9 Best Co-Washes and Cleansing Conditioners

Wet Your Hair

The first thing you need to keep in mind if you’re going to use a co-wash is that your hair needs to be soaking wet. If it is not soaking wet, the co-wash will not spread evenly in your hair. This will, in turn, prevent it from cleansing the scalp properly and can even lead to buildup.

Use Lots of Co-wash

Once your hair is soaking wet, you can apply the co-wash. You have to ensure that you take a lot of the product as a little bit won’t be enough. It needs to be significantly more than what you’re used to with your regular shampoo or conditioner.

Massage the product into your hair thoroughly up to the point that it coats every strand properly. You should also use a wide-toothed comb at this point to detangle your hair.

RinseIt Off

After letting the product stay in your hair for a few minutes, you can rinse it off. Again, rinsing will require a lot of time, especially if your co-wash has strong moisturizing properties. You may have to rinse your hair fully two to four times to avoid buildup and residue.

Clarify Your Scalp

Depending on what co-wash you’re using and your hair type, you’ll have to clarify your hair and scalp regularly too. If your co-wash has strong moisturizing properties, you’ll have to do this once a week with a strong clarifying shampoo. If it is not, then you can use a normal shampoo once every two weeks.

1. Renpure Vanilla Mint Cleansing Conditioner

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Whether you’re switching from another co-wash or looking to begin your co-washing journey, Renpure’s Cleansing Conditioners are a good choice for multiple reasons. However, the first important reason is that they’re incredibly pocket-friendly.

Compared to other equally effective options in the market, Renpure’s co-wash offerings are so affordable that they will not force you to cut corners in the bathroom just to save some money. This is important because you need to use a co-wash in large quantities to get the right results. If you don’t, your hair will not only stay dirty but can get even dirtier than before the wash.

Renpure Cleansing Conditioners are particularly prone to making hair greasy because of their very thin and watery consistency. While this makes it easy to spread them evenly, it still means that you have to use a lot in every wash.

Fortunately, since they’re so cheap, using a lot in every wash shouldn’t worry you. Also, the bottles come with dispensing pumps, making them easier to use.

Another great quality of this co-wash is that you can get it in multiple scents. While we’re reviewing the Vanilla Mint variant, others are a great buy too. In fact, they have similar qualities and are only different in terms of scent. This cleansing conditioner will leave your hair smelling minty with a tinge of sweet vanilla in it.

However, if you think you won’t like the minty – vanilla scent of this cleansing conditioner, you can opt for the others. Your options will be rosemary – mint and coconut. The rosemary – mint variant will be minty with a hint of rosemary while the coconut variant will remind you of your beach vacations.

This cleansing conditioner is also a good choice because it doesn’t contain silicones in large concentrations. Many cleansing conditioners list silicones as their first ingredient, which means that their silicone-content is highest when compared to other ingredients. This isn’t true with these co-washes since silicones are at the end of the ingredients list.

High concentrations of silicones can make cleansing conditioners too heavy for medium to normal hair types. This product, though, doesn’t contain as many silicones which is why it is great for normal hair.

However, this also means that it will not provide a lot of moisturization and can even leave your hair very dry or tangled. Effectively, if you have very thick, very curly, or very dry hair, this might not be a good cleansing conditioner for you but if your hair is only medium-dry, wavy, or slightly curly, it will be perfect.

Further, apart from a few silicones, this co-wash is free of all other artificial substances such as sulfates and parabens. This makes it suitable for people with colored or chemically treated hair. It is even gluten-free, making it a good choice for people with celiac disease.

The formula of this co-wash contains many beneficial botanical ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and argan oil which hydrate the hair very well. Moreover, it contains keratin to help repair and strengthen damaged hair. The cleansing component in the formula is coconut-derived cleansers and they do the job well too.

We should also add that Renpure has partnered with the Salvation Army and helps the homeless in various ways.

Who’s it for: If your hair doesn’t need a lot of hydration and you’re looking for one of the most pocket-friendly co-washes in the market, get Renpure.

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2. As I Am Coconut Co-washCleansing Conditioner (Best Budget)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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The Coconut Co-wash Cleansing Conditioner from As I Am featured as one of the best options in our Detangler Guide posted earlier. For the same reasons, it is our best pick when it comes to co-washes or cleansing conditioners within the budget price segment.

