Build-up effect: Learn how to prevent hair buildup

Protective pre-shampoo, shampoo, conditioner, leave-in, mask, finisher? How many products do you use to take care of your hair? We know your intention is to make your hair look good and healthy, but sometimes the result is not all that positive.

With continued use over time, these products can leave hair residue, especially conditioners, masks and leave-ins. As a result, the locks look dull and heavy, and it seems that no hair treatment works.

If you are experiencing this, be aware that this problem is named: it's the build-up effect, a buildup of waste that leaves your hair lifeless and blocks the action of new treatments. Fortunately, this drawback has a solution and can be avoided by following some tips.


How to identify the build-up effect

In addition to the fragile and lifeless appearance, the main indication that the hair is suffering from the build-up effect is the feeling that no hair treatment (home moisturizing, finishers, curlers etc.) works.

This is because waste forms a film around the strands and prevents other products from performing their function because they cannot penetrate the hair fiber. However, before the hair reaches this stage, it is possible to see other signs that the build-up effect may be setting in.

Read also: How many times a week should you wash your hair?


One of these signs is when you start having bad hair days frequently. Of course it is normal to wake up one day or another with terrible hair, especially if you have been shampooing for days, not drying properly or getting out of your care routine for any reason.

But when it happens almost every day, it can be a consequence of the build-up effect, which makes your hair dry, frizzy, dull and motionless. This makes it even harder to straighten the locks to give them a beautiful shape.

Also, another very clear sign of the build-up effect is when the scalp begins to itch or peel right after a wash. This can happen if you go for a few days without washing your hair, but when these problems show up hours after cleaning, you can turn on the alert: it seems like there is too much residue on your head.


How to combat and prevent waste buildup

If you have identified the build-up effect on your hair, you will need to take some steps to get rid of it. If you are not suffering from this (good!), These same recommendations are also tips on how to prevent the problem from arising.

1. Use an anti-waste shampoo

The first tip to counter the build-up effect is to replace the traditional shampoo with an anti-waste shampoo that removes excess accumulated hair and scalp products.

Read also: How to wash your hair the right way step by step

You may need to use this shampoo a few times if the problem is already installed. Do not forget to apply this product only to the scalp, without passing it directly on the hair, as it also removes the natural oils.

Precisely for this reason, when using anti-waste shampoo as a way to prevent the build-up effect, be careful not to leave hair even more dry and fragile. Those with oily hair may use it once a week, but those with dry hair should use it at most once every 15 days.

2. Take some care with shampoo and conditioner

It is not only anti-waste shampoo that should only be applied to the scalp: In fact, every shampoo has detergent properties, which are capable of removing dust, sweat and also oil that protects our hair, leaving them more dry.

So at the time of shampooing, use the shampoo only at the root of the hair, doing a good scalp massage.

Another caution is with the use of the conditioner: unlike shampoo, it should only be applied to the length and ends of the hair, also massaging well. After letting it work for a few minutes, rinse all hair thoroughly to ensure that the product has been completely removed? This tip is also true for hydration masks.

Read also: Do ​​a deep clean with this homemade recipe for anti-waste shampoo

3. Avoid certain types of leave-in products.

Rinse-free products are major causes of the build-up effect, especially those containing ingredients known as petrolatum, such as liquid paraffin, mineral oil, petroleum jelly, isoparaffin and dodecane. These components are not water soluble, so it is more difficult to remove them during washing, so they end up accumulating on the wires.

Therefore, always check the composition of these products and give preference to those that are made from vegetable oils, polyquartene and silicones derived from silicon, not petroleum, such as cyclomethicone and dimethicone.

4. Make a capillary schedule

If the above tips were not enough to recover your hair from the build-up effect, the best thing to do is to look for a good hairdresser to follow a hair schedule. This will give you professional assistance in removing waste and returning health and beauty to your hair.

Now you know: Taking care of your hair is important, but too much care and too much hair can end up damaging it. Balance is the keyword to always have beautiful and healthy hair.

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