Question of the Day:
I have really dry curly hair. Will It damage my hair if I condition it everyday?
The Right Brain responds:
The answer depends on HOW you condition your hair. Rinse out
conditioners are the worst – not because the conditioner itself does any
damage but because of the processes of washing, rinsing and drying.
Read More!>>>
Three ways the conditioning process can be bad
- If you used any shampoo prior to conditioning you may be stripping your hair of moisturizing oils.
- Just wetting and drying your hair (even without shampoo)
causes the cuticle to expand and contract which can be weakening because
it creates radial cracks in the outer cuticle layers. - Towel drying your hair always involves some degree of
frictional abrasion that can crack and scrape off even more cuticle.
Leave in conditioners can be less damaging
If you’re not washing and wetting your hair, leave in conditioners
are just fine. At most they require just a little combing to smooth them
through your hair. If you’re washing your hair anyway (or at least getting it wet for
some reason) it’s better to go ahead and condition. But if you can skip a
shampoo-wet-dry cycle and use a leave in conditioner instead, you’ll
avoid opportunities for damage.
CN Approved Leave Ins and Moisturizers:
- Giovanni Direct Leave-In
- Oyin Handmade Hair Dew
- Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hair Milk
Finally, remember if you must co-wash often, you may be able to minimize collateral damage by adding pre-poos to your regimen. For more info, CLICK HERE.
I have to have fresh curls daily so I do co-wash everyday. My hair would be a HOT mess if I did not because I sweat tremendously daily.
Look at that cutie! lol
I wet my hair pretty much every day or every other day. Pre-poo every two weeks or so.
She is so cute! I co wash about every 3 days with my loose natural hair. When I had locs my Aromatic Hair Cleanser and weekly Nourishing Ritual keep my loc moisturized and soft. I posted pics on my beauty blog http://indigoferabeauty.blogspot.com/2012/05/chanelles-natural-hair-journey.html
Ssk's under control
MeganMontgomery
Gia is so cute!
I wash and re-style once every two weeks, I usually do braid outs and twist out to keep my hair stretched to keep Sam's under control and sealing my ends with olive oil, Carol's daughter Mimosa hair honey, and coconut oil. I find this regiem better for me and I moisturize every three days.
Megan Montgomery
Co washing no Poo method has runined my hair. I have a coating on my hair that's causing some damage for sure. My growth has been stunted due to the constant cheapie conditioners on my strands. I was cowashing faithfully daily for the last 2 years. Funny this post popped up 😉 I was a fan of cowashing and thought it was the business (WNG). However, I have recently turned towards a stylist who has been trained in the business of natural hair for over 20 years. The results were that my hair was filmy and a tangled mess. Offically giving up the cheap conditioners and at home styling…. As much as i love hair blogs i can no longer follow random methods if I want to acheive healthy hair…. #waistlengthbound #educatedstylistondeck
I'm transitioning to natural hair so I don't know what works for my hair right now. I just had to say how cute Boogie is! 🙂
In the summer I move towards doing more co-washes and I'm experimenting with the curly girl method again this summer. But in all honesty, I don't like the idea of wearing a wet head all day.
I don't like how my hair looks after twisting it at night when its wet. I want both worlds: hair that isn't wet most of the day, but that is well hydrated. I have to admit that the more co washes I do and the curly girl method makes my hair softer and more hydrated. How can I get the same results without drenching each day?
Thus far I pay close attention to the ingredients in the products because I hate using clarifying shampoos and starting the whole drying cycle all over again.
Good post Nikki.
"If you are not washing and wetting your hair, leave in conditioners are just fine"? Meaning, use leave in conditioners on dry hair?
I co-wash once a week during the colder months and twice when it's warm. Since I also go to the gym 4-5 times a week, it's important to keep my hair moisturized.
As for shampoo, once every two weeks is fine with me.
I wash maybe once a week but I wet my hair almost every day. BTW, what do you all do with your natural tresses during the summer? This is my first summer natural. HELP!
I co-wash everyday with no problems. The only days I do not co-wash is on the day when I will be washing my hair and the day after. Otherwise, Me and my hair are good with this routine
~Lexa~
In the TWA phase, I co-wash very often. I try to minimize it be refreshing my twa in the mornings using just water spritz and oils. My limit is no more than two to three washings a week. I cleanse my hair weekly, every Saturday with either the Shea Moisture Black Soap Shampoo, the OH Poo Bar, or the OH Honey Wash. I'm using up products I have, a little of this and that. When they run out, I look to start using the Bobeam shampoo bars. My hair just does not like most detergent shampoos, with the exception of SM Black Soap or Raw Shea.
i dont cowash at all but i do moisturize as my hair needs it. i cant down with cowashing…my scalp needs to be shampooed…thats just me
Lol I love Boogie! Also I don't co-wash everyday but I do wet and shake everyday. My hair is extremely coily and loves a good dose of water. I don't require leave in or product application more than twice a week.
I usually wash with a non sulfate shampoo only once a month to clean up any build up on my scalp and co wash once or twice a week. It works for me.
I'm with you Nik–there is no way I could cowash every day, my hair would dry up like the Sahara. lol! I keep my hair stretched via a twist out throughout the week, and moisturize nightly with just water and whipped shea butter. I alternate weekly between washing with a rhassoul clay mix and cowashing ; I always follow up with a conditioner and steam and deep condition every other week. That's it. I have no desire to wash/cowash more than that.
~caramelcurls
I cowash once a week and every 2-3 days I use a leave in spritz & seal with coconut oil. I'm too lazy to wash my hair more than once in a week & plus my babies aren't having that. My son is the same way he's always sticking his finger in m coconut oil & puts it in his hair hilarious.
Brooke B.
I normally co-wash mostly Mon-Fri. Weekends, not so much (unless I went extra hard in the gym). ACV wash (I don't use shampoo due to it making my hair extremely frizzy) once a week or every two weeks. I'm in the military, so as much as I do PT (physical training) at 6 AM (sometimes rolling in grass and dirt), I can't deal with the sweaty/salty/dirty hair. So I co-wash and finger detangle and I normally leave the conditioner in my hair. Then I put some CD Hair Milk and HE gel in my hair, wrap my hair in a cotton T-shirt while I finish getting ready and GO! That is all. I need to keep my routine as simple as possible. My hair responds better to this routine and loves the moisture. Like they say, do what works for your hair!
*watching
Love that pic, yes they are always washing. My little girl ask me to style her hair in 2 round circle on the side just like mommy translation she wants the same 2 afro puffs I had earlier this week. LOL
When I had a twa, I co-washed every other day. Now I shampoo + DC 1x wk and cowash 1 x pet week. This is great advice going to try to limit my washing sessions to 1xweek now. Don't think I can handle longer than that, I work out and my hair is prone to build-up.
I have a major problem with dry hair-I now see why.