Even if you do not relax, dye, avoid excessive use of heating tools or chemically alter your hair in another way, there are several ways that your afro hair can experience damage. While no one ever wants to know that their curls have been damaged, it is better to recognise any signs early so you can prevent further damage from occurring. So, here are seven signs that your curls need more TLC.
You Develop A Looser Curl Pattern
If your hair feels stringy and has a looser texture than it did years ago, you might have experienced a change in your texture or curl pattern. While excessive heat is a significant factor in this change, it can also be caused by colour damage, dryness or over-manipulation. To help your curls regain their natural pattern, try injecting moisture into your strands. Combat dryness and encourage natural hair growth after a bleaching experience with our plant-based wash day trio. Start with our Hydration Shampoo with Manuka Honey to cleanse your afro hair. Then use our Moisture Rich Conditioner with Manuka Honey and Avocado to restore your afro hair’s flexibility, shine, body and
moisture. Leave this mixture in your hair for two minutes before rinsing properly to encourage maximum absorption. Lastly, finish your washing process with our Leave-In Conditioner With Manuka Honey & Avocado Oil to keep the moisture in your afro hair for longer.
If installed incorrectly, protective styles can cause over-manipulation as they can pull on your hair or use too much heat to prepare. Opt for a low manipulation style instead, such as a bun or a roll and tuck style, to give your afro curls a break from twisting. If you want to ensure that your style has hold and is kept nourished, use our Curling Mousse With Flaxseed Oil And Rosewater before styling.
Your Afro Hair Feels Dry and Brittle
Your kinky curls need more hydration if they constantly feel dry. So on top of our wash day trio for your thirsty curls during the week, you could also go for our Everyday Curl Refresh with Coconut Oil And Jamaican Black Castor Oils. This light spray will not only improve your curls’ definition but can also prevent breakage caused by the styling of coiled or dry curly hair. Follow this with a weekly deep conditioning treatment to keep lacklustre curls away.
Your Curls Are Prone To Split Ends
As your ends are the oldest part of your curls, they can become damaged over time if not cared for properly. Regularly moisturise your ends to stop split ends from wreaking havoc with your afro hair. Our leave-in conditioner contains manuka honey which can treat and reduce the occurrence of split ends. You should also get your strands trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks to prevent any damage from travelling up towards your roots.
You Find It Difficult To Detangle Your Afro Hair
If your curly hair takes a lot of time to detangle, start by using a generous amount of conditioner on your washday to give you hair slip for detangling. Detangling can also be more manageable by applying our leave-in conditioner post shampoo and conditioner. A protein or strengthening treatment at least once a week can also help you repair any damage caused by knots and tangles.
You Experience Severe Frizz
Frizz is a common afro hair problem caused by dryness, touching your curls too much and not trimming your curls' ends regularly. To tame frizz when styling, you could opt for the Curl Elongating Gel to reduce frizz as it contains rosewater and flax seed oil and can stretch your natural curls for bounce and definition.
It Snaps And Breaks Easily
If you observe your natural hair when combing your hair and see that some parts of your curls in your comb are shorter than others, then it is likely to be breakage. Remember that breakage is different to the process of shedding, which, when it occurs, it will look like the same length as your curls. Together with a moisturising hair care routine, trims can help reduce breakage to hydrate your curls.
Your Afro Curls Lack Softness
You know that your curls are healthy when they feel soft, bouncy and defined. However, when curls feel rough, it might be time to trim your hair and restore moisture to your strands. Use our Curling Crème With Coconut & Jamaican Black Castor Oils if you want to fingerstyle your afro hair into natural curls or waves and add softness and shine to them.
If you notice that you do not have damaged curls, your first option should not be to criticise yourself. Maintaining a curly hair routine can be a process of trial and error, meaning that every naturalista will have to deal with curl damage on occasion. As well as following our steps to restore your curls, remember that patience with yourself and your kinky hair can go a long way.