I started co-washing because the idea of only putting moisture in our hair made total sense to me. I would go months without cleansing their curls -- and it ended up killing them. Here's how...
1. Dull Curls
My girls’ curls do not shine as much as they used to. There is probably many reasons for this. No matter the cause, I had to figure out a way to refresh the girl’s hair and restore it’s natural shine.
2. Build Up
Instead of their curls springing up, they started to look like a stretched “s.” There is nothing wrong with s-shaped curls, however this is not their curls' natural shape. The first thing that came to my mind was the strands were being weighed down by our heavy conditioner. I purchased a shampoo and started cleansing their hair once a week or whenever I felt their hair needed it. I also did an apple cider vinegar rinse to strip some of the build up and bring back the bounce.
3. Not as Soft
They both have very soft hair. So luscious that I can’t keep my hands out of their heads. When I was co-washing, it definitely didn’t feel relaxing running my fingers through their hair. Whether it was stickiness or stiffness, I kept trying to figure out what I was doing wrong.
4. Wrong Technique
I can’t blame my failure entirely on co-washing, because I probably was using too much conditioner and/or conditioners that weren't designed for cleansing. In the end I learned that children (and most hair types) really only need a tiny bit of product.
I don’t have any regrets about co-washing, because this experience helped me learn more about their natural beauty (and mine too). I hope sharing helps you and your family.
Until next time...
Love The Journey,
