There are several protective hairstyles for relaxed hair and natural too. A protective hairstyle is purely any style that minimizes manipulation and protects the ends of your hair from exposure by keeping them tucked away. They help to curtail matting/tangling, shedding, and breakage and are a vital part of any healthy hair care routine.
Environmental factors, like the sun, wind, and temperature changes can affect the health of the cuticle layers of your hair. Sun exposure lifts your cuticle which can lead to split and broken ends. While the winter months contribute to moisture loss, leaving the hair dry and brittle. Even strong winds can also cause your hair to tangle, which may cause breakage while trying to detangle. All of these can contribute to brittle and damaged hair.
Protective hairstyles provide your relaxed hair with the necessary break it needs to promote growth. Firstly, they protect your hair from environmental elements that can curb its growth. Also, these hairstyles help with length retention and allow for noticeable hair growth. This is because with protective hairstyles your hair is less prone to tangling.
In this blog post, we list 4 types of protective hairstyles to try out and also share the benefits they provide for your relaxed hair.
Different Types of Protective Hairstyles for Relaxed Hair Growth
So many people often associate protective hairstyles with a boring look. There are loads of options when it comes to choosing the right style for you. They include various forms of braids and twists, as well as up-dos and even wigs. Human hair or synthetic extensions are added to certain protective styles for length, thickness, and versatility.
If you’re searching for the perfect style, then check out these 4 hairstyles listed below. There is certainly a protective look out there to suit you!
Braids
Braids are a very common protective hairstyle. They are quite easy to manage and versatile with numerous options to choose from. There are different styles you can create when it comes down to size and length, depending on your choice and your ability to sit for a long time.
They can be singular plaits that fall freely (like box braids) or gathered together flat along your scalp, with no room for movement, or even braided ponytails and up-dos. Whatever option you decide to go for, braids help effectively protect your hair from the harsh impacts of the environment and constant styling or manipulation.
To reap its benefits, avoid too much tension on your scalp. For free-falling braids— like box braids— avoid using heavy extensions, especially around the edges to avoid hair loss. You can opt for knotless braids instead, made through the feed-in method. Knotless braids are lightweight and less painful than traditional box braids.
Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are also known as Zulu knots because they originated from South Africa. It is a beautiful hairstyle with a rich cultural heritage. It is a great protective hairstyle that works on all lengths— from short to long — and is suitable for both relaxed and natural hair.
Bantu Knots are super cute and simple to make, as well as easy for beginners who are looking for a no-fuss routine. It is created by sectioning your hair, twisting it, and then wrapping it around to form a spiraled knot. This makes it easy to access and moisturize your scalp.
They are great for people who want to maintain their hairline. Try not to twist or wrap your hair too tight, as this can cause breakage due to tension. When unraveling your knots, expect lush curls which you can enhance with your favorite curl-defining product to keep it bouncy.
Cornrows
This is a classic protective hairstyle. It involves braiding your hair flat against the scalp while making a continuous row away from the face. This means your hair is tucked safely away from the environmental elements and free from styling or manipulation.
Cornrows help stimulate hair growth and also promote length retention. When well done, they are certainly one of the best protective hairstyles for both relaxed and natural hair. They are quite different from box braids and can be made in different ways, not just straight lines on your head. You can use either extensions or your hair to achieve several looks. They also take a relatively short time to make.
Wigs for Protective Styling
Wigs are pretty common right now and there are numerous styles and textures of wigs. They vary in quality and price, from basic (synthetic) to luxury (raw donor) wigs. This is not surprising considering the level of craftsmanship that is used to create them.
Wearing a wig provides a no-fuss routine to give your head a break from steady manipulation. They are an excellent choice for protecting your relaxed hair. You can always take them off when you want and this allows you to take care of your hair as well.
Simply, cornrow your hair flat into 5 or 6 sections. Then, fit the wig to sit perfectly and style as desired. If you are wearing a low-cut, just put on your wig and style as desired.
What are the Benefits of Protective Hairstyles for Relaxed Hair
There are a few benefits protective hairstyles provide for your relaxed hair so it stays healthy. For example, It gives the ends of our hair a break from harsh weather conditions. Other benefits of protective hairstyles for relaxed hair include;
1. They are Usually Low Maintenance
Less styling and manipulation make daily maintenance and hair rituals a piece of cake. This means a quicker start to your mornings. These styles keep your hair protected and give your hair the necessary break it requires. Since you do not have to style them all the time, they require little daily care.
2. Helps Lessen Breakage
Changes in weather conditions and exposing your hair to harsh environmental elements cause it to become prone to dryness and hence, breakage. Apply a good Leave-In conditioner before installing your preferred protective style to strengthen your hair follicles. This will help prevent knotting or tangling of your hair which results in less breakage and stronger strands.
3. Aids Hair Growth and Length Retention
Wearing protective hairstyles may help your hair grow as they prevent breakage and promote length retention by reducing the friction on the ends of the hair. This is because you are less likely to touch your hair when wearing a protective style. The less manipulation and tugging you do to your hair, the more it thrives, which results in growth.
4. Promotes Moisture Retention for Healthy Hair
The summer and winter months both drastically affect the moisture level of your hair, leaving it dry and frizzy. Protective styles hide your ends but leave them in a detangled state helping you lock in moisture. Be sure to wash, deep condition, and infuse your hair with the right amount of oils before installing your protective style. This will help keep your hair soft and moisturized, preventing dry/damaged hair.
5. They are Versatile
The possibilities are endless when it comes to protective styling. By using different accessories such as extensions, bobby pins, and even head wraps you can experiment and switch things up. You can easily achieve different hairstyles whether it’s braids, up-dos, coiled up, or simply a ponytail.
Tips to Maximize Protective Hairstyles for Relaxed Hair
Now you know what protective styles are and how they can promote healthy hair. However, your hair still needs daily or weekly care depending on the kind of protective style you are wearing. Neglecting your hair while in weave or braids is counterproductive and likely to result in dry or damaged hair.
Listed below are a few ways you can avoid damage and get the most out of a protective hairstyle:
- Do not make a protective hairstyle on dirty hair, especially if you plan on rocking it for as long as 4-6 weeks.
- Be sure to shampoo and condition your hair to start with clean hair and scalp.
- When using extensions for certain styles, ensure that they don’t pull on your hair, especially around your fragile edges, as this can cause breakage.
- Ask your stylist not to pull your hair too tight and speak up once you start feeling too much tension.
- Maintain a clean scalp and hair clean by washing your hair weekly (or every 2 weeks depending on the style) to remove product buildup without stripping the hair of its natural oils.
- Keep your hair moisturized with the right oils, treatment, and products.
- At night, wrap your hair in a silk scarf or satin bonnet to avoid loss of moisture.
- It’s important to gently and carefully take down your protective hairstyles. Use a good detangler to help the process.
- Avoid installing a new style immediately and give your hair a little break.
- Do not leave in a protective style longer than necessary.
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