View Full Version : The CO (conditioner only) washing thread
Suze2012
April 26th, 2014, 07:08 AM
I made an excellent mistake this week! :D
I ran out of my L'Oreal silicone free condish that I use as a leave in a few weeks ago and have been just using Inecto as my leave in and it's just not moisturising enough so my hair was feeling a bit thirsty!
I have been working silly hours 13 hour days and couldn't get to a shop to find a replacement.
I managed to get to Boots earlier this week and they had no stock of my usual condish so I ended up picking up the Naked She Butter & Olive Rescue Conditioner instead.
I've read some bad reviews about Naked so this was a total 'it will do (hopefully)!'
It's a little runnier than the L'Oreal so I managed to squeeze too much out of the tube..and then proceeded to put it all of the way through my hair...Doh!
I did it then realised I should have stopped at ears level-ish and that it would probably feel horrid all day. Too late to do anything about it though so I scrunched and went off to work.
I looked in the mirror a couple of hours later and was amazed!
Usually my roots are fairly flat and the curl comes lower down the hair shaft but I have curls here and there all the way up!
I have been making the exact same mistake every day since and my curls are really coming out at the top and my roots have 'life'! :)
I won't even mention the curls all the way down...they have gone ballistic! My hair is loving this stuff and it smells gorgeous too!
Budgie
April 26th, 2014, 07:36 AM
My hair keeps getting less and less greasy! Normally I can only go 3 days with loads of dry shampoo between washes, but I've made it 4 days with much less dry shampoo.
ErinLeigh
April 26th, 2014, 09:40 AM
That is great news Budgie. :) I really love how cowashing makes hair clean, shiny yet not greasy. It is my all time favorite wash method.
GRU
April 26th, 2014, 03:20 PM
I've read some bad reviews about Naked so this was a total 'it will do (hopefully)!'
Just goes to show that there is no "one perfect product" -- what works great for one might be a disaster for another. Trial-and-error is where it's at... congrats on the trial-without-error!
Budgie
April 26th, 2014, 03:36 PM
I haven't tried dry shampoo after cowashing. Has anyone else? I was thinking it would stick too well and leave white powder on my hair.
sarahthegemini
April 26th, 2014, 04:18 PM
I haven't tried dry shampoo after cowashing. Has anyone else? I was thinking it would stick too well and leave white powder on my hair.
I use dry shampoo (Batiste original) quite a lot. In fact I wash every 5 days and use dry shampoo on days 2 and 3. I only use it on my scalp and I've had no issues with it.
cat11
April 26th, 2014, 06:23 PM
^ I co-wash and use dry shampoo too. I just use my fingers to distribute the whiteness. One good dry shampoo along the scalp line or while my hair is slicked back makes it look fluffy.
I just switched to co washing using v05 kiwi lime because it seems really popular and it's cheap. Before i used cleansing conditioners but not actual conditioner meant for after shampoo. The first wash I felt squeaky clean in the shower but then my scalp hair felt a little build-uppy/filmy. I dry shampooed my scalp and from then on I was fine. My length really reacted well to it though. After the dry shampoo I really liked the state of my hair. This time around I tried rinsing better and really trying to massage and work it out (I didnt want to scrub too hard an tangle it up though) and I thought I had totally succeeded but it still feels a little oily now that it's dry, though less.. I think I'll keep using the rest I have and stick with making it work because it makes my length so nice and its cheap. maybe I just need to adjust.
To anyone else who used vo5 kiwi lime how much do you use and how do you apply it to keep your scalp from feeling like it still has conditioner on it?
LauraLongLocks
April 26th, 2014, 06:34 PM
I have used three different types of dry shampoo. Batiste, Rock On, and Suave. They all worked, but the Suave doesn't have any tinting in it for dark hair, so it showed up more. Hold it far enough away that you don't get a ton of powder in one spot, and brush it through. I usually go without any on day 2, but day 3 I use some, and I wash late on day 3 or wait until day 4 if I'm not going anywhere.
MINAKO
April 26th, 2014, 08:30 PM
My hair got so much softer, managable and less voluminous, since i started CO a couple years ago. Im currently using the Aussie Volume Conditioner, but it still keps my haair on the sleek side and is very effective at washing out oil treatments. If not this one, i always look for stuf that contains some coffeine, as i only wash once a week my scalp seems to like it.
Budgie
April 27th, 2014, 01:45 PM
I don't think cowashing is going to work for me :(. I shampooed Wednesday, then used dry shampoo till this morning when I cowashed. I looked super greasy and stringy, like I took a 1/4 cup of oil and rubbed it in my hair. I just can't get the cowashing to clean properly.
I'm going to try clay next, then if that doesn't work, I'll try shikaikai. If that doesn't work then I'll just stick with a mild shampoo and dry shampoo.
GRU
April 27th, 2014, 05:09 PM
To anyone else who used vo5 kiwi lime how much do you use and how do you apply it to keep your scalp from feeling like it still has conditioner on it?
Honestly, I never really got it to work for me -- always felt like it never rinsed out properly. One of those things that works great for some, not for others.
GRU
April 27th, 2014, 05:11 PM
I don't think cowashing is going to work for me :(. I shampooed Wednesday, then used dry shampoo till this morning when I cowashed. I looked super greasy and stringy, like I took a 1/4 cup of oil and rubbed it in my hair. I just can't get the cowashing to clean properly.
How many different products have you tried, and over how long a period of time?
I recommend people try several washes over at least two weeks' time with one product, to see if it works itself out. After that, try another product for a couple weeks, etc.
Some people have to try 5-10 different conditioners before they find the one that their hair plays nicely with.
Also, trying different amounts of dilution, different application methods (I love brushing through with the Tangle Teezer - great distribution, foams it up nicely, and detangles all in one), etc.
dreamingstar
April 27th, 2014, 06:27 PM
Hey everybody! I've been co-washing since August, with an incredible amount of success. I have been using Suave, and recently added in Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy Ultra Shea. However I was wondering if I could use mane 'n tail's conditioner without risking buildup issues. I know it has some heavy proteins in it, but has anyone else used it for co-washing?
sarahthegemini
April 28th, 2014, 06:59 AM
I have seen some improvement in my hair, yesterday was day 3 and my hair wasn't piecey at all :) Today my right side looks greasy yet still not piecey...weird. Anyway, hopefully my hair will continue to improve. I just want my hair to be back to normal!
LauraLongLocks
April 28th, 2014, 12:55 PM
^ I co-wash and use dry shampoo too. I just use my fingers to distribute the whiteness. One good dry shampoo along the scalp line or while my hair is slicked back makes it look fluffy.
I just switched to co washing using v05 kiwi lime because it seems really popular and it's cheap. Before i used cleansing conditioners but not actual conditioner meant for after shampoo. The first wash I felt squeaky clean in the shower but then my scalp hair felt a little build-uppy/filmy. I dry shampooed my scalp and from then on I was fine. My length really reacted well to it though. After the dry shampoo I really liked the state of my hair. This time around I tried rinsing better and really trying to massage and work it out (I didnt want to scrub too hard an tangle it up though) and I thought I had totally succeeded but it still feels a little oily now that it's dry, though less.. I think I'll keep using the rest I have and stick with making it work because it makes my length so nice and its cheap. maybe I just need to adjust.
To anyone else who used vo5 kiwi lime how much do you use and how do you apply it to keep your scalp from feeling like it still has conditioner on it? None of the VO5 stuff worked in my hair. It felt like there was conditioner in it still, and it looked lank and flat within a day. I have had good luck with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut, however.
jeanniet
April 28th, 2014, 02:10 PM
How many different products have you tried, and over how long a period of time?
I recommend people try several washes over at least two weeks' time with one product, to see if it works itself out. After that, try another product for a couple weeks, etc.
Some people have to try 5-10 different conditioners before they find the one that their hair plays nicely with.
Also, trying different amounts of dilution, different application methods (I love brushing through with the Tangle Teezer - great distribution, foams it up nicely, and detangles all in one), etc.
Yes, this. When I first tried CO, I gave it up quickly because whatever I tried didn't work well, so I was sure the method itself wasn't going to work. Then when I tried again several years later (with more hair experience under my belt as well), I had a much better result because I understood that I might need to experiment a bit to find the best products and techniques. It's turned out to be best by far for my hair, but that doesn't mean all conditioners work equally well.
None of the VO5 stuff worked in my hair. It felt like there was conditioner in it still, and it looked lank and flat within a day. I have had good luck with Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut, however.
I didn't have long-term good results with VO5 either. Sometimes I'd have a good wash or two, or even three, but not in the long run. Not sure why. It always eventually started feeling built up, and generally if I have the right conditioner I don't clarify more than every 3-4 months, if that. The Suave Tropical Coconut is a good one to try.
ErinLeigh
April 28th, 2014, 03:00 PM
^ I co-wash and use dry shampoo too. I just use my fingers to distribute the whiteness. One good dry shampoo along the scalp line or while my hair is slicked back makes it look fluffy.
I just switched to co washing using v05 kiwi lime because it seems really popular and it's cheap. Before i used cleansing conditioners but not actual conditioner meant for after shampoo. The first wash I felt squeaky clean in the shower but then my scalp hair felt a little build-uppy/filmy. I dry shampooed my scalp and from then on I was fine. My length really reacted well to it though. After the dry shampoo I really liked the state of my hair. This time around I tried rinsing better and really trying to massage and work it out (I didnt want to scrub too hard an tangle it up though) and I thought I had totally succeeded but it still feels a little oily now that it's dry, though less.. I think I'll keep using the rest I have and stick with making it work because it makes my length so nice and its cheap. maybe I just need to adjust.
To anyone else who used vo5 kiwi lime how much do you use and how do you apply it to keep your scalp from feeling like it still has conditioner on it?
If I use VO5 by itself I feel a little "coated" I have to mix that one with honey to cut the effect. Its a great combo for me but its odd because it is the only conditioner I have to mix honey with.
ErinLeigh
April 28th, 2014, 03:21 PM
How many different products have you tried, and over how long a period of time?
I recommend people try several washes over at least two weeks' time with one product, to see if it works itself out. After that, try another product for a couple weeks, etc.
Some people have to try 5-10 different conditioners before they find the one that their hair plays nicely with.
Also, trying different amounts of dilution, different application methods (I love brushing through with the Tangle Teezer - great distribution, foams it up nicely, and detangles all in one), etc.
I can totally agree with that. I get totally unique results which every different product. Sometimes it is just finding the right one.
Budgie if you really are interested in trying cowashing I say give it another 2 weeks or so at least with some different conditioners and see what you think. I am not trying to push cowashing on you so please don't feel that way. I just think you possibly could not have a fair judgement of it if you don't try just a few more things, or give a little time to adjust to the feeling, and I would hate for you to miss the experience if it is something you hoped would work. Forgive me if you already have tried all that.
I wish you tons of luck finding something that works and makes you feel happy. I love experimenting but it was such a relief to find something and be able to take a break from the search if that makes sense.
For what it is worth though I have read some amazing reviews on clay too. Here is a recipe for it
http://www.curlynikki.com/2009/01/nik-bentonite-clay-love-that-dare-not.html
Terressentials Mud Wash is supposed to be really good if you want a ready made mix version.
Here is a link with video just for fun. http://naptural85.com/blog-content/tag/terressentials-hair-wash-review
Weewah
April 28th, 2014, 03:32 PM
^ I co-wash and use dry shampoo too. I just use my fingers to distribute the whiteness. One good dry shampoo along the scalp line or while my hair is slicked back makes it look fluffy.
I just switched to co washing using v05 kiwi lime because it seems really popular and it's cheap. Before i used cleansing conditioners but not actual conditioner meant for after shampoo. The first wash I felt squeaky clean in the shower but then my scalp hair felt a little build-uppy/filmy. I dry shampooed my scalp and from then on I was fine. My length really reacted well to it though. After the dry shampoo I really liked the state of my hair. This time around I tried rinsing better and really trying to massage and work it out (I didnt want to scrub too hard an tangle it up though) and I thought I had totally succeeded but it still feels a little oily now that it's dry, though less.. I think I'll keep using the rest I have and stick with making it work because it makes my length so nice and its cheap. maybe I just need to adjust.
To anyone else who used vo5 kiwi lime how much do you use and how do you apply it to keep your scalp from feeling like it still has conditioner on it?
With the vo5 Kiwi lime I use a lot, like a 6th of the bottle each time. Then I massage it for a good few minutes until my arms get tired, then let the suds sit on my hair for a few minutes, then brush it through with my tangle teezer and rinse out. I read earlier in this thread that you need to use a lot of co wash for it to properly surround/grab onto all of the dirt particles.
Budgie
April 28th, 2014, 03:59 PM
I was using Loreal everpure (cones), then Vo5 blackberry tea (no cones). I might give it another shot. What would you all recommend for my very thin and easily weighed down hair?
Syren_Curls
April 28th, 2014, 04:01 PM
How many different products have you tried, and over how long a period of time?
I recommend people try several washes over at least two weeks' time with one product, to see if it works itself out. After that, try another product for a couple weeks, etc.
Some people have to try 5-10 different conditioners before they find the one that their hair plays nicely with.
Also, trying different amounts of dilution, different application methods (I love brushing through with the Tangle Teezer - great distribution, foams it up nicely, and detangles all in one), etc.
Maybe this is what's going on for me...?? It's just an awful greaseball, stringy mess within hours!
jeanniet
April 28th, 2014, 04:49 PM
With the vo5 Kiwi lime I use a lot, like a 6th of the bottle each time. Then I massage it for a good few minutes until my arms get tired, then let the suds sit on my hair for a few minutes, then brush it through with my tangle teezer and rinse out. I read earlier in this thread that you need to use a lot of co wash for it to properly surround/grab onto all of the dirt particles.
I don't think you necessarily have to use a lot. I know some people do, but I only use maybe 2 tablespoons--my hair is only about SL, but very thick. For me, the trick seems to be brushing it through (I use a Denman brush). That foams it up a bit and gets good distribution.
GoldenSilk
April 28th, 2014, 05:25 PM
I had to use a lot of conditioner until I started diluting it. Counterintuitive, but true! That helped it penetrate to the scalp (my hair is fine, but fairly dense) and to foam up with my Tangle Teezer. I used to use about 1/6 of the bottle, but now, just 2-3 ounces in my applicator bottle diluted 2:1... Makes CO wash even cheaper. :lol: I got the applicator bottle tip from GRU way back when I was lurking, thanks!
I started with VO5 Kiwi Lime and haven't really strayed from their clarifying line. It just seems to get my hair cleaner than anything else I tried.
Beborani
April 28th, 2014, 05:43 PM
The conditioners I keep buying over and over again are trader joes tea tree tingle for scalp and nourish spa for length. The two bottles last me for about 3 months or more. I also bought Suave Tropical coconut that I used a couple of times. It wasnt as rich as the others so I ended up using half a bottle for just those two washes and then stopped as I didnt really love it.
I like how Trader Joes conditioners glide on easily but clean well.
ErinLeigh
April 28th, 2014, 09:15 PM
The conditioners I keep buying over and over again are trader joes tea tree tingle for scalp and nourish spa for length. The two bottles last me for about 3 months or more. I also bought Suave Tropical coconut that I used a couple of times. It wasnt as rich as the others so I ended up using half a bottle for just those two washes and then stopped as I didnt really love it.
I like how Trader Joes conditioners glide on easily but clean well.
I love the tea tree tingle. It makes me happy. I use it as my second conditioner. Haven't thought to try it as the cowash one. I am going to give it a try as I have a feeling it would be quite invigorating.
________________________________
Budgie, maybe try a cone free conditioner to start. I only say that because A. Sometimes cones can weigh fine hair down giving the lank appearance you are talking about, and B since I don't know what your hairs tolerance for buildup is, it may be best to start with something that can be easily removed with cowashing.
If you really like cones maybe they can be applied as a leave in below the ears to start to maintain extra root volume? Or try a water soluble coney conditioner as another option. Sally's has the generic GVP Paul Mitchell tea tree which meet the criteria. I haven't felt weighed down by washing with that one. I love cones that cowashing can remove.
Since you have the blackberry VO5 already perhaps try it diluted first and see if that helps. If that doesn't work try Suave just since it is affordable and no harm done to the wallet if you do not like it. Can try full strength and diluted also. Other option maybe EO Rosemary and Mint volumizing conditioner for fine hair. It is nice and light. I actually found that from YouTube cowash recommendations.
If you have any favorites I would just try and see how they feel as a cowash product.
There are also some great cleansing conditioners on the market.
I am just tossing product ideas out but it's very individual. I am just a product junkie at heart so can't resist thinking about some options.
Hopefully you keep us posted on how you are coming along.
cat11
April 28th, 2014, 09:31 PM
LauraLongLocks and GRU thanks for being honest and telling me the v05 did not work for you! I am afraid when the bottle is done I'll end up trying something else. Maybe the Suave Naturals Coconut like you recommended. I'd be happy if I could find a suave or vo5 that worked well for me since they're so cheap but I could accept going back to cutting my shampoo with lots of conditioner if it didn't work. That had exellent results. I had the same thing happen to me this time where I felt clean in the shower bu the buildup was there once dry. I applied dry shampoo and by day 2-3 it evens out and feels nicer. But still not what I want.
However I think I will try what you said you do, Weewah, first. Lathering it and leaving it in a little. I didn't realize it was supposed to lather. I kindof just massaged it a little but I was afraid to leave it on unless my roots absorbed the conditioner. I want to use the whole bottle before I try something else just to make sure it really doesn't work for me and I wasn't just doing the wrong thing or needing to make adjustments.
So. Ill keep trying but if it doesn't work for me by the end of this bottle, I'll accept it's not for me.
LauraLongLocks
April 28th, 2014, 11:51 PM
LauraLongLocks and GRU thanks for being honest and telling me the v05 did not work for you! I am afraid when the bottle is done I'll end up trying something else. Maybe the Suave Naturals Coconut like you recommended. I'd be happy if I could find a suave or vo5 that worked well for me since they're so cheap but I could accept going back to cutting my shampoo with lots of conditioner if it didn't work. That had exellent results. I had the same thing happen to me this time where I felt clean in the shower bu the buildup was there once dry. I applied dry shampoo and by day 2-3 it evens out and feels nicer. But still not what I want.
However I think I will try what you said you do, Weewah, first. Lathering it and leaving it in a little. I didn't realize it was supposed to lather. I kindof just massaged it a little but I was afraid to leave it on unless my roots absorbed the conditioner. I want to use the whole bottle before I try something else just to make sure it really doesn't work for me and I wasn't just doing the wrong thing or needing to make adjustments.
So. Ill keep trying but if it doesn't work for me by the end of this bottle, I'll accept it's not for me. Yes, do leave it on a while after working it in. It seems to work best if I lather it into my hair (either before hopping into the shower or immediately upon entering the shower), put a shower cap on, take my shower, then rinse well.
eva888
April 29th, 2014, 12:06 AM
LauraLongLocks and GRU thanks for being honest and telling me the v05 did not work for you! I am afraid when the bottle is done I'll end up trying something else. Maybe the Suave Naturals Coconut like you recommended. I'd be happy if I could find a suave or vo5 that worked well for me since they're so cheap but I could accept going back to cutting my shampoo with lots of conditioner if it didn't work. That had exellent results. I had the same thing happen to me this time where I felt clean in the shower bu the buildup was there once dry. I applied dry shampoo and by day 2-3 it evens out and feels nicer. But still not what I want.
