10 Ways to Fix Your Curly Hair: Restore & Repair Sad Curls
Do you think you have curly hair but have no idea where to start? That was me, circa 2018 when I *finally* discovered that my hair wasn’t actually ugly– it was curly!!
I’m giving you all of the tips and tricks that I have used over the past 6 years of my curly hair journey. Keep reading for 20 ways to fix your curly hair!
Backstory: I Thought My Hair Was Just “Poofy”
I’m sure you’ve heard this story before– mom or dad doesn’t know how to care for curls, so they keep brushing them out… yikes. When I was a kid I HATED my hair so much. I thought it was in this ugly limbo of being too wavy and poofy and it wouldn’t stay straight or shine like the cool girls’ hair in middle school. Plus, I was in ballet class every day, so I literally just hairsprayed it into a bun every day. Double yikes.
Little did I know that I had the most (If I do say so myself) beautiful curls ready to be unleashed onto the world. I just didn’t figure it out until I was about 19 years old. That’s when I stumbled upon YouTube videos of influencers like India Batson and Aisha Malik that talked about curly hair products that I had no idea how to use.
I was so confused by every step.. deep conditioner? Curly cream? Mousse? Gel? Which one do I buy? Not to mention how everyone at the time was obsessed with DevaCurl and I couldn’t afford it (We all know how that went down).
I remember testing out so many curly hair routines that I found on YouTube. I finally got to some kind of a consistent routine that I sort of liked, and it was amazing. I am obsessed with my curly hair now and I wouldn’t trade it for any other curly hair type in the world! Ok, let’s be real, just the other day I wished I had straight hair for the ease of it but I’m talking 85% of the time.
2018
It took me a few years but I kept improving and improving my curly hair routine. I think the pinnacle of my curly hair success was in college (pictured below). My curls were amazing, I think it also had to do with the length of my hair at the time. It was at a perfect medium length that shaped and bounced my curls perfectly, but now a days I’m trying to grow out my curls so it’s harder to get that super defined curl.
2022
After becoming a mom in 2024, I was TERRIFIED that I was gonna lose all my hair. However, I was so blessed to not have had excessive shedding (other than what I already have) and I survived my first postpartum without bald spots. I have been growing out my hair, my goal is to have gorgeous waist length curls that are a pain to take care of. My natural curls are harder to get perfect now because of my long hair, however I love how they are evolving with the length of my hair.
2024
I’m not a perfect curly girl– honestly I never thought my hair was super great, however I do receive compliments from strangers on my hair so that’s why I wanted to share my story! It was difficult for me to find a content creator with a similar curly hair pattern and length as me with a curly hair routine that worked on my hair.
10 Easy Ways to Fix Your Curly Hair
These are my top tips that I’ve gathered over the years and have implemented into my daily life and wash days. You won’t be able to tackle these all at once, however, try at least 1-2 new tips a time a week and see the difference in your natural hair.
1. Stop using so much heat (straighteners, blowout brushes, etc.)
I KNOW how hard this one is. I was obsessed with my sister’s straightener when I was 12. Back in middle school pin straight hair was all the rage. However, I highly suggest removing excessive heat styling from your hair routine. You really don’t want to deal with unnecessary heat damage, which makes curls harder to recover (but not impossible at all). If you do use hot tools, which I do every once in a while, make sure to use a heat protectant spray before applying the heat to your hair to avoid further damage and the loss of curl pattern.
2. Switch to satin pillowcases
Even if you have straight or wavy hair, every woman should be using a satin or silk pillowcase! Not only does a satin pillowcase help avoid frizz and breakage, it is also a great way to prevents wrinkles while you sleep. I got my satin pillowcase for super cheap on Amazon, but you can get them literally anywhere in stores.
3. Use scrunchies instead of hairties
Using typical hairties will ruin your curl pattern and cause breakage in your hair! Stay away from elastic hairties and invest in a few staple satin scrunchies. Again, pretty cheap and you can find them pretty much anywhere!
4. T-shirt or microfiber towel instead of a regular towel
Cotton towels may be great for your body, but they aren’t so good for healthy curls. Drying your hair with a regular cotton towel will cause unnecssary frizz and breakage, which isn’t ideal for your curly hair journey. Instead, opt for a plain cotton t-shirt that you already have, or a microfiber towel like this one. You can either scrunch out the excess water with the shirt or towel, or tie it up and “plop” it for 10 minutes before drying.
5. Deep condition once a week
I promise this will make a huge difference in how soft your curls are! I use deep conditioning treatments on my hair once a week for about 20-45 minutes, depending on the package instructions. I currently use the TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask and it’s fantastic. I’ve also heard amazing things about Camille Rose’s line of deep conditioners, however every time I go to the store to get her deep conditioner it’s out, sadly.