This is a co-wash that balances its responsibilities remarkably well. It cleanses, hydrates, and detangles the hair without being too harsh or leaving behind a residue in the hair. The balance this product provides is better than even the more expensive options in the market.

However, since it is a cleansing conditioner, it does lean a little towards the cleansing side. As a result, depending on how dry your hair was, to begin with, you may end up needing a traditional or leave-in conditioner to get moisture back. For the majority of you, though, this shouldn’t be a concern.

Further, while it is presented as a cleansing conditioner, this product can also double up as a traditional conditioner or even a leave-in conditioner. This means that if you feel your hair is too dry after using this product as a cleansing conditioner, you can simply apply it again as a traditional conditioner or a leave-in conditioner.

The company says that it uses a “special blend” of natural ingredients in this product. The foremost of these ingredients are coconut oil, coconut extracts, and castor oil. Further, the formula also incorporates saw palmetto which is a well-known anti-dihydrotestosterone (anti-DHT) agent. DHT, if you don’t know, is responsible for the majority of hair loss complaints worldwide.

Owing to its coconuts content, this product smells distinctly of coconuts. The scent isn’t too strong and is tropical in nature. While most people like this smell, some of you may not depending on how you see coconut smells.

You can get this cleansing conditioner in two packs. The first is a 16-ounce jar that will force you to scoop out the product by hand while the other is a larger 32-ounce bottle that comes with a dispensing pump. Both bottles are very competitively priced but you’re, naturally, likely to save more money on the bigger one.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a co-wash that is excellent at detangling and cleansing both, get this one from As I Am.

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3. Keracolor Clenditioner Cleansing Conditioner

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Most co-washes are inherently suitable for susceptible hair types such as damaged, colored, chemically treated, and heavily processed. This means that most co-washes can be used on such hair types.

Even so, a cleansing conditioner that is formulated specifically with these hair types in mind will perform much better than other generic options. The Keracolor Clenditioner Cleansing Conditioner is the perfect example.

Designed specifically for colored hair, this product not only cleans and conditions the hair but also helps lock the color into each shaft. As a result, it prevents the color from fading.

This product is also different from other co-washes because it neutralizes hard water minerals. Hard water minerals are very damaging to colored hair because they draw the color out and speed up discoloration. Because this cleansing conditioner nullifies hard water’s effects, it is a great choice if you live in an area where you have to rely on well water or receive hard water from the authorities.

Like most hair care products designed for hair types susceptible to damage, this one also contains silicones. The silicones coat every hair shaft to keep moisture and dye in place but they can also leave your hair greasy if you use too much of this product in a single wash. Fortunately, it comes with a dispensing pump to prevent users from using excessive amounts by mistake.

This product’s formula is also free of harmful substances such as sulfates and parabens. Further, it doesn’t contain any ingredient with gluten in it, making it a good choice for people with celiac disease.

This cleansing conditioner will also appeal to animal lovers because it is vegan and cruelty-free. Moreover, the smell of this product is neutral enough to appeal to most people. It has a clean and refreshing scent that is neither overbearing nor too artificial.

This cleansing conditioner is available in two differently sized bottles – 12 ounces and 33.8 ounces. Naturally, the bigger one is more affordable in the long run.

Who’s it for: If you want a co-wash that is specifically formulated for colored or chemically treated hair, try the Keracolor Clenditioner.

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4. Devacurl No-Poo Decadence Milk Cleanser (Best Value)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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Devacurl is very popular amongst people who follow the Curly Girl Method. The method, itself, is about co-washing curly hair and using only extremely gentle and mild hair care products. This typically means avoiding all hair care products with harsh substances or ingredients in them such as sulfates or parabens and sticking with products based on natural ingredients only.

Devacurl is also partially responsible for making the term “no-poo” popular. One of the products through which they made this term famous is the No-Poo Decadence Milk Cleanser. The term “no-poo” refers to the absence of a shampoo in the washing process.

As you can tell from the brand’s name, it makes products exclusively for curly-haired people and the co-wash we’re reviewing here is no different. It typifies all Devacurl products in the sense that it is extremely gentle and doesn’t contain any artificial substances such as sulfates, parabens, or even silicones.

Designed for extremely curly, coily, kinky, thick, and coarse hair, it excels at moisturizing hair but is a very good cleanser too. While its cleansing abilities are drawn from coconut-based cleansers, it is considerably stronger than most other co-washes in the market when it comes to hydrating hair.

