The joint cleaning used by our people with mainly rough curls and afro hair is a technique that builds on the same principles as avoiding sulfates. That is to improve hydration. “Curl hair requires maximum moisture to create a definition with minimal frizz,” explains Michele Scott Lynch, Curl expert, founder of Bouclème.
“A harsh detergent like sulfate removes all natural hydration in the hair and leaves the curls dry and curly. Co-cleaning is a way to combat this, either with conditioner-only cleaning or with cream-based, non-burning products to clean your scalp and hair, slowly purifying the balance of moisture without upsetting,” he says. “It’s like using a cream cleanser on your face, not a foamy one. The cream cleanser removes dirt, leaves skin moisturized, and the foam makes the skin tight and dry.”
If your hair made a mistake on the greasy side, you probably think this isn’t for you, but Michele insists that it is possible – you may need to mix it with your regular formula.
“Oil-based scalps can be too gentle in simultaneous cleaning, requiring a mild detergent-based shampoo (decyl glucoside), but alternating this with co-cleaning helps maintain optimal hydration. The frequency of co-cleaning depends solely on co-cleaning. The best for curls.”
And advice for the first timer there: “If you’re doing co-cleaning for the first time, expect a transition period of 4-8 weeks as scalp oil production transitions from overproduction to normalization. The roots can feel greasy during this period, but they’ll level out,” assures Michele.
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