Gloppy, Pasty Hair

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Does anyone encounter this as they clarify their hair? The past two times that I've done so my hair became gooey, as though I dumped paste on it. Does anyone know why?

I only clarify once a month as I don't shampoo. I co-wash 3x a week and DC once a week. When I clarify, I use VO5's Key Lime version (I used to use Ion's version - I dealt with the same thing with this one, too). After I clarify, I use a moisturizing shampoo and then I use Suave Almond and Shea Butter as my conditioner.

The feeling goes away after I condition. I just want to know what could cause that icky feeling?

Thanks!

 

[NikkiQ]

I get the same results! I have that clarifying shampoo too and when I used it last week, both my NG and relaxed ends felt like I had something caked on my hair that needed to be washed off.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

The only time my hair feels like that is when I've been overdoing it on the oils/gels. While the mix (usually baking soda +condish) is getting massaged in, and then rinsed I can feel the gunk running through my fingers. I hate the feeling, but I'd rather have it going down the drain than staying on my hair and scalp.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

The only time my hair feels like that is when I've been overdoing it on the oils/gels. While the mix (usually baking soda +condish) is getting massaged in, and then rinsed I can feel the gunk running through my fingers. I hate the feeling, but I'd rather have it going down the drain than staying on my hair and scalp.

The thing is that I don't overdo the oil or gel. I lightly use it on my hair. Maybe it's the fact that I only clarify once a month? I just don't want to overdo it.

Nikki, ugh. It's so annoying that when the time comes to do it, I have to force myself.

 

[Nasdaq_Diva]

The thing is that I don't overdo the oil or gel. I lightly use it on my hair. Maybe it's the fact that I only clarify once a month? I just don't want to overdo it.

Nikki, ugh. It's so annoying that when the time comes to do it, I have to force myself.

Possibly. I clarify every 2-3 weeks. I don't use alot of gels, but I do oil alot. And I cowash often too.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

Thanks. I'll switch it up to every 3 weeks, instead of once a month!

 

[KittyMeowMeow]

OMG YES!!! I have been meaning to make a thread about this.

I discovered that my hair hates wax. This includes any product with the word wax in the ingredients, jojoba oil, and sebum (!!).

Hard Wax (Candelilla Wax, beeswax): while wet, hair became extremely hard after clarifying. Like dried superglue- horrifying! When dry, is brittle, dry, curls do not clump properly. Extremely itchy scalp.

Cure: Oils were the only thing that worked for me. I still haven't hit on the perfect method (I made a homemade mix w/ avocado & some stuff and it caused a similar problem so I'm trying the same methods), but something like prepooing with lots of your oil of choice (I use EVCO), then doing an oil rinse w/ very hot water, then washing. It took several weeks to be rid of it completely, using oils at every opportunity. I couldn't tell if it was gone or not unless I clarified b/c condish masks it. ACV rinsing might have helped. I think a heating cap with the prepoo helped. Letting the oil soak in for a while helped. I will be trying a warm washcloth to help move it off next. I basically tried a lot of stuff, and finally it came out. Oils help remove wax, and the wax will soften at high temps. My best advice is to be patient and use gentle methods (oil). I caused a bunch more mini setbacks with all the clarifying...

Jojoba oil: this is actually a wax. Hair becomes slightly sticky when wet, but not hard superglue like other waxes.

Cure: prepoo with oil, shampoo. Easy to remove.

Sebum: I wondered why I had some spots on my hair that would sometimes have wax symptoms, even though I stopped using wax & jojoba and got it all removed. I suspected sebum, and discovered that it is 25% wax. My roots would always feel kind of dry after washing, and I believe this is why- the sebum would move off my scalp and get stuck in my hair.

Cure: I always prepoo. I wash using the CWC method with every shampoo. This helps the sebum move down and out of the hair. I don't do scalp massages - it just moves sebum into my hair, except when I am prepooing. Then, I gently massage some EVCO (don't need a lot) to up the oil content in the sebum so it can move out easier.

Alternately, when I googled waxy hair, I found one thread on LHC that they thought something similar was caused by cones in Dove conditioner.

I hope this helps! If it's not something with one of the ingredients above...what are all of the new products that you've used since the last time you clarified and did *not* feel this hard feeling hair?

