What Are the Best Conditioner Washing Conditioners?

Many curly heads rave about conditioner washing, or "co-washing," as the answer to dry, frizzy curls-- and honestly, it is! Conditioner washing, or simply forgoing the shampoo step in a traditional washing session, has gained popularity over the years as a way to restore lost moisture and definition to curly hair types. Conditioner washing is equally effective for relaxed hair types, and is also really good for young children (no burning, no tears!). But while conditioner washing can theoretically be done with any conditioner, some conditioners work better than others for conditioner-only washes.

Finding the Best Conditioner Washing Conditioners
Because hair products exit the market almost as soon as they make a debut these days, it's best to focus on characteristics of great co-washing conditioners rather than particular products. Instant conditioners are generally the best co-washing conditioners. But, how do you find the conditioner that's right for you? Compare your favorite conditioner products against these guidelines. While most conditioners will only have 2 or 3 of the characteristics mentioned below, this is a good starter guide for choosing a proper conditioner for washing:

(1.) Co-washing conditioners should be cheap.
Yes, that's right! Price is often a good indicator of whether or not a conditioner will suffice as conditioner washing product. $3 is my personal threshold. With conditioner washing, it simply doesn't pay to pay more for conditioner. Paying more for conditioner usually means you're paying for deeper conditioning which can overload the strands. Also, if you are planning to co-wash the hair regularly you are going to go through tons of conditioner. There's no way around it. If you're using your $20 salon brand conditioner, your pocket book is going to eventually feel the pinch! You can be heavy handed with cheapie conditioners without feeling guilty!

(2.) Co-washing conditioners should be watery.
Conditioners with a high water content are best. This watery requirement sort of plays into the cheaper requirement. Most cheap conditioners (Less than $2-$3), are chock full of water which is crucial to successful moisturization and ease of conditioner washing. Watery conditioners are generally cheaper and less viscous, meaning they'll slide easily onto the strands for cleansing and rinse away cleanly. These conditioners have a runny, lotion-like consistency unlike deep conditioners which are often more like creams. Save the super rich, thick and creamy conditioners for deep conditioning.

(3.) Co-washing conditioners should be low or no silicone products.
Conditioners with very few silicones are best. If silicones ARE present, water soluble "cones" like Centrimonium Chloride and Dimethicone Copolyol (and variants) should be used. Water soluble cones will dissolve and rinse away easily in water. Low silicone conditioners will reduce pesky product films and buildup which will reduce your need to actually use shampoo to clean up the conditioner. Some conditioner washers never use shampoo or any other traditional cleanser, while others rely upon apple cider vinegar rinses and/or baking soda to lift conditioner buildup. Some shampooing or deeper cleansing of some kind is virtually unavoidable if you've selected an oily or cone-heavy conditioner brand. Most of these heavy conditioners are actually intended for deep conditioning the strands. Deep conditioners do not make good daily conditioners for conditioner washing because they are formulated to leave a coating on the hair.

Often, the low or no silicone rule runs into problems in reality. Some of the most popular conditioner washing conditioners, like Herbal Essences' conditioners, are laden with "cones" to aid in detangling and to give the hair awesome "slip." Cones are hard to get around if you're looking for a conditioner that can also detangle your hair.

(4.) Co-washing conditioners should be low protein.
Now this may sound counterintuitive, especially for a practice that is infamous for causing moisture-overload in folks-but you really want a conditioner that does not contain too much protein. Proteins in instant conditioners are larger, shaft coating proteins. While they don't really make your hair feel rough or hard like the much smaller hydrolyzed proteins in deeper conditioners (or reconstructors), these large proteins can make your hair feel dull, limp, and coated.

Product Recommendations
I've tested and tried what feels like every "cheapie" conditioner on the market in my quest to find "the one." Suave, V05, Herbal Essences, Dove, and White Rain (if you can find it!) consistently make the best conditioners for conditioner washing. They can be purchased for a buck or two and come in tons of yummy fragrances. I've found that V05 and Suave tend to be the top "cheapie" contenders with people liking one and usually hating the other. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. Personally, I'm a Suave (Coconut!) girl.