However I think I will try what you said you do, Weewah, first. Lathering it and leaving it in a little. I didn't realize it was supposed to lather. I kindof just massaged it a little but I was afraid to leave it on unless my roots absorbed the conditioner. I want to use the whole bottle before I try something else just to make sure it really doesn't work for me and I wasn't just doing the wrong thing or needing to make adjustments.
So. Ill keep trying but if it doesn't work for me by the end of this bottle, I'll accept it's not for me.
There is this video on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJfEj-cbQgE) done by Wen demonstrating how to CO wash. It's really important to add water, really give yourself a good scalp massage, comb it through, leave it on, and rinse at the end of your shower.
I just wanted to chime in and say that Trader Joes tea tree conditioner, as others mentioned, is really great for CO washing. In the US it is my go to CO choice. I use Tresemme Naturals conditioner because it's the best option near where I live.
Also sometimes on day 3 if I feel like my scalp is itchy and I need to wash my hair, I will just do a scalp massage on dry hair for 3-5 minutes with nothing but my fingers (no oil, conditioner, water, etc.). Then I brush my hair through when I'm done. This really helps distribute the natural oils my hair has made and I can extend washing for one more day.
Weewah
April 29th, 2014, 03:50 AM
LauraLongLocks and GRU thanks for being honest and telling me the v05 did not work for you! I am afraid when the bottle is done I'll end up trying something else. Maybe the Suave Naturals Coconut like you recommended. I'd be happy if I could find a suave or vo5 that worked well for me since they're so cheap but I could accept going back to cutting my shampoo with lots of conditioner if it didn't work. That had exellent results. I had the same thing happen to me this time where I felt clean in the shower bu the buildup was there once dry. I applied dry shampoo and by day 2-3 it evens out and feels nicer. But still not what I want.
However I think I will try what you said you do, Weewah, first. Lathering it and leaving it in a little. I didn't realize it was supposed to lather. I kindof just massaged it a little but I was afraid to leave it on unless my roots absorbed the conditioner. I want to use the whole bottle before I try something else just to make sure it really doesn't work for me and I wasn't just doing the wrong thing or needing to make adjustments.
So. Ill keep trying but if it doesn't work for me by the end of this bottle, I'll accept it's not for me.
Yes keep massaging it till you get a nice white lather on your hands. It won't clean your hair if it doesn't lather up. :)
sarahthegemini
April 29th, 2014, 05:00 AM
Yes keep massaging it till you get a nice white lather on your hands. It won't clean your hair if it doesn't lather up. :)
I disagree with this, my conditioner doesn't really lather and it still cleans perfectly :)
sarahthegemini
April 29th, 2014, 05:05 AM
20 minute shower today guys ... big improvement from taking 40 minutes! I'm so happy, I enjoy washing my hair now it doesn't feel like a chore anymore.
jeanniet
April 29th, 2014, 10:09 AM
Yes keep massaging it till you get a nice white lather on your hands. It won't clean your hair if it doesn't lather up. :)
Not at all; lather isn't necessary. I can get my hair just as clean slapping the conditioner on and then rinsing it off, although my scalp needs some scrubbing. I never bother rubbing the conditioner in my hands. I'm all about the simplest routine possible. ;) I think the most important aspect is good distribution, and some scrubbing for the scalp (or my scalp, anyway).
Weewah
April 29th, 2014, 10:52 AM
I disagree with this, my conditioner doesn't really lather and it still cleans perfectly :)
Hm ok, cat11 and I are taking about the VO5 Kiwi Lime conditioner though. She was having trouble with it not cleaning her hair and she wasn't lathering it. I don't think it'll hurt for her to try getting a lather to see if that works.
I do have the Eden Coconut co-wash and that one doesn't really produce a lather, so yeah it's not absolutely necessary. I like the feeling of lathering though because that way I know for sure it's actually doing something.:cool: I find the Eden co-wash doesn't clean as thoroughly as I prefer. I just use that one on days my hair's feeling extra dry.
cat11
April 29th, 2014, 10:52 AM
There seems to be debate over the finer details of application... None of these details mattered at all when I was using Salon Grafix cleansing conditioner (it's a cheaper imitation of Wen. It works really really well but I found I had to use ton to really get it into my fine but thick hair. It's $7 but they stopped selling it at my grocery store and it's only online now.) For now I'll try lathering since I wasn't lathering before and I didn't like the results.
Im so tempted to take an early wash to try it. Maybe I'll do a deep condition on the length too to justify the washing early haha. It's in such a condition that I don't think washing would really damage the balance even though it's not greasy right now.
I really want to try the applicator tip thing now too because my hair is also very fine but very thick and therefore hard to get product to the scalp without using a lot and squishing it in there. Getting the bottom of my scalp is a real challenge.
Weewah
April 29th, 2014, 10:55 AM
Not at all; lather isn't necessary. I can get my hair just as clean slapping the conditioner on and then rinsing it off, although my scalp needs some scrubbing. I never bother rubbing the conditioner in my hands. I'm all about the simplest routine possible. ;) I think the most important aspect is good distribution, and some scrubbing for the scalp (or my scalp, anyway).
I meant I scrub my scalp until I see the lather on my hands, I don't rub it in my hands first. :p
There seems to be debate over the finer details of application... None of these details mattered at all when I was using Salon Grafix cleansing conditioner (it's a cheaper imitation of Wen. It works really really well but I found I had to use ton to really get it into my fine but thick hair. It's $7 but they stopped selling it at my grocery store and it's only online now.) For now I'll try lathering since I wasn't lathering before and I didn't like the results.
Im so tempted to take an early wash to try it. Maybe I'll do a deep condition on the length too to justify the washing early haha. It's in such a condition that I don't think washing would really damage the balance even though it's not greasy right now.
I really want to try the applicator tip thing now too because my hair is also very fine but very thick and therefore hard to get product to the scalp without using a lot and squishing it in there. Getting the bottom of my scalp is a real challenge.
Take an early wash! Trying hair stuff out is fun, lol.
sarahthegemini
April 29th, 2014, 11:27 AM
Hm ok, cat11 and I are taking about the VO5 Kiwi Lime conditioner though. She was having trouble with it not cleaning her hair and she wasn't lathering it. I don't think it'll hurt for her to try getting a lather to see if that works.
I do have the Eden Coconut co-wash and that one doesn't really produce a lather, so yeah it's not absolutely necessary. I like the feeling of lathering though because that way I know for sure it's actually doing something.:cool: I find the Eden co-wash doesn't clean as thoroughly as I prefer. I just use that one on days my hair's feeling extra dry.
Silly me, I didn't realise you was referring to a specific one, I thought you were speaking in general. Sorry :flowers:
LMB
April 29th, 2014, 11:34 AM
I'm in the lather camp too.
I don't think it NEEDS to lather, but going from shampooing every day to CO can be quite a bit of a change means that in my head if I am getting a bit of a lather then it feels like it is getting clean.
I don't really scrub until it lathers, I distribute it on wet hair and give it a bit of a massage in, then before I rinse I soak my hair and massage again quickly to get a lather and rinse.
Would prob work if I just rinsed it straight out but this way works for me so I'm sticking to it :D
jeanniet
April 29th, 2014, 11:55 AM
I meant I scrub my scalp until I see the lather on my hands, I don't rub it in my hands first. :p
Take an early wash! Trying hair stuff out is fun, lol.
Gotcha! Some conditioners are definitely more foamy than others. The Trader Joe's Tea Tree is more lathery for me. I think that one is excellent for cleansing.
Weewah
April 29th, 2014, 12:09 PM
Silly me, I didn't realise you was referring to a specific one, I thought you were speaking in general. Sorry :flowers:
Lol, no problem! I tend to forget lather isn't always necessary either.
Wisteria
April 29th, 2014, 12:09 PM
For the last few weeks I've been doing WO, but because of my dry scalp it wasn't cutting it for me. I decided to do a hot oil treatment and used SheaMoisture's Coconut and Hibiscus Co-Wash to wash the excess oil away. It was heaven. I think I even saw some lather, I'd never realized how much I missed lather. My hair has never been so frizz-free, now it's 1/3 the size. Yesterday I even saw some new waves. My first thought was: I can never go back.
Weewah
April 29th, 2014, 12:42 PM
For the last few weeks I've been doing WO, but because of my dry scalp it wasn't cutting it for me. I decided to do a hot oil treatment and used SheaMoisture's Coconut and Hibiscus Co-Wash to wash the excess oil away. It was heaven. I think I even saw some lather, I'd never realized how much I missed lather. My hair has never been so frizz-free, now it's 1/3 the size. Yesterday I even saw some new waves. My first thought was: I can never go back.
Yay I'm happy it worked for you! I was super pumped after my first co-washing experience too. It was like a new soft head of hair.
GRU
April 29th, 2014, 02:46 PM
20 minute shower today guys ... big improvement from taking 40 minutes! I'm so happy, I enjoy washing my hair now it doesn't feel like a chore anymore.
So glad that you came here for help and found something that works for you! Good job in not giving up too soon! :cheer:
My first thought was: I can never go back.
:thumbsup:
Wait until you've been doing it for several months and you can actually feel the difference between your "before" and "after" hair growth. If I take a tress of hair at the roots and hold it between my thumb and finger and drag it through to the ends, I can *feel* where the old pre-LHC hair starts up... (fortunately, that's only at the very ends now, as I've been trimming off damage as my hair gets longer these past few years).
Really blows my mind how badly I'd been abusing my hair for four decades.
I now shampoo once a year (as a "just in case there's some build-up there" measure, not because it ever feels like it needs it), and it's like fingernails on a chalkboard as I massage it through. Even covered in lather, my hair feels like straw when it has shampoo on it, and I used to do that EVERY DAY! :doh:
Budgie
April 30th, 2014, 05:50 AM
This morning I cowashed and built up a lather. At least I think it was a lather. It was just sand-grain sized bubbles. Hopefully my hair wont look greasy.
LauraLongLocks
April 30th, 2014, 08:06 AM
Does anyone else use a different conditioner on their length than they use on their scalp? I have found three conditioners for my scalp that I like, they are all runny enough to get in between the hair and clean my scalp. But they are too runny and don't seem heavy enough for my length. I use thicker, usually coney, conditioners on my length. Am I alone in this?
Marika
April 30th, 2014, 09:21 AM
Laura, I don't CO wash that often but if I do, I use a different conditioner on my length. I use whatever conditioner I would use with shampoo, usually coney or at least thicker than my CO conditioner. I use leave-in too when CO washing.
Wisteria
April 30th, 2014, 09:33 AM
Yay I'm happy it worked for you! I was super pumped after my first co-washing experience too. It was like a new soft head of hair.
That's exactly how it was. It's crazy how soft your hair gets.
Wait until you've been doing it for several months and you can actually feel the difference between your "before" and "after" hair growth. If I take a tress of hair at the roots and hold it between my thumb and finger and drag it through to the ends, I can *feel* where the old pre-LHC hair starts up... (fortunately, that's only at the very ends now, as I've been trimming off damage as my hair gets longer these past few years).
Ooh! I can't wait for that new growth. My hair has already improved since I stopped using 'cones.
jeanniet
April 30th, 2014, 01:00 PM
Does anyone else use a different conditioner on their length than they use on their scalp? I have found three conditioners for my scalp that I like, they are all runny enough to get in between the hair and clean my scalp. But they are too runny and don't seem heavy enough for my length. I use thicker, usually coney, conditioners on my length. Am I alone in this?
I CO, rinse, and then use a rinse out conditioner. Then a leave in, lol. My hair seems to want the extra step most of the time. I don't think there's anything wrong with using a separate conditioner on your length if you feel it's warranted.
Beborani
April 30th, 2014, 01:57 PM
Does anyone else use a different conditioner on their length than they use on their scalp? I have found three conditioners for my scalp that I like, they are all runny enough to get in between the hair and clean my scalp. But they are too runny and don't seem heavy enough for my length. I use thicker, usually coney, conditioners on my length. Am I alone in this?
Well total of 5 conditioners touch my hair on wash days and this is not counting natural oils and silicone serums. I preoil my hair--currently sesame oil just before wash and if i remember bit of coconut night before. I cover my length with trader joes Nourish Spa and scalp with Tea Tree. After I rinse this off I apply my regular conditoner of several years--Loreal. I love how hair feels when this is rinsing off. I apply two leave in conditioners mixed together (hit upon this by trial and error when individually each worked only to partial satisfaction) and some silicones serum for good measure and in humid climates/days mineral oil. I never set out to clarify ever but occasionally hair get shampooed either while traveling or in stylist's chair before cut. Once every few months I wash with shikakai the way it was done in my childhood--This is not necessary, just something I like to do. This has been my routine for the pat year and it has worked well for me.
Suze2012
April 30th, 2014, 02:18 PM
So glad that you came here for help and found something that works for you! Good job in not giving up too soon! :cheer:
:thumbsup:
Wait until you've been doing it for several months and you can actually feel the difference between your "before" and "after" hair growth. If I take a tress of hair at the roots and hold it between my thumb and finger and drag it through to the ends, I can *feel* where the old pre-LHC hair starts up... (fortunately, that's only at the very ends now, as I've been trimming off damage as my hair gets longer these past few years).
Really blows my mind how badly I'd been abusing my hair for four decades.
I now shampoo once a year (as a "just in case there's some build-up there" measure, not because it ever feels like it needs it), and it's like fingernails on a chalkboard as I massage it through. Even covered in lather, my hair feels like straw when it has shampoo on it, and I used to do that EVERY DAY! :doh:
Gru my sweet...is there any chance we can have your before and after pics again? (Pretty please?)
They are simply amazeballs! :)
Suze2012
April 30th, 2014, 02:27 PM
I disagree with this, my conditioner doesn't really lather and it still cleans perfectly :)
I agree with your disagreement on this.
My hair never lathers..it's always clean.the clean squeak tone is lower in pitch than with sulphate shampoo is all...(and no lather of course)
LMB
April 30th, 2014, 03:12 PM
Does anyone else use a different conditioner on their length than they use on their scalp? I have found three conditioners for my scalp that I like, they are all runny enough to get in between the hair and clean my scalp. But they are too runny and don't seem heavy enough for my length. I use thicker, usually coney, conditioners on my length. Am I alone in this?
I also use another thicker conditioner on my length.
I usually use my CO wash as the 'shampoo', rinse it out then apply my thicker conditioner on my length and rinse again.
If I'm feeling very lazy then sometimes I use my CO wash conditioner on my scalp, massage it in, add my thicker conditioner to my length, leave it while I do the rest of my shower stuff then rinse it all out together.
GRU
April 30th, 2014, 06:24 PM
Gru my sweet...is there any chance we can have your before and after pics again? (Pretty please?)
They are simply amazeballs! :)
Do you mean my brushed-out-go-boom picture?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/b4-brushedout-1.jpg
Or my "triangle head with bangs" picture? (sadly, this was not brushed out at all... just air-dried!)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/brillohead.jpg
Or my "happy hair loves LHC" picture?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/2010-June/duallighting-c-resized.jpg
MadAddie
April 30th, 2014, 06:40 PM
Do you mean my brushed-out-go-boom picture?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/b4-brushedout-1.jpg
Or my "triangle head with bangs" picture? (sadly, this was not brushed out at all... just air-dried!)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/brillohead.jpg
Or my "happy hair loves LHC" picture?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/2010-June/duallighting-c-resized.jpg
WOW! Those pics are just amazing... such a transformation. I am so grateful to you guys on LHC for teaching me the right way to take care of my hair :)
I tried out my friends conditioner at the weekend. Its the l'oreal everstrong sulphate free. I dont really know if this conditioner is that good for your hair but my hair loved it. It felt so soft and light afterwards. My hair was experiencing build up from dr organics I think and I was going to use clarifying shampoo when I got back home but after using loreal everstrong my hair was lovely. Maybe I needed protein. I need to check the ingredients again.
ErinLeigh
April 30th, 2014, 06:52 PM
I CO, rinse, and then use a rinse out conditioner. Then a leave in, lol. My hair seems to want the extra step most of the time. I don't think there's anything wrong with using a separate conditioner on your length if you feel it's warranted.
Ditto. I feel like my cowash is my "shampoo" so I condition after every time. I tried a week without it and wasn't happy. I need more protection on my paltry length.
ErinLeigh
April 30th, 2014, 06:58 PM
GRU those pictures are just night and day. I truly cannot believe the difference. It's cool you posted them so people can see what some simple changes can do if one is unhappy with their hair.
HOw long have you need cowashing? Did you try it right away when joining or did you experiment with other methods first? How long after starting cowashing until the curls came to life like that? Any other changes to routine that helped in addition to CO? Also did you dilute conditioner right away or was trial and error involved? Sorry so many questions but I am so curious. That is some serious change.
LauraLongLocks
April 30th, 2014, 07:02 PM
Okay, sounds like I'm not abnormal in my habits then. Thanks for the responses. :)
LauraLongLocks
April 30th, 2014, 07:05 PM
Do you mean my brushed-out-go-boom picture?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/b4-brushedout-1.jpg
Or my "triangle head with bangs" picture? (sadly, this was not brushed out at all... just air-dried!)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/brillohead.jpg
Or my "happy hair loves LHC" picture?
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b23/ImaHockeyMom/boards/hair/2010-June/duallighting-c-resized.jpg
Oh my gosh! There is a lady at church who has hair just like the top two pictures. I just know if she would stop shampooing and give CO-washing a try, she would have hair like your bottom pic. It's hard to give unsolicited advice without hurting someone's feelings, though.
GRU
April 30th, 2014, 07:40 PM
GRU those pictures are just night and day. I truly cannot believe the difference. It's cool you posted them so people can see what some simple changes can do if one is unhappy with their hair.
HOw long have you need cowashing? Did you try it right away when joining or did you experiment with other methods first? How long after starting cowashing until the curls came to life like that? Any other changes to routine that helped in addition to CO? Also did you dilute conditioner right away or was trial and error involved? Sorry so many questions but I am so curious. That is some serious change.
Well, the curls were always there, but they were frizzy and damaged and full of split ends... I couldn't get my hair to grow longer (because the poor damaged ends kept snapping off).
I started CO-washing the month before I officially joined LHC (I lurked for a month or two before joining in). I tried several different products, and settled on the Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut because it worked great and was cheap to buy, too.
I didn't start diluting it until after seeing other people comment about it, maybe a couple years into the whole CO-washing thing. It just seemed so counter-intuitive, to water down the conditioner... until I tried it and realized how wonderfully it worked (and how much less conditioner I used with each wash!).
