Co-Washes for Curly Hair

Sakshi Bahal has a Masters degree in English Literature from Calcutta University. She was a part of the editorial team of her school magazine. Her love for writing inspired her to take up literature a... more

  • What Is Co-Washing?
  • How To Co-Wash Curly Hair
  • Top 15 Co-Washes For Curly Hair

What Is Co-Washing?

Co-washing stands for Conditioner Only Washing. It means skipping the shampoo and using only a conditioner to cleanse your hair. If you are new to this concept, it may sound bizarre since most conditioners are meant to moisturize your hair and not remove the grease and buildup it accumulates between washes.

But here’s the thing. Most shampoos contain a lot of sulfates and other surfactants that create that rich lather we all love. However, our hair does not always need that much cleansing. In fact, regular shampooing can even strip your hair of its essential oils, leaving it dull and dry.

With co-washing, you can gently remove dirt and buildup from your hair while still giving your gorgeous curls some much-needed moisture and hydration. However, you need not forget about shampoo entirely. Co-washes are meant to be used between regular shampoo washes and can provide enough cleansing that you can delay your next shampoo wash by a couple more days. Depending on your hair type, texture, and other requirements, you may alter your co-washing frequency according to what suits you best.

Here are a few simple steps to help you figure out the correct way to co-wash curly hair.

How To Co-Wash Curly Hair

We hope that helped give you some ideas on how to use co-wash correctly. Now, let’s take a look at the 11 best co-washes for curly hair that can help you achieve gorgeous locks without a fuss.

Top 15 Co-Washes For Curly Hair

1. Aunt Jackie’s Flaxseed Recipes Purify Me Moisturizing Co-wash Cleanser

Aunt Jackie’s Flaxseed Recipes Purify Me Moisturizing Co-wash Cleanser is just what you need to keep your curls free of impurities and buildup without stripping them of moisture. This co-wash for curly hair works to improve the overall health of your hair while providing deep cleansing. It is perfect for chronically dry hair and gentle enough for daily use. The formula is rich and creamy, helping to soften your hair and replenish your curls with moisture.

Pros

  • Suitable for all hair types
  • Gentle enough for daily use
  • Deeply cleanses and removes buildup
  • Nourishes hair with moisture
  • Improves hair health
  • Paraben- free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Mineral oil-free
  • Petrolatum-free

Cons

None

2. Head & Shoulders Royal Oils Moisturizing Co-Wash

The Royal Oils Moisturizing Co-Wash from Head & Shoulders is enriched with coconut oil to help provide long-lasting scalp relief while gently cleansing and hydrating your hair. With regular use, this co-wash cleanser can help balance and restore the health of your scalp. The rich, conditioning formula provides gentle cleansing and provides soothing relief from dry scalp and itchiness. Your hair becomes softer and more moisturized with every use. The co-wash is ideal for natural, curly, coily, and kinky hair.

Pros

  • Ideal for curly hair
  • Gentle enough for daily use
  • Provides intense hydration
  • Provides relief from dry, itchy scalp
  • Pleasant fragrance
  • Dye-free
  • Paraben- free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Low lather

Cons

None

3. Renpure Coconut Creme Cowash Cleansing Conditioner

The Renpure Coconut Creme Cowash Cleansing Conditioner helps make your hair healthier and more beautiful. The extra virgin coconut oil in the formula protects your hair by lubricating every strand thoroughly. The gentle coconut cleansers remove buildup and impurities without stripping your hair or over- drying it. The co-wash also contains amino acids, protein, and keratin that help hydrate and repair damaged hair. Regular use leaves your hair looking smooth and shiny.

Pros

  • Provides gentle cleansing
  • Keeps hair hydrated
  • Pleasant fragrance
  • No harsh salts
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Dye-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Convenient pump dispenser

Cons

4. As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner

The As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner is a favorite product of most curly haired beauties. It is best suited for coiled and curly hair textures. The coconut co-wash gently cleanses your scalp and hair without stripping the moisture. The formula is enriched with a revitalizing blend of tangerine, castor oil, and coconut oil. It entirely removes product buildup and impurities from your hair while nourishing it to promote healthy hair growth. Regular use leaves you with soft, shiny, hydrated locks that are effortlessly manageable.

