Key Takeaways
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Excessive heat can irreversibly damage the structure of curly hair, leaving it dry, brittle and lacking definition.
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To repair heat-damaged hair, you need to deeply moisturize it, strengthen capillary bonds and space out heat exposure.
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Choose treatments enriched with plant proteins, amino acids and nourishing active ingredients such as Chébé, natural plant oils and shea butter.
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Protect your hair from heat with a thermo-protector and adopt a gentle, consistent routine to restore healthy, supple curls.
Have you been overdoing it with the straightener or hair dryer and your curls are suffering?
Rest assured, all is not lost. It is possible to repair heat-damaged curly hair, provided you adopt a targeted, patient routine that respects your natural texture.
In this article, we explain in detail the effects of heat on the hair fiber, the right reflexes to restore your curls, and the best products to restore hydrated, full-of-life hair. First, let's get to the root of the problem...
Understanding Heat Damage in Curly Hair
When too intense or used too frequently, heat distorts the protein structure of hair, particularly the spiral shape of curly hair.
This disrupts the disulfide bonds that give hair its natural shape, destroying its elasticity and shape memory. The result: curls become limp, deformed, dull... or even non-existent!
Curly hair is naturally more porous, making it more susceptible to dehydration and breakage. Heat weakens the cuticle, the hair's protective outer layer, allowing moisture to escape.
As a result, the hair fiber becomes dry, split and prone to breakage. Identifying the signs of thermal damage is therefore essential to implementing an effective repair strategy.
Tips for Repairing Curly Hair Damaged by Heat
Once you've noticed the damage, it's time to take action. Here are the essential steps to restore your curls to their full vitality.
Stop heat immediately
This is the very first step towards repair: temporarily banish heating tools (straighteners, hair dryers, curling irons) from your routine. Even at low temperatures, heat can compromise your repair efforts. Give your curls a complete break while you rebuild their internal structure. If you really must use heat, wait until your hair is stronger and systematically use a thermo-protective conditioner.
Use bond-repairing care products
Bond-repairing hair care products are essential for rebuilding the hair's internal bridges damaged by heat. Opt for products containing active ingredients such as a repairing Chébé Complex, plant proteins or keratin. Chéribé repair shampoo or Chébé-enriched hair oil are perfect for strengthening the fiber and reviving curl memory.
To strengthen the fiber and revive the memory of your curls: Discover all of Chéribé collection
Also read: Bond Building with Smart Restorative Technology™
Intensify hydration
Heat-damaged hair is often very dry. Apply moisturizing masks at least once a week and incorporate a rich leave-in conditioner into every routine. Ingredients to look for: aloe vera, glycerine, shea butter, jojoba oil. Chéribé Hair Milk is an excellent multi-functional leave-in to restore moisture without weighing down your curls.
Try it out: Chéribé Hair Milk
You can also find out more in our best leave-in conditioners for black hair guide.
Cut off damaged ends
As frustrating as it may seem, cutting off the most damaged ends is sometimes essential for a fresh start. It prevents split ends from creeping up the length of the hair, and gives curls new bounce.
There's no need to cut everything off: just one or two centimetres can be enough to revitalize your hair.
Opt for gentle products
Wash your hair with shampoos that contain no sulfates, silicones or drying alcohols. Choose formulas based on natural ingredients that gently cleanse while preserving moisture. Chéribé moisturizing shampoo contains prebiotics and a repair complex ideal for textured, weakened hair.
Discover the Best shampoo and conditioners for 4C hair
How to Prevent Heat Damage?
Once your hair has been repaired, the aim is to prevent it from happening again. Here are a few best practices you can adopt to preserve the health of your curls over the long term:
Use a thermo-protective conditioner every time you are exposed to heat.
Chéribé's Daily Refresh Moisture Milk, for example, forms a protective barrier without weighing down the fiber.
Set your heaters to the lowest possible temperature
Never exceed 180°C on curly hair.
Don't straighten the same strand several times
A single slow, controlled stroke is all you need.
Moisturize your hair before and after using heat
A well-nourished fiber is more resistant to damage.
Space your blow-drying or straightening sessions
Give your hair time to recover between two heat treatments.
Adopting these reflexes will help you preserve the definition, elasticity and natural strength of your curls, while continuing to vary your styles according to your desires.
Our in-depth solutions for those with multiple hair textures guide can also help.
Recommended Products for Restoring Heat Damaged Curly Hair?
Repairing damaged hair doesn't happen by chance: each product must target a specific need, whether for hydration, bond repair or protection. Here are the products best suited to restoring your curls' natural shine.
A moisturizing leave-in conditioner
Ideal after every wash, this leave-in conditioner moisturizes, protects and redefines curls. It should contain emollients (aloe vera, glycerin), plant butters (shea, mango) and light oils (jojoba, avocado). Apply to damp hair and distribute evenly with fingers or a wide-tooth comb.
See our favorite leave-in conditioners for black hair.
A hair oil adapted to porosity
Oil helps seal in moisture, provided you choose it wisely. For hair with low porosity, choose lightweight oils such as jojoba or grapeseed oil. Apply a small amount to damp hair after your leave-in. Once a week is generally sufficient.
Learn which oils we consider the best oils for low porosity hair.
A nourishing hair cream with Chébé
Chébé is renowned for strengthening the hair fiber, stimulating growth and preventing breakage. A hair cream enriched with Chébé should be used 2 or 3 times a week to strengthen the fiber, moisturize and restore definition to curls.
See our top picks for the best Chebé hair products. You’ll find some of the Chebe hair before and after transformations incredible too!
A targeted daily moisturizer for textured hair
If your hair is very dry or has lost its elasticity, you need an intensive moisturizer based on butters and humectants. Use every morning or evening, on dry or damp hair, concentrating on the ends.
Learn about the 12 best moisturizers for 4C hair in our in-depth guide.
A targeted treatment to boost growth
Heat-damaged hair can grow more slowly. A serum or growth oil enriched with rosemary, peppermint or Chébé complex can stimulate scalp circulation. Apply 2-3 times a week with a gentle massage.
Need support to grow your hair? We’ve got you covered in our guide on the best hair growth products for black hair
Revive Your Heat-Damaged Curls with Chéribé
Chéribé knows how frustrating it can be to see your curls lose their shine. That's why we've designed a complete collection to nourish, protect and repair them, even after a blowout. Thanks to smart ingredients like Chébé, lightweight plant oils and bond-repairing complexes, you can restore your lengths and regain well-defined, soft, full-of-life curls.
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