Celebrity Stylist Christin Brown on How to Repair & Prevent Curl Damage

Christin Brown (@thecurlfactor) fell into the hair industry by accident. When her wife was starting an on-location makeup business, Brown volunteered to be the partnering hairstylist until her wife found someone to fill the void. "The rest is history," Brown says. Now, a celebrity stylist, curl specialist and newly-named Olaplex ambassador, Brown uses her platform to share everything she knows about curls. Here, she shares insight on repairing damage, how hairstylists can work to bring clients' curls back to life, and how to take care of curls at home.

First and foremost, why is curly hair more prone to damage than other hair types?

Curly hair is more prone to damage for many reasons, especially because of how the hair twists and spirals. One of the main reasons is that most don't realize how fine curly hair is. With that said, excess heat, mechanical manipulation, and chemical services can often weaken the cuticle resulting in broken bonds.
 
What are your top tips for bringing hair to life after damage?

Two of my fave tips for bringing the hair back to life after damage are simple. First, be kind to yourself and your hair during the recovery process. Negative talk and regret can sometimes further the feelings of helplessness. Change your words to ones of positivity and encouragement. It may sound silly, but it's an amazing practice of self-love.

The second tip is to bounce back with a bond-building system like Olaplex No.0 Intensive Bond Building Treatment coupled with Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector. When used as a two-part system, they are scientifically proven to repair hair 68 percent more with 3x more strength. 

How can hairstylists prevent damage?

Hairstylists can prevent damage by treating curly hair like the gentle fiber it is. If you're a colorist, sticking with a lower volume developer when it comes to lightning can truly help keep the integrity of the hair. Providing treatments for your clients is imperative to ensuring that their hair will remain happy in healthy in your chair as well as at home.

Speaking of home, how can curly girls take care of their hair at home?

At-home care is the homework that helps you ace the test. Doing deep conditioning treatments regularly, trying not to wash your hair in extremely hot water (doing so can dehydrate the hair), and sleeping with a satin pillowcase can be a real game changer when it comes to reducing breakage.

 

Why is it so important to approach curly hair differently than other hair types?

 

As I mentioned earlier, curly hair is a delicate fiber. It needs to be approached with care, reverence and tons of love. When curly hair is neglected, it can be tough to bounce back from quickly. Instead, try little 'self-curl' regimens for your hair often, like purchasing a new product dedicated to curls and getting routine curly cuts to help boost growth. Whether you have way hair or super curly hair, it should be celebrated by you and the ones who surround you.