Written by Daniela
Image by @fesa_n
Summer a.k.a trying all the fun, trendy styles season has come to end and my curls? Well let’s just say t in need of some TLC.
With the emergence of Tik Tok and Instagram Reels, viral hairstyles pop up ever so often so I know we, yes me included, have had our fill of trying and testing. From boho braids and faux locs to rubberband styles and dyes, it was ALL IN and we showed out!
However, all this manipulation with lack of proper hair maintenance can have our natural curls looking dry, lifeless with frizzy and broken off areas. To confidently rock your curls in all its healthy, moisturized glory, here are my top 3 tips for restoring your curls.
1) Incorporate a protein treatment
If your hair feels dry and brittle, protein is the way to go! The human hair fibre is made up of proteins and without nourishment and moisture, the bonds in the fibre weaken which causes that limp look. Adding protein through a deep conditioner or treatment can help to protect hair from further damage while strengthening it and giving it back that elasticity. One of my current faves is Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Repair Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment. It dispenses an equal pump of rice protein and moisture which makes it the perfect restorative treatment, I now swear by this! A protein treatment once a month will have your curls return to its former glory.
Briogeo
Don’t Despair, Repair Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment
2) Get rid of build up
Think about putting product upon old product every time you style your hair, gross right? Due to our curly strands, it is easier for our hair and scalp to develop product build-up and if not removed will result in weighed down curls and an itchy scalp. When I want a deep scalp cleanse, my go to products are the Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo and Curlsmith Core Strength Shampoo. Both do a great job at removing build-up for a clean slate and give that soothing sensation to calm itchiness. Every 4 months or so, I also like to detox my hair to get a fresh start. A very popular method of doing this is by doing a clay mask. All you need is bentonite/rhassoul clay, apple cider vinegar and an oil (if you choose). After saturating your hair with this mixture, give it 30 mins or until it hardens then rinse. I’ve done this clay mask multiple times and my curls always pop and look so shiny after. So many naturals vouge for this (me included) so this is a MUST TRY! If you’re on a time crunch or want to avoid the mess, the Bounce Curl Tumeric Detox Mask is a great alternative.
3) Let go of dead ends
Let’s debunk this myth that all damage can be repaired. Yes, I know it’s a hard pill to swallow but holding on to severely damaged ends actually does more harm than good. Imagine a piece of yarn, when the end has been compromised it unravels more and more. Our hair is just like this, when the ends are damaged by breakage, split ends or otherwise they become compromised and vulnerable. If nothing is done about them, the damage will move further up the hair shaft resulting in having to cut more than originally anticipated. To prevent it reaching to this stage, it is recommended to get your ends trimmed every 3-5 months to maintain its health. But how does this affect my curls? Damaged ends will have you frustrated trying curly hairstyles because your results are always frizzy towards the ends no matter the product combination. With the dead ends gone, your unsuccessful hair days will be a thing of the past!
