Protective Hairstyles: A Shield for Your Strands

For women, especially women of color your hair is EVERYTHING. There are so many thoughts and feelings surrounding our hair that it’s important for us to have to go to styles such as protective styles.  In the world of hair care, protective hairstyles have emerged as a popular and effective way to maintain healthy, strong hair while minimizing damage and breakage. These styles offer a shield for your strands, safeguarding them from the harsh elements, excessive manipulation, and daily wear and tear. In this blog post, I’ll share some of my favorite styles while exploring their benefits and how to incorporate them into your hair care routine.

crochet boho braids

The Benefits of Protective Hairstyles

Protective hairstyles offer a multitude of benefits for your hair, including:

• Reduced Breakage: By tucking away your ends and minimizing manipulation, protective styles help prevent breakage and split ends, promoting hair growth.

• Moisture Retention: Many protective styles, like braids and twists, help to lock in moisture, keeping your hair hydrated and healthy.

• Length Retention: With less breakage and better moisture retention, your hair has a greater chance of retaining length over time.

• Versatility: Protective hairstyles come in a wide variety of styles, from braids and twists to buns and updos, offering endless options for self-expression.
  
  

crochet faux locs

Popular Protective Hairstyles

• Braids: Braids are a classic protective style that can be worn in countless ways. From box braids to cornrows to Senegalese twists, braids offer versatility and style.

• Twists: Twists are another popular protective style that involves twisting two strands of hair together. They can be styled in various ways, from flat twists to Marley twists to Havana twists.

• Buns and Updos: Buns and updos are simple yet elegant protective styles that can be dressed up or down. They are perfect for protecting your hair while maintaining a polished look.

• Wigs and Weaves: Wigs and weaves offer a great way to protect your natural hair while experimenting with different styles and textures.

Tips for Maintaining Protective Hairstyles

• Keep Your Scalp Clean: While protective styles offer many benefits, it's important to keep your scalp clean and healthy. Use a gentle cleanser and avoid scratching or irritating your scalp.

• Moisturize Regularly:  Even though your hair is tucked away, it still needs moisture. Use a lightweight oil or leave-in conditioner to keep your hair hydrated.

• Avoid Tight Styles: While protective styles should be secure, they shouldn't be too tight. Tight styles can cause scalp tension and breakage.

• Take Breaks: It's important to give your hair a break from protective styles every few weeks. This allows your hair to breathe and your scalp to rest.

Protective hairstyles are a valuable tool for maintaining healthy, strong hair. Using protective styles helped not only me to grow my hair but also my daughters. The less manipulation, the better.

By incorporating these styles into your hair care routine, you can minimize damage, promote growth, and achieve your hair goals. Remember to choose styles that suit your lifestyle and preferences, and always prioritize the health of your hair and scalp. With proper care and maintenance, protective hairstyles can help you achieve the beautiful, healthy hair you've always dreamed of.

Natural Hair Journey Starter Kit

Going natural has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. This time around feels different because I’ve taken the time to learn what works best for my hair. As I was searching for how to start my journey, I found myself grasping at bits and pieces of how to put together a natural hair care routine, but it didn’t come.

So, I’ve decided to put together a list of things that are essential for your natural hair journey.

Detangling Brush - A detangling brush is extremely necessary when dealing with your natural hair. The flexibility of the bristles allow for less breakage, damage, and pain. Leaving your hair tangled can mattify it, causing even more issues. I personally love this one: Detangling Brush; it is also good for exfoliating/stimulating your scalp which promotes hair growth and healthier hair. 

Wide tooth comb - I love wide tooth combs because they are great for larger sections of hair. You don’t have to cause yourself all that headache trying to get all your knots out using a finer comb because this one will do just the trick. The spaces between the teeth allow for the hair to flow easier which is always good for our natural hair. It is also less abrasive on the scalp, and the wider teeth help to stimulate blood flow which naturally will boost the health of your hair. 

Scrunchies - Yes, scrunchies. I know I’m bringing it back but seriously.. Scrunchies are perfect when you don’t want something too tight on your hair. Specifically silk scrunchies will be gentler on dry, damaged hair compared to normal hair ties. They reduce the amount of friction against your hair which will prevent breakage. You can get scrunchies almost anywhere these days, but here are some of my faves: Silk Scrunchies

Hair Clips - Hair clips are needed when styling or sectioning your hair. It’s always hard for me to try and do something without them because nothing comes out quite right. It’s best just to not struggle, and buy yourself a little pack of hair clips, sis. I’ve been loving alligator clips, they are super cute as well and come in many different colors. Here’s a pack that I’m currently using from Amazon: Alligator Clips

Continuous Spray bottles- All natural hair girls know that you can NOT comb your hair without it being wet. For me, regular spray bottles would always be a go-to, but with all the jamming and how long it would take to get my hair wet, I had to try something different. I tried continuous spray bottles, and they are PERFECT. It doesn’t take forever to get my hair wet, and you don’t have to worry about the nozzle messing up. 

Silk Bonnet - if you know, you know! Bonnets, scarves, you gotta have them. Your hair needs protection while you sleep. A silk pillowcase is excellent for those nights when you wildly sleep, and your bonnet escapes.

Next, you’ll need to find great products; now, this will be tricky, but paying attention to what your hair likes and dislikes will be a start. I started with PATTERN’s starter kit and really enjoyed it. Their line offers a variety of products that are based on your hair/curl type.