The previous article – Is Co-Washing Good for Natural Hair? – covered the benefits of co-washing natural hair, the best way to co-wash and answers to FAQs about co-washing.
I also recommended a few co-wash conditioners in that article but will be covering even more in this article.
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Co-Washing Best Practices
Before we jump into the list, I’m going to cover co-washing best practices.
Despite its benefits, there are some things to look out for so you don’t experience hair loss in the long term:-
1. Co-Washing Hair Exclusively
As fantastic as co-washing is, it shouldn’t be your default way to clean your hair.
Co-washing a couple of times a week for a few weeks at a time is fine but pay attention to your hair.
If your hair starts to feel filmy and gummy after a couple of weeks, it’s time to clarify with a gentle shampoo.
Great shampoo recommendations at 22 Shampoos That Gently Clarify the Hair.
2. Co-Washing Hair with Build Up
If you have build-up from products previously applied as well as natural oils, do not co-wash your hair.
You must clarify your hair first and deep condition then proceed on to co-wash once or twice a week for the next few weeks.
3. Don’t Ignore the Scalp Massage Brush
A good scalp massage brush will help loosen the dirt and build up on your scalp and relax your senses.
For more benefits of scalp massages and best scalp massage brushes, read Best Scalp Massage Brush for Healthy Natural Hair Growth.
3. Be Cautious If You Have Thin Hair
Co-washing thin hair constantly can lead to weighed down lifeless locks. Depending on your hair type, you could also end up with greasy hair.
If you have thin hair, start with once a week and see how your hair reacts to it. You may also need to clarify more.
20 Plus Best Co-Wash Conditioners for Natural Hair
I have broken the co-wash conditioners into two categories - co-wash conditioners under $15 and co-wash conditioners over $15 so there’s something for every budget. The order is from cheap - $ to major bucks - $$.
As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
The first co-wash conditioner I ever used on my hair while I was transitioning. Great smell, softens hair and contains ingredients such as coconut oil and castor oil. It’s a lightweight texture and you can be stingy with it so you can make the jar last longer.
It’s easy to work through the hair and makes detangling a joy to look forward to...
Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Cleansing Conditioner
Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Cleansing Conditioner is very budget friendly and contains agave extract, shea butter and vitamins E and B5. It contains cones though so use with caution.
It’s a gentle conditioner that does the job quickly....
EDEN BodyWorks All Natural Coconut Shea CoWash
EDEN Bodyworks coconut shea cowash contains aloe vera leaf juice, shea butter, coconut oil and hydrolyzed keratin for soft and moisturized hair.
Great smell and you only need a little bit of it at a time....
Hair One Sweet Almond Oil Cleansing Conditioner
Promising to provide shine, moisture and manageability, Hair One Sweet Almond Oil Cleansing Conditioner should be a treat for dry curls.
Contains sweet almond oil, avocado oil, aloe vera leaf juice and hydrolyzed wheat protein. Be aware it also contains a cone....
Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Cleansing Conditioner
This cleansing conditioner delivers with minimal ingredients among which is hydrolised quinoa and raspberry leaf extract. Perfect for bringing about soft and well defined hair...
Renpure Coconut Creme Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
This family owned company has been delivering on the awesome products for some time. They are the manufacturers of a coconut shampoo I love.
Renpure Coconut Creme Cowash Cleansing Conditioner contains coconut oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, moringa oil, and shea oil, ideal ingredients for softness, moisturised and healthy hair....
Renpure Vanilla Mint Cleansing Conditioner
The same line as Renpure Coconut Creme Cowash Cleansing Conditioner but contains vanilla and rosemary. Both of them contain at least 1 cone as well. If you prefer a different smell, this would be an ideal cleansing conditioner...
Theorie Sea Kelp Mint Cleansing Conditioner
Theorie Sea Kelp Mint Cleansing Conditioner contains sea kelp extract, mint extracts, strengthening amino acids, marula oil and sage essential oil. Excellent for all hair types especially thick and curly hair...
Alikay Naturals Cowash Me Cleansing Conditioner
Jojoba oil and Peppermint oil are two of the hero ingredients in Alikay Naturals Cowash Me Cleansing Conditioner. Great smell and provides lots of slip so you ca detangle with ease...
