Protective styling is a technique that can be used to keep your hair in place for longer periods of time. It is done by using heat or chemicals on the hair, which may protect it from damage for good. Protective styling can also be used to help grow natural hair faster and prevent breakage. Here’s everything you need to know about protective styling for hair growth.
Overview
Protective styling is the act of styling your hair in a way that minimizes damage to the hair. This can be done with heat, chemicals, and other tools used on your head. It can also include wearing braids or weaves while you sleep. They are great because they help protect your natural texture by keeping it hydrated and protected from breakage caused by heat styling tools like flat irons and blow dryers.
When you’re protecting your hair with protective styling, it means that you’re keeping it in a style that protects it from damage. This can be done by using heat or without chemicals. Protective styling can also include braids and weaves but there are many other options available to protect your hair.
Why Is Protective Styling Important?
Protecting your hair from breakage, heat damage, and breakage is important for two reasons. First, if you don’t protect your hair from these things then you are more likely to end up with damaged or even broken locks of hair. Second, the longer and healthier your hair is when it starts growing back after a cut or color correction treatment (the process of cutting out damaged strands), the faster that growth will happen in the future. This means that if you start with healthy ends on each strand then no matter how much time passes between trims—or even straighteners—you can expect those tips to grow faster than they would otherwise have been able to do so without protection.
Protective Styling for Short Natural Hair
Short natural hair can be difficult to style because it’s hard to know where to start. Mini twists are easy for beginners and give the same effect as a full-length weave in less time. Below are the various protective styling for short natural hair.
#1. Ombré Mini Twists
You can wear mini twists for a few weeks or years. They are a great way to change up your look and make you feel like a different person.
Mini twirls are adaptable, so you can pick where they go in your style rotation according to how often you want to wear them. Some individuals like them straight down, while others twist them at the base of their heads so they don’t get caught while working out or going about town. They are easy to care for—just shampoo and moisturize once every two weeks if your hair is damp before styling.
#2. Braided Bob
A braided bob is a great way to add extra length while keeping your hair out of your face. To create this protective styling for short natural hair, start with clean, dry hair. Remove any product you might have used on it. Then divide the hair into several sections and braid each section separately before securing them in place with pins or bands.
Before you put any more product on your newly styled braided bob, run a wide-tooth comb through it. This will help keep everything from sticking together too tightly and making it difficult for you to manage styling tools later on in the day.
#3. Juicy Twists
Juicy twists are simple to do and give you the chance to play around with your hair. They can be styled in so many different ways, but you must choose a style that suits your face shape and skin tone.
To begin, part down the side of your head until you reach where the twist is going to start. Then, take an inch or two off each side of both sides of this new triangle. This will leave enough room for two twists on either side without making them too bulky or heavy looking.
Next up: Utilizing hot rollers, roll parts into tight spiral curls, using each section independently before wrapping them around each other. Once everything is styled correctly, use hairspray liberally to tame frizz before letting it dry overnight.
#4. Face-Framing Pop of Color
This look is perfect for anyone who wants to add a pop of color to their natural hair. It’s easy to do! Just put face-framing highlights in the crown area and backcomb the sides to make them look shaggy.
It works well with any color or texture of hair—from straight to curly styles, we recommend using warm tones that complement your natural shade. If you want something more daring, try out cool pastels like coral or deep blue or purple shades instead. The style can last up to two weeks depending on how often you wash your locks each time they’re dried out by wet weather conditions (e.g., rain storms). If possible, though, try not to over-process these strands since excessive heat tends to lead to breakage faster than normal.
#5. Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are a great way to protect your hair from heat damage and breakage. They’re easy to do, too. Start with wet hair and divide it into four sections. Make sure that each section is about the same length as your head.
Starting at the back of your head, wrap each section around itself like an egg roll (but don’t twist it). Then secure it with an elastic band or clip-on headband so that there’s no gap between each braid. If you have time before needing this look, leave them loose while they dry; if not, secure them once they’re dry by wrapping them with another elastic band or clip-on headband.
Can You Grow Natural Hair Without Protective Styling?
While you can grow your hair without any protective styling, it will take longer. Wigs and weaves can protect your hair as it grows, but they’re not as comfortable and may not fit correctly. Many African-Americans put an elastic band around the back of their necks to hold their wigs in place.
Protective Styling Hair Growth
When you want to look good but don’t want to spend the time and money on traditional hair care products. Protective styling is a great way of adding length, fullness, and body without using a lot of products. Below are the protective styling for hair growth.
#1. Senegalese Twists
Senegalese twists are a protective style that can be worn for a few weeks. They require no heat styling, so you can get them done at the salon or do them yourself. Senegalese twists are great for summer because they’re braided into cornrows and tied up at the top.
#2. Crochet Braids
Crochet braids are a great way to style your hair, but they do require some patience and practice. You’ll need about two hours to do them (longer if you have thick or curly hair), and then you’ll need about seven days before the next wash. You’ll also need lots of bobby pins for holding everything in place while it dries—and if you’re like me, that means lots of bobby pins.
The good news is that crochet braids last longer than regular braid styles because they don’t get tangled up as easily as regular ones do. However, if your scalp feels irritated by wearing this type of protective styling method too often over time, try switching back to something else like micro-braiding instead, which doesn’t require any adhesive materials like adhesives, so there won’t be any irritation issues caused by them rubbing against other parts on our bodies either.
If you ever want to take out these types of protective styling methods, then simply use scissors instead; otherwise, leave ’em alone until they start falling out naturally after a while due to being damaged by wear & tear.
#3. Box Braids
Box braids are a protective style that can be done on any length of hair and are easy to maintain. They’re also very versatile, so you can change the size or add in other hairstyles without having them fall out. You can even color your box braids if you want.
#4. Cornrows
Cornrows are a great protective style. They can be done on any hair length, and they’re easy to maintain. You’ll need to know how to braid, but if you do have some experience with braiding or twisting extensions, as we did in our last post (check out our super simple tutorial), then that part is pretty easy too.
Cornrows can be worn for a few weeks or months depending on how much moisture your scalp needs at the time—they’ll protect your ends from breakage by keeping them tucked up tight against the scalp.
#5. Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are a fun way to add volume, but they’re not meant to last long. The process is simple: you put your hair in braids or twist them up and tie them off with a rubber band. After about 1-2 weeks, the braids will have grown out enough that you can take them down and start again! If done properly, this type of protective styling can give you great results for months at a time—or even years.
Use Bantu knots on your temples and cheeks for extra lift; try them on top of your head for some height (and volume); or make sure to keep those ends covered when doing any kind of updo so they don’t get frizzy from moisture leaking out during washing days when water isn’t available.
Does Protective Styling Grow Hair?
No, protective styling does not grow hair. However, it can help to prevent breakage by keeping your hair looking healthy and neat. Protective styling helps to protect your hair from the elements as well as keep tangles at bay. This means that you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful locks without having to deal with split ends or frizziness.
Summary
Now that you know all about protective styling, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty details of what goes into it. We’ve discussed the science behind it and why it matters for your hair growth and health, but now let’s take a look at how you can get started on this important journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Protective Styling
Do protective styles help with hair loss?
Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that can be caused by protective hairstyles that pull on the scalp.
What protective hairstyle is the least maintenance?
Two-Strand Twists.
What hairstyle grows hair faster?
Braiding your hair.
References
- www.byrdie.com – 20 Beautiful Protective Styles for Short Hair
- mielleorganics.com – 10 PROTECTIVE STYLES FOR HAIR GROWTH
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