If your curls are falling limp, feel dry, or are showing signs of damage, it might be worth adding some targeted treatments into your routine.

A lot of people don’t have any of these products in their routine at all. They may be washing and styling consistently, but still feel like their curls don’t last, don’t feel as healthy as they used to, or never quite bounce back. Treatments are often the missing piece, especially when hair has been exposed to heat, tension, or long-term wear and tear.

This guide breaks down the different types of treatments for curly hair, how they fit into a routine, and how to choose the right ones based on what your hair actually needs. The goal is not to use everything, but to understand what each category does, when to use it, and how these products compare.

How to Incorporate Treatments Into a Curl Routine

When I work with clients, the focus is on helping curls recover through the right transition plan and routine, not by piling on products. Treatments are tools within that system. They work best when they’re used intentionally and at the right stage of the routine.

Some treatments are meant to protect hair before damage happens. Others are designed to reinforce or repair weakened hair. Some are best for maintenance, and others are meant to replace steps like conditioner or a separate heat protectant. Using too many at once often leads to hair that feels soft but lacks structure, or results that don’t last.

In the sections below, treatments are organized by when they’re used and what role they play, so you can compare options without overcomplicating your routine.

Pre-Shampoo Protection & Detangling Treatments

Pre-shampoo treatments are used before cleansing, when hair is most vulnerable to friction and breakage. These products help improve slip, protect the ends, and make wash day gentler overall.

This category is preventative. These products do not repair damage, but they can make a noticeable difference in how hair behaves during and after shampooing.

Pre-Shampoo Oils

Oils are multi-purpose products and can be used before shampoo on dry hair, or at the end of your routine on dry hair to soften and add shine. When using oils at the pre-shampoo step, you can detangle gently or simply apply the oil and let it sit. This will protect your hair from friction during shampooing. Do not use too much. A light coating is all that’s needed.

Curlsmith Bonding Oil

Use: Pre-shampoo or finishing oil
​Weight: Lightweight
​Unique Benefits: Adds shine and protects against breakage
​Best For: All hair types

​Curlsmith Baonding Oil​

Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Strengthening Oil

Use: Pre-shampoo or finishing oil
​Weight: Lightweight
​Unique Benefits: UV defense and breakage protection
​Best For: All hair types

​Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Strengthening Oil​

Pre-Shampoo Primers

Primers are applied to wet hair before shampooing and provide more slip than oils. They’re especially helpful for hair that tangles easily or feels fragile during wash day.

TreLuxe Soothe & Restore Aloe Vera Curl Primer

Use: Pre-shampoo detangler on wet hair
​Conditioning Level: Medium
​Slip Level: High
​Unique Benefits: Detangles, softens, and smooths the cuticle
​Best For: All hair types

​TreLuxe Soothe & Restore Aloe Vera Curl Primer​

Pre-Shampoo Bond Repair Treatments (Most Intensive)

Pre-shampoo bond repair treatments are the most targeted strengthening products in this guide. They’re applied before shampooing so they can interact with the hair without interference from conditioners or stylers.

Not all bond treatments work the same way. Some are capable of repairing broken bonds, while others reinforce existing structure. Understanding that distinction helps determine which option is appropriate for your level of damage.

Olaplex No. 3

Use: Pre-shampoo treatment
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Unique Benefits: Rebuilds broken bonds
​Best For: Severe damage or maintenance

​Olaplex No. 3​

Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve

Use: Pre-shampoo treatment
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: Some
​Unique Benefits: Reinforces existing bonds and supports curl structure
​Best For: Moderate damage or maintenance

​Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve​

Garnier Hair Filler Inner Fiber Repair

Use: Pre-shampoo treatment
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Unique Benefits: Peptide-based bond reinforcement
​Best For: Mild damage or maintenance

​Garnier Hair Filler Inner Fiber Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment​

Rinse-Out Bond Repair (Strength + Conditioning During Wash Day)

Rinse-out bond repair treatments are used after shampooing and combine strengthening with conditioning. Because of this, they often replace the need for a separate conditioner.

These treatments are supportive rather than corrective. They help maintain strength and manageability, but they do not replace pre-shampoo bond repair for more severe damage.

Innersense Repair Mask

Use: Rinse out treatment
​Conditioning Level: Medium
​Protein Level: Some
​Unique Benefits: Reinforces weakened hair while conditioning
​Best For: Moderate damage or maintenance

​Innersense Repair Mask​

Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Mask

Use: Rinse out treatment
​Conditioning Level: High
​Protein Level: Some
​Unique Benefits: Amino-acid based bond reinforcement with deeper conditioning
​Best For: Mild to moderate damage or maintenance

​Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Mask​

Leave-In Bond Repair (Maintenance Between Wash Days)

Leave-in bond treatments are designed for maintenance, not intensive repair. They reinforce strength over time and are especially useful for people who diffuse or use heat regularly.

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex

Use: Leave-in treatment
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Unique Benefits: Reinforces bonds over time and helps protect hair during heat styling
​Best For: All hair types; maintenance

​Living Proof Triple Bond Complex​

Deep Conditioning Masks (Non-Bond Repair)

Deep conditioners focus on softness, slip, and manageability. While they can improve how hair feels, they do not repair or reinforce bonds.

Briogeo Superfoods Acai Passionfruit Lightweight Hydration Hair Mask

Use: Rinse out
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Unique Benefits: Softens and deeply moisturizes
​Best For: All hair types

​Briogeo Superfoods Acai Passionfruit Lightweight Hydration Hair Mask​

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

Use: Rinse out
​Conditioning Level: Medium
​Protein Level: High
​Unique Benefits: Softens, strengthens, and improves elasticity
​Best For: All hair types

​Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Hair Mask​

Heat Protectants

Heat protectants help prevent cumulative damage, especially for diffusers and frequent heat users. Some also provide slip or light conditioning, making them easy to incorporate without adding extra steps.

Curlsmith Miracle Shield

Use: Before stylers
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Slip Level: Medium
​Unique Benefits: Protects from heat, UV, chlorine & salt water
​Best For: All hair types

​Curlsmith Miracle Shield Heat Protection Spray​

Living Proof Leave‑In Conditioning Spray

Use: Before stylers
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Slip Level: Medium
​Unique Benefits: Lightweight heat and UV protection with added slip
​Best For: All hair types

​Living Proof Leave-In Conditioning Spray​

Hairitage Play It Cool Argan Oil Heat Protectant Spray

Use: Before stylers
​Conditioning Level: Low
​Protein Level: None
​Slip Level: Low
​Unique Benefit: Simple, lightweight heat protection
​Best For: All hair types

​Hairitage Play It Cool Argan Oil Heat Protectant Spray​

Product Comparison

​Click to view full screen & for product links​

Final Notes & Next Steps

Treatments work best when they’re chosen based on what your hair needs right now, not when they’re all used at once. In many routines, one strengthening treatment and one heat protectant or multipurpose product is enough.

If you want help understanding how to use strengthening products without overdoing it, you can download my free How to Use Strengthening Products Chart, which visually breaks down where these treatments fit and how to rotate them.

If you want personalized help choosing and adjusting treatments over time, that’s exactly what we work through inside my Curl Coaching Membership, where routines are built around your hair, your goals, and how your curls respond.