Winning with Thinning: 5 Steps to Reclaim Your Curls

Sound the Alarms — We have thinning!

Wash days used to be a breeze. Twenty minutes in the shower, twenty out. Add in spa-like scents and a little “People’s Court,” and my routine felt almost sacred. But one day, something changed.

While detangling, I noticed the strands coming out weren’t just the usual few—they were many. Every wash and refresh brought practically a handful of strands out. At first, I brushed it off. But after two weeks of consistent shedding, a visible scalp, and curls that were now limp, a different curl texture, and flat instead of airy and coily—I had to face it: something was different.

Was it stress? Hormones? A health issue? I was stunned, but not defeated. Whether it’s hormones, stress, or health, thinning hair doesn’t mean you’ve lost your crown—it means it’s time to care for it differently. If you’re seeing changes too, let this guide you toward restoration and confidence.

Here’s what helped me start the journey back to curl confidence. Let this be your starting point too.

1. Consult and Cut

Thinning doesn’t mean the end of good hair days—it means you need a cut that honors the hair you have now.

Book time with a stylist who listens and understands textured hair. Tell them what’s changed: shedding, loss of density, change in curl pattern. From there, work together to design a cut that adds life, shape and volume back to your strands.

Key things to consider:

• Go shorter where needed to create bounce and reduce stringy ends.
  
  

• Add layers strategically to create the illusion of fullness.
  
  

• Avoid blunt ends, which can emphasize flatness in thinning areas.
  
  

The right cut won’t just change how your hair looks — it will change how you feel when you look in the mirror.

2. Restructure Your Routine: Release Old Rules, Welcome New Rhythms

Here’s the truth: when your hair changes, your routine must change too. What once took 30 minutes might now take 45. That’s okay.

Start with a mindset shift :

• Let go of what used to be.
  
  

• Define what success looks like today.
  
  

• Give yourself permission to experiment.
  
  

Ask yourself:

• What does a successful curl day look like now?
  
  

• How much time am I willing and able to spend each week?
  
  

• What does my hair need, not just what do I want it to do?

Your new routine isn’t about settling — it’s about supporting your curls with what they need today.

3. Reassess Your Products 

Full, bouncy curls usually thrive with rich creams and butters. But when density drops, heavy products can weigh everything down. It’s time to pivot.

Look for:

• Water-based products that hydrate without heaviness.
  
  

• Foams, mousses, and serums that offer hold and definition with minimal buildup.
  
  

• Scalp-friendly ingredients to support follicle health and growth.
  
  

One game-changer for me was ReFlex Curl Styling Serum —light as satin, strong in hold, and kind to my new curl pattern. It gives lift at the roots and defines without overloading the strands.

Tip: Use less than you think. Let your new texture speak without silencing it under layers of product.

4. Learn New Styling Techniques: Honor Your Hair’s Evolution 

For years, I used the “prayer hands” method—perfect for thick, high-density hair. But with less density, it flattened my already-flat strands. I had to learn new techniques to match my new texture—and it worked.

Here are some methods that made a difference:

• Brush curls up and out to create the illusion of lift at the roots.
  
  

• Use a detangling brush to form defined curls.
  
  

• Microplop after applying product to keep it on the hair, not the scalp.
  
  

• Scrunch flat strands all the way to the root—don’t skip the base!
  
  

• Shake curls instead of raking to avoid over-separation.
  
  

• Diffuse on low heat/medium power, always lifting from the roots.
  
  

• Lift roots at 50% dry using fingers to boost volume.
  
  

• Scrunch out the crunch to finish with soft, touchable fullness.

Small shifts in technique can create major shifts in results. Be patient—it’s okay to miss your old habits. This is about creating new ones that serve the version of you today.

5. Prioritize Your Health: Your Hair Is Speaking—Listen Closely 

Hair is often the first to tell you when your body is overwhelmed.

For months, I was exhausted. Couldn’t wake up. Couldn’t fall asleep. Short of breath after a few stairs. I chalked it up to life—business owner, mom, wife, mentor, group leader. But eventually, I found out my body wasn’t producing enough oxygen due to severe iron deficiency anemia.

It wasn’t just “mom fatigue”—it was a medical issue. My body was diverting all its energy to keep vital systems running, and my hair got what was left. When there wasn’t enough left, it thinned.

Your signs may look different, but if you’re noticing hair changes alongside fatigue, dizziness, mood changes, or menstrual shifts— don’t wait . Talk to your doctor. Ask for labs. Trust your instincts.

Thinning hair isn’t always cosmetic — it can be your body’s SOS.

While the root of my thinning was anemia, there are many other reasons that thinning can happen such as hormonal changes from pregnancy and childbirth. Menopause and thyroid problems can cause thinning as well. An immune system related medical condition called alopecia areata can bring on thinning too. Consulting with a doctor is key to figuring out why your curls are thinning.

Final Word: You’re Still You — Curl by Curl 

Your curls may be different. Your routine might be unfamiliar. Your confidence might be shaking. But listen: you are not less beautiful, less powerful, or less worthy.

You are evolving. And with care, curiosity, and support, you can walk through this with both tenderness and strength.

Share this with a fellow curly who’s been quietly struggling. Remind her — and yourself — that thinning isn’t the end.

It’s the beginning of something softer, stronger, and still very, very beautiful.