Can You Have Color And Healthy Curls?
Can You Have Color and Healthy Curls? Here’s the Truth
Color treated curls get a bad reputation for being dry, frizzy, or damaged. But the truth is, when done correctly and paired with the right products, your curls can thrive, even after years of coloring.
In this post, I’ll walk you through my process of doing a single process color on curly hair and styling my client in a wash and go. She has been coloring her curls for almost two years, and her hair has never looked healthier, shinier, or more defined.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you can maintain healthy color treated curly hair, keep reading, I’ll break down the products, tools, and techniques that actually work.
Why a Single Process Color is Healthier for Curls
When people think about coloring curly hair, they often think of bleach. Bleach can definitely compromise curl integrity if overused. That’s why I love using a high lift single process color.
What is a high lift color?
A high lift color is a permanent hair dye formulated to lift the hair 3–5 levels lighter without bleach. It combines a higher ratio of ammonia and pigment with a stronger developer to lighten and tone in just one step.
Why it’s better for curls:
Less damage than bleach + toner
Longer lasting color (fewer salon visits)
Preserves curl pattern integrity
For curly clients, I recommend either:
Single process high lift color (great for all-over coverage, low maintenance)
Balayage highlights (sun-kissed look, only needs refreshing once a year)
The Importance of Preventative Trims for Color Treated Curls
One of the biggest secrets to healthy, vibrant color treated curls is preventative trims every 3 months. Instead of waiting until split ends spread and break, trimming proactively keeps the hair strong and reduces breakage.
I prefer trimming curls on blown out hair because it allows me to clearly see which ends need dusting. This method keeps curls healthy whether they’re styled curly or straight.
Wash Day Routine for Color Treated Curly Hair
Healthy curls start with a strong wash day foundation. Here’s the exact process and products I used on my client after her color service:
Step 1: Clarify the Hair
Product: Volume Shampoo
Why: Removes buildup from oils, gels, and leave ins without stripping color.
💡 Pro Tip: Clarify at least once a month to keep curls hydrated and color vibrant.
Reset your hair and scalp with our Volume Shampoo. This clarifying shampoo is powered with bentonite clay to gently pull out buildup, impurities, and excess oils — giving your scalp a “facial” while leaving your hair soft, clean, and hydrated. Unlike harsh clarifiers, it removes product residue without stripping your hair, making it the perfect first step for healthy, thriving strands.
Features:
Deeply cleanses scalp and hair to remove buildup and impurities
Infused with bentonite clay for a detoxifying yet moisturizing cleanse
Leaves hair light, fresh, and weightless — never dry or brittle
Creates the perfect foundation for blowouts, silk presses, or protective styles
Works beautifully on all textures, especially fine hair that gets weighed down easily
Benefits:
Your scalp feels refreshed and balanced, not tight or dry
Helps curls, blowouts, and silk presses last longer by starting on a clean base
Lightweight formula makes it safe for weekly use
Pairs perfectly with the Moisture Shampoo for the ultimate cleanse + hydration routine
Think of the Volume Shampoo as your reset button, the one step that ensures your hair is clean, healthy, and ready to shine.
What’s inside:
•QUINOA PROTEIN: penetrates the hair shaft plumping each strand to maximum fullness.
•BENTONITE CLAY: plumps, strengthens and protects hair.
How to Use:
SHAMPOO: Wet hair and lather from roots to ends. Rinse.
CONDITIONER: After cleansing with shampoo, apply evenly from roots to ends. Leave in for 3-5 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Step 2: Moisturize with a Hydrating Shampoo
Product: Moisture Shampoo
Why: Replenishes hydration after clarifying, balances pH, adds slip for detangling.
Technique: Finger-detangle while shampooing to reduce knots and breakage.
Bring your hair back to life with our Moisture Shampoo. This creamy, nourishing formula is designed to infuse your strands with long lasting hydration while keeping them light, bouncy, and full of movement. Unlike heavy moisturizing shampoos that can leave buildup behind, this one delivers the perfect balance: deep hydration without weighing your hair down.
Features:
Gently cleanses while replenishing moisture to dry hair
Creamy, rich formula leaves hair soft, hydrated, and manageable
Keeps hair weightless, making it perfect before blowouts or silk presses
Strengthens and nourishes from root to tip
Safe for all textures, including fine hair, extensions, and color-treated strands
Benefits:
Your hair feels hydrated, silky, and smooth after every wash
Perfect second step after the Volume Shampoo for a balanced cleanse
Preps your strands for styling by keeping them moisturized and pliable
Helps prevent dryness, frizz, and breakage between wash days
With Moisture Shampoo, every wash day leaves your hair hydrated, soft, and ready for whatever style you choose, whether it’s a blowout, silk press, or natural curls.
What’s inside:
SUNFLOWER SEED EXTRACT: provides UVA and UVB protection to preserve radiant color.
COCONUT MILK: creates a strong barrier around the hair shaft to prevent breakage.
RHODOCHROSITE: balances moisture levels.
