If your once-bouncy curls have turned into limp waves, or your natural texture feels like a distant memory, you might be dealing with heat-trained hair. But don’t worry, bringing back your hair’s original pattern is possible. The key is to cut back on the heat—read: blow dryers, flat irons and heat tools—and prioritize moisture-rich, strengthening treatments. The journey takes time, but with patience and the right care, your hair can gradually bounce back to its natural glory.

Heat-trained hair is hair that has been repeatedly styled with high heat, causing its texture to become looser or straighter over time. Unlike natural hair, which maintains its curl pattern, or heat-damaged hair, which shows visible signs of breakage and brittleness, heat-trained hair can still be healthy-looking but has permanently altered its texture due to the frequent use of styling tools.

Many people think heat-trained hair is just another term for heat damage, but that’s not quite right. Heat-trained hair has adapted to the heat without falling apart, while heat-damaged hair hasn’t. Instead, it’s weak and sad-looking. Knowing this difference is key because it changes the way you care for your hair (i.e. focusing on curl recovery and hydration vs. repairing damage). Make sense? If not, let’s get into it.

Heat-Trained Hair

Texture is looser or straighter

Feels soft and healthy

Can still hold moisture with the right care

No split ends or breakage

Heat-Damaged Hair

Texture is frizzy and uneven

Feels brittle and rough

Struggles to retain moisture

Prone to breakage and split ends

Many confuse the two because both involve a change in hair texture. Knowing which category your hair falls into helps determine the recovery approach—either curl revival for heat-trained hair, or deeper repair for heat-damaged hair.

Let’s get a little nerdy (but not too much) and talk about what happens to your hair at a molecular level. Heat styling temporarily reshapes the bonds in your hair strands, which is why your curls turn into waves or straight strands. Over time, these bonds can become "trained" to stay that way.

Reversing this process means giving those bonds a chance to reset. This involves plenty of hydration to plump up your hair fibers, protein treatmentsto strengthen them and, most importantly, laying off the heat tools. Think of it as retraining your hair to go back to its original form—like teaching an old dog new tricks, but more rewarding.

Ready to get those natural curls bouncing back? Here’s your step-by-step foolproof plan, including the products to get the job done. 

Let’s be real—this is the toughest part. But to bring back your natural texture, you need to give your hot tools a break (insert laughs of nervousness). Swap out the flat iron and blow dryer for heatless styling options like braids, twist-outs or foam rollers. We promise you, your hair will thank you, but it may take a hot sec to get used to the new routine.  

Think of your hair like a plant: without water, it wilts. Load up on deep conditioning treatments to drench your strands in moisture. Products like Davines NOUNOU, a nourishing line for highly-processed hair, are perfect for giving the hydration boost your hair craves. Try the Hair Mask for a more intense treatment, as well as the Shampoo and Conditioner. Hydrated hair is more elastic, which means it’ll have an easier time bouncing back to its natural shape.

If you notice any frayed or split ends, it’s time for a little snip, snip! Getting rid of damaged tips helps prevent breakage from creeping up the hair shaft, so your strands can focus on growing strong and healthy.

Protein is like your hair’s superhero—it swoops in to strengthen and rebuild. Whether you use salon-quality products or DIY concoctions (hello, egg masks), protein treatments will help reinforce your hair’s structure and restore some of that lost bounce.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is healthy hair. Give your hair time to adjust, and stick with it. Take progress pics to stay motivated, and you’ll be amazed at how much your texture can improve over a few weeks. Remember, it’s all about the journey, not just the destination.

Though reversing heat-trained hair may sound tricky, we’ll help you dodge some common pitfalls. Keep these blunders in mind, and you’ll be ahead of the game:

 - Using heat tools "just once more": One last round of heat can undo weeks of progress, so it’s important to resist the temptation. (We know it’s hard!)

 - Skipping trims: Trimming your ends isn’t optional—it’s a must. Holding onto those split ends only makes things worse.

 - Impatience: Expecting instant results leads to frustration. Hair recovery takes time, so make sure you allow just that.

Let’s get into some of the popular questions about heat-trained hair:

What is the difference between heat damage and heat-trained hair?

Heat-damaged hair is brittle, weak and often breaks easily, while heat-trained hair has adapted to frequent heat styling, resulting in a looser texture without significant damage.

Does heat training work for hair?

It can work if you want looser curls, but it's not without risks. The key is understanding that your hair may not bounce back easily, which is why we're all about recovery here.

What does it mean to have trained hair?

"Trained" hair means it has learned to hold a particular style due to consistent heat use. In this case, it’s your hair’s texture becoming more relaxed or straighter over time.

Now that you're on the road to recovery, it's time to build a hair care routine that’ll keep your locks healthy and strong. Start by reaching for moisture-packed products like those within the Davines NOUNOU line to deeply hydrate and nourish your strands. Adding a protein boost with weekly hair treatments will help maintain the balance between strength and moisture, ensuring your hair stays resilient. Make self-care a habit by incorporating regular deep conditioning, gentle handling and soothing scalp massages into your routine. Treating your hair with kindness will set you up for long-term success.

As you work through the journey of reversing heat-trained hair, remember to celebrate your natural texture. Let your curls, waves or coils shine just as they are. After all, your hair is a unique part of you—and when you skip the heat, you're giving it a chance to thrive. If you need more guidance, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our professional salons. Your hair deserves the best, and so do you. 

by Jaclyn LaBadia, featured contributor