What to do about over-conditioned hair?

kdcreigh

I believe that my hair is over-conditioned.

I didn't think that this was possible because my hair had always been dry and rough to the touch. It looks like my hair was in horrible shape because of the products that I had been using for my entire adulthood.

In any event, my hair is now very soft, cottony to the touch and spongy. It stays wet for hours. I think that my [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Weekly-Deep-Conditioning-Treatment-p-106.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-weekly-deep-conditioner-treatment]weekly deep conditioning treatment[/buylink]s have been a little too intense. My hair is softer than usual with poor curl definition. It also stretches very easily (high elasticity).

Does anyone have any ideas on what I should (or shouldn't) do to get my hair back to normal? I stopped co-washing and only rinse my hair now between shampoos. I also just started using a lighter conditioner than normal (Tigi Bed Head Moisture Maniac). My normal conditioners are Blended Beauty Curl Quenching, [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Aloeba-Daily-Conditioner-p-104.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-aloeba-daily-conditioner]Jessicurl Aloeba[/buylink] and Oyin HoneyHemp.

Should I stop using conditioner for a while? I'm worried about how I would detangle my hair without conditioner.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Sun-Rei

I haven't had this happen since my BC, but when I was relaxed if I overconditioned I couldn't hold a curl the next week. I learned to do a reconstructive treatment (heavy protein) and that usually brought the balance back. Obviously, I don't know if it works the same on natural hair.

kdcreigh

Hi Sun-Rei,

Thank you for your response.

I also posted this question in the General section. I'm going to try an apple cider vinegar rinse, and eliminate all deep conditioning treatments. I'm also going to use a lighter conditioner just twice a week for comb-outs in the shower. I'll rinse my hair in-between.

If the above changes don't work, then I'll try a protein treatment. I'm a little scared of protein because I had protein build-up a couple of months ago - my hair felt very rough to the touch when dry.

I guess I haven't found my happy hair balance yet.

Sun-Rei

That sounds like a really good idea. Please post your results when you've finished.

kdcreigh

UPDATE: I did an ACV rinse last night. It seems to have helped quite a bit. Today I'm going to shampoo and do another ACV rinse.

foxycus02

acv...dont get too happy go lucky with those acv rinses. Anyway, I read somewhere and I think its true that there is no such thing as over conditioning curly hair, specially our type. I do think that we do sometimes over do it. If you are on the curly girl routine your daily conditioner should be a lightweight simple one. Not a heavy DT.
Also elasticity is good, it means that your strands are moisturized. If you were to pull your hair and it automatically snap off that means your strands are dry. I think that you might need to do a clarifying treatment like the baking soda and water mix, left on for 5 mins. And also although protein leaves your hair hard it adds needed strenght. And its not harmful to the hair when followed by a moisturizing treatment. A protein treatment should always be followed by a hydrating one. All in all you need a balance. My colorist explained it the best think of your hair as clay. Too much water will make it unusable, as will too much heat. Clay needs a balanced amt of moisture & strength for it to be pliable. Just like hair.

kdcreigh

Hi,

I'll need to buy a protein treatment... :twisted:

Any excuse to buy more products!

thinfine

I'm not trying to be funny, but would you please post your instructions that that helped you achieve "over-conditioned" hair? Your description of "over-conditioned" hair is exactly what I'm trying to achieve with the exclusion of the poor curl definition.

krw

Here is a link to a great article written by a member of LHCF and it gives a breakdown of how to achieve the proper balance of moisture and protein:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278612/the_fine_art_of_protein_and_moisture.html

HTH

kdcreigh

thinfine wrote:

I'm not trying to be funny, but would you please post your instructions that that helped you achieve "over-conditioned" hair? Your description of "over-conditioned" hair is exactly what I'm trying to achieve with the exclusion of the poor curl definition.

Hi,

I was using deep conditioners every day and not using any conditioners that contained protein. My hair was retaining moisture, but had poor curl definition.

