Last updated on 12/21/21
Hair webbing occurs when the hair doesn’t have enough moisture for the hair’s cuticle to lay flat, thus causing individual strands to begin attaching (hair stuck together) and web around each other, much like a spider web.
We believe in giving our audience all the information they need about caring for their natural tresses so we created this blog on how to prevent and treat hair webbing. You don’t have to suffer through this problem any longer!
If you’ve ever wondered why your hair clumps together, let us help you get rid of it today with these simple steps!
The Test
The ultimate test of properly hydrated hair is to take two inches of your hair (dry, not wet) and pull it apart with your fingers. If when separating, your have hair sticking together or hair stuck together like glue, you have what’s called “Hair Webbing” (Try this in different sections of your hair). See photo below.
Proper Hydration
Hair webbing is an issue that can be caused by many factors. One reason may be that your hair is not properly hydrated. If not corrected, your hair may begin to form more tangles, single knots, then snap and break.
Hair webbing is something that happens to me from time-to-time if I rush through my wash n’ go’s or deep conditioning sessions, and don’t take care of it after getting color.
Solutions
Hydration From Within
This is a problem that you don’t want to ignore. You need to get your hair’s hydration and moisture back in check, so make sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, every day. Without it, we become dehydrated.
Dehydration has many negative effects on the human body including the hair. Hair follicles are one area where this becomes important because they need adequate stores of water for new growth.
This means that the hair follicles will stop producing new hair, and chronic dehydration will cause your follicles to stop producing enough hair strands that you naturally shed in a day.
Proper Cleansing
Many people neglect their hair, which can lead to dryness and breakage.
If you have dry hair, it may lack the moisture needed to stay healthy. To fix this problem there are three key things that need constant attention:
- How often do you clean your scalp?
- What products are you using?
- How often are you moisturizing?
It’s well known that dry hair lacks moisture. Most people’s first inclination is to add more product to their hair in an attempt to make it look and feel healthier, but this is not the solution. The more product you add, the more build-up will form, which will only make your hair drier in the long run.
The best way to add moisture back into dry hair is to cleanse your scalp and hair with a clarifying shampoo. This will remove any build-up that has accumulated and will allow your products to penetrate the hair shaft more effectively.
If moisture is still an issue with using sulfate-free cleansers, then try alternating it with a cleansing conditioner (aka co-wash).
Another option is to try a pre-poo oil/conditioning treatment.
Slow Down
Relax. Take some time to wash, condition, and deep-condition your hair properly so that you get the best results from these treatments. Don’t rush through it! Really work each strand of conditioner/deep conditioner in order for them all to be treated evenly and thoroughly.
How often someone washes their hair comes down to personal preference.
Carolyn Goh, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Deep condition
If your hair is severely dry, deep conditioning is important to restore your hair’s moisture levels. A deep conditioner will penetrate your hair shafts to provide intense hydration.
Look for a deep conditioner that contains natural oils, such as argan oil or coconut oil, or shea butter. These ingredients provide the most benefit for dry and damaged hair.
A deep conditioner can also be used as a pre-poo treatment before you shampoo. A pre-poo conditioning treatment is essentially a deep conditioner that’s left on the hair for a few minutes before you shampoo.
Pre-pooing may help to soften your curls, making them easier to manage during the shampoo.
Optional: Use mild heat when deep conditioning to open up the hair’s cuticle.
Protective Styles
If you wear your hair in protective styles like buns too long, it can lead to an increase in webbing. I notice hair webbing more often when my hair is constantly in a bun.
Protective styles are great for your hair, but they should not be worn all the time. Give your hair a break every once in a while and let it air out.
Webbing can be a nuisance, but with the right care, it can be manageable. By cleansing and moisturizing your hair regularly, you’ll be able to achieve the best results. Slow down, deep condition, and use protective styles sparingly so that your hair can stay healthy and hydrated.
Now that you know the basics of how to properly care for dry hair, it’s time to put them into practice. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to healthy, hydrated hair in no time!
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