In fact, it is so powerful that if you don’t have extremely dry hair, it can leave your hair greasy and weighed down. However, that is its only flaw. From every other perspective, this is an exceptional co-wash.

Its moisturizing power comes from a series of natural ingredients such as chufa milk, grapeseed oil, quinoa proteins, and extracts drawn from several other naturally occurring substances. The scent of this product comes from the numerous coconut ingredients. Its smell is mild, subtle, sweet, and completely divisive. If you like coconuts, you’ll love its scent but if you don’t, you won’t.

Even though it contains multiple botanical ingredients, none of them are sources of gluten which is why this cleansing conditioner is recommended to people suffering from celiac disease. It is also a cruelty-free rated product.

You can get this cleansing conditioner in six different packs and bottles. There are three available bottle sizes which are three ounces, 12 ounces, and 32 ounces. Each bottle can be purchased individually or in double packs. We recommend getting the biggest 32-ounce bottles for two reasons.

The first is that they make this co-wash affordable by bringing its per-ounce cost under $1 per ounce. The smallest bottles will see you spend about $2.67 for every ounce.

The other reason why we recommend the bigger bottles is that they come with dispensing pumps. These pumps will prevent you from using too much of the product in a single wash and ending up with icky, greasy hair. Also, they will prevent wastage as you’ll be better able to control how much product comes out.

Who’s it for: If you have very thick, curly, or coarse hair that tends towards extreme dryness, get this no-poo from Devacurl.

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5. Creme Of Nature with Argan Creamy Hydration Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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Cleansing conditioners are almost always designed for curly and dry-haired people. However, when these co-washes are used by people who don’t have thick or coarse hair types, their hair becomes heavy, lackluster, and greasy.

The only way to avoid this problem for people with these hair types is to use such cleansing conditioners sparingly. However, this isn’t the easiest thing to do. A better solution is to get a cleansing conditioner that is designed to be lightweight.

This Hydration Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner is the perfect example because it doesn’t contain any silicones. It removes buildup and cleanses the scalp without weighing the hair down or making it greasy despite containing argan oil.

The reason why it can moisturize without weighing down the hair is that it uses argan oil in a butter blend form instead of its oil form. Despite the absence of significant slip, it still manages to remove frizz and tangles while adding shine to the hair. In fact, it is absorbed wonderfully well by the hair and scalp to the point that it disappears very quickly.

These same qualities make this co-wash unfit for people with extremely dry hair. The cleansing qualities of this co-wash are much stronger than its hydrating qualities. This means that it can end up drying your hair if you didn’t have enough oils to start with.

The company also says that this product is safe for use on colored or chemically treated hair. Further, they specify that this co-wash will help the hair retain 90 percent of the dye even after ten washes. This makes sense because it doesn’t contain sulfates or parabens.

The biggest flaw of this co-wash is the strength of its smell. The only saving grace is that the smell dissipates after the hair has dried. The scent is that of cedar which many people don’t like because they think it is a bit too masculine.

This co-wash only comes in 12-ounce bottles but they’re available in variously sized packs. There’s the standard pack that contains one bottle, the double pack with two, and the triple pack with three. Unfortunately, the bottles don’t come with dispensing pumps.

Who’s it for: If your hair doesn’t need a lot of moisturization and you need a co-wash with strong cleansing powers, get this Crème of Nature offering.

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6. PURA D’OR Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner

Editor’s Rating: 4.25/5.0

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Pura D’Or is mainly known for its anti-thinning shampoos because of how effective they are at slowing down hair loss and encouraging hair re-growth. However, while those shampoos are exceptional, other Pura D’Or products are pretty good too.

Take the Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner, for example. As its name suggests, this is a co-wash that specializes in cleansing the scalp without stripping it of its natural oils. In fact, its moisturizing capabilities are particularly noteworthy, making it perfect for people with extremely dry, damaged, and processed hair.

This cleansing conditioner revitalizes limp and lifeless hair by imparting moisture and various nutrients. In the process, it helps detangle the hair, counters frizz and flyaways, and softens individual strands. These qualities are a result of the various natural ingredients it incorporates into its formula.

For instance, it contains aloe vera leaf juice which is a great antimicrobial agent and moisturizer. Further, it contains argan oil that is known for its hydrating and nourishing qualities the world over.

