"Cowashing Is Overused" - Thoughts?

[andromeda]

I was watching one of KimmayTube's latest videos - Updated Wash and Detangle Routine - and was intrigued by an opinion she stated.

"I know that shampooing is controversial and taboo in the natural hair community but I swear by it. I know that shampoos are designed to take something away from the hair, conditioners are designed to leave something behind. The molecules of each don't even function the same, so it is my personal opinion that cowashing is overused."

She uses a "buffering technique" to acheive "clean hair without the stripped feeling". She does this by shampooing the hair with a sulfate-free shampoo with an acidic pH balance, squeezing the excess lather from her hair and adding conditioner to the hair before rinsing - essentially "adding oils from the conditioner back to the hair while the dirt molecules are being washed away".

Do you think this is just a matter of "different strokes for different folks" or do you agree that cowashing is overused? What do you think of her reasoning and buffering technique?

 

[Vintageglam]

I think the reason co-washing works is bc moisture is added to the hair so as long as her method achieves this same result - then Kudos to her.

It's like people who wash and DC twice a week they are essentially doing the same thing. As long as their hair is not left feeling too stripped then its all good.

Just my

 

[JustKiya]

Hey, whatever works for her.

My hair is clean, my scalp is happy, and I don't use 'shampoo'. I do use cleansing Ayurvedic herbs, so maybe that's part of the reason why - but no, I don't think that cowashing is over-used.

 

[MsBoinglicious]

well I shampoo once a week because I deep condition once a week. I CANNOT deep condition over co-washed hair. It does not make sense to me. What do is put Olive oil on my scalp and ends then wash/shampoo with a 2-in-1 shampoo/conditioner duo. That way my hair is not dry feeling, its works for me.

 

[C@ssandr@]

It's all good to me. If your hair is thriving I won't argue with you...Actually if it's not thriving I'm not gonna argue with you anyway. I use shampoo when 'necessary' That is when my hair is greasy/dirty (which is rare) or I prepoo'ed with oil. I DC every week, and CW when my hair feels dry between DC's. I ain't knockin nobody's hustle.

 

[ms.blue]

I saw the video and I understood what she is coming from b/c I shampoo & dc either 1 or 2 weeks depending on the style but I plan on co-washing once a week along w/ poo & dc during the warmer months when I sweat more. I can't shampoo my hair more than once a week or it will dry outmy hair. I believe you should do what works for you & not others.

 

[D.N.A.]

I can't speak for others and take that stance. You know your hair best, what it likes, what it hates, and so on. Some people find shampoo - even the sulfate-free ones - to be drying and irritating to the scalp. So, I think this is a case of different strokes for different folks. Co-washing has been an integral part of the transitioning process for me, and just in my hhj, in general. It softens and boosts up moisture levels in the hair, and it makes my hair considerably easier to detangle than when I use shampoo (sulfate and sulfate free) and conditioner.

As for the shampoo-buffering technique it sounds interesting and I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

 

[Lola Laughs]

I was watching one of KimmayTube's latest videos - Updated Wash and Detangle Routine - and was intrigued by an opinion she stated.

"I know that shampooing is controversial and taboo in the natural hair community but I swear by it. I know that shampoos are designed to take something away from the hair, conditioners are designed to leave something behind. The molecules of each don't even function the same, so it is my personal that cowashing is overused."
....

IMO, how traditonal shampoo and conditioners are "designed" and their associated rules don't necessarily apply to our hair anyway. YMMV

 

[CleverGypsy]

I think it all depends on your hair, how many and what kind of products you use and how often you wash/co-wash. Basically YMMV (your mileage may vary). I don't use any products with 'cones or mineral oil (modified curly girl method) so I use shampoo when I feel that I need it (usually 1X/month) and I clarify when I have product build-up or my hair needs deep cleansing b/c of traveling/beach/outdooor activites. Co-washing 2-3 times a week has always worked for me- even before I knew it was an actual technique. Using shampoo everytime I wash leads to dryness which leads to breakage.

