products that are ultra-moisturizing like a deep conditioner. After all, moisture is the main reason you’re co-washing. But, before you reach for your heaviest and deepest conditioners, think about these two factors:
Curls can be really thirsty. Thanks to the structure of curly hair, it can be hard for the oil on your scalp to reach all the way down the hair strand. The tighter the curl pattern, the more oil your strands are missing out on.
So, it makes sense for people with these curl types to look for a co-wash that packs more of a punch. Especially people with...
On the flip side, if you belong to either of the categories below, lightweight might be just right:
Alright, here’s what you really wanna know: Which co-wash will make your detangling sessions less of a production? First, it’s important to remember that stronger hair is more resistant to tangling, so look for a conditioner that does these things:
Oils also reduce the amount that your hair swells when it’s wet, which prevents the damage that overwetting can do to your hair’s elasticity. However, one oil, in particular, may offer great detangling benefits: coconut oil.
Coconut oil is well known among naturalistas for its detangling abilities. It’s thick enough to give you a really good slip to detangle while also being able to penetrate your strands. It can even help reduce protein loss in your hair.
Coconut oil is also unique for its high fatty acid content. Fatty acids do an important job of nourishing the hydro-lipid layer that protects your hair.
All hair products should contain the basics of good hair care, but curly hair especially needs all the love from nature it can get. Look out for these scalp-loving and curl-loving ingredients and their benefits:
A solid hair care routine maintains a balance between moisturizing and strengthening. So, a co-wash that promotes both strong and moisturized hair gets an A+ in the School of Hair.
Silk amino acids are able to penetrate deeply into the hair and bind to its protein. This strengthens your hair, which naturally loses its protein through time, environment, and consistent handling.
Is it bad to wash your hair everyday? As we mentioned above, washing hair everyday can be drying and damaging, making co-washing is a great solution.
If you’re looking for a lightweight, sulfate-free, detangling co-wash with nourishing ingredients, look no further than Mielle Organics’ detangler for natural hair co-wash.
The Detangling Co-Wash is a hair moisturizer for curly hair that features nature’s superstar ingredients, including:
It’s moisturizing yet cleansing and packed with gentle surfactants for a refreshed scalp in between shampoos.
Need something a bit heavier? Something from Mielle’s line of moisturizing conditioners could be just what you need.
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