If there's white-ish stuff showing up on your hair brush or comb, it's probably buildup. This kind of white stuff is different from dandruff - it won't be flakey, nor will it be oily like sebum. Product buildup typically resembles teeny tiny strands of white hair, and it sticks to the hairbrush quite stubbornly.
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
This household staple is a natural way to remove product buildup left on your hair from styling products. Combine one part apple cider vinegar with one part water and use it to rinse your hair after shampooing. You can apply the mixture with a spray bottle or pour it directly onto your hair.
Signs and Symptoms of Over-Conditioned Hair
You'll notice your hair becoming unmanageable, soft, limp, or flat. Any sort of updo will be impossible, as your hair has no natural grip.
Moisture overload tends to affect those with high hair porosity, causing it to look limp, stringy, and greasy. To combat it, clarify regularly and go longer between washes. More washes means using more products- and more moisture.
Some signs that product buildup may have occurred in your hair are: Greasy scalp and dry ends – This is the most obvious sign of product residue in the hair as it causes an imbalance in sebum production. The strands are struggling to absorb moisture and the scalp is trying to remedy this by producing more sebum.
White Piedra. This is an infection of the hair shaft which is caused by a fungus variety known as Trichosporon, which is found in soil and dirty water. It is not considered to be wildly contagious but can spread within contaminated environments.
Remove build-up with baking soda
It turns out baking soda isn't just for baking – this store cupboard staple is super effective on oily, greasy hair types too. Baking soda is a totally natural chemical compound that can exfoliate the scalp, remove buildup and leave hair feeling clean and squeaky.
Removes Major Buildup
“So when it comes to that, I like to use Dawn dish detergent to help.” She goes on to say that she's had a more effective experience using the household product to cut hair grease than even Dr. Bronner's heavy-duty, all-in-one soaps.
Just like you can over-wash hair, you can over-condition it. Conditioner is supposed to make your hair look and feel moisturized, soft, and smooth. If you condition your hair too long or too often, however, your strands can become too soft making them difficult to style and susceptible to breakage.
A few unfortunate effects happen if you don't rinse the conditioner. One of the more damaging problems to look out for is the swelling of the hair cuticles from absorbing too much moisture. This can wreck your hair, even leading to breakage and irritation.
Plica neuropathica (polonica) is a rare acquired disorder of the hair shafts in which groups of hair are matted together forming a malodorous, encrusted and sticky, moist mass.
Dry Dandruff. Dry dandruff is made up of small, white flakes that can easily fall off the scalp. It is usually caused by a dry scalp. Wet dandruff, on the other hand, is caused by excess oil in the hair.
When you scrap away the skin on your scalp, you risk exposing it to infection and making your dandruff worse. If you feel the urge to scratch, use your time to the shower to gently massage your scalp instead. This will give you some relief and not disturb your scalp as much.
White piedra is a superficial fungal infection of hair caused by Trichosporon species. It presents clinically as white nodules encasing the hair shafts and may lead to increased fragility. It can usually be differentiated easily from clinically similar conditions based on clinical and microbiologic features.
Dandruff. Dandruff can sometimes be mistaken for lice, but the symptoms are different. While lice is a parasitic infection, dandruff is a skin condition.
Not only does your scalp have a plethora of sweat glands, but it also has an abundance of sebaceous (oil) glands, which produce oily sebum. Have you ever scratched your scalp and noticed white, waxy buildup under your nails? That's sebum mixed with dead skin cells.
Scalp massage is a simple and effective way to encourage circulation and loosen buildup. Rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar can also help remove buildup and restore your scalp's pH balance. If you prefer a more intensive exfoliation, you can try a scalp scrub or chemical exfoliant.
Signs of dehydrated hair include frizziness, rough texture, dull color, dry hair and split ends. If you notice these symptoms, try increasing the hydration in your hair by using hydrating hair products, avoiding hot styling tools, and limiting washing.
If your hair strands feel dry, brittle, and bumpy on touch, fair chance you're lacking moisture. If it feels mushy, doesn't stretch at all and snaps easily, it likely needs more protein.
Signs that you may be suffering from moisture overload are if your hair feels excessively soft and mushy, if you're noticing that your curl pattern is looser, or if your hair strands stretch but don't revert or bounce back. It can also lead to excessive split ends, limp or dull hair, a lack of volume, and more.