I know that most curly girls have heard of the term "co-wash." But if you haven't, here is what you are missing.

What is "Co-washing?"

Co-washing is an alternative way to cleanse your hair and scalp while keeping maximum moisture in your hair. The technical term is conditioner washing, or in other words, using a conditioner to cleanse your hair and scalp. I know, it sounds crazy, right? And you are probably thinking, "Who and why would someone use conditioner to cleanse their hair? Conditioner doesn't cleanse, it conditions, right?"

The benefit of co-washing your hair is to mainly retain moisture. It improves the moisture retention in your hair while cleansing your scalp. It removes frizz, resulting in a smoother, softer look and feel in the hair. I was not a believer of the co-washing method before, but now that I have tried it, I won't go back.

I'll tell you my story.

I have been natural for quite some time. My hair texture is very coily, tightly coiled to be exact. If you are wondering for reference, I am 4a/c. That means that my hair tends to be very dry with major shrinkage.

Lately, I haven't been taking proper care of my hair because I have been so stressed. I was not following any kind of regime and I was using a lot of shampoos that contained sulfates, which strips out most of the natural oils from your hair. A proper deep condition treatment was based on the amount of time I had during the day and leave-ins and daily moisturizers were obsolete. So you can only imagine the overall condition of my hair. Poor-very poor.

So one day, I came across someone on Facebook talking about co-washing. In the past, I was always against co-washing because I did not like the idea of not using shampoo to cleanse my scalp. In my mind, I thought that co-washing was a total waste of time and that my hair needed the cleansing suds from shampoo to feel clean.

But one day, I decided to try it. Only because I was desperate to get my hair back on track.

(Note: I did not use regular conditioner as for a co-wash. I bought an actually cleansing conditioner. Most of the time, it will say "Co-Wash" on the label.)

What products did you use?

Don't laugh, but I use a mix of different products. And they are not expensive. I went to Sally Beauty Supply and purchased my products, however, you can buy them almost anywhere.

First, I started off with Cantu's Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse. I apply this to my scalp only, massage, and rinse. You can repeat this step if necessary. This stuff is the bomb. I use it to remove any dirt and dandruff from my scalp. It does not strip my hair which is nice. It is priced $4.99.

Second, I apply Naturally Silk Elements Cleansing Cowash. So far, this has become my favorite co-wash. I apply it onto my hair and scalp, massage, rinse, and repeat as usual. After the first rinse, I was surprised how moisturized my hair felt. And the best part, it is only $3.99.

Lastly, I used Silk Elements Mega Cholesterol Conditioning Treatment. This is one of the best deep conditioning treatments in my opinion. And it is only $4.99. I applied this on my hair which a plastic cap, and let it sit for 30 minutes. I then used a wide, big tooth comb to detangle my hair. By this time, I couldn't tell a difference because there was still conditioner in my hair. But once I rinsed, I felt the difference.

For the first time in a long time, my hair felt moisturized. And this was before I applied a leave-in.

After having used this regime for a couple of weeks, I can feel and see a big difference in my hair. It feels a bit healthier and it doesn't look as dull or dry. It is not as frizzy as it was before, and now I can see my curl pattern coming out to play.

This co-wash method has become my hair's best friend.