Many people with curly hair experience damage to their curls at some point. Whether it’s from heat styling or a day at the beach, your curls can become damaged and dry. The good news is that there are several ways to fix damaged curly hair and revive your curls. This article will go over some simple steps to get you on your way to healthy, vibrant curls.
Don’t Over-Style Your Curls
It’s easy to get carried away with heat styling and end up causing damage to your hair, and it can be even more tempting to do so when your hair is already damaged and frizzy in a last bid to get it to cooperate. However, aggressive styling techniques – those than involve high heat or harsh chemicals – will damage your hair and make your curls look even more frizzy and dry. To avoid damage caused by over styling, use gentle styling techniques. For example, instead of blasting your hair on the hottest setting with a blow dryer, can use a diffuser attachment to disperse the heat and airflow, set the heat no higher than the warm setting, and compensate for the loss of heat by adjusting the speed to a higher setting.
Use the Right Products
When your hair is damaged, it’s important to find products that will work to repair and restore the health of your hair. This is doubly important for curly hair due to its delicate nature. The right products will work with your hair rather than chemically blast it into submission, ultimately making your hair not only look better, but feel better too. Look for products that contain humectants like panthenol, and occlusives like argan oil. These ingredients will help your hair absorb and retain moisture, which helps repair existing damage, bring out the natural shine and health of your hair, and revive your curls.
Natural Conditioning
If your hair is damaged, you can treat it by applying a natural oil to the tips of your hair. Coconut oil is a good option, as it is light and absorbs quickly. After applying the your natural oil of choice, you can put your hair up in a bun or braid overnight. This will help the oil penetrate the hair shaft, and by morning you will have softer and healthier hair. You can also use jojoba oil, argan oil, or many other natural oils in the same way. Always remember to do a patch test of your oil of choice to ensure you’re not sensitive to it and that it’s suitable for your curls.
Trim Your Hair
If you have curly hair that has been damaged, one of the best ways to get it back into shape is to trim it. Trimming your hair will allow you to get rid of split and damaged ends that may be causing trouble, which will help with curl definition throughout the length of your hair. This is especially true for people with curly hair that has been chemically treated, as the ends of chemically treated hair tend to get the brunt of the damage, which can affect the way the rest of your hair looks too.
Deep Conditioning
For those with curly hair, a good habit to get into to keep your hair healthy and looking great is using a deep conditioning treatment every few weeks. These treatments will help to repair any damage done by hair styling tools, environmental factors, and the natural aging process of your hair. Deep conditioning treatments will help to moisturize your hair deeply, which will in turn help to prevent frizz and keep your curls looking shiny and smooth. A monthly deep conditioning treatment is the easiest way to keep your curls not only looking their best, but also make them more resilient and resistant to damage in the future.
Reduce Heat Styling
Curly hair is notoriously fragile, and heat styling is one of the biggest culprits behind the majority of the damage. To help your hair stay healthy and strong and looking its best naturally, try to avoid heat styling whenever possible. When you do need to use a blow dryer or flat iron, use as little heat as possible and always use a high-quality heat protecting spray or serum to prepare and protect your hair before getting started.
So how long does it take for damaged curly hair to repair?
Having damaged curls is not fun, and if you’re here reading this article then you probably want your curls to bounce back yesterday. An important thing to keep in mind however is that repairing damaged curly hair is a process that takes time, patience, and commitment. No matter how many deep conditioning treatments or trims you’ll do, your hair will not magically repair itself overnight. It’s important to be patient and to give your hair time to heal. Repairing damage curly hair can take anywhere from several weeks to a couple months, so be patient. Don’t expect to see results overnight, and don’t over-treat your hair. Too many trims or too much deep conditioning can end up leaving you with hair that’s too short for your liking and damaging it even more. With a little bit of patience and the right products, however, you’ll have your curls back to their lustrous, bouncy, healthy old selves!
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