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Mixed Chicks

Conditioning Cleansing Co-Wash

Co-wash / Low-lather cleanser, non-foaming

  • Co-wash
  • cream
  • Sulfate-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Protein-free
  • Cruelty-free · PETA-listed
Size2 fl ozmost listed · 2 sizes
Price$3.50seen at one store · 2 oz · from $1.25/oz in the 8 oz
Price / oz$1.75/ozat 2 oz
Where to buy2 stores · 2 sizes

Scent:

The ingredient list declares fragrance. What it smells of is not stated, and we do not guess.

Manufacturer page: imagebeauty.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

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Priced with its peers

$1.75/oz at 2 oz — less than 62% of the 95 co-washes , which mostly run $1.08–2.76/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash
Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added
Frequent washerswho want gentler cleansing
Maximum slipfor hair that tangles the moment it is wet
Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones
Silicone-free routinesno silicones appear in the list

Maybe skip if

this product carries a scent
A squeaky-clean feelthis deliberately leaves conditioning behind
Regular clarifyingthere is no detergent here to clear residue
Stretching wash dayswaxes stay until a detergent wash removes them
Foam-heavy washesit barely lathers
Very dry hairno humectant appears in the list

Whether washing without detergent suits you depends on your scalp oil rate and build-up history — that is what the consultation works out.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Cleansing strength None

No detergent — the conditioners do the cleaning.

Slip and detangling High

Conditioning agents sit high in the list — this is a detangling formula.

Oils and butters Present, lower down

Oils are present, but low enough to be a finishing touch.

Water-binding (humectants) None found

No humectants found — nothing here pulls water into the hair.

Weight on the hair Medium

Middle of the range — noticeable on fine hair, light on coarse hair.

Needs detergent to remove Yes

Water-insoluble silicones or waxes: a detergent wash is what removes them.

Protein None

No protein or amino acids in the list.

Fragrance Present

Fragrance is listed; it sits below the working ingredients.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients plus anything lower down that changes a decision. These chips name what an ingredient does — they are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

IngredientWhat it doesWhy it mattersChip
WaterWater (Aqua) solvent The base everything else is dissolved in Neutral
Behentrimonium Chloride conditioning agent Does the cleaning here — a co-wash cleans with conditioners Detangles
Cetearyl Alcohol fatty alcohol Body and cleansing feel — not a drying alcohol Softens
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil solubilizer Keeps oils dissolved in water Stabilizes
Peg-40 Castor Oil solubilizer Keeps oils dissolved in water Stabilizes
Stearalkonium Chloride conditioning agent Does the cleaning here — a co-wash cleans with conditioners Detangles
Phenoxyethanol preservative Keeps the product from spoiling Stabilizes
Tocopheryl Acetate antioxidant Protects the formula Stabilizes
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil emollient A softening touch, low in the list Buildup
FragranceParfum fragrance The scent Fragrance
Linalool fragrance The scent Fragrance
Limonene fragrance The scent Fragrance
What the list leaves out, and what it carriesThe list carries no sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. No protein — a moisture formula, not a repair one. Fragrance is on the label.
Full ingredient list (21)

US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.

  • 1 Water · Water (Aqua)
    General function

    The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    • solvent
  • 2 Behentrimonium Chloride
    General function

    A positively charged conditioning agent that binds to damaged, negatively charged spots on the hair. It is the main detangling ingredient in most rinse-out conditioners.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Electrokinetic measurement puts the C22 quat ahead of the C16 ones for deposition: the longer chain adds van der Waals stabilisation on top of the charge binding. That extra deposit is what coarse hair usually needs to comb through.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Substantive by design. A routine with no detergent wash gives it nothing to leave with.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science
    • conditioning agent
    • cleanser
  • 3 Cetearyl Alcohol
    General function

    A waxy fatty alcohol - nothing like drying alcohol. It gives conditioners their body and leaves a soft, smoothing film on the hair.

    Leading ingredient

    Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    The waxy solid that gives a conditioner its body. It deposits a soft lubricating layer, which is most of what makes hair feel smooth after rinsing.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    Deposits with the cationic conditioners and helps them lie flat along the strand, which is where the detangling actually comes from.

    DependsFine or easily flattened hair

    Near the top of a conditioner it is doing most of the conditioning, and most of the weighting, at the same time.

