Takeaway. If your hair feels like straw, it's most likely a problem with moisture. This can typically be repaired by changing your usual hair products and your hair care routine. If product and lifestyle changes don't fix the problem, see your doctor or dermatologist.
If your hair feels dry after deep conditioning, then more than likely you have not cleansed your hair properly, or you are dealing with a significant amount of product build-up.
Washing your hair every day will strip it of its natural oils that are good for your hair, so it is important to wash every other day. The oils in your hair will hydrate your strands and help repair the straw texture. Condition your hair every day, whether you wash your hair or not.
If you're left with a slimy feeling, you're probably using too much. You only need about a quarter-sized dollop to get its full effect. Apply it to only the ends of your hair first, then lather it upwards towards your scalp.
Whether it's considered healthy or has some damage, your hair will surely benefit from the nurturing and hydrating ingredients that deep conditioners offer. After deep conditioning, hair looks shinier and healthier, feels softer and silkier, and is more manageable.
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. Over-conditioning thin, fine hair weighs it down and makes it look oily and perhaps stringy.
Use a hair mask weekly.
She recommends looking for moisturizing formulas with ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, and avocado oil. While these won't repair any damage (more on that in a minute), they will add plenty of moisture. In turn, this makes hair look and feel softer and smoother—always a good thing.
Wash day is never complete without locking in the moisture. There are three ways to seal moisture in your strands after deep conditioning: moisturizers and milks, leave-in conditioners, and oils. You do not have to use them all, but here are the differences so you know what will work best for you.
If you're questioning why some people may even choose to deep condition on dry hair, there's actually good reasoning. It has been said that conditioning on dry hair will better help the hair shaft absorb the ingredients in your deep conditioner without having the barrier from water.
Typically dry hair appears flat and dull, think no shine. Dry hair is also usually more difficult to manage and when you touch it, it has a noticeably brittle texture i.e. knots and tangles, etc. If your hair isn't maintaining a blow-dry this can also be a sign that your hair is lacking hydration levels.
The more moisture for thick, coarse dry hair, the better. So use a rich, rinse-out conditioner after every shower, and follow it up with a moisturizing leave-in spray before styling. Once a week, apply a deep conditioning mask. Allow it to penetrate for five to 15 minutes for a silky, smooth result.
Tangling, knotting, frizz, dullness, breakage: these are all signs of very dehydrated hair. The good news? There are easy ways to treat and prevent not just the annoying symptoms of dryness, but the dry, dehydrated hair itself.
Dry, brittle hair is often parched, so choosing products that infuse it with some much-needed hydration is key. "You want to use products that contain ingredients such as shea butter, olive oil, argan oil, or coconut oil," says Jonathan De Paca, a stylist at Frederic Fekkai Palm Beach.
There are a lot of products out there — conditioners, serums, shampoos — that promise to heal and restore dry, damaged hair. Sadly, there's really no way to heal damaged hair. Hair is not a living tissue with regenerative abilities, so it can't heal.
Using products that are designed to nourish the scalp and hair can definitely speed up this process, but on average you'd be looking at six months to a year to fully see a difference in your hair's condition.
Using a harsh shampoo. Blow-drying your hair too often. Heat damage from straighteners or a curling iron. Harsh chemicals like dyes, perms, and relaxers.
Overuse of hot styling tools, such as your hairdryer, curling tong and straighteners, can make your hair dry, prone to breakage and consequently more likely to fall out, especially if you use them every day. This is because when too much strong, dry heat is applied to the hair it weakens the hair shaft.
Final Verdict. Our best overall pick is, Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, which contains a patented bonding ingredient to repair and revive even the most damaged, brittle, processed hair. For a more affordable pick, consider the classic jojoba and avocado oil-infused 3 Minute Miracle Moist Deep Conditioner.
When you leave a deep conditioner in your hair longer than you should, too much moisture can be absorbed which will lead to less elasticity and breakage. Here are some signs of hygral fatigue: Your hair feels gummy or mushy. Excessive hair breakage.
Deep conditioner is meant to be left on your hair for around 30 minutes or more. Heavier than rinse-out and leave-in conditioners, it's designed to help repair very damaged hair and hydrate very dry hair. It's usually meant to be applied every month or two.
Damaged hair looks dull, breaks off easily, is extremely thin and does not retain moisture. In addition, you can tell that your hair is damaged if you notice a texture and color change. Another important indication of damaged hair is excessive tangling and split ends that won't go away even after a trim.