WHat do you use to co-wash?

[HowLongToXmas]

I started co-washing at the beginning of the summer. I've been using As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner but I'm far from impressed by it. What do other co-washers use that they would recommend please? THank you.

I know I could google it, but what is co-washing? Sounds like having a shower with your partner, which DP is always up for!

I thought it must be washing with your baby, like co-sleeping.

According to google it's using one product as both shampoo and conditioner.
In which case I use the gruum shampoo bar with no conditioner and it works really well. Ordered it based on recommendations from mumsnet and just about to do another order for DD.

I know what co washing is.
It’s when you spray the shower with bath cleaner but are too lazy to scrub it so you just go in and have a shower instead.

@KurriKawari co washing is conditioner only no shampoo

I tend to use as I am (sorry!) sometimes Giovanni tea tree conditioner which is tingly and suds up a little

What's the benefits of cowashing? Sounds interesting.

@KurriKawari gentler, less drying. It's changed my hair completely

I’m doing the curly girl method and my favourite cowash is the L’Oréal elvive clay conditioner (in a green bottle). It’s silicone free and my hair always feel clean afterwards.

I am wondering if the As I Am one has changed, because I swear it used to be amazing, but right enough my hair has got quite dry and rough in the last year (minimal drying/heat styling). Hmm

No idea if the As I am has changed because this is my first jar but it doesn't make my hair particularly soft or detangled. It does clean it but apparently that's down to the scrubbing and you can use pretty much any conditioner. But as I'm new to co-washing I'm keen to get ideas re products from other co-washers. I'll definitely try the L'Oreal clay one @Song6

I use Aveda Be Curly cowash as I have curly hair. Definitely changed my hair for the better.

XHC conditioners from B&M/Savers/poundshop type places. Cheap, smells nice and leaves my hair feeling lovely. Fully curly girl approved.

I like the banana one best but strawberry is nice too.

I use garnier hair food too but not on the roots as it is too heavy. I just put a bit on the ends if my hair is feeling at all dry or frizzy.

@Song6

I’m doing the curly girl method and my favourite cowash is the L’Oréal elvive clay conditioner (in a green bottle). It’s silicone free and my hair always feel clean afterwards.

Is this the one www.loreal-paris.co.uk/elvive/extraordinary-clay/extraordinary-clay-re-balancing-conditioner ? It says it's for oily roots but I don't have oily roots. @Song6

Yes, that’s the one. It’s technically a conditioner for oily hair but I use it as a cowash as it absorbs any oil and stuff but it doesn’t dry my hair out. My hair is on the dry side as it’s curly but I didn’t like the feel of the as I am cowash.

I second the XHC ones, and also Sainsbury's apple conditioner. Didn't get on with any Loreal or Garnier products as a co-wash but do use the Garnier Hair Food masks as conditioners/leave-in. Give the cheap ones a reasonable try before you get a more expensive one - particularly because I found I was using a lot more product to get enough slip to scrub effectively.

The Hair Food masks are good for deep conditioning too - try putting it on dry hair and leaving it (wrap in a shower cap or towel) for a while before you wash every week or so.

Are you using a separate conditioner after you've co-washed? I thought it was a bit unnecessary because I was already using conditioner to help scrub my scalp clean, but whenever I didn't condition after rinsing the co-wash out, the lengths of my hair felt a bit dry. Now I always put a bit of conditioner through the lengths (not roots) after rinsing out the co-wash, and then rinse that out too (sometimes leave it in but not often).

@Stillinsistsheseestheghosts I definitely want to try the cheaper ones since the As I am one was a disappointment.

And yes, I am using a lot of product in order to get slip.

I have found that I must use a conditioner afterwards or my hair won't be soft and detangle.

I use palmers olive oil conditioner to co-wash, and follow with the olive oil spray in leave in conditioner when I'm get out.

They sell it in Tesco and it's not expensive

Is the Olive Oil spray good? Does it not make your hair greasy?

Be careful with some of these recommendations if you're following it properly
The clay conditioner has a drying alcohol and so does the palmers co wash, the palmers spray has silicone

Thank you @QueenPaws - I am trying to steer clear of anything with alcohol in it.

@BewareTheBeardedDragon

I use palmers olive oil conditioner to co-wash, and follow with the olive oil spray in leave in conditioner when I'm get out.

Which conditioner do you use? I just Googled it and Palmers seems to make quite a few similar ones.

I didn't think the palmers products did have bad stuff - off to check

Oh dear - so they do. They work for me nonetheless. The spray does not make my hair greasy at all - I have very very dry hair.

Does the conditioner have alcohol? And do you mind telling me which specific conditioner you use?