The Top 5 cowashing Conditioners Countdown

Cowashing has become very popular in the world of haircare, but there hasn't been much discussion as to which ones are the best. Here is my top 5 countdown list of the best cowashing conditioners to use.

#5 Silk Dreams Whip My Hair Cleansing Cream

This cleansing conditioner is thick and nourishing, it also has a wonderful sugar cookie-like scent! It has a faint lather, and it cleanses your hair without stripping your hair from much needed moisture. It also has wonderful ingredients such as; Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, Coconut Oil, Coconut Milk, Grape seed Oil, Wheat Germ Oil, and Wheat Protein. It's also reasonably priced at $9.00 a jar. This is best for thick hair that is not protein sensitive.

This cleanser can be purchased HERE:

#4 Shea Moisture Organic African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner

Although this product is marketed as a conditioner, this makes for a great cowasher! It's scent isn't the best, but it leaves the hair and scalp feeling as if you just used shampoo. It also makes your hair feel smooth and silky without weighing it down. Those with fine hair will deeply apprciate this product.

It definitely gives you the most bang for your buck because it also gets rid of itchy scalp. Ingredients such as; Tea Tree Oil, Aloe Vera Juice, Japanese Honeysuckle Extract, and Plantain Enzyme, this conditioner is worth every penny. It can also be found at your local Walgreens or Target for about $10 dollars a bottle.  Due to this conditioner phenomenal job as a cleanser, you should add some additional moisture such as a leave in conditioner or hair lotion to prevent dryness.

#3 Devacurl No Poo

One of the first cleansing conditioner to hit the market, this cleansing conditioner does just as it says.

It leaves your hair and scalp feeling fresh and moisturized, with a peppermint-like smell, and it has an invigorating and tingling feeling when scrubbed upon your scalp. This cleanser is good for especially dry hair. It's also a bit pricey at around $18 dollars and up, but it definitely gets the job done.

#2 Curl Junkie Daily Fix Cleansing Conditioner

This cleanser is loved by many, It's great for extra dry or tightly coiled hair. The consistency is thick and creamy consistency and has the scent of double mint gum. It leaves your hair smooth, manageable, and moist, which make detangling a breeze. You do not need gobs of it in order to cleanse your hair which is good because at $19 dollars and up per bottle, it's definitely not cheap!

#1 Wen

Arguably the best cleansing conditioner, this is because many use this product as a shampoo, conditioner and a leave-in as well. It's a bit too light as a leave-in for my hair, but it's definitely number one in my book as a cleansing conditioner. It moisturizing and gives great slip as well, Wen also comes in many types such as; fig (a ethnic hair favorite!), almond mint,and pomegranate. I happen to prefer the pumpkin! It's price is fairly steep, at about $30 dollars and up, but in my opinion is definitely worth it's heavy price tag!

Review: Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner

 Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner



Desert Essence Coconut Conditioner is a rinse out conditioner that assists dry hair in retaining moisture.

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Leaf Extract*, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Cetearyl Alcohol (Coconut Derived), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Coco Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Derived), Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate (Fruit Derived), Citric Acid, Fragrance (Parfum) * Certified Organic

 

Let me start out by saying that this conditioner is an absolute MUST in every one's hair care routine regardless of race or hair texture! This conditioner is rich, smooth, and it gets the job done! I have been purchasing organic hair products for a while, and other than a few exceptions, I have been deeply disappointed in the results that they gave me. I started to feel as if I could not achieve exceptional looking hair with organic products, but this conditioner has proven me wrong!

 

The consistency of this conditioner is thick and smooth, and it smells like real coconuts, light and airy, not like the cheap manufactured smell that is usually pumped into cosmetic products. After rinsing my hair with water, I parted my hair in the middle, and began to apply the conditioner from the ends, up to the roots . What an experience! As I finger combed it through, from the bottom up, it assisted me in detangling my hair. My hair was well moisturized and nourished. It was like I could feel the conditioner glide through my hair! This conditioner has amazing slip too ! I always let the conditioner sit in my hair while I wash up my body and face to let the conditioner set in, but with this conditioner I felt the moisture seep into my hair upon first applying it. As I rinsed it out, my hair felt; moist, soft, silky, and protected without feeling weighed down or leaving a waxy film behind. The biggest plus for me was that upon rinsing my hair, it felt as if I has just had a deep conditioning treatment. Rinse out conditioners have never given my hair that feeling, not even salon brands.

