Sorry I’ve been M.I.A for a minute. I had to run to South Carolina for my aunt’s passing and when I got back it seemed like I missed 2 months of school! I was so behind! So now that I’ve pretty much caught back up I’m ready to keep the post rolling!
Last Friday the weather in DC was over 70 degrees!!! That’s craziness for mid- February. Like most in the DMV we were completely swindled when we were faced with 2 to 4 inches of snow yesterday! This climate change affecting the weather is NO BUENO. Right when I was about to get super excited about wearing light cardigans, dresses, sandals and wash-and-go hair styles, mother nature hit me with the, “Fooled ya chick!” and the protective styling was back in full effect!
So about these protective styles… Many naturals seem to swear by them. And I can see why. For most of us on this healthy hair journey our goal is length retention. Sometimes it seems like our hair isn’t growing and it’s stuck in one particular length forever! There could be many solutions to that, but one of the simplest is the protective style (PS).
As a strand of hair grows out of your scalp the strand begins to die. The nutrients that you feed your hair are not absorbed through the strand but through the follicle within your scalp. Because the strand does not take in nutrients the ends of your hair are the oldest and weakest part of your hair. Any type of manipulation to your hair puts it in danger of being damaged or breaking off. The easiest way to stop excess strain on your ends is by leaving them alone and protecting them with protective styles.
Some examples of these styles are braids, twists, buns, weaves, wigs, hats and more. Basically a PS is a style that allows you to keep your ends tucked away and hidden from the harsh elements and temperatures (like this weird temperature jump) as well as everyday manipulation (combing, brushing and letting your hair rub against your clothing.)
And it’s not just for naturals. Those who are transitioning and even relaxed can benefit from PS too! As a transitioner it helps when you have no idea how to manage the two textures of your hair. It will help keep the point where you’re relaxed and natural hair meets, at its strongest. And for those who are relaxed keeping your hair in PS can help elongate the time between relaxers. Most people identity that as “stretching”. (stretching the time between your relaxers.)
I love wearing PS because as a commuter to school and back, I don’t have to waste time going through the entire routine of my hair every day. Not to mention the first time I took my kinky twist out as a fully natural I was in awe at how much my hair grew!
Some tips/quick reminders when it comes to PS…
*Most damage to the hairline/edges is due to excess stress and pulling from styles. Make sure that whichever PS you chose to wear, your hair is not being pulled taught or tight causing reverse effects of the PS. Opt out of micro-braids and super tight cornrows because major damage can be caused to not only the hair strands but the hair follicle leading to permanent damage and “bald spots”.
*DON’T FORGET TO MOISTURIZE! It goes hand in hand with PS. Keeping your hair as well as scalp moisturized will decrease breakage and add life to dull and lack-luster hair.
*make sure you keep your scalp clean! Even if you’re not big on shampoo use, Co-washing (washing/cleaning your hair with just conditioner) is a good option when it comes to PS. Most protective styles can be washed with the styles still in them like, braids and twists. Keeping your scalp clean and moisturized will help with your overall growth and healthiness. Remember: A healthy scalp is a happy scalp, lol =D
*When you sleep remember to use a silk or satin bonnet/scarf/pillowcase. Allowing your hair to rub on the fibers in cotton as well as other fabrics will cause your hair to snag and break. The point of PS is to keep your hair from brushing against anything that can cause damage. Using silk or satin at night will allow your hair to glide over a smooth surface.
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