I love a good protective style just as much as the next woman rocking her natural hair. I’ve tried all types of protective styles. From braids, to twists, to wigs, and faux locs. Some were great experiences for me and my hair. While others were nightmares. Since I’m pretty experienced in protective styles, I thought I would share of few tips with you.
Preparation Is Key
If you plan on wearing your protective style for more than several weeks, make sure you cleanse your scalp beforehand. Oils, dirt, sweat, and products can buildup on your scalp while you’re wearing your protective style. So it’s best to begin with a clean scalp.
Don’t forget to deep condition your strands before protective styling. Deep conditioning will ensure your hair is moisturized before putting it away. And at least you’ll have the peace of mind that your hair isn’t dry under your protective style.
Remember Your Edges
Our hairline is often neglected when trying to rock a protective style. Sometimes it’s about wanting a sleek look (braids, twists, etc.). Sometimes it’s about hiding our hairline completely (lace front wigs, etc.). You have to consider the condition your edges will be in while wearing the style and also once it’s removed.
Major Key: Don’t feel bad when asking your stylist to be gentle on your hairline. Also, do your research on the application of a protective style to see how it effects the hairline.
Moisture
Moisture is a necessity for hair. Getting moisture to your hair while in a protective style can be tricky. There are plenty of videos on Youtube that can offer you ways to moisturize your hair. If you deep conditioned prior to protective styling, your hair is in a much better position than if you haven’t.
Major Key: When wearing twists and braids, one tip is to use a spray bottle with water and a light oil of your choice to help add moisture.
Take A Break
Give your scalp a breather. This can be hard to do. One of the biggest benefits of wearing protective styles is convenience. But it’s good to take a break to cleanse your scalp, condition your strands, and trim your hair. The length of the break depends on you. Also, if you’re on a length journey, a break is the best time to check how much length you’ve maintained.
I hope these tips for protective styling were helpful. What are your favorite protective styles?
Additional Tips
ColorMyFootsteps 
I always think this to myself when I am wearing my weaves. Those edges are so crucial!
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I’ve made some mistakes that left my edges needing a lot of TLC because of poor choices with protective styles in the past.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
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