Repair

re·pair

/rəˈper/

verb

fix or mend (a thing suffering from damage or a fault).

Browse any curly hair shelf, whether in-person or online and you will literally find hundreds of products that claim to repair unwanted damage to your curls. Damage that results in excessive dryness, breakage, coarse curls, or frizz.  Often this type of damage is caused by some of these culprits — permanent color treatment, excessive manipulation, and overall neglect. When attempting to sort through the products that will be the best for your concern, it’s important to understand the nature of a curl and how so-called repair works! 

Repairing What is Dead 

Once that beautiful little curl grows out of your scalp’s follicle it has reached the end of its life, and any treatment from that point forward is to properly manage what you have. Any care that you give to maintain your curly strands will not cause it to grow, but it will allow you to retain the length and quality of that strand. 

So, is there any truth in products being able to repair split ends or mid-shafts splits? Well, kind of. Our curls are composed primarily of protein; the main building block being keratin. This is also true for your nails — both being very similar in composition. If you split your nail, you can sand it down, attempt to glue it together, or fill it in — but it will always be a split nail. 

The same is true for damaged curly strands — there are certainly products that can “fill” the split, but it will never return to its original state. In fact, some bonding products don’t last very long and can cause greater damage, if you are not properly caring for your curls after use with enough moisture and low manipulation. In this instance, repair doesn’t mean to undo or erase damage, but to minimize the aesthetic impact or potential further damage.

Minimize the Need for Repair 

The best way to remove this “R” from your routine is to treat it before it starts! Proactive care after a color treatment or heat is essential. If you are caring for your curls in a way that can impact their structure, it’s important to use these best practices: 

• Assess the current health of your curls. If you notice that you have uncommon dryness or your curls are no longer responding in a way they once did, then this is a sign that some extra care is required.
• Minimize the use of chemical treatments. If you aren’t confident in applying any chemical treatments that could potentially alter the health of your curls, seek professional assistance. 
• Incorporate a protein treatment or deep conditioner into your routine. If your curls are already strong and healthy, your curls may not need this level of attention. 
• Reach for products that are moisturizing and balance the Ph of your hair. Fortunately, you would find that our entire 360° Curl Collection is formulated to maintain moisture, with the key active ingredients being water and aloe vera.  Additionally, all products are Ph balanced to maintain hair’s natural Ph of 5-5.5

Restore

re·store

/rəˈstôr/

verb

bring back (a previous right, practice, custom, or situation); reinstate.

The terms repair and restore are often used interchangeably, but the main difference between the use of these words is expressed by the severity of damage that is done. Repair, often used in extreme or excessive damage that is permanent. Restore, refers to damage that is temporary and reversible. This type of damage is often the result of too much or too little moisture or protein. 

Here are just a few signs that your curls need some restorative treatment that can be achieved with just a little extra TLC!

• Dry, “crunchy” sounding curls. It pays to trust your senses! If you notice that your curls, depending on your curl type, are experiencing a little more shrinkage than usual, are more difficult to manage, or have a dry ruffling sound when you touch them, they may need some extra attention. 
• Your curls fall flat when styling. While there are several reasons this can happen, the main reasons are often too little protein or product build up that is not addressed. 
• Frizz is running rampant. Frizz is the result of friction caused by environmental factors, products, or dryness. A gentle and weekly cleansing routine can manage unwanted frizz. Our Curl Renew and Restore Gentle Cleansing Rinse not only removes excessive build up but restores moisture balance, while detangling your curls

Refresh 

re·fresh

/rəˈfreSH/

verb

give new strength or energy to; reinvigorate.

For some of us, refreshing curls is a must until the next wash day. The tighter your curl pattern, the more important refreshing becomes to maintain moisture. Refreshing is different from restore or repair because this is typically something that is done daily or weekly in attempts to maintain a specific style and a certain level of manageability. Incorporating a refresh into your weekly routine will mitigate the need for restoring or repairing your curls. It’s a part of good curly hair maintenance. 

Luckily, we’ve made it easy to refresh with moisture-enriching products that contain the right amount of protein. Our Untie the Knot Nourishing Leave-in Conditioner and ReFlex Curl Styling Serum can be used on wet or dry curls for your curl refresh! These products not only provide your curls with moisture but have ingredients like broccoli seed oil, grape seed extract, and tomato extract to support the strength and overall appearance of your strands. 

With this information, consider your curls! Which “R” would your curls benefit from today and what TréLuxe products would you reach for?