STEP BY STEP GUIDE: HOW TO FIX HEAT DAMAGED CURLY HAIR
Frizz, breakage, split ends, oh my! If your curls are looking a little lackluster, it may be because of damage. The bad news? It’s going to take some TLC to get them back into shape. The good news? It’s definitely possible. So put down the scissors; it’s not that serious. Follow our step-by-step guide for how to fix heat damaged curly hair.
How to fix heat damaged curly hair
Step 1: Lose the heat!
Step 2: Switch shampoo
If you’re not already, opt for shampoo and conditioner that are specifically formulated for damaged strands. You may want to consider swapping your regular conditioner for a deep conditioner, and letting it sit in your hair for at least ten minutes. For even more conditioner benefits, let it stay in your hair overnight and rinse it out in the morning.
Step 3: Trim it off
There’s no amount of love that will unsplit a split end, so if your hair’s damaged, one of the best things you can do for it is to trim any severely damaged strands. The hair closest to your scalp tends to be the healthiest, as it’s the newest, while the ends are the driest and most damaged, so just trim the damaged bits to keep your length.
Step 4: Say no to bleach
If you’ve been bleaching your hair, now’s the time to embrace your roots and go with your natural color – or stick with something a little less damaging, like dye or carefully placed balayage, instead of all-over color. It’s not goodbye forever, bleach, just goodbye for now.
Step 5: Stay on top of it
It’s much easier to prevent damage than to fix it after it’s happened. Once your hair’s in great shape again, keep it that way by always using a heat protectant when using hot tools, being gentle when you brush, and opting for damage-repairing products.