There is a misconception that protective hairstyles are just for African and African American hair, but the truth is, all hair types can enjoy the benefits that protective hairstyles can offer. From 1A to 4C, a protective hairstyle can promote the growth of your hair. In this article, I will share with you everything about Protective Hairstyles For Hair Growth from A to Z. So, let's jump in!
Protective Hairstyles for Hair Growth
Protective hairstyles, as the name implies, protect your hair from damage and the environment by locking in moisture and keeping your hair in a style that you wouldn't need to brush and comb on a daily basis.
I suffered from dryness and breakage for a long, long time, and literally nothing I did could make it stop. I tried every moisturizing cream and every remedy, but nothing really worked. One day, I read about someone's personal experience with protective hairstyles, and I went for it.
I kept at it for a few months, and that was when I finally started noticing some changes; my hair stopped breaking, the split ends were less and less, and I finally started retaining length after years. Yes! Literally years of trying to just get my hair to reach my shoulders. And now, with my hair routine that involves homemade leave-in conditioners and nutrition that is beneficial for hair, my hair has never been healthier!
How do protective hairstyles promote hair growth?
Let's be clear here: protective hairstyles do not affect the growth of your hair directly. They would rather do that indirectly due to the following reasons:
We all know how important moisture is for your hair's health and for it to retain length. Dry hair means breakage and split ends, resulting in short and unhealthy hair. Well, I think you figured it out. Protective hairstyles help your hair retain length by locking the moisture in your hair for longer periods of time, ensuring that your hair is protected from environmental elements and dryness.
Using a protective hairstyle also means that you won't brush your hair daily. Combs and brushes are another reason why your hair won't retain length; using a comb on your hair on a daily basis increases the opportunity for hair loss, while protective hairstyles, on the other hand, help you avoid that.
Examples of Protective Hairstyles and Which One You Should Choose
Protective hairstyles are not just two or three, there are a lot of styles that you can choose from. Just go with something that you like. But keep in mind that not every braid is considered protective. In fact, there are certain styles that exert a lot of strain on your hair and scalp; those ones might look pretty, but if you are looking for a hairstyle that would allow your hair to grow peacefully, then avoid hairstyles that strain your hair. Let's take a look at some of the protective hairstyles that can help you grow your hair!
1. Box Braids
I put this one first because it's an absolute favorite of mine. Braids don't exert much strain on your hair, and they look beautiful and natural, not to mention that they are easy and simple to apply, so you wouldn't need to go to the salon to get it done. All you need to do after you wash your hair and apply your moisturizer is divide your hair into sections and start braiding, but try to avoid very fine braids because undoing them is hard and also causes more detangling.
Pros of doing braids:
They don't exert much pressure on your hair.
Relatively less hard to make.
They keep the moisture in.
And finally, they can last for a long time.
Cons of doing braids:
Unbraiding them can be annoying and time consuming.
Very small braids are not a good option because they can cause detangling when you are unbraiding them.
Check out the steps on how to do box braids by following this link.
3. Twists
Twists are the favorite of a lot of people, and to be honest, they look gorgeous. They do the job by protecting your hair, but I've got to tell you that despite their popularity, they tend to keep moisture less because they don't hold your hair as securely as braids do, and they also don't last as long. On the bright side, they are also simple and easy to apply at home.
Pros of twists:
Twists are easy to make.
They look nice.
They help with maintaining moisture.
Cons of twists:
They don't hold the hair securely.
They don't last long.
Here are the steps for making nice two strands twists.
3. Cornrows
Another simple protective hairstyle used by almost all Africans since long are cornrows. Cornrows are another favorite for me; they last for a long time (I can keep them for up to a month), they hold the hair securely, and not to mention, they also look nice. Their cons are that it's hard to do them on your own, and compared to braids, they preserve moisture less.
Pros of cornrows:
They have a simple and nice look that's suitable for everywhere.
They hold the hair well and last for a long time.
cons of cornrows:
They keep the moisture to a lesser degree.
They are difficult to adjust on your own.
Learn how to make cornrows at home.
4. Buns
Not one, not two buns. For buns to serve as a protective hairstyle, you need less than four to five buns. Buns are super easy to make; they don't take any time at all, and literally anyone can do them neatly. When I want to give my hair some rest from the braids, the cornrows, and all of those other protective hairstyles, I make buns. Though they are great for keeping moisture, buns, according to people's opinions, are not suitable for every occasion, and they need maintenance every few days, which means you will expose your hair more to the brush.
Pros of buns:
Simple and easy to make.
They preserve the moisture.
Cons of buns:
They don't last for more than a couple of days, at most.
They are not suitable for every event.
Keep in mind that if you want to get results (I'm talking about really noticeable results), then you need to use the protective style for at least a year. Now, that doesn't mean that you have to stick to one style or even that you can't take a short break in between. You just need to remain consistent, and you will surely be pleased!
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