As of October 2023, I will have eventually rocked by all-natural 4c curls for 3 years after going through the big cut during my final year of college. I had chemically treated hair from the time I was 11, majorly preferring straight, fuss-free relaxed strands over my ultra-tight hair pattern. While my hair was relaxed, it suffered from major breakage, thinness, and worst of all, it didn't move. By 21, I was completely over it and underwent the big chop; finally allowing the hair to grow as it wanted to from my scalp. Cutting my hair was the easy part. Learning how to take care of it, however, was what made the entire process difficult. Yes, there's a learning curve to figuring out how to work with your natural curls after having not touched them with anything other than chemical treatments for the entirety of your childhood, but at some point, I couldn't throw the idea of maintaining healthy curls to the wind.
Like any hair type, there are tried-and-true ways to prevent your natural curls from losing their hair pattern. Larry Sims, hairstylist, television, personality, and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union, shares with me his tips and tricks for keeping your natural curls looking and feeling their best. "Excessive amounts of thermal heat styling, chemical over-processing, and medication can alter the state of your natural hair pattern," explains Sims. That's right, even excessive use of your most trusted hot hair tools (including hair dryers), can contribute to your curls' untimely demise. While certain products such as thermal protectant spray and shampoos/conditioners are formulated to protect color-treated or heat-damaged hair; taking the time to give your hair the TLC it needs can make a major difference.
So what should you be doing to revive and refresh your curls after they've been damaged? According to Sims, the best things you can do for your hair are to give it a break from any thermal heat styling tools, allow your hair to air dry, and to give your curls proper trims (shoot for roughly every 4-6 weeks). You'll know when it's time for a trip to the salon for a trim when your hair begins to knot easily or you notice the presence of pesky split ends. "It’s important to keep your curls hydrated with masque treatments, leave-in conditioners, curl defining products," adds Sims. If you're not sure where you should start, consider shopping from the aforementioned haircare line Sims founded with his close friend, Gabrielle Union.
Ready to see what other curly hair saving products we've been loving lately? Keep reading.
Sims' Top Picks For Healthy Curls
Starting the journey to revive your curls can be easy when you get your hands on the right protects. This condition mask, for example, rebuilds and strengthens dry and brittle hair with a formula infused with biotin, creatine, and rice oil complex.
Sims also recommends using curl defining products to give some new life to your strands. This curl custard will do the trick by reducing frizz and fighting shrinkage with an ultra-hydrating blend of rice oil complex, honey, bacuri butter, and lilac leaf extract.
Discover Our Favorite Products For Curly Hair
If you've read any of my previous stories dedicated to taking care of curly hair, you know just how much I love this mask. It's a reparative treatment mask that detoxes, deeply conditions, strengthens, and repairs damaged or color-treated hair. With effective ingredients like moroccan lava clay, blue tansy oil, and spirulina extract, you can expect curls that are easier to detangle, defined, and frizz-free.
If you ask any of Who What Wear's beauty editors which mask they reach for when they're looking to replenish their hair's moisture and shine, I'm betting this Olaplex mask would be at the top of their list. It uses bond building technology to relink disulfide bonds damaged by chemical services, heat, and styling.
Enriched with naturally derived ingredients (including organic shea butter, coconut oil, and neem oil), this leave-in styling cream hydrates and protects hair against breakage while also making them smooth and easy to manage (meaning it'll also save your combs and brushes).
Mielle went viral earlier this year after Alix Earle posted a video on her TIkTok account reviewing the brand's bestselling Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil, but this is your sign to try another one of their products. Their hair mask gives your hair extra love with a nutrient-rich formula crafted to deliver rich moisture and strength to your strands.
Another mask that should be a must-have for anyone working to bring back their curls is this leave-in, deep conditioning mask from Briogeo. Effective for every hair type, it works to strengthen damaged hair and prevent further damage with a powerful mix of clean and naturally-derived ingredients.
Another hair mask I have in my rotation? K18's Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask. It clinically reverses damage in just four minutes using K18 peptide, an ingredient that has the right size and molecular structure to re-connect broken keratin chains responsible for strength and elasticity.
Sometimes your hair just needs a gentle, yet effective pick me up (just like I do at the beginning of my day with a strong black tea). This water-based mist restores flexibility, shine, and a subtle styling hold for those in-between a wash, "bad hair" days.
Sunday II Sunday's moisturizing spray is so versatile I use it when my hair's curls are completely intact or tucked away in the knotless box braids I sport most of the time. Use this to fight frizz, combat residue build up, and bring some life back to your curls with argan oil, bio-marine active, and Himalayan mushroom complex.
This product's abilities are all there in its name. AG's Care Recoil Curl Activator does just what it promises, by defining your curls and sealing in moisture using rice amino acids and tomato extract. All you have to do in scrunch the product into damp hair and let it air dry (or if you're short on time, diffuse).
The thing I love most about this conditioning cream is how extremely lightweight it is. With a formula using resin blend, emollients (for frizz control), and healthy curl complex; Living Proof's Curl Enhancer Conditioning Cream will leave your hair stronger, more defined, and frizz-free.
Now let's get into styling creams that, when your hair is back to its healthy self, will keep them in check. Seen's Curly Creme defends your curls from frizz, daily damage from environmental aggressors, and heat up to 450°F. In other words, it's the multi-tasking product you should be adding to your haircare routine.
Ready for curls for days? This Curl Defining Cream is ideal for defining, reducing frizz, and adding shine. Its cream formula is chalked full of products your hair will love like argan oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil, hydrating shea butter, and taming wheat protein for added control.
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