Have you ever noticed that your hair feels especially sticky and waxy after you wash it? It’s confusing! You’d expect to have soft, touchable hair after shampooing. Instead, you’re left with a waxy texture that sticks to itself, resulting in less voluminous hair. It may even appear greasy or dirty. You definitely don’t want that!
The good news is that this is common and fixable. The majority of cases are caused by a couple of culprits, and we’ll go over some ways to determine the cause of your sticky hair. Then, we’ll share methods of getting rid of the stickiness. We’ll also discuss sticky hair syndrome, which is rare but another possibility. Keep reading to get to the bottom of your waxy hair woes!
What causes hair to be sticky after washing?
There are two main reasons hair is sticky after washing. These are washing hair in hard water and product build-up. There are also a few factors that make hair more prone to feeling sticky. Lastly, there’s also a less common reason for sticky hair which is sticky hair syndrome.
Washing hair in hard water
Hard water is very common in the United States. Hard water refers to water that has high levels of minerals in it, like calcium, magnesium, carbonate, bicarbonate, and sulfates. These minerals react with your shampoo to leave a film that can weigh your hair down and make it feel sticky or dirty.
While you can purchase testing kits to determine how hard your water is, you can also access a report from your water supplier for free. It should contain this information, and if it doesn’t, you can call your local water municipality.
For a quick way to test your water, get a clear bottle and fill it with about a third full of water. Add a few drops of pure liquid soap like Castile soap. Shake it up and evaluate the water – is it milky or cloudy? Is there a lack of fluffy bubbles? This would indicate you have hard water.
Product Build up
If you’re using a lot of styling products, gels, sprays, or oils, your hair may become coated in a film that makes it feel sticky.
Along the same lines, shampoo itself can cause that tacky feeling if you’re not rinsing it thoroughly from your hair.
Over time, dirt and pollution can accumulate on your scalp and hair, attaching to the styling products and/or soap residue which can make your hair feel even more weighed down and waxy.
Other Factors
Severely damaged hair will be more prone to feeling sticky after washing. This is common with curly hair, which is drier than straight hair. If you have bleached and/or colored your hair, or have used chemical treatments such as a perm or Brazilian blowout, your hair may be damaged and in need of extra TLC before it feels smooth and soft after a wash.
How do you determine what is causing your sticky hair?
To figure out what is causing your sticky hair situation, we recommend first testing your water to see if it’s hard or soft.
While you can purchase testing kits to determine how hard your water is, you can also access a report from your water supplier for free. It should contain this information, and if it doesn’t, you can call your local water municipality.
For a quick way to test your water, get a clear bottle and fill it with about a third full of water. Add a few drops of pure liquid soap like Castile soap. Shake it up and evaluate the water – is it milky or cloudy? Is there a lack of fluffy bubbles? This would indicate you have hard water.
Product build-up is easier to diagnose. Heavier oils, pomades, and gels will weigh your hair down, especially if it is finer in texture. If you use these products often, you’ll likely end up with waxy buildup.
Lastly, be honest in assessing the state of your hair. If you’ve received the treatments listed above or if you regularly use heat styling tools on your hair, especially if it is finer in texture, it will become more damaged and dry.
How do you get rid of the stickiness?
The best way to get rid of stickiness if you have hard water is by buying a shower filter head that softens the water. These contain a filter made of carbon to remove the minerals we mentioned above.
If you have excess product build-up, make sure to use a clarifying shampoo once a week to cleanse your hair more deeply. Clarifying shampoo also works if you have hard water, as it will remove the minerals that have attached themselves to your hair.
Damaged hair can be helped a bit by using deep conditioners. If it is perpetually sticky after washing, it might be beyond help. Hair is dead and once it is damaged past a certain point, it can’t be fixed with products. You can try being extra gentle with it by air drying and avoiding any additional harsh treatments. However, the only real solution, in this case, is to cut off the extremely dry parts!
Baking Soda Hair wash
Another option that’s easy, effective, and affordable is likely in your kitchen cabinet – a baking soda hair wash.
This gentle abrasive will dissolve the build-up on your stands and exfoliate your scalp. It’s also eco-friendly and free of potentially harmful additives other hair products can have.
How to Make Your Own
To make the baking soda hair wash, combine 3/4 cup of water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a jar or other small container. While you’re mixing this, it’s a great time to add a few drops of essential oils. We love lavender, peppermint, or rosemary for their scents and ability to help stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth!
With damp hair, apply this mixture to your scalp, massaging it in with gentle circular motions using the pads of your fingers (not your nails!). Work the rest down the length of your tresses. Allow it to sit in your hair for 3 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with warm (not hot) water. Follow with a rich conditioner. To keep this whole routine eco-friendly, you can also use a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar and water. Rinse this through your hair with a pitcher and catch the excess in a bowl below. Repeat this 2-3 times and be amazed at how soft and smooth your hair will feel! Rest assured that the vinegar smell will go away once your hair has dried.
Do I have sticky hair syndrome?
This is the least common reason for sticky hair, but still possible if you’ve ruled out the others. We’re talking about sticky hair syndrome, also known as seborrheic dermatitis. While the other factors we’ve discussed are usually the cause of sticky hair, seborrheic dermatitis is very common in general and not harmful or contagious.
What is it?
Seborrheic dermatitis is simply a skin condition that presents itself as greasy white or yellow scales on your scalp. In babies, it’s known as “cradle cap” and in adults, it’s referred to as “dandruff”. Yes, that’s right! Regular old dandruff may be the cause of your waxy hair! While the word dandruff brings to mind white flakes of skin, this condition does include excess sebum. Sebum is the oily, waxy substance produced by your body to help moisturize and protect your skin. Having too much, however, causes the build-up and grease that is hard to treat by regular washing.
What are the symptoms?
Look for skin flakes on your scalp, as well as itchy red patches. You may also have patches of greasy skin covered with crust.
How do I treat Sticky Hair Syndrome?
For mild cases, you can use an over-the-counter dandruff shampoo. Look for those that contain selenium, zinc pyrithione, or coal tar. For more severe cases, we recommend going to a dermatologist who can diagnose and treat this more effectively. They may prescribe you a shampoo or scalp treatment containing a corticosteroid (cortisone-like medicine or steroid) which brings down the inflammation and help calm your skin.
The bad news is that there are no cures for seborrheic. It’s one of those things that can flare up with stress, in a cold and dry climate, or perhaps even an overgrowth of yeast on your skin.
The good news is, once you recognize the symptoms, you can treat and manage this condition, catching it before it gets worse and leaves your hair a sticky, waxy mess!
