How To Remove Product Build-up From Your Hair

When I find a hair product that works I use it as often as I can. This applies to shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, you name it. If it works after using it at least three times, that hair product becomes the hair product I use again and again until it doesn’t work anymore.


Before I started my healthy hair journey if a hair product stopped working I would try to power through and hope it would start working again. Or I would ditch the hair product and try to find another one that did work.

Now that I’m more knowledgeable about my hair and hair care, in general, I now know why I would experience this. It wasn’t necessarily the product that stopped working, but my hair due to product build-up.

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Product build-up is basically when products you use on your hair don’t completely rinse away and leave a film that builds up over time. Here are some of the signs that you have product build-up

• An itchy, flaky scalp
• Flaky residue when combing or brushing
• Greasy feeling hair
• Or dry hair no matter how much moisturizer is applied

How to get rid of product build-up

1. Clarifying or chelating shampoo

The best way to remove product build-up is to use a clarifying or chelating shampoo. These types of shampoos are formulated to deep clean your relaxed hair and remove or strip all the dirt and grease on it. The difference between a clarifying and a chelating shampoo is a chelating shampoo also removes mineral deposits and heavy metals from the hair. Here are my current favorites:

• SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow and Restore Shampoo. This shampoo is also sulfate-free and doesn't dry out my hair.
• Ion Hard Water Shampoo. This is a shampoo with sulfates, but it helps remove mineral build-up from hard and well water.

2. Apple cider vinegar

Another way to remove product build-up is doing an apple cider vinegar rinse. The acidity of apple cider vinegar is what gives it cleansing properties.

How to avoid product build-up

1. Use less product

Product build-up is the result of applying too much product to your hair over time. So using less product with each application can help with making sure you don’t have an issue.

2. Clarify more often

I try to clarify my hair every four weeks so that I can avoid having the hair products I use build-up on my hair to the point it becomes detrimental. How often you clarify if up to you, but making sure it’s a regular occurrence can be beneficial.