cowashing How beneficial is it?

[amorette]

I'm a little past bra-strap length. I usually put it into a single braid and tuck the ends, or I put it into a bun using a foam donut foundation. I work out early on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays, so If I want to wear it down, I do it on those two days. But it's so hot in Georgia right now, I rarely feel the urge to feel my hair on my neck.

see that is great - you have length to do the single braid and have it look cute. when i so a single bread it reaches the top of my shoulder blades when wet then draws up to my neck, so alot of times i let it dry naturally curly and put it in a curly ponytail on top of my head with little curly pieces out all around which is cute and sexy but probably not good for my ends and that ponytail is probably stressful on my hair too...i need some other options for naturally curly curly hair that draws up yall!

 

[myco]

see that is great - you have length to do the single braid and have it look cute. when i so a single bread it reaches the top of my shoulder blades when wet then draws up to my neck, so alot of times i let it dry naturally curly and put it in a curly ponytail on top of my head with little curly pieces out all around which is cute and sexy but probably not good for my ends and that ponytail is probably stressful on my hair too...i need some other options for naturally curly curly hair that draws up yall!

Don't be fooled, that braid is not always cute. Even though I'm relaxed, I still have a lot of shrinkage. I guess that's because I don't relax bone straight. I just have to put on some earrings and some lipstick and keep it moving.

Maybe you could do flat twists or cornrows in just the front of your hair and wear the back loose?

 

[amorette]

Don't be fooled, that braid is not always cute. Even though I'm relaxed, I still have a lot of shrinkage. I guess that's because I don't relax bone straight. I just have to put on some earrings and some lipstick and keep it moving.

Maybe you could do flat twists or cornrows in just the front of your hair and wear the back loose?

that's a good idea - i will try that...it will take at least some of the orphan annie shock away....

 

[KeraKrazy]

I'm here to testify to cowash. I use to cowash and it appeared to be drying my hair out so I stopped. I recently started back daily cowashing(every morning) about a week ago, and I've been using distilled water and Herbal Essence Moisturizing Conditioner. Let me tell you, my hair is more moisturized than its ever been! I walked pass my husband this morning and he said, "your hair looks good, it looks healthier." I contribute that compliment to cowashing.

Do you live in a hard water area, I've also tried cowashing but find that it dries my hair out also, I'm wondering whether it has something to do with the fact that I have hard water

 

[Candy_C]

I cant wait to co-wash again. i will need 2 clarify more often though...

i'll use le kair shea butter like i did b4

 

[MizaniMami]

I cant wait to co-wash again. i will need 2 clarify more often though...

i'll use le kair shea butter like i did b4

When will you start back co-wahsing? How often will you do it?

 

[MzTami]

Do you live in a hard water area, I've also tried cowashing but find that it dries my hair out also, I'm wondering whether it has something to do with the fact that I have hard water

Yes it is very hard water. I cowash with distilled water and it has made a huge difference.

 

[CocoGlow]

I co-wash every 2-3 days now for both MOISTURE & GENTLE CLEANSING

I love the way my scalp/hair feels after co-washing..it feels clean but not stripped!!

I do a clarifying co-wash 1x a month by adding a little baking soda to my co-wash

To make my co-washes easier & more effective, I place my liquid base: (warm Indian herbal cleansing tea OR water) + conditioner: (Trader Joe's Nourish Spa) in a spray bottle...the mix is liquidy but not too drippy....I spray the mixture onto my DRY scalp & hair & massage it in ...then rinse

I always follow up w/ an Herbal ACV rinse

 

[tinkat]

CW is very beneficial bc it moisturizes my hair and when I was relaxed it helped stretch relaxers.

 

[AvaSpeaks]

I think co-washing gives my hair more moisture, therefore it won't break off as much because it's so dry.

 

[tiffers]

I can't sing enough praises about co washing. I've been doing it every day for about 3 months, and my hair is SO moisturized and strong. All I do is co wash and put in my leave in, and my hair has such a nice, healthy sheen. My stretch is going smooth, I'm on week 9 and no unusual breakage. I love how soft and supple my hair feels. When it airdries, it's a challenge to keep my hands out of my hair, it feels sooooo good. Even my dh commented on how goo and healthy my hair looks. I love co washing!

 

[apemay1969]

I can't sing enough praises about co washing. I've been doing it every day for about 3 months, and my hair is SO moisturized and strong. All I do is co wash and put in my leave in, and my hair has such a nice, healthy sheen. My stretch is going smooth, I'm on week 9 and no unusual breakage. I love how soft and supple my hair feels. When it airdries, it's a challenge to keep my hands out of my hair, it feels sooooo good. Even my dh commented on how goo and healthy my hair looks. I love co washing!

Thanks for posting this today. I was thinking of cowashing because I keep telling myself that I'm going to put in my relaxer because of the unmanageabilty and this fear that I'm breaking my hair at demarcation - 9 weeks in. I just washed and conditioned last night. I'll probably cowash this evening and let air dry. I hate going out of the house with a wet head. My husband thinks I'm doing too much to it so he just continues to shake his head.

