Question 1

Can anyone tell me what the co-wash bar smells like?

Accepted Answer

Thanks for asking Suz, the Ethique Curliosity Co-Wash and Conditioner Bar has a creamy coconut & lemongrass scent.

Question 2

What exactly is a co-wash or cowash?

Accepted Answer

Hi Johnny,

Thanks so much for reaching out about our Curliosity Co-Wash and Conditioner Bar for Curly Hair!

Most curly hair needs a different approach to washing than straighter hair does, but what does co-washing mean?

Well, it’s what it sounds like – using conditioner to wash your hair instead of shampoo. But why would you want to do this? And can it really help you get clean hair without drying out your scalp?

What is co-washing?
Co-washing is simply using a conditioner to cleanse your hair (as well as hydrate it), instead of using a traditional shampoo. Some shampoos can dry out hair, so a lot of people, and particularly those with curly hair, use conditioner only. It might sound impossible that it can possibly work, but despite the marketing messaging telling you the opposite, you don't actually need bubbles to clean.

Conditioners work in the same way as shampoos do to remove oil and dirt, they are just less efficient, which is why they dry hair out less (and of course, they don’t produce lather). The emulsifiers (ingredients which mix oil and water together) in conditioners bind to oil on your scalp and hair shaft and are rinsed down the drain when you rinse off.

Co-washes really aren't too different in formulation to a conditioner (despite the marketing!). If anything, they tend to be much lighter in oils and designed to be rinsed easy, but at their heart, they are still a conditioner.

Curliosity was designed first and foremost to be a cleansing conditioner – hydrating enough to be a conditioner, but with enough emulsifier in there to really remove any dirt and oil from the scalp, without being stripping. The magical ingredient is one many people are familiar with, but those of you who aren't might be skeptical of. Behentrimonium methosulphate. No - it's not a sulfate, so don't worry it certainly won't strip your skin of oils. Instead, it's a cationic surfactant, which just means it's positively charged and is therefore ‘attracted’ to your negatively charged hair shaft. This means that whilst some of it is washed away by the water, a light remainder is left behind forming a thin layer that smooths your hair cuticle down and prevents moisture loss.

Curliosity also contains castor oil, which you will also find in another of our unusual cleansing products – SuperStar. SuperStar is our oil cleansing balm for face, so it uses oil to remove dirt, sebum and makeup. The principle that both products are based on are the same; a surfactant to ensure clean rinsing, with an oil that breaks up the bonds in makeup and removes other oils. I love formulating with castor oil, because whilst it's an oil, it's quite different. It's over 90% ricinoleic acid and acts as a plasticiser (changes the consistency of) waxes, resins and fats. What does that mean for your hair? It removes excess oil and dirt, without using a drying surfactant.

How to use Curliosity as a co-wash:
1.Saturate your hair (the wetter the better!).
2.Grab your Curliosity co-wash and wet it.
3.Slide Curliosity from root to tip 5-7 times, until you feel there is enough product in your hair.
4.Put the bar down, then massage your scalp really well, to ensure you remove old dirt and oil.
5.Rinse with warm water and you are done! You can condition as you would normally too if you prefer.

Curliosity also doubles as a leave-in!

I hope this helps - please let us know if you have more questions!

Team Ethique

Question 3

Is this a long lasting as their other shampoo bars?

Accepted Answer

It's longer lasting in our household, even with long curly hair.

Question 4

Can this be used with the Sweet & Spicy bar or would that be too heavy on hair?

Accepted Answer

Depends on your hair texture.  This is lighter than the wonderbar.  Used on somewhat dry, fine curly/wavy hair, it's great.

Product Dimensions	3.8 x 5.8 x 5.7 cm; 110 g
Scent Name	Lemongrass
Item Form	Bar
Target Gender	Female

Etique Conditioner, Non-Silicone, 100% Naturally Derived, No Additives, 0.3 oz (110 g), Solid, Organic

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