How to recover damaged hair and get your natural curly hair back
If you have natural curly hair and you’re struggling to style it so they are effortlessly shiny, defined and bouncy, listen up! The most important step is to eliminate heat entirely—no straightening, no curlers, and no blow‑drying. From this fundamental shift, your hair will begin to heal, revealing its natural texture and curl pattern. Not to mention, your hair is likely to grow quicker too, speeding up the journey to healthy hair!
I went from straightening my hair EVERY DAY for 10+ years to the point where I didn’t even register what my natural hair texture was. From experimenting with “viral curly hair hacks” and “natural remedies for curls”, I went through it all so you don’t have to. I found an in-between route that finally allowed me to embrace my natural hair so much, I genuinely don’t miss having my hair styled in any other way. Now, I’m here to share the tips with you so you can have a more seamless journey to embracing your natural curls.
I’ve broken this down into easy, actionable methods - start off by trying 1-2 that are easy to implement into your routine and test what works for you. With a consistent routine, you should find your rhythm and see your curls evolve. Each method supports healthier, defined and hydrated curls - without heat damage.
1. Say Goodbye to Heat Styling
Put simply: stop using high‑heat tools. Including straighteners, curlers, and blow dryers. Repeated exposure to heat alters the protein structure of curls, causing dryness, frizz, and permanent damage. Allow your curls to air dry or use very low-diffused heat only when absolutely necessary, with a high-quality heat protectant. If your hair was like mine and had a very messy curl pattern, try braiding your hair so you have a more uniform hair pattern. This makes it easy to style your hair without using heat.
2. Start romanticising pre-wash treatments
Throughout your curly hair journey, you want to nourish the hair you have as well as feed your scalp with the nutrients it needs for the healthy growth of new hair. I like to give myself a scalp massage using hair oil the night before I wash my hair, as well as nourishing my mid-lengths and ends to lock in moisture. I do this as an overnight treatment. If you don’t like oils, you can use a variety of hair growth serums for your scalp, which are lighter and easier to use, or deep-conditioning masks you can leave in your hair for <1 hour before rinsing for a quicker treatment. My hair is less frizzy when using a pre-wash treatment compared to when I’ve skipped this step so its worth investing time into this step. The scalp massages are essential to speed up the growth of new, healthy curls so ensure
3. Switch to healthier shampoo and conditioner products
Washday sets the tone for your hair, so really take your time to choose the best products and routine for your hair. Switch to sulfate-free and silicone-free shampoos or co-wash (conditioning washing) to remove buildup and avoid stripping moisture from your locks. Curly hair needs more moisture than straighter hair types and therefore it’s recommended to wash your hair less frequently. I went from washing my hair 2-3 times a week to 1-2 times a week, and this helped my curls take form and, of course, saved me so much time from washing & styling! Everyone’s hair thickness and scalp conditions vary, so experiment and see what works for you. If you wash your hair every day, you may want to consider washing your hair every other day.
4. The wetter your hair, the better it styles
Avoid brushing dry curls, which disrupts your curl pattern and causes frizz. Instead, detangle your hair gently using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb after washing, working from the ends toward the roots. Then scrunch your hair when it's still soaking wet to encourage curl formation (with our without styling products). The more you do this, the more you will see your natural curl pattern form. Feel free to try out different styling methods, such as finger coiling, especially for the curls you want to frame around your face, which might need better direction.
5. Sleep with a satin/silk pillowcase and bonnet
Sleeping on cotton causes friction and absorbs moisture, leading to tangled and frizzy hair, making Day 2 hair a pain to style! You don’t want all of your wash day efforts to go to waste, so instead, wrap your curls in a satin/silk bonnet (I like to use a satin scrunchie to put my hair in a pineapple first) or use a silk/satin pillowcase to preserve your curls. This has been a game-changer for me as I dislike spending too much time getting ready in the morning, and wearing a bonnet to bed has meant I generally only spend 10-20 minutes refreshing my curls with water before I’m good to go!
To conclude…
Recovering your heat-damaged hair is no easy feat, and looking after curly hair isn’t either, but trust me, if I did it, so can you! With a few changes to your routine paired with consistency, you’ll see a noticeable impact on your hair health, which will motivate you to continue nourishing your hair more. Eliminating heat serves as the essential first step on the path to healthier curly hair. (Don’t worry if you have important occasions you want to heat-style your hair for, just make sure it’s not a regular occurrence)! Together with intentional wash-day care and nighttime routine, you’ll have built a foundation that nurtures your natural texture.
I hope this post made you more empowered to step into your curly hair journey. I’m so excited for you to reconnect with the unique beauty of your curls! Tune in for my next post where I’ll be sharing my favourite products.
Kavita K xo
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