    PubChem
    • fatty alcohol
    • emollient
    • thickener
  • 4 PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
    General function

    A castor-oil derivative that dissolves fragrance and oils into water so the product stays clear and does not separate.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • solubilizer
    • emulsifier
  • 5 Peg-40 Castor Oil
    General function

    An ethoxylated castor-oil derivative. It dissolves fragrance and oils into a water-based formula, which is what keeps a clear liquid from separating.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    • solubilizer
    • emulsifier
  • 6 Stearalkonium Chloride
    General function

    A long-standing conditioning agent that flattens the cuticle and cuts static. It rinses less completely than newer alternatives.

    Supporting ingredient

    Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A cationic conditioning agent: it binds to the damaged, negatively charged parts of the cuticle and lowers combing friction there.

    May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair

    The class that does the detangling in a conditioner. It deposits lubrication where the cuticle is worn.

    DependsBuild-up-sensitive routines

    Substantive by design. A routine with no detergent wash gives it nothing to leave with.

    PubChem
    • conditioning agent
  • Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically used at 1% or less.
  • 7 Phenoxyethanol
    General function

    The most common modern preservative; it keeps the product free of bacteria and mould. It sits well below 1% of the formula.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • preservative
  • 8 Tocopheryl Acetate
    General function

    A stable form of vitamin E used to keep the oils in a formula from oxidising. It is used at fractions of a percent.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    PubChem
    • antioxidant
    • vitamin
  • 9 Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
    General function

    One of the few oils small enough to move into the strand, which is why it is used for pre-wash treatments. It can feel heavy or stiff on protein-sensitive hair.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.

    International Journal of Trichology
    • oil
    • emollient
  • 10 Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
    General function

    Wheat germ oil, a heavier oil used in small amounts for conditioning.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.

    • oil
    • emollient
  • 11 Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil
    General function

    A thick, tacky oil used for sealing ends and for slick, held-down styles.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.

    • oil
    • emollient
  • 12 Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
    General function

    Not chemically an oil: about 97% of it is liquid wax esters, which is why it resists going rancid and sits close to the scalp's own sebum. It smooths without a heavy finish.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.

    May suitMaximum-hold styling

    A wax holds by staying solid on the strand, which gives grip and separation rather than a set film that cracks.

    • emollient
    • light ester
    • oil
    • wax
  • 13 Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil · Olea Europaea Fruit Oil
    General function

    A heavy, coating oil traditionally used for deep conditioning.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair

    Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

    May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair

    A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.

    • oil
    • emollient
  • 14 Fragrance · Parfum
    General function

    An undisclosed blend of scent ingredients. Regulations let it stay unlisted, so a fragrance-free product is the only way to be certain what is not in it.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    Declared fragrance. On a fragrance-sensitive routine this is the line that decides it, wherever it sits on the label.

    • fragrance
    • declared fragrance
  • 15 Benzyl Alcohol
    • preservative
    • solvent
  • 16 Potassium Sorbate
    • preservative
  • 17 Linalool
    General function

    A floral fragrance component listed separately as a recognised contact allergen.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    PubChem
    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen
  • 18 Limonene
    General function

    A citrus-smelling fragrance component that EU rules require to be named separately because some people react to it.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    PubChem
    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen
  • 19 Geraniol
    General function

    A rose-scented fragrance component, listed on its own because some people react to it.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen
  • 20 Hexyl Cinnamal
    General function

    A jasmine-like fragrance component named separately as a recognised allergen.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    PubChem
    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen
  • 21 Benzyl Benzoate
    General function

    A fragrance component with a faint balsamic scent, named separately on the label because it is a recognised contact allergen.

    Estimated lower-concentration zone

    It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

    May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines

    One of the 26 scent components the EU requires to be named individually above a threshold. It is named because it is a known contact allergen, not because it is unusual.

    PubChem
    • fragrance
    • named fragrance allergen

What the whole list adds up to

  • 6 emollients
  • 6 fragrances
  • 5 oils
  • 5 named fragrance allergens
  • 3 preservatives
  • 2 solvents
  • 2 conditioning agents
  • 2 solubilizers
  • 2 emulsifiers
  • 1 cleanser
  • 1 fatty alcohol
  • 1 thickener
  • 1 antioxidant
  • 1 vitamin

Ingredient list captured 2026-08-30. Formulas change — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 2 oz

Seen at $3.50 1 store · checked Aug 30
Good value under $1 Under $0.58/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $1 line; products that do this job typically go for about $3 at this size.