Another big thing is the use of the Tangle Teezer brush. It is the ONLY way I detangle my hair anymore, and it keeps my ends from snapping off (I used to have hundreds of 1-2cm long pieces of hair all over the bathroom floor every time I brushed out the tangles (with a conventional brush) before a shower -- every time a tangle was reached, the conventional brush would force the weakest hair to "give way" so the brush could get past. Now I detangle ONLY with the TT, and my hair doesn't get snapped off at the ends at all.
My split ends have become non-existent since incorporating the Tangle Teezer and CO-washing into my routine.
Oh my gosh! There is a lady at church who has hair just like the top two pictures. I just know if she would stop shampooing and give CO-washing a try, she would have hair like your bottom pic. It's hard to give unsolicited advice without hurting someone's feelings, though.
I know what you mean... every time I see someone with "brushed out curls = huge frizzball" hair, I want soooooo badly to take them aside and lead them to The Promised Land!
jeanniet
April 30th, 2014, 09:06 PM
GRU, the difference in those pictures is just amazing.
Dark40
April 30th, 2014, 09:33 PM
Thank you so much for starting this thread. I love co-washing!! I find it to be the healthiest way to cleanse your hair instead of shampoo.
Weewah
April 30th, 2014, 10:17 PM
GRU, your frizz free, defined, well moisturized curls are so satisfying to look at! Especially in comparison to the before pictures.
Lydialove
April 30th, 2014, 10:33 PM
Holy wow! Gru - thanks for sharing those pictures. That's really great!
ErinLeigh
April 30th, 2014, 11:44 PM
Thanks for response GRU. It really is amazing. Your hair has perfect curls.
Well, I officially tried the Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle for my cowash and I loved it. I read posts about it and had to try. My hair feels excellent right now.
Have another to add to my rotation. :)
jeanniet
April 30th, 2014, 11:58 PM
The TTT is my alternate with Daily Fix. My hubby uses TTT exclusively, followed with a little coconut oil, and it's really helped his hair out. He swims several times a week and his hair isn't trashed anymore!
eva888
May 1st, 2014, 01:05 AM
Well, the curls were always there, but they were frizzy and damaged and full of split ends... I couldn't get my hair to grow longer (because the poor damaged ends kept snapping off).
I started CO-washing the month before I officially joined LHC (I lurked for a month or two before joining in). I tried several different products, and settled on the Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut because it worked great and was cheap to buy, too.
I didn't start diluting it until after seeing other people comment about it, maybe a couple years into the whole CO-washing thing. It just seemed so counter-intuitive, to water down the conditioner... until I tried it and realized how wonderfully it worked (and how much less conditioner I used with each wash!).
Another big thing is the use of the Tangle Teezer brush. It is the ONLY way I detangle my hair anymore, and it keeps my ends from snapping off (I used to have hundreds of 1-2cm long pieces of hair all over the bathroom floor every time I brushed out the tangles (with a conventional brush) before a shower -- every time a tangle was reached, the conventional brush would force the weakest hair to "give way" so the brush could get past. Now I detangle ONLY with the TT, and my hair doesn't get snapped off at the ends at all.
My split ends have become non-existent since incorporating the Tangle Teezer and CO-washing into my routine.
I know what you mean... every time I see someone with "brushed out curls = huge frizzball" hair, I want soooooo badly to take them aside and lead them to The Promised Land!
Your before and after pictures are amazing! I got the tangle teezer because you recommended it so many times on the forums and I absolutely love it! :cheese: I used to be terrified of brushing my hair because it snaps so much. I've been using it for about a week or so and my hair is so happy. Last night I combed it before I went to bed (something I would never do before), slept with it loose in my satin cap, and for the first time I woke up with presentable hair. I didn't know that was possible!
Thank you :)
eva888
May 1st, 2014, 01:07 AM
Thanks for response GRU. It really is amazing. Your hair has perfect curls.
Well, I officially tried the Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle for my cowash and I loved it. I read posts about it and had to try. My hair feels excellent right now.
Have another to add to my rotation. :)
You sound like a fellow conditioner hoarder. :grouphug: I love TJ's Tea Tree conditioner - glad you gave it a shot!
LMB
May 1st, 2014, 06:48 AM
This might sound like a silly question but can you only get Trader Joes's conditioner from Trader Joes?
I'll be in the States this Summer and want to try it, but there isn't a Trader Joes where I'll be.
dreamingstar
May 1st, 2014, 10:28 AM
GRU, thanks for posting those photos, the difference is amazing! Your hair looks incredible by the way - very pretty! I recently converted my mother to Cowashing, as well as using a tangle teezer, and replacing her chemical hair dye (which she's used for years) with henna. The information you provided was a huge help in that! So thank you! :flower:
Jonquil
May 1st, 2014, 12:14 PM
Can you lovely ladies help me out with my CO washing routine?
I decided to try it 3 days ago with a big bottle of Tresemme conditioner that I've been using on my ends after shampooing. It has cones and I believe there was a sulfate ingredient, but it's the only conditioner I had so that's what I used. Wasn't sure how to do the whole CO wash thing though, because it was a decision I made right in the shower and I didn't research the procedure beforehand, oops!
So I just plopped some conditioner into my hands and ran it through my roots, then massaged for about a minute. Then I used more along the length of my hair and massaged that in as well. Rinsed it out super thoroughly with cool water and then I was on my way. I put in a pea-sized dab of leave-in afterward and didn't brush my hair at all. When my hair air dried it looked okay, but it wasn't anything miraculous. It was a bit softer than usual, and also very shiny closer to the head where there's no damage from styling tools. I'm going to keep doing this because there have been some really amazing transformations here from CO washing and I'm curious as to how it can help my hair. I'm type 2a/2b/F/ii.
A few things I was wondering:
- Should I be combing the conditioner through my hair while in the shower?
- Is it okay to use a conditioner with cones or will that cause problems after a while?
- How exactly does one dilute their conditioner? Just pour some into a bottle, add water, and mix well?
These might be really stupid questions but I'm such a clueless newbie! Any advice you ladies can provide will be much appreciated :)
eva888
May 1st, 2014, 02:41 PM
Can you lovely ladies help me out with my CO washing routine?
I decided to try it 3 days ago with a big bottle of Tresemme conditioner that I've been using on my ends after shampooing. It has cones and I believe there was a sulfate ingredient, but it's the only conditioner I had so that's what I used. Wasn't sure how to do the whole CO wash thing though, because it was a decision I made right in the shower and I didn't research the procedure beforehand, oops!
So I just plopped some conditioner into my hands and ran it through my roots, then massaged for about a minute. Then I used more along the length of my hair and massaged that in as well. Rinsed it out super thoroughly with cool water and then I was on my way. I put in a pea-sized dab of leave-in afterward and didn't brush my hair at all. When my hair air dried it looked okay, but it wasn't anything miraculous. It was a bit softer than usual, and also very shiny closer to the head where there's no damage from styling tools. I'm going to keep doing this because there have been some really amazing transformations here from CO washing and I'm curious as to how it can help my hair. I'm type 2a/2b/F/ii.
A few things I was wondering:
- Should I be combing the conditioner through my hair while in the shower?
- Is it okay to use a conditioner with cones or will that cause problems after a while?
- How exactly does one dilute their conditioner? Just pour some into a bottle, add water, and mix well?
These might be really stupid questions but I'm such a clueless newbie! Any advice you ladies can provide will be much appreciated :)
If you search youtube for "wen how to" you will find some videos that demonstrate how to CO wash. I posted about it a few pages back in the thread I think.
Step by step:
Rinse hair thoroughly
Add a small handful of conditioner to the top of your head at the roots
Add a small handful of conditioner to the bottom of your head at the roots
Massage, adding a couple splashes of water to create a "lather"
Comb through
Leave in for the rest of your shower activities
rinse at the end of the shower
apply leave in product
There are many variations on how to CO - everyone does it a little differently, but those steps are a great place to start. It is best to CO wash cone-free because sulfates remove cones that can cause build up. I have the same hair type as you (hair twin!), and I would recommend not using cones because fine hair can really get weighed down.
Welcome to the world of CO washing! :grouphug:
Siiri
May 1st, 2014, 02:46 PM
Can you lovely ladies help me out with my CO washing routine?
I decided to try it 3 days ago with a big bottle of Tresemme conditioner that I've been using on my ends after shampooing. It has cones and I believe there was a sulfate ingredient, but it's the only conditioner I had so that's what I used. Wasn't sure how to do the whole CO wash thing though, because it was a decision I made right in the shower and I didn't research the procedure beforehand, oops!
So I just plopped some conditioner into my hands and ran it through my roots, then massaged for about a minute. Then I used more along the length of my hair and massaged that in as well. Rinsed it out super thoroughly with cool water and then I was on my way. I put in a pea-sized dab of leave-in afterward and didn't brush my hair at all. When my hair air dried it looked okay, but it wasn't anything miraculous. It was a bit softer than usual, and also very shiny closer to the head where there's no damage from styling tools. I'm going to keep doing this because there have been some really amazing transformations here from CO washing and I'm curious as to how it can help my hair. I'm type 2a/2b/F/ii.
A few things I was wondering:
- Should I be combing the conditioner through my hair while in the shower?
- Is it okay to use a conditioner with cones or will that cause problems after a while?
- How exactly does one dilute their conditioner? Just pour some into a bottle, add water, and mix well?
These might be really stupid questions but I'm such a clueless newbie! Any advice you ladies can provide will be much appreciated :)
Whether or not you comb your hair in the shower with the conditioner still on is just a preference. But if you don't want to comb your hair after you've come out so that you don't mess your wave pattern (in case your a wavy or curly), it's best to detangle your hair while you have the product on in the shower.
Most people avoid conditioners with cones and waxes because some of them tend to build up. If it builds up, you can clarify your hair with shampoo. If it starts building up very quickly, it might be easier to find a conditioner without silicones so you don't have to shampoo as often. But if it works well, there's no reason why you shouldn't use it.
You dilute the conditioner in a separate bottle just like you wrote - you can experiment with the ratio to suit you're hair. Don't dilute large quantities because water has bacteria and the dilution won't preserve very well.
Siiri
May 1st, 2014, 02:47 PM
Sorry, double post!
dancingrain91
May 1st, 2014, 02:50 PM
Can you lovely ladies help me out with my CO washing routine?
I decided to try it 3 days ago with a big bottle of Tresemme conditioner that I've been using on my ends after shampooing. It has cones and I believe there was a sulfate ingredient, but it's the only conditioner I had so that's what I used. Wasn't sure how to do the whole CO wash thing though, because it was a decision I made right in the shower and I didn't research the procedure beforehand, oops!
So I just plopped some conditioner into my hands and ran it through my roots, then massaged for about a minute. Then I used more along the length of my hair and massaged that in as well. Rinsed it out super thoroughly with cool water and then I was on my way. I put in a pea-sized dab of leave-in afterward and didn't brush my hair at all. When my hair air dried it looked okay, but it wasn't anything miraculous. It was a bit softer than usual, and also very shiny closer to the head where there's no damage from styling tools. I'm going to keep doing this because there have been some really amazing transformations here from CO washing and I'm curious as to how it can help my hair. I'm type 2a/2b/F/ii.
A few things I was wondering:
- Should I be combing the conditioner through my hair while in the shower?
- Is it okay to use a conditioner with cones or will that cause problems after a while?
- How exactly does one dilute their conditioner? Just pour some into a bottle, add water, and mix well?
These might be really stupid questions but I'm such a clueless newbie! Any advice you ladies can provide will be much appreciated :)
I actually do CO wash with cones because my hair does better with cones, but as a fellow fine haired wavy, I actually dilute my conditioner, apply it to DRY roots and massage it in really well, then when I get in the shower, I massage some more after wetting it slightly to get a bit of lathering action. Then I rinse it out for probably three to five minutes, apply a heavier conditioner to the length, clip that up and finish my shower before rinsing that out and finishing with an ACV rinse. My hair is always clean with plenty of volume and I can stretch my washes. The only snag I ever hit is on the transition from spring to summer, I get an itchy scalp and have to S&C more often. Or WCC is really what I do. But that's a strange beast I have never figured out and has nothing to do with your hair. Lol. Good luck with CO!
nyia
May 1st, 2014, 05:24 PM
Since you mentioned that you get itchy scalp during the spring/summer transition, it's possible that it's a slight allergy. Even if you don't have hay fever type allergies, your skin, and more specifically, your scalp, might be reacting to the extra pollens in the air. If you think about it, your scalp is one of the most protected parts of your skin, covered mostly by hair. Pollen could stick to your hair, working its way into contact with the scalp as you move around, brush your hair, etc. It might seem to go away as summer goes on because your scalp gets used to the yearly bombardment of pollens, as happens, a lot of times, with people who have hay fever.
Just a thought.
I actually do CO wash with cones because my hair does better with cones, but as a fellow fine haired wavy, I actually dilute my conditioner, apply it to DRY roots and massage it in really well, then when I get in the shower, I massage some more after wetting it slightly to get a bit of lathering action. Then I rinse it out for probably three to five minutes, apply a heavier conditioner to the length, clip that up and finish my shower before rinsing that out and finishing with an ACV rinse. My hair is always clean with plenty of volume and I can stretch my washes. The only snag I ever hit is on the transition from spring to summer, I get an itchy scalp and have to S&C more often. Or WCC is really what I do. But that's a strange beast I have never figured out and has nothing to do with your hair. Lol. Good luck with CO!
Jonquil
May 1st, 2014, 06:32 PM
Wow, thank you for the tips everyone :). I'll get some cone-free conditioners to try out and see what works, and start using my wide toothed comb to detangle in the shower.
GRU
May 1st, 2014, 09:51 PM
I recently converted my mother to Cowashing, as well as using a tangle teezer, and replacing her chemical hair dye (which she's used for years) with henna. The information you provided was a huge help in that! So thank you! :flower:
I *love* to see posts like this....thank you for letting me know!
I learned everything I know from things I learned on this site years ago, and I love that I'm now able to "pay it forward" so others can reap the rewards here as well!
GRU
May 1st, 2014, 09:56 PM
Can you lovely ladies help me out with my CO washing routine?
A few things I was wondering:
- Should I be combing the conditioner through my hair while in the shower?
- Is it okay to use a conditioner with cones or will that cause problems after a while?
- How exactly does one dilute their conditioner? Just pour some into a bottle, add water, and mix well?
These might be really stupid questions but I'm such a clueless newbie! Any advice you ladies can provide will be much appreciated :)
First of all, there is no "one right product" or "one right way" to CO-wash... everyone's hair and scalp react differently, so most people go through a bit of trial and error until they discover what works best for them.
With that in mind, try to only change ONE thing at a time, so you'll know what to keep and what to toss in your routine. If you change products and scrub time and styling routine all at once and things go horribly wrong, you'll never know which factor was the problem (or just the combination of all three together).
As for your routine, everyone's is a bit different. You can read about my routine in this post (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2898&page=260&p=2584195#post2584195).
Jonquil
May 2nd, 2014, 01:05 AM
Thanks GRU, it'll be hard not to change up everything at once because I'm just so excited to start taking better care of my hair, gah! Also, you've probably heard this a thousand times, but your hair is really beautiful, both the texture and the colour :)
cat11
May 2nd, 2014, 01:51 PM
Ive been trying V05 Kiwi Lime for my last three or four washes now. The first couple times came out feeling good in the shower, but then greasy and builduppy out of it. This time, taking advice from this thread, I tried to lather the conditioner and really scrub my roots like you would with shampoo. I didn't really notice it lathering but my hair was a lot better this time, although it was still obviously not without build-up and got greasy fast.
I think my hair is too fine (not thin, its thick!) to use straight conditioner on it. I've had great success using products meant to be a co-wash but every time I try to use a product marketed as a general conditioner I get buildup and it's nasty. My roots feel like they have clay on them. I've tried Suave too with no luck, maybe a different one once or twice on a whim. I think my fine hair just is keeping the conditioner in it and absorbing it instead of having it wash off and slide the dirt away.
Does anybody else have issues using regular conditioner versus co-wash/cleansing conditioner specifically meant for cowashing?
LauraLongLocks
May 2nd, 2014, 03:58 PM
Ive been trying V05 Kiwi Lime for my last three or four washes now. The first couple times came out feeling good in the shower, but then greasy and builduppy out of it. This time, taking advice from this thread, I tried to lather the conditioner and really scrub my roots like you would with shampoo. I didn't really notice it lathering but my hair was a lot better this time, although it was still obviously not without build-up and got greasy fast.
I think my hair is too fine (not thin, its thick!) to use straight conditioner on it. I've had great success using products meant to be a co-wash but every time I try to use a product marketed as a general conditioner I get buildup and it's nasty. My roots feel like they have clay on them. I've tried Suave too with no luck, maybe a different one once or twice on a whim. I think my fine hair just is keeping the conditioner in it and absorbing it instead of having it wash off and slide the dirt away.
Does anybody else have issues using regular conditioner versus co-wash/cleansing conditioner specifically meant for cowashing?
Another finey here... I have noticed that cleansing conditioners seem to rinse off better and not leave any sort of filmy feel. I'm using Suave and it works, but I don't like the feel of it as much as my Eden. But for the price difference, it's worth it. I use Suave most of the time and Eden when I want a little protein.
jeanniet
May 2nd, 2014, 05:15 PM
Ive been trying V05 Kiwi Lime for my last three or four washes now. The first couple times came out feeling good in the shower, but then greasy and builduppy out of it. This time, taking advice from this thread, I tried to lather the conditioner and really scrub my roots like you would with shampoo. I didn't really notice it lathering but my hair was a lot better this time, although it was still obviously not without build-up and got greasy fast.
I think my hair is too fine (not thin, its thick!) to use straight conditioner on it. I've had great success using products meant to be a co-wash but every time I try to use a product marketed as a general conditioner I get buildup and it's nasty. My roots feel like they have clay on them. I've tried Suave too with no luck, maybe a different one once or twice on a whim. I think my fine hair just is keeping the conditioner in it and absorbing it instead of having it wash off and slide the dirt away.
Does anybody else have issues using regular conditioner versus co-wash/cleansing conditioner specifically meant for cowashing?
Not really, but my hair's more towards the M side of F than baby fine, I think. Curl Junkie Daily Fix maybe rinses somewhat better and feels a bit more like an actual shampoo, but it does contain coco betaine. I don't have any particular trouble rinsing out regular conditioners. I switch off between those (usually Trader Joe's TTT) or Daily Fix.
Weewah
May 2nd, 2014, 05:30 PM
I guess I have an opposite reaction compared to most when it comes to conditioners vs cleansing conditioners. The two cleansing conditioners I've tried, Eden Coconut and Loreal Evercreme, both don't clean thoroughly enough for me.
Eta: The Loreal Evercreme had a strong funky smell to it that I don't like, so maybe that's why I'm sitting here thinking I didn't like it. I won't be using it again though that's for sure.
mariakatija
May 2nd, 2014, 05:38 PM
How often do you all CO wash and clarify? I have been CO washing once a week for months but my roots still become very greasy by the third day. I'm going to start CO washing twice a week now. But first I'm going to CWC with some dandruff shampoo as I've noticed some large flakes and my hair is appearing very dry. I haven't used shampoo in months!