The only problem is that this co-wash is a bit too effective when it comes to moisturizing hair. Therefore, if your hair isn’t dry enough or you use too much of this product, it can end up leaving your hair very greasy by leaving behind a residue.

If it didn’t come with built-in dispensing pumps, it would’ve been very difficult to control how much of the product you use in every wash. Since it does, this isn’t a concern. In case you were wondering, you should see results with a couple of pumps if not fewer.

For cleansing, this co-wash depends on oat bran. Oat bran doesn’t cleanse the scalp but instead absorbs grime and dust passively. As you rinse your hair, the bloated oat bran particles leave your hair and take the absorbed dust and grime along with them. However, since it isn’t an aggressive cleanser, some of you may feel that your hair and scalp aren’t clean enough.

The scent of this cleansing conditioner doesn’t come from any of its primary ingredients. Instead, it is added to the formula through lavender and geranium essential oils.

Resultantly, this co-wash will leave your hair smelling of lavender and geranium, with the former only offering minor notes. While the scent is quite light and subtle, the emphasis on geraniol makes it divisive too. A lot of people feel that it is an “old lady smell” and doesn’t fit into their lifestyle or preferences.

All ingredients in this cleansing conditioner are natural. It doesn’t contain any synthetic chemicals or compounds such as parabens and sulfates making it good for people with colored or chemically treated hair too. This product is also safe for people dealing with celiac disease since it doesn’t contain any ingredients with gluten. This is also a cruelty-free rated product.

The price of this cleansing conditioner is competitive without being too expensive or cheap. However, the company does back this co-wash with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee that you can use for a full refund.

Who’s it for: If you want a natural cleansing conditioner with strong moisturizing and strengthening qualities, get this one from Pura D’Or.

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7. unwash Bio-Cleansing Conditioner Hair Cleanser (Top Pick)

Editor’s Rating: 4.75/5.0

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When choosing a co-wash or cleansing conditioner, many experts will tell you to avoid products that contain silicones. While the absence of silicones may be desirable, it isn’t something that ensures the quality of a product. The Bio-Cleansing Conditioner Hair Cleanser from unwash is proof of that principle.

It is silicones-based but still manages to deliver excellent results on most hair types. It is fit for use on dry, damaged, curly, and colored hair. The only hair type it might not be ideal for, and this is where the silicones come into play, is oily. On oily hair, this product can leave the hair a little heavy. However, we should add here that instances of this happening are not as common as in other cheaper alternatives.

Buying a premium-grade product does come with its benefits. In the case of this one, the main benefit is that unless your hair is incredibly oily, you shouldn’t worry about grease and residue all that much.

In fact, this co-wash cleanses hair quite well, unlike many of its other silicone-based competitors. This is because it contains cationic cleansers. These cleansers excel at removing buildup and dirt without stripping the hair of its natural moisture.

Apart from silicones, this cleansing conditioner contains multiple moisturizing ingredients which ensure that the hair is well-hydrated, detangled, and frizz-free by the time you’re done. One of the ingredients it contains that are responsible for hydration is organic evening primrose oil. The silicones, of course, smooth and soften the hair. They’re ably helped by hydrolyzed keratin in the formula.

The formula is otherwise free of artificial ingredients such as parabens and sulfates. Moreover, none of its botanical or natural ingredients contain gluten, which makes it good for people suffering from celiac disease. This is also a cruelty-free product.

In terms of smell also, this co-wash performs well. It has a fresh, clean scent with a slightly sweet note. The scent is fairly neutral and not very overpowering which is why most people end up liking it.

While this is definitely a premium-grade product, it isn’t as expensive as some of the other products competing with it. In fact, it is very close to the divide between affordable and expensive.

You can tip the scales towards the affordable side further by buying the biggest bottle possible. The three bottles you can get this product in can hold 33.8 ounces, 13.5 ounces, and 2.5 ounces. Every bottle also comes with a dispensing pump which ensures that this cleansing conditioner doesn’t run out too quickly.

Who’s it for: If you’re looking for a premium-grade, highly-effective cleansing conditioner but don’t want to spend too much, get this one from unwash.

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8. Kerastase Discipline Curl Ideal Cleansing Conditioner

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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This cleansing conditioner from Kerastase qualified for this guide because of how effective it is at what a co-wash is supposed to do. It cleanses the scalp and hair very well while adding moisture to the hair. In addition, it makes the hair soft, sleek, silky, and bouncy.

