so i’m gonna have an unpopular opinion here and say that bleach doesn’t always damage curls. i know plenty of people with hair ranging from 3a to the 4 category who have kept their exact pattern despite bleaching a lot. it has all to do with your hair type and honestly just the way you care for it. you said you did a lot of straightening, so i’d argue the damage came from heat more than bleach.

i’ve been bleaching my hair (2c-3a) since i was at least 11. at least once every two years i’d bleach, and i still bleach to this day. i’m 20 now! i’ve dealt with minimal damage and it’s because i’d give my hair more TLC with deep conditioners and protein since bleached hair is prone to more dryness. as well as avoiding the straightener (i only straighten maybe 5 times a year for special occasions)

it’s completely possible to have healthy bleached curls, so plz don’t take the fear mongering too seriously! there’s plenty of bleached curls care videos online. since you did do damage though, you can either grow out the bleach (which can take up to two years, at least in my experience) or do a big chop and start with virgin hair again.

if you gain more knowledge about caring for bleached curls don’t be scared to bleach again! don’t feel like you NEED to keep your natural color out of fear of damage. it’s ok to want to give your hair dimension sometimes.