Ok, I finally figured out the culprit behind my build-up!
I clarified with Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo. I followed it up with The Mane Choice Ancient Egyptian Shampoo as my moisturizing 'poo. Next, I used Not Your Mother's Royal Honey & Desert Kalahari Melon Repair & Protect Masque as my strengthening treatment and detangler. I sectioned my hair into 6s.
(On soaking wet hair) I smoothed NLS Irish Moss Styling Cream, then re-sectioned my hair.
(On wet-damp hair) I smoothed on Xtreme Clear Gel.
I'm currently air-drying my hair.
I figured it out after reading about DevaCurl's Damage. Anywho, I've been dealing with build-up, but I couldn't really pinpoint the cause. I was reading up on Poly-Quaterniums and Quaternium build-up issues, on the Science-y Hair Blog.
I usually avoid those, but 1 doesn't usually show up clearly as the others: Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride.
It's in a few of my new favorite products (from various brands).
I don't have any problems with silicones and sulfates, but Poly-Quats and the like? No Bueno!
So, after carefully reading each ingredient list and finding the common denominator=Bingo!
None of the products I used today have this ingredient.