If washing your hair leaves it feeling dirtier, not cleaner, you may need to adjust your natural haircare routine.
Why Does Hair Feel Sticky When Washing With WO?
Water-only washing requires more physical manipulation of the hair to remove the dirt than conventional haircare. Just as washing clothes in detergent requires less agitation of the water to achieve cleanliness – the detergent dissolves the grease – than removing stains with water only, going shampoo-free requires more actual washing of the hair.
The 'stickiness' you may feel is a combination of dust, dirt and sebum (the oil produced by your scalp). When dust gets wet, it gets sticky; when it meets grease, it tends to adhere quite firmly. A quick rinse under water isn't likely to help, any more than running a greasy, dusty board under water will clean it.
How to Prevent Sticky Hair
Sticky hair is usually caused by a lack of attention to boar bristle brushing, an important component of WO haircare. Boar bristle brushing brushes the dust and dirt right out of the hair (think of it as dusting a shelf before wiping it down – it won't get sticky). Brushing from the roots also distributes the sebum evenly down the hair length, rather than letting it clump at the roots and form a greasy trap for dust.
Detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb or your fingers before brushing. Start by brushing the length of your hair, gently shaking your hair to remove dust. Do this in sunlight and you might be surprised at how much dust your hair has collected! Then work from the scalp down to the tips of yourhair with long strokes, massaging your scalp with the brush and spreading the oils over your hair to condition the length.
Be sure to clean your boar bristle brush regularly to prevent dust/sebum buildup – this is a good way to use up leftover shampoo! Brushing this way regularly will help prevent sticky buildup, and doing it right before washing your hair will make the job much easier.
When washing hair, be sure to take time to massage the scalp and 'work' the roots of your hair. Standing under the water won't do the job: the hair needs lots of manipulation. Alternate blasts of warm and cool water to help dissolve the sebum.
Using Natural Haircare Products to Avoid Sticky Hair
If you don't have time to spend brushing your hair every day, or if your hair still feels sticky, it might be time to consider using other natural haircare ingredients. Water-only washing isn't for everyone! For hair that requires a little extra help, try an occasional baking soda and vinegar hair-wash, or try herbal haircare products such as amla, shikakai and soapnuts.
Other Ways to Keep Hair Clean
- Braid hair or wear updos which keep the hair confined whenever possible. Loose hair attracts much more dirt than bound hair.
- Wearing a kerchief, bandana or hat also helps keep hair significantly cleaner.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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