How to Get Curls Back After Straightening

Co-authored by Steven Waldman and Amber Crain

Last Updated: March 21, 2023

Curl-Restoring Treatments

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Heat-Free Curly Styles

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Shampooing & Conditioning

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Q&A

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Warnings

Whether you want to repair heat damage from your straightening routine or are looking for a change to your look, you can take several avenues to getting your curls back. If your hair is damaged, you'll need to wash and dry it in a way that'll start the healing process. For damaged or healthy hair, you could try some curl-inducing treatments. Finally, if your hair is stubborn, you can train it back to curliness with a few no-heat curling methods.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Curl-Restoring Treatments

1
Whip up a mayo treatment. Massage about two to three tablespoons (29.6-44.4 mL) of mayonnaise into your hair when it's still damp. Cover it with a shower cap and let the mayo sit on your hair for 15 to 30 minutes. Finally, wash it out with a gentle shampoo. This should remove the mayo smell from your hair and also soften your hair, making it more curl-friendly.^{[1]
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- You won't need to apply conditioner after you shampoo, since the mayo provided a healthy dose of moisture.
2
Try a serum to tame frizz. Apply a hydrating serum to damp hair before you style your hair to add some moisture and prevent frizz. Concentrate on applying it from midshaft to the ends. Avoid applying serums on your roots, since they can cause greasy buildup and oily strands.
- Check the package ingredients and choose a product that's free of alcohol.
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3
Get your hair trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks. Regular trims will remove split ends that weigh your hair down and prevent curls from bounding back. Aim for every six weeks at least. If your hair grows quickly, schedule your trim every four weeks.^{[2]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Heat-Free Curly Styles

1
Braid your hair. Towel dry your hair and comb out any tangles. Then, start to divide your hair into sections. Do two sections to get thick, curl-like waves or opt for more sections for a crimped look. After that, divide each section into three sub-sections and braid them.^{[3]
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- Sleep on your braids and release them the next morning for heat-free curls!
2
Twist up some Bantu knots. Divide your hair into a few sections for large curls and smaller sections for smaller curls. Apply some product, such as mousse or a moisturizing curl enhancer, to each section of hair. Twirl each section around your finger to form a twisty, rope-like pattern. Finally, loop it around to form a bun-like shape and pin it to your head with about two bobby pins. Repeat this process all over your head. Allow your hair to air dry completely.^{[4]
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3
Try a perm rod curl. First, put leave-in conditioner in your hair. Then, divide your hair into a few sections for larger curls and many sections for smaller curls. Next, start to twist each section around a perm rod and roll it up to your scalp. Secure it by placing your hair in the slit along the surface of the rod. Repeat the process with each remaining section of hair. Keep your hair rolled until it's completely dry.^{[5]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Shampooing & Conditioning

1
Use a hair moisturizer daily. If your hair has been damaged from heat or chemicals, buy a moisturizer that actually penetrates your hair shaft. Focus on any part of your hair that feels overly dry, not just the ends. Follow the instructions on the package, especially for advice on how long to leave it on your hair.^{[6]
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- Look for hydrating ingredients like Argan oil, keratin, avocado oil, vitamin E, Moroccan oil and coconut oil.
2
Shampoo and condition with sulfate-free products. Sulfates are damaging to your and strip out the natural oils, making your hair dry and brittle. Dry, damaged strands don't hold curls well. Sulfates can also cause tangling, especially if you have naturally curly locks.^{[7]
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- If you have some natural wave or curl to your hair, use curl-enhancing shampoos and conditioners to boost your curls.
3
Use a clarifying shampoo at least every six weeks. Clarifying shampoo can remove buildup from styling products that might be weighing down your curls. However, if used too often, it can dry out your hair. Wash your hair with clarifying shampoo and then follow up with a moisturizing shampoo immediately afterward to enhance your curls and also help to prevent dryness.
- Don't use clarifying shampoo more than once or twice a month.
- If your hair is extra dry or damaged, use a deep moisturizing treatment after rinsing out the moisturizing shampoo.^{[8]
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4
Ditch the heat entirely. Forget the advice that low heat is okay. It might be slightly less damaging than high heat, but it won't help in the healing of your hair. Put away the hair dryer, curling iron, and other heat sources. Allow your hair to air dry.
- If you have tight curls, separate your hair into 4-8 sections and braid each one. Braiding your hair may help it to dry faster and also help to stretch out the tightness of your curls.
5
Deep-condition your hair at least once per week. Add a deep-conditioning product to your hair care routine to restore moisture, since curly hair is typically dry and tends to get frizzy. Use a rich formula at least once every week, right after you use your regular shampoo.

Community Q&A

Question

I had done smoothing and then treated after 1 month, but my hairs split. What can I do?

Pm_7

Community Answer

Cut off the split ends by going to a hairdresser, and use hair strengthening shampoo/conditioner to stop it from splitting again.
Question

If I want to do this, can I dye my hair red, or will it become more damaged?

Community Answer

Try not to dye your hair. Also, try the curly girl method, and when you get your curls back, I recommend that you wear a protective style such as Bantu knots for around two to three weeks in order to avoid tampering with your reborn curly hair. Then you can dye it red.
Question

I had my straightening 15 days ago but I didn't like it. How do I get it back to the way it was before?

Holly

Community Answer

If it was temporarily straightened, you can just wash it and it should go curly. If it was permanently straightened, then you could either braid it to hide the straightness, or get it curled properly.

Warnings

Use castor oil with caution. It's often promoted as a go-to remedy for thin hair, but it could actually damage your eyebrow hair if it drips onto your face. If you do use castor oil, keep it contained to the root of your hair at the scalp.^{[9]
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