 

[Nonie]

IMO, how traditonal shampoo and conditioners are "designed" and their associated rules don't necessarily apply to our hair anyway. YMMV

Can you please elaborate?

I ask because I started to see my hair thrive when I, mistakenly perhaps, decided to start doing what I see other races do. I probably got the wrong end of the stick and ran with it (just like I did with moisturizing) when I read Brenda's report, but in 2001, when I started transitioning, I remember my thought process being, "White folks don't have to put grease on their scalps or hair and in fact wash it daily and it grows." I knew their hair gets greasy if not washed hence the need for regular washing and that ours was dry, but after Brenda assured me that water was my friend and my source of moisture, regular washing, albeit not daily, became my new way. It was also because of my comparison of the two kinds of hair that I misunderstood Brenda and stopped using products on my hair after washing. But I have found shampoo to cleanse my hair and conditioner to make it feel smooth and moisturized, which I think is what it does to "other hair". N'est-ce pas?

 

[Chaosbutterfly]

I don't think it's up to her to say that anything is overused.

For some people, cowashing doesn't work. For some, it does. Just because the number of people who find cowashing beneficial may be higher than those who don't doesn't mean that the technique is overused. That's like someone saying that protective styling or DCing is overused. It doesn't even make sense.

As for her buffering technique, I do it when I wash (except for when I clarify), and I think it's good. It does help keep the shampoo from stripping the hair while cleansing the scalp, and I have noticed moister hair since doing that.

And I see where she's coming from with the whole shampoo does one thing, conditioner does another, but I still think she's wrong. It's not like that technique is going to be an effective substitute for everyone, because some people's hair just does better without any shampoo. If people want to cowash, then let them cowash.

 

[Nonie]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but as far as CW being overused, I think if you're doing it daily and baggying, it can be a bit much and maybe wasteful coz conditioners are supposed to give your hair some kind of coating to lock in moisture and surely you can't be losing that on a daily basis, can you?

Since I consider washing my hair--whether full shampoo and condish, or just CW--the way I add moisture to my hair, I only CW if my hair feels dry between washes. I did do it a bit more often when I was wearing twists and changing the style daily, but thank goodness I got lazy and maintained a style for a few days. Sometimes instead of CWing, I'd just ACV rinse. (Why when wearing twists? Coz my twists are easiest to work with and get into a nice shape if allowed to drip-dry or styled when damp.)

 

[Eritreladiee]

yes, this is a matter of different strokes.

i don't think co washing is overused, even though I do it 5 days a week. The other 2 days i'll shampoo-- I never used to wash as much, but I've really been enjoying prepoos with Brahmi. Also, I've been experimenting with black soap, mixed with olive, coconut, and sweet almond oil, which perhaps the added oils is similar to her "buffer technique"

And I thought she exercises. How is she exercising and not co washing? Is she just relying on her "buffer technique" once a week? Well, I guess it really is different strokes.

 

[Lola Laughs]

Can you please elaborate?

I ask because I started to see my hair thrive when I, mistakenly perhaps, decided to start doing what I see other races do. I probably got the wrong end of the stick and ran with it (just like I did with moisturizing) when I read Brenda's report, but in 2001, when I started transitioning, I remember my thought process being, "White folks don't have to put grease on their scalps or hair and in fact wash it daily and it grows." I knew their hair gets greasy if not washed hence the need for regular washing and that ours was dry, but after Brenda assured me that water was my friend and my source of moisture, regular washing, albeit not daily, became my new way. It was also because of my comparison of the two kinds of hair that I misunderstood Brenda and stopped using products on my hair after washing. But I have found shampoo to cleanse my hair and conditioner to make it feel smooth and moisturized, which I think is what it does to "other hair". N'est-ce pas?

Certainly, Nonie. I mean that that the "rule" of always shampoo and then always follow with a conditioner isn't always the answer, although it is obviously working well for many, yourself included. IMO, many of our successful hair practices come from bending the so-called rules. For example, washing while in plaits is def not a traditional hair practice, but again, it is one that has worked very well for many of us.

