Is There Such a Thing as Over-Conditioning Hair?
Conditioning too much can leave your hair limp and difficult to style. It’s important to understand how and why over-conditioning occurs in order to maximise the benefits without ruining hair texture.
What's conditioner used for, and how does it work?
Conditioners are used for two main purposes: to moisturise the hair and to protect the hair. Such products hydrate, nourish, and strengthen the shaft whilst coating the cuticle in a protective seal. This extra layer helps protect your hair from damage and lends a glossy finish.
What's over-conditioning?
Each time you use conditioner, you're coating your hair in a new layer of product. If you over-condition your hair, each the cuticle will be heavily coated, making it impossible for other products, such as serums and oils, to penetrate and work effectively.
Over-conditioning can occur in several ways:
- Using moisturising treatments or styling products in addition to a conditioner.
How can I tell if I'm over-conditioning my hair?
If you have thick and dry hair, over-conditioning may seem impossible. However, product build-up is possible on any hair type. 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. It's probably easier to see signs of over-conditioning on this hair type.
My hair is over-conditioned. What can I do?
The best way to tackle over-conditioned hair is to use a clarifying shampoo to remove any product build-up. Christophe Robin Clarifying Shampoo with Chamomile and Cornflower is perfect at reviving over-conditioned hair and making it more manageable.
You can also try a clarifying scrub such as Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt 250ml. Exfoliating your scalp once a week will help prevent product build-up that blocks follicles and leads to itchiness and a greasy feeling.
If your hair has become soft and limp due to over-conditioning, consider a protein treatment. Proteins help to strengthen and stiffen each hair strand to add texture back into the hair. We recommend evo mane attention protein treatment 140ml.
How can I prevent over-conditioning?
To prevent over-conditioning, it's important to use the right amount of conditioner and rinse it out thoroughly. Building a clarifying shampoo or scalp scrub into your regular routine will also help to stop product build-up. Conditioning is a crucial step to achieving healthy, beautiful hair, regardless of your hair types. However, conditioning is also a step that has to be carefully monitored and managed for best results. If you see signs of over-conditioned hair, it's important to remove the gunk to retain gorgeous locks.
