Sticky hair?

[majesticgoldenr]

When I'm doing my hair, I tend to find that it sticks to itself (not actually "sticky", staticky or matted)

I keep my hair in a braided bun. So when I take it out, it doesn't easily unbraid. And when detangling, the hairs that have "fallen" stick in the hair still and seem to pull others out when I get them from the bottom (if that makes sense) because I can feel the tug on my scalp ...or I notice when I braid it up again, that I constantly have to rebrush because the parts of the braid get tangled again.

It seems to be sticky not "slippy" and I'm not sure what to do about it. Acv rinses?

*I know that it's not breakage.


Also I can tag on another question, when I wash my hair, I do a baking soda rinse. I ordered shikakai which is to come tomorrow. Can I mix them? What proportions if I use say 5 pinches of baking soda???

[ChloeDharma]

I would use the shikaki without baking soda. I don't know if you need to clarify or maybe the alkalinity of the baking soda leaves your cuticle raised. A vinegar rinse would help in that case and shikakai is acidic as far as I'm aware so might also help. Do you oil? Maybe a light oiling post wash would help.
I hope you find a solution to this soon, also some more information about how you wash, products (natural or conventional) you use etc might help people work it out with you.

[arr]

I've noticed two things can make my hair sticky: damage and too much oil. Damaged hair has a roughed up cuticle so the hairs stick together like Velcro. They don't have to be obvious splits or broken hairs either, sometimes you can't see it with the naked eye. Short of cutting it off, other things that can help are a little silicone containing products on the Velcro areas or a little oil. Mineral oil actually helps with this really well, just the tiniest amount. Which brings me to the second point, if it's not damage then maybe over oiling? I've noticed that if I put too much oil in my hair it attracts lint and just gets really sticky and it's hard to pull the strands apart.

One more thought: maybe you need to clarify? When my hair feels like it sticks to itself, oftentimes it has build up. After a good clarifying and deep conditioning I can run my fingers through my hair again.

[molljo]

It seems to be sticky not "slippy" and I'm not sure what to do about it. Acv rinses?


when I wash my hair, I do a baking soda rinse.

Does this mean you aren't always doing a vinegar rinse after washing with baking soda? Can you clarify that for us? I'm not a huge fan of using baking soda to wash in the first place since the alkalinity messes with the pH of your hair, which likes being acidic, but it also can be far too harsh and lead to horrible dryness and the velcro-y behavior you're describing. If you aren't regularly doing an acid rinse afterward, it's no wonder your hair is acting like this.

I don't know enough about shikakai to answer you either way, but the Herbal board should give you plenty of info.

[majesticgoldenr]

Okay this might get interesting:

Nope, I don't do a vinegar/ basic rinse, except for maybe a handful of times. It's never seemed necessary and my hair just feels clean after being washed, no dryness or goofy ness. And washing is nothing new where as when I was using vinegar, I noticed more splits. And I don't trim my hair (religion) so that wasn't something I wanted to encourage. Baking soda works for me, she who washes about once a... month.

Yes, I probably over oil. I use argan oil, coconut, etc.... And my hair honestly loves it ( I think) But it's probably the bright idea I got to blend some caster oil onto my length once braided because I'd rather have the ends that no one sees oily than all "crispy critter" dry and splitty. But leaving it there = bad things happen?

[lapushka]

I think it might be the baking soda / herb mix. I'd clarify with a simple sulfate shampoo. Then see what it does. Might be you have to do it twice.

[Carolyn]

My guess would be that the baking soda is the culprit too. Baking soda washes and adding BS to my shampoo to clarify trashed my hair. I found it super harsh and stripping even with the addition of a final vinegar and water rinse. I would ditch the baking soda and look for something else.

[majesticgoldenr]

Yeah, that would be one solution. I just never have had much of a problem with the stuff before. I think that I am going to cut the caster oil for a while and let things settle before I try the shikakai.

Now, I'm just wondering if baking soda and the herb could go together together, or one after the other, or just either/or.

I might ask in another thread (herbal side) later.

[Nadine <3]

I would ditch the baking soda for sure, that stuff killed my hair. I would clarify with a clarifying shampoo, DT and a vinegar rinse to reset your PH levels.

[mira-chan]

If baking soda is working then use it but an acid rinse is necessary after it for the hair itself and for scalp pH balance. Baking soda is basic (above pH 7) and that causes cuticles to lift. Hair is naturally acidic (pH lower than 7) and cuticles are closed tighter in acidic conditions, making the hair shinier and more slippery. An acidic rinse like diluted vinegar will probably fix the problem. If that doesn't help then clarify.

[Anje]

Just an addendum: Make sure you rinse the baking soda out of your hair with water. Then do a dilute vinegar rinse. You don't want any foaming happening on your head. :)

[Nadine <3]

Just an addendum: Make sure you rinse the baking soda out of your hair with water. Then do a dilute vinegar rinse. You don't want any foaming happening on your head. :)

Why not? A volcano on your head kinda sounds like a good time to me! :silly:

[mira-chan]

I wonder what that reaction would do to hair. Extra cleansing potential or disaster? If a volcano happens, tell us the results. If it works well then it will have the awesome name of "volcano wash."

[majesticgoldenr]

Last night I used about a spoonful of shikakai and it dried out my hair almost as much as a little fee a spoonful of baking soda ever does.

Is it the vinegar wash I used? What gives?

[lapushka]

I had a pack of this product once as well. It just did nothing for my hair, and my scalp couldn't take it. Basically, with my SD, I don't want to upset the balance.

I'd try a little less shikakai maybe. I don't believe you need that much.