5 Ways to Keep Your Protective Style Looking Amazing 

There's nothing like a great protective style!   

And they are important for so many reasons such as it retains length and promotes healthy hair growth. 

That's why so many women, especially Black women, love wearing protective styles. 

The reality is that protective styles have transcended hair types in the Black beauty culture. 

Natural or chemically processed, protective styling is a great way to show your hair some TLC – but every good thing has the potential to go wrong. 

There are definitely aspects of protective styling that can make positive hair results null and void if done incorrectly.

That is why in this article, I am going to share with you 5 ways to keep your protective style looking amazing. I'll show you how to make sure that it's doing a beautiful job. 

If you're wondering . . . how do you do that? Then, you're in the right place. 

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Why Protective Styles are Important 

First, let's start off by talking about why protective styles are so important.

Protective styles come in many forms and fashions.

Besides, you can wear them during any season of the year, especially during the summer. 

The common thread among protective styles is that they are designed to give your hair a break.

Good Lord, don't all of our hair need a break from time-to-time. 

Each style puts the hair away (mainly the ends), requiring low manipulation and a small amount of upkeep. 

In turn,  one can go days, weeks, or even months (two months maximum with shampoos in between) without styling their hair on a daily basis. 

As simple as it sounds, there are key practices that truly make protective styles a thriving environment for each hair strand. 

Here are 5 ways to make sure that your protective style is ready to WERK:

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1. Don’t Forget to Moisturize! 

Most protective styles leave your hair tucked away for long periods of time.  This is important because this hides your hair from the everyday elements. 

However, this makes it nearly impossible for outside moisturizing agents to successfully immerse themselves in the hair. 

But there is a trick. You should cover yourself for the time that your hair is on vacation by sending it away with some moisture. 

Deep treat your hair prior to each protective style installation.  This will give your hair the moisture it needs throughout the style’s endurance. 

Leave-in conditioners are also recommended to follow each deep treatment, layering your hair in love until you see it again. 

We recommend that you try the PureFix Hair Elixir and leave-in conditioner which are great at scalp moisturizing (while promoting growth).

It has a cooling sensation once you rub it in and it’s perfect for protective styles.

2. You Need A Cut 

Although protective styles are low in manipulation once achieved, installation usually requires high manipulation (braiding, twisting, etc.) in order to lay a solid foundation. 

Through installing and taking down these styles, your ends can experience rips, tears, and pulls that may go unnoticed. 

Also, with hair being tucked away for a long period of time, dead hair that hasn’t been shed through routine combing makes taking down protective styles more susceptible to tangling.  

Cutting your hair in between installations with ensuring that your protective style is doing more good than harm.  

The good news is there are ways to give yourself a trim at home.

Reinstalling a new protective style over already damaged ends is likely to stunt hair growth, promote split ends and encourage tangling. 

Regular haircuts are a great way to start fresh with each styling venture.

3. Don’t Push It

You have to know your style’s expiration date. In other words, you should do protective styling in 1-2 month increments. 

But, remember, too much of anything is never a good thing.  Leaving your protective style past the two-month interval heightens chances for tangling and matting in extreme cases. 

Although you’ve taken a break from your mane, your follicles are still working full time. 

While your hair is growing, the strands that have gone through all of the growth stages are continually shedding.

With your hair being tied up (literally and figuratively), strands that are normally combed out on a day-to-day basis remain within your protective style, lying dormant among your living tresses. 

Make sure your hair gets the relief it needs in addition to routine cleansing.

4. Rub A Dub Dub! 

Protective styling does not mean that you don’t need to shampoo your hair. In fact, you still need to shampoo your hair. 

Bacterial growth is not only yucky but standing in the way of your ultimate goal.  

Clogged follicles are unable to produce new hair strands, thus stunting hair growth.  Visit your salon professional to shampoo your weave installation. 

Be sure to sit under a hooded dryer to prevent mildew and mold from growing near the scalp. 

For braids/faux locs, witch hazel is a great astringent used to clean your scalp if you’re hesitant to have a full scalp immersion. 

Though a bit more tedious, this is a less invasive and frizz-free way to cleanse your hair.

5. Take A Break! 

Although protective styles are awesome for preserving your hair, they should be done in moderation. 

Back-to-back protective styles also lead to consistent tension on your follicles.  This can cause unwanted stress and weaken the root which, over time, can lead to irreparable damage.  

Leaving your hair out in between protective styles, giving your follicles a chance to rejuvenate is key. 

Two weeks to one month is recommended in between each new style.

Remember . . . your hair comes first. 

A great number of women rely on protective styles for their everyday looks.  However, inputting your hair first will flourish underneath each installation. 

Without taking the necessary precautions, these styles can very well damage one’s natural hair strands to the point of no return. 

Utilize these tips and protective styling will definitely help you reach your healthy hair goals!