Also what is chelating?
jeanniet
May 2nd, 2014, 05:53 PM
How often do you all CO wash and clarify? I have been CO washing once a week for months but my roots still become very greasy by the third day. I'm going to start CO washing twice a week now. But first I'm going to CWC with some dandruff shampoo as I've noticed some large flakes and my hair is appearing very dry. I haven't used shampoo in months!
Also what is chelating?
Chelating removes mineral build up from hard or well water. I have water that's both hard and from a well (iron), so I do chelate occasionally, but only a couple of times a year. If you don't need to do it, don't. It's pretty harsh on the hair.
I CO every 2-3 days, sometimes 4. I have a class on Tuesdays and Thursday, so I wash the day before class so I can look decent next to all the young students. :p Then I usually wash on Saturday, so a total of three times a week. I don't really try to stretch my washes more because I think my hair gets too dry. I shampoo when I feel it's necessary--maybe every 3-4 months--but that's generally with an SLS-free shampoo. I actually clarify maybe a couple of times a year.
CO has been the best thing for both my scalp and hair. I think my scalp was too dry with even non-SLS shampoo. Now I never have flakes or itching.
Nadine <3
May 2nd, 2014, 06:22 PM
I love CO washing and today I found a way to really maximize my wave pattern. I think if I want to wear it wavy and have it stay, I need some product...maybe some aloe vera gel? not sure it that would work or not.
GRU
May 2nd, 2014, 08:52 PM
I CO-wash anywhere from 1-3 times a week depending on what is going on and if I want to wear it down, and I shampoo once a year, whether it needs it or not.
GRU
May 2nd, 2014, 08:53 PM
Thanks GRU, it'll be hard not to change up everything at once because I'm just so excited to start taking better care of my hair, gah! Also, you've probably heard this a thousand times, but your hair is really beautiful, both the texture and the colour :)
Awwww, thank you! :flower:
But the credit really goes to God and LHC -- I'm just the dirt that God planted the hair in, and the folks at LHC taught me how to properly fertilize the garden!
mariakatija
May 2nd, 2014, 08:58 PM
Thanks jeanniet and GRU!
Weewah
May 2nd, 2014, 09:39 PM
How often do you all CO wash and clarify? I have been CO washing once a week for months but my roots still become very greasy by the third day. I'm going to start CO washing twice a week now. But first I'm going to CWC with some dandruff shampoo as I've noticed some large flakes and my hair is appearing very dry. I haven't used shampoo in months!
Also what is chelating?
I co-wash daily unless I'm staying home all day then I let my hair be greasy and give it a rest. Clarify about once a month because I use styling products. Chelating is to remove hard water mineral buildup. Acv, citric acid, and EDTA in ingredients among other stuff are chelators. There are specific chelating shampoos too but I don't really see them anywhere. It's different than clarifying, which just gets rid if product buildup. I don't find the need to chelate really, and I live in a supposedly hard water area. I do citric acid rinses every once in a while.
cat11
May 3rd, 2014, 06:55 PM
LauraLongLocks it at least makes me feel better that others with fine hair have somewhat of the same issue. I've heard good things about Eden and also the brand "As I Am" apparently has a good co wash.
I ended up mixing in some Cerave baby shampoo (very gentle) with the v05 for my last wash. Only on roots like everything else. My hair just had too much buildup, lank and clay-ey on the top and frizzy and dry at the ends despite oiling. It's very soft and shiny and perfectly clean now, although it did POOF at first for not having touched any type or amount of shampoo for a few weeks.
Atleast i like the idea that now I can mix my shampoo with a cheaper conditioner to save my better second step one.
ErinLeigh
May 4th, 2014, 12:04 AM
Ive been trying V05 Kiwi Lime for my last three or four washes now. The first couple times came out feeling good in the shower, but then greasy and builduppy out of it. This time, taking advice from this thread, I tried to lather the conditioner and really scrub my roots like you would with shampoo. I didn't really notice it lathering but my hair was a lot better this time, although it was still obviously not without build-up and got greasy fast.
I think my hair is too fine (not thin, its thick!) to use straight conditioner on it. I've had great success using products meant to be a co-wash but every time I try to use a product marketed as a general conditioner I get buildup and it's nasty. My roots feel like they have clay on them. I've tried Suave too with no luck, maybe a different one once or twice on a whim. I think my fine hair just is keeping the conditioner in it and absorbing it instead of having it wash off and slide the dirt away.
Does anybody else have issues using regular conditioner versus co-wash/cleansing conditioner specifically meant for cowashing?
I wouldn't say I have issues, but I get way better results using marketing cleansing conditioners. If I use VO5 for instance, I have to mix it with honey to not get the waxy greasy feel. If I use another conditioner I risk it being too light or too heavy on my roots. I like to product play so I do experiment but results hands down are always best with a cleansing conditioner.
I did have great results with the Trader Joe's TTT though. I assume it was the tea tree and other oils since my hair responds to those ingredients.
Right now I rotate with
EDEN CC
Loreal CC
Darcy Botanical CC (still trying to gauge my feeling on this one)
Curl Junkie CC
VO5 with honey
Trader Joe's TTT (just tried but liked enough to add into rotation, may replace my Darcy's, still trying to sort that out)
I still have the As I AM Coconut Cowash on my list to try and I do have some WEN knockoffs but I do not use them. Suave didn't work for me but I didn't give it a fair run either. I declared it not a fit after one use and only one scent. I may give it a try again in the summer.
I follow with a separate conditioner, not sure if it is needed or not but I enjoy it :)
ErinLeigh
May 4th, 2014, 12:10 AM
I guess I have an opposite reaction compared to most when it comes to conditioners vs cleansing conditioners. The two cleansing conditioners I've tried, Eden Coconut and Loreal Evercreme, both don't clean thoroughly enough for me.
Eta: The Loreal Evercreme had a strong funky smell to it that I don't like, so maybe that's why I'm sitting here thinking I didn't like it. I won't be using it again though that's for sure.
To me it smells like burned vanilla plastic. It is so off putting. You would think they would do some marketing research. No one likes the scents of it.
They do have a curly version in a blue bottle, I want to see what that one smells like just to satisfy a curiosity, but I just don't feel like spending the $ since the evercreme isn't wow enough to justify it yet.
ErinLeigh
May 4th, 2014, 12:12 AM
Chelating removes mineral build up from hard or well water. I have water that's both hard and from a well (iron), so I do chelate occasionally, but only a couple of times a year. If you don't need to do it, don't. It's pretty harsh on the hair.
I CO every 2-3 days, sometimes 4. I have a class on Tuesdays and Thursday, so I wash the day before class so I can look decent next to all the young students. :p Then I usually wash on Saturday, so a total of three times a week. I don't really try to stretch my washes more because I think my hair gets too dry. I shampoo when I feel it's necessary--maybe every 3-4 months--but that's generally with an SLS-free shampoo. I actually clarify maybe a couple of times a year.
CO has been the best thing for both my scalp and hair. I think my scalp was too dry with even non-SLS shampoo. Now I never have flakes or itching.
I noticed our curl junkie has a chelating ingredient pretty high up on the list (well in the middle, but at least not at the bottom!) I wonder if this attributes to our joy with it. When I use it often enough it keeps buildup at bay too. I am pretty darn happy with it.
jeanniet
May 4th, 2014, 12:33 AM
I noticed our curl junkie has a chelating ingredient pretty high up on the list (well in the middle, but at least not at the bottom!) I wonder if this attributes to our joy with it. When I use it often enough it keeps buildup at bay too. I am pretty darn happy with it.
The chelating effect is one reason I use it, but I can't really say that I notice a whole lot of difference. If it helps, though, I'm all for it!
nyia
May 6th, 2014, 03:02 AM
Here's a quick question. Next year, my family and I are moving from Washington (state) to Florida.
If any of you have made a big jump from a cold/rainy/humid, lots of snow in winter, approximately three days of spring and two weeks of summer kind of climate to a warm/humid, regular rain cycle, no winter kind of climate, did you have to do anything special to make your hair happy with the move?
I lived in Florida for a short time about twenty years ago, after living in California, and my hair pretty much stood straight out from my head the entire time. I'm hoping that having switched to CO will make a big difference.
So, what have your experiences been with major climate changes?
eva888
May 6th, 2014, 05:47 AM
Here's a quick question. Next year, my family and I are moving from Washington (state) to Florida.
If any of you have made a big jump from a cold/rainy/humid, lots of snow in winter, approximately three days of spring and two weeks of summer kind of climate to a warm/humid, regular rain cycle, no winter kind of climate, did you have to do anything special to make your hair happy with the move?
I lived in Florida for a short time about twenty years ago, after living in California, and my hair pretty much stood straight out from my head the entire time. I'm hoping that having switched to CO will make a big difference.
So, what have your experiences been with major climate changes?
You might find that your curls love the humidity! My hair is wavy so the waves do not do well in humidity. Personally I find that the styling product is the only thing I have to change depending on the climate. When I living in northern colder climates I find that a styling cream or mousse is fine, but anywhere with Florida-ish humidity and temperature I HAVE to use a gel. Otherwise my hair will become a lovely 80s afro. I spent last summer in Charleston, SC and and I started telling people that my hair was so big because it was "full of secrets." (Hope someone gets that reference!)
A friend of mine in Charleston that summer had amazing non frizzy curly hair and she said that she used DevaCurl Light defining gel and the set it free spray. Naturally I got these two products, and I really like them!
jeanniet
May 6th, 2014, 02:44 PM
Here's a quick question. Next year, my family and I are moving from Washington (state) to Florida.
If any of you have made a big jump from a cold/rainy/humid, lots of snow in winter, approximately three days of spring and two weeks of summer kind of climate to a warm/humid, regular rain cycle, no winter kind of climate, did you have to do anything special to make your hair happy with the move?
I lived in Florida for a short time about twenty years ago, after living in California, and my hair pretty much stood straight out from my head the entire time. I'm hoping that having switched to CO will make a big difference.
So, what have your experiences been with major climate changes?
It's not the humidity, it's the dew point. FL has a higher dew point than WA because it's warm and humid. You might find you get more frizz, but not necessarily. When the dew points are high you'll probably want to avoid humectants, and you might want to check into the LOC method, but it's entirely possible that your hair will do really well. You can go to Accuweather and track the dew points to compare.
GoldenSilk
May 6th, 2014, 04:53 PM
Ive been trying V05 Kiwi Lime for my last three or four washes now. The first couple times came out feeling good in the shower, but then greasy and builduppy out of it. This time, taking advice from this thread, I tried to lather the conditioner and really scrub my roots like you would with shampoo. I didn't really notice it lathering but my hair was a lot better this time, although it was still obviously not without build-up and got greasy fast.
I think my hair is too fine (not thin, its thick!) to use straight conditioner on it. I've had great success using products meant to be a co-wash but every time I try to use a product marketed as a general conditioner I get buildup and it's nasty. My roots feel like they have clay on them. I've tried Suave too with no luck, maybe a different one once or twice on a whim. I think my fine hair just is keeping the conditioner in it and absorbing it instead of having it wash off and slide the dirt away.
Does anybody else have issues using regular conditioner versus co-wash/cleansing conditioner specifically meant for cowashing?
I may sound like a broken record, but I definitely got better results with my VO5 when diluting it and using an applicator bottle, and my hair is fine and fairly thick. I think that I have so many strands that the diluted, more watery conditioner finds its way down to the scalp better. (My hair is thick enough at the scalp that I can rinse my head at the beginning of my shower for two whole minutes, but if my hair is really greasy, there'll still be parts of my scalp completely dry... Ew!)
That said, I've never used a specific CO-wash conditioner, because I'm cheap, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. :p
Sometimes I get a little waxy buildup, like there's some component of my sebum the conditioner has trouble removing. Either clarifying or using my BBB to spread it out before a CO-wash seems to get rid of it. I get it less and less over time, like it was part of my scalp transitioning from shampoo.
ErinLeigh
May 6th, 2014, 06:48 PM
This might sound like a silly question but can you only get Trader Joes's conditioner from Trader Joes?
I'll be in the States this Summer and want to try it, but there isn't a Trader Joes where I'll be.
I get mine on Amazon as I cannot find a store.
As far as climate change, I went from Colorado to Florida 2 years ago. My hair is frizzier, wavier and has more volume in Florida. I found pre wash coconut oilings helped my porosity issue a bit reducing frizz, also using light oils on damp hair and adding a touch of shea (I use Panacea) once dry keeps it a lot smoother. On really humid days I find I have to wear it up. Cones would work too in place of oils. I really only have issues in the 3 hottest months of the year. The rest of the time I think weather is perfect and hair responds well.
coramDGildenher
May 10th, 2014, 02:19 PM
I'm thinking of trying co-washing if the aloe/glycerin doesn't work as shampoo (roots of hair are heavy, doesn't like to dry well and gets oily quickly, maybe still in transition).
**Is CO-washing basically just using conditioner only when you shower? Or does it also involve every once in a while using a clarifying shampoo to remove oil buildup? I used to use Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat SLS free shampoo & conditioner until I merged into no-poo territory.
GRU
May 10th, 2014, 02:44 PM
**Is CO-washing basically just using conditioner only when you shower? Or does it also involve every once in a while using a clarifying shampoo to remove oil buildup? I used to use Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat SLS free shampoo & conditioner until I merged into no-poo territory.
I've never experienced "oil buildup" -- my conditioner will completely clean my hair.
I do use shampoo once a year, "just in case" there are some random items built-up on my hair due to contact with furniture, etc. But I only use 'cone-free products on my hair, so I don't need to use shampoo on any kind of regular basis.
cat11
May 14th, 2014, 10:23 AM
I wouldn't say I have issues, but I get way better results using marketing cleansing conditioners. If I use VO5 for instance, I have to mix it with honey to not get the waxy greasy feel. If I use another conditioner I risk it being too light or too heavy on my roots. I like to product play so I do experiment but results hands down are always best with a cleansing conditioner.
I did have great results with the Trader Joe's TTT though. I assume it was the tea tree and other oils since my hair responds to those ingredients.
Right now I rotate with
EDEN CC
Loreal CC
Darcy Botanical CC (still trying to gauge my feeling on this one)
Curl Junkie CC
VO5 with honey
Trader Joe's TTT (just tried but liked enough to add into rotation, may replace my Darcy's, still trying to sort that out)
I still have the As I AM Coconut Cowash on my list to try and I do have some WEN knockoffs but I do not use them. Suave didn't work for me but I didn't give it a fair run either. I declared it not a fit after one use and only one scent. I may give it a try again in the summer.
I follow with a separate conditioner, not sure if it is needed or not but I enjoy it :)
Woah! Great list. We have the as I am coconut cowash where I work and I was thinking of trying it out next since right now I've gone back to mixing light sulfate free shampoo with conditioner.. I like the idea of having multiple products and rotating though.
timotej
May 14th, 2014, 02:39 PM
Hi all! I'm back at LHC after a longer break, and I just started CO, since about 2 weeks. Seems to be going ok, still evaluating. So far hair gets clean, but it seems the ends are on their way of getting a bit dry and perhaps crunchy. It seems I clean the top of my head well enough, but not sure whether to rinse the ends more, or less. So far I've only used one conditioner for all of the hair, so I'm thinking about trying a second conditioner for the lengths. In front of me I have a conditioner named Naked care, I wonder if anybody know it and use it? I would love if someone would check the ingredients for me to see if they're ok as a second coneless CO (I think so, but I'm a total novice so may miss something). Thank you in advance! As written on the bottle:
Aqua, Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Gossypium hebaceum (cotton) seed extract, Olea europara (olive) fruit oil, Citrus aurantium (neroli) oil, Aspartic acid, Citric acid, Chlorphenesin, Linalool.
dancingrain91
May 14th, 2014, 02:52 PM
I actually found Garnier Pure Clean the other day in stores and thought why not? My hair doesn't seem to come clean with VO5 or Suave but Tresseme Naturals and Garnier and even Pantene seem to be able to clean it. So far I really like this conditioner. Has anyone else had success using it as a cleansing conditioner? I'm trying to move away from using shampoo so often since my hair does great with CO and I've learned that cones cause scalp breakouts that require sulphates to remove, so while my length conditioners will still have amino functionalized silicones (the ones that don't build up) I'm trying to find heavier cone free conditioners since my head is so picky. It itches like mad if I wash with shampoo (even sulphate free, often those are worse) all the time, won't come clean with most of the recommended cleansing conditioners and I just discovered this apparent sensitivity to cones. Sometimes I just want to scream. Lol. At least my hair, fine as it is, is difficult to damage.
Islandgrrl
May 19th, 2014, 11:24 PM
So,I've been using Suave Naturals Coconut conditioner for CO pretty much exclusively for the past few years. Every once in a while I'll throw somethingorother else at it, just for a change of pace. Like Aubrey Organics GPB (because I adore the smell), Alafia Coonut Lime conditioner (jury is totally out on that one).
Tonight I used Suave Daily Clarifying Conditioner. Um....wow? I have someone else's hair on my head! And it's soft and not tangly, too! What just happened?
ErinLeigh
May 20th, 2014, 01:26 AM
Hi all! I'm back at LHC after a longer break, and I just started CO, since about 2 weeks. Seems to be going ok, still evaluating. So far hair gets clean, but it seems the ends are on their way of getting a bit dry and perhaps crunchy. It seems I clean the top of my head well enough, but not sure whether to rinse the ends more, or less. So far I've only used one conditioner for all of the hair, so I'm thinking about trying a second conditioner for the lengths. In front of me I have a conditioner named Naked care, I wonder if anybody know it and use it? I would love if someone would check the ingredients for me to see if they're ok as a second coneless CO (I think so, but I'm a total novice so may miss something). Thank you in advance! As written on the bottle:
Aqua, Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Brassicamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Gossypium hebaceum (cotton) seed extract, Olea europara (olive) fruit oil, Citrus aurantium (neroli) oil, Aspartic acid, Citric acid, Chlorphenesin, Linalool.
I think it's worth giving a try. I love the effect from the simple ingredient conditioners and the Cetearyl alcohol will cleanse. Let us know if you like it :)
ErinLeigh
May 20th, 2014, 01:35 AM
I actually found Garnier Pure Clean the other day in stores and thought why not? My hair doesn't seem to come clean with VO5 or Suave but Tresseme Naturals and Garnier and even Pantene seem to be able to clean it. So far I really like this conditioner. Has anyone else had success using it as a cleansing conditioner? I'm trying to move away from using shampoo so often since my hair does great with CO and I've learned that cones cause scalp breakouts that require sulphates to remove, so while my length conditioners will still have amino functionalized silicones (the ones that don't build up) I'm trying to find heavier cone free conditioners since my head is so picky. It itches like mad if I wash with shampoo (even sulphate free, often those are worse) all the time, won't come clean with most of the recommended cleansing conditioners and I just discovered this apparent sensitivity to cones. Sometimes I just want to scream. Lol. At least my hair, fine as it is, is difficult to damage.
