At some point in our lives, we have all suffered from heat damaged hair. It's no secret that heat can be a real curl killer that leaves your hair brittle, limp, and questioning its mere existence. An excessive amount of heat at high temperatures can gradually cause severe cuticle damage that can only be reversed by a serious chop. Too much heat fragments your hair bonds and it can be a struggle to revive them back to dear life and causes our beloved curls, coils, and kinks to lose their bounce.
Rehabilitating your curls can be a frustrating journey after a heat binge and you may wonder how you know whether you are encountering heat damage and how to deal with it head on. One of the main signs of damage are once your hair is wet it reverts to its natural kinky state but some of your strands do not follow suit or you spot a few straggly straight strands and find that you have experienced a loss of elasticity. If you spot any of these signs, you may be suffering from the fate of dreaded heat damage.
Of course, we are not saying to avoid heat all the time, however, when using styling tools, a heat protectant is essential but even sometimes that is not enough. The best way to treat heat damaged hair is to treat is with care and that means conditioning and moisturizing treatments that will help your curls bounce back to life and get them flourishing more than ever before. See below as we share some tips on how to restore your hair after heat damage.
Clarify your hair
Using a clarifying shampoo can help with limp and lifeless hair by removing excess oils that weight down already struggling hair. It can also infuse your hair with the moisture it is craving leaving it super soft and shiny. We are trying to get those curls back to life sis. A hair detox is perfect for frazzled hair so you can start with a clean slate!
Try a protein treatment
Protein treatments are very much needed during this period. Kinkier hair textures rely heavily on moisture and protein when damaged so make sure to give it a go. These treatments can help with repairing your hair strands and adding more strength to damaged hair. Most protein treatments are conditioning treatments and this can be done alongside a deep conditioning treatment. The best part is that many of these can be made right in your kitchen. See below for one of our personal favorites!
- 1 whole Avocado
- 2 Eggs
- 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Oil of your choice (Coconut, Apricot, Grapeseed)
- 1 tablespoon Honey
Directions:
-
Mash avocado and mix all ingredients together until they form a smooth cream like texture. You want to make sure that there are no lumps otherwise it will be hard to wash out. You can use a blender to assist in this step.
-
Apply mixture to washed, damp hair then cover with a shower cap for 30 minutes to an hour.
-
You can also sit under a steamer for 15-20 minutes for added moisture retention.
Try a protective style
As our natural hair needs extra care and attention during this stage, if your hair is suffering from heat damage, opting for protective hairstyles as the ones above can help your hair. We are not saying to conceal your hair issues and pretend like its never happened but there are benefits such as length retention and, in this instance, maintaining moisture. But do remember to still look after your hair even while it's tucked away by using scalp oils like sweet almond or jojoba oil.
Hot oil treatments
Another way to treat heat damaged hair is by doing hot oil treatments. A hot oil treatment can be done every two weeks and will prevent dryness. It can restore elasticity, nourish the hair, and enhance smoothness to the strands. This also helps to increase blood circulation to your scalp and most importantly brings life back to your curls. Remember to use a shower cap and make this a part of your hair monthly regimen.