 

[flowinlocks]

Hey, whatever works for her.

My hair is clean, my scalp is happy, and I don't use 'shampoo'. I do use cleansing Ayurvedic herbs, so maybe that's part of the reason why - but no, I don't think that cowashing is over-used.

Cosigning with this whole statement.

 

[Nonie]

Certainly, Nonie. I mean that that the "rule" of always shampoo and then always follow with a conditioner isn't always the answer, although it is obviously working well for many, yourself included. IMO, many of our successful hair practices come from bending the so-called rules. For example, washing while in plaits is def not a traditional hair practice, but again, it is one that has worked very well for many of us.

Oh OK. I thought you meant that that shampoos don't do to our hair what they do to other hair (in terms of cleaning in a stripping way for those made for oily hair, or cleaning in a less stripping way for those made for dry hair)...and that conditioners do not condition our hair like they are supposed to.

Washing in plaits I consider just a technique necessary to ensure less damage to our texture which is so prone to tangle and thus break. I wouldn't really blame the "design" of shampoo or conditioner on the need to do this.

But I guess the rules like "daily washing" definitely would not apply to us since our hair doesn't get that oily on a daily basis.

 

[Solitude]

I think it's different strokes for different folks. I'm a shampooer 90% of the time, but then in the summer when I'm getting sweaty all the time and washing my hair more, co-washing can be beneficial. I used to "co-wash" back in the day when I didn't even know what that was because shampooing did tend to make my hair dry. In the summertime when I was younger, I didn't always use shampoo, only after I went swimming.

It depends on your hair's needs. If you have dry hair and don't use a lot of heavy products, you might not need to shampoo at all.

"Overused" is a stretch.

 

[fluffyforever]

I love cowashes a lot. I have been an avid cowasher for 3 years, since I decided not to perm again. Shampoos have always made my hair feel like straw after I use them, and they were only used on my scalp when i could see or feel buildup.

That being said, I completely agree with Kimmaytube. I do think that cowashes are overused (for me at least).Yes, they do "clean" my hair and might be able to clean my scalp (I don't think my scalp really got cleaned). I have great moisture with cowashes. However, since 1 month ago, I have been using a sulfate free shampoo 1 time a week. I lather my scalp and hair really well and follow up with a deep condition. I have noticed that my hair is even more moisturized than with cowashes alone. I don't think the conditioners I was using was able to remove all the oil and product buildup by itself. My hair and scalp just feels different, better. My hair was suffocating under it all.

Maybe it is because I use conditioners with silicone ( I NEED the slip). Maybe shea butter is too much for my conditioners to remove by themselves. Whatever the reason, I don't think shampooing once a week will hurt me more than I have been hurting and suffocating my hair.

Now, I'm not just agreeing with kimmaytube because I am one of her subs, but I really do see a difference after shampooing really good once a week. I don't think she means you have to shampoo every time you wash, but to make sure you just don't completely exclude shampoo or any means to clarify your hair.

 

[Bene]

I think "I know that shampooing is controversial and taboo in the natural hair community...." is a gross exaggeration. Sure, some people prefer not to use shampoo, but there are plenty of other people, including yours truly, who do.

I have yet to see anyone say "Shampoo is evil". If anything, I've seen a lot of people say "Co-washing works for me" and they give their reasons why. I really do wish people would do their research before they overgeneralize, because it makes hair rookies think they're breaking some cardinal law.

 

[Janet']

I think it is different strokes for different folks...I think that she might use over-generalizations to get her point across, but if she has found success in shampoo and conditioning via the "buffer system"- I love it! I recently (like the last 6 weeks went exclusively to no-poo) and my hair seems to be thriving...What's good for the goose isn't necessarily good for the gander, and all those other cliches...

