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How to Get Your Curl Pattern Back with OLAPLEX – OLAPLEX Inc.

By manuUpdated April 30, 20267 min

Key Takeaways

Wavy, curly, and coily hair is prone to breakage, dryness, and tangling.
Curl patterns can change due to age, hormonal changes, chemical treatments, hair damage, or using products that aren’t formulated for curly hair.
To bring your curls back, consistently use OLAPLEX products that help repair bonds, reduce frizz, and restore moisture to hair damaged by thermal styling, chemical treatments, or sulfate-based products.
Limit thermal styling, sleep on silk pillowcases, and choose haircuts tailored to your curl pattern to protect and enhance your natural texture.
Visit a certified OLAPLEX stylist to complement your at-home routine and get expert care to help you achieve your hair goals.

Want to learn how OLAPLEX® can help bring your curls and waves back to life? Maybe you have gone through years of thermal styling, straightening those beautiful, curly, wavy tresses into a smooth, sleek, straight look. No matter your true curly hair type, an OLAPLEX hair routine can help repair your damaged curls and waves to bring them back to their natural definition, shape, and shine.

Can Your Curl Pattern Change?

If you’ve noticed that your curls or waves look a little different, it’s not just in your head—it’s possible for your curl pattern to change over time. Your curl pattern may change due to:

Hormonal changes or aging: When your body goes through hormonal changes during pregnancy, this may cause your curl pattern to change. Additionally, as you get older, your body produces less sebum, which may make your hair drier and more prone to breakage.
Hair length: If you grow your hair longer, this can stretch out your curls and might make them look less defined or looser.
Chemical treatments: Bleach, dye, or straightening/perming treatments can alter the structure of your hair, forming a different curl pattern.
Mechanical damage: Over-brushing your hair may alter your curl pattern. Certain high-tension hairstyles, like tight buns or ponytails, can also change your curl pattern.
Heat damage: Using hot tools like blow dryers or flat irons may destroy hair bonds, which can loosen your curl pattern.
Using the wrong hair products: Products that are too heavy (like thick, oily, buttery, or waxy formulas) can weigh down your curls. Certain ingredients in haircare products, like sodium lauryl sulfate, can dry out curly hair and make it lose definition.

Although curl patterns may vary over time, most curly and wavy hair types generally fit into three main categories. Understanding your specific hair type can help you give your curls the care they deserve.

Types of Curls

There are several types of curly hair:

Type 2: Wavy Hair – Fine waves with a slight "S" bend to thick, coarse waves that begin to form loose curls.
Type 3: Curly Hair – Well-defined curls, from springy spirals to tight, dense corkscrew shapes.
Type 4: Coily Hair – Very tight curls with distinct coil or zigzag patterns, ranging from well-defined to very small, with little to no natural definition.

So, which curl type are you? There’s also a chance you may have multiple types (hair types can be mixed).

How to Treat Your Hair Type with an OLAPLEX Curl Routine

Whatever you have, caring for your natural hair type is key to maintaining healthy, beautiful hair.

How to Repair and Define Wavy Hair

Wavy hair is susceptible to frizziness. Hair types on the finer side can also lack volume. Bring oomph back to your waves with a weekly OLAPLEX routine like this:

Dampen hair by spraying OLAPLEX Nº.0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment on dry hair. Make sure you distribute it evenly from the roots to the ends. Allow it to process for 10 minutes.
Apply OLAPLEX N°.3PLUS Complete Repair Treatment evenly on wet hair. Let it sit for 3 minutes.
Wash out with SLS & SLES-free Nº.4 CURL Bond Shaper™ Hydrating Curl Shampoo, which gently cleanses, smooths, hydrates, and defines waves. Follow with Nº.5 CURL Bond Shaper™ Hydrating Curl Conditioner to deeply nourish your waves.
After showering, apply OLAPLEX Nº.5 Leave-In Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner to damp hair to hydrate, seal split ends, and protect. Do not rinse.
Define your waves with OLAPLEX Nº.10 Bond Shaper® Curl Defining Gel. Apply a small amount of clean hair in sections, scrunching in an upward motion.
Use OLAPLEX Nº.7 Bonding Oil on damp hair to protect against heat and boost shine.
Between wash days, extend your style and add volume to your waves by spraying OLAPLEX Nº.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo on dry hair, holding the bottle 6 to 10 inches away from the roots. Wait 30 seconds and massage into the scalp.

How to Repair and Define Curly and Coily Hair

Both coily and curly hair types tend to frizz, show breakage, shrink, and lose moisture easily. Often, their curl patterns make it more difficult for sebum to travel down the hair shaft, resulting in dryness. Getting perms, using chemical texturizers, straightening out curls, and using sulfate-containing products all contribute to dryness and breakage.

If you’re experiencing these issues with your curls or coils, don’t worry! An OLAPLEX routine can help you bounce back. Here’s how:

Start by spraying Nº .0 on dry hair. Distribute the spray evenly from root to tip. Hair should be damp, not soaked. DO NOT RINSE. Let it process for 10 minutes.
Apply Nº.3PLUS over Nº.0, combing through as needed. Leave No.3PLUS on for 3 minutes, then rinse.
Wash out with SLS- and SLES-free shampoo and conditioners that are formulated for curly hair, like Nº.4 CURL Bond Shaper™ Hydrating Curl Shampoo. This shampoo gently cleanses, smooths frizz, and boosts curl definition. Follow with Nº.5 CURL Bond Shaper™ Hydrating Curl Conditioner to deeply nourish your curls.
For immediate moisture, apply Nº.5 Leave-In Moisturize & Mend Leave-In Conditioner to damp hair after showering. For finer curls/waves, begin with a single pump. For medium to coarse hair, begin with 2 pumps. Do not rinse.
Follow up with stylers. Use OLAPLEX Nº.6 Bond Smoother® to control frizz for up to 72 hours. Apply a single pump to clean damp hair.
Lock in moisture with OLAPLEX Nº.7 Bonding Oil™. Apply it to wet hair.
For even more defined curls, distribute a small amount of Nº.10 and scrunch upward.

More Tips for Restoring Curly, Wavy, and Coily Hair

Limit thermal styling. It’s recommended you use a diffuser on low heat and speed. A diffuser dries hair while limiting heat damage and enhancing your curl pattern. Avoid touching the curls or waves until dry.
Go to bed with a silk/satin pillowcase and scrunchie. This can help keep hair from tangling and minimize damage as you go to bed with a silk/satin pillowcase, bonnet, scarf, or scrunchie.
Schedule regular trims. Damaged ends can weigh curls down and distort their pattern. Split ends that aren’t cut off can also fray upward and cause more breakage. This can make curls look uneven—your hair might be defined toward the root, but straight or frizzy at the ends. Routine trims remove those weakened ends for more consistent and polished curls.
Get the right haircut. Some hairstyles, like layers, long bobs, or shags, can enhance your hair by adding definition. Connect with your stylist to help find the right haircut for your goals, hair type, and texture.
Treat your hair with moisturizing masks. Curly hair is prone to dryness, making a moisturizing mask essential for curl restoration. Apply OLAPLEX Weightless Nourishing Mask (for fine to medium hair) or OLAPLEX Rich Hydration Mask (for dry or medium-to-coarse hair) once a week in place of conditioner. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse.

Find an OLAPLEX Curly Hair Stylist Near You

Along with a comprehensive treatment at home, meeting with a certified OLAPLEX hair stylist will get you one step closer to rocking your natural curl pattern. Find a stylist near you.