Too much conditioner will eventually coat your hair in heavy build-up, leaving you with a lifeless, unmanageable mane. If you don't use enough conditioner, your hair will be hard to comb out and look dry. Be sure to match your application of conditioner to your hair length and type.
The best way to fix signs and symptoms of over-conditioned hair is to use a clarifying shampoo to remove any product build-up. You can also try an over-conditioned hair fix with a clarifying scrub such as Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub.
``You know you've over-conditioned when your hair feels too soft and limp, or if it feels heavy, thick, and oily,'' Philip cautions.
Residue Buildup on the Scalp
Generally, conditioners contain silicones and oils that leave residue on the hair shaft and scalp. This buildup may block hair follicles and weigh down hair. If you observe that your hair turns greasy quickly after washing, you may need to remove this buildup with a shampoo.
You'll usually be able to tell if you're using too much conditioner as your hair will be greasy and weighed down. You might struggle to heat style and you might find that it loses volume. If you notice these signs, you should try cutting back on the amount of conditioner you use.
Too much conditioner can weigh your hair down or alter hair's natural texture; this is called' over-conditioning'. But skimping on conditioner means you don't get all the hydration and protection that the product promises. Too little conditioner may leave you prone to static electricity build-up or flyaways in winter.
Although it's hard to say how much conditioning is too much for any specific athlete, the National Center of Sports Safety (NCSS) suggests that younger athletes should not train for more than 18-20 hours per week.
“I don't normally recommend conditioning twice during your hair wash day,” Palm said. “It's more cost-effective to leave the conditioner in for the recommended time—usually between 3 to 5 minutes—versus using it twice.”
Product Buildup: Look for signs of product buildup, such as greasy or limp hair, flakiness, or a lack of volume. If you notice these signs, you may use leave-in conditioner too frequently or apply too much product at once.
Over-application of Conditioner: Applying too much conditioner can leave a residue that makes the hair appear greasy. To avoid excessive oil buildup, the conditioner should be massaged into the ends of the hair; it should not be used on the scalp.
Conditioner can cause hair loss if you're coating your hair too heavily. It can be clogging your scalp or damaging the hair shaft causing breakage (AKA more hair fall!)
Signs Your Hair Is Overly Moisturized
Your hair is limp and falls flat. Your hair is dull and flat-looking. Your hair feels spongy and mushy when wet and feels too soft and fluffy when dry. Your hair has low elasticity — stretches when wet but doesn't bounce back when released.
Condition your hair 2-3 times a week, concentrating on the dry ends rather than the oily scalp. Use different products for the scalp and ends if necessary. Apply a lightweight conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends. Use a clarifying shampoo for the scalp and a moisturizing conditioner for the ends.
Signs Your Hair's Being Over-Conditioned:
Your hair feels limp or heavier than normal. Your hair has lost texture, slipping from buns or out of bobby pins. Your roots become greasier sooner than you're used to. Simply put, your hair is lifeless and not cooperating.
Leaving conditioner in your hair for extended periods can lead to product buildup, especially if the conditioner contains heavier ingredients. This buildup can make your hair feel sticky and stiff, and over time, it may even clog hair follicles, leading to weakened strands that are prone to breakage.
Here's a general overview: For those with dry, damaged, or color-treated hair, daily wetting may not be advisable as it can further strip the hair of its natural oils and moisture, leading to increased dryness, frizz, and breakage.
Your hair becomes greasy and lifeless
Putting more than the recommended amount of conditioner on your hair can leave it feeling oily and lifeless. Your hair might also feel too soft and glossy to style and look like it's lost volume. With fine hair, too much conditioner can manifest in stringiness too.
A good rule of thumb: If your curls feel dry, try washing less frequently. Washing your curls everyday can remove the natural oils of your curls and makes it difficult to retain moisture. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't wet your hair. "Rinse and condition more often; shampoo less," Hallman advises.
When you strip your scalp of its natural oils too often, it can go into overdrive trying to replace them, leading to an increase in sebum production. This can create a vicious cycle of greasy hair. A good rule of thumb is to wash your hair every 2-3 days, and weekly for curlier hair, depending on your hair type.
Generally speaking, it's recommended to wash your hair once it's greasy or unclean to the touch. For some people, that means washing every other day. For others, it could mean shampooing once a week. You may be familiar with the idea that washing your hair less often will “train” it to be less oily.
Over-exercising is when we do more exercise than our body can handle. This can include doing too much exercise or exercising in an unsafe way, or not eating enough food alongside exercising. Over-exercising is different for different people. One person might feel ok doing a certain amount of exercise.
In the first ten days to two weeks of inactivity/de-training, there is a measurable loss in cardiovascular fitness, but even this level of decrease is only about 2-3% drop in values such as VO2 Max, MAP (maximum aerobic power), or FTP (functional threshold power).
Applying Too Much
Using too much leave-in may create a greasy feel that makes your hair limp and difficult to style.