9 Cowashes That'll Cleanse Your Scalp and Provide Your Hair With Loads of Moisture

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How often you wash your hair is ultimately a personal choice, but one thing we know for sure is that washing your hair too frequently with shampoo (specifically those with stripping ingredients and certain surfactants) can result in more harm than good, like dry hair that's more prone to damage and breakage. To combat this while still being able to cleanse your hair and rid your scalp of dirt and product buildup, a good alternative to turn to is cowashing.

An abbreviation for "conditioner-only washing," cowashing is a process that's pretty self-explanatory. Conditioners don't technically cleanse the hair, though now that cowashing has become more popularized, you can find tons of conditioners that have special cleansing benefits. Read ahead to check out a few of our favorite ones.

As I Am Coconut Cleansing Conditioner
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As I Am Coconut Cleansing Conditioner

As I Am Coconut Cleansing Conditioner ($8) is what you should have in your stash of hair-care products if you're looking for a product that'll give you a gentle cleanse while also helping you retain tons of moisture.

Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash
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Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash

Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash ($10) is gentle on the scalp and is made with argan oil to help soften the hair and protect it against damage.

Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Nourishing and Cleansing Conditioner
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Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Nourishing and Cleansing Conditioner

Infused with vitamin B5 and biotin, Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Nourishing and Cleansing Conditioner ($11) works to simultaneously detangle, cleanse, and moisturize curls and coils.

Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Natural Cleansing CoWash
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Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Natural Cleansing CoWash

Think of Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Natural Cleansing CoWash ($8) as the perfect product to use if you want to cleanse your scalp and remove product buildup without the harshness of a shampoo. It's a sulfate-free formula that features aloe vera and coconut oil to help strengthen the hair and provide it with moisture from the inside out.

Kérastase Discipline Cleansing Conditioner
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Kérastase Discipline Cleansing Conditioner

Kérastase Discipline Cleansing Conditioner ($48) gently cleanses the scalp while detangling and making your hair feel smoother overall. The added curl definition it provides also makes it well worth the price.

Ouidad Curl Immersion Low Lather Coconut Cleansing Conditioner
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Ouidad Curl Immersion Low Lather Coconut Cleansing Conditioner

Ouidad Curl Immersion Low Lather Coconut Cleansing Conditioner ($36) is a cleanser for curls that need to be handled with care. It features a low-lather, sulfate-free formula that cleanses and moisturizes kinky, curly, and even color-treated hair.

Pura d'or Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner
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Pura d'or Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner

The Pura d'or Moisture Protect Cleansing Conditioner ($15) and the rest of the Pura d'or hair-care system recently got a cosign from celebrity hairstylist Cisco Reynoso and for good reason. The product nourishes and stimulates the scalp to promote healthy hair growth while also adding extra shine with the help of infused coconut and argan oils.

Camille Rose Caramel Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
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Camille Rose Caramel Cowash Cleansing Conditioner

Rosemary oil, which is commonly used as a natural hair-growth treatment, is a standout ingredient in Camille Rose Caramel Cowash Cleansing Conditioner ($14). It cleanses the hair without being too harsh and stripping while preventing hair loss thanks to the addition of witch hazel.

Cantu Natural Complete Conditioning Co-Wash
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Cantu Natural Complete Conditioning Co-Wash

Cantu Natural Complete Conditioning Co-Wash ($5) is infused with over 15 different oils and butters — including shea butter and castor oil — to provide your hair with optimal moisture and lock it in for days. (The unbeatable drugstore price is a bonus.)