Want your curls back? Heat styling, chemicals, and product build-up can take a toll on your natural curls, leaving them flat and lifeless. But don’t stress—there’s a way to fix it. Getting your curls back to life takes TLC, the right products, and a little effort to bring back that bounce.
How to Fix Curl Pattern? The Quick Answer
What Can Cause Hair to Lose Its Natural Curl?
- Several factors can affect your curl pattern. Heat styling tools like flat irons or curling wands can weaken your curls over time, making them lose their shape.
- Chemical treatments such as relaxers, perms, or hair dyes can also change the structure of your curls.
- Humidity and environmental factors like pollution or sun exposure can further cause damage.
- Lastly, over-manipulating your hair, such as excessive brushing or combing, may disrupt the curl formation.
How to Repair Your Natural Curl Pattern After Damage?
Keep Limited Heat Styling
Excessive heat styling can be a leading cause of hair damage and can even burn your curls, making it difficult for them to grow back. If you continue to use thermal tools without protection, you risk frying your hair, which can cause irreversible damage to your curl pattern. To prevent this, try using heatless methods or limit the use of a heat styler.
When you do style with heat, always use a protective product to minimize damage and avoid sacrificing the beauty of your curls for a temporary look. By focusing on these strategies, you can restore your natural curl or wave pattern without going too far.
Incorporate Co-Washing
If you want to improve your curl pattern, co-washing is a great place to start. This method, also known as conditioner-only washing, helps cleanse your hair without stripping it of its natural oils. By using lightweight conditioners, you can keep your curls smooth and healthy, avoiding the harshness of traditional shampoo.
Just be sure to rinse thoroughly and give your hair some time to adjust. This gentle alternative leaves your curls refreshed and free from impurities, promoting better curl definition over time.
Hydrate Curls with Deep Conditioners
To fix your curl pattern, start by hydrating your curls with a deep conditioner. A good deep conditioner will restore hydration, boost moisture levels, and reduce frizz, leaving your curls feeling soft and manageable.
Look for products with nourishing ingredients like AHA and Omega-9, which help repair internal hair bonds, especially if your curls are damaged or dry. My favorite recommendations include Wella Ultimate Repair Conditioner, the Pantene Intense Rescue Shots, and the Nexxus Keraphix Keratin Gel Treatment.No matter your curl type, using a deep conditioner is essential for improving curl formation and bounce.
Clarify Your Scalp
The build-up is common with hair, and it becomes more severe in curly hair especially when co-washing, as products can collect at the roots. To keep your curls fresh, use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a month.
This will help reset your hair by removing stubborn product residue, oils, and dirt, giving your scalp a deep cleanse and restoring shine. It also helps to condition your hair deep. So it is important to add a good clarify shampoo to your haircare regime.
Wrap your Hair Up in a Microfiber Towel
To enhance your curl pattern, gently wrap your hair up in a microfiber towel after washing. This towel absorbs excess moisture without causing frizz, unlike traditional cotton towels.
It helps to maintain the natural curl structure and minimize hair breakage, leaving your curls more defined and bouncy. Ensure the towel is not too tight, as this can cause tension and disrupt the curl formation.
Completely Dry Hair Before Heat Styling
To get the best results when styling, make sure your hair is completely dry before using any heat. Heat styling while using thermal tools on wet or even damp hair can overheat the water inside the hair shaft and ultimately burn cuticles and result in extreme damage and uneven curls.
Dry hair allows heat to be distributed evenly, ensuring that your curls are defined and last longer. Always wait until your hair is 100% dry to avoid frizz and maintain the health of your curls. Experts advise allowing ample time to blow dry or air dry before using heat-styling tools.
Always Use Heat Protectant While Styling
When styling your hair, heat protectant is a must. It forms a protective barrier between your hair and hot tools, preventing damage and breakage. Applying heat protectant helps to lock in moisture, keeping your hair healthy and shiny, even after regular use of styling tools like straighteners or curlers.
