For starters, stop straightening your hair. Give it a rest and see what happens.
Use good products that will help promote curl. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Check out styling products on this forum for more information on deep treatments, products and styling.
Also, keep in mind you may need to get a good haircut. The ends of the hair are the oldest and have been through a lot more than the root area. The ends are not as strong. Sometimes the best thing to do is trim the really straight ends off. By doing this you will also re-oxygenate the ends of the hair and will give it a little more life (hopefully).
Best of luck, Nicole
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EXACTLY MY PROBLEM by: Anonymous
I'm in the same boat as you, I also have been straightening my hair for four years, have colored it many times, and now want my curly hair back.
The first thing you have to do is to commit to your curls. Do you REALLY want curly hair? I decided I did. Next, go and get your split ends cut off and throw away that flat iron, go au naturale!
Buy a sulfate free shampoo and conditioner as well as a leave in conditioner. Also, avoid as much heat as possible (I don't even blow dry my hair any more, I air dry instead). There is also a wonderful product that I use that you can try: Redken CAT Repair for "Distressed" Hair. Right now, your hair needs lots of moisture, but even more than that, it needs PROTEIN, which has been stripped from your hair. Keep in mind that this product is NOT a conditioner, so you need to use a conditioner before using this product.
What I also use to restore protein to my hair is a homemade protein mask. This is going to sound so gross, but these masks actually work!
Mask #1: Mix two large eggs with enough conditioner to make a thick mixture. Apply to hair and wait 15 minutes. Rinse.
Mask#2: Mix two large eggs and a LOT of peanut butter with conditioner to get a thick mixture. Apply to hair and wait 15 minutes. Rinse. (This mask will also restore oil to your hair that has been lost).
I try to use one of these masks once a week as well as using a deep conditioner once a week. Also, do not wash your hair every day. Wash it every other day, or even better, once every three days, but CONDITION EVERY DAY.
If you use any heat at all on your hair, get a heat protection spray, and this is probably a good idea even if you do not use heat products. It will protect your hair.
Hope I helped!
If you have any additional questions, you can reach me at [email address supplied]
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