It can happen in an instant or overtime, but whatever the reason, your hair is now dry and damaged. Luckily, depending on the problem, there is always some hair rescue to be had. From products to a good cut, there’s a lot you can do to restore dry and damaged curly hair to full health. But first, you have to know what damaged your hair and what works best to restore that particular kind of damage.
What Caused the Damage?
- Natural Progression Damage: Hair damage can happen even if you don’t realize it. It could be the shampoo or conditioner you’re using, or other hair care products. You’re noticing that your hair is limp and lifeless, possibly with split ends. Luckily this damage is the easiest to fix.
- Over Processing Damage: We all want change sometimes, but when it comes to constant hair coloring and bleaching, your hair might not appreciate that perfect shade if it took you five tries in a matter of weeks.
- Heat Damaged Hair: There are extreme ways you can absolutely ruin your hair. Burning your hair either via birthday candles or a hair straightener is definitely one way. Constant heat will dry out your hair over time.
A Simple Solution
Damaged curly hair responds well to hot oil or deep conditioning treatments. There are so many different treatments out there to choose from, and if you don’t want to go out and grab a bunch of items you do not have, there is a lovely option right in your pantry.
Start with extra virgin olive oil and add whatever you want to it that you feel will help, such as coconut oil, shea butter, honey and flax seed oil.
- Heat olive oil in a microwave safe bowl and place a paper towel over to avoid splattering. The duration you have the olive oil in the microwave depends on the watts of power. The oil is just the right temperature between 45 seconds to approximately 1.25 minutes, but a little longer won’t hurt.
- Slowly add any other ingredients you want in the hot oil treatment. Mix well.
- Wet hair thoroughly, and then section out chunks of hair. Begin applying the hot oil treatment to each chunk. Brush through with a comb or with your fingers to ensure that the treatment reaches from the scalp to the end of your hair. This is a very messy process, so remember to have a lot of old towels nearby and a pair of gloves.
- Wait at least 15 minutes, but no more than 45, before hopping into the shower and washing it out. This may take two shampoo regiments before you get all the oil out.
- Optional: Apply a leave-in conditioner and pomade after washing your hair to help condition and seal in moisture and vitamins from the hot oil treatment.
Extreme Measures
A hot oil treatment is a great way to restore damaged curly hair, but it can only take you so far. If your hair is not looking illuminating after hot oil, it means it’s time for extreme measures.
Unfortunately, there’s only one cure for irreparable hair: a good haircut. There are many hair products that boast restorative properties, but split ends, fried hair, or colored hair never really go away, and a haircut is the only way to start over.
If you like to color your hair or tend to expose your hair to a lot of heat, one way you can have healthy hair is by simply taking preventative measures. Use color and heat resistant shampoos and conditioners and always hydrate and moisturize your hair. It may not completely prevent your hair from becoming dry and damaged, but it certainly helps.
the point is for the oil to soak into your hair. what you are washing away at the end is the oily leftover. if you over moisturize your hair, like leaving in a hot oil treatment too long, it could cause your hair to become weighed down and feel mushy to the touch.
I have SUPER THICK curly hair that i blow dry straight and flat iron. My hairdresser the Shielo Antioxidant Leave in Protecter Spray and i decided to try it, though i was hesitant.
I tried it for a week with no other styling products, and since that week i have been a believer! This product is amazing – My hair is now shiny, silky, soft and not damaged at all.
It's also nice to only have to use 1 styling product as opposed to the 2,3, and sometimes even 4 that i was previously using.
thanks, those tips are really useful, I'm also using a good hair product, it's Pro Naturals Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment with Heat Protector, it works pretty good and keeps my hair soft, shiny and healthy.
I try to start from the inside by drinking more water, taking my vitamins and cutting out the caffeine. Also limiting the direct heat on my hair has helped with combating dryness.
anything that tells you to shampoo twice, wth kinda ish is this.
thanks for this advice! Ive tried this but to keep the nutrients in would i have to rinse in cold water? and wouldnt the shampoo remove the nutrients from the oil?