What Is Co-Washing & Is It Right for my Hair Type?

It all comes down to moisture…

Although we know that moisture plays a vital role in all things hair – when it comes to highly textured hair types, moisture is of utmost of importance in ensuring kinky, coily, and curly hair types thrive. If your strands have been feeling a bit parched as of late, swapping out your normal shampoo and conditioner for a co-wash is a great option to upgrade your at-home curl care routine. Co-washing, also known as conditioner-washing, is a fairly straightforward hair routine that involves using conditioner or a cleansing treatment in lieu of a traditional WASH and RINSE routine. However, with chatter over the effectiveness of oil-training for your scalp, there is much left to debate.

Similar to washing your face, some schools of thought believe that by utilising a conditioner instead of a shampoo, you allow the natural oils to remain on the scalp, which in turn causes your scalp to produce less oil or sebum. Win-win, right? The issue remains that some dermatologists believe that the amount of oil you produce actually comes down to your genetics and cannot be swayed by product usage. While there is no clear cut answer, what we suggest is trying out various routines to see what works best for your hair type and texture.

When washing your hair, opting for a Sulphate-Free formula is best. Traditionally sulphates are agents utilised in cleansing agents that cause that super sudsy lather we all love. The problem with sulphates in hair care is the fact that they can also strip the hair of the natural oils that protect the scalp and strand leaving the cuticle layer open to damage and colour fade. The bottom line? Sulphates can strip hair of moisture, which is a no-go for highly textured hair types.

To help you create an at-home routine for your highly-texture strands we chatted with HEAD.MASTER Nathan Gorman to highlighting some of the top questions for kinky, curly and coily hair and how to get the style you desire.

Scalp health is more about regulating oil than completely removing it. Everyone has a natural acid mantle – a thin layer of oil, salt, and water – that covers both the skin and the hair. This layer is your body’s way of maintaining a proper moisture balance, resulting in smoother, shinier hair. KEVIN.MURPHY products are formulated to help your body regulate these natural oils, rather than remove them, allowing for healthier hair and improved skin.

KEVIN.MURPHY’s hero co-wash product is RE.STORE! Part of the REPAIR regimen, Kevin developed RE.STORE to gently cleanse impurities from the scalp and hair while treating and repairing. Making a parallel to skincare, it’s more like a cream cleanser for your face rather than a gel or foaming cleanser. RE.STORE is formulated with Green Pea Proteins and combined with Enzymes from Papaya and Pineapple to help renew and restore dry, damaged or frizzy hair. It’s a non-foaming cleansing and repairing treatment that is a one-stop-shop when it comes to co-washing for natural texture.

We highly recommend incorporating products to specifically address the health of your scalp. Noticing an increase in the need for scalp care, this is exactly why Kevin created the new SCALP.SPA SCRUB and WASH. Formulated with Micelles and Celery Seed Extract, this regimen gently removes impurities from the scalp without stripping hair of natural oils.

If you’re looking for a product that cleanses the scalp and strands without excess drying, this is the perfect choice. Whether you’re using this weekly or as needed, consider adding this to your co-wash cycle!

Similar to a WASH, you’ll want to wet the hair and apply a good amount of RE.STORE. For highly textured hair, apply RE.STORE from the scalp to the ends, massaging the product in circular motions as you would with a shampoo, then begin to rinse with warm water while gently scrubbing the scalp to remove oil and product buildup. Once rinsed, towel dry using a blotting motion to avoid friction and frizz. Apply your desired KEVIN.MURPHY product and allow to dry naturally.

We suggest swapping out your regular WASH for RE.STORE 1-2 times as week as a substitute for shampoo and conditioner. However, it shouldn’t be a permanent replacement for your regular WASH and RINSE. 

For those with highly textured, coily, curly or wavy hair that can experience dryness and frizz, a co-wash can be used routinely, but not as a permanent replacement for a wash and rinse. How often usually depends on your personal hair type and needs.

A “co-wash cycle” is as unique as each persons hair. Usually, the more highly textured and coily the hair, the more, plant butters, esters and oils the hair needs in order to dry frizz-free.

While swapping RE.STORE a few times a week and adding SCALP.SPA to your routine is a great idea, the best thing to do is speak to your KEVIN.MURPHY stylist about what suits your hair best. If you can’t get to a salon, try our Product Matchmaker to help you decide on products and happy co-washing!