It's the battle of the cleansers: Co-Washing vs. Traditional Shampooing. Which is better? What works best for your hair? How on earth do you choose just one? What even is Co-Washing?! Your hair-apist says take a deep breath because we are about to get into the nitty gritty about cleansing with the help of our two favorites: The Ultra-Nourishing Cleansing Oil Shampoo and the Curl Immersion No Lather Coconut Cream Cleansing Conditioner .
Contestant #1: Co-Washing
A longtime staple of our Curl-istas with tighter or kinkier textures; Co-Washing has been the go-to for anyone with hair that's a bit on the dry side. Because shampoo can be stripping for certain hair textures it's great to have an option that leaves your hair feeling clean but still hydrated. Also, if you're someone who likes to really stretch out your shampoo use, Co-Washing is a great alternative. One of our favorite Co-Washing products specially made for your curly hair is our very own Curl Immersion No Lather Coconut Cream Cleansing Conditioner. Packed with amazing ingredients such as Coconut, Abyssinian, Rosemary and Sage oils this Co-Wash stimulates your scalp and repairs even the driest of curls. Don't just take our word for it, Ouidad Educator Sarah Brunty Smith weighs in on all the benefits of Co-Washing:
"When working with different textured hair I love having the option to either use traditional shampoo or Co-Wash the hair. When I choose a Co-Wash I'm looking for all the natural oils to remain in the hair while adding a nice smell and hydration. Co-Washing is adding intense hydration. "
- Sarah Brunty Smith, Curl Expert and Platform Artist
Contestant #2: Traditional Shampooing
The option you probably grew up on and most likely how your mother, grandmother, aunts and sisters taught you how to clean your hair is cleansing the time-tested way: traditional shampooing. This method is definitely old faithful and great for those with a lot of product buildup and/or sensitive, itchy scalps. The key to not having your curls appear dull and frizzy after shampooing is the correct product. Our Ultra-Nourishing Cleansing Oil Shampoo is formulated with just the right blend of ingredients to be tough on your hair's buildup but gentle enough to be nourishing and able to repair your curls moisture and shape. Ouidad Master Artistic Educator, Chadwick Pendley, weighs in on why he's a fan:
"Traditional shampooing is a great and effective way to rid the scalp of the dirt, debris and sebum that gets trapped which leads to limp flat hair. With traditional shampooing your curls are back to square one and ready to be reset! There's nothing like the feel of a healthy and clean scalp and that's the feeling you get with traditional shampooing."
- Chadwick Pendley, Ouidad Master Artistic Educator
Whichever side of this debate you fall on, the most important thing to remember is to always choose the right products and experiment with whatever method makes your curls the happiest.