I haven't tried the pure clean conditioner, only the shampoo. I do have the Garnier Triple Nutrition (old formula cone free) and I love it as a cowash conditioner. I have several small bottles and cowash with it when away from home and I am finding I love it more and more. Garnier has good products I think.
Here are the ingredients to Pure Clean if anyone is interested.
Aqua (Water) , Cetearyl Alcohol , Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate , Octyldodecanol , Fragrance , Pyrus Malus Extract (Apple Fruit Extract) , Zea Mays Starch (Corn Starch) , Camelina Sativa Oil (Camelina Sativa Seed Oil) , Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil) , Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean Oil) , Tocopherol , Caprylyl Glycol , Benzoic Acid , Niacinamide , Pyridoxine HCl , Caprylic , Capric Triglyceride , Linalool , Hexyl Cinnamal , Citric Acid , Saccharum Officinarum Extract (Sugar Cane Extract) , Citrus Medica Limonum Peel Extract (Lemon Peel Extract) , Camellia Sinensis Extract (Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract) , Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola Fruit Extract)
-------------------------------------
general update, the Darcy Botanicals CC is actually working well now. The high oil content is really helping hair look good in higher dew points while still not being weighed down too much so I am keeping that one in rotation.
timotej
May 20th, 2014, 05:21 AM
I think it's worth giving a try. I love the effect from the simple ingredient conditioners and the Cetearyl alcohol will cleanse. Let us know if you like it :)
Thanks Erin Leigh! I tried it once so far and my ends looked less dry. I just put it on my lengths though, as a second conditioner. Last time I put on a bit of coconut oil before the wash and then just used the first conditioner, that seemed to work too.
In general my hair is looking good! I wash every third day (last day it looks a bit greasy but I'd rather stretch washes if I don't have anywhere special to go). It's clean on top, has more body, more heaviness/cohesiveness (not sure what to call it, but it falls nicely) and a lot more shine!
Only thing, which may be a big thing, or become a big thing - is that I get knots!! Overall the hair is easier to brush through, but still it sort of sticks together at the lengths/ends, and every other day or so I get one or two bad knots that I have to separate very carefully, or there will be damage. What is this? Could this mean my hair needs clarifying? I wonder if I should wait it out a bit, as I'd rather not clarify unnecessarily... but if this is what needs to be done, please tell me so, and I will accept it... :-)
Also, if I need to clarify - could I experiment with a non sls shampoo first or does it need the heavy stuff directly you think? And is anyone just clarifying the lengths? The hair closest to my head looks fine so it would be better not to mess it up with shampoo if possible...
All tips and ideas are welcome!
arelrios
May 20th, 2014, 07:53 AM
I tried Suave Coconut... mmmm... so far, not so happy ... it gives me itchiness and I get 'build up' (white stuff on scalp) sometimes dry sometimes more like sebum ... I will continue experimenting with it to see if indeed is not for me...
jeanniet
May 20th, 2014, 01:23 PM
I usually use the Suave Coconut as a leave in and not a wash, but I washed with it last night just as an experiment. Everything seems/feels as usual, but I'll take a look at my scalp when I get home and report back.
GRU
May 20th, 2014, 01:38 PM
Only thing, which may be a big thing, or become a big thing - is that I get knots!! Overall the hair is easier to brush through, but still it sort of sticks together at the lengths/ends, and every other day or so I get one or two bad knots that I have to separate very carefully, or there will be damage. What is this? Could this mean my hair needs clarifying? I wonder if I should wait it out a bit, as I'd rather not clarify unnecessarily... but if this is what needs to be done, please tell me so, and I will accept it... :-)
Tangles and velcro-ends might be due to a need to clarify, but if the rest of your hair is happy and only the ends are being problematic, I'd be more inclined to blame damage (particularly on the ends). Particularly if you used to use a product with 'cones in it, that might have been masking the velcro nature of your ends.
Try using something on your ends to alleviate the damage -- Nightblooming's Panacea, some oil of some sort (sweet almond, coconut, avocado, etc.), or more leave-in conditioner.
Also, if you're not already using one, I recommend switching to a Tangle Teezer brush.
ErinLeigh
May 20th, 2014, 02:09 PM
Thanks Erin Leigh! I tried it once so far and my ends looked less dry. I just put it on my lengths though, as a second conditioner. Last time I put on a bit of coconut oil before the wash and then just used the first conditioner, that seemed to work too.
In general my hair is looking good! I wash every third day (last day it looks a bit greasy but I'd rather stretch washes if I don't have anywhere special to go). It's clean on top, has more body, more heaviness/cohesiveness (not sure what to call it, but it falls nicely) and a lot more shine!
Only thing, which may be a big thing, or become a big thing - is that I get knots!! Overall the hair is easier to brush through, but still it sort of sticks together at the lengths/ends, and every other day or so I get one or two bad knots that I have to separate very carefully, or there will be damage. What is this? Could this mean my hair needs clarifying? I wonder if I should wait it out a bit, as I'd rather not clarify unnecessarily... but if this is what needs to be done, please tell me so, and I will accept it... :-)
Also, if I need to clarify - could I experiment with a non sls shampoo first or does it need the heavy stuff directly you think? And is anyone just clarifying the lengths? The hair closest to my head looks fine so it would be better not to mess it up with shampoo if possible...
All tips and ideas are welcome!
You can try clarifying. Suave daily clarify or VO5 daily clarify is cheap and easy. If that doesn't work you can try an occasional vinegar rinse to loosen minerals. Also if you aren't using one currently try a leave in with good slip or some light oiling on the ends.
I am really loving Alba Botanicals leave in conditioner. Its silicone free and really helps my dry ends.
nyia
May 27th, 2014, 02:03 PM
Have any of you, since starting as CO washers, broken an arm or hand or something, that made hair care more difficult? I broke my wrist three weeks ago, and it's such a pain to shower, but my hair seems to be doing kinda OK with just once a week. I just don't FEEL clean, though, even with daily sponge baths, and baby wipes at every opportunity. Anyone have any advise or thoughts on this?
ErinLeigh
May 27th, 2014, 11:41 PM
Oh nyia, I am sorry to hear this. I can imagine it is quote difficult to wash. I have zero experience with this situation but wanted to wish you well.
I would think wearing hair pulled back into comfy updo ( I am thinking soft scunci) and stretching washes is best. What was your wash/style routine prior?
If hair truly isn't feeling clean right now, maybe just during this time switch to a low poo like Jessucurl, Curl Junkie, Creme of Nature..something with cleansers found in shampoos but in very low doses, or adding honey to the conditioner to get a little extra oil removal? Maybe wrapping hair for a few hours each day to absorb any oil can help. Soft absorbing headbands, Combing/brushing a little more frequently to redistribute oils. Preening and scritching like the NS and WO group do. Dry brushing skin daily to remove any dead skin cells. Baby powder to soak up excess oil on skin and hair. Cotton balls with toner for face to soak up oils. Oil blotting sheets (those papery toilet seat covers are amazing for this actually as a $ saver. Sounds gross but its same material)
I have no idea if any of those help you but I just wanted to reply to say hi and send positive energy your way. A broken wrist sound so rough and I feel for you.
On the plus side hair and skin may end up looking amazing form getting a break from routine. :)
Toffeemonster
May 28th, 2014, 12:18 AM
An assistant comes in handy, I had to wash my sisters hair when she broke BOTH arms(in two separate incidents..) Maybe you could rope a husband or other relative in to help? I'm sure they wouldn't mind but probably wouldn't think to offer. I definitely think I'd switch to normal shampoo temporarily in your shoes, it's just quicker and easier.
BrendaLoan
May 28th, 2014, 08:16 AM
nya, I have no suggestions, but I hope you get well soon! :flower:
I might try cowashing as soon as I finish my cone conditioner. Since in my country I don't have a wide variety of brands to choose from, I was wondering...Is there any conditioner from Herbal Essences, Suave, Vo5 (those are a few that I've seen named in this forum) that is cone free?
Oh, and any advice on how to start cowashing would be really aprecciated :o Thank you in advance!
jeanniet
May 30th, 2014, 01:43 AM
I don't know about Herbal Essence, but a number of the Suave and VO5 conditioners are cone free. I know Suave Tropical Coconut is, and I'm pretty sure Green Apple--check the labels of the Naturals line. VO5 Kiwi Lime is cone free, and I believe the Moisture Milks. Both the Suave Coconut and the VO5 Kiwi Lime are popular for CO, so you might try one of those out first.
Kittykins
May 30th, 2014, 05:46 AM
What ingredients should I look for in a conditioner for cleaning my scalp? The conditioners that are marketed as cleansing conditioners are expensive, hard to find in person or not vegan.
LoveArt99
May 31st, 2014, 09:19 AM
What ingredients should I look for in a conditioner for cleaning my scalp? The conditioners that are marketed as cleansing conditioners are expensive, hard to find in person or not vegan.
Hmm... I heard that aloe vera is good for that but don't take my word for it.
Beborani
May 31st, 2014, 12:16 PM
All you need is cetyl/ stearyl alcohol and Behentrimonium methosulfate/chloride.
BrendaLoan
May 31st, 2014, 12:46 PM
I don't know about Herbal Essence, but a number of the Suave and VO5 conditioners are cone free. I know Suave Tropical Coconut is, and I'm pretty sure Green Apple--check the labels of the Naturals line. VO5 Kiwi Lime is cone free, and I believe the Moisture Milks. Both the Suave Coconut and the VO5 Kiwi Lime are popular for CO, so you might try one of those out first.
Thank you! I just bought the Suave Naturals coconut conditioner. Hope my hair likes it :thumbsup:
ErinLeigh
June 2nd, 2014, 04:15 AM
http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2013/03/does-conditioner-or-oil-really-need-to.html
this link will help you with what to look for and what the ingredient does
MissHoney
June 2nd, 2014, 11:14 PM
May I ask suggestions? I currently use v05 shea cashmere conditioner to cowash and coconut oil to leave in, but my hair dries very quickly and doesnt retain moisture. I sometimes use gel, but I don't think it helps. what should I change/add?
dreamingstar
June 4th, 2014, 09:53 PM
Out of curiosity, has anyone here had success with Shea Moisture products? I am currently happy with my routine, but was curious if these products were good for co-washing. (I can never seem to tell accurately. )
jeanniet
June 5th, 2014, 12:13 AM
May I ask suggestions? I currently use v05 shea cashmere conditioner to cowash and coconut oil to leave in, but my hair dries very quickly and doesnt retain moisture. I sometimes use gel, but I don't think it helps. what should I change/add?
Since your hair is most likely porous, you might try doing an overnight coconut oil soak pre-wash (so it has time to penetrate), use a conditioner to leave in, and then seal with a non-penetrating oil. Mineral oil is one that works for a lot of people, but there are others. Or you could look into the LOC method (liquid, oil, cream), but basically it sounds like you need to be sealing moisture in more, and coconut oil isn't really a sealing oil (since it penetrates).
jeanniet
June 5th, 2014, 12:14 AM
Out of curiosity, has anyone here had success with Shea Moisture products? I am currently happy with my routine, but was curious if these products were good for co-washing. (I can never seem to tell accurately. )
The Moisture Retention shampoo is a good non-sulfate shampoo. It's pretty gentle. I think the regular conditioners are too heavy for most people to CO with. I think they came out with a cleansing conditioner, but I don't know how available it is. I haven't seen it in stores anywhere, or I would've tried it.
GRU
June 5th, 2014, 11:11 AM
Since your hair is most likely porous, you might try doing an overnight coconut oil soak pre-wash (so it has time to penetrate), use a conditioner to leave in, and then seal with a non-penetrating oil. Mineral oil is one that works for a lot of people, but there are others. Or you could look into the LOC method (liquid, oil, cream), but basically it sounds like you need to be sealing moisture in more, and coconut oil isn't really a sealing oil (since it penetrates).
Just wanted to mention that some peoples' hair DETESTS mineral oil (mine is one of them).
So just keep in mind that if it doesn't work for you, that's okay -- just keep trying different things until you find the right products for your own hair.
jeanniet
June 5th, 2014, 12:37 PM
Just wanted to mention that some peoples' hair DETESTS mineral oil (mine is one of them).
So just keep in mind that if it doesn't work for you, that's okay -- just keep trying different things until you find the right products for your own hair.
Actually, mine does too, haha, but it was the only non-penetrating oil I could think of right off the bat. It also seems that type 4 hair often does well with it, at least from what I've observed from various forums. Anyway, someone post a list of non-penetrating oils, would ya?
ETA: SheaMoisture Smoothie is also pretty popular with type 4s (and 3s, for that matter). It's fairly heavy, but rich in butters and oils, and not too expensive. I think you might do better with a cream styler rather than gel. Most gels aren't all that moisturizing.
BrendaLoan
June 8th, 2014, 10:22 AM
Today is the second time I wash my hair and scalp with suave coconut conditioner. My hair is softer, shinier (I never thought that could be possible without cones) , and the waves are much more defined :D And I took this picture to show the weird behaviour of my bangs... they never did this with shampoo, my forehead is full of those little curls :cloud9: I'm really liking it so far!
http://i62.tinypic.com/23u7st3.jpg
GRU
June 9th, 2014, 09:28 AM
Yes, waves and curls LOVE the moisture that comes from not using shampoo!
Glad you're happy with the technique!
MissHoney
June 11th, 2014, 07:15 PM
Just wanted to mention that some peoples' hair DETESTS mineral oil (mine is one of them).
So just keep in mind that if it doesn't work for you, that's okay -- just keep trying different things until you find the right products for your own hair.
Since your hair is most likely porous, you might try doing an overnight coconut oil soak pre-wash (so it has time to penetrate), use a conditioner to leave in, and then seal with a non-penetrating oil. Mineral oil is one that works for a lot of people, but there are others. Or you could look into the LOC method (liquid, oil, cream), but basically it sounds like you need to be sealing moisture in more, and coconut oil isn't really a sealing oil (since it penetrates).
My hair likes mineral oil fair enough, but it doesn't seal in moisture any better than the coconut oil does (hardly). I switched back to coconut because the mineral was annoying to wash out.
MissHoney
June 11th, 2014, 07:24 PM
Actually, mine does too, haha, but it was the only non-penetrating oil I could think of right off the bat. It also seems that type 4 hair often does well with it, at least from what I've observed from various forums. Anyway, someone post a list of non-penetrating oils, would ya?
ETA: SheaMoisture Smoothie is also pretty popular with type 4s (and 3s, for that matter). It's fairly heavy, but rich in butters and oils, and not too expensive. I think you might do better with a cream styler rather than gel. Most gels aren't all that moisturizing.
I actually detest sheaMoisture products, I tried a few of their stylers. They were either greasy or sticky, and smelled horrible. I couldn't even use a fingertip amount of it. I like my hair to feel and smell clean, which usually leads me to gels. Obviously not moisturizing, but I don't use them often. I'm looking for a leave-in routine for when I wear my hair up (98% of the time) but I haven't found an oil that seals well enough.
jeanniet
June 11th, 2014, 08:46 PM
Hmmm. Some people have trouble with the shea butter in SM products. What other oils have you tried? Olive or castor oil/ They're heavier oils, and generally it's better to mix castor with a lighter oil because it's a bit sticky, but they seem to be popular for sealing. I don't use much in the way of oils, but I actually like just a teeny bit of castor oil. I also like camellia oil a lot, but it's pretty light. Do any buttery products work for you?
ErinLeigh
June 11th, 2014, 10:10 PM
May I ask suggestions? I currently use v05 shea cashmere conditioner to cowash and coconut oil to leave in, but my hair dries very quickly and doesnt retain moisture. I sometimes use gel, but I don't think it helps. what should I change/add?
I can't suggest what to change but I can share what I like to retain moisture in my super dry hair (no longer dry after using these but it was prior.)
Alba leave in conditioner (has lots of coconut oil but doesn't leave hair greasy) I swear by this one.
Baobab Oil Moisturizing Leave-in Conditioner (a bit heavier but not sticky and does leave hair moisturized)
Darcy's Botanicals Sweet Cocoa Bean Curl Smoothing Cream
For sealing I find jojoba works extremely well. It is purely a sealing oil. Does not penetrate and holds moisture well. Plays nice with pretty much every leave in also and offers smooth, soft hair.
Panacea/Ostera/Freya Salves from Nightblooming are really nice also.
------------------
dreamingstar, I tried the shea moisture line and found it to be kind of waxy and heavy so far. I cannot find a product except their body oil that I enjoy. If your routine would I would say skip this one or try a sample size if possible.
alwayssmiling
June 15th, 2014, 06:10 AM
Hello lovely longhaircommunity people.
I've not been for a long time, mainly because I got frustrated growing out the indigo and chopped it off. I'm growing it again (managed to keep it healthy to bsl and aiming for wl so back to basics for me).
Anyway since having the chop I completely cut out heat and sulphates (except for clarifying) and co wash 6 days a week. I use a sulphate free shampoo once a week. My 2b waves have gone to 2c ringlets :D for the first time in my life I actually love my own natural hair :).
I use tresemme naturals, timote naturals, Morrison's big and beautiful. (I'm from UK). These are working perfectly for me. I have Fructis sleek and shine and Superdrug extracts to try and will post when I have used these.
I also came across this blog if anyone is interested - it uses science experimentation to try and prove that co-washing does indeed clean the hair effectively.
http://www.thenaturalhavenbloom.com/2014/02/does-co-washing-really-clean-your-hair.html
I will try and post pics later at how curly my hair has gone since co-washing. In the past I have struggled with wiry hairs on the crown of my head that stand on end - like a halo of frizz. I now have zero frizz, even in humidity :eek:.
dreamingstar
June 15th, 2014, 08:53 PM
Thank you everyone for your suggestions on Shea Moisture products! I think for now I'll wait on serious experimentation, and continue what I've been doing. On a lighter note, I'm nearly at hip length! One inch or so and I believe I can call it!
hollygraham43
June 23rd, 2014, 10:51 AM
Can anyone tell me if I go from washing with Shampoo and conditioner to Herbal Essense Naked Cleansing Conditioner if my hair is going to have crazy phase where it generally looks gross? I really like Herbal Essense
hollygraham43
June 23rd, 2014, 10:54 AM
Cleansing Conditioner.
SereneCurls
June 23rd, 2014, 01:57 PM
Hello lovely co washing experts. I've tried this method a couple times over the past year, but the conditioners I tried didn't do the job well. In my part of Canada we don't seem to have any of the Suave or V05 conditioners that seem to be so popular. Anyway yesterday I found the Down Under Naturals conditioner, so this morning I decided to clarify and give that a try. My hair's doing great today. I have a couple questions I was hoping you'd be able to help with though. Normally I wash two or three times a week, I'd been using CWC for the past few months. Should I stick with this number of washes, or should I try to wash more frequently at first so the co washing has less work to do? I thought I had another question but can't remember, thanks for any advice or suggestions though. This thread is so informative. :)
jeanniet
June 23rd, 2014, 05:01 PM
I would try sticking to your usual wash schedule. If you've been using non-sulfate shampoo, there may not be much of an adjustment period, if any. When I went CG and started CO washing exclusively, I kept the same schedule and there wasn't really a difference in cleanliness. The main difference was that my hair was softer and less dry.