How to Use:
SHAMPOO: wet hair and lather from roots to ends. Rinse well. Repeat if necessary.
CONDITIONER: after cleansing with shampoo, apply evenly from roots to ends. Leave in for 2-3 minutes and rinse well.
Step 3: Repair with a Deep Conditioner
Product: Deep Repair Treatment
Why: Rebuilds protein bonds broken during coloring, while restoring elasticity and moisture.
Tool: Hair Steamer
Boosts conditioner penetration
Enhances softness and definition
Helps curls retain color longer
Give your hair the ultimate reset with our Deep Repair Treatment. Formulated with the perfect balance of strength and hydration, this intensive mask revives dry, damaged strands while keeping them soft, defined, and healthy. Infused with keratin protein and rich moisturizers, it works from the inside out to repair, fortify, and restore your hair’s natural beauty.
Features:
Deeply hydrates while reinforcing strands with protein
Infuses keratin to strengthen and protect against breakage
Restores elasticity so curls clump, pop, and define
Improves softness, shine, and manageability
Ideal for hair that is heat styled, color treated, or prone to dryness
Benefits:
Hair feels instantly stronger and more moisturized
Visible results, curls spring back with bounce and definition
Keeps straight naturals and curly girls alike protected from heat and stress
Perfect for weekly deep treatments or paired with a steam treatment for maximum absorption
When your hair needs both moisture and strength, the Deep Repair Treatment delivers. It’s the key to keeping your strands resilient, hydrated, and full of life.
What’s inside:
SUNFLOWER OIL + MALACHITE: restore moisture, shine, and resilience while protecting hair from environmental stressors.
RHASSOUL: a mineral rich clay, makes this a great treatment for even finer textured hair.
How to Use:
Apply to clean towel dried hair and leave in for 5 to 15 minutes, then rinse. Tip: Focus on mid-lengths to ends to help prevent split ends.
Step 4: Protect with a Leave-In Conditioner
Product: Emergency Miracle Treatment
Why: Keeps curls hydrated and shields them from UV rays, which can cause faster fading.
Give your hair the hydration it craves with Emergency Miracle Treatment. This lightweight leave in conditioner penetrates deep into each strand, delivering lasting moisture without heaviness. Perfect as the foundation for any style, it preps and protects your hair so it stays hydrated, healthy, and manageable all week long.
Features:
Lightweight formula absorbs quickly to hydrate from the inside out
Provides lasting moisture retention between wash days
Strengthens and softens without buildup or heaviness
Ideal prep step before blow drying or heat styling
Safe for natural hair, relaxed styles, extensions, and fine strands
Benefits:
Keeps hair hydrated longer, even if you heat style weekly
Perfect balance of moisture and weightlessness
Leaves hair soft, manageable, and frizz-free
A must-have for straight naturals or wash and go girls who need moisture without reapplying product daily
With Emergency Miracle Treatment, you can enjoy long lasting hydration and strength without compromising your style, it’s the leave in that truly lives up to its name.
The Benefits:
• SILK PROTEIN: nourishes, repairs and protects hair.
• SERECITE MICA: smooths, seals hair color and provides radiant
shine.
• UV FILTERS: block sun damage.
How to Use:
Depending on the length and type of hair, apply desired amount to damp hair after washing.
Comb through roots to ends for even distribution.
Do not rinse out. Style as usual.
Step 5: Define with Lightweight Stylers
Product 1: Amplifying Foam → lightweight definition, prevents frizz without heaviness.
Product 2: Versatile Styling Cream (gel cream) → locks in moisture + hold.
Styling Technique:
Curl-by-curl finger-coiling for long-lasting wash and go definition (some clients keep it 2–4 weeks!).
Dry under a hooded dryer, then stretch with a diffuser to minimize frizz and enhance shape.
Get flawless wash and go results with the Curls Defined Bundle. This 3-step system delivers the hydration, definition, and hold you need for curls that are soft, bouncy, and frizz-free from wash day to day 5 and beyond.
What’s Inside:
Emergency Miracle Treatment – Lightweight leave-in conditioner that deeply hydrates and preps curls for styling.
Amplifying Foam – Moisture rich foam that smooths strands, tames frizz, and gives lightweight, buildable hold. Perfect on its own for fine hair or layered for extra definition.
Versatile Styling Cream – Gel-cream hybrid that locks in curl definition with long-lasting hold, while keeping hair soft and moisturized.
Benefits:
Complete styling routine for juicy, frizz-free curls
Moisture + hold in the perfect balance. No crunch, no flakes
Keeps curls defined, soft, and bouncy for days
Works for all curl types, from wavy to coily
With the Curls Defined Bundle, achieving salon quality wash and go results at home has never been easier. Hydrate, define, and set your curls for long lasting shine and movement.
The Final Look
The results? Healthy, shiny, defined curls that bounce with movement and color that pops without compromising curl health.
If you’ve been afraid to color your curls, know this: with the right techniques, products, and maintenance, you can absolutely have color AND healthy curls.