Why protective styles

Another sign that it is time to take out your protective style is when you see buildup in your hair. Aim to wash your hair bi weekly to remove any buildup and keep your protective style refreshed. If you are wearing a wig, simply remove the wig and wash the braids underneath. Oil your scalp or spray your hair with a leave-in conditioning mist daily or weekly in order to keep your hair moisturized, prevent breakage, and promote growth.

Box braids are a protective style that can last you weeks with proper care. It is great for the summer because your hair is fully protected. As previously mentioned, a way to extend the lifespan of your braids is to undo the braids around the perimeter, wash your hair, and re-braid your hair. Many women dread the install process of box braids because it can take on average hours, depending on the size of the braids.

Crochet is a unique braiding technique. Your hair is braided down into cornrows, and then a crochet needle is used to weave the synthetic hair of your choice through the braids. Crochet styles can last weeks depending on how well you maintain them, because synthetic hair tangles easier and can frizz up quicker.

We recommend using a leave-in conditioner or curl enhancing product to maintain the curls. Wigs are a super versatile protective style.

There are many choices within the two main categories of synthetic hair and human hair. Synthetic wigs have a shorter lifespan and are more affordable, while wigs made with human hair can last you up to a year, but come at a much higher ticket price. Simply separate your hair into small sections, apply a leave-in conditioner and curling cream, and twist your hair from root to tip.

Wrap the end of the strand around your finger for the perfect coiled ends. You can wear the twists overnight or up to a week before unraveling for a twist-out style that can last another week! Simply add water and gel to the perimeter of your hair, brush your hair up into a ponytail, and tie with a string or large ponytail holder. This style is achieved using synthetic braiding hair. The braiding technique can vary in style. You can wear the ponytail down, or wrap the braids into a bun for a more formal look.

Faux locs are one of the most popular protective styles. The style is achieved by installing box braids, and then wrapping each braid with marley hair until the entire braid is hidden. The ends are usually sealed with glue or a lighter. Faux locs can last over a month. But be careful to not leave them in too long, your natural hair can start to loc underneath. There are hundreds of protective styles to choose from , which can make it hard for one to decide.

The best way to know what style is best for you is to understand your hair type and how well your hair can handle manipulation. For instance, for some women, braids encourage growth, and for others they can cause breakage. My favorite protective styles are twists and box braids!

I love these styles because they are low maintenance, and I can create other styles while keeping my hair protected. I also love a good leave-in conditioning spray when rocking a protective style. A quick spray is all I need to keep my hair hydrated and looking fresh.

It rips up the curl pattern and causes breakage in the hair shaft, which leads to hair looking frizzy and not absorbing product. This is because hair is being stretched out from tension. I believe that the safest styles for naturally curly hair are twist-outs and braid-outs.

Protective styling is a great way to keep your ends and your hair protected from environmental factors and manipulation. Keeping your protective style simple will allow you to get the full benefits of a protective style. Avoid going for hairstyles that require tension on the scalp and our delicate hair. Instead, opt for a style that does not take much effort such as a simple chic bun that does not require a lot of tugging and pulling.

A classy two strand-twisted updo or dutch braids are also options. The more you play around in your hair, the harder it becomes for growth to progress.

The less time you have to spend on a style the easier it becomes for you to continue your day. My favorite style is my curly puff. It has a light tropical scent and does not make the hair dry or brittle. That's why protective styles like box braids , Senegalese twists, and Fulani braids are so essential. Not only are they tried-and-true methods for preserving our natural hair; they're also just plain fun. They can easily be switched up to add length, or you can mix in different colors and textures to change up your look.

Our hair can truly do anything. But before you decide on your next style, make sure you know the basics. In short, protective styles help keep textured hair healthy by limiting its exposure to any damage caused by the sun, the heat, the cold, or overmanipulation. Natural curls—and particularly type 4 coils —are already drier and prone to breakage, so a great protective style can both help your hair retain moisture and help it grow faster.

