Conditioner & Cleansing

[caadam]

So I've been doing a bit more research on co-washing outside of
LHC and ran across a new opinion on this method.

Some people say that co-washing is bad because it doesn't even
clean hair, that it only moisturizes. That when co-washing, a
person isn't cleaning the scalp but just creating a lot of
build-up.

I get the build-up thing; I mean, I understand that co-washing
does that and I've made my peace with clarifying when I have
to, but co-washing isn't cleaning anything AT ALL? Is that
true, or is that just speculation?

I truly did try to find a similar thread on this question on
the forums, but I couldn't find one, so I apologize if there
already is and someone knows about it. </3 I just want to
understand what this ruckus is about.

When I co-wash, all of that extra oil from my scalp goes away.
Does that count for any sort of cleaning? o_O

[McFearless]

If you use cone-free conditioner, which I think works best for the scalp then you won't have issues with buildup. I use a heavy, coney conditioner on my length but I also CWC when I need to. Conditioner cleans my scalp just fine, and removes heavy oils so I don't doubt its cleansing properties.

[caadam]

Yeah, I don't use a conditioner with 'cones it, either. I use Suave Cherry Blossom
and it seems to cleanse my scalp.

I just ran into people on the interwebs saying, "Conditioner doesn't clean; it just
conditions and leaves dirt on your hair." And I was seeing that in a lot of places and
wondered what other co-washers on LHC had to say about it.

[haibane]

Conditioner contains surfactants that do dissolve oils and grease, but they're much milder and weaker than the stronger detergents in shampoo, so you need more of it and it takes longer than shampoo, and you need to rinse more carefully to get it all out of your hair.

[naereid]

I find that most people have no idea what they're talking about, especially on the internet, especially when it comes to "controversial" topics such as this one. People get caught up in "but that's just wrong and disgusting" and don't give it a second thought.

If you see for yourself that CO removed oil from your hair, then it removed oil from your hair, no matter what anyone else believes.

[Igor]

So I've been doing a bit more research on co-washing outside of
LHC and ran across a new opinion on this method.

Well, there’s the problem, bolded.

That is not a “new” opinion either, that’s the common unknowing opinion of just about everyone who thinks long hair is weird or dirty.

[caadam]

Well, there’s the problem, bolded.

That is not a “new” opinion either, that’s the common unknowing opinion of just about everyone who thinks long hair is weird or dirty.
I more meant it was a new opinion to me. :D I had never heard of
it before until today, so... -shrugs-

But I just wasn't sure, because it just seemed odd how people
were saying that when that's not what's happening. At least from
what I've experienced so far of co-washing, at least. I will keep
co-washing, though. It's done me well so far in my routine.

I was more wondering why people were saying that and where it
was coming from. ♥

haibane
And right! I forget about surfactants. Thanks for the reminder.

[Igor]

The same people will probably also tell you that putting damp hair up will make it rot, that salon products are way better, henna will make you bald and that flat ironing is really good for your hair.

:shrug:

Stupid ideas like that runs rampant “outside” in the real world. Why, I’m not sure. But for some reason it seems that everyone always “knows” a lot about hair like that and that it’s always ignorant, superstitious old wife’s tales about going bald if you don’t stick to “the rules”.

I always think there is a feel of old time-fairytale to it: People always “know” some silly young woman who didn’t stick to the pre-set Rules that “everyone knows” and ends up getting in trouble for it (Getting bald/hair falling off/hair rotting) but oh, if only young people would listen to the wise elders and not try to break The Rules that “everyone knows”… :rolleyes:

[caadam]

Well... at the end of the day, I learn more things here
at LHC than from many people outside of LHC, to be
honest. It's interesting reading what people say about
what they think hair needs now that I know a little bit
more about the basics of what's actually good and what's
actually bad.

It's funny because what most people find to be good hair
care methods here are considered gross and strange in
other places. lol Not all, but most.

Yeah... it's a different perspective when you finally
step out of the box and away from the myths and
superstitions.

[caadam]

OH! And your hair-rotting comment DID remind me of my cousin.
Her hair didn't rot, but it started to mold because she never took it
out of a bun, even when she would wash. It was the strangest thing;
I really don't know what possessed her to think that was all right to
do. She NEVER took her hair down, for weeks, for anything! I can
see how that would cause mold, though. But I mean, if hair rots if
you put it up wet, then my hair should have rotted years ago. My
hair sometimes stays damp for half a day, and it's up in a bun or braid
at times. Myth busted, I guess. lol

Just a BTW moment. ♥

[Timkerbelle]

I think regarding the CO washes the burning question is What exactly is dirty hair. I think we can safely assume that for most people in today's world it's greasy hair, not dirty hair. Conditioner does (in my experience - can only speak for myself here) a wonderful job of removing natural and added oils from my hair. Like dissolves like after all.
My hair is pretty much never actually dirty. I just don't live in those kinds of environments.

[Braidy]

I think all those people are forgetting that shampoo as we know it was invented like... 50-60 years ago? And I really don't believe that in all the centuries before that, everyone ran around with dirty hair.

[Athena's Owl]

Some people say that co-washing is bad because it doesn't even
clean hair, that it only moisturizes. That when co-washing, a
person isn't cleaning the scalp but just creating a lot of
build-up.



*sigh* they're wrong and clueless. the most frequently seen ingredients in conditioners are non-ionic surfactants - and surfactants by definition work to break the surface tension of water and emulsify oils to it. so conditioners work to clean the hair.