The hardest thing about rocking your natural curls when recovering from heat damage is the fact that the lovely curls you once had are non-existent. You’re now rocking (more like grudgingly putting up with) limp crimped-like waves. It can seem so depressing and hopeless staring in the mirror and having your face surrounded by your utterly confused strands. It can seem ridiculously tempting to grab the curling wand or straightener and ease your pain.
Unfortunately, that is in no way a viable solution if you want your curls to grow back strong and healthy. Ladies (and gentlemen), in your pursuit for beautiful natural curls, patience is a virtue and your biggest asset. Here are a few tricks to keep truckin’ when it feels all too tempting to grab the heat products.
1. Get rid of your heat products! Well hey now- here’s a crazy concept. Instead of leaving your straightener, blow dryers, and curling iron at the ready any time you fall into a hair slump, get them out of your line of vision! If they were too expensive for you to throw them out or give them away, asks somebody in your home to hide them to ensure you won’t have any relapses.
2. Don’t hair-shame. I used to spend to spend so much time staring at Instagram pictures of girls with amazing, healthy curls and get so mad at myself for ruining my once-luscious curls. Instead of beating yourself up about your heat damage, consider these women inspiration. If they have advice for how they got their healthy curls, take it! Hair-shaming leads to impatience and frustration so don’t get frustrated and trust your curls will make a comeback in time.
3. Utilize the high-bun and other protective styles. All you have to do is type in protective styles into the YouTube search bar and a crap-ton of videos showing fun and cute hairstyles that not only protect your hair from natural wear-and-tear, but also hide heat damage, will pop up. While your hair is growing healthy and strong, you don’t have to worry about the awkward transitional curls on top of your head.
5. Don’t fall for the miracle serum myth. Trust and believe- there is no magical hair revival trick. Nothing you take or put on your head will give your hair an immediate complete makeover. Those false promises will only lead to disappointment. Just like there’s no magical pill for healthy weight-loss, there’s no magical hair product to help with growth and curls. Patience is your only miracle product.
4. Focus on your end goal! It’s kind of like the light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel type feeling. Your hair may look rough right now and it may see like it’s taking FOREVER to revive, but know that it will all be so worth it when your curls are bouncy, shiny, and voluminous again. Make a curly-hair dream board, watch YouTube channels made by girls with a similar hair texture to yours, and don’t forget to rejoice in whatever progress you’re making. This will keep you going even when your curls are on their worst behavior.
Read about the beginning of my journey here!