To keep your protective style looking as crisp as it did when you left the salon, one of the most important things is to make sure you wear a silk bonnet or scarf at night.

Unlike cotton, silk helps your hair retain moisture and eliminates frizz, which will help you extend the wear of your look. Koudou also recommends adding a hair oil to your routine to prevent dryness. To bring your style back to life, Koudou suggests grabbing some mousse.

Her favorite? There isn't a steadfast rule for how long protective hairstyles should last, but according to Koudou, styles with extensions like knotless box braids can typically last up to two months, while you'll likely want to take out your feed-in cornrows after a week.

Wear them any longer, and you risk dehydrating your hair and minimizing its growth. The good news is that you can do back-to-back styles—just try to schedule trims every six weeks if you can. Got all that? Scroll on for our favorite protective hairstyles for Loving them is easy. Choosing which to wear next? Good luck. There's a reason box braids are one of the most popular protective styles—they're easy to maintain, yes, but they're also super versatile, meaning they don't have to be boring.

One way to do that? Increase the drama by parting them into bigger sections, which coincidentally also saves braiding time and keeps maintenance to a minimum. One look at these knotless box braids , and it's not hard to see why the technique has blown up over the past few years.

You can band both wet and dry curly hair, and here is how to do it. For Max Stretch — Use your Denman brush to brush your hair before adding each hair tie. Blow drying the hair to stretch it is an effective and quick method. When doing this method, be careful not to turn the heat up too high — doing this reduces the possibility of drying out or damaging your hair. To stretch curly hair with the blow-dry method, follow these steps.

Stretching the hair with the braiding method is another way to go heatless. First of all, it helps to understand your hair type and density. For instance, those with thicker hair seldom experience damage from protective styles. You might think twice about getting crochet braids if you plan on going for a swim — instead, you may want to go with lemonade braids or box braids.

Lastly, you should consider how long a given protective style lasts. Protective styles could last anywhere from a week to two months. For some ideas, check out these top 5 hot protective styles and how you can create them at home. Note: Prep your hair according to the previous instructions before taking the following steps.

Cornrows are a great protective style that keeps your hair tame and your ends protected. When creating cornrows, the only limit is your imagination. You can go for simple straight backs, or get creative with wavy, intricate parting designs. Also, you can play with the quantity of hair, creating small or large sections depending on the look you want to achieve. Low buns are stylish, simple to pull off, and perfect for the summer.

They keep the hair protected and the ends of natural hair tucked away. To create a stylish and protective low bun, follow these steps. Afro puffs are cute and easy to manage. They protect the hair by keeping it up and out of the way. The only thing to watch out for is using too much product on your edges, which could cause buildup and hair loss.

Afro puffs come in many sizes and styles, all of which are gorgeous in their own way. Bantu knots are a spunky, bold protective style.

The style usually lasts about a week or longer, depending on whether you cover your hair up at night. Box braids are a trendy protective style that, when maintained properly, can last up to 8 weeks. Using synthetic braiding hair, you can create box braids of whichever length and size you want. You can even add colored extensions and embellishments. Other popular hairstyles include faux locs, flat twists, a traditional twist out, Fulani braids, Senegalese twists, braided crown, knotless box braids, hair extensions , finger waves, faux ponytails, Marley braids, and two-strand twists.

First of all, if your hair appears to show signs of buildup, you should wash it. For this reason, you should only apply styling products to your hair when absolutely necessary. If you wear wigs as a protective style, the key to keeping the wig looking good is to keep it moisturized. Doing this will reduce the chances of hair damage, frizz, and breakage.

Each style has an expiration date, so understanding the signs is crucial. The most obvious sign that you need to take out your protective style is excessive hair growth, which is easier to spot in some hairstyles than others. For instance, with box braids, the roots show; this makes it easy to gauge whether you need to take the braids out. Another telling sign is product buildup, which usually appears around the roots as a white, flaky substance. Product buildup is normal, caused by a mix of product, dirt, and oil.

Pro tip: After taking down a protective style, let the hair rest for a week or two. This will limit hair damage from over-manipulation.