When you step out of the shower, you want your hair to feel clean, soft, and beautifully conditioned. The last thing you want is to wash your hair only for it to feel sticky straight away!
If it does happen, it can really throw you for a loop! But you don’t need to panic; you just may need to change up your routine.
Why could your hair feel sticky after washing? There are a few likely reasons for your hair feeling sticky after washing. You might have over-conditioned your hair, used too much conditioner, have a product build-up, used a strong shampoo, or you’re washing your hair too often.
If you are becoming frustrated with sticky hair after washing, read on to find out more about why it might be happening, and how you could stop it from happening!
Reasons Your Hair Is Sticky After Washing
In order to try and prevent your hair from being sticky after washing, you need to try and figure out why it is sticky and greasy. There are a couple of factors that could be causing this stickiness.
Your Hair is Over-Conditioned
A common reason why hair might feel sticky after washing is that you have over-conditioned your hair. You might think that using more conditioner might help to soften and nourish hair more, but this isn’t always the case.
It is recommended to condition your ends, not necessarily your roots. Too much conditioner on your roots will definitely cause stickiness. Depositing too much conditioner on your roots will trap in oil, and once you have washed and dried your hair, will cause it to feel sticky.
To prevent this, only apply a small amount of conditioner to the ends of your hair, but skip your roots. Make sure to rinse this off properly.
Your Hair Wasn’t Rinsed Properly
If your hair feels a little off, you may simply not have spent enough time rinsing out your shampoo or conditioner.
The excess product will stick to your scalp and your hair, causing it to look and feel greasy. When washing your hair, it’s worth spending the time rinsing your hair thoroughly to be sure you got all of the product out.
You Have a Product Build-Up
Outside of shampoo and conditioner, you might be using other products on your hair. This could be from a variety of products, such as hairspray, serums, dry shampoo, oil treatments, and heat protectants. The more products that you use, the more build-up you could be facing.
While most of these products help hair, if left to sit without being washed out over time, they could cause build-up and be a source of greasiness and stickiness.
When you shampoo your hair, make sure you’re really washing it thoroughly, especially close to the scalp if you have been using products like hairspray or dry shampoo, which can really stick there if you’re not careful. Removing any products will prevent build up.
Your Conditioner is Too Strong
If you only apply the conditioner to your ends and rinse your hair out well, yet still find your hair still is coming out sticky and greasy, it could be that your conditioner is the problem. It may be too strong for your hair.
Naturally oily, thin, or fine hair does not need as strong a conditioner as thick or dry hair. You do not need to use such a strong conditioner on these hair types.
Instead, you should use a lightweight conditioner. You can notice a difference as early as the first wash after you switch!
You’re Washing Too Often
When you have oily hair, you might think that the solution to this is to wash your hair more often. However, the more you wash your hair, the oilier your hair will be!
By washing your hair too much, you are causing it and your scalp to become dry – which actually causes greater oil production.
Do not wash your hair every day, as this can cause a greasy feeling over time. Instead, wash your hair with a shampoo and conditioner two to three times a week, or around every other day.
You can also use a hair mask or deep conditioner once a week if you feel like your hair needs a little extra care and nourishment. I look forward to using this hair mask every week. My hair is so soft and delicious smelling after!
Related Questions
How do you get rid of sticky hair without washing again?
If you need a quick fix for sticky hair and don’t have time to wash it, you can try the classic last-ditch-effort hair solution: try using dry shampoo.
Dry shampoo will get rid of most of the stickiness and should even out your hair quite nicely, giving it shine without the grease!
How do I know if I have product build-up?
You will be able to notice that you have product build-up in your hair and on your scalp if your hair appears quite dull. This is because your hair is not receiving the essential oils and nutrients it needs, and it loses its shine and luster.
What vitamins help with greasy hair?
Vitamin B is a good choice to help promote healthy, non-greasy hair. Vitamin B helps to regulate sebum production, which control oil production. Vitamin B can be found in meat, poultry, beans, fish, and certain fruits and vegetables. Including more of these in your diet can make a big difference to your hair!
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