Curly Q: I used to have curly hair. But lately I've realized that I have straight and wavy pieces in certain sections. I'm sporting like three different textures and I don't understand it because I don't use chemical straighteners. How can I get my beautiful rizos back? Help!
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It looks like you're experiencing heat damage, chica. I'm actually still recovering from the same thing and I must warn you, it's definitely a long process. Heat damage is pretty much caused by hot tools. If you use blow-dryers, flat irons, and curling irons often, that's most likely why you're experiencing these damaged rizos. The damage from heat styling causes curls to dry, weaken, and even break, which is why you're noticing so many limpy not-so-curly pieces on your head.
But the good news is with a little patience and TLC you WILL get your curls back! I guarantee that. It's only been a few months since I first discovered my hair was heat damaged and I'm already seeing some significant improvements after making some of these adjustments. So don't worry, you'll get there. Check out a few of my tips below to help you get back your beautiful curls!
Image via kirikiri/Flickr
Be patient
When it comes to treating heat-damaged curls, you MUST have patience. It’s a long journey, and the more impatient you get, the longer the process is going to seem. The full recovery can take anywhere from a few months to a year, depending on how damaged your curls are. I didn’t see any improvement until this month and I first started the whole heat-damage recovery process back in February. Take your time and let your new hair grow out.
Get a cut
The quickest and many times necessary solution to repair your hair from heat damage is chopping it off. But a short cut doesn’t work for everyone and if your damage isn’t just in the ends, that might not even be an option. The first thing I did was get a cut that didn’t do much for my curls because most of my heat-damage is actually on the mid-length crown area rather than on my ends. Your best bet is to get a trim every 4 to 6 weeks to slowly get rid of damaged hair.
Avoid heat or just protect
The ideal situation to recover from heat-damage is to try to avoid heat-styling altogether. This isn't the most practical option for me, so when I do use hot tools I'm VERY careful. Try to avoid tools like the curling iron or flat iron as much as you can. If you’re going to blow-dry hair straight, use a heat-protective product first, like A__ussie Hair Insurance Heat Protecting Hair Shine Spray__ ($4).
Try no heat-styling options
If the blow-drying isn’t giving you smooth enough results, put down the flat iron and try wrapping hair into a doobie with bobby pins to get it flatter. Or if you want more volume try pinning up curls using bobby pins.
Experiment with styles
Hairstyles are the perfect fix when you have heat damage. Try updos or ponytails that are going to make your heat-damage less noticeable. I love this cute one Camila Alves sported.
Deep condition
Make sure that your hair is constantly moisturized. Dry, unhealthy strands are what causes breakage. Use a deep conditioning hair mask, like Mixed Chicks Detangling Deep Conditioner ($14), once a week and a leave-in conditioner daily, like L'Oréal Paris EverCurl Hydracharge Leave-in Cream ($9).
Don't splurge on products
Because your hair has pieces that are straight or wavy, it doesn’t pay to spend so much on curly products because you’re still not going to really get the results you’re looking for. Look for affordable, natural curly hair products that are going to keep your hair hydrated and healthy. Try the Shea Moisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner ($10). It works wonders on dry damaged hair!
Do oil treatments
Natural oils can really help hydrate and restore damaged curls. Try massaging your scalp with coconut or jojoba oil and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes covering your hair with a shower cap. Then rinse off with cool water for instant shine.