I now use a lighter conditioner (right now I'm using Trader Joe's Nourish) and, once a week, a deep conditioner. I aslo use a protein rich conditioner periodically (Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner). And I've just started using henna and cassia again. I think I've found a good balance b/w moisture and protein for my hair. My hair is strong and elastic, but has curl definition.

NaturalRemedy

Yes it is possible to have overconditioned hair. The only thing you can do is do protein treatments to restore balance. Don't overdo it or else you'll have a problem on the other side of the spectrum. You definitely have over-conditioned symptoms. If when you pull your hair it seems to go way past its normal springyness (as you stated it having high elasticity) that means it probably will break very easily and you need protein ASAP to bring back its strength as it seems quite weak right now! HTH! Tell me how the protein treatments go for you. Stay away from the DT's for a while



:afro:

Suburbanbushbabe

I like Nexxus Emergencee for a protein DT. Also heard good thins about Joico Kpak, may try that once my 2 oz Emergencee is gone. (I've used it 3 times so far)

thinfine

kdcreigh wrote:

thinfine wrote:

I'm not trying to be funny, but would you please post your instructions that that helped you achieve "over-conditioned" hair? Your description of "over-conditioned" hair is exactly what I'm trying to achieve with the exclusion of the poor curl definition.

Hi,

I was using deep conditioners every day and not using any conditioners that contained protein. My hair was retaining moisture, but had poor curl definition.

I now use a lighter conditioner (right now I'm using Trader Joe's Nourish) and, once a week, a deep conditioner. I aslo use a protein rich conditioner periodically (Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner). And I've just started using henna and cassia again. I think I've found a good balance b/w moisture and protein for my hair. My hair is strong and elastic, but has curl definition.

Were you doing deep treatments w/heat on a daily basis? Currently, I am using BB Quenching (contains protein), Trader Joes' Nourish (contains protein), and Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose (no protein) conditioners. Therefore, I don't think that I should have a problem with an inbalance.

thinfine

krw wrote:

Here is a link to a great article written by a member of LHCF and it gives a breakdown of how to achieve the proper balance of moisture and protein:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278612/the_fine_art_of_protein_and_moisture.html

HTH

Hi krw. Thanks so much for the very informative link. After reading this article, I think that my hair still needs more moisture. However, the article seems to indicate that I should do my oil rinses after conditioning the hair instead of before.

kdcreigh

thinfine wrote:

kdcreigh wrote:

thinfine wrote:

I'm not trying to be funny, but would you please post your instructions that that helped you achieve "over-conditioned" hair? Your description of "over-conditioned" hair is exactly what I'm trying to achieve with the exclusion of the poor curl definition.

Hi,

I was using deep conditioners every day and not using any conditioners that contained protein. My hair was retaining moisture, but had poor curl definition.

I now use a lighter conditioner (right now I'm using Trader Joe's Nourish) and, once a week, a deep conditioner. I aslo use a protein rich conditioner periodically (Aubrey Organics GPB conditioner). And I've just started using henna and cassia again. I think I've found a good balance b/w moisture and protein for my hair. My hair is strong and elastic, but has curl definition.

Were you doing deep treatments w/heat on a daily basis? Currently, I am using BB Quenching (contains protein), Trader Joes' Nourish (contains protein), and Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose (no protein) conditioners. Therefore, I don't think that I should have a problem with an inbalance.

No, I was just using a deep conditioner in the shower and leaving it on for about 10 minutes (while I was in the shower).

curlywife

I did the Aphoghee Protein Treatment for damaged hair and the results were great. It really brought the balance of moisture and protein back to my hair.

natashamck

krw wrote:

Here is a link to a great article written by a member of LHCF and it gives a breakdown of how to achieve the proper balance of moisture and protein:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/278612/the_fine_art_of_protein_and_moisture.html

HTH

krw - that was a great article. Thanks for sharing!