SereneCurls
June 23rd, 2014, 07:05 PM
Thanks. I'll try waiting my usual number of days then.
SereneCurls
June 23rd, 2014, 07:11 PM
Can anyone tell me if I go from washing with Shampoo and conditioner to Herbal Essense Naked Cleansing Conditioner if my hair is going to have crazy phase where it generally looks gross? I really like Herbal Essense
I'm pretty sure that conditioner contains silicones. Some people use a co wash with cones, but it's probably better to try something silicone free to figure out if co washing works for you.
hollygraham43
June 24th, 2014, 03:30 PM
I'm pretty sure that conditioner contains silicones. Some people use a co wash with cones, but it's probably better to try something silicone free to figure out if co washing works for you.
It does have 1 Cone in it. I am still doing more research in to CO Washing and into the Conditioner itself.
SereneCurls
June 25th, 2014, 03:13 PM
I ended up co washing again today, after my curls went crazy in a thunder storm last night. I just have to share, it's so soft and, controlled, It doesn't even feel like my hair. When I'd tried co washing previously, my scalp always got gunky by the second wash, so I figured it wasn't working. This conditioner seems to do a great job though. I used the same method some of you do, applying the conditioner to dry hair about twenty minutes before my shower. I found this made it easier to make parts in my thick hair and get it directly onto my scalp. I applied more watered down conditioner once in the shower, massaged, combed and thoroughly rinsed. I just have to thank you all so much for recording your experiences and progress, being able to glance through this thread and collect everyone's various techniques has been enormously helpful. Cookies for you all. :)
Bri-Chan
June 25th, 2014, 04:42 PM
I tried it yesterday. I like it! My hair is clean! But I want to try to add more sugar
Larki
June 25th, 2014, 05:41 PM
Okay, dumb question time, sorry!
I've been using Wen for about a month because my mom is making me (Lol, long story, but it's what she's used for years) and I absolutely hated it at first, it left my hair just as greasy and gross as it was before washing. It's been fine ever since the first 2-3 washes, I think because I ended up using shampoo first and then using the Wen as a normal conditioner for a few weeks, and then the last few washes I've been using it as directed, ridiculous amounts and all. Even though it works, I'd really prefer to not continue using it long-term, because A) It's EXPENSIVE, like what the hell? B) It's a giant bottle because the directions say I need like 16 pumps, pshh! C) I don't like the smell :p
Buuut, since it does appear to be working (fingers crossed), I was thinking maybe co-washing would be a good idea, with something nice and cheap like Suave, if I can convince my mom to let me stop using Wen. But I don't really understand how using conditioner alone can get your hair clean. It's been my understanding that conditioner doesn't actually do anything to clean your hair, it just moisturizes it, and that Wen is "different" because it's a "cleansing conditioner" and has (presumably) ingredients that actually clean your hair?
I don't know, can someone set me straight? I feel like I'm rambling.
hollygraham43
June 25th, 2014, 05:59 PM
There are a couple Cleansing Conditioners out there, I am using one made by Herbal Essense. I love it. I'm not sure what makes them "cleansing" though.
SereneCurls
June 25th, 2014, 06:20 PM
If you look at the first group of ingredients in the conditioners most people use for co washing, they're all fatty alcohols and cationic surfactants, which are capable of lifting dirt and excess oil away from the hair and scalp. When you massage the scalp with your fingers, and rinse, it all rinses away with the conditioner, leaving clean hair behind.
GRU
June 25th, 2014, 06:42 PM
If you look at the first group of ingredients in the conditioners most people use for co washing, they're all fatty alcohols and cationic surfactants, which are capable of lifting dirt and excess oil away from the hair and scalp. When you massage the scalp with your fingers, and rinse, it all rinses away with the conditioner, leaving clean hair behind.
^^^THIS^^^
I've been "washing" my hair with Suave Naturals Tropical Conditioner basically since I joined LHC. I use actual shampoo once a year (yes, you read that right, once a year, in the fall sometime).
If conditioner can't clean my hair, why does it always look and smell so great? ;)
If your mom wants you to use Wen, just fill the Wen bottle with Suave. :lol:
jeanniet
June 25th, 2014, 06:56 PM
Yep, I don't use shampoo often at all--at most every 3-4 months, and that's usually sulfate-free--and CO washing cleans my hair just fine of any products I use (curl cream and gel). The key is to not use products that will build up and need shampooing (silicones, and polyquats for some).
ErinLeigh
June 26th, 2014, 01:58 AM
HI Larki,
A cleansing conditioner is the same as a regular conditioner really. WEN doesn't have any "shampoo" ingredients and really all it is is cowashing.
Only one out of my 6 cleansing conditioners has an actually shampoo cleansing type ingredient in it. As said above, its the fatty alcohols and cationic surfactants that do the cleansing.
You can show your mom the ingredients and explain how it is the same thing as conditioner washing.
Since WEN does have silicones you may find hair feels slightly different than washing with Suave or VO5. Also, WEN does have some nice ingredients so if you miss them you could always find a nice but affordable rinse out with similar ingredients and give that a try also. It may feel more WEN-ish to you. EO line has some nice conditioners that work well for cowashing, other cleansing conditioners are nice and way more affordable etc etc. You may enjoy experimenting a bit now that you know co-washing does work for you.
Welcome to the world of cowashing :)
SereneCurls
June 26th, 2014, 03:55 AM
^^^THIS^^^
I've been "washing" my hair with Suave Naturals Tropical Conditioner basically since I joined LHC. I use actual shampoo once a year (yes, you read that right, once a year, in the fall sometime).
If conditioner can't clean my hair, why does it always look and smell so great? ;)
If your mom wants you to use Wen, just fill the Wen bottle with Suave. :lol:
Lol great idea. Chances are she wouldn't even notice you're using something else. Maybe if she read some of this thread though, she'd be thrilled to save all that money she's spending on the Wen.
Also I have to say, Gru, if I had your curls it would be a dream come true. :)
sarahthegemini
June 26th, 2014, 12:00 PM
Just checking in to say I am still a happy co-washer! I'm washing daily and my hair is a little frizzier by my ears than I would like (when washing every 5 days I had big waves here) I'm not sure how to combat that - with this weather, washing less just isn't gunna work. Remember how I complained that it took me 40-45 mins to wash my hair? Yeah well, now I'm out the shower in 15 mins :-D
SereneCurls
June 26th, 2014, 03:18 PM
Just checking in to say I am still a happy co-washer! I'm washing daily and my hair is a little frizzier by my ears than I would like (when washing every 5 days I had big waves here) I'm not sure how to combat that - with this weather, washing less just isn't gunna work. Remember how I complained that it took me 40-45 mins to wash my hair? Yeah well, now I'm out the shower in 15 mins :-D
It's a relief to hear that the process gets faster eventually.
GRU
June 26th, 2014, 06:39 PM
Also I have to say, Gru, if I had your curls it would be a dream come true. :)
Awwww, thanks, SereneCurls! :flowers:
It took me a long time to come to terms with my hair, but now I've just accepted it for what it is, and we're both much happier!
GRU
June 26th, 2014, 06:45 PM
Just checking in to say I am still a happy co-washer! I'm washing daily and my hair is a little frizzier by my ears than I would like (when washing every 5 days I had big waves here) I'm not sure how to combat that - with this weather, washing less just isn't gunna work. Remember how I complained that it took me 40-45 mins to wash my hair? Yeah well, now I'm out the shower in 15 mins :-D
Glad to hear that things are still happy for you, stg!
And also that your not-so-obsessive routine has been much quicker for you!
It's a relief to hear that the process gets faster eventually.
SereneCurls, CO-washing doesn't have to take a lot of time. It's not always necessary to pre-apply conditioner and let it sit for 20 minutes, etc. I jump in the shower with dry, tangled hair, get it wet, apply very diluted conditioner, scrub my scalp, and use my Tangle Teezer to distribute the conditioner and detangle my hair. Easy-peasy!
SereneCurls
June 26th, 2014, 06:51 PM
Glad to hear that things are still happy for you, stg!
And also that your not-so-obsessive routine has been much quicker for you!
SereneCurls, CO-washing doesn't have to take a lot of time. It's not always necessary to pre-apply conditioner and let it sit for 20 minutes, etc. I jump in the shower with dry, tangled hair, get it wet, apply very diluted conditioner, scrub my scalp, and use my Tangle Teezer to distribute the conditioner and detangle my hair. Easy-peasy!
I think I'll try your way next time so I can compare. Thanks.
skeletonous
June 26th, 2014, 07:31 PM
I think it might be a sign that I've heard so many great things about Suave Naturals Coconut for CO washing and I happen to have an almost unused bottle of it in my shower right now :lol: maybe I should start CO washing?
My hair seems to really like shampooing with Organix coconut shampoo on Mondays and Fridays and otherwise just going WO (I do try to use coconut oil before every other shampoo, my hair is inbetween pixie and bob right now so it doesn't need a truckload of moisture put in). Perhaps I'll give it a try when I know I'm not going anywhere the next day just in case my hair doesn't like it?
jeanniet
June 27th, 2014, 12:22 AM
SereneCurls, CO-washing doesn't have to take a lot of time. It's not always necessary to pre-apply conditioner and let it sit for 20 minutes, etc. I jump in the shower with dry, tangled hair, get it wet, apply very diluted conditioner, scrub my scalp, and use my Tangle Teezer to distribute the conditioner and detangle my hair. Easy-peasy!
Very true. i have more or less the same routine, except that I use a rinse out conditioner after I CO, but even with that added step I can get everything done in 10 minutes. I'm very much a minimalist. :)
SereneCurls
June 27th, 2014, 04:25 AM
I think it might be a sign that I've heard so many great things about Suave Naturals Coconut for CO washing and I happen to have an almost unused bottle of it in my shower right now :lol: maybe I should start CO washing?
My hair seems to really like shampooing with Organix coconut shampoo on Mondays and Fridays and otherwise just going WO (I do try to use coconut oil before every other shampoo, my hair is inbetween pixie and bob right now so it doesn't need a truckload of moisture put in). Perhaps I'll give it a try when I know I'm not going anywhere the next day just in case my hair doesn't like it?
Days when I'm not going anywhere are my favorite for experiments.
SereneCurls
June 27th, 2014, 11:29 AM
Sorry I keep hopping in here, but I have another question. I've tried co in the past with other conditioners and without success. I'm wondering if my recent success is because I'm trying something new, or because my technique is better after reading all your tips. Has anyone tried a former failed conditioner again later on and had success?
Fanshawe
June 29th, 2014, 06:24 AM
Hey everyone. Would CO be appropriate for my hair type? I've stuck to only rinsing with hot and cold water after exercise for about a year now, but that has occasionally left the hair on the top of my extremely dry. In particular about two or three weeks ago, there were a few days when everything was getting too thick to properly brush behind my ears and the top just sat on my head like straw, it felt terrible.
It seems to have calmed down a bit since I've been using oils and occasionally a mousse, but I'd like to prevent it happening again. I'm also sad to say I trimmed a little, mostly with thinning shears, not knowing how else to control it. Curly hair takes so long to grow, too, so I'd like to take better care of it this time.
My hair is very, very thick (you can hear it when the strands are rubbed together), but can soften with the right weight. At the moment I'm just letting it fall in curls, I like low maintenance. Is CO the solution or should I be thinking about something else?
SereneCurls
June 29th, 2014, 06:38 AM
Hey. Curly hair often responds really well to co washing, as it often craves extra moisture. The description of your strands sounds really similar to mine. I've only been co washing for the past week, but my wurls seem very happy with it.
lapushka
June 29th, 2014, 02:47 PM
Hey everyone. Would CO be appropriate for my hair type? I've stuck to only rinsing with hot and cold water after exercise for about a year now, but that has occasionally left the hair on the top of my extremely dry. In particular about two or three weeks ago, there were a few days when everything was getting too thick to properly brush behind my ears and the top just sat on my head like straw, it felt terrible.
It seems to have calmed down a bit since I've been using oils and occasionally a mousse, but I'd like to prevent it happening again. I'm also sad to say I trimmed a little, mostly with thinning shears, not knowing how else to control it. Curly hair takes so long to grow, too, so I'd like to take better care of it this time.
My hair is very, very thick (you can hear it when the strands are rubbed together), but can soften with the right weight. At the moment I'm just letting it fall in curls, I like low maintenance. Is CO the solution or should I be thinking about something else?
That sounds to me like you'll be needing to clarify with some shampoo before starting CO-washing.
Breanna
June 29th, 2014, 03:13 PM
Hi, I don't know if anyone has asked this yet and I haven't really looked through the entire thread because let's be real, there's 840+ pages of it haha. So I know shampooing every day isn't good for your hair, but what about cowashing? Or should that be an every other day/every few days thing too? Right now I'm shampooing one day, cowashing the next day, and just keep alternating like that (in attempt to slowly wean myself off shampooing every day). Does that sound like an okay routine or is it still not good enough and I should keep spreading it out?
arelrios
June 30th, 2014, 08:02 AM
Yesterday I discovered the power of diluted conditioner.... it really makes a difference when washing the scalp...
Thanks to everyone who recommended it ;);)
SereneCurls
June 30th, 2014, 11:50 AM
Hi, I don't know if anyone has asked this yet and I haven't really looked through the entire thread because let's be real, there's 840+ pages of it haha. So I know shampooing every day isn't good for your hair, but what about cowashing? Or should that be an every other day/every few days thing too? Right now I'm shampooing one day, cowashing the next day, and just keep alternating like that (in attempt to slowly wean myself off shampooing every day). Does that sound like an okay routine or is it still not good enough and I should keep spreading it out?
I've skimmed through a bunch of the thread, and there seems to be a whole variation. There are some who co wash daily, and some who stretch washes. Is there a reason you're using shampoo on alternate days? I mean, have you tried co washing two days in a row yet? I think one of the things using conditioner can do is teach your scalp that it doesn't need to produce as much oil to combat the harsh detergents in shampoo. Maybe you could still wash every day, but see if you can get further and further between shampoos so your scalp gets what's going on? :)
skeletonous
June 30th, 2014, 08:17 PM
Just CO washed for the first time with Suave Naturals Coconut Conditioner :D very excited to see what my hair is like when it dries!
nyia
June 30th, 2014, 10:50 PM
If you're just starting out in CO washing, welcome! and congratulations on your quest for healthier hair and scalp.
First, you should know that CO washing is not for everyone, it may not be for you. If it doesn't work out for you, don't be discouraged, keep on searching for the right hair routine for you.
Second, if you already have a conditioner that works well for you, try that as your first CO conditioner. Start simple.
It seems like almost everyone on this thread has a routine all their own. A lot of us were very reluctant to give up shampoo, and so started slowly, by skipping a shampoo every other time, or some such. Some jumped right into CO and never looked back. Do what feels right for you. Nobody knows your hair, scalp, or skin as well as you do.
There were some kind of generalised instructions when this thread began. When I joined it, there were only thirty pages or so. I tried the first instruction I read, and it's worked well for me. This was: Find an inexpensive conditioner, use it as the "cleaning step." Thin it down if it's too thick to get to your scalp. Scrub at it, foam it up, rinse thoroughly. Repeat as necessary. Use a good conditioner as your "conditioning step." Choose one you already like or use. Use it as usual.
Seems simple, and it was. I used VO5 for my cleaning step, and, I think, Aussie Moist as my conditioning step.
However, over time, even if we start with those simple steps, routines change. Stuff gets discontinued, or the formula changes, or your body/hair chemistry changes. Evolve with it! You can do it!
I'm trying to keep this short - even though I got the cast off this week, my wrist still hurts. Have fun with your new hair routines, don't be afraid to experiment!
skeletonous
July 1st, 2014, 07:23 AM
Nyia, thank you so much for that post :) and I hope your wrist gets better soon! No one likes an ouchy wrist.
I actually used that first method last night for my co wash, minus the conditioning step because my hair isn't to chin yet.
My hair is so soft and well behaved, I didn't even wake up with it in a mess today (granted I also use a silk pillowcase).
Before this I would do WO except on Monday and Friday nights when I would use Organix Coconut Shampoo (which I love).
Not sure if I am going to still stretch my washes with water that far anymore. Does anyone with fine but thick (as in a lot of) hair have a suggestion concerning that? Also when will I know when I need to clarify?
EDIT: Also is it normal to have more shedding during the actual process of CO washing? I think it was because I hadn't washed my hair in a couple of days and this was the first time I combined conditioner with a good gentle scrubbing.
Hele
July 1st, 2014, 02:40 PM
i'm going to do my second ever CO wash later today, the first one went amazingly well! A couple months ago my scalp decided it hated all shampoos with a passion, no matter how much i diluted them. I've had an angry, itchy, scabby, sore scalp ever since...but after just one CO wash the problem almost completely went away except for a little residual itchiness where my hair is thickest. Best of all i went three days without having to wash, where with shampoo i'd be a human greaseball by the next day. The only thing i have to get used to is that my hair doesn't feel like my hair anymore! This is the closest to soft my coarse hair has ever been, and it's a bit more flyaway than normal. I also noticed a lot more shedding than normal when i washed but i've shed less than normal in the past few days, so i reckon it all evened out in the end!
MandyBeth
July 1st, 2014, 05:58 PM
My adorably evil minion sheds tons when washed, but almost none otherwise. I can take her hair down and finger comb and get no sheds at all.
Breanna
July 1st, 2014, 06:46 PM
I've skimmed through a bunch of the thread, and there seems to be a whole variation. There are some who co wash daily, and some who stretch washes. Is there a reason you're using shampoo on alternate days? I mean, have you tried co washing two days in a row yet? I think one of the things using conditioner can do is teach your scalp that it doesn't need to produce as much oil to combat the harsh detergents in shampoo. Maybe you could still wash every day, but see if you can get further and further between shampoos so your scalp gets what's going on? :)
Well I just need to get rid of this one bottle of shampoo actually, haha but I co-washed today and I'm going to try it tomorrow again too, I think I'm just kind of nervous about having a weird result from doing it twice in a row. Anyway thanks! :)
skeletonous
July 2nd, 2014, 07:35 AM
So after CO washing Monday night and SO last night (plus a BBB brushing before bed) my hair looks greasy today but doesn't feel greasy? I'm not sure if that's the result of not using WO last night or the BBB before bed...I would usually do WO on the days that I stretch my washes but I figured SO would be better since I wouldn't be wetting my hair and making it prone to being damaged while it dries.
Maybe I'll CO wash tonight like I planned and then use WO tomorrow night and see what happens?
EDIT: I know the Suave Coconut Naturals is cone free; is there anything in it that could cause buildup? I have a huge bottle of Organix shampoo that I want to finish up. If there's nothing that would cause buildup I'll just use it for when I do coconut oil treatments on my hair I suppose :)then condition after.
