Why Does My Hair Feel Waxy | 10 Causes And 5 Easy Steps To Fix This

If you’re asking yourself, “why does my hair feel waxy after drying, coloring, or bleaching?” I’ve got the answers for you! Learn how to get rid of waxy hair easily. 

Dealing with hair that feels like it’s coated in a persistent film can be frustrating and confusing. The quest for clean, manageable hair can lead us down a rabbit hole of products and practices, but sometimes the result is the opposite of what we intended. If you’re wondering, “Why does my hair feel waxy?” you’ve come to the right place.

At HairEveryday, we understand the importance of maintaining healthy hair and the impact it can have on your daily life and confidence. That’s why we’ve delved into the nitty-gritty of what causes that unwelcome waxy buildup and how you can tackle it head-on.

From product buildup to hard water effects, we’ll explore the various factors that can leave your locks feeling less than luscious. Say goodbye to the waxy woes and hello to the secrets of silky, clean tresses. Let’s dive into the world of hair care and uncover the mystery behind that waxy sensation in your hair.

Key Takeaways:

1. Waxy hair can result from product buildup due to heavy conditioners, waxes, and oils.
2. Overproduction of sebum by the scalp can lead to a greasy, waxy feel.
3. Hard water contains minerals that can accumulate on hair, causing a waxy texture.
4. Improper rinsing after shampooing might leave residue that feels waxy.
5. Using the wrong hair care products for your hair type can contribute to a waxy feel.
6. Silicone-based products can create a layer on the hair that mimics waxiness.
7. Frequent hair washing can strip natural oils, prompting excess sebum production.
8. Clarifying shampoos can help remove buildup and reduce the waxy sensation.
9. Natural remedies like apple cider vinegar rinses may help eliminate waxy residue.

What are the reasons why your hair might feel waxy?

Your hair can feel waxy due to excess product buildup, silicones in the conditioner or hair styling products you have used, excess oil production on scalp. If your hair feels especially waxy after washing, then it might be due to the use of hard water that increases mineral buildup on hair, the use of heavy cream-based shampoos and conditioners or simply incorrect washing method or use of mild shampoo that doesn’t clean the hair well enough.

Why Does My Hair Feel Waxy 

Incorrect or excessive use of hair products

There are two major things that can go wrong with the incorrect use of hair products. If the products aren’t right for your hair type or if you’ve used too much product on your hair, leading to excessive buildup – making your hair feel waxy.

The shampoos you use come in different types like all-natural, sulfate-free (with some natural ingredients) and then those containing sulfates. 

If you use the former two types of shampoos, companies make sure to add a certain amount of natural oils and that can end up leaving your hair greasy. 

Also, if you use a shampoo with sulfates, then it can dry out your hair, stripping away the hair’s natural oils resulting in the scalp producing excess sebum, making your hair feel waxy.

Another issue is the conditioner. Do you use it the right way? Remember that conditioner should only be used on the hair strands and not only the scalp. 

The scalp doesn’t require conditioning because the sebum in the scalp keeps it moisturized. So if you have been using conditioner on your scalp, your hair would have ended up feeling waxy.

Finally, when it comes to the use of products, if you have been using too much of any type of hair product on your hair, it can lead to product buildup on the scalp. This makes the hair feel waxy even once it has been washed.

You wash your hair too often

This is something most of you might have done in the past and that is washing your hair more often because it keeps getting waxy even though it has just been washed. Well, this could be one among the many reasons that is actually leading to your hair feeling so waxy.

The reason behind this is that, when you wash your hair, your hair loses its natural oils as it gets washed away by the shampoo. This makes your hair go dry. 

So the more often you wash your hair, it will lead to dry hair. When your hair is dry, in order to replenish the naturally lost hair oils, the scalp tends to produce extra sebum. This is what makes the hair feel waxy.

Your hair accessories aren’t kept clean

There are many types of hair accessories that we use from bandanas, to headbands, combs and hair brushes, head scarves, scrunchies etc., that are constantly on our hair. 

Therefore, the oil from the hair sticks onto these hair accessories and over time when we reuse them, they again, rub off on the hair making it look greasy.

