Co-Washing Is the Better Way to Wash Your Hair 

Get clean hair without nuking it with shampoo. 
A black and white photo of a man showering and smiling as he washes his hair with elements of the photo being hand...
Photograph courtesy of Getty Images / Photo Illustration by Gabe Conte

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If you've heard of co-washing, it's probably because you've spent some time deep in hair-care web forums—or, perhaps more likely, that you're romantically involved with someone who spends a ton of time in hair-care web forums. Co-washing is the hair hack of the moment, and for good reason, because it works—and keeps you off of shampoo. 

In a perfect world, you’ll only shampoo your hair every third day or so, since anything more might dry out your hair and scalp. That comes as a shock to some guys, who think that every shower necessitates a full-on wash. That's just not true, especially since these days most hair-styling products are water soluble and will rinse clean under warm water. Plus, you can flush away much of the excess oil and grime with water and a simple massage. Not to mention, a second- or third-day zap of dry shampoo is enough to soak up any excess grease and give hair some extra lift and life.

But sometimes you need clean-smelling and feeling hair. Maybe every time you shower. Enter co-washing.  

Conditioner can replace shampoo 

Co-washing is shorthand for conditioner-washing, when conditioner stands in for the shampoo. It’s not a new idea, but is still novel to lots of people, and seems to be picking up adherents by the day. There's not that much to it—use a generous handful of the stuff and go to town, from scalp to roots. 

The idea behind co-washing is simple: Conditioner works itself all the way through your hairs and around your scalp, so it also works effectively at flushing away excess grime and buildup as it occurs. While nothing does this as quickly and powerfully as a shampoo, that’s kind of the point: Shampoo can really dry you out, whereas conditioner takes a much gentler approach. Some people will ‘co-wash’ daily, in order to get the grime-clearing benefits, along with the hair-nourishing ones. I find this a little too softening on my hair, but some friends feel it’s necessary for their coarser mane.

Whenever I get into a co-washing rhythm, I typically do it every other day, or 2 out of 3 days, adjusting application frequency depending on my hair’s needs.  Your exact rhythm is up to you.  

When to use shampoo 

While I’m a big fan of co-washing, I still like to have a shampoo or two on hand for specific occasions. First is the obvious routine washing. But sometimes life breaks up a routine. Any time I accumulate lots of sweat, grime, and dirt, I like to thoroughly wash away the buildup in my hair. (I'm not talking about your run of the mill trip to the gym—more like, two nights of camping and campfires.) Ditto for if I have a special event; I find hair much more cooperative on a freshly shampooed and conditioned canvas, so I always do a full wash on those days. 

I also like to use a targeted shampoo if I ever need one, for flakes or for dyed hair, or whenever a situation calls for something specific. But first make sure there isn't a conditioner that can deliver similar results. For example, while there are lots of shampoos that target hair loss, or that promise to enrich curls or volumize and thicken your hair, there is also usually a counterpart conditioner (as part of a shampoo-conditioner set) that does the same thing, and that does it better. Rely on the shampoo for cleansing, and the conditioner for fortification, nourishment, and styling influence.

The best conditioners for co-washing

These are some of my favorite conditioners for daily or every-other-day use, especially if you’re going to use them as a near-complete substitute for shampoo.

Best Regular Conditioner to Use as a Co-Wash

Jack Black hair and scalp conditioner

Jack Black's standalone conditioner offers as many scalp benefits as it does hair benefits—and that's saying something. Tea tree oil pulls a lot of weight in this recipe, to keep the scalp balanced and flake-free, while plumping strands with silk proteins.

Best Inexpensive Conditioner to Use as a Co-Wash

Sauve tea tree conditioner

An important thing about co-washing is that you use a LOT of conditioner, so it makes sense to look for soemthing affordable. This pick from Suave (yes, that Sauve) smells truly great and so cheap you won't be tempted to skimp.

Best Co-Wash for Oily Scalps

Geologie tea tree and aloe co-wash

Tea tree oil neutralizes bacteria and fungus, while also tempering oil production in the scalp. Aloe soothes, squalane hydrates, and panthenol deeply nourishes strands.

Best Co-Wash for Dry Scalps

Modern Mammals co-wash

A mega moisturizer for your scalp, to help keep it cool, calm, and follicularly prolific.

Best Co-Wash for Thin and Flat Hair

Kiehl's volumizing + conditioning rinse

If your hair needs a little bit of liveliness and lift, then rinse it with this volumizing co-wash.

Best Co-Wash for Thinning Hair

As I Am coconut and saw palmetto co-wash

The inclusion of saw palmetto helps defend against DHT, the testosterone byproduct that makes guys go bald. Not to mention, coconut and castor oil flush away grime while deeply hydrating and fortifying strands.

Best Co-Wash for Curly Hair

Hairstory "New Wash Rich" co-wash

Of Hairstory's three essential-oil-packed "New Wash" products, this one is the most hydrating, which is good news for curls and coils.

Best Co-Wash for Straight Hair

Drunk Elephant co-wash

This frizz-fighting formula keeps strands smooth between washes, while playing a long-game defense against breakage and split ends.

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