If there’s one thing every curly natural dreads, it’s heat damage– It’s one of the biggest setbacks on your journey to healthy hair—but if you know what? Getting heat damage does not mean your hair is permanently damaged. Most times, all you need is a little TLC and some patience to nurse your curls back to health. In this article, we’ll discuss all you need to do to revive your curls after heat damage. So before you start cutting off those inches, keep scrolling for a better alternative.
What Causes Heat Damage?
Heat damage is caused by excessive use of heat on the hair on exposing the hair to extremely high temperatures. The heat weakens the hair cuticles and makes them more lifted, leaving your hair weak and damaged with different changes to its natural structure and feel.
5 Signs Your Curls Are Heat-Damaged
- Limp Curls That Do Revert
Loss of elasticity is one of the most obvious signs of heat damage. If your hair remains stuck in its stretched state even after multiple washes or does not fully revert back to its natural curly texture, it is a big sign that you have some heat damage.
- Extreme Dryness And Tangles
Heat damage weakens the cuticles and results in drier and more brittle hair. Additionally, with dryness comes an increase in tangles and knots since the hair lacks adequate moisture.
- Increase In Frizz
Frizz is another common sign of heat damage since weak or lifted cuticle makes the hair absorb moisture from humid environments much faster. So, if you are noticing that your hair is more frizzy than usual and your hairstyles do not last long, it could be a sign of heat damage.
- Increase In Hair Porosity
Heat damage makes the cuticles weak and lifted, and when your cuticles are compromised, your hair becomes highly porous, losing moisture easily. So, if you notice your hair is suddenly higher in porosity, it may be a sign of heat damage.
- Breakage
When your hair is damaged from heat. It will be more prone to breakage, especially at the ends. In some more extreme cases, heat damage can even cause chunks of your hair to shed, but the level of breakage depends on how bad the damage is.
How To Revive Heat-Damaged Curls
Try A Bond Building Hair Treatment
If your hair is badly damaged, using a bond-building treatment immediately afterwards can help kick-start the repair process, as these treatments work by targeting the bonds that give the hair its natural structure. They will penetrate your strands and repair the damage, but you will need to use them at least twice a month.
Cut Out Heat Completely
If your hair is heat-damaged, the first thing you should do is address the root of the problem by cutting out heat from your routine entirely. You can use heatless stretching methods like the banding method or braids to stretch your hair if you really need to wear it straight.
Use Hydrating Products
Heat-damaged hair is dry, brittle, and breaks easily, so loading up on moisture is important for maintaining the health of your hair while you work to fix things. Incorporate hydrating and nourishing products like our Hydration Shampoo, Moisture Rich Conditioner, Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner, and even the hydrating stylers in our styling bundle into your routine. They will infuse your hair with moisture while helping to rejuvenate and revive your curls.
Moisturise Moisturise Moisturise
Moisturising often will help keep your heat-damaged hair from getting knotted and tangled while making it easier to style. Moisturise your hair at least 3 times a week with our Manuka Honey Leave-in Conditioner and then follow up with the Hair & Scalp Oil to seal the moisture in. Remember, your hair is likely higher in porosity, so you need to go the extra mile to lock moisture into your strands for longer.
Use More Deep Conditioning Masks
Deep conditioning after every wash is essential for repairing your curls after heat damage. A deeply nourishing formula like our Manuka Honey & Avocado Deep Conditioning Mask can help minimise some of the heat damage symptoms like dryness, frizz, and loss of elasticity, as it works to strengthen the hair while improving its shine.
Keep Your Hairstyle Simple And Low Manipulation
The last thing you want to do to your hair when it is heat-damaged is overwhelm it with too many hairstyles that require a lot of manipulation. As you work to restore the health of your curls, keep things simple and stick to low manipulation hairstyles. Instead of tight braids and ponytails that put too much tension on your strands, opt for loose buns, wash n’ gos, and twists.
Trim Off The Damage In Stages
Depending on how badly damaged your hair is, you may need to trim off some of the damaged hair. However, you do not need to cut off everything at once. Start by trimming off your ends, then cut off little portions of the remaining damage every 8 weeks to make the transition easier.
Avoid Any Chemical Treatments on Your Hair
While your hair is damaged, avoid any major chemical treatment that could alter the structure of your hair. This includes things like colour treatments or bleach, as they can easily make your hair weaker and result in more damage and hair loss.
Heat damage might feel like a major setback, but trust us, your curls are tougher than you think. With consistent care, deep hydration, and a little patience, your hair can definitely bounce back to life. Just keep your routine gentle, protect your strands, and don’t rush the process—your curls will bounce back before you know it.