- PROTECTIVE STYLES ARE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR HAIR JOURNEY. WITH THE PROPER CARE, MAITENANCE, AND ROUTINE YOU WILL SEE RESULTS OF HEALTHIER, LONGER, AND FULLER HAIR. LET'S CHAT ON THE BEST PRACTICES OF PROTECTIVE STYLES.
Natural hair requires care and protective hairstyles are one of the common methods of taking care of your natural hair. Protective styling is the way to go if you want to add some versatility to your look or give your hair a break from routine styling. In short, protective styling helps keep natural hair by limiting its exposure to damages caused by the cold, heat, sun, humidity, or heat styling. Natural curls can be dry in nature and prone to breaking, so with a protective style, you can help retain moisture, keep your hair healthy and help it grow faster.
Protective styles require some TLC. Leaving your up-dos, braids, cornrows, and faux locs without any maintenance is ineffective for wearing a protective style. Not looking after your hair while it is in a protective style will drastically affect the hair and no natural has time for that.
If you are curious to know the best practices when doing protective styling here are some tips we have for you.
PROPER WASH ROUTINE
Just because your hair is in a protective style doesn’t mean you should skip wash day. Opting for a gentle cleanser is the way to go. Your shampoo should be free of Parabens, sulfates, or harsh chemicals. This allows your hair to retain moisture after washing. You can also wash your braids, faux locks, and twists depending on your needs, especially if you notice that the product is seeping into your protective style and is excessive in build up. When wash your hair focus on the scalp. Be sure to work through to ensure the dirt and build up is lifted from your scalp.
MOISTURIZE YOUR HAIR
It is important to regularly moisturize your scalp and hair if you want to keep your hair healthy and let your protective style do its work. Applying Ailey Beauty Abundance hair serum will keep your scalp healthy, soothe it, add hydration and promote a healthy scalp that will ensure hair growth. With key ingredients that strengthens your hair shaft you would be doing yourself a disservice by not implementing this with your protective style routine. Taking care of your protective style will be easier if your hair is well moisturized. Shop here
DEEP CONDITION AND TREAT
Protective hairstyles including box braids are prone to becoming dry with time. A strengthening treatment can be a life saver to make your hair more manageable by restoring moisture once you take down your protective style. We recommend after taking out your protective style that you consider a deep treatment or protein treatment to your hair. This allows the opportunity to rebuild and secure a stronger hair shaft. Also following up with a leave in condition ensures the moisture is packed in.
PROTECT YOU HAIR AT NIGHT TIME
Sometimes you just want to hit the bed and sleep but you need to help keep your style in place. Wrapping your hair in a silk scarf or bonnet will help keep your hair frizz-free, keep your protective style intact while keeping your hair moisturized. You can also do a light coat of styling foam or a gel and then tie your hair down with a silk scarf. By morning your hair will be secure, neat, and ready for you to slay the day.