As the colder season approaches, many people are once again gauging whether they should opt for a protective hairstyle such as box braids, crochet braids, kinky twists, sew-in weaves, or even wigs. But before you get into this undertaking, you should know what to expect when caring for this new hairstyle.
While protective styles serve a great purpose by protecting your natural hair and doing wonders for hair growth, they also have adverse effects when mishandled or taken for granted. Just like hair extensions and other hair treatments, they require some TLC and the proper maintenance regimen. Visit the Afrolovely site for inspirational styles that protect your natural hair from external elements.
You can achieve great results for your crowning glory when you apply the tips below:
- Wash Your Hair
The most important tip for caring for a protective style is to wash your hair on schedule. You don’t want an itchy scalp when wearing a protective style. It’s essential to cleanse your scalp thoroughly with a shampoo free of sulfates.
However, washing your hair requires the right technique. Ensure your scalp and hair feel nice and clean by washing gently so as not to cause too much friction or breakage.
Begin by putting shampoo over your hair and massage it through the scalp down to the ends of the hair. Finger comb your locks and make sure the shampoo and suds penetrate the entire hair.
After massaging your scalp, rinse your hair with cold water. Make sure there’s no left-over shampoo and suds, as these can lead to dandruff or attract bacteria later.
- Remind Your Hair Stylist To Be Mindful Of Tensions
Installing a protective style has many benefits. They’re good for hair growth and protect the delicate ends. However, the first thing to look out for when getting your protective style installed by a pro is how they do the styling. It’s not advisable to pull the hair too tightly.
When your stylist puts too much tension around your edges, don’t be afraid to speak up and correct them. Chances are they’re unaware that it’s causing tension. The same tip applies when you’re styling your hair at home. Don’t tug on your hair, and don’t pull out the edges to ensure there are no tensions on your scalp.
- Avoid Wearing Your Hair Up Frequently
Long hair can be pretty bothersome for many people, especially when it distracts you from doing something. Getting the strands out of your face can be easy and tempting. And usually, the best way to do it is to wear your hair up. However, you shouldn’t do this frequently with your protective hairstyle.
Box braids, kinky twists, weaves, wigs, and other braided looks can damage your baby hairs and hairline when you consistently style your hair into ponytails and other updos. As a result, your hair can loosen at its roots over time, leading to bad aesthetics for your hairdo. Therefore, an essential tip is to limit the frequency of styling your hair. Try to wear it down as much as possible.
- Moisturize Your Hair Regularly
What’s good about protective styles is that you don’t have to wake up with bed hair and messy tangles every morning. You won’t suffer from losing a lot of hair after removing all tangles. At any rate, there’s no excuse for not moisturizing your hair.
Your protective style must be moisturized regularly to retain its shine. You may use organic essential oils that are healthy for your hair follicles and scalp. Another alternative is to go for leave-on conditioners. Your scalp and hair will remain healthy and soft if you use them a few times a week.
When your hair is well-moisturized, you can enjoy styling it any way you want to, without fearing tangles and hair fall.
- Get Touch Ups As Needed
No matter how well you maintain your protective style, your hair will eventually become lived-in. Keeping your hair fresh is best achieved by retouching it every four weeks. This is the average length of time your protective hairstyle will look its best. Beyond it, you might already see tangles and other flaws.
Ask your stylist to re-do any braids or twists around the perimeter of your hairline which may have loosened. As for sewn-in hair weaves or wigs, you should get them replaced at least weekly. However, as it could be expensive to replace it entirely, you can go for replacing the front portion only.
Conclusion
There are many tips to look your best every day. One is to go for protective hairstyles. They come with benefits for your hair, and if you want to take advantage of them, it’s a great idea to try this hairstyle.
However, as with any style and hair treatment, you should maintain your hair condition. You can do that for your protective hairstyle by applying the tips mentioned above. Another important note is to replace your protective style once it reaches four to six weeks. By doing this, you’ll see how your hair grows and how healthy it can be.