How To Restore Your Curls After Holiday Styling

Maybe you went for burnt orange highlights during the fall, or even switched up your curly-do with a weekly silk press for the holidays. Whatever happened, it's now almost January, and you aren't the only one that needs a refresh.

The winter months may bring holiday cheer, but that comes with a side of dryness as the cold air robs your hair and skin of moisture, which makes the hair more prone to breakage and split ends.

Lack of hydration coupled with holiday styling can leave your hair with a styling hangover from repeated heat exposure, tension at your edges, or chemicals from various styling options. That's why we reached out to professional hairstylist, Monica Davis from Hair Madness Salon in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to give you the top tips to help your hair, and curl pattern, recover.

Don't Shampoo Too Often

Yes, it's important to keep your scalp cleansed to prevent product build-up. However, if you over-shampoo your hair, particularly in the winter, it will dry out. "Curly hair can give away too much moisture if you over shampoo," states Davis.

To combat product build-up Davis says, "I highly recommend rinsing curly hair with an apple cider vinegar rinse to maintain clarity and cleanse your hair between washes. This will help you restore the natural moisture in your curly strands and help them return to shape." ​​

Davis is a fan of Girl and Hair Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse, which removes product build-up and contains tea tree oil to fight dandruff while soothing your scalp. The vitamin E and rice water restores your hair and improve elasticity. We can rock with that.

Use Heat Protectant and Lower the Temperature on Hot Tools

Be careful with those hotter temperatures when it comes to your hair. Heat can cause long-term damage to your hair.

"If your curls change their look and become brittle and loose after hot styling, it means that they are burned," reveals Davis. While heat damage is irreversible, you can take steps to healthier hair moving forward.

"Cut the use of your hot styling tools and use the blow dryer only on the cool air preset or switch between the cool and hot presets every 10 seconds," Davis recommends. You should also minimize product use when blow-drying or using hot tools on your hair, as some oils can actually further burn your hair if the temperature is too hot. However, there is one product you absolutely must use in conjunction with hot styling tools.

"You need to apply a decent heat protectant spray while your hair restores and all the time after it fully restores," directs Davis. Her personal favorite is HSI Professional Argan Oil Heat Protector, it doubles as a leave-in and heat protectant. Plus, the argan oil infused into the formula is high in antioxidants, which will leave you with moisturized, smooth hair.

Make Hair Masks a Regular Part of Wash Day

"Damaged curls lack nutrients and moisture, so it's a very good idea to give them a shake of both with a restoring a mask," shares Davis. Think of a hair mask as a spa treatment for your scalp and hair. So spending an extra 20 minutes to inject nutrients and hydration back into your hair is time well spent after holiday hair fun.

"I highly recommend Carol's Daughter Sacred Tiare Restoring Hair Mask to all curly girls who want to return life to their springs," states Davis. ​​This particular mask fortifies your hair with coconut oil, shea butter, and babassu to eliminate shedding, promote growth, and leave hair hydrated.

Apply a Daily Serum

Leave-in conditioners are great, but for an even more concentrated approach opt for a hair serum. Similar to skincare products, serums are more potent than their beauty counterparts.

"Both healthy and damaged curls require additional moisture every day, and you can give it to them by applying Herstyler Hair Repair Serum. It will help your hair stay in shape and protect it from the bad weather outside," explains Davis. The product contains aloe and argan oil to de-frizz your hair and leave it soft and shiny.

Get a Trim

When was the last time you got a trim? Damaged ends are dead ends and baby, it's time to let them go. You may think you are maintaining length by keeping them, but you are actually causing more breakage. So go get a haircut, sis.

"I know how scary this may sound to many, but I want you to calm down and remember that your hair will grow back healthy and super-curly if you let your hairstylist remove the damaged ends," reassures Davis.

This is All Natural. From the kinkiest coils to loose waves, we're celebrating natural hair in its many forms by sharing expert tips for styling, maintenance, and haircare.