It doesn’t even matter what kind of hair you have. Used in the right amounts, this cleansing conditioner can be useful on all hair types. If you have thinning or fine hair, you can use a little of this product to get the right results. On the other hand, if you have very curly, unruly, or wavy hair, you can use a lot of this co-wash to cleanse and moisturize your locks.

It cleanses because it contains multiple coconut-derived cleansers and it hydrates the hair well because it contains hydrolyzed keratin and elastin. All the other appearance and texture-related benefits are derived from these two qualities.

The best part is that it does all this without artificial ingredients. It doesn’t contain sulfates or parabens. In fact, it is even free of silicones, which is rare in premium-grade co-washes. Even though it is incredibly successful and effective, it still has a couple of flaws – one minor and one major.

The minor flaw is its scent. It has a sweet perfume smell. The problem is that the scent is too strong and a bit too artificial. While people who have used perfumes before wouldn’t mind its scent, others who are used to natural smells may not like it.

The bigger flaw is the cost. Like all Kerastase products, this one is very expensive. Whether you think its cost is worth its benefits or not will depend on your income and savings. What we can tell you is that once purchased this co-wash will stay with you for a while because the bottle comes with a dispensing pump that prevents wastage.

Who’s it for: If you don’t mind spending over the top for a high-quality, incredibly effective, silicone-free co-wash, choose this one from Kerastase.

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9. R+Co Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner

Editor’s Rating: 4.5/5.0

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All R+Co products are luxury products. The company itself says that its products are about getting an experience on top of the basic benefits. In practice, this means that R+Co products offer something over and above the core functions of the products in question. In the case of the Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner, this means multiple things.

The first thing you’ll notice with this cleansing conditioner is its texture. Despite what its name says, this conditioner doesn’t have a foam texture. However, the texture is different from virtually every other cleansing conditioner. The texture is similar to shaving cream, which makes it easier to apply.

Another way that this co-wash is different from its competitors is its scent. R+Co has named the smell “Love Bite” but that is only marketing. At the same time, they probably chose such an unclear name because it is so difficult to describe this co-wash’s smell.

Its scent is incredibly complex with so many underlying notes that every person will smell it differently. The company describes it as a mix of “orange, rhubarb, cardamom, juicy fig, guava, blonde woods, and amber”.

In fact, its complexity cannot be understated but it is also true that the smell has an artificial note to it. Further, it is very strong. Between the artificial notes and its strength, many users don’t like this co-wash’s scent.

The artificial note to the scent is surprising because the only artificial ingredient in this cleansing conditioner is silicones. It is free of other commonly used chemicals and compounds such as sulfates and parabens.

In fact, it contains a series of great botanical ingredients. Notable ingredients in this co-wash include diatomaceous earth, sunflower seed extract, and coconut acid sourced from Germany, Argentina, and Brazil respectively.

Additionally, the formula also incorporates other highly-beneficial ingredients such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, provitamin B5, and argan oil. It is also worth noting that even though it contains so many ingredients, none of them are sources of gluten, making this product great for celiac disease sufferers.

All these ingredients combine incredibly well to offer multiple benefits. The coconut acid cleanses while other ingredients nourish, strengthen, repair damaged strands. Many of the ingredients also offer intense hydration, ensuring that the hair is easy to detangle and free of problems like frizz, flyaways, coarseness, fraying, and split ends.

All these qualities are great for most hair types and particularly beneficial for people with colored, extra-dry, or super-coarse hair. However, if you have fine or oily hair, this product may not be right for you because of its moisturizing capabilities. If used on this hair type, this co-wash will leave the hair very heavy and greasy.

This co-wash will also appeal to people who are conscious about the environment and animal rights. It is not only a vegan product but also one that is rated to be cruelty-free.

The only problem with this co-wash is its price. It is one of the most expensive co-washes we’ve come across in our quest to find the best ones. In fact, it doesn’t even matter if you buy the bigger bottle. It will still cost a mini fortune.

The bigger bottle containing six ounces of the product will cost you upwards of $5 for every ounce while the smaller 1.5-ounce bottle has an even higher per-ounce value of $12. This cleansing conditioner is designed for the mega-rich or for those users who have a very discerning eye for quality. For the rest of the world, though, it is unbelievably pricey.

Who’s it for: If you like luxury and can pay for opulence on top of effectiveness, then get this cleansing conditioner from R+Co.

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