This Clever Product Has Encouraged Me to Ditch Shampoo Altogether

Whenever I think of two-in-one hair products, I have terrible flashbacks to the cheap silicone-filled formulas of years gone by. You know the ones—they were marketed as real time-savers but usually left your hair dry, matted and actually quite limp. That’s because before anything else, they were more of a shampoo. They lathered and foamed to give hair that squeaky-clean feeling that we all love, but our strands do not. 

Enter a new form of all-in-one hair products that is set to make your hair-washing routine a whole lot easier. Cleansing conditioners (or co-washes, as they are also commonly known) work to cleanse the hair and deliver deep nourishment. Essentially, they ensure that hair isn’t subjected to the most drying, damaging aspects of shampoo.

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(Image credit: @ASOS_LESLEY)

So how do they work? Besides the fact they save time in the shower, as they only require one step, there are a few other things you should know about co-washes. Whereas shampoo usually contains a bunch of moisture-stripping ingredients that create lather and squeak, cleansing conditioners don’t lather at all. It can seem odd at first, but I like to think of it as breaking an addiction to hair-damaging foam. Just because they don’t work up into a lather does not mean they don’t offer your hair and scalp a really deep cleanse. You simply massage into wet hair, leave for a minute or two, and rinse off.

Of course, cleansing conditioners are the perfect hair-wash option for those with coarse, curly hair types that require constant moisture. It makes sense, therefore, that a huge amount of co-washes are targeted for those with curly locks. However, that’s not to say that those with different hair types can’t benefit either. Take me, for example. My limp, bleached hair is loving my new co-wash routine, as it works to maintain colour and offer hydration to my bleach-damaged ends—the area I need it the most.

Sound like something you could benefit from? Keep scrolling for the very best all-in-one hair products out there.

Up next, this heatless hair technique helped me achieve perfect beach waves.

Freelance Beauty Editor

Shannon Lawlor is a renowned beauty journalist and has contributed to Who What Wear’s beauty content since 2020. As a leading beauty editor, expert and brand consultant, she has over eight years of experience working for some of the industry’s most esteemed titles, including Who What Wear (of course), Glamour UK, Stylist, Refinery29 and Fabulous.

Having also worked behind the scenes with some of the industry’s biggest brands and retailers, Shannon has a unique insight into what people really want from their beauty routines. Understanding that beauty lovers seek honest, open and responsible advice, she has it made her mission to demystify the intimidating world of beauty, taking a no-frills approach to the most relatable topics.

While Shannon is the first to admit she doesn’t hold the answer to every beauty question out there, she is dedicated to sharing her expert insights in a bid to help. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, Shannon has an affinity for easy-to-use, foolproof beauty products and has made it her mission to scope out the best of the best.

When she’s not working, Shannon is likely soaking in the bath or giving no-holds-barred beauty reviews on Instagram from her bathroom floor.