 

[tetbelle]

I co-wash to keep my hair moisturized and I feel that it is the reason my hair is healthy and grows at a good rate. I did it when I was relaxed and I do it now with my natural texture.

 

[Kamilah]

Well, as a fine haired (albeit extremely dy haired) lady, I can't cowash for the life of me! My relaxed hair tries to lock up at the thought of water- so the condish w/out a cleanser just makes it a gooey, tangly, deaded, mushy mess! Especially if I haven't had a relaxer in a month or more!

I'm glad it works for so many, but for me it is NOT the answer!!

 

[charmtreese]

I love co washing the only time shampoo touches my hair is when i go to my stylist for a touch up. for me cowashing does all 3.

 

[discodumpling]

I voted for moisture. I co-wash or W/O (water only) rinse 7 days a week, sometimes 2X a day. I exercise regularly & i'm normally a sweaty person (TMI!!) so co washing or rinsing keeps my hair & scalp clean. I use shampoo weekly and clarify monthly.

My hair is fine & nappy and I have yet to find a better moisturizer than water. I learned early in my hair journey that my hair NEEDS water everyday...or else.

 

[Zsazsa6275]

I voted for moisture. I co-wash or W/O (water only) rinse 7 days a week, sometimes 2X a day. I exercise regularly & i'm normally a sweaty person (TMI!!) so co washing or rinsing keeps my hair & scalp clean. I use shampoo weekly and clarify monthly.

My hair is fine & nappy and I have yet to find a better moisturizer than water. I learned early in my hair journey that my hair NEEDS water everyday...or else.

ITA. Now that I wear my hair curly most of the time, I can truly work out and sweat it out! I co-wash twice a week and shampoo once a week. My hair is pretty moisturized since doing this.

 

[kbfluff]

Yeah well I'm goin back to my co washing routine...I stopped and my hair has spoken by preforming a set back in my middle back area. Glad I know what to do to get it back to snuff!!!

 

[Aggie]

I love co-washing because not only does it keep my hair soft and well moisturized but it also helps with stretching my relaxers especially when I mix them with coconut milk and/or yogurt now. I use Suave tropical coconut, almost all the VO5 conditioners and I also use Suave humectant which is my favorite so far. I use suave and VO5 because they are cone free and they give my hair more bounce.

 

[Moonxyz]

I'm using the co washing routine for moisture mainly. I'll see how it goes.
I use yogurt and coconut milk first then follow it conditionner, then i rinse. I'll do this every 3 days.

 

[silvergirl]

ive been cowashing every single day since i stopped relaxing my hair back in 2005. mostly to moisturize my hair, i love it!

 

[morehairplease]

ive been cowashing every single day since i stopped relaxing my hair back in 2005. mostly to moisturize my hair, i love it!

me too! so far, it is working for me. I just wish I could find a super moisturizing all natural co for cw, though.

 

[Baby Girl]

ive been cowashing every single day since i stopped relaxing my hair back in 2005. mostly to moisturize my hair, i love it!

I have not had a relaxer in 6 weeks and I am no longer going to get a relaxer. What was your regime when you first started to transition? Please keep in mind that my hair is fine and I have thin edges.

 

[motherx2esq]

I voted other because it does all 3 for me. I love cowashing. I am relaxed and several months post and my hair feels like silk after a cowash!
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[PassionFruit]

If co-washing didnt help my hair grow, Id still do it because I just LOVE the way my hair feels when Im done... soft & silky..

 

[KhandiB]

All I know is that when I was going through my superdry phase it helped me tremendously and I only did it every 2-3 days.

 

[Evalina1]

I have short thin hair and when I CW my hair is thicker but I can not do anything with it but wear in back in a ponytail. I have a Tara Banks forehead with a little acne...so it hard for me....and I also do something I really should never do but my mother's house is too cold to have my hair airdry, ( I blow my hair half dry on a the lowest temp.) I know I know that is bad...I am going to try airdrying tonight...(it's 55 degrees in NYC) Wish me luck

 

[PeggyFair]

After reading this thread, I think I'll start co-washing. I work out 5-6 days per week so I could use a good hairwashing after those workouts. As far styling, I think I'll just wrap my hair, sit under the dryer for 15 minutes and let it air dry the rest of the way.

 

[NYAmicas]

Ok, to all those who co-wash daily or more than twice a week.....how are you managing your hair after. Do you airdry? Ponytails all the time or what?
I used to co-wash daily with Creme of Nature (which I loved and made my hair feel really nice) and it would airdry alright but now that my hair is longer or I must have changed something airdrying leaves me looking like I stuck a fork in an electrical plug. I would do buns but believe me, ponytails and I are not friends.

 

[MsGardner78]

Cowashing adds the mositure that my very dry hair needs. I try to do it everyother day. Once I can figure out a good way to style my hair I would love to do it everyday