How To Co Wash Natural Hair & Style With Heated Hair Straightening Brush – keep it simpElle

It’s a myth that your natural hair routine has to be a rigmarole, and that using heat is detrimental. My simple co-washing routine has served me well for over a decade now and products like a heated hair straightening brush can be super useful depending on how you choose to style your hair. 

Back in 2013, after over 20 years of relaxing (chemically straightening) my hair, I chose to “go natural”. And with that came a whole host of freedom – not having to spend a whole day in a salon and having the flexibility to be able to hit the pool and learn to swim as an adult. 

My hair has swam through the actual River Thames. It’s actually mad to think that I only learnt to swim properly at aged 30 because in the 20 years previous my hair was too much of a headache to get wet.

After I stopped chemically straightening my hair, I remember a friend & colleague telling me that this choice was like becoming a mother. And she was right. I regularly got the same questions like – how long (have you been transitioning)? or when (did you have the big chop)? – like a special club with appreciative nods and an opening for conversations started by strangers on the tube who also rock their curly kinky hair. 

I kinda like it though as it’s always an opportunity to learn and get ideas on how to care for my hair to encourage healthy hair growth. 

Curly Girl Method & The Benefits Of Co-Washing 

When most people think of co-washing and it’s origins, they refer to the steps of the curly girl method (CGM). The main principles of the CGM are switching out traditional shampoos in the cleansing process for conditioner instead.

This was one of the first things I did when I stopped straightening my hair as the sulphites in regular shampoo strip the hair’s natural oils and much-needed moisture. 

Google ‘black hair’ and ‘shrinkage’. And you’ll see that black hair likes moisture. The moisture gets all up in it, and the kinks and curls come alive. And yes, your hair gets shorter. But do we need to prove to anyone how long our hair is when it’s straight?!

The rest of the CGM method then focuses on ingredients and styling tools to use / avoid.   

My Co-Wash Routine (Wash & Go)

Weekends were for wash day when my hair was relaxed. Now, 99% of the time it’s a wash and go for me. After a really sweaty indoor cycling class. After swimming. When I need to change up my style to fit under my cycling helmet. It’s an extra ten minutes in the shower.

Here’s my step-by-step guide to help you become a co-wash convert too. 

Step 1. Start by getting your hair thoroughly wet. If your hair takes a long time to get wet it could be due to product build-up. 

Step 2. Using a silicone-free conditioner or a cleansing product 

Step 3. Scrub your scalp, really nice scalp massage, making sure that everything you have on your scalp is dislodged. I use a scalp exfoliator & massager for this step. 

Step 4. Detangle either using your fingers, or a Tangle Teeezer. I use the one for all hair types as I find I can never get a decent enough grip of the handle of the one made for 4c hair. If you have any major knots or pulling, then add more conditioning cleanser and more water.

Step 5. Rinse. But you don’t have to fully rinse out the conditioner; the amount you leave is dependent on your curls and how much hydration they need, so may take some experimentation and getting to know your hair.

Step 6. (optional) If you have really dry hair, it might be worth adding in a step to deep condition or use a leave-in conditioner. 

Step 7. Remove excess water with a microfibre towel or old t-shirt. Style hair and leave to air dry. 

Post Wash Styling & Care 

As my typical wash routine of a pineapple up-do requires little to no styling, it’s not often I use heat on my hair. While the CGM recommends no heat at all, we’re only human and sometimes it’s nice to switch things up. 

It wasn’t until I went natural that I ever had braids and usually, if you’re going to a salon to have them done, it’s useful to prep your hair by washing and then stretching the hair with something like a heated hair straightening brush. Once in this protective style, there’s no need to use heat at all. 

For sleep, I use a silk or satin pillowcase and failing that, I have a satin/silk lined bonnet to protect against hair breakage and dehydration. 

Best Co-Wash Conditioner 

When it comes to choosing a specific product for your co-wash routine, you might find that many co-wash products are just shampoo relabelled or regular conditioner marked up in price. 

You can simply use normal conditioner and still get the best results. 

Sulphate-Free Shampoo Options

My typical frequency of co-washing is once or twice per week, maximum, which is on the higher end for me as I currently have a really dry scalp which I think is seborrheic dermatitis. 

Also, with the amount of sweating I do as a result of exercising almost daily, I do often end up with product buildup on my scalp which is when I add in a shampoo step to my routine.

I still opt for shampoos containing natural ingredients over conventional shampoos and sometimes go for a clarifying shampoo like the Aveeno Clarify and Shine ACV shampoo.

It’s a good idea and I always make sure to use extra hydrating products when I’ve used even the gentlest shampoo to counteract the moisture loss. 

What Works For Someone Else Won’t Necessarily Work For You

When it comes to natural hair and all the various hair types within that spectrum, the most important thing to remember is that what works for someone else might not work for you – your hair will have individual needs. This can be for a number of reasons such as low vs high porosity hair, curl and coily hair types, or simply time. 

On my journey, I’ve used YouTube and blogs to find information and learn about products that I could potentially try. Now I focus on using products which are as natural as possible and suit dry hair types as afro hair is typically very very dry.

Have you got an alternative cleansing method for your natural hair? Or a product you swear by?

Elle