Did Your Natural Hair Texture Change Due to Heat Damage? Here's how to Recover BY MARSHA B

STYLE THAT CAUSED HEAT DAMAGE

About three years ago I suffered from severe heat damage. I had always wore my hair in a twist out, so I decided to switch it up and install a weave. I was going to the BET Awards so

it was the perfect opportunity to test the waters. I went to a stylist who straighten my leave-out, while the rest of my hair was braided up and hidden under tracks. For about two weeks, I rocked a cute, short blonde bob that made me feel brand new. Unfortunately my lifeline for weaves, braids, and crochet styles are usually very short. By the time I returned back to NYC from LA, I was ready for my signature twist out style. I removed my tracks, washed my hair, and sat with a deep conditioner. To my surprise, parts of my curly fro had turned straight in the front. I frantically called the stylist. She explained that this happens sometimes and after a few more washes, it would return to normal. A few washes turned into a few months with curly hair in the back, and a blatant chunk of straight hair in the front. I resorted to protective styles for a few months and then eventually cut it all off to start fresh again.

2 / 2

HAIR AFTER HEAT DAMAGE

Heat damage is no joke. It can leave your hair feeling helpless and crippled when your textures don’t match in such a noticeable way.

Luckily for me, I was able to recover through protective styles and eventually doing another big chop. While you can never really change your damaged texture back to its original state, you can help nurse it back to health with these tips and tricks.

The obvious way of fixing damaged hair is by cutting it off and starting fresh. If length retention is a hair goal, you can imagine how traumatic this can be. Still, damaged hair is counterproductive to growing long, healthy hair. The first beneficial step to recovering your tresses is cutting your ends completely or snipping some off bit by bit.

Whether you decide to cut or retain the damaged hair, you can hide it under a protective style. Braids, faux loccs, crochet styles, weaves and wigs all assist in promoting some growth while your hair is protected. As your hair grows out, you’ll be able to trim it bit by bit between styles, shedding the damaged hair.

Now that we got past the logistics, here are some products that will help strengthen and restore your hair. Masques, protein treatments and routine deep conditioners will be instrumental tools in getting your texture back to normal.

• Ouidad’s Curl Immersion Triple Threat Deep Conditioner has a hefty price tag, but it’s known to do the trick when it comes to repairing your hair. Not only is this product paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free, it is known to reduce breakage, restore moisture, and increase shine.
• For an effective masque, SheaMoisture's African Black Soap Purification Masque is great from penetrating each strand and restoring it with the moisture needed to help make it thrive. This masque has a high doses of biotin that will keep your hair healthy and shiny.
• Hot oil treatments are another way remedy your hair. Alikay’s Naturals Blended Therapy Hot Oil Treatment is a go-to product for damaged hair. It will rebuild your hair by adding moisture, sheen, and nourishment to the scalp.

Using these products interchangeably can help strengthen and rebuild your hair after heat damage. For me, I found that there was more than one road to recovery. I used a combination of products to address the health of my hair. Ultimately, after the damaged hair was gone, it was up to me to maintain a beneficial routine that would focus on growing strong strands.

What about you? How do you address heat damaged hair?

Source: Naturally Curly