Have you ever noticed that after shampooing your hair, it feels rubbery? Some call this feeling “brittle.” it’s common for people with long hair to experience this. The feeling of having rubbery hair makes people uncomfortable and want to have their smooth hair back. So, what causes the rubbery feel in your hair?
The reason you are feeling this is a result of the shampoo you are using. If you have a shampoo that contains sulfates, it makes your hair feel “rubbery” and less flexible. Sulfates are used in shampoos to clean and strip away dirt from your scalp, but they also strip away natural oils from your hair and scalp.
Again, if you’ve been using the same shampoo for a long, your hair needs a change. When you use one shampoo repeatedly, your hair gets used to it and stops absorbing what it needs to stay healthy. This causes dryness, breakage, dullness, and that rubbery feeling when you wash it.
Why Does Your Hair Feel Rubbery After Shampooing?
Photo by on Taisiia Stupak Unsplash.com
What causes the rubbery feeling in your hair? Read on…
Change Of Season or Weather
If you notice your hair is feeling rubbery after washing, it might be time to check the weather outside. Suppose you usually wash your hair in the summer but haven’t been able to spend time outdoors lately due to unseasonably cold temperatures or snowstorms. In that case, it might be time to switch things up with winter-friendly products instead of sticking with what works best when it’s warm outside all year.
The Water You Use
You should consider the water you use to wash your hair. Hard water contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium, which leaves your hair feeling dried out or stiff. If you are using hard water, it leaves a film on your hair, causing it to feel like rubber. If you live in an area with hard water, try using a clarifying shampoo to remove any mineral buildup. This restores moisture and promotes healthy hair growth.
The adverse effects of hard water are most noticeable when you style your hair. The buildup will become visible if you wash your hair frequently with hard water and don’t protect it with styling products. For example, when you blow-dry or use a flat iron.
Over Dying
If you’ve been using dye for a long time and aren’t seeing the results you want, it might be time to try a fresh approach. If your hair still feels rubbery after shampooing, it could be due to the buildup of chemicals from over dying.
Dye products contain ingredients like polymers that coat the surface of your hair shafts. These polymers bond, making it hard for water to penetrate and wash away excess dye molecules.
To prevent this, use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner. These products are designed for people who use regular dyes in their hair. They help remove chemical residue left behind by dye so that your scalp doesn’t become over-saturated with toxins.
Your Hair Type
If you have curly hair, the strand on your cuticle and the outer layer of your hair is tightly packed together. It makes it harder for water and other products to get in between them, so they can’t absorb as much moisture or product.
This leads to drier feeling hair and a more challenging time getting a comb through it. People with straight hair rarely experience this feeling.
Lack Of Natural Oils in Your Hair
You wash your hair, but it feels unusual. It’s soft and smooth, but there’s still something not quite right. Why is that?
It’s because your hair has been stripped of its natural oils. When you wash your hair, you strip the oil from the pores in your scalp and the ends of your hair. Your hair has two layers: the cortex and medulla. The cortex is mostly made of keratin protein, giving your hair strength and elasticity. The medulla comprises air spaces that give your hair volume and body.
When you use shampoo to wash your hair, it breaks down these proteins and any dirt or grime that may be on them—but it also strips away any natural oils that have been deposited there by sebum.
So, when you get out of the shower after using shampoo, it feels rubbery instead of like a freshly-washed head of hair.
How To Avoid the Rubbery Feeling in Your Hair
Avoid Washing Your Hair Every Day
When you wash your hair daily, you’re stripping it of its natural oils. These oils make your hair look shiny and healthy, so if you want to avoid having a rubbery texture, try washing your hair less often with shampoo, you may choose to use conditioner instead.
Protect Your Hair Against UV Rays
UV rays damage your hair, so protecting it from the sun is essential.
So, what should you do?
● Wear a hat. This is one of the easiest ways to protect your hair from harmful UV rays. Just ensure you’re wearing one that shields your entire head.
● Use sunscreen on your scalp. Just rub some sunscreen into your scalp to where it meets the hairline, and then pull back. Sunscreen is great for preventing sunburned skin all over your body, but did you know that putting some on your scalp before going out in the sun helps prevent damage?
Apply Conditioner Every Day
The best way to prevent the rubbery feeling in your hair is to use conditioner daily. Whether shampooing or conditioning, you must use a quality product that will give your hair the moisture it needs. This helps keep your hair healthy and strong.
Avoid chemical treatments like perms, relaxers, and dyeing. These types of chemicals cause your hair to become stiff and dull. If you must use them, be sure to use them sparingly.
Use natural products instead of synthetic ones. Natural products like coconut oil or olive oil help keep your hair soft and healthy as they contain vitamins and minerals that can nourish damaged follicles.
What You Need to Do to Avoid Rubbery Hair
It feels good to wash your hair every day and get rid of the buildup, but if it leaves you with a bad feeling, it leaves you thinking, what next? To avoid the rubbery feel after using shampoo, be sure to:
- Know the product that is suitable for your hair,
- Avoid using harsh chemicals on your hair
- Always wash your hair less often with shampoo but use a conditioner daily.
