Hormonal changes like pregnancy, puberty or menopause can cause your curl pattern to change drastically. The shape of your hair follicles defines your curl pattern and texture, so when your body goes through a major hormonal overhaul, it can also change the shape of your follicles, thus changing your curl pattern.
Others have curls and straighten them out. But for a few people, their hair actually changes shape and texture on its own — and not just because of the weather. Scientists don't know exactly why this happens, but it probably has to do with a combination of genetics, hormones and body chemistry.
Moisture, moisture, moisture
The number one rule to remember when you're trying to get your curls back is that moisture is your best friend. Hydrating shampoos, conditioners, leave-in treatments, and deep conditioning hair masks will give your hair a boost.
Dawn Clemens, founder of LarweiHair: The curl in girls' hair often goes away when the hair follicles are damaged. A great way to treat these follicles and bring back curly hair is to indulge in deep conditioning treatments, as they provide intense hydration to the hair.
Over on CurlTalk, we've heard from community members who lost the curl pattern they had as a child. Why does this happen? Curl patterns depend on genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors in addition to your hair care regimen. If that sounds like a lot of factors — that's because it is!
According to celebrity hairstylist Annagjid "Kee" Taylor, your curl pattern can change by pretty much anything that sucks the moisture out of it. "Anything that can really dry out your hair and really damage it will cause your hair to lose its natural curl pattern," says Taylor.
Your initial reaction may be to panic (or pick up a pair of scissors), but your curl pattern and health is not a lost cause. The bad news: Once hair is burned, there is no way to fully repair your curl pattern until new hair grows in to replace it.
Internal factors can lead to hair texture changes, such as your health, stress, or your diet. Ageing is also always an issue. Each of these can affect your curls, which means you should do whatever you can to maintain and monitor your overall health.
You can't 'activate' genes. The reason you have straight hair while your mother has curly hair is that you have either not inherited any dominant curly haired genes from her, or that the genes that lead to her curly hair are recessive. Have you considered curling tongs?
Stringy, straight ends and looser curl patterns. These sorts of noticeable changes in texture can be a red flag. Excessive heat is usually the culprit, but bleach/color damage, dryness or over-manipulation can be contributing factors as well.
The bottom line: Several factors can change the color and texture of hair throughout your lifetime. They include stress, chemical hair treatments, heat styling, genetics, aging, medical conditions and illness. and pregnancy.
But hormonal shifts—like those that occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause—can alter the shape of the hair follicle. (Think of the follicle as a tube: If it has a slight curve, the hair grows in curly; if it doesn't, the hair grows in straight.)
Less than 20% of people have naturally curly hair.
There are two ways to train your curls: finger coiling or twisting strands of hair together. This is a personal preference; experiment and do what works best for you! I usually leave the deep conditioner in my hair for 45-60 minutes. I found that it is best for me to use a protein treatment.
How long does it take to get your natural curls back? Everyone's hair is different, so while it may take your friend just a few weeks to see their curls return to their former glory, you may have to wait a couple of months. The quickest way to see results is to cut off your damaged strands.
Allow enough time for your curls to cool down or they will lose their form and fall out quickly. If you run your fingers or brush through curls too soon without giving them the proper time to set, your curls won't last.
3C hair is the curliest of the type 3 curly hair pattern. And since type 4 hair is considered coily instead of curly, type 3C hair is the curliest of curly hair. If you have 3C curls, your curls have the width of a pencil and are shaped like corkscrew-like ringlets. Type 3C hair is also very dense and full of volume.
An increase in androgens in females can actually change the shape of the hair follicle from round to flat and this can instigate a change in texture from straight to curly.
You're more likely to experience texture changes from hormones during puberty, menopause, or pregnancy. The weight of your growing hair – As your hair grows, it gets heavier and heavier, and this weight causes your curls to stretch out.
Thus, a head full of waves or curls that you weren't expecting. Puberty, menopause and pregnancy all cause hormonal shifts that can make your tresses go from straight to curly hair. In fact, 40-50% of women experience major changes in their hair while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Throughout menopause, your hair's texture changes. It often happens around the age of 51 and might be the reason why your hair will change from curly to straight.
Why is My Straight Hair Frizzy? Frizz can happen to straight hair if it's dry or damaged from too much heat-styling, bleaching, and dyeing.