Protect Your Natural Hair

Protective styles can be an important part of your natural journey.  These styles protect your hair from the elements, from manipulation, breakage and they protect your ends from becoming damaged by preventing split ends from forming.

Protective styles are a proven way to retain length.  Many women have their hair in protective styles for a few weeks and are shocked to see the amount that their hair has grown when they take the style down.

You can have a lot of fun when choosing a protective style. You’re not bound to only two strand twists or braids.  You can take those twists and pin them up for a beautiful and elegant look.  There are also Bantu knots, corn rows, flat twists and buns.  You could also consider styles that are half protective and out, though remember this this will lead to more maintenance later.  You might enjoy corn rows or flat twists in the front while leaving the back loose or leaving all of your hair loose ends imply tucking the ends in.

Also remember not to leave your protective styles in for too long as this will lead to your hair locking up.  The longer the style is in, the more work it will be to detangle later on.  You will need to get to know your hair and figure out how long it takes for the locking process to start.

Don’t forget about your hair when it is an a protective style!  You still need to keep it moisturized and clean.  It’s not necessary to take your protective style down when you shampoo or no-poo your hair, which should probably be about once a week.

The most important thing you have to remember is that you must do what works for your hair – not your sister’s hair or that nice woman whose blog you read.  If it doesn’t work for you, ditch it.