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

OMG YES!!! I have been meaning to make a thread about this.

I discovered that my hair hates wax. This includes any product with the word wax in the ingredients, jojoba oil, and sebum (!!).

Hard Wax (Candelilla Wax, beeswax): while wet, hair became extremely hard after clarifying. Like dried superglue- horrifying! When dry, is brittle, dry, curls do not clump properly. Extremely itchy scalp.

Cure: Oils were the only thing that worked for me. I still haven't hit on the perfect method (I made a homemade mix w/ avocado & some stuff and it caused a similar problem so I'm trying the same methods), but something like prepooing with lots of your oil of choice (I use EVCO), then doing an oil rinse w/ very hot water, then washing. It took several weeks to be rid of it completely, using oils at every opportunity. I couldn't tell if it was gone or not unless I clarified b/c condish masks it. ACV rinsing might have helped. I think a heating cap with the prepoo helped. Letting the oil soak in for a while helped. I will be trying a warm washcloth to help move it off next. I basically tried a lot of stuff, and finally it came out. Oils help remove wax, and the wax will soften at high temps. My best advice is to be patient and use gentle methods (oil). I caused a bunch more mini setbacks with all the clarifying...

Jojoba oil: this is actually a wax. Hair becomes slightly sticky when wet, but not hard superglue like other waxes.

Cure: prepoo with oil, shampoo. Easy to remove.

Sebum: I wondered why I had some spots on my hair that would sometimes have wax symptoms, even though I stopped using wax & jojoba and got it all removed. I suspected sebum, and discovered that it is 25% wax. My roots would always feel kind of dry after washing, and I believe this is why- the sebum would move off my scalp and get stuck in my hair.

Cure: I always prepoo. I wash using the CWC method with every shampoo. This helps the sebum move down and out of the hair. I don't do scalp massages - it just moves sebum into my hair, except when I am prepooing. Then, I gently massage some EVCO (don't need a lot) to up the oil content in the sebum so it can move out easier.

Alternately, when I googled waxy hair, I found one thread on LHC that they thought something similar was caused by cones in Dove conditioner.

I hope this helps! If it's not something with one of the ingredients above...what are all of the new products that you've used since the last time you clarified and did *not* feel this hard feeling hair?

Well, it's strange because I used to shampoo once a week; so, I never had the issue. But, once I stopped 'pooing and only co-washed, then it began. Since changing, I've mixed my oils (coconut, avocado, and EVOO) instead of using them singlehandedly. I also use Carol's Daughter's Hair Milk and Oyin's Whipped Pudding. Maybe it's because I'm transitioning and my hair's thickening.

 

[KittyMeowMeow]

The Carol's Daughter Hair Milk contains beeswax (I know this because it played a major role in the setback that led to me finding LHCF).

The wax is always there- you only are able to feel it when you clarify because it is masked by conditioners. Regular shampoo does not remove all the residual conditioners, so you can only feel it when you clarify.

I would suggest trying to remove it (as described above), and stopping using this and all other products that have wax or jojoba as ingredients.

My hair had a huge turnaround once I got the wax removed- so much more manageable, soft, and moisturized!

Well, it's strange because I used to shampoo once a week; so, I never had the issue. But, once I stopped 'pooing and only co-washed, then it began. Since changing, I've mixed my oils (coconut, avocado, and EVOO) instead of using them singlehandedly. I also use Carol's Daughter's Hair Milk and Oyin's Whipped Pudding. Maybe it's because I'm transitioning and my hair's thickening.

 

[chrisanddonniesmommy]

The Carol's Daughter Hair Milk contains beeswax (I know this because it played a major role in the setback that led to me finding LHCF).

The wax is always there- you only are able to feel it when you clarify because it is masked by conditioners. Regular shampoo does not remove all the residual conditioners, so you can only feel it when you clarify.

I would suggest trying to remove it (as described above), and stopping using this and all other products that have wax or jojoba as ingredients.

My hair had a huge turnaround once I got the wax removed- so much more manageable, soft, and moisturized!

I will consider this info. Thanks!!

 

[KittyMeowMeow]

Best of luck with this, and please feel to PM me if you think this is the culprit and you need any help!