Pros

  • Suitable for daily use.
  • Safe for color-treated hair.
  • Contains natural ingredients
  • Keeps hair hydrated
  • Spreads easily
  • Gently removes residue
  • Paraben- free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons

5. Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash

The Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash is hailed as the “gold standard in moisture.” It can work wonders on dry, damaged hair. This deeply moisturizing co-wash has been formulated with the help and expertise of scientists and stylists. It is an ultra-rich cleansing conditioner that not only cleans your hair and gets rid of dirt and impurities but also makes it soft and manageable. The co-wash is free of harsh chemicals and is infused with argan oil. It helps preserve the natural essential oils in your hair.

Pros

  • Suitable for curly, coily hair types
  • Preserves the hair’s natural oils
  • Low lather formula
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Dye-free
  • Convenient pump dispenser
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons

6. Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Cowash

The Tea Tree Lavender Mint Moisturizing Cowash has a creamy, no-lather formula that provides gentle cleansing for your hair and scalp. It is nourishing for dry, coarse hair with natural curls, making them more manageable. The hydrating co-wash contains oils of monoi, pequi, and jojoba that replenish dry hair with moisture, calm frizzy hair, and make your locks shiny. The gentle co-wash is perfect for using between regular shampoo routines to help your hair stay nourished and moisturized.

Pros

  • Non-lathering formula
  • Provides intense hydration
  • Calms frizz
  • Makes hair shiny
  • Adds shine
  • Helps reduce static
  • Vegan
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons

7. Eden BodyWorks Natural Cleansing CoWash

Eden BodyWorks Natural Cleansing CoWash helps provide conditioning for your hair between regular shampoo routines. It restores moisture into the hair while eliminating product buildup, grease, and residue. It nourishes the hair and scalp to create a healthy environment that promotes hair growth. The co-wash contains a host of moisturizing ingredients, such as shea butter, coconut oil, aloe vera, and avocado oil. The hydrating formula is easily absorbed into the hair, where it works to keep the moisture in and prevent your hair strands from drying out.

Pros

  • Provides intense moisture
  • Gently removes buildup
  • Makes hair soft and shiny
  • Makes curls more manageable
  • Travel-friendly packaging
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free

Cons

  • May leave behind some residue.
  • May irritate sensitive skin.
8. Cantu Complete Conditioning Co-Wash

The Cantu Complete Conditioning Co-Wash is perfect for cleansing your curls and scalp while keeping it all from drying out and becoming frizzy. It prevents product buildup and contains a unique blend of more than 15 natural butters and oils that intensely moisturize your hair. The co-wash for curly hair includes 100% pure shea butter, and the formula is free of any harsh chemicals that might damage your hair. This creamy cleansing conditioner is the ideal product for wavy, curly, and kinky hair.

Pros

  • Provides intense hydration
  • Gently removes buildup
  • Travel-friendly packaging
  • Mineral oil-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Silicone-free

Cons

  • May leave a residue.
  • Does not have enough slip.
9. Luxe Organix CoWash Cleansing Conditioner

The Luxe Organix CoWash Cleansing Conditioner can help you extend your shampoo days by getting rid of buildup without drying out your hair. It leaves you with softer, smoother curls that are easier to manage. It is safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair as well. The cruelty-free co-wash is made without harsh salts and chemicals that can damage your hair in the long run, leaving it dull, dehydrated and lifeless. It restores shine and moisture to hair damaged by chemical treatments, leaving it as soft as if you just stepped out of a salon.

Pros

  • pH-balanced
  • Color-safe
  • Keratin-safe
  • Cruelty-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Paraben-free
  • Phthalate- free
  • Gluten-free

Cons

  • Expensive
  • May make hair greasy.
10. As I Am Olive & Tea Tree Oil Dandruff Cowash

As I Am Olive & Tea Tree Oil Dandruff Cowash helps treat dryness and itchiness in the scalp caused by dandruff. It provides soothing relief using olive oil and tea tree oil. The scalp care co-wash helps provide relief from dry flakes and irritation due to dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis. It offers intense hydration for dry and curly hair and helps make your curls more vibrant and manageable.

