How To Fix Over Moisturized Curly Hair

October 09, 2020

A popular goal in the curly hair community is having highly moisturized curls every single day.

Everything we're told about having moisturized curls is true, in the sense that moisture is the key to healthy hair.

And if we're not hydrating our curls, we will more than likely experience some form of damage that hinders our hair's ability to flourish.

This is why we here at CurlMix strongly recommend that you only apply your wash day products or attempt to manage your hair when it's in its most pliable state.

And that pliable state is achieved when your hair is soaking wet with water.

However, while having moisturized hair is important, it's also very possible for you to over moisturize your hair and cause an issue.

We know... it sounds insane, but it's so true!

If you've ever experienced your luscious curls feeling limp, mushy or gummy, then chances are you may have over moisturized your curls and didn't even realize it.

Not to worry though, we have a few tips to help you fix over moisturized hair should you experience this; read on!

What is over moisturized hair?

Believe it or not, there is a literal term for hair that is overly moisturized, and the term is Hygral Fatigue.

This occurs when the hair cuticle excessively swells and contracts to allow water to absorb into the hair strand repeatedly.

To break this down a bit, think of your hand opening and closing, over extending itself over and over and over again.

After a while, your hand will start to feel fatigued and weak right?

That's what Hygral Fatigue is for your hair.

Over time, this constant opening and closing of the hair cuticle will weaken your hair strands, which can eventually lead to hair breakage.

What Causes Over Moisturized Curly Hair?

It's important to remember that we all have different porosities and textures, and therefore, the way your hair reacts to water will vary.

Learn more about that here:

However, there are a couple of common things you may unknowingly be doing to cause over moisturized hair, no matter your texture or porosity.

They are:

Over conditioning — leaving conditioner in your hair longer than the provided processing time on the label

And/Or

Soaking your hair on a daily basis

If you are doing either of those things don't fret, check out the tips below to fix your over moisturized hair today!

Cleanse

First let's start by cleansing some of that additional moisture from the hair using a gentle cleansing shampoo.

It's important to opt for a cleanser with surfactants — instead of rinsing with water or applying co-washes and conditioners — to thoroughly remove excessive build up or oil from your hair.

Hydrate

Next, you'll want to use a hydrating conditioner , but don't leave it in longer than the normal processing time.

Keep it simple here, and thoroughly rinse out the conditioner once your processing time is up.

Seal it in

Once your conditioner is completely rinsed out, follow up with a water-based moisturizer or leave-in conditioner.

You want to use lightweight moisturizers or leave-in conditioners with water as a first ingredient so that the product can easily absorb into the hair.

Using products with polar oil ingredients or polar oils themselves are an excellent choice to add into your regimen.

This is because polar oils have the ability to easily penetrate your hair strands.

And once that oil gets inside of the hair strand, it will then strengthen the hair's structure directly from the inside.

Pro-tip: The higher the concentration of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids are in a polar oil, the easier it will be for it to penetrate the strand.

By now, you probably want to know which oils are considered polar oils, right?

Well, a couple of the best polar oils to use include Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil , Sweet Almond Oil , and Avocado Oil.

Look out for these ingredients when searching for products to use in your weekly wash regimen; thank us later!

And there you have it!

We can't state enough that the journey to healthy hair requires patience and certainly the ability to pay attention to the cues your hair shows you.

If you notice that your hair feels:

Gummy when wet

Extremely frizzy

Moisture intolerant

Prone to breakage

Lacks elasticity

Then you may have over moisturized your hair.

If this is the case for you, then the hard part is over because you've identified the issue and can now take the steps to remedy it.

And if you're still uncertain, it's okay to seek help from a licensed stylist to receive professional advice.

Now it's your turn!

We want to hear your moisture story. Have you ever over moisturized your hair?

If so, how did you fix it?

If you haven't experienced this, share with us how you keep perfect balance and avoid over moisturizing your curly hair!

Sasha R.