 

This product is great for when you was your hair and don't have the time to deep condition! This product is a must for those with dry, curly, or stressed hair. It's also great for cowashing to ensure moisturized, shiny, and well behaved hair. It's contains no silicons, sulfates, or parabens, and it's 100% vegan!  It can be difficult finding organic hair products that make your hair look and feel great, but when using this conditioner, I can rest assured that it takes care of my hair from the inside out!

 

Pros:

• Thick
• creamy consisitency
• does great with detangling
• leaves hair moisturized, soft and silky
• doesn't leave hair weighed down, waxy or filmy 
• works well with different hair types
•  wonderful smell
• 100% vegan
• reasonably priced at $7.99 (prices vary)

 

Cons: none (wish it came in a salon sized bottle, but that's not really a con).

 

Will I repurchase: Yes

 

Overall Grade: A +

Deep Conditioning methods



Deep conditioning is a key part in maintaining healthy hair. You should take at least one day out of the week, preferably every time you wash to deep condition your hair. Many think this can be time consuming or too tedious, but it doesn't have to be. Many people are also unaware that there is more than one way to deep condition your hair. Here are a few ways you can do it, it's suggested that you try all methods at least once to find the best method for you.

1. Deep conditioning with heat



This is one of the very few times when heat will be helpful to your hair. This is because the heat helps open the hair cuticle, and allows the hair to soak up key nutrients from the conditioner. Make sure your hair is fully saturated with conditioner, so that you may comb it through with ease. When using heat to deep condition,  twenty minutes is standard, but if you can go longer, feel free to do so! Make sure you pin your hair up, and cover your hair with a plastic cap or even a plastic bag (not recommended for small children) to ensure that the moisture doesn't escape from your hair. If you are willing to invest a substantial amount of money into your hair, consider purchasing a hair steamer, or hooded hair dryer.

Note: If you don't have a heat source for your hair, you can go to your local Walmart or beauty supply store and get one of these:



 

2. Deep conditioning overnight:

Overnight conditioning is a sure way to make sure your hair is fully conditioned. Simply saturate your hair with deep conditioner, pin your hair up, cover with a plastic cap, and rinse out with cold water the next day.

Note: If your hair feels mushy or flimsy after rinsing, this is not the method for you.

3. Deep conditioning on dry hair:

Deep conditioning on dry hair is can be a time saver, and helps the hair to fully penetrate your deep conditioner. This method is best used along with heat , and cowashing after the deep conditioning process.  Simply slather on the deep conditioner in sections on dry hair, gently comb through using your fingers, or detangling comb, let conditioner sit for 30 minutes (preferably with heat), cowash, and rinse with cool water.

Note: Although it may be a bit uncomfortable, it's best to rinse out your deep conditioner with cool water, this help close the hair cuticle, while sealing in the moisture from the deep conditioner. It also adds shine.

Try each method whenever you decide to deep condition and pay close attention to you hair. Which ever method makes your hair feel its softest and smoothest is the best method for you!



Cowashing

What exactly is cowashing? Cowashing aka no-pooing is simply using conditioner instead of shampoo. This is great for those who prefer to wash the hair more than once a week, especially great for those who like to shampoo everyday! There are many benefits to be had if you decide to cowash.

*reduces the amount of tangles
* keeps hair soft and manageable
*keep hair moisturized.


When I cowash my hair, I simply to the following:

1. Rinse my hair in the shower until it is completely soaked

2. Part my hair down the middle, and slather conditioner from root to tip

3. Comb through, and rinse out. 

Some people use conditioner specified for cowashing, but others just use whatever conditioner the like.

The cleansing conditioners I like best for cowashing are the following:

*DevaCurl No poo clenasing conditioner

*Hair One Olive Oil for dry Hair cleanser and conditioner

* Avalon Lemon Clarifying Conditioner

Remember, you don't have to use a conditioner specified for cowashing, just use any conditioner that makes your hair feel nice!