Skipping the heat protectant can lead to dryness and split ends over time. The high temperatures from styling tools can weaken the hair shaft, causing permanent damage. Using a heat protectant every time you style ensures your hair stays strong and smooth, avoiding these harmful effects.
Apply Hair Coloring & Highlights with Caution
When trying to fix your curl pattern, be cautious with hair coloring and highlights. Chemical influences like perms, coloring, and bleaching agents can weaken the hair cuticle and lead to damaged hair.
If you must color your hair, choose a shade closer to your natural color to allow time for your curls to heal and grow out. Over-processing can make your hair feel brittle and fried, so it’s best to avoid harsh treatments until your curls are in better condition.
Use A Brush to Distribute the Product
To get the best results for your curls, make sure the product is spread evenly. Using a curly hairbrush or comb after applying your styling products can help ensure better distribution. A Wet Brush, Denman Brush, or even a Briogeo Vegan Brush can work wonders, but you can use whatever you have that gets the job done. Just remember to brush up and away from the scalp to avoid a flat curls look.
Practice “Slow Drying”
To enhance your curl pattern, make sure you practice “slow drying”. Rushing the drying process can cause your curls to lose their shape and volume. Instead, gently blot your hair with a microfiber towel or cotton t-shirt to avoid frizz.
You can also let your hair air dry or use a blow dryer with a diffuser set to low heat. This will help your curls maintain their natural definition and minimize damage. Avoid aggressive towel-drying, as it can disrupt your curl formation and lead to frizz.
Incorporate Restorative Ingredients
To fix your curl pattern, start by using products with restorative ingredients. Opt for those rich in humectants, emollients, and glycerin, which help retain moisture and repair damaged strands.
Ingredients like keratin and sweet almond oil are especially effective, promoting elasticity, shine, and new hair growth. A product like Pink Root Leave-In Conditioner can also treat your twisty treasure while replenishing essential nutrients, leaving your hair healthier and more defined.
Consider Protective Hairstyles to Shield Strands
Protective hairstyles are a great way to shield your curls from damage, especially if you frequently use hair straighteners, curling irons, or too much coiffing. Styles like twisted buns or braids help keep your curls safe without requiring heat or pulling. Wigs and weaves are also excellent options, allowing you to maintain your look while your hair is under repair, giving your natural curls a break.
Apply a Leave-In Treatment for Hair Nourishment
If your curly hair feels damaged and porous, it’s important to focus on nourishment. Leave-in treatments are perfect because they stay on your hair longer than a rinse-out conditioner. These treatments help lock in moisture, prevent breakage, and repair your hair from the inside out.
Using a quality leave-in treatment like ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue can work wonders. It uses advanced anti-damage technology to repair your curls in just 90 seconds, making your hair smoother and more manageable. Applying this treatment regularly can leave your curls feeling healthy and revitalized, with 99% less breakage.
By introducing this treatment into your routine, your curls will start to feel less porous, more hydrated, and more defined overall. The key is consistency—keep nourishing your hair to restore its natural bounce and shine.
Don’t be Afraid of Hair Trimming
Heat damage to your hair is permanent, but trimming off the damaged ends is the best way to improve its health. Cutting off the heat-damaged hair helps your curls look better. You can either wait for new hair to grow or speed up the process by cutting off the ends.
Experts suggest, “Don’t forget to take care of those ends and trim breakage when needed.” Trimming will improve the appearance of your curl pattern and help bring life back to your curls.
Bottom Line
We all want to feel shine and confident in our strands, but sometimes it can be hard when your curls aren’t behaving the way we want. Understanding how to fix them can help you feel better about your look. The above points definitely help you understand how to overcome the manipulation that our curls face earlier.
Dive into the world of curls with Farah, a celebrated curly hair expert whose passion and expertise have transformed her into a beacon for those seeking to embrace their natural hair texture. With a vibrant career spanning over a decade, Farah has dedicated herself to the science and art of curly hair, making her an authoritative voice in this niche. Her deep understanding of curly hair’s unique needs and challenges allows her to craft personalized care routines and styles that not only enhance the natural beauty of curls but also promote hair health.