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Power of Protective Hair Styling
Do you want silky, long and luscious hair? But for the longest struggling to achieve the same. Even if you have long hair but they are frizzy, dull and limp hair. The reason could be you are not taking care of your locks properly. One of the smarter ways to do that is to do protective hairstyle.
Yes, protective hairstyles help minimize hair loss caused by breakage, reduce frizz and protect natural lustre. The goal of protective styling is to promote hair growth, maintain hair health, and prevent breakage by reducing friction, exposure to environmental factors, and excessive styling that can lead to damage.
Why Do You Need Protective Hairstyle During Sleep?
Irrespective of your hair type, you need a protective hairstyle to promote healthy hair from root to tip. Because sleeping with your hair open or in a loose pony, especially with a cotton pillowcase, causes severe breakage, drying out, and frizzing for your hair. With every turn you take, you are causing friction which increases the moisture loss in your hair. Friction makes your strands dry out further and harder to grow your hair longer.
Hence protective hairstyles minimize the friction between your hair & pillowcase. To get the most out of it you can switch your cotton pillowcase with a silk one and regular elastics with silk scrunchies to ensure less pulling, snagging, and friction.
Protective hairstyles not only help during the night but also can save your hair in the daytime. Let’s see how.
Benefits of Protective Hairstyle
If you think protective hairstyles are for nighttime only then you are wrong. You can wear them anytime you want. You will be shocked to know that they can save your hair in the daytime from the harsh sun rays especially when you go out.
Low Manipulation: Protective hairstyles involve minimizing the amount of combing, brushing, and styling done to the hair. This helps to reduce the risk of hair breakage and tangling, which are common issues for textured hair types.
Reduced Exposure: Protective styles often involve tucking the ends of the hair away, which prevents them from being exposed to the elements and friction, pollution, sun and other environmental damages. Also, they can help retain moisture and prevent split ends.
Versatility: Protective hairstyles come in a variety of forms, from braids and twists to buns, weaves, wigs, and extensions. These styles can be creative and fashionable while still being gentle on the hair.
Moisture Retention: Many protective styles encourage better moisture retention in the hair. Moisture is essential for maintaining healthy and strong hair, especially for curly and kinky hair types that tend to be more prone to dryness.
Types of Protective Hairstyles
Box Braids: Small to medium-sized braids that are typically created using synthetic or natural hair extensions. They can be worn for an extended period, reducing the need for daily styling.
Twists: Similar to braids, twists involve twisting two strands of hair together. They can be done using natural hair or extensions and can be worn for several weeks.
Cornrows: Rows of braids that are close to the scalp. Cornrows can be simple or intricate and offer protection to the hair while allowing for versatile styling.
Buns & Updos: Styles that involve pulling the hair away from the ends and securing it in a bun or updo. This helps protect the ends from damage.
Loose Braids: Loose braids are ideal for sleeping. They protect your hair from friction without pulling your hair too tightly. In the morning, you will wake up to natural loose waves. It’s a perfect summer hairstyle if you are not a fan of tight hairstyles but want to save your hair.
How To Prep Your Hair for Protective Hairstyles?
Prepping your hair for a protective hairstyle will increase the outcome. Here are some tips to get the best results
- First, detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb. Start from tips and gradually go towards roots.
- Once detangled, please add an inversion massage to your bedtime routine. All you have to do is massage your hair while hanging your head upside down. You can use any serum, oil or nothing to slowly massage your scalp with your fingertips.
- Post massaging your scalp grab a non-greasy lightweight oil like argan oil to seal the moisture in your locks. To do things take 2-3 drops in your palm, rub them to warm it up a little bit and run your fingers through your locks. This will seal the hair cuticles through the night. You will wake up to glossy, soft hair in the morning.
- Now simply braid hair like you normally would, with looser twists.
Takeaway
No matter what your hair type is protective hairstyles are for everyone. Wearing them every now & then will only do good to your hair. If you are on to revive your dull and dry hair, I would highly recommend you opt for protective hairstyles almost every day. Within a few months, you will notice a dramatic change in the texture of your hair.
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Aparna Pal
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