GetMeToWaist
July 4th, 2014, 08:38 AM
Co washed for the first time and my hair is SO SOFT !! Never going back to regular shampoo and conditioner again!!
skeletonous
July 4th, 2014, 09:47 PM
So my hair likes WO in between CO washes; I just did a coconut oil treatment and then used my organix coconut shampoo to wash it out, followed by a bit of suave naturals coconut conditioner (the same one I usually use for CO washes...yes I know I'm obsessed with coconut :p looking for a cruelty free equivalent to the suave though).
I actually like the way my hair feels after my CO washes better than it does after shampooing and conditioning :o I guess the poo will be saved for just after oil treatments then :) perhaps I'll share just to help use up the bottle. :p
GRU
July 4th, 2014, 11:05 PM
Co washed for the first time and my hair is SO SOFT !! Never going back to regular shampoo and conditioner again!!
And yet another is pulled over to The Dark Side.... muaahahahahaha!!! :luke:
So my hair likes WO in between CO washes; I just did a coconut oil treatment and then used my organix coconut shampoo to wash it out, followed by a bit of suave naturals coconut conditioner (the same one I usually use for CO washes...yes I know I'm obsessed with coconut :p looking for a cruelty free equivalent to the suave though).
I actually like the way my hair feels after my CO washes better than it does after shampooing and conditioning :o I guess the poo will be saved for just after oil treatments then :) perhaps I'll share just to help use up the bottle. :p
Most of us just CO-wash out oil treatments... no shampoo needed at all! Sometimes I'll wash twice with conditioner, just to make sure I got it all out, but I've NEVER had conditioner not remove even a super-heavy (practically dripping) oil treatment.
skeletonous
July 5th, 2014, 08:58 AM
^ that's good to hear! The first time I CO washed was when my hair was super greasy after stretching washes and it turned out fine, so I don't see why it would be different for coconut oil. Maybe I'll give the shampoo to my boyfriend; if he won't use it his mom will :p I just don't want it to sit in my cabinet and go to waste.
GRU
July 5th, 2014, 01:43 PM
You can also use shampoo for hand-washing laundry. Works great, b/c it's meant to get out body oils.....
skeletonous
July 5th, 2014, 01:57 PM
Does anybody know of any good CO washing conditioners that are cruelty free? I love the suave naturals that I use but I really don't like supporting companies that test on animals...
Larki
July 9th, 2014, 10:52 AM
I've decided I'm going to keep using the Wen until it's gone (shouldn't take long; it took me like a month to go through a big 32 oz bottle, using less than the bottle recommended for long hair!), and then I'll switch to Suave. :) I'm predicting by October or so I'll be using Suave.
sarahthegemini
July 13th, 2014, 10:11 AM
Does anybody else experience hairline spots? I'm not sure if it's just due to the hot weather (I sweat around my hairline) OR could it be because of conditioner obviously sitting on my hairline and not being washed away with commercial face washes? (I just wash my face with warm water or rose water)
rosalinda
July 13th, 2014, 11:16 AM
I am a CO-washer but need some product advice.
So, I wash my hair with a dilluted cone-free conditioner, and then I use a very coney conditioner to the ends (not scalp) - Tresseme. I never used to use Pantene, Tresseme, Herbal Essences - any of that stuff, because all those companies test on animals. Then, here in the UK, under EU law, vivisection for cosmetic products became illegal. Woop woop. I wa sso happy. No more horrible animal testing and I felt I could try some of those mainstream products I never used before. And my hair was so much silkier and more manageable. Then I found out that these big companies like Proctor and Gamble just get round the law by testing their products in China, where cosmetics MUST be tested on animals, by law.
So now i'm not wanting to give my money to these companies again and I want to find some, not massively expensive, substitutes that work well for the dry, tangly ends. I got the 'Faith in Nature' jojoba conditioner and I tried it the other day - it's okay but don't get anywhere near as much slip/moisture out of it.
Any ideas? Thanks :-)
GetMeToWaist
July 13th, 2014, 11:34 AM
I am a CO-washer but need some product advice.
So, I wash my hair with a dilluted cone-free conditioner, and then I use a very coney conditioner to the ends (not scalp) - Tresseme. I never used to use Pantene, Tresseme, Herbal Essences - any of that stuff, because all those companies test on animals. Then, here in the UK, under EU law, vivisection for cosmetic products became illegal. Woop woop. I wa sso happy. No more horrible animal testing and I felt I could try some of those mainstream products I never used before. And my hair was so much silkier and more manageable. Then I found out that these big companies like Proctor and Gamble just get round the law by testing their products in China, where cosmetics MUST be tested on animals, by law.
So now i'm not wanting to give my money to these companies again and I want to find some, not massively expensive, substitutes that work well for the dry, tangly ends. I got the 'Faith in Nature' jojoba conditioner and I tried it the other day - it's okay but don't get anywhere near as much slip/moisture out of it.
Any ideas? Thanks :-)
I'm in the UK too, and I use Alberto Balsam Coconut and Lychee conditioner (no cones and 99p at Superdrug) to cowash, which works amazingly and leaves my hair clean, soft and smelling awesome. I know for a fact they don't test on animals either ^_^ Then I use Lush Retread Conditioner, very thick and rich and quite pricey too, but so moisturising and good for the ends, a little goes a long way. Its got no cones and Lush don't test on animals.
rosalinda
July 13th, 2014, 01:04 PM
oh yeah, I forgot about Lush! Thanks. Their Veganese conditioner was good but it is a bit pricey. I use Alberto for my co-washing too, i'm currently using Sunkissed Raspberry! I might look into getting some Lush conditioner but if anyone knows of a cheaper alternative...?
lapushka
July 13th, 2014, 06:42 PM
oh yeah, I forgot about Lush! Thanks. Their Veganese conditioner was good but it is a bit pricey. I use Alberto for my co-washing too, i'm currently using Sunkissed Raspberry! I might look into getting some Lush conditioner but if anyone knows of a cheaper alternative...?
Well... take away Pantene, Tresseme, Herbal Essences and you've taken away most mainstream things, which leaves... what? :) Anything by Garnier tested on animals, because I'm not sure? If not, might be worth looking into some of their products.
skeletonous
July 13th, 2014, 09:08 PM
I've decided that I'm going to stick to CO washing every other day with WO in between since I can't do much with my hair to hide grease on wash day and it seems to work quite well :) yay! Also V05 isn't tested on animals so that's what I plan on switching to, but I'm afraid that the parent company probably does.
sarahthegemini
July 14th, 2014, 03:36 AM
I am a CO-washer but need some product advice.
So, I wash my hair with a dilluted cone-free conditioner, and then I use a very coney conditioner to the ends (not scalp) - Tresseme. I never used to use Pantene, Tresseme, Herbal Essences - any of that stuff, because all those companies test on animals. Then, here in the UK, under EU law, vivisection for cosmetic products became illegal. Woop woop. I wa sso happy. No more horrible animal testing and I felt I could try some of those mainstream products I never used before. And my hair was so much silkier and more manageable. Then I found out that these big companies like Proctor and Gamble just get round the law by testing their products in China, where cosmetics MUST be tested on animals, by law.
So now i'm not wanting to give my money to these companies again and I want to find some, not massively expensive, substitutes that work well for the dry, tangly ends. I got the 'Faith in Nature' jojoba conditioner and I tried it the other day - it's okay but don't get anywhere near as much slip/moisture out of it.
Any ideas? Thanks :-)
Asda Essentials conditioner is great for co-washing and they don't test on animals :)
redredrobin
July 15th, 2014, 10:07 AM
I've decided that I'm going to stick to CO washing every other day with WO in between since I can't do much with my hair to hide grease on wash day and it seems to work quite well :) yay! Also V05 isn't tested on animals so that's what I plan on switching to, but I'm afraid that the parent company probably does.
I am a CO-washer but need some product advice.
So, I wash my hair with a dilluted cone-free conditioner, and then I use a very coney conditioner to the ends (not scalp) - Tresseme. I never used to use Pantene, Tresseme, Herbal Essences - any of that stuff, because all those companies test on animals. Then, here in the UK, under EU law, vivisection for cosmetic products became illegal. Woop woop. I wa sso happy. No more horrible animal testing and I felt I could try some of those mainstream products I never used before. And my hair was so much silkier and more manageable. Then I found out that these big companies like Proctor and Gamble just get round the law by testing their products in China, where cosmetics MUST be tested on animals, by law.
So now i'm not wanting to give my money to these companies again and I want to find some, not massively expensive, substitutes that work well for the dry, tangly ends. I got the 'Faith in Nature' jojoba conditioner and I tried it the other day - it's okay but don't get anywhere near as much slip/moisture out of it.
Any ideas? Thanks :-)
Good luck finding something you like, please share if you do. It does limit choice if looking for a true cruelty free company. Anyone selling in China, even if they do not usually test on animals, cannot be cruelty free (as I understand it). Kind of related, there was an article I read about the Body Shop selling in Chinese airports, and had not tested the products on animals and were not selling in non-airport locations. However, the fact it was in an airport meant it potentially could be taken off the shelf for testing at any point. I believe they pulled out of airports after this article was published (obviously the parent company is an issue here too).
Anyway, I came to the tread to say I did my first CO wash. With the Tesco coconut stuff. So far my hair seems the same as normal!
SereneCurls
July 18th, 2014, 03:46 PM
I've been co washing since the beginning of July, and I love it. I've been using either down under naturals, or Tresume naturals, and I just started adding an acv rinse at the end. My scalp is way less flaky, and my curls are clumping much more nicely. I'm able to last three or four days between washes, the same as with shampoo. I owe all my success to this thread. :D
skeletonous
July 18th, 2014, 09:26 PM
To those that are also concerned with animal testing, I read that China isn't required by law to test anymore? At least for some cosmetics I think. Here's a link: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/11/china-to-phase-out-animal-testing-110713.html
queenovnight
July 21st, 2014, 08:05 AM
Bit random, but I have a question for everyone. -*To those who hot oil.
I've basically stopped using oil (and all products) since I started co-washing. I find it's nearly impossible to remove in one wash (I co-wash twice) and takes several days to get the oil out. - I only clarify once a month, so I don't need any left over oil. - But since I've started growing, I've used oil. So I don't feel it's a good idea to give it up.*
So, if you oil, how do you get it out? Or is there a different 'hot oil' method you use?*
Larki
July 21st, 2014, 08:39 AM
Well, I don't hot oil, but I oil my hair with argan oil after every wash (and sometimes do a heavy oiling on the day I wash) and CO-washing gets it out just fine in one wash. I don't even need two. Perhaps the problem is your conditioner? What are you using?
queenovnight
July 21st, 2014, 08:51 AM
I use VO5. - I'm vegan, so there isn't many 'not tested on animals' options.
GRU
July 21st, 2014, 10:24 AM
I've never had any problem getting even DRENCHED oilings out with CO-washing. I sometimes will lather/rinse/lather/rinse just to make sure I got it all, but I've never not had the oil be removed after that.
Have you tried brushing through your hair while the conditioner is slathered on? I find that most conditioners will "foam up" if I brush through with my Tangle Teezer.
Also, have you tried diluting your conditioner with some water?
queenovnight
July 21st, 2014, 10:33 AM
I've actually not tried that before, so I'll give it a shot! But after I get out, my hair just has a oily look. I can't seem to remove the oil. Also, I was using coconut. But yesterday I bought some Olive Oil, so I'm going to try that again. - Olive seems to work a lot better on my hair, but I noticed that coconut was cheaper so I bought that instead xD Maybe it was just the oil I purchased. We shall see.
Also, I love your hair! It's so long and healthy!
SereneCurls
July 22nd, 2014, 07:01 AM
Have you tried applying the conditioner to your dry hair about a half hour before your shower? I do this when I've done a heavy oiling the night before, and it seems to give the conditioner time to combine with the excess oil. I haven't had any trouble removing it so far.
LMB
July 23rd, 2014, 07:35 AM
OT: GRU I converted my two cousins to the Tangle Teezer for their little girls!
I already have the black compact one but I got a normal sized pink one so that the girls have the same as Aunt Laura! The girls love them and it has saved my cousins time and stress each morning trying to get the girls to brush their hair!
redredrobin
July 23rd, 2014, 08:10 AM
To those that are also concerned with animal testing, I read that China isn't required by law to test anymore? At least for some cosmetics I think. Here's a link: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/11/china-to-phase-out-animal-testing-110713.html
Thanks for the link. The article says it is in discussions to stop animal testing on some products manufactured in China if evidence can be shown that the ingredients are already proven safe, and that will hopefully lead to changing the rules on imported products. So no change to the imported products rules, as the article was in from November maybe this has moved on since.
ETA: Sorry for thread hijack, I will add that I co-washed for a week and then did a mild shampoo. Will start co-washing again tonight. Currently, I'm putting the conditioner on after wetting my hair, then turning off the shower while I work it in. That's going to be difficult in the winter... I don't like to waste water to maybe I'll experiment with scrub times.
Siiri
July 23rd, 2014, 09:53 AM
Bit random, but I have a question for everyone. -*To those who hot oil.
I've basically stopped using oil (and all products) since I started co-washing. I find it's nearly impossible to remove in one wash (I co-wash twice) and takes several days to get the oil out. - I only clarify once a month, so I don't need any left over oil. - But since I've started growing, I've used oil. So I don't feel it's a good idea to give it up.*
So, if you oil, how do you get it out? Or is there a different 'hot oil' method you use?*
Maybe you are simply using too much oil? I use 1 teaspoon coconut oil and co-wash twice to get it out properly. If I use more I can't get it all out. The amount you need depends of course on your hairtype, so you may need more. The hair doesn't have to be soaked in oil, you get the same benefits with a lighter layer.
queenovnight
July 23rd, 2014, 10:39 AM
Thanks! I actually used olive yesterday and didn't have the problem, so I think it was just the coconut oil that I was using.
sarahthegemini
July 25th, 2014, 10:24 AM
I tried diluting my conditioner today and my hair got wonderfully clean :-) I didn't dilute it in the 'traditional' way, I just saturated my hair under the shower, and put smaller blobs of co on my scalp, wet my hands and smoothed my hair to distribute it. I could definitely tell the difference when massaging my hair as it just felt like I had nothing on my scalp. I am wondering whether more co would be better long term, as it'll mean less friction between the hair and my fingertips. Thoughts anyone? It cut down my rinsing time quite a bit! I normally rinse for a few minutes but only had to rinse for about a minute and a half.
FallingDarkness
July 27th, 2014, 06:21 PM
Hey! So can someone show a noob to CO the ropes around here?
I've been CWCing for a quite a bit of time now and think I might want to switch to something that is not only quicker but possibly even better for my hair :P
Do you guys still only condition your length, or do you also rub conditioner on your scalp?
Larki
July 27th, 2014, 07:44 PM
Hey! So can someone show a noob to CO the ropes around here?
I've been CWCing for a quite a bit of time now and think I might want to switch to something that is not only quicker but possibly even better for my hair :P
Do you guys still only condition your length, or do you also rub conditioner on your scalp?
You have to rub conditioner on your scalp, so it gets your scalp clean. :) You condition all over. And you need more conditioner to get your hair clean than you would need for shampoo, obviously.
AmberJewel
July 27th, 2014, 10:04 PM
This is probably a dumb question, but how often do you CO? I've been CO washing for a while now and have managed to stretch washes up to 4 or 5 days. I was very proud of myself actually. Then people started asking if my hair was wet, and family said it looked greasy. Any advice?
Larki
July 27th, 2014, 10:34 PM
This is probably a dumb question, but how often do you CO? I've been CO washing for a while now and have managed to stretch washes up to 4 or 5 days. I was very proud of myself actually. Then people started asking if my hair was wet, and family said it looked greasy. Any advice?
I do it every other day and could probably start stretching it to every three days, if I wanted to. Currently, at every other day, my hair looks barely greasy by the time I wash it.
skeletonous
July 28th, 2014, 09:31 AM
^ I CO wash every other day too, otherwise it looks "wet" because of the grease I guess.
Also, is shedding normal with CO washing? That's really the only time I notice shedding for me so far.
Larki
July 28th, 2014, 09:52 AM
^ I CO wash every other day too, otherwise it looks "wet" because of the grease I guess.
Also, is shedding normal with CO washing? That's really the only time I notice shedding for me so far.
I don't know. I didn't shed much before I started co-washing, and I still don't shed much. :p There's no change for me.
NativeSparrow
July 28th, 2014, 09:55 AM
I dont really count the days so much as I just wash with shampoo when I feel I need to (& then it is ONLY my scalp, & I put lite conditioner on my crown & heavier on length before shampoo). I would say it averages about 4 - 5 days, but, my hair is very dry & it pretty much NEVER gets greasy!! I could easily go a whole 7 days without shampoo & my hair would look just fine. However, I had problems with shedding when I stretched that long.
My Co Routine right now is: I shower & CO wash every day, I flip my head upside down when I apply & rinse the CO. I use Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo w/ sea kelp & argan oil. It smells grea!! It is very thick but I dont dilute the whole bottle. I just wet my hair, apply conditioner, then I stick my head under the shower nozle for like half a second (just enought o get a little water on there). That little bit of water seems to thin it out just enough so that I can work up a good lather, I scrub with fingertips for ab 15 seconds. I flip my head back over, rinse it out for the most part, & reapply (you wont need as much the second time). After that I finish my other shower objectives, stick my head back under to get a little water on it & then this second time around is when I really "wash" my hair well with Conditioner. The second time I firmly massage my scalp for like 30 - 40 seconds. Then I flip my head back over & rinse. The second time I rinse much better than the first. when I get out I use a leave in that I make using my Shae moisture Conditioner & rose water that I make with Essential Oil, I just mix it until its the consistency that works best for my hair (the rose water is also very refreshing to spray on yourself on its own & it smells great). I also use an apple cider vinegar : water rinse (1 part ACV : 8 parts water) about once a week, usually the day before I figure Im gonna shampoo.
You just have to play around with what works for you. Some people use Suave & that stuff is a nightmare for my hair. I love the Shae Moisture stuff b/c it doesnt have any "bad" stuff in it. But that stuff I call "bad" works great for others. & watch out for increased shedding. That happened to me but I didnt realize it was from the CO washing until I found LHC. Even though my hair looked fine my scalp didnt like it when I stretched washes past a certain point. I hope this helps yall that are just getting started.
GRU
July 28th, 2014, 05:00 PM
OT: GRU I converted my two cousins to the Tangle Teezer for their little girls!
I already have the black compact one but I got a normal sized pink one so that the girls have the same as Aunt Laura! The girls love them and it has saved my cousins time and stress each morning trying to get the girls to brush their hair!
Great job, you've earned the title Junior Enablinator! :lol:
I really wish I'd kept count of the number of people I have converted in person alone (I know that there is no way to really count the online folks, because they don't always post about it). I'm guessing that just from in-person exposure, I've caused the purchase of at least 50 of those suckers!
GRU
July 28th, 2014, 05:06 PM
Hey! So can someone show a noob to CO the ropes around here?
I've been CWCing for a quite a bit of time now and think I might want to switch to something that is not only quicker but possibly even better for my hair :P
Do you guys still only condition your length, or do you also rub conditioner on your scalp?
