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Gena Marie

6 Signs You’re OVER Moisturizing Your Curls + How to FIX IT | Curlsmith

Published 2 months ago • 5 min read

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​6 Signs You’re OVER Moisturizing Your Curls + How to FIX IT | Curlsmith​

This post is sponsored by Curlsmith. Full disclosure here.

If your curls are limp, frizzy, and not holding no matter what you do, they may be over-moisturized.

I’m walking you through how to fix moisture overload and prevent it in the future using some of my favorite products from Curlsmith, who is kindly partnering with me for this video.

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What is moisture overload?

Moisture overload is when the hair has received too much moisture from water and/or conditioning ingredients in haircare products. Although curly hair loves moisture, there can be too much of a good thing.

Signs of moisture overload

  • fHair is limp, weighed down, and not bouncing up
  • Hair feels mushy or gummy
  • Hair feels damp and won’t dry all the way
  • Hair is overly soft, fluffy, or won’t hold a cast
  • Hair is frizzy
  • Hair strand stretches very far and doesn’t return (low elasticity)

Moisture overload vs. hygral fatigue

Moisture overload is when your hair has too much moisture/water and has a buildup of conditioning ingredients causing low elasticity. Hygral fatigue refers to hair that has become weakened and stressed from repeated swelling of the cuticle by water.

Both are common in the summer when we have been swimming, washing more frequently, and air drying more frequently.

How to Fix Moisture Overload

Step 1: Clarify

Clarify to remove the buildup of conditioning products on your hair using the Curlsmith Detox Shampoo.
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Moisture overload is often simply a buildup of all those conditioning products we love to use on our curls.
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Swap your shampoo with a clarifying shampoo about once a month or more depending on how much buildup you get. The Curlsmith Wash & Scrub Detox shampoo has a high lather and a micro-fine scrub to sloth away dead skin cells and product residue from the scalp so your follicles are clear and healthy.

I also recommend the full Detox Kit which has 3 steps within it, a primer, detox shampoo, and a conditioner. This helps reduce tangles and dryness while clarifying. However to keep things simple, I am showing just the Detox Shampoo since it’s most critical.

Step 2: Bond repair treatment

Apply a bond-repairing treatment like Curlsmith Bond Curl. This is designed to be used on the hair before shampoo, but if you have severe buildup you may want to clarify first before using it to ensure it can soak in.
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This contains both bond-repairing ingredients to repair broken bonds in the hair and protein to strengthen and prevent damage.
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This will help restore your hair’s lost structure, shape, and elasticity. Depending on your damage level, you can leave it on longer such as up to 30 minutes before rinsing. Do not leave this on all day or overnight.
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Since my hair has some coarse areas that I don’t want to feel too brittle, I’m just leaving it on for about 15 minutes.

Step 3: Shampoo

Shampoo using a mild cleanser like the Curlsmith Essential Moisture Cleanser to remove Bond Curl.
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As I mentioned, Bond Curl is meant to be used before shampoo so you do need to wash after using it. I like to just use my regular shampoo or something mild since my scalp is already clean. Rinse thoroughly.

Step 4: Deep Condition

Finish with a deep conditioner to restore moisture. Opt for one with protein such as the Multi-Tasking Conditioner for an extra boost of strength if your hair is severely over-moisturized or damaged. Use for a protein-free option if your hair is overall healthy, low-porosity, or gets brittle easily.
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Since I don’t need much more protein, I rinsed it out shortly after since it can be also used as a rinse-out conditioner or a leave in. If your hair is over-moisturized, I would not use it as a leave-in in this routine.

Step 5: Style

Style as usual, but select products that are low in moisture. You may even want to skip the curl cream and leave-in conditioner. Use just a lightweight gel or a mousse to style.
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The Curlsmith Shape Up Aqua gel is one of my all-time favorites and it has both protein and lightweight moisture. I love using it on it’s own to increase it’s hold.
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Avoid creams and gels with heavy butters and moisturizing ingredients high on the list if your hair becomes over-moisturized easily.

I also recommend trying damp styling over soaking wet if your hair gets weighed down or over-moisturized. You can still add some water as you go, but soaking wet styling will just take longer to dry, dilute your products, and increase moisture overload.

After styling, scrunch with the Curlsmith Microfiber to soak up any excess water, especially if you did style soaking wet.

Glaze some extra gel if needed to increase your hold and tame frizz.

Step 6: Diffuse

Diffuse with the Curlsmith Defrizzion Hair Dryer + XXL Diffuser. Diffusing will evaporate all that water, set your gel cast, and your curl shape in place. This not only will help your curls last longer, but will help prevent hygral fatigue, especially if you have low-porosity hair.

Step 7: Bonding Oil

Finish with an oil for softness and shine such as Curlsmith Bond Curl Oil.

This contains ingredients lightweight oils and esters such as olive oil, coconut, and shea butter. The blend of oils is both penetrating oils to strengthen the hair, improve elasticity, and sealing oils to lock in moisture.

This will also help ensure your hair remains soft after using all those strengthening products.

Final Results

Do you see the shrinkage?! That is from Bond Curl plus those proteins working their magic. It’s crazy how much your curls return to their natural shape when using repairing products. If your curls are limp and lifeless from all the washing this summer, humidity, etc., this routine will helpfully bring them back to life.

The best part is my hair usually looks better on day 2 and less “wet” or crunchy. Some refreshing is needed when using light and medium hold gels, but it’s very easy and can be done with just water when using Shape Up Aqua Gel.

What do you think?

Reply with any questions you have regarding over-moisturized curls or hygral fatigue.

Unsure if you have moisture overload and need a diagnosis? Book a curl coaching session with me here.

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Gena Marie

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Helping you better understand your naturally curly hair through easy-to-follow tutorials, science-based haircare tips, and problem-solving.

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