6. Style hair on sopping wet hair
Omg this one makes a HUGE difference for me. Even after I get out of the shower I pour more water on my head to make sure it’s absoloutely sopping while applying product. You can even get one of those hair sprayer things that you can use to keep your hair wet. I had one, but I lost it, so now I just pour water from the sink on my head, lol.
7. Learn your curl type
There are so many different curly hair types out there. As you watch influencer’s curly hair routine videos, it’s super important to realize that you may have completely different results from the same routine, because her curls are 4B and yours are 3A. Honestly, I keep forgetting what curl type I have, but it’s useful in the beginning stages when you are YouTubing curly hair routines with a variety of curl types.
8. Use protective hairstyles
Opt for looser hairstyles throughout your week to prevent ruining your curl pattern. I often stick to satin scrunchies, “pineapple hair”, hair scarfs, or headbands for hairstyles that I can use day-to-day that still won’t disrupt all of my hard work on wash day. Once it hits day 3 or 4, I typically give up and start using slick back buns, braids or ponies until it’s time to wash my hair.
9. Sleep with a bonnet
Ok, I still actually haven’t invested in a bonnet yet, but I desperately need to. I usually sleep with my hair in a pineapple on top of my head, which is another alternative, but I’ve found as my hair as gotten longer that I really do need a satin bonnet like this one to use nightly. This will seriously preserve your curls through the week.
10. Refresh curls daily
Purchase a curls refreshing spray or simply reactivate your curls with some water in the morning when you wake up. Dry with your diffuser for more volume, and shake out your hair for loose, volumious curls. Doing this every day will give you so much more confidence about your natural hair.
6-Step Easy Curly Hair Routine
When I started researching how to care for my curls, I was overwhelmed with information overload. I’ll keep this routine as simple as possible for beginners to get!! This curly hair routine is one that I still use today.
Note: You’ll learn the amounts of each of these styling products the more and more you practice your curly hair routine. Start off with less versus more, and if you see that your hair is drying frizzy or unmoisturized, you’ll know that you need more leave-in, gel, etc. On the flip side, if you add too much product, you’ll notice that your hair will be less volumious, heavier, and look a little greasy.
1. Leave in conditioner
An absoloute must for intense hydration. After shampooing and conditioning, apply a generous amount of leave-in conditioner to your hair. I always apply the product from my mid-length to my ends. Start out with less product versus more and add enough until your hair is soft with enough moisture and easy to brush through. Use a wide-tooth comb or wet brush to distribute the leave-in. One of my favorite leave-in conditioners is the Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In.
2. Curl cream
Add about a quarter-sized dollop of curl cream to start, you may need less or more depending your natural curl pattern or hair texture. The curl cream will help define and moisturize your curls and help give your that curly hair look. Rake the styling product through your hair, mid length to ends.
4. Section hair & define curls
Use a Denman brush or other defining brush to help make your curls look extra defined and bouncy. Part your hair, then section it out in 2-3 areas on your head. Take small sections of your hair and brush it outwards using the Denman, scrunching the hair after to form curls. Repeat this process all over your hair until all of your curls are defined. There are so many TikToks and YouTube videos on this process– you should definitely check them out for a visual guide.
3. Gel or Mousse
I almost always prefer gel, as it’s a stronger hold, however you can use mousse as well. Some curly girls even apply mousse then gel! The gel acts as a curl-definer and will give you those soft, gorgeous curls after you “scrunch out the crunch”. Use a generous handful of gel and apply using the praying method over the hair shaft. Then, the best part! Scrunch the curls all over your head. Whe you scrunch, your hair should still be wet enough to make a “squelching” sound as you scrunch.
5. Diffuse on low to medium heat
Air drying takes way too long, plus it won’t give you the volume in your roots that you want! Take any blow dryer with a diffuser attachment (I have a super old Revlon blow dryer I use), flip your hair over your head and start the drying process at your roots. While low heat is best, it will take such a long time that it’s not very doable. If you have the time, that’s great! It will result in less heat damage on your hair. However, I am a mom with limited time so I use the medium heat to dry my hair. This is the longest process of the whole curly hair routine, so be prepared!
I’ve also started using a heat protectant spray before diffusing, which you might be interested in adding to your routine later on.
6. Scrunch out the crunch
Once your hair is mostly dry, you’ll be ready for the last step. Grab a hair oil if you have one (this part is optional– it just adds additional shine!), apply some to your hands, and “scrunch” out your curls. They will be a little crunchy because of the gel cast, but don’t worry, your curls will look absolutely shiny and bouncy after scrunching!
Shake out your hair to result in gorgeous, loose curls all over your head. Make sure to use a protective style in the days following to avoid damaging the curl pattern.
