Protective styles? What’s that? How do I get started?

If you’re on a natural hair journey you’ve probably heard of protective styling, but do you know what it really is? Protective styling is the key to growth and healthier hair. Protective hairstyles aim to limit the stress of environmental factors on natural hair by keeping the ends of hair tucked away in order to discourage tugging, pulling, and manipulation. Protective styles include things like wigs, buns, two-strand twists, box braids or cornrows, with endless styles.

Protective styles are very personal and your day-to-day routine as well as upcoming plans should be taken into account when deciding what to go with. If you will be vacationing or frequenting pools, oceans, and water of sorts, you will most likely want to get box-braids because they dry relatively quickly and all you have to do is gel your edges. For a look that mimics your natural hair on a budget, kinky, curly crochet hair may be your go to. If looking for a quick in between style you may get cornrows braided in your head. Protective styles should ideally be low manipulation over time and planned out to minimize the amount of time spent styling the hair. The thicker and stronger the hair, the less chance you’ll experience breakage from certain protective styles, such as box braids. Those with finer, less dense hair should be more cautious of certain styles.

Protective styles all have a “take down date” think of it like an expiration date. The rate at

which your hair grows directly affects how long a style can last. New growth is natural hair that can be seen growing from your scalp in styles such as box braids or twists. Due to the fact that the braid is formed from the scalp, as your hair grows, the style loosens and your natural hair becomes more exposed. When new growth gets to a certain length, measures should be taken to re-do the style. Protective styles like wigs hide natural hair, so it’s easier to maintain the style longer due to the fat that the new growth is not exposed. Another sign that its time to take down your protective style is when you see buildup on your hair. If you choose not to wash you hair while in its protective style, your hair will become dirty, and your scalp can become dry and flaky.

The key to healthy hair growth is maintaining your protective style. Try to wash your hair weekly or bi-weekly to remove any buildup and keep your hairstyle looking fresh. The key to maintaining your hair under wigs and weaves is to moisturize often. Spray hair with a leave-in conditioner daily followed by oiling of the scalp to keep your hair moisturized, prevent breakages, and promote growth. Box braids are a protective style that can last 3-6 weeks when taken care of diligently. It is a great protective style during the summer because the hair is fully protected. A way to extend the lifetime of your braids is to undo the braids around the perimeter, wash your hair, and re-braid your hair.