Protective Hairstyles: Are protective styles really protecting your hair?

 Are protective styles really protecting my hair?

That is a really good question. One thing I would like to make sure everyone know is that protective styles do not create or make they only maintain if installed correctly. What I mean by this is if your hair

is unhealthy the protective will protect unhealthy hair. The key is to continue to create healthy hair habits and then let your protectives do their job.

How do I prepare my hair for a protective hair style?

It is my recommendation that you at minimum do a deep condition that I outlined in my previous post. This will help to maintain while your hair is in it's chosen protective. But I strongly recommend a hair treatment like a protein strengthening treatment or a hot oil treatment prior to getting a protective. These treatments help to ensure your hair is at it's most nourished and healthy state prior to the protective.

What should I know about the different types of protective hair styles?

Braids, bantu knots, cornrows, and  anything that requires synthetic hair will increase the dryness of your hair and scalp. Dry hair and scalp will disrupt the cuticle to the hair, which will increase dryness and over time breakage.

Lace Front and permanently affixed Wigs have become very popular recently. The function of these were for temporary use like movies, the stage, and music videos. Lace front wigs should only be worn for special occasions and taken down within a week. Because of the widely used application process you will see breakage on the edges and hair loss (sometimes permanent). I would suggest using a glue less wig, u-part with clips. Any hair extension or wig that will allow the scalp to breath should be substituted.

Sew-Ins, I-tips, Extensions, and braids are all dependent on the installation. Please seek someone that is a professional and you can verify their work and follow up care with their clients. If the installation is too tight it can lead to breakage and follicle damage.

These are not exhaustive. These represent the styles I help my clients recover from when they have unfortunate experiences.

What should I do when coming out of a protective style?

First depending on the protective style you get you might need someone to remove it properly. Sometimes that can be the same person that installed. I offer some take down services but you should get that guidance from the person that does the install.

The treatment I recommend when coming out of a protective is a bonding treatment. As I explained in

the post this treatment builds back the bonds in the hair. Then keep about one month before going back into a protective style. I would do a couple deep conditions, remove split ends, and a low manipulation hair style.

Hope this helped. If you have any more questions feel free to contact us or leave a comment.

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*Bonus knowledge: Everything that lives needs to breathe. So does your hair. Give your scalp a breath of fresh air when selecting a protective style*

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Thank you,

M2GH