There are a lot of misconceptions about protective styles. Myth Busting: Myths about Protective Styles If you’re busy, an athlete, traveling, or otherwise struggle to style your hair everyday, protective styles can be a lifesaver for you.If you live in a cold, windy, highly-polluted, or otherwise harsh environment, your walk to work or school alone could be damaging your hair, so give it more rest than normal.If your hair is fine or prone to breakage, reduce breakage with protective styles.However, some individuals might need to use protective styles more often. Your hair needs to rest every once in a while. We recommend protective styles to everyone with curly or kinky hair. For example, twists and buns don’t take much time, but they require a low amount of manipulation on a daily or weekly basis. Low-manipulation styles are usually easier to install, but require some attention every day.For example, box braids and weaves can take quite a bit of manipulation to install, but once installed, your real hair is virtually out of sight. No-manipulation styles don’t require daily attention.
Protective hairstyles range vastly in the amount of manipulation it takes to install them, and in the amount of manipulation required once they are installed. They also tuck the majority of your hair strands safely away from environmental damage. Protective styles allow your hair to rest from daily physical or chemical manipulation. While some factors are completely within your control to eliminate, others are hard to avoid. Over time, this stress can cause noticeable damage: your curls will look less healthy, feel more dry, or be more prone to breakage. Environmental/climate factors such as dry air, cold air, frost, wind, snow, etc.Īll of these factors put stress on your hair.Excessive moisture from swimming or sweat.Chemicals, color treatments, or high heat.Physical manipulation from daily styling, combing, detangling, stretching, updos, or just touching your hair in general.A protective style will keep your hair safe from: There are many factors that can damage your hair. What does a protective style 'protect' your hair from?