Understanding and Repairing Damaged Curly Hair
Curly hair is already hard to manage, and when damaged, it can be a nightmare for curly hair enthusiasts.
Your curly hair can be harmed due to several reasons. It can be due to using the wrong products, chemical treatments, heat styling, etc.
If you are among the people who have done the abovementioned things and now notice frizzy and lifeless hair, you are not the only one.
But what to do now? The answer is to adopt some tips and tricks that may help you make your curly hair better.
This article will help you understand and repair your damaged curly hair damage in detail. Read on.
Causes of curly hair damage
Your curly hair can be damaged for several reasons.
It can range from daily lifestyle habits to using chemicals for hair treatment. Some of them are listed below:
Heat
Heat is one of the prime reasons for hair damage.
It is a significant threat to your curls, mainly when you use electrical heat-styling products like hair curling iron, straighteners, and blow-dryers daily.
The Keratin proteins in your hair alter shape when overexposed to extreme heat from hot instruments.
This causes a decrease in elasticity, weaker strands, and, ultimately, damage to the hair shaft.
Chemical treatments
Chemical treatments like dying or bleaching don’t directly cause hair loss but affect the health of the hair severely, leading to hair loss.
Dye impacts the proteins and lipids that support healthy hair.
Damage from dying can result from changes to the inner and outer structure of the hair shaft.
There may be below-listed effects due to this chemical treatment:
- Loss of hair strength
- Your hair may not be able to handle heat styling
- Reduced hair thickness
- Increase in the roughness of hair follicles
Hair washing
Washing your hair in the correct time intervals is beneficial for your hair.
But when you overdo it, then it can be harmful.
It is reported that Americans shampoo their hair on average 4.9 times a week; in fact, 40% of American women shampoo their hair daily, which is twice as often as the people of other countries.
Overwashing your hair damages your hair by removing the natural oils and moisture from your scalp, which is essential for good and healthy hair.
Using the wrong products
Curly hair is already more dry and prone to split ends and breakage.
Using the wrong products that may contribute to these factors can harm your curly hair.
If you have curly hair and use a shampoo containing Sulfate, it can make your curly hair drier.
Sulfates aid shampoos in removing dirt and oil from hair.
But, some of its natural moisture and oils must be retained for the hair to be healthy.
Sulfates may remove too much moisture from the hair, leaving it dry and unhealthily damaged.
Moreover, they could dry out and irritate the scalp.
How to fix damaged curly hair
You can care for your curly hair and protect it from further damage in several ways.
The American Academy of Dermatology has provided some curly hair tips that can benefit your curls’ health.
Moisturizing hair
Compared to other hair varieties, curly hair is drier.
Apply a heavy conditioner after washing your hair to lock in the moisture.
You can use conditioner on the entire hair, including the top, the lengths, and not just the ends.
When you’ve completed washing and conditioning your hair, add oil or a leave-in conditioner to help with moisturization.
You can also use conditioner before shampooing your hair if it is really dry or if you struggle to detangle it.
You may look for conditioners containing Argan oil as its fatty acids, like Linoleic and Oleic acids, are very hydrating.
It also contains vitamin E and antioxidants that can prevent breakage and damage from free radicals.
Detangling your curls
Breakage is extremely common in curly hair.
You could notice breakage when combing, detangling, or styling your curls, so be cautious.
Wet your hair thoroughly, add a leave-in conditioner, and then use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb or brush made for curly or oily hair to detangle between washes.
To make detangling simpler, work in portions. It’s advised to avoid brushing it when it’s dry, and always try to detangle your hair when washing it.
Limited use of heat-styling products
Using heat-styling products is not good for your hair health, mainly when used regularly.
As mentioned before, curly hair tends to be drier than other hair types.
Using heat-styling products can further increase dryness, eventually leading to damaging hair.
To fix heat-damaged curly hair, use a blow dryer in a cool setting or try the best way: air-drying your hair.
Moreover, don’t heat style your hair daily; use it only when necessary.
Care before sleeping
When you go to bed to sleep, the friction with the pillowcase may make your hair frizzy and more prone to breakage.
To maintain your curls and lessen friction, you may pull your hair into a loose ponytail on top of your head, as putting your hair up at night protects your cuticles from getting roughed up and preserves a smooth look.
Moreover, sleeping in a satin hair wrap or on a satin pillowcase may minimize damaging friction as they are smooth and anti-static.
Limiting hair washes
Brooke Schleehauf, a public education content specialist at the American Academy of Dermatology, mentioned that too much washing could make curly hair dry, frizzy, and difficult to manage.
Thick, curly hair doesn’t require daily or even weekly washing. For the best possible health of your scalp and hair, you should wash your hair at least every two to three weeks.
Takeaway
Curly is considered dier and more difficult to manage than other hair types as it is more prone to split ends and breakage.
Damage to this type of hair can be very dangerous.
If you heat style your hair daily, it can increase the dryness of your curly hair.
Other factors like excessive hair washing, using the wrong hair products, and doing chemical treatments can further damage your curly hair.
If you want to fix your damaged curly hair, then you adopt some tips and tricks.
It can include limiting your hair washes to only when needed, not regularly heat-styling, moisturizing, and properly detangling your curls.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my curly hair is damaged?
You may start noticing that your curly hair has been damaged by the signs of it being stringy, having straight ends, and looser curl patterns. These signs are mainly seen after a chemical treatment, like bleaching or dying, over-washing your hair, and heat exposure.
How long does it take for damaged curly hair to repair?
If you start caring for your curly hair using products defined for scalp nourishment and better hair health, you may see visible differences within six months to one year. However, this period can vary for different people, depending on their curly hair damage level.
What causes curly hair damage?
Several factors can damage curly hair. Some daily lifestyle habits like sleeping on an ordinary cotton pillow can also cause damage to your curly hair by friction. Other causes may include rough styling, detangling, using heat tools, etc.
How can I fix my damaged curly hair?
You can fix your damaged curly hair in different ways, like applying conditioners with Argan oil, limiting hair washes, using heat-styling products less often, moisturizing your scalp, wrapping up hair in a microfiber towel after washing your hair, sleeping on a satin pillow, etc.
