Cowash: the organic and gentle method for washing hair
Have you ever heard of cowash? A real panacea for the hair that allows a delicate but at the same time super effective cleansing. In this article we will explain what it consists of, how to prepare your own personalized cowash recipe at home and how to apply the treatment if you have curly, straight or wavy hair. Before continuing we leave you with a video with a method to lighten hair in a natural way.
What is cowash?
The word cowash is a set of terms "conditioner" And "washing" so it literally means washing your hair with conditioner.
The effectiveness of this treatment is based on the surfactants present in the conditioner which allow a complete cleansing and cleansing, eliminating all traces of dirt. The conditioner also has a pH tending to acid and is therefore also suitable for curly hair. which often appear dry and arid.
Although sulfates are present in the conditioner, they will not damage the hair and the reason is explained quickly. The harmful sulphates are much more present in the shampoo and in fact often, after washing the hair, it can appear very dry and stringy. For the cowash, therefore, the ideal is to choose a conditioner without silicone. The silicone effect is exactly what it deceives: at first the hair appears silky, but within a few hours they will reveal their true nature.
In short, the shampoo is more aggressive, the formulations are made to thoroughly degrease the skin, in some cases so much as to eliminate the natural hydrolipidic film making the situation even worse with the appearance of dandruff and annoying redness.
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The basic recipe of cowash
The ingredients for the basic recipe of cowash are within everyone's reach. Here they are.
- half a glass of sugar
- half a glass of hair conditioner
The cane sugar is important and makes the difference, which gives a decidedly more full-bodied effect to the mixture, making it extremely smoothing. This type of sugar is less treated than the white one with the result of being able to obtain an effective and nourishing scrub, perfect for thoroughly cleansing the skin without creating redness.
The conditioner, on the other hand, has the cleansing action and should also be distributed over the lengths.
You can also add a teaspoon of acacia or orange blossom honey to this recipe, to obtain an even more silky and hydrated hair.
Cowash: how is it applied?
Here are the easy and intuitive steps to do the cowash!
- Moisten your hair with the help of a spray, do not overdo it, it should not be wet.
- Roll the hair up in a towel and leave it on for a few minutes. The warm and humid effect inside the towel will help prepare the scalp for cowash.
- Mix brown sugar and conditioner in a bowl in the doses of the recipe you find above.
- Mix the mixture well, avoiding forming lumps. This step is essential for the success of the treatment, in order to be facilitated in the drafting of the cowash. If you prefer, add a teaspoon of honey.
- Start applying the product from the scalp, massaging with circular and slow movements. The substances must penetrate deeply into the hair.
- Continue the massage for at least 5 minutes, try to be gentle and don't forget the back of the head which is a difficult to reach but very important part.
- Leave the hair in place and tie your hair if it is more convenient for you.
- Proceed with rinsing. This is the fundamental step in which both cold and hot water must be avoided. A lukewarm temperature will be ideal. Water that is too hot damages your hair while cold water risks not being very effective in removing any residual conditioner and sugar.
- Continue to rinse until the hair appears well cleansed and clean; finally, remember to eliminate excess water from the lengths by squeezing them gently.
- Wrap your hair in a towel shaped like a turban.
Thin, curly, greasy hair: here's how to customize the cowash!
- Fine hair
In case of thin hair, add a teaspoon of castor oil and one teaspoon of linseed oil to the basic recipe. Both will help increase the amount of sebum by strengthening the hair.
Specifically, the castor oil will favor the natural development of the hair, preventing the formation of split ends. If you have fine and very damaged hair, instead of moistening it with just water, apply a mix of coconut oil and water before the cowash.
- Fat hair
For oily hair, on the other hand, the ideal will be to add a tablespoon of baking soda to the mixture of cane sugar and conditioner. Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar will also be fine, but you will have to reduce the dose of sugar by half. half a tablespoon glass.
After applying the mixture on the hair, add a few drops of tea tree oil to ensure a deep antibacterial action to the treatment.
- Curly hair
Cowash does not weigh down and gives softness to the entire hair, which is why it is so loved even by those with curly hair. In this case, opt for a thick and full-bodied conditioner, capable of deeply moisturizing. Add a spoonful of plain yogurt. and one of coconut oil.Both of these ingredients will be the perfect nourishment for every curl, eliminating frizz.
Can cowash always be substituted for shampoo?
Yes, cowash is a cleansing treatment that can be completely substituted for shampoo. The only caution to have is not to make this exchange suddenly, but to give the hair time to get used to it. What to do? At first alternate classic shampoo and cowash, then slowly put the shampoo aside completely and wash your hair only with conditioner.
Cowash: are itching and pain normal?
Feeling a little itchy scalp especially after the first applications with cowash is normal: the skin is stimulated by the sugar grains and reacts by causing a slight itch that will disappear shortly thereafter. If, on the other hand, you feel pain and notice red skin, stop the treatment immediately and consult your dermatologist.
