Curls are pretty and bold. Aren’t they? Girls or even boys with curly hair have to follow a proper routine to ensure their curls look good, clean and enhanced. A major step in maintaining curly hair is conditioning the hair. It hydrates your hair and helps you detangle the knots while ensuring smooth and soft curls.
However, if you overcondition your hair, it will harm it because, as with everything, overdoing something has repercussions. So, when you over-condition your hair, it leads to greasy and limp curls lacking volume and definition. If recently, you feel your curls are not holding or looking perfect or not holding shape, it might be due to over-conditioning. Here is how to tell and fix it.
What does over-conditioning of hair mean?
Most hair products aim to add moisture and soften the hair. This is necessary to ensure smoother curls and enhance the look. However, depending on your curl type, sometimes so much moisture is something your hair does not need. When you use an endless number of moisturising products on your hair, it will lose its shine instead of retaining it. If your hair is fine and soft naturally, overconditioning it can be the worst thing you can do.
Products like creams, deep conditioners, hair masks, and leave-in conditioners are rich in moisture. So, use them to a limit.
Signs you are over-conditioning your hair
If you can recognise the signs of over-conditioning, it will help you maintain the right balance of moisture in the hair. Some of the most common indicators of over-conditioning include:
● Limp and lifeless curls
Suppose the curls are losing their bounce and feel weighed down. It might be a sign that you are over-conditioning your hair. Try limiting the products or using the right curly hair products designed for your hair.
● Oily or greasy hair
When you over-moisturise your hair, it leads to a buildup of products. This makes your scalp and hair feel greasy even though you have properly washed them.
● No curl definition
When you use too much conditioner on your hair, the curls become soft, and they lose their natural shape. Not being able to define the shape of your curl is a big sign you are using conditioner too much.
● Not able to style them
When you condition your hair too much, it will refuse to hold styles. It makes it hard to achieve texture and volume, so styling them in any way is a chore.
● Excessive breakage
When you put too much moisture in your hair strands, it makes them prone to breakage. So, if you are seeing hair lying everywhere, maybe it is time to assess your conditioner and how much you are using it.
Fixing over-conditioned hair
Now that you know the signs you have over-conditioned your hair, knowing how to restore the balance is crucial. These tips can help:
● Use a clarifying shampoo.
The best tip is to use a gentle clarifying shampoo on your hair and wash the hair the right way. This will remove excess buildup while restoring volume to your hair.
● Managing your conditioner usage
It is best to use less conditioner to moisturise your hair or even switch to a formula that is light on your hair to prevent it from overloading.
● Get protein treatment
If your hair is soft and over-conditioning has damaged it, think about getting a protein treatment. It will strengthen your hair and also enhance the curl structure.
● Cut down on deep conditioning frequency.
If you deep condition your curls too often, it will lead to limp hair. So, reducing the frequency, like doing it once every two weeks, is enough.
How do you choose the right conditioner for your hair?
The best tip to not over-moisturise your hair is to use the right conditioner. Not all curly hair products are created equal. Check these things before you pick conditioners for your curls:
- Look for a conditioner that has protein and moisture to maintain healthy curls.
- Unless your curls are dry, do not use conditioner laden with heavy butter or oils as these will weigh your curls down.
- Always look at the ingredients; they should have jojoba oil, silk protein, and aloe vera.
Conclusion
Hydrating your curly hair is necessary to maintain the curls and give your hair a shine while nourishing it. Yet, over-conditioning is a thing, and it can make your hair limpless or unable to hold the curls you like. Fortunately, there are a few changes or adjustments you can make to your hair-care routine, like reducing the conditioning products you use or using a clarifying shampoo. These small adjustments are perfect for restoring the shine and curl definition.