Our reader Kendall1120 posed this question on Curly Q&A and we brought in the experts to get her an answer.
Question
I don’t use heat and I wear my hair out 100% of the time…I wonder if my hair will become straight. Is it possible that there is damage on a follicular level?
“My name is Kendall, I’m 15 years old and I have been reading the articles on this site for years. They’ve really helped me in embracing my curls. Over the years I’ve learned not to get too caught up with curl typing, especially for a person with several different types but there’s one thing that bothers me. The front left of my hair is wavy, almost like a very stretched out s- shaped curl while the right are tighter curls. I’ve thought it was damage in the past but I have cut and cut and to no avail it always grows back the same. I don’t use heat and I wear my hair out 100% of the time. It does worry me because when I think about growing out my hair, I wonder if the waves will become straight. Is it possible that there is damage on a follicular level?”
Answer
Without the proper consultation from a licensed trichologist and hair stylist and no picture, it is difficult to give you an accurate answer. Capella Salon owner, Shai Amiel, tells me, “you need to see what condition the hair is in first before determining the problem. It would be necessary to get some more information on what previous treatments, color, styles that she’s had in the past. Not to mention the possibility of hormonal changes and medications that can be factors as well.”
Hypothetically speaking, the problem could be your hair follicles in that section of your hair. “Maybe on that particular side, the follicle is slightly clogged and causing the hair to take on a more wavy appearance,” says Los Angeles based hair stylist and colorist, Jenna Lynn Edmunds. She recomends “incorporating scalp massages [while] shampooing to increase blood flow and help unclog [the follicle].”
What products should you use?
“There is a product from Phyto called Phytopolléine Botanical Scalp Treatment ($40″>,” Edmunds mentions. “It is a blend of essential oils that you use as a scalp treatment and detoxifier; it removes all residues from styling products, environmental aggressors, and balances the scalp. It is amazing and definitely curl safe. Everyone has different curl patterns and textures and sometimes they can have areas that are less or more curly than the rest. I have several curly clients that are wavy around the hairline [but] have tight curls in the crown and nape. It’s like a fingerprint–unique to each person.”
At-home remedy: DIY scalp detox treatment
In addition to this product, you may create your own scalp detox treatment as an at-home remedy.
Mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle:
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
- 3 parts water
- 2 to 3 drops of lavender essential oil
Spritz directly onto your scalp and massage it in. Tilt the head back to avoid the eye area. Be sure that the rinse runs throughout all of your hair then leave it on for a few minutes. Rinse well and continue with your conditioner. This will remove dead skin cells, product build-up, clean clogged pores, balance the pH level, stimulate the follicles and prevent dandruff in your hair.
It could be heat or relaxer damage
Another scenario could be that she has wavy sections due to previous heat or relaxer damage, although you mentioned that you have cut all the damage off.
How to make the curls uniform
While the hair is in its growing phase, use perm rods, Curlformers or finger coils on the stubborn straight pieces to train the curls.
Apply a twisting butter or gel on small sections of freshly washed hair. My personal favorite is the Curls Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly. Twirl each section around your finger to create a coil. Repeat this throughout your entire head (or just the affected area”>. After the hair is 100% dry, separate each coil with your fingers or an Afro pick for more volume. Watch this video for an in-depth tutorial:
How do you deal with multiple hair patterns and textures? Let us know down below in the comments.
