You might remember how your curls fell from your head as a kid, a perfect halo of beautiful ringlets framing your face, soft as silk & wonderfully springy. But now you’re standing in front of the mirror, staring at hair that seems to have forgotten its natural bounce.
If you’re thinking, “my hair is naturally curly but won’t curl anymore,” you’re not alone—this common concern has many surprising causes.
Those gorgeous curls that once defined themselves with minimal effort might be taking a break, but we’re here to help you understand why & guide you back to your flourishing crown.
What’s Happening to Your Curls?
Why does my hair not hold a curl anymore, you ask? There are many reasons why curls lose their shape, but what’s happening to your curl pattern?
This is how curls work:
- Curls start at the follicle level, where the shape & angle determine how our hair curves.
- Protein bonds within each strand to create a unique pattern. The placement & quantity of these bonds determines how well our curls hold.
- Moisture balance helps maintain our curl’s definition & bounce over time.
Any disruption to this delicate system can cause curls to flatten. The good news is that it’s possible to help those curls bounce back to life.
Let’s explore why your curls lack buoyancy & how to get your curls back to their full, bouncy glory.
1. Product Buildup: How It Weighs Down Your Curls
There is an endless list of gels, creams & conditioners to help us accentuate the perfect curl, but even the highest-quality styling products will leave some buildup over time.
Products accumulating on our strands create an invisible barrier that masks our natural curl pattern & weighs our hair down.
A good clarifying shampoo, like the PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo, is designed to remove product buildup & deep clean curls without stripping away healthy oils.
2. Heat & Chemical Damage: Styling Without the Right Protection Causes Flat Curls
Heat styling, coloring & texture-altering treatments are fantastic modes of expression, but doing them without heat protection can make your hair over-processed, leading to dry & porous locks.
Use these tips to avoid heat & chemical damage to your curls:
- Make sure you use the proper heat protectant, such as the PATTERN Heat Protectant, alongside your heat styling tools to maintain healthy curls.
- Revive already heat-damaged hair with hydrating masks & deep conditioners or shampoo pre-treatments like our Bounce Back Pre-Poo to help revive curls after heat styling.
- Repairing masks & deep conditioners, like our ultra-hydrating Intensive Conditioner, can help seep moisture into low-porosity hair, restoring your natural curl pattern.
Following these tips, you can avoid asking, “why is my curly hair not curly anymore?” in front of the mirror ever again.
3. Improper Styling Techniques: Avoiding Common Mistakes That Flatten Curls
The way we handle our crown matters. Simple adjustments to your styling ritual can make a world of difference in the way your curl expresses itself:
- Use gentle detangling methods.
- Apply products to wet hair.
- Allow curls to dry without disruption.
- Dry hair with the right materials, like a t-shirt or microfiber towel.
- Trim your ends regularly.
- Protect your curls at night with a silk scarf or pillowcase.
These are just a few ways to protect your curls daily, keeping them fresh & bouncy.
4. Lack of Moisture: The Role of Dryness in Curl Loss
Frizz, flyaways & natural hair breakage caused by dry hair leave once gorgeous, voluminous curls looking dull & undefined. Luckily, there are a few easy fixes to bring moisture back to your curls:
- Specialty shampoo – Specialized shampoos for curly hair are often infused with Biotin & contain ingredients like Aloe Vera, Honey & Coconut Oil that can provide essential nutrients for curly hair types.
- Hair oils & deep conditioners – Coating your locks with oils like Black Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil or special oil blends, such as the PATTERN Argan Oil Blend, may help define your curls. Deep conditioners containing these oils lock in moisture for your hair to thrive.
- Hair steamers – If you desperately need an extra hydration boost, the PATTERN Hair Steamer can open up your hair cuticles & make more room for nourishing products to penetrate your strands.
5. Hormonal Changes: How They Impact Hair Texture
For some, the answer to why is my hair losing its curl lies beneath the follicle surface.
Sometimes curl loss has nothing to do with what you’ve done to your hair but instead with underlying factors like health & hormones.
Essentially, higher estrogen equals thicker, more voluminous locks. So, hormonal events like menstruation, pregnancy & menopause can affect your curl.
There are a few things you can do to help combat hormone-driven hair changes:
- Moisturize, condition & steam when your hair starts feeling dry.
- Eat a healthy diet of eggs, oily fish, leafy greens (especially those high in iron) & protein. Avoid sugar & refined carbohydrates where you can.
- Fortify your hair with oils like Coconut, Argan & Almond oil during periods when your estrogen levels drop.
Make Your Curls Bounce With PATTERN
If your hair has you wondering, “why is my hair not curly anymore?” don’t worry. Understanding changes in our natural texture is just part of the curly hair journey. From product buildup to life’s natural transitions, many factors influence how our curls & coils express themselves.
Your hair is like a garden that needs the proper care & nutrients to thrive. With careful love & attention, it’s easy to restore your curl pattern.
At PATTERN, we believe that every curl, coil & texture tells a story that deserves to be celebrated & nourished. We’re here to help you embrace your natural pattern in all its gravity-defying glory.
For hair care solutions designed to love & restore your curl’s natural bounce, browse our collection of best selling hair products designed just for you.
Sources:
UMBC. Why does your hair curl in the summer? A chemist explains the science behind hair structure. https://umbc.edu/stories/why-does-your-hair-curl-in-the-summer/#:~:text=How%20the%20hair%20grows%20out,are%2C%20the%20curlier%20the%20hair
Healthline. How to Treat Heat-Damaged Hair Without Cutting It. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/heat-damaged-hair#treatment
A Curlerful Mind. When Curls Go Hormonal. https://acurlerfulmind.co.uk/when-curls-go-hormonal/
