Photo of @cristinacleveland by Karston Tannis
As a mix between Type 2c waves and Type 3a curls, my hair can range from curly and bouncy to loose and shapeless depending on the products, the techniques, the weather, and the overall health of my hair. And when my curls go missing, or straighten out, a curly hair hiatus can last anywhere from a week to months until I can figure out what my hair is trying to tell me. Here are 5 methods that help me revive my curls when they go missing.
1. Do a Deep Conditioning Treatment
Wavy, curly and coily hair is more susceptible to dryness, and dryness can cause a whole host of issues from frizz to breakage and in my case, I have found that it contributes to a loss of curl pattern. To remedy this my first step is always to deep condition. I would be lost without my heat cap from Thermal Hair Care. I apply deep conditioner to my damp hair in sections so that it is fully saturated, then pop the Wrap into the microwave for 48 seconds. Do not microwave it for too long, even if it doesn’t feel warm to the touch it is done at 48 seconds, any more and the gel inside will start to melt. Then I place the Wrap over my hair for 30-45 minutes. It is the ultimate Sunday treat and will increase the benefits of your favorite deep conditioner for your hair. One of my favorites is the Mielle Organics Moisture RX Hawaiian Ginger Moisturizing Overnight Conditioner.
2. Try a Protein Treatment
Protein-rich products work to temporarily fill the gaps in your hair strand that have been caused by chemical processing, heat styling or normal weathering. Whenever I dye or highlight my hair, I find that it is more prone to frizz and dryness. I very rarely heat style my hair, but when it is damaged I find it much more difficult to revive my curls back to a healthy state after a heat styling session. If you use permanent hair dye, bleach, or heat on your hair then it is possible that your curls are damaged. One of the best weapons in my toolkit for this has been protein-rich products and treatments. One of my favorites is the ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment, and here is a full list of 20 protein-rich products if you’re interested in trying one out.
3. Diffuse
I used to be able to let my hair air dry overnight and I would wake up with beautifully formed waves and curls, but lately my waves will only form into ringlets with the help of a diffuser. If you feel like your hair has the potential to be curly but you just do not know how to revive your curls, I recommend you try diffusing it when it is already 50% dry. It may take a few tries to get the hang of it – I know that the first few times I tried diffusing I experienced a frizz halo, but Marilisa Sears tips for how to help my curls during the summer months has been a game changer. The RevAir has been an easy and simple way to quickly dry my curls without heat damage.
4. Scrunch
I could be using the most powerful Holy Grail curl cream ever made, but unless I scrunch that product into my hair it is not going to curl. Wavy hair can easily be weighed down by water when it is soaking wet from a shower, or by products with a thick or creamy formula, so it is important to counteract this by scrunching your fingers through the hair with an upward motion. This will also aid clumping and prevent the dreaded crunchy curls look. Make sure when scrunching to be gentle, you do not want to pull the curls apart because this will create frizz.
5. Get a Trim
If you have tried all of these methods and your hair still will not curl, then it is time for a trim. Not a dusting, not a search and destroy session, but an actual trim and possibly a reshaping. Protein and conditioning treatments can do their part to mend damage temporarily, but a long-term solution is to trim away the damage and then take better care of the healthy, new growth. Long hair can weigh down your waves, so depending on your curl pattern, many wavies find that when they get a shorter haircut their curl pattern becomes curlier. I know this has proven true for me.
Do you have any tricks that help you bring back your curls when they need to be revived?
You can find my favorite products and watch my full regimen step by step here.