Pros

  • Removes product buildup
  • Keeps hair hydrated
  • Soothes itchy scalp
  • Travel-friendly packaging
  • Affordable
  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free

Cons

  • May irritate sensitive skin.
  • Strong smell
11. DNA Hydrating CoWash

The DNA Hydrating CoWash is enriched with natural ingredients that help remove residue and product buildup from your hair without stripping it of natural oils. It nourishes the hair and prevents excessive hair loss. The hydrating conditioning cleanser can be used on all kinds of natural hair and straight, wavy, spiral, coily, or kinky textures. It removes sebum, excess oil, dirt, and pollution from the scalp, helping extend the time between your regular shampoo washes.

Pros

  • Loaded with natural ingredients
  • Provides intense hydration
  • Makes hair soft and manageable
  • Strengthens hair to prevent hair fall
  • Travel-friendly packaging
  • Sulfate- free

Cons

  • May leave hair greasy with repeated use.
  • Does not detangle hair easily.
12. Curl Drench Cleansing Conditioning CoWash

The Curl Drench Cleansing Conditioning CoWash is the perfect solution for keeping curly hair clean and nourished. It contains a generous dose of hydration in its essential conditioning ingredients. It gently cleanses your hair while nourishing the scalp and preserving its natural oils. It works to maintain the shape of every curl on your head, giving you softer and more manageable locks with every wash.

Pros

  • Suitable for extremely curly and coily hair
  • Provides gentle cleansing
  • Keeps hair hydrated
  • Makes hair more manageable
  • Reduces frizz
  • Sulfate-free

Cons

  • Availability may be an issue.
  • Expensive
13. Moptop Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner

The Moptop Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner provides lightweight moisture to curly, wavy, and kinky-coily hair types, helping smooth the hair shaft. The formula contains calming aloe extract and sea botanicals that infuse dry hair with much- needed moisture. It helps make hair more manageable and adds a healthy shine. The co-wash also contains honey, which helps balance the natural oils in your scalp to prevent buildup during no-shampoo days.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Suitable for wavy, curly, coily hair
  • Provides moisture
  • Reduces frizz
  • Color-safe

Cons

  • May not work for fine hair.
  • May irritate sensitive skin.
14. Alikay Naturals Cowash Me Cleansing Conditioner

The Alikay Naturals Cowash Me Cleansing Conditioner helps break down and remove excess buildup and residue on the scalp and hair roots. It fills the cracks of the hair cuticles to help repair damage caused by heat and pollution. It provides intense hydration to the hair from within and promotes healthy hair growth. Regular use stimulates blood flow in the scalp, makes curls soft and manageable, and adds a healthy shine.

Pros

  • Natural, organic ingredients
  • Sulfate-free
  • Keeps hair moisturized
  • No harsh chemicals
  • Pleasant fragrance

Cons

  • Expensive
  • May not be easily available.
15. Hairiette Kokum Butter and Marula Oil Co-Wash

This co-wash from Hairiette is enriched with kokum butter and marula oil, making it incredibly nourishing for damaged and dehydrated hair. It cleanses hair gently without stripping your curls of essential oils and moisture. The oil blend provides gentle detangling without pulling or tugging on your hair. The formula also contains castor seed oil, chamomile, henna extracts, and coconut oil that provide a ton of benefits for your curls.

Pros

  • Paraben-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Cruelty-free
  • Travel-friendly packaging

Cons

  • Contains isopropyl alcohol
  • Expensive

That was our round-up of the best co-washes for curly hair. Caring for curly hair can seem like a task, but sometimes, all you need to do is manage the hydration. Curly hair needs moisture, and frequent shampooing can send it into a tizzy. In such cases, co-washing can be a life-saving addition to your hair care routine. Take your pick from our selection of the best co-washes for curly hair and watch your locks transform.

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