Hair products that are used on a regular basis can build up on hair, making it feel coated and look flat, dull, and dirty. Hair that is coated with product buildup can also be difficult to style. Product buildup does not allow moisture, oils, and nutrients to penetrate the hair and can make it feel dry until the product is removed.
Product buildup can have several causes. Hair that is non-porous allows products to build up on top of the strands. Buildup can also occur if you do not rinse out products completely or use hair waxes, silicones, cleansing conditioners, or cationic surfactants.
There are several easy ways to remove product buildup from your hair. One is to wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo.
Baking soda can also remove hair product buildup. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to your shampoo, wash your hair, and rinse it out. You can also wet your hair, rub in baking soda, then shampoo as usual. Baking soda has a high pH and can leave cuticles raised, so use a lower-pH conditioner after you rinse out the baking soda.
White or apple cider vinegar can remove products that have built up on your hair. If you do not want to shampoo your hair, wet it, massage a cup of white vinegar onto your scalp, rinse, and condition your hair. You can use vinegar after shampooing. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 4 cups of hot water, let it sit for a half hour, massage it into your hair and scalp after shampooing, rinse, and condition. You can also mix 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with your shampoo. You can use vinegar before you shampoo. Massage 1 to 2 tablespoons of vinegar onto your scalp and hair and shampoo and condition like you usually do.
You can prevent product buildup by changing your habits. Use less product every day and avoid using products containing water-insoluble silicones. If you need to use them, wash your hair with a shampoo that removes silicones.