At K18 we’ve been celebrating gorgeous curls + coils from the start—that’s why we formulated repair products to work on the molecular level where all hair is the same. But while repair is critical to maintaining and reviving healthy curl patterns both in the salon with the K18REPAIR™service and at home with the leave-in molecular repair hair mask, there’s so much more to curly + coily care.
Read on for expert advice for your clients’ healthiest natural hair—like how to tell if their curls are damaged, the best protective styles, and the K18 salon-exclusive repair service you need to know about—straight from specialized stylists.
how to tell if their curls are damaged
Some common signs of damaged curls are inconsistent curl formation and changes in texture. For example, compromised curls and coils can look looser than usual. They can also feel rougher, duller, or drier.
If your clients' curls look like any of the above—learn about the biotech routine you need from K18 PRO stylist + educator Alifia Young.
can protective styles damage your hair?
The short answer is: yes. Some protective styles, like braids and twists, can cause mechanical damage. Think of the hair knots, tangles, and split ends you come across—that’s mechanical damage. This is the wear and tear from tugging, brushing, or manipulating strands. But don’t worry, you can minimize this damage with these steps.
have them prep hair before their appointment: Ask clients to cleanse with gentle detox shampoo to remove buildup that weighs down curls + coils and creates rough, damaged, and frizzy hair which can be more difficult to work with. Using the molecular repair hair mask in their regular rotation will also create the healthiest canvas for you to create on. Plus, the mask helps protective styles withstand tension for longer.
fortify + strengthen with K18REPAIR™: For best results with any protective style, get certified on the K18 salon-exclusive damage repair service that delivers healthier hair through every transformation. This two-step service fortifies and restores up to 99% elasticity* prior to services and reverses damage that may have occurred during services in just 4 minutes*. This allows you to achieve any look with confidence, knowing every client’s hair is protected at every step.
help them pick their protective style: This will depend on their goals, what their crown looks like, and their lifestyle.
But remember—it’s what they do after your appointment that allows them to maintain a longer-lasting look with less damage. Read more on preventing damage from K18 PRO stylist + educator Alifia Young.
5 expert tips for loving natural texture
Celebrating curls and coils looks different for everyone, so we tap all kinds of curl experts to understand how they approach curly + coily hair. Here’s curl specialist + salon owner, Lautrice Thompson’s advice for helping clients embrace their natural hair.
use a less-is-more approach
A good cleanse and treatment routine with fewer, but more effective steps will make hair look and feel more hydrated! Layering heavy butters and oils will make hair lifeless and have the opposite hydrating effect.
maintain hair health
Schedule curly + coily clients for trims or cuts every 2-4 months (depending on texture and diameter of their curl) to allow for length retention. Use the K18REPAIR™ service every appointment and send them home with the K18 molecular repair hair mask between appointments.
- encourage clients to be their own hair goals
Figure out what they like about their hair instead of making someone else the inspiration. This is the first step in committing to the journey and creating a self-love mindset—every client’s hair is unique and beautiful.
learn from a curly + coily specialist
Find a stylist with experience and ask them all the questions. You can also request to shadow them in the salon to expand your knowledge working with different hair types. K18 educational events and blog are also great resources!
don't use food on hair
Unless you’re a cosmetic chemist, eat the eggs and sweet potatoes, don't create a mask with them. Instead, reverse damage and maintain optimal hair health with the clinically proven K18 leave-in molecular repair hair mask.
Loving these tips? Check out the rest of them in this blog post.
As always, there’s so much more curly + coily content over on the blog including how to build our product recommendations into a routine here and where hair strength comes from.
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