You have straight hair

Those people with straight hair types (1A, 1B or 1C), often complain about their hair feeling waxy and this is a possibility because of their hair type.

Since their hair is straight, the natural oils from the scalp flow down throughout the hair strand very easily. This makes the hair feel waxy.

You suffer from scalp conditions like eczema or dermatitis

If you suffer from scalp conditions like dandruff and flaking, eczema or seborrheic dermatitis, it can result in waxy hair.

This is because scalp conditions can lead to overproduction of sebum. The sebum will also mix with the product residue, dead skin and dandruff flakes on the scalp leading to scalp buildup, again causing the hair to feel waxy.

You’re using the wrong type of water you use to wash your hair

Two things that could go wrong when it comes to water – the temperature of the water and the type of water you use to wash your hair.

If you use very hot water on your hair, it will drain out all the moisture from the hair, leaving the hair dry. Dry hair makes the scalp over produce sebum.

If the type of water you use is hard water, then your hair may feel waxy because the minerals in hard water doesn’t allow the hair to absorb sufficient nutrients while making the hair feel dry.

Certain environmental conditions

If you are someone who lives in a overpopulated city that is filled with dust and pollution, then waxy hair is a common problem. This is because the dust and grime from the environment settles on the scalp and mixes with the sebum and product build up and makes the hair feel waxy.

You follow an improper diet and eating routine

A lot of people live a sedentary lifestyle and consume fast foods and the wrong types of food items. 

This can result in hormonal changes, thus leading the skin to overproduce sebum. When the scalp secretes too much sebum, the hair begins to feel constantly waxy.

You have been consuming certain types of medications

Some people take medications like oral contraceptive pills, hormonal medications, steroids, testosterone, blood thinners, etc.

These medications can lead to excessive sebum production by the sebaceous glands in the scalp, making the hair feel waxy.

You live a stressful life

Just like external factors affect our hair, internal factors too play an important role. Whenever we stress, the body produces cortisol. This hormone leads to over secretion of the sebaceous glands if the cortisol is produced in high levels. This leads to waxy hair.

How To Get Rid Of Waxy Hair

Wash your hair the right way with the right type of water

Washing your hair the right way means washing your hair of all its shampoo and conditioner very well. 

If you do not wash your hair properly under running water (make sure to use only lukewarm water), there will be a certain amount of product residue that will collect. 

Over time, when this residue mixes with the sebum in the scalp, it leads to scalp buildup formation and your hair will begin to become waxy.

You can also use a shower filter (if you have hard water coming through your tap) to help get rid of the harmful and toxic minerals coming in through the water.

Using a clarifying shampoo once in a month can help get rid of the excessive product buildup on your scalp.

Remember not to wash your hair too often, as it could dry your hair out and make your scalp over produce sebum.

Change the hair products you are using

You can use lightweight oils, shampoos and conditioners and avoid using any products that contain harsh chemicals. 

This can help reduce product buildup on the scalp. Also, whenever you use such products, make sure to use a little quantity, remember a little will go a long way.

Change your food and lifestyle habits

Remember that your diet too plays an important role in how your sebaceous glands produce sebum and therefore, reduce the intake of junk food, oily food items, dairy etc and shift to eating more vegetables and having a balanced diet. 

This will help control the sebum production by your sebaceous glands.

Make sure to keep your hair accessories clean

This is another aspect to consider, keeping all your hair accessories properly maintained. Wash your combs, hair brushes, bandanas, head scarves, headbands, scrunchies etc, at least once in a week, with washing liquid and let them air dry.

Remember that your hair drying towel also needs to be washed once in four to five days, as it touches your hair often and can also be a cause for waxy hair.

Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?

The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Final Takeaway On Why Hair Feels Waxy 

As I have elaborated in my article, your hair can feel waxy due to a product buildup, hard water, silicone-based products, excess use of rich creamy hair products, and even underlying medical conditions.

Cleaning it regularly, using the right cleanser for your hair type, not using heavy creams and buildup causing gels, pomades, etc. can fix this issue in a few days. I also recommend investing in a chelating shampoo to be used once a week or a hard water softener for washing hair.

Also, remember to lead a healthy and stress free lifestyle, because as much as external factors play a role, internal factors too do. 

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