How to Restore Curly Hair

Co-authored by Christine George and Amber Crain

Last Updated: May 13, 2021 References

Heat styling tools, chemical hair treatments, and harsh products can wreak havoc on curly hair.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} If your formerly bouncy curls are looking limp, frizzy, or straight, you can restore them to their former glory! Start by doing weekly deep conditioning treatments and monthly protein treatments to moisturize and strengthen your hair. Get a trim to eliminate damaged ends that are weighing down your curls and avoid heat styling tools for several months to give your curls time to bounce back.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Repairing Damaged Hair

1
Do a weekly deep conditioning treatment to restore moisture. Hydrating your hair is crucial if you want to get back your bouncy, healthy curls. Apply a store-bought deep conditioning product to dampened hair from root to tip until it is fully saturated. Cover your hair with a shower cap and wait 10-30 minutes before rinsing it out. Do this once a week for the best results.^{[2]
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- Look for hydrating ingredients like Argan oil, aloe vera, vitamin E, and coconut oil.
- Dry hair leads to frizz and breakage, which are the main contributing factors when it comes to curl loss.
2
Apply a protein treatment once a month to strengthen your hair. Hair is made up of protein, so a monthly protein treatment can definitely help with curl restoration. You can make your own avocado hair mask at home or simply buy a protein treatment at a beauty supply store. Coat your strands with the treatment and leave it on for 10-25 minutes before rinsing it out thoroughly.^{[3]
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3
Get a trim to eliminate the weight and split ends that can wreck curls. You don’t have to cut off a significant amount of your hair, but it’s important to get rid of your split ends. Damaged ends weigh down your curls and prevent them from bouncing back. Split ends also continue to split if you don’t remove them, eventually making their way up to damage healthy hair. Ask your stylist to take off as much length as they need to in order to get rid of damaged ends.^{[4]
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- If this will make your hair shorter than you’re comfortable with, trim off as much as possible. Then, continue to get regular trims every 6-8 weeks.
Tip: For some people, longer hair styles can weigh down healthy curls. Consider experimenting with a shorter hair style to see if your curls bounce back.^{[5]
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4
Sleep on a satin pillowcase to smooth frizz and protect your hair. Most standard pillowcases are typically made of cotton, which tends to soak moisture and oils out of your hair. Cotton fabric can also be rough on the hair shaft, cause damage, and create a lot of frizz. To help coax your curls along, invest in a satin pillowcase and sleep on it every night.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.}

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Changing up Your Styling Techniques

1
Limit your use of heat styling tools as much as possible. Blow dryers, straighteners, curling irons, and other heat styling tools significantly contribute to hair damage and curl loss.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Expert Interview. 10 January 2020.} It might not be feasible to completely avoid heat styling tools every day, but try to reduce your use of them as much as you can. Within 1-2 months, you should start noticing improvement in your curl pattern and overall hair health.^{[8]
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- In addition to damaging your curls with heat, blow dryers can also stretch out your curls and prevent them from bouncing back to their former selves.
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Use a diffuser when you can't avoid blow drying your hair. First, let your hair air dry until it's 50% to 90% dry. Then, use a low heat setting and fit your blow dryer with a diffuser to minimize stress on your hair. Tilt your head to 1 side or flip your head upside down and place the diffuser near your hair's roots. Hold it in place and use small, circular motions until your roots are dry. Then, move on to the next section of hair.^{[9]
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Apply curl cream to damp hair to encourage curls to bounce back. Split damp hair into 3-5 sections. Apply a generous amount of curl cream to each section from the roots to the tips. Then, let your hair air dry naturally or use a diffuser once your hair is 50-60% dry.^{[10]
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- You can also scrunch your hair after applying the curl cream and while you're diffusing to help your curls along even more.
4
Try the finger coiling technique to retrain your curls. Apply a moisturizing, protein-rich styling milk or styling cream to damp hair. Separate your hair into small sections. The smaller the sections, the tighter the curls will be! Twirl your hair, section by section, around your fingers. Start at your roots and continue twisting until you reach the ends, and release. Then, move on to the next section.^{[11]
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- Be sure to coil your hair in the direction that you want your curls to be! You are basically training your curls to come back in this specific pattern.
- Do finger coiling about once a week, preferably on clean, freshly washed hair.
5
Avoid hair products that contain sulfates and other harsh chemicals. Check the ingredients on all of your hair products, especially shampoo and conditioner. Sulfates, parabens, alcohol, and silicone can wreak havoc on your hair, especially if it’s already damaged. Stick with gentle hair products that contain nourishing proteins and oils.^{[12]
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- Sulfates and other harsh synthetic chemicals can dry out and damage your hair.
- Steer clear of products that list sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, or sodium laureth sulfate as ingredients.
- Silicones can be hard to pick out in an ingredients list. Look for words like cetearyl methicone, dimethicone, and dimethiconol.
6
Take a break from chemical treatments and hair dyes. Chemical hair dyes, relaxers, and other chemical treatments like perms can seriously damage your hair. Getting a perm might seem like a good idea if you want to restore your curls, but this is only a temporary fix. In the long run, it can prevent natural curls from coming back altogether! Give your hair a break of at least 4-5 months before using any chemicals on your hair.

Expert Q&A

Question

Why is my curly hair going straight?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Hair damage creates gaps in your hair strands. Protein-rich products help to fill in those gaps and restore your hair’s strength.
Question

How can I bring out my natural curls?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Curly hair should be cut in layers. Otherwise, there will be too much weight on the top and your hair will fall flat.
Question

How can I have healthy hair?

Christine George
Master Hair Stylist & Colorist
Christine George is a Master Hairstylist, Colorist, and Owner of Luxe Parlour, a premier boutique salon based in the Los Angeles, California area. Christine has over 23 years of hair styling and coloring experience. She specializes in customized haircuts, premium color services, balayage expertise, classic highlights, and color correction. She received her cosmetology degree from the Newberry School of Beauty.

Christine George

Master Hair Stylist & Colorist

Expert Answer

Refrain from washing your hair every day, and try to avoid heat as much as possible. Use dry shampoo to help spread out your washes. Also, make sure you're using the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair depending on whether it's natural or colored.