Remember when your Mama used to force you to wear plaits with the bobbles and a thousand barrettes instead of allowing you to wear your hair out at school? (We fought for the beads even though they struck us in the eye every time we turned 😩.)
In all honesty, THAT was protective styling. Mama was looking out. Buns, braids, flat twists, plaits, faux locs, cornrows, two strand twists, and wigs are all protective styles. Most of these styles require low handling and manipulation, which is an ideal equation for natural hair to grow.
Here are some simple protective styling tips to follow when rocking your protective hairstyle:
1. Make sure the protective style does not tug or pull your natural hair. This leads to follicular damage and hair breakage. Headaches are NOT normal after styling your hair and once those hair follicles are damaged, they are very difficult to repair.
2. Always be on the lookout for scalp irritation, excessive dryness, redness, itchiness, and/or flakiness. The sebaceous gland is responsible for producing oil for our hair and skin, so if it appears to not be functioning properly, an assessment will need to be completed.
3. Keep your scalp and hair clean by gently washing your hair weekly (every 2 weeks if wearing braids or extensions). When this is done properly and consistently, the chances of hair breakage, hair loss, and/or hair thinning are minimized upon the removal of your protective hairstyle.
4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Daily, weekly - whatever “regularly” looks like for you!
5. Sleep with a satin bonnet, satin scarf, or satin pillow case. This helps the hair retain moisture. If your satin bonnet has an elastic band, then be sure to tie a satin scarf around your edges FIRST and then put on your bonnet. The elastic band creates friction around your edges, which could lead to thinning, waning edges.
6. Be sure to deep condition (even with your protective style), read labels, and maintain healthy hair practices in between hair appointments and visits!
That’s all for today! Be sure to subscribe for more protective styling tips and tricks! 💕
