By itself, styling wax doesn’t have any particularly negative effects, but it can cause some problems if not handled correctly.
The biggest problems with using hair wax are:
- Product build up
- Greasiness
- Dry scalp
WAX BUILD UP
Wax build up is what happens when you don’t wash hair wax out properly. Because wax tends to be insoluble in water, you need to use a deep cleaning shampoo to get rid of it.
If it’s not removed thoroughly, a mixture of wax and scalp oil can build up on your scalp. Between washes, this mixture begins to oxidize and break down into potentially irritating substances. This could have a few effects:
- It causes irritation and itch
- It dries your scalp out
- It can cause dandruff flare ups
So it’s important to make sure that you wash your hair thoroughly to avoid build up. You may also need to wash your hair more often if you’re using wax every day.
WAX OR GREASE?
One of the problems wax could bring is that if it’s not washed out properly, it could start to make your hair look greasy.
And because wax essentially creates a seal around the hair and scalp, it could have a knock-on effect of trapping the oil close to your skin.
The key in this case is moderation. Use a small amount of wax to style your hair. And as before, ensure that you’re washing it out properly.
HOW TO WASH WAX OUT
To make sure that your scalp stays healthy while you’re using wax, pick a shampoo that has great cleaning power.
Also, you could try applying a bit of shampoo to dry hair first – this helps concentrated shampoo bind to the wax which otherwise is hydrophobic – before it gets diluted.
After you’ve washed that out, try washing again normally, applying your shampoo to wet hair and you should be able to get rid of all of the wax.
A regular washing routine is a must when using any product, to make sure your scalp stays as healthy as possible.
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