Sashapure Re-hydrating Cleansing Conditioner
Sashapure Re-hydrating Cleansing Conditioner key ingredient is Peruvian sacha inchi oil, which is fantastic for hydrating and nourishing curly hair. It is viewed as a super food. Additional ingredients include shea butter and panthenol...
amika Nice Cream Cleansing Conditioner
Amika Nice Cream Cleansing Conditioner contains two of my favourite ingredients - sea-buckthorn and grapeseed oil. It also contains soybean protein....
AG Hair Texture Cleansing Cream Foam-Free Hair Wash
AG Hair Cleansing Cream combines sea berry oil with natural seaweed extracts for their exclusive Sea Complex. 2 oz. trial sizes also available if you want to test it out first...
Aveda Be Curly Co-Wash
Featuring babassu seed oil and aloe vera leaf juice, Aveda Be Curly Co-Wash promises to cleanse without stripping. It also contains hydrolyzed wheat protein...
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl (Care) Conditioner
Bumble and Bumble claims you can wash out this conditioner as a co-wash, leave-in or wash it out. I’m a bit weary of that definition. The super long ingredient list makes me pause as well so use with caution.
It does contain some great ingredients such as babassu oil, pracaxi oil and cupuacu butter...
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Quinoa Co-Wash
With ingredients like avocado and quinoa, this co-wash is more likely to make you hungry than ready for your regimen. lol.
It also contains two ingredients that strengthen hair - green tea and bamboo extract....
Devacurl No-Poo Conditioning Cleanser
Devacurl is a line created specifically for curly hair so expect their products to come through. The no-poo includes ingredients like grapeseed oil, wheat amino acids, rosemanry and peppermint oil.
Moisture and scalp stimulation delivered in one go...
Grow Gorgeous Cleansing Conditioner
Pricey but gentle on hair with ingredients like jojoba oil, macadamia nut oil and olive oil. People with fine and thin hair mentioned Grow Gorgeous Cleansing Conditioner weighs down hair but thicker hair types appear to love it...
Living Proof Curl Conditioning Wash
This conditioning wash is powered by the Extended Curl Memory technology, which the company claims gives smooth, conditioned and defined curls.
Does Living Proof Curl Conditioning Wash deliver on this promise? The reviews seem to suggest so...
MIZANI True Textures Cream Cleansing Conditioner
Mizani was one the major players when relaxing was still very popular. Since the natural hair revolution, they have branched out into products for curly hair as well.
Mizani True Textures Cream Cleansing Conditioner contains coconut oil and olive oil. However, it also contains 1 cone....
Moroccanoil Curl Cleansing Conditioner
Moroccanoil Curl Cleansing Conditioner utilises the popular argan oil in this cleansing conditioner. It also contains sunflower seed and jojoba extracts.
Gentle and lightweight but a little on the pricey side...
Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner Hair Cleanser
Fresh scent and available in three sizes, Unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner Hair Cleanser is created for all hair types and textures. Some great ingredients include hemp seed oil, borage seed oil and hydrolised vegetable protein....
Curl Immersion Low-Lather Coconut Cleansing Conditioner
Ouidad is a great friend to curlies as the line was designed specifically for curly hair. Ouidad Curl Immersion gently cleanses and nourishes the curls. Noteable ingredients include castor oil, blackseed oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, sage oil and grapeseed oil...
Ojon Rare Blend Moisture Rich Cleansing Conditioner
The Ojon line is a very expensive one but it truly delivers. If your budget allows for it and you’ve tried everything, go ahead and splurge on this conditioner.
It contains palm kernel oil, kukui nut oil, coconut oil, ximenia oil, watermelon seed oil, castor oil, cocoa butter, and aloe vera leaf extract among other awesome ingredients....
Lots of options to choose from. If you’re on a specific regimen like the Max Hydration Method, for instance, you may want to pay closer attention to the co-wash ingredients before purchasing.
Do you have an awesome co-wash you’ve tried and loved that isn’t on the list? Let me know in the comments section and I’ll update the list.
Abi delved into the world of hair care after suffering from a bout of severe hair loss. She is the founder of Healthy Natural Hair Products & Natural Oils for Hair & Beauty, as well as the writer of the Healthy Hair Care Series. She is also the founder of the Empower Network. Read more…