Her Curls Were GONE... Here's What We Did Next
How to Transition from Chemically Straightened Hair Back to Natural Curls: Step-by-Step Guide
If you've chemically straightened your curly hair and now regret it, you're not alone. Many people find themselves with permanently straightened hair and wonder how to transition back to their natural curls without doing a big chop.
In this post, I’m walking you through exactly how I’m helping my client grow out her Japanese hair straightening treatment, using professional salon techniques and hair care products that you can use at home, too.
Let’s dive into the routine that will help you regain curl definition, reduce breakage, and support healthy hair growth… no matter where you’re starting from.
The Starting Point: Two Different Textures
My client came in with curly roots and permanently straight ends after getting a Japanese straightening treatment. Japanese straighteners are permanent. They break the disulfide bonds that define your curl pattern. That means those straight ends won’t curl again.
Her only options were:
Big chop (cut off all the straight ends)
Transition slowly and grow the curls back in
She chose to transition. Here's how we're doing it.
Step 1: Clarify the Scalp & Prep the Hair
Product Used: Clarifying Shampoo
Before any treatment, it's essential to remove product buildup and oils with a clarifying shampoo. A clean scalp creates a foundation for the next steps, especially when applying bond repair or protein treatments.
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: Strengthen with a Bond Builder Treatment
Product Used: Olaplex Treatment
Olaplex is a bond-building treatment that works on a molecular level to reinforce your hair's internal structure . This is especially important after chemical services like relaxers or Japanese straighteners.
Why it works:
Reinforces weak hair bonds
Strengthens the fragile line of demarcation (where curly and straight textures meet)
Reduces breakage and shedding during detangling
Pro Tip: Pair it with a hair steamer for deeper penetration.
Step 3: Deep Steam for Moisture Boost
Tool Used: Hair Steamer
Steam is a game-changer for transitioning hair. It opens the hair cuticle so deep conditioners and treatments can fully absorb, especially in coarse or high porosity hair.
Benefits of steaming:
Increases moisture retention
Softens brittle textures
Protects against snapping at the line of demarcation
Step 4: Wash with a Moisture-Rich Shampoo
Product Used: Moisture Shampoo
You need a shampoo that’s hydrating but not heavy. This moisture shampoo cleans without stripping and is rich in coconut milk to help with breakage. Even with a creamier texture, it rinses clean, preventing buildup that causes dryness.
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 5: Rebuild with a Protein Deep Conditioner
Product Used: Deep Repair Treatment
Transitioning hair is often keratin-depleted. This deep conditioner strengthens and moisturizes at once, thanks to keratin protein, which mimics your hair's natural structure.
Why it's ideal:
Restores strength and elasticity
Adds slip for detangling
Great for both thick and fine textures
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 6: Leave-In Conditioner Is Non-Negotiable
Product Used: Emergency Miracle Treatment
Moisture is the name of the game when transitioning. A leave-in conditioner helps lock in hydration, makes styling easier, and reduces breakage during manipulation.
Tip: Always use a leave-in, whether styling curly or straight.
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 7: Protect and Style with Blow-Dry Cream
Product Used: Le D
Unlike traditional serums, this creamy heat protectant adds moisture, slip, and softness to blowouts without leaving hair dry or crunchy.
Key benefits:
Adds heat protection
Keeps hair soft post-blow dry
Helps smooth rough cuticles
Meet your new heat-styling essential. Le Deux Blow Dry Cream is the perfect balance of moisture and protection, giving your hair a silky, weightless finish every time you blow dry. Unlike traditional heat protectants, this cream based formula not only shields your strands from heat damage but also infuses deep hydration. Keeping your hair soft, smooth, and manageable.
Features:
Provides heat protection against blow dryers and hot tools
Cream consistency delivers intense moisture while protecting
Keeps hair silky, soft, and frizz free without weighing it down
Makes blow drying easier by improving slip and manageability
Ideal for naturals, relaxed hair, silk presses, or extensions
Benefits:
Your hair stays hydrated even under heat
Smooth, shiny results without dryness or breakage
The perfect foundation for silk presses, curls, or protective styles
Lightweight, so it works beautifully on both fine and thick textures
With Le Deux, you don’t have to choose between moisture and protection, you get both. Make it the final step before blow drying for salon quality results at home.
What’s inside:
• SUNFLOWER SEED EXTRACT: acts a UVA and UVB protectant while preserving radiant color.
• SWEET PEA PROTEIN: hydrates, smooths and defines hair.
• MAGNESIUM: hydrates and improves the elasticity of hair.
How to Use:
STYLE STRAIGHT: Apply to towel dried hair. Leave for 2-3 minutes and blow dry.
Step 8: Seal It All In with Lightweight Oil
Product Used: Amethyst Oil
This lightweight sealing oil protects the hair from heat styling while locking in all the moisture from your treatments. It absorbs quickly and won’t cause buildup, which is essential when managing two textures.
Use before flat ironing for extra shine and protection.
Seal in shine, lock in moisture, and protect your hair with Amethyst Oil. This lightweight finishing oil is designed to penetrate the hair shaft, delivering long-lasting hydration without weighing your hair down. Perfect for both blowouts and silk presses, it doubles as an extra layer of heat protection while keeping your hair soft, smooth, and frizz-free.
Features:
Provides a second layer of heat protection for styling
Lightweight formula that absorbs quickly without buildup
Seals in moisture from your creams and leave-ins
Leaves hair silky, shiny, and frizz-free
Works on natural hair, relaxed hair, and extensions
Benefits:
Protects against dryness from hot tools
Adds natural shine without greasiness
Perfect as the final step before a silk press or as a daily shine oil
Fine-hair friendly — no heavy residue or weighed-down strands
Whether you’re blowing out, silk pressing, or simply refreshing your look, Amethyst Oil is the perfect finishing touch for healthy, shiny, and protected hair.
What’s inside:
• HEMP SEED PROTEIN: fights fly-aways and frizz. Soothes scalp.
• AMETHYST: protects the hair from hot tools up to 410 degrees and
speeds up blow dry time.
How to Use:
ON WET HAIR: apply a few drops concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends. Comb through to distribute evenly. Style as usual.
ON DRY HAIR: lightly apply and work through hair for added shine and to tame fly-aways.
TREATMENT: apply throughout scalp and hair, cover with a plastic cap for 20 minutes to an hour. Shampoo and condition hair as regular.
Why I Sometimes Recommend Straightening During Transition
Sounds surprising, right? But when done correctly, blow drying or silk pressing transitioning hair:
Unifies the texture temporarily
Makes detangling easier
Helps trim damaged ends more precisely
Teaches proper heat usage (low temp, protectants, limited frequency)
My clients have successfully grown out heat damaged and chemically treated hair while straightening weekly. The key is technique and protection.
Weekly Transitioning Hair Routine (At a Glance)
✅ Clarify once a month to prevent buildup
✅ Deep condition weekly or biweekly
✅ Always use a leave-in before styling
✅ Opt for low manipulation styles
✅ Avoid long term protective styles that dry out your hair
✅ Steam once a week for max hydration
Final Result: Shiny, Healthy, Transitioning Hair
Even though her curls are still growing in, my client’s hair looked moisturized, shiny, and strong. Transitioning doesn’t have to mean sacrificing style. When done correctly, your hair can thrive, even when in between two textures.
By following this routine and using salon quality products and moisture optimizing techniques, you can grow your curls back stronger than ever.