At K18 we’ve been celebrating gorgeous curls + coils from the start—that’s why we formulated repair products to work on the molecular level where all hair is the same. But while repair is critical to maintaining and reviving healthy curl patterns both in the salon with the K18REPAIR™service and at home with the leave-in molecular repair hair mask, there’s so much more to curly + coily care.
Read on for expert advice for your healthiest natural hair—like how to tell if your curls are damaged, the best protective styles, and the K18 salon-exclusive repair service you need to know about—straight from specialized stylists.
how to tell if your curls are damaged
Some common signs of damaged curls are inconsistent curl formation and changes in texture. For example, compromised curls and coils can look looser than usual. They can also feel rougher, duller, or drier.
If your curls look like any of the above—learn about the biotech routine you need from K18 PRO stylist + educator Alifia Young.
can protective styles damage your hair?
The short answer is: yes. Some protective styles, like braids and twists, can cause mechanical damage. Think of the hair knots, tangles, and split ends you come across—that’s mechanical damage. This is the wear and tear from tugging, brushing, or manipulating your strands. But don’t worry, you can minimize this damage with these steps.
Prep hair before your appointment: Cleanse with a gentle detox shampoo to remove buildup that weighs down your curls + coils and creates rough, damaged, and frizzy hair which can be more difficult to work with. Using the molecular repair hair mask in your regular rotation will also create the healthiest canvas for your stylist. Plus, the mask helps protective styles withstand tension for longer.
Fortify + strengthen at the salon with K18REPAIR™: For best results with any protective style, ask your stylist for the K18 salon-exclusive damage repair service. This two-step service fortifies and restores up to 99% elasticity* prior to services and reverses damage that may have occurred during services in just 4 minutes*. This allows you to achieve any look with confidence, knowing your stylist is protecting your hair at every step.
Pick your protective style: This will depend on your goals, what your crown looks like, and your lifestyle.
But remember—it’s what you do after your appointment that allows you to maintain a longer-lasting look with less damage. Read more on preventing damage from K18 PRO stylist + educator Alifia Young.
5 expert tips for loving your natural texture
Celebrating curls and coils looks different for everyone, so we tap all kinds of curl experts to understand how they approach curly + coily hair. Here’s curl specialist + salon owner, Lautrice Thompson’s advice for embracing your hair.
use a less-is-more approach
A good cleanse and treatment routine with fewer, but more effective steps will make hair look and feel more hydrated! Layering heavy butters and oils will make your hair lifeless and have the opposite effect.
maintain hair health
Make appointments for trims or cuts every 2-4 months (depending on texture and diameter of the curl) to allow for length retention. Ask for K18REPAIR™ at every salon visit and use K18 molecular repair hair mask between appointments for your healthiest hair.
be your own hair goals
Figure out what you like about your hair instead of making someone else the inspiration. This is the first step in committing to the journey and creating a self-love mindset—your hair is unique and beautiful. Don't compare it to anyone else's!
visit a curly + coily specialist (and ask them for K18REPAIR™!)
Find a stylist with experience with your exact hair type and check their work before you go to make sure their results are what you’re looking for. At every visit, ask them for the K18REPAIR™ service for better, longer-lasting service results.
don't use food on your hair!
Unless you’re a cosmetic chemist, eat the eggs and sweet potatoes, don't create a mask with them. Instead, reverse damage and maintain optimal hair health with the clinically proven K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask.
Loving these tips? Check out the rest of them in this blog post.
As always, there’s so much more curly + coily content over on the blog including how to build our product recommendations into a routine here and where hair strength comes from.
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