Hair Build-Up: Causes And Remedies

Build-up is frustrating as it can leave our hair looking dull, heavy, and lifeless. What causes hair build-up and what are some effective ways to fix it or prevent it from occurring altogether?

What is hair build-up:

Hair build-up refers to the accumulation of products, oils, dirt, and environmental pollutants on the hair shaft and scalp. It occurs when our regular hair care routine is not sufficient to cleanse and clarify the hair thoroughly. Common signs of build-up include greasiness, a lack of volume, flatness, and difficulty in styling. You may also notice that water will bead on top of the hair and have a hard time penetrating the hair.

Causes of Hair Build-up:

Product Overload: Regular use of heavy styling products like hairsprays, creams, serums, and oils can leave residue on the hair over time, leading to build-up.

Specific Products: Brands like Shea Moisture, Suave, Aussie, Cantù, etc are notorious for leaving a lot of residue behind on the hair. To make them more cost effective, they have to use cheaper ingredients which can then contribute to build-up, especially if the products contain silicones, sulfates, or other heavy ingredients.
Hard Water: If you live in an area with hard water (Hi, Springfield MO has some seriously hard water), the mineral deposits in the water can accumulate on the hair, causing build-up.

Environmental Factors: Excessive exposure to pollutants, dust, and smoke can also contribute to build-up on the hair.

Ways to Fix and Prevent Hair Build-up:

Avoid Using Certain Products: Limit the use of heavy styling products that can leave residue on the hair. These would include the brands I listed above, and products that have shea butter, coconut oil, and silicons high up on their ingredient list. Opt for lighter alternatives or clean brands (like Innersense) that are less likely to cause build-up.

Proper Rinsing: Ensure you rinse your hair thoroughly after shampooing to eliminate any leftover product.

Soft Water Solutions: Consider using a water filter or a showerhead filter to reduce mineral deposits from hard water, thus minimizing build-up.

Consistent Shampoo Routine: Make sure to be really intentional when you go to shampoo your hair. I have videos and captions on my Instagram showing and explaining exactly how I like to cleanse the hair for success!

Partner up with curly specialist who can guide you on what products to avoid, how to correctly cleanse and condition the hair, and can help you figure out if your hair does indeed have build-up on it!

Xx,

Joy