Sizes

2 ozmost listed
$3.50
$1.75/oz
8 oz
$10
$1.25/oz

The 8 oz costs 29% less per ounce than the 2 oz.

Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it5 listings · 2 stores

2 ozmost listed

8 ozBest per ounce

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out
  1. 2 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
  2. Seen at $3.50 is the price we have observed for the 2 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
  3. Good value under $1 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.58/oz; at 2 oz that is $1. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
  4. Each size is guarded on its own, so a multipack or a marketplace listing at one size cannot move another.
  5. About $3 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 2 oz.

Formula

Formula score
8 of 10

A complete read of the format at an ordinary price: mid-range per ounce among co-washes, with the working systems present.

How the score is counted
  • 1 products that do the same job cost less per ounce
  • Costs less per ounce than 62% of the 95 co-washes we’ve priced
  • Covers 4 of the 6 things a co-wash should do
  • Reviewers mention 3 things they like about how it performs
  • Conditioning agents up frontWhat makes wet hair comb through.3 pts
  • Oils or butters in the working zoneSoftens the strand rather than just coating it.2 pts
  • Gentle or no detergentCleans without stripping the conditioning back off.2 pts
  • A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
  • No detergent-dependent filmNothing that needs a clarifying wash to remove.1 pt
  • Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.

WellaLowest cost per oz Nutricurls Waves & Curls Cleansing Conditioner $0.38/oz $1.37/oz less
  • Sulfate-free
  • Protein-free
  • Gentle cleanse
· Close function
Function
  • Water-binding (humectants)
  • Hard-water defence
Also
  • Salon tier
Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget

Built for wavy to coily hair

Final decision

Should you buy it?

A solid pick for the hair it suits
Best user

Colour-treated hair — for washing without sulfates and a protein-free formula

Biggest tradeoff

Worth skipping for anyone sensitive to fragrance, anyone who wants a squeaky-clean feel, or anyone who needs to clarify regularly

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, against what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.

1
SupportedBacked by ingredients
1
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
0
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
2
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
Hydrates

Humectants and emollients are present, but lower in the list than the claim implies.

  • Cetearyl Alcohol
  • Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
  • Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
Partly supported

Some hydration, at a low level.

Detangles

Conditioning agents that reduce combing force sit high in the list.

  • Behentrimonium Chloride
  • Cetearyl Alcohol
  • Stearalkonium Chloride
Supported

Easier detangling, less breakage.

Removes impurities as it conditions

The detergent system is gentle; it is unlikely to clear heavy build-up on its own.

  • Behentrimonium Chloride
Potential conflict

Too gentle for real build-up.

Hydrates with olive, jojoba & castor oil as it gently removes impurities, preserves moisture, restores strength & flexibility for easy detangling

The detergent system is gentle; it is unlikely to clear heavy build-up on its own.

  • Behentrimonium Chloride
Potential conflict

Too gentle for real build-up.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula — not marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.

Reviewers repeatedly describe hair that feels genuinely clean afterwards without the tight, stripped, dried-out feeling they associate with shampoo

Mixed Chicks brand-site verified owners

Several parents use it on young children's hair and report it lifts sweat and dirt without leaving the hair oily, frizzy or over-dried

brand-site reviewers washing toddlers' and children's hair

Everyday softness and manageability come up more than any other benefit, with several reviewers saying it cuts down on tangles and keeps hair easy to handle between washes

Mixed Chicks brand-site verified owners

A minority report the product is hard to rinse out completely, though even those reviewers still liked how soft the hair felt once it was out

a 3-star brand-site verified owner among otherwise 5-star reviews

More from Mixed Chicks

How this page was made

  • Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per product.
  • The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
  • Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
  • The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
  • 5 sources consulted for this product (3 manufacturer or regulatory, 2 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-30.
  • Ingredient references are linked for 8 of 14 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
  • We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
  • Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
  • Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
  • This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
  • Formula readings: derivation v22. Record last updated 2026-08-30.