Let’s be real—heat damage is every natural’s worst nightmare. Whether you’re getting a silk press from a stylist or going DIY style in your bathroom, ending up with limp, frizzy hair that looks nothing like your natural curls can be pretty disheartening. However But before you panic and reach for the scissors, we’re here to help make things better. Heat damage doesn’t have to be the end of your natural hair journey. With the right care and a little patience, you can revive your curls to life. In this article, we’ll discuss how to repair heat-damaged curly hair. Keep scrolling to see our top tips.
What Causes Heat Damage On Natural Hair?
Heat damage is primarily caused by prolonged application of high heat temperatures to the hair. When your hair is exposed to very high heat or too much heat over time, it damages the cuticles and the proteins that give the hair its natural structure. Heat styling with extremely high temperatures is one of the most common causes of heat damage, which is why it is very important to avoid using any heat tool at over 300 degrees.
What Are The Signs Of Heat Damage On Natural Hair?
If your hair is heat damaged, one of the most obvious signs you'll notice will likely be that your curls are not reverting to their natural texture even after you've washed your hair. A great example is the creator Fola Amudipe, who got extremely bad heat damage after a silk press from a popular hairstylist.
Fola's viral video shows the signs of the most extreme heat damage--limp, straight hair that has no curl pattern even after several washes.
However, a few other signs you should look out for include excessive dryness, increased tangles and knots, frizz, breakage, and a slight change in your hair porosity.
How To Repair Heat-Damaged Hair
1. Put A Pause On Heat Styling
Once your hair is damaged, the first step to fixing the problem is cutting out heat from your routine completely. The heat damage is your hair’s way of telling it has had enough, so to avoid further damage to your strands, it is best to avoid using any heat tools. This includes blow-dryers and flat irons. Instead of using heat, consider heatless methods like the banding method or African threading to stretch your hair.
2. Deep Condition More Often
Heat-damaged hair is weak and prone to breakage, so incorporating a deep conditioning mask into your routine is very important. Use a protein-based deep conditioner at least once a week to strengthen and nourish your hair. Doing this consistently will minimise some of the heat damage symptoms like dryness and frizz, while giving your curls more bounce and lustre.
3. Incorporate Bond Building Treatments In Your Routine
Bond repair treatments like Olaplex and K18 are a great way to repair the sulfide bonds that have been damaged from the heat. These hair repair formulas are designed to penetrate the hair and help repair damage, so using them immediately after you notice the signs of heat damage will help kick-start the restoration process. Use the bond repair treatment weekly after every wash and then follow up with your usual hair moisturisers.
4. Load Up On Moisture
If your hair is heat-damaged, chances are, it is very dry, brittle, and high in porosity. This means your hair will lose moisture pretty easily, so it is important to load up on moisture. Apply a leave-in conditioner at least 2-4 times every week and follow up with a nourishing hair oil to seal the moisture in for longer.
5. Protective And Low Manipulation Styles Are Your Friend
To keep your fragile strands from breaking off during this time, opt for protective and low manipulation hairstyles that do not put a lot of tension or stress on the hair. This will keep your ends from breaking off and lock in moisture in your hair for longer.
6. Add More Protein To Your Routine
A protein treatment is another great way to nourish your heat-damaged strands. It will fill in any damage and cracks along the cuticle, making it stronger and less prone to damage. The protein treatment will also improve your hair's elasticity and encourage your hair to bounce back to its natural curly state. Start by doing the protein treatment every two weeks, then transition into once a month.
7. Trim The Damage In Phases
Depending on how bad your heat damage is, some parts of your hair may be damaged beyond repair. In such cases, the only option is to trim off the damage before it causes split ends that spread through the hair shaft. But you do not have to trim off everything at once. To make the transition easier, cut off the damaged parts in small sections every few weeks as you continue to nourish and care for your hair with treatments and moisture.
How To Avoid Heat Damage When Straightening Natural Hair
Use A Heat Protectant
A heat protectant is crucial whenever any type of heat is applied to your hair. It creates a protective film around your strands and will help prevent any chance of damage.
Don’t Overdo It
The key to maintaining healthy hair while heat styling is to use it sparingly. Applying heat to your hair every week or every other day will result in some damage, no matter how careful you are. So it is best not to overdo it. Your flat ironing should be limited to once a month or once every few months at most.
Reduce The Temperature
High temperatures over 350 degrees are a no-no if you want healthy hair after your heat styling sessions. Reduce the heat and avoid going over any section of hair more than 2-3 times with your heat tool. Additionally, air-dry your hair first before using a heat tool to limit the amount of heat exposure time your hair gets.
Use A Protein Hair Mask Before Straightening Your Hair
Nourishing your hair with a protein-based hair mask before applying heat is a great way to minimise the potential risk of damage. The mask will strengthen your hair and make it less prone to heat damage.
Conclusion
Heat damage can definitely be a huge setback for your natural curls, but it can be fixed with proper care. So, don’t let the situation overwhelm you. Just stick with the tips we’ve discussed and remain consistent, and your hair will definitely recover and bounce back. In the meantime, you can rock any of our kinky curl wigs that match your natural texture while you kickstart the recovery process and wait for your new growth.