Finally, the time has come when natural curls are trending in a major way. Everyone from major celebrities to friends and family are rocking gorgeous curls the way that they should be. But can you change your curl pattern and tighten it? What happens when you look down at your own locks and realize that you straightened and stretched them beyond recognition?

Have no fear, damaged curls are not only common, but they are about to quickly become a thing of the past. Embracing your ringlets means understanding that redefining hair is a process, not a one-time fix, and one that should be embraced with patience. 

How To Tighten Curl Pattern

Instagram/Gena Marie

To tighten the curl pattern after years of heat damage and stress on your hair, read on and discover only the best in curly hair care secrets. Each part of the hair care process matters, from before you step in the shower, to cleansing, hydrating and styling. 

Before You Shower

Use a Pre Poo

It may sound funny, but a pre-poo just may be the thing that saves your curls. It’s not a product, it’s a process, and it involves moisturizing your natural hair before you wash, protecting curls and priming them to absorb the most out of your conditioner.

Typically, hair oils are used on dampened hair, but you can also use aloe vera, a natural product that has quietly become a holy grail for curly hair. We love it because it has a naturally occurring pH of 4, which is very close to the pH of hair. Aloe vera does everything: it promotes growth, detangles, moisturizes, and relieves a dry scalp.

Get a Good Trim

Well, the best thing to do would be to get a great trim and remove all of the dead and damaged hair. So, ask your stylist to take off as much hair as you can muster to begin the restoration process.

Hair at your ends is no longer alive and thus cannot be rejuvenated, only the damage can be concealed. So, if your curls have seriously suffered, your best bet would be to start fresh and get a haircut and healthy trims every three months following.