Yes, You Can Fix Damaged Hair — And Here’s How
You read the first post. Now let me show you exactly what I did to bring my curls back — and what actually works when your hair’s been through it.
I didn’t just damage my hair once. I’ve done it twice.
The first time, I had relaxed hair and straightened it two or three times a week — every week — because middle school made me feel like my natural hair wasn’t good enough. I went from waist-length to ear length in a month. My hair literally broke off in chunks.
The second time, I damaged my hair with bleach and dye. And that time, I knew better. But I did it anyway — because sometimes we care more about the look than the health at the time. Until the damage shows up and we’re left trying to reverse it.
If you’re here now, I’m guessing you’re in that spot. You’re trying to get your hair back to what it used to be. Or at least… better than what it is right now.
Let’s talk about what actually works — and what you need to stop doing if you want real recovery.
But before we get into the steps — here’s the truth nobody really says:
Some hair damage can’t be reversed.
If your strands are bone-straight no matter what you do — even after clarifying, even after protein treatments, even after deep moisture, that section is likely done. If it won’t hold any curl, not even a slight bend when wet, then that part of your hair is no longer healthy or repairable. That doesn’t mean you can’t grow it out. But you’ll waste time trying to “revive” something that’s already gone.
On the flip side — if your curls look looser, frizzier, or just weaker than they used to, but still hold some shape when wet? That’s fixable.
It won’t go back to what it once was 100%, but with the right steps, it can still thrive. Maybe even better than before.
Here’s what I did to recover my curls and what I’d do again every time:
1. Protein every 4 weeks.
I used the ApHogee Two-Step Protein Treatment every 4-6 weeks when my hair was at its worst. Yes, it smells bad. Yes, it’s intense. But it works — and it brought back strength to sections I thought I’d have to cut.
2. Deep condition weekly — with heat or steam.
This is non-negotiable. I don’t care how “moisturizing” your conditioner says it is. If you’re not helping it penetrate with heat or steam ESPECIALLY with low/medium porosity hair, you’re missing out on results. I did this every single week. I like the Amika hydro rush intense moisture mask with hyaluronic acid for 30-45 minutes.
3. No braids or tension styles.
Protective styles are not for recovery. You need to see and feel your hair while it heals. I stuck to twist-outs or low-manipulation styles that let me monitor my curls and re-moisturize them regularly. No styles with extensions drying out and fraying my hair further.
4. Rotate protein and moisture intentionally.
I didn’t just slap on any deep conditioner. I made sure one week was protein-heavy (like Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask), and the next was moisture-focused. That balance is what helped my curls finally bounce back.
5. Used bond builders consistently.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Hair Mask is
expensive — but if you’re serious about recovery, it realllyyyy helps. I used it every wash day for 6 to 8 weeks straight, especially around the most damaged parts. If K18 isn’t accessible, find another bond-repair product you can stick with for at least a month or two.
The biggest mistake I see people make? Overdoing it and hoping that “more = better.”
Leaving conditioner or protein treatments on overnight doesn’t work the way people think it does. If the bottle says 20–30 minutes, that’s where the ingredients are optimized to perform. Six hours later, you’re either doing nothing — or slowly harming your hair without realizing it. Recovery isn’t about doing the most — it’s about doing the right things, consistently.
So here’s the thing:
You can’t recover your curls if you’re only willing to take care of your hair when it’s convenient.
That’s what this whole process taught me. If you’re deep conditioning every few weeks, skipping wash days, or trying a new method every other day — your hair won’t get better. You need to treat it like it’s fragile, because right now, it is.
Even damaged hair can grow and thrive again — but only if you treat it with structure, patience, and discipline.
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💬 Got questions about damage recovery? Drop them in the comments