It’s time to reclaim your curls. After years of heat styling, blow dries, harsh formulas, and product build-up may mean that your hair just isn’t looking its best. Although you might think that all you need to do is ban straighteners from your hair routine, restoring your curls to their former glory requires a little more attention.
We’ve got all the top tips to help repair your natural curl pattern so you can kickstart your journey to your best curls yet.
1. Consider co-washing
One of the most coveted secrets of the curl community is co-washing. Co-washing is washing your hair with a conditioner, rather than a traditional shampoo. Although this idea might immediately spark fear in those of you who are afraid of oily roots, trust us, this method is worth trying out. A lot of shampoos can be really drying for curly hair types, which typically favour more hydrating formulas.
The tips to keep in mind here are to rinse thoroughly and don’t use a formula that is too heavy for your hair – stick to more lightweight conditioners. Yes, your hair may look slightly greasier in the beginning, but the results in the long run will be worth it. For curly and coily hair, the Haircare By BEAUTY BAY Nourish + Cleanse Co-Wash is the answer. Formulated with lactic acid, chia seed, and shea butter, this co-wash nourishes and hydrates for healthy, happy curls.
2. Get rid of build up
Due to the natural shape of curly and coily hair strands, build-up often occurs at the roots as product finds it more difficult to travel down the curly hair pattern. Give your hair a boost and reset by removing any stubborn build-up, oils, and dirt.
We love the Jamaican Mango & Lime Jamaican Black Castor Oil Tea Tree for this – the multi-use oil formula is enriched with antibacterial tea tree, which works to remove dead skin cells, oil, and product build-up from the hair, leaving it fresh and clean. The oil formula means that whilst it’s cleansing, it doesn’t strip the hair of moisture – an essential for getting your curls back into shape.
3. Cut out the damage
Sometimes, too much heat styling, product build-up, and drying formulas lead to damaged hair that just can’t be repaired. Start afresh and book in with your favourite hairdresser to get all the damage cut out so you can start with a clean slate.
After your cut, we recommend using the OLAPLEX Hair Perfector No 3 to make sure your hair is fully repaired and healthy. Working on a molecular level, this hair treatment repairs broken bonds in the hair that may have been caused by bleaching, chemically straightening or heat styling. Smother over hair and ideally leave it on overnight, then rinse out to reveal your best hair ever.
4. Break up with your heat stylers
If you’re in a committed relationship with your straighteners, we’ve got bad news. They’ve probably led to the demise of your natural curly or coily hair pattern. It’s time to stop. Put the straighteners down. The only heat you’re going to be using from now on is your blow drier and diffuser.
To protect your hair from any further heat damage, try out the Haircare By BEAUTY BAY Detangle + Protect Heat Defence Mist. The ultra-protecting formula uses prickly pear and Kakadu extract to smooth and condition as it shields. The result? Curls that feel better and last longer.
5. Moisture, moisture, moisture
The number one rule to remember when you’re trying to get your curls back is that moisture is your best friend. Hydrating shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, and deep conditioning hair masks will give your hair a boost. The same rule applies to moisture as it does with build-up – moisture can struggle to travel down the curl pattern, meaning it’s not distributed evenly throughout the hair, leading to dry, brittle strands.
The variety of hydrating treatments out there for curly hair is next level, so get your hands on all your faves and try them out. We love the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie for when you’re on your curl journey, and the Mielle Organics Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner is a luxurious formula that we just can’t say no to.
6. Experiment with your styling
Styling products are your chance to experiment and find out what works for you. Leave-in treatments, gels, oils – there’s something for everyone. A lot of this can be trial and error, but just remember to keep in mind that heavier treatments favour tighter curls.
For frizz-prone hair, try out the Shea Moisture Sugarcane Extract & Meadowfoam Seed Silicone-Free Miracle Styling Treatment – it detangles, softens, and adds shine to your curls.
Another firm curl favourite is the Camille Rose Curl Maker, perfect for days when curls need an extra boost of life. Apply a generous amount to freshly washed and detangled hair for a quick pick-me-up.
For more sculpted styles, hold down those edges with the Cantu Extra Hold Edge Stay Gel. We promise they won’t move or budge all day long.
7. Make masks a focus
Even if you have the best haircare routine, there are still times when your curls might need a little extra TLC. In times f hair crisis, you need a hair mask to soften, smooth and boost your curls back to their former glory.
And we’ve got the one that’s right for you. The By BEAUTY BAY Curl + Define Hair Mask. Enriched with castor oil and shea butter to deeply moisturise and condition each and every strand, this hair mask breathes a fresh lease of life into your curls. What’s even better is that this mask has more than one use. Whether you choose to use it as a leave-in conditioner or curl cream, you’ll love the results no matter what.
