After spending time and effort curling your hair beautifully, it can be incredibly frustrating to see your lush curls fall flat shortly after. But don’t worry – learning what causes curled strands to go straight can help you adjust your routine to preserve your glorious curls.
Various factors like humidity, improper cooling, over-conditioning, overwashing, and curling against your hair’s natural texture can unwind your coils. But with some easy tweaks, you can maintain beautifully bouncy curls all day long after curling your hair.
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How Humidity Impacts Newly Curled Hair
Humidity is curled hair’s number one enemy. The moisture causes your hair strands’ cuticles – the outer protective layer – to swell and expand. This allows your careful curls to relax and lose their form in humid conditions.
So if you recently curled your hair, beware of stepping into humid outdoor weather. The higher the humidity, the faster your curls will drop on humid days. Ladies in hot and humid climates truly struggle maintaining curls all day.
Thankfully, precautions like using a strong hairspray to create a humidity barrier can help tremendously. Just avoid gels since they reactivate with the moisture. It’s also wise not to overdo hair moisturizing products which already expand the cuticle.
Allowing Curls to Cool Completely is Crucial
No matter how long you painfully hold a curling iron section in place, you must let it cool completely before touching the curl. Initial cooling sets the shape. Early handling causes heat loss, relaxing your strands too soon before they properly set.
Have you ever seen tightly wound salon curls fall flat soon after blow drying and styling? Stylists often don’t allow adequate cooling before brushing out curls into looser waves. Let your curls completely cool after curling iron release to “lock in” the shape.
Overusing Conditioner Softens Hair Hold
Most ladies need conditioner to combat dryness and add shine. But overdoing conditioner, especially on your mids to ends, leaves strands too slippery to grip curls efficiently.
Try using less nourishing conditioner, especially silicone-heavy formulas, from mids down. Instead, focus moisturizing shampoos and treatments on the scalp and hair roots only where necessary. This helps hair hold all sorts of styles better.
Additionally, utilize a good protein treatment monthly to reinforce bonds inside weakened strands prone to going limp. Temporary strengthening masks also prep hair nicely for heat styling.
The Impact of Overwashing Your Hair
Repeated washing, especially with harsh sulfate shampoos, depletes the hair’s natural outer layer lipids over time. These oils help nourish and protect strands, letting styles like curls hold their shape longer.
That’s why training your hair to adjust to less frequent washing allows for longer-lasting styles. When you must wash, use a very gentle formula. Also, try relying more on dry shampoos between washes to absorb excess oil instead of shampooing daily.
Curling Against Your Hair’s Natural Tendency
Some ladies have stick straight hair that wants to return to straightened form, no matter the effort put into curling. Trying to add long-lasting curls against your hair’s natural tendency is extremely difficult and frustrating!
In these cases, it’s best to curl in the direction hair wants to bend naturally. You’ll have better shot getting curls to hold if hair texture allows for it. And less repetitively damaging hair ultimately helps styles hold up too.
Tips for Preserving Your Curls All Day Long
With a few smart tricks, you can enjoy beautifully curled locks that last beyond a few hours:
- Always let curls cool completely before touching or styling
- Use strong hold hair spray to lock in curls
- Limit moisturizing products like conditioners on mids to ends
- Wash hair less frequently
- Curl in the direction your hair texture allows
- Touch up with heat to revive limp sections later
- Try long-lasting perms/smoothing treatments if hair resists holding curls
The Takeaway
Learning what makes curled hair go straight again can help you salvage your locks on humid days. Protecting damp hair from moisture, allowing proper cooling, using light moisturizing products, and curling with your hair’s texture in mind lets beautifully shaped curls last all day.
With the right precautions, you can confidently rock fabulous curly locks for any occasion without having to panic over sudden unwanted straightening. Mastering the art of long-lasting curls lets you expand your styling horizons beyond stick straight looks.