 

[vainღ♥♡jane]

i don't think cowashing is overused. i'm addicted to shampooing my hair, be it relaxed or natural, but cowashing is beneficial for me too. it just depends on the season. ♥

 

[Ms Lala]

I think you just have to do what works for you. Cowashing was a no go for me for the most part. I do it occasionally in the summer time . Other than that regularly doing it led to excess shedding for me. But for other people their hair seems to thrive. Who am I to say it's over used. Do you.

 

[Beaute Noire]

Do what works for you!!! My hair hates co-washing...I must shampoo really well once a week followed by a DC with heat....but that's just me, everyone is different so I don't think its my place to say co-washing is overused...

 

[andromeda]

I think "I know that shampooing is controversial and taboo in the natural hair community...." is a gross exaggeration. Sure, some people prefer not to use shampoo, but there are plenty of other people, including yours truly, who do.

I have yet to see anyone say "Shampoo is evil". If anything, I've seen a lot of people say "Co-washing works for me" and they give their reasons why. I really do wish people would do their research before they overgeneralize, because it makes hair rookies think they're breaking some cardinal law.

I think the word "controversial" might be an exaggerration but "taboo" is an accurate generalization, esp re: "afro-textured" hair types shampooing on a weekly basis. Based on her videos, it's very evident that she's done a lot of research. She's stated that she's not an avid hair board-er but I think her statement about attitudes towards shampooing in the natural hair community is one that is easily gleaned from a reasonable amount of exposure to naturals on blogs/yt/etc.

You are correct, there are many naturals who use shampoo. However, the general sentiment seems to be that frequent shampooing should be avoided bc of it's "stripping" effects and that cowashing is preferable bc it moisturizes and also has some cleansing properties. To its credit, LHCF generally stresses the importance of clarifying to eliminate build-up. Popular techniques like pre-pooing are similar to her buffer technique in that they acknowledge shampoo's benefit of clarifying and seek to proactively combat its stripping effect.

Personally, I believe she has a point about the different purposes of shampoos and conditioners and the fact that their respective molecules work differently. I believe it's important to have that understanding of the fundamentals(which many of us do), listen to your hair and act accordingly - if your hair has build-up, get rid of it; if it doesn't, there's little need to follow a timetable just for the sake of doing so.

 

[augiemoment]

that to me is like using a conditioning shampoo, it cleans the hair without stripping it of important olis

 

[so1913]

Everyone has a "theory"...do what works, period.

 

[MahoganyJazz]

I don't think it's overused either. But, it doesn't work for me. My hair is happier being washed and deep conditioned 1-2 times a week.

 

[dynamic1]

So she has a modified CG routine. Most sulfate free poos contain moisturizers and some conditioners contain cleaners. I do not see a huge difference in technique.

I use sulfate free shampoo most of the time. But I also co-rinse.

 

[afrikurl]

@Eritreladiee-A lot of people excercise without washing immediately after. I think it depends on your hair and your personal preference. I do heavy workouts three times a week and I use a moisturizing shampoo(TJ Nourish spa) one a week. My hair does not smell nor is it not oily in between washes.

I don't think you should shampoo just because it is designed to clean your hair. I just am not very good at co washing. My scalp doesn't get very clean. In the summer when I don't have to work, I co wash more because I can hang around at home and let my hair dry but I still shampoo once a week.

 

[tocktick]

I think it's all a matter of preference. I think some people find their hair thrives better if they co-wash regularly whilst others can't co-wash frequently and/or prefer to add moisture to their hair in other ways. Personally, I wash 1-2x a week, condition after each wash and DC maybe 2-3x a month. I believe the conditioning and sealing is most important to my hair and I do not need to co-wash. It's mainly time-consuming and inconvenient to me.

With all that said, I believe many people wrongly jump on the co-washing like it's a bandwagon and in that sense it becomes over-used and hailed as the cure-all sometimes. It's easier to latch onto as a hair-retention miracle than something like MSM or MTG.

However, I have read about quite a few people struggling with co-washing daily/most days and they ask how they can get over the issue. As thus, they end up ignoring what their hair really wants.