My recommendation to anyone confronted with an EPIC thread like this one is to read the first ten pages and the last ten pages -- that will give you most of the basic information and new products, without having to read the thousands of posts in the middle.
Everyone ends up developing their own routine in the end, but you can read my routine in this post (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2898&page=260&p=2584195#post2584195), if you're interested.
And I've recently discovered that Tresemme Naturals are another good choice for 'cone-free CO-washing.... amazingly rich lather when using that product for washing, almost as if it were a shampoo!
MJ1972
July 29th, 2014, 07:36 AM
Also, is shedding normal with CO washing? That's really the only time I notice shedding for me so far.
That's interesting. I've only been CO-washing for a few weeks, but I've seen the exact opposite. I shed bucketloads when I was still using shampoo, to the point where I was seriously worried I'd end up bald. Ever since I made the switch to conditioner only, my hair loss has decreased spectacularly. The difference has been phenomenal. I hope it stays that way...
skeletonous
July 29th, 2014, 11:12 AM
^ glad it works well for you :D when I used to use shampoo I felt like I shed all the time, especially when I washed my hair and then conditioned it. I also got an itchy scalp from it. Now I don't ever see myself shed outside of the shower, but it's about 10 hairs or so max so I'm not sure if that's still too much. I think it'll be ok though.
MJ1972
July 29th, 2014, 03:34 PM
Skeletonous, ten hairs a day is nothing. It's well within the bounds of acceptable hair loss. Back when I was still using shampoo, I'd shed about sixty to eighty hairs in the shower every time I washed my hair, plus a similar number in my brush, on my clothes and on the floor. When I vacuum-cleaned the house, the dust bag would be full of hair. Since I started CO-washing, I've lost three to four hairs in the shower, plus another five or so in my brush, with every wash. There are no hairs on my clothes, nor on the floor. It's incredible. Of course, I can't scientifically prove that the improvement is due to CO-washing, but its timing strongly suggests that it is.
skeletonous
July 29th, 2014, 05:31 PM
^ that's awesome news :D
eva888
July 30th, 2014, 06:51 AM
My recommendation to anyone confronted with an EPIC thread like this one is to read the first ten pages and the last ten pages -- that will give you most of the basic information and new products, without having to read the thousands of posts in the middle.
Everyone ends up developing their own routine in the end, but you can read my routine in this post (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=2898&page=260&p=2584195#post2584195), if you're interested.
And I've recently discovered that Tresemme Naturals are another good choice for 'cone-free CO-washing.... amazingly rich lather when using that product for washing, almost as if it were a shampoo!
I second Tresemme Naturals for a great CO wash! It's the only cone free natural conditioner I can find where I live so I ended up trying it by default, but I also love that it comes in a huge bottle so I don't ever feel like I'm running out. :)
I've recently started using a lot of the DevaCurl products. Does anyone else use them? So far I'm loving them!
isbmlamloi
August 5th, 2014, 02:08 PM
Oh man I WISH I only shed 10 hairs a day! I generally have to clean the hair-catcher twice per shower to keep the water flowing.
skeletonous
August 5th, 2014, 03:15 PM
^ :laugh: well my hair is still quite short, I remember when I had BSL hair I would constantly shed in the shower and get hair stuck to me shudder: but I was washing with shampoo and conditioner every day back then too!
MJ1972
August 5th, 2014, 05:39 PM
Oh man I WISH I only shed 10 hairs a day! I generally have to clean the hair-catcher twice per shower to keep the water flowing.
Are you CO-washing? You probably are, if you're on this tread, but I'll ask anyway, since CO-washing seems to have made quite the difference to me...
When I was going through my two-year period of severe shedding, my GP and hair specialist told me it was stress-related, which I'm sure was partly true. There was a lot of unpleasant stuff going on in my life at the time. However, I now suspect there may have been a few other factors at work, as well. I've made several changes to my life lately which may or may not have contributed to the fact that I'm no longer shedding. I'll list them just in case you or anyone else finds them helpful:
-- I've switched to a more protein-rich diet. I've always had a reasonably healthy diet, but lately, I've begun to include far more protein. I wouldn't be surprised if this has had a beneficial effect on my hair.
-- I've changed my asthma inhaler. My GP pointed out to me that my shedding began when I began to take asthma medication on a regular basis, so I thought I'd try a different inhaler just to see if it would make a difference. Switching from Symbicort to Ventolin did not make any difference to my level of hair loss; switching to Seretide (Advair) may have had some favourable effect. My lungs seem to love Seretide; maybe my hair does, too?
-- I've begun to drink less black tea, often opting for green tea instead.
-- I've decreased my sugar intake.
As I said earlier, I have no way of determining which of my recent lifestyle changes has stopped the shedding for me. I suspect it was the CO-washing, but I wouldn't be surprised if the other changes all contributed to some extent. Or maybe my GP and hair specialist were right and it's simply because I'm not stressed out of my skull any more. Who knows? Either way, I hope you soon find a way to stop your shedding...
dezibela
August 5th, 2014, 08:16 PM
My shedding has also decreased immensely lately and I have made some of the same changes as MJ1972. I upped my protein greatly (about 1 gram of protein for each pound of body weight) and totally eliminated sugar and empty carbs.
I've been CO-washing since about 2005, so I know that isn't the reason for the improvement. Over the winter, when I was on a multi-month ice cream and bread binge, I was losing so much hair that I was seriously considering Rogaine. Within a week or two of changing my diet, I was losing a fraction of the hair as before. I used to lose enough hair in the shower to make a clump the size of a bumblebee, and now I only lose enough to make a clump the size of a daddy longlegs body. And my hair's a lot longer now. Plus, I'm seeing a lot of new growth.
I also use Tresemme Naturals when I can find it. Sometimes I use whatever is cheap, because I go through conditioner like crazy. I also apply some additional conditioner to the length and especially the ends before I get out of the shower. I'm happy with the health of my hair.
Estrid
August 5th, 2014, 09:11 PM
Hey everyone! I did CO-washing for about 4 months but stopped 2 months ago. I stopped because I seemed to be dropping out more hair than usual, and that slowly got me concerned. However, my hair was so pretty, frizz-free and shiny during that time so now I wonder if I should try again :)
The last conditioner I used as wash contained: Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate.
It worked very well to clean my hair but I don't know if I dare to use it again, I don't know if it is the conditioner itself or if my scalp dislike having any conditioner on it. I have tried to use Tresemme Naturals as wash too, and I can't say I noticed much difference in the hair-loss part...
Maybe it is just normal to drop more hair in the shower when you wash with conditioner? That hair falls out easier because the hair gets so slippery? I would drop 100-200 hairs only in the shower while CO-washing (and continue to drop out a bit after too)... People would calm me down and say that: "it's normal to drop 200 hairs a day, it probably only sticks in your hair till you shower them out" but with the hairs I dropped when dry it was more like 250-300!
I would love to start again but I seriously dont know, the thought of possibly losing my hair is scary.
dimilady
August 7th, 2014, 09:30 AM
hello... i'm a litle confused... i bought a conditioner from a bio company... is it ok to use it or not? please help!!!
it contains:
aqua** (water**), cetyl alcohol, peg-4 rapeseedamide, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, behentrimonium chloride, cetyl esters, hydroxyethylcellulose, aqua (water), mel* (honey*) extract, gossypium herbaceum (cotton) extract, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, panthenol, lactic acid, quaternium-80, glycerin, panax ginseng root extract, camellia sinensis leaf* extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower* extract, olea europaea (olive) fruit extract, niacinamide, biotin, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf*, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil*, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil*, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil*, parfum (fragrance), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal
Thank you so mutch! :-)
isbmlamloi
August 7th, 2014, 10:27 AM
Are you CO-washing? You probably are, if you're on this tread, but I'll ask anyway, since CO-washing seems to have made quite the difference to me....
Yep, I've been CO-washing since November. Two things that may be relevant to the amount of shedding I do: the first is that I shower only about twice a week, so I'm shedding more per shower now, 3-4 days of hair instead of 1-2. The second is that I'm approaching knee-length, so each individual hair can take up a lot of room.
Still, I don't think that I noticed any particular decrease in shedding thanks to CO-washing. Not an increase either though. I'd certainly love to get my hair thicker, but I'm 34 now and I think those days are in the past.
GRU
August 8th, 2014, 07:33 PM
hello... i'm a litle confused... i bought a conditioner from a bio company... is it ok to use it or not? please help!!!
it contains:
aqua** (water**), cetyl alcohol, peg-4 rapeseedamide, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, behentrimonium chloride, cetyl esters, hydroxyethylcellulose, aqua (water), mel* (honey*) extract, gossypium herbaceum (cotton) extract, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, panthenol, lactic acid, quaternium-80, glycerin, panax ginseng root extract, camellia sinensis leaf* extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower* extract, olea europaea (olive) fruit extract, niacinamide, biotin, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf*, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil*, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil*, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil*, parfum (fragrance), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal
Thank you so mutch! :-)
I don't see anything problematic in that ingredient list. Happy CO-washing!
Firefox7275
August 8th, 2014, 08:14 PM
hello... i'm a litle confused... i bought a conditioner from a bio company... is it ok to use it or not? please help!!!
it contains:
aqua** (water**), cetyl alcohol, peg-4 rapeseedamide, stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, behentrimonium chloride, cetyl esters, hydroxyethylcellulose, aqua (water), mel* (honey*) extract, gossypium herbaceum (cotton) extract, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, panthenol, lactic acid, quaternium-80, glycerin, panax ginseng root extract, camellia sinensis leaf* extract, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower* extract, olea europaea (olive) fruit extract, niacinamide, biotin, tocopheryl acetate, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf*, citrus grandis (grapefruit) peel oil*, citrus medica limonum (lemon) peel oil*, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil*, parfum (fragrance), Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Limonene, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal
Thank you so mutch! :-)
Cetyl esters are waxy, they build up for me but might not for you.
MJ1972
August 9th, 2014, 12:09 AM
I just bought myself some new conditioners to play with. They all contain the following ingredients:
-- methylchloroisothiazolinone
-- methylisothiazolinone
Would I be right in assuming these are silicones? If so, are they 'bad' silicones?
jeanniet
August 9th, 2014, 01:08 AM
I believe those are both preservatives, not cones. You can google to confirm.
Firefox7275
August 9th, 2014, 05:19 AM
I just bought myself some new conditioners to play with. They all contain the following ingredients:
-- methylchloroisothiazolinone
-- methylisothiazolinone
Would I be right in assuming these are silicones? If so, are they 'bad' silicones?
No: silicones are suiffix -Cone, -conol, -xane.
kaydana
August 9th, 2014, 05:28 AM
No: silicones are suiffix -cone, -conol, -xane.
It's -siloxane. -xane is not a suffix used for naming chemicals, it's half of a suffix and is entirely meaningless without the other half. Can we please, please, please stop spreading this myth that it means something has cones in?
GRU
August 9th, 2014, 10:13 AM
I just bought myself some new conditioners to play with. They all contain the following ingredients:
-- methylchloroisothiazolinone
-- methylisothiazolinone
Would I be right in assuming these are silicones? If so, are they 'bad' silicones?
Both are simply preservatives, no problem at all.
MJ1972
August 9th, 2014, 06:06 PM
Thanks to everyone who chimed in to alleviate my fears regarding the -ones. Google tells me you're right; they are indeed preservatives. They're supposed to be a bit dodgy, since they have been shown to cause nerve damage in rats, but apparently, they're considered safe for use in humans. Guess I'll give them a shot...
I'm a month into my CO routine now, and my hair is getting noticeably less greasy. I'm so happy! I'm about to try my first SMT with conditioner, aloe vera gel and honey. Can't wait to see the results...
Hibernis
August 9th, 2014, 08:34 PM
Can you CO a hot oil treatment out? I'm doing a home made argan oil treatment and I still have shampoo just in case, but wondering what people's experiences are.
skeletonous
August 9th, 2014, 09:24 PM
^ you sure can :) it may take a little extra conditioner depending on the amount of oil used, but I've done it.
sarahthegemini
August 10th, 2014, 03:17 AM
Can you CO a hot oil treatment out? I'm doing a home made argan oil treatment and I still have shampoo just in case, but wondering what people's experiences are.
^ you sure can :) it may take a little extra conditioner depending on the amount of oil used, but I've done it.
I've co-washed an oil treatment out, it worked wonders.
dreamingstar
August 18th, 2014, 08:00 PM
It's been one year since I started co-washing, and still going strong! Even my skin has improved from the switch. I'm never going back!
dezibela
August 18th, 2014, 09:08 PM
What do you all think about saturating dry hair with conditioner before getting in the shower? I thought maybe that would allow more of the conditioning goodness to reach the hair core, but I tried & didn't really notice a benefit. Then again, no treatments seem to do much for my hair; it's always pretty much the same.
Firefox7275
August 20th, 2014, 04:04 PM
What do you all think about saturating dry hair with conditioner before getting in the shower? I thought maybe that would allow more of the conditioning goodness to reach the hair core, but I tried & didn't really notice a benefit. Then again, no treatments seem to do much for my hair; it's always pretty much the same.
CO-washing is not about conditioning, it is about cleansing the hair. Some find applying to dry hair is more cleansing, others do not rate it. Most ingredients in conditioner do not penetrate to the hair's inner cortex anyway. If you want to know which do, see the Natural Haven blog. Intensive conditioning is most effective for damaged hair.
ExpectoPatronum
August 21st, 2014, 11:37 AM
Hello all. I'm back to COwashing, though only half time. I'm seeing nice results from cowashing every other wash. I do still shed more, but it's really helping the frizz in my hair and using it only every other wash keeps my shedding from getting too bad. Plus, it helps me stretch out the amount of time it takes me go to through a bottle of Toadstool shampoo, which isn't super expensive, but it still isn't cheap.
Right now I'm using Suave Naturals in the Strawberry scent, but I want to try VO5 clarifying Kiwi Lime (I think that's what it is!) next.
erynp6
August 21st, 2014, 12:59 PM
Anyone have a type of shower head they recommend for CO wash? My CO wash was working great until I moved...didn't realize that the water pressure in the new "low flow" shower head wasn't rinsing out all the suave coconut. I'd like to stick to a "low flow" head if possible. Thanks!
dreamingstar
August 21st, 2014, 04:11 PM
Anyone have a type of shower head they recommend for CO wash? My CO wash was working great until I moved...didn't realize that the water pressure in the new "low flow" shower head wasn't rinsing out all the suave coconut. I'd like to stick to a "low flow" head if possible. Thanks!
I found that rinsing my hair upside-down allowed me to rinse out my heavier conditioners - maybe that's something you can try? Just focus on massaging your scalp when you do this and then rinse the length like normal; it should work well that way.
GRU
August 23rd, 2014, 12:14 PM
Anyone have a type of shower head they recommend for CO wash? My CO wash was working great until I moved...didn't realize that the water pressure in the new "low flow" shower head wasn't rinsing out all the suave coconut. I'd like to stick to a "low flow" head if possible. Thanks!
Are you using straight conditioner, or diluted conditioner?
I dilute my conditioner significantly, but still get plenty of cleansing action (I actually get BETTER cleansing from diluted conditioner).
You may find that diluted conditioner is easier to rinse out.
maegalcarwen
August 23rd, 2014, 03:52 PM
I did my first CO-wash today, its all great, just... Did CO washing made your hair dry slower? Like REALLY slow? I've been waiting since 2 hours: D
kaydana
August 23rd, 2014, 04:15 PM
I did my first CO-wash today, its all great, just... Did CO washing made your hair dry slower? Like REALLY slow? I've been waiting since 2 hours: D
Yes, my hair takes 2-3 times as long to dry after CO washing as it does after S&C.
maegalcarwen
August 23rd, 2014, 04:37 PM
Yes, my hair takes 2-3 times as long to dry after CO washing as it does after S&C.
Yes, same for me! Alright, then its okay... I just didn't plan it into my night time routine... kind of wanting to go to sleep here:D
kaydana
August 23rd, 2014, 05:05 PM
Yes, same for me! Alright, then its okay... I just didn't plan it into my night time routine... kind of wanting to go to sleep here:D
Blow dry it?
I've just about given up letting my hair air dry. I was getting really frustrated with it. I don't have the time to sit around with loose, wet hair for hours on end, and if I put it up wet it feels revolting until I next wash it, so I've taken to partially blow drying it on the cool setting. :shrug:
maegalcarwen
August 23rd, 2014, 05:16 PM
Blow dry it?
I've just about given up letting my hair air dry. I was getting really frustrated with it. I don't have the time to sit around with loose, wet hair for hours on end, and if I put it up wet it feels revolting until I next wash it, so I've taken to partially blow drying it on the cool setting. :shrug:
Hm, I am not sure what I am going to do... for now its almost dry, so I am just going to sleep on it. Worst case, I get very surprised in the morning..:DD
For later, I will time it next time, and see how long it takes. I really dislike the feeling of wet hair, ew. So maybe I'll try diluted conditioner, or 1/3 shampoo 2/3 conditioner or something...
maegalcarwen
August 24th, 2014, 11:11 AM
I just made a collage of my hair through some changes, can you guys tell the difference? I can see that its really shiny, extremely soft and much tighter in the waves than before. Do you think I should keep on the CO washing?
http://s21.postimg.org/bywl7yntf/hair1.jpg (http://postimg.org/image/bywl7yntf/)
Jaxibella
August 28th, 2014, 10:09 AM
Hi! So I'm new to this CO wash thing (just did my first CO wash last night with V05 strawberries&cream after reading the first 10 pages of this thread). My hair feels almost waxy today, like maybe I have build up? I guess I'm wondering if that's normal for the first few CO washes? I rinsed my hair for nearly 5 minutes, could I still have conditioner in my hair?
I'm using hard water, in case that makes a difference.
Thank you! :)
sarahthegemini
August 28th, 2014, 11:17 AM
Hi! So I'm new to this CO wash thing (just did my first CO wash last night with V05 strawberries&cream after reading the first 10 pages of this thread). My hair feels almost waxy today, like maybe I have build up? I guess I'm wondering if that's normal for the first few CO washes? I rinsed my hair for nearly 5 minutes, could I still have conditioner in my hair?
I'm using hard water, in case that makes a difference.
Thank you! :)
I never, ever experienced waxy-ness. To me that's not normal, it's a sign that either your technique needs changing, your using the wrong product or co-washing isn't for you.
Eta: I co-wash and I have hard water.
GRU
August 29th, 2014, 04:03 PM
Hi! So I'm new to this CO wash thing (just did my first CO wash last night with V05 strawberries&cream after reading the first 10 pages of this thread). My hair feels almost waxy today, like maybe I have build up? I guess I'm wondering if that's normal for the first few CO washes? I rinsed my hair for nearly 5 minutes, could I still have conditioner in my hair?
I'm using hard water, in case that makes a difference.
Thank you! :)
I've never had good luck with VO5 for CO-washing. It works for some people, but not for everyone, and definitely not for me.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.