Photo courtesy of @dailiperez
Are you a curly that has returned from a sunny and dry climate? Did you have a fun vacation but once you saw your curls in the mirror, you are regretting how you cared for your hair while you were away? No need for any regrets! You can take these steps to repair your curls after your escapade.
Cleanse
If you live in a dry, desert climate it is important to cleanse your hair thoroughly to remove any sand and environmental debris from your hair and scalp. To do this, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo at least once a month or more, depending on what your hair can handle. Choose a clarifier with peppermint oil or tea tree oil to stimulate the scalp and eliminate bacteria. Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to avoid excessive dryness. If your hair tends to be dry, do a pre-poo treatment before you cleanse to prevent moisture loss.
Deep Condition
In dry environments hair is more prone to dryness and tangles. Deep conditioning allows you to revive your hair with moisturizing or strengthening ingredients. All women with curly, coily or wavy hair should be deep conditioning regularly, but if you live in a dry climate then it is a crucial step to maintaining your moisture levels. Many curlies even use moisturizing deep treatments to quench your thirsty curls every time they condition, instead of using a daily conditioner. If you have noticed that your hair is damaged from heat tools or color processing, or you are experiencing breakage, opt for a strengthening deep treatment such as a protein conditioner. If your curls are protein sensitive, you can try mixing a strengthening treatment with a moisturizing one (yes, even protein sensitive hair needs proteins“>. It is always important to maintain a protein moisture balance for your unique hair needs.
Hydrate
“Stay hydrated” is a phrase that you hear over and over again when it comes to beauty as well as your overall health, but it cannot be over emphasized. When you are in a dry climate it is even more imperative that you hydrate yourself to prevent dehydration. When you are hydrated, your body and skin benefit from it, so drink lots of water! A hydrated body on a nutrient rich diet is going to give you your best chances for growing longer, healthier hair – far more than any moisturizing hair product ever could.
Sun protection
Sunscreen is usually one of the first products that you put on your skin when spending time outside, but sometimes we forget our hair. Protecting your hair is important, as it is being exposed to the sun’s damaging rays daily. Luckily, there are products that include UV protection to help protect your hair from the sun. This is an important step in anyone’s regimen, but it is especially beneficial for color-treated hair. Check out these products that have UV protection:
- AG Hair Cosmetics Foam Weightless Volumizer
- Ouidad Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
- Alikay Naturals Wake Me Up Daily Curl Refresher
- Briogeo Rosarco Reparative Conditioner
Protective styling
When your hair is feeling particularly dry, try wearing your hair in a protective style to give it a break. This allows your hair to enjoy all of the moisture that you have been providing for your hair. Try styling your hair in a loose bun, braids, or two-strand twists rather than wearing it loose and out. Wearing your hair down makes it most susceptible to the environment with wind that creates tangles, sun, and rubbing on your clothes. Of course you want to be able to enjoy your hair, but when it’s so damaged and dry that it cannot seem to retain moisture, this is a good solution. You can also use your favorite summer hat to protect your curls from the sun. It is also best to avoid heat styling just to prevent any additional drying of your hair. If you prefer to heat style your hair, be sure to apply a heat protectant before heat use.
Conclusion
The steps above will help with your hair bounce back in no time, but when trying new reparative steps, be sure to take notes throughout the process to see what is working and what is not working. If you notice your hair is not improving, it may be best to book an appointment with a professional hairstylist to see what the issue could be.
