Via TransitioningMovement.com - Protective styling during the cold months is a great way to protect your
hair from drying out in the harsh weather, and can even promote hair
growth since you aren’t manipulating your hair as much! Protective
styles are styles that keep the hair off of your shoulders (buns and
updos), group your hair together for moisture retention (braids and
twists), or tuck the ends of your hair away for protection and moisture
retention (again, buns and updos.) With these gorgeous protective styles
come the many styling tools, accessories, and hair care methods that
can cause more harm to the hair than good. Styling accessories such as
rubber bands, hair elastics, and clips can cause breakage if you are not
careful. Not cleaning or moisturizing your hair properly while it is in
a protective style can cause major tangles and breakage when taking the
style out. Tight styles can wreak havoc on your hair, especially your
edges, and caution should be taken when using extensions or weaves to
protective style. Here are some ways to keep your hair healthy and
strong while protective styling this coming winter!
Rubber Bands, Hair Elastics, and Clips
Soak your rubber bands in some extra virgin coconut or olive oil (or any one of your favorite hair oils) a few hours before you style. This will prevent the rubber bands from drying out your hair, and will lubricate them so that they are less likely to pull your hair out.
Invest in hair elastics or cloth hair bands without a metal attachment. These metal attachments can get caught and snag at your hair. The Goody brand has very affordable metal-free hair elastics, and can be found at many local beauty supply stores.
Many styling accessories use metal or plastic clips. These can snag at your hair too, so always be careful when removing them from your hair to prevent them from pulling it out!
Styling
Never style your hair too tightly. This causes stress on your hair follicles and can cause permanent hair loss. This goes for braids, twists, or ponytails/buns. If you feel a lot of tension squeezing your eyes shut or widening your eyes, the style is too tight. Try to make the style much looser. If you are slicking back your hair tightly to get a sleek look for your ponytail or bun, try using a gel and a boar bristle brush to smooth your hair so that you don’t have to pull as tightly to get the same look. Be sure you are detangling your hair properly in between styles, too!
Never style your hair too tightly. This causes stress on your hair follicles and can cause permanent hair loss. This goes for braids, twists, or ponytails/buns. If you feel a lot of tension squeezing your eyes shut or widening your eyes, the style is too tight. Try to make the style much looser. If you are slicking back your hair tightly to get a sleek look for your ponytail or bun, try using a gel and a boar bristle brush to smooth your hair so that you don’t have to pull as tightly to get the same look. Be sure you are detangling your hair properly in between styles, too!
Moisture and Washing
It is important to continue to moisturize and cleanse your hair while it is in a protective style! Many people make the mistake of leaving their hair alone for weeks without moisturizing it once, causing the hair to dry out and break once it comes time to take the style down! This of course takes away from the purpose of the protective style! Be sure to moisturize the hair as you would if your hair was loose. When the hair begins to feel dry, spritz some water on the style and rub a creamy moisturizer between your hands. Pat the product around the style to “apply” the product to your hair without messing up the style. Do the same thing with oil or a rubbed in butter to seal the moisture in.
It can be tricky to wash your hair in a protective style without messing the style up, but it can be done! Try putting shampoo onto a washcloth and cleaning in between the part lines, focusing on the spots where your scalp is visible. When rinsing, be sure to rinse thoroughly to prevent shampoo from becoming trapped in the hair.
It is important to continue to moisturize and cleanse your hair while it is in a protective style! Many people make the mistake of leaving their hair alone for weeks without moisturizing it once, causing the hair to dry out and break once it comes time to take the style down! This of course takes away from the purpose of the protective style! Be sure to moisturize the hair as you would if your hair was loose. When the hair begins to feel dry, spritz some water on the style and rub a creamy moisturizer between your hands. Pat the product around the style to “apply” the product to your hair without messing up the style. Do the same thing with oil or a rubbed in butter to seal the moisture in.
It can be tricky to wash your hair in a protective style without messing the style up, but it can be done! Try putting shampoo onto a washcloth and cleaning in between the part lines, focusing on the spots where your scalp is visible. When rinsing, be sure to rinse thoroughly to prevent shampoo from becoming trapped in the hair.
Weaves and Extensions
Weaves and extensions can make great protective styles! They cover the hair up and help prevent the hair from becoming subject to the harsh weather. However, there are some precautions to take when using them. If done too tightly, they can cause breakage especially around the edges of your hair. Be sure that the weave or extensions are not pulling at your hair. Also, be sure that you don’t neglect your real hair! Moisturize your hair using sprays and products made specifically for weaves or braids.
Weaves and extensions can make great protective styles! They cover the hair up and help prevent the hair from becoming subject to the harsh weather. However, there are some precautions to take when using them. If done too tightly, they can cause breakage especially around the edges of your hair. Be sure that the weave or extensions are not pulling at your hair. Also, be sure that you don’t neglect your real hair! Moisturize your hair using sprays and products made specifically for weaves or braids.
How do you protect your hair from breakage?
1 comment:
We pretty much try to avoid everything you mentioned. We try to stay away from rubber bands as much as possible. We gently finger detangle, also try to do a lot of protective styles and keep the hair moisturized.
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