The Real Reason Why Protective Styles Aren’T Growing Your Hair
my instagram: @seunokimi
In this video I go over hair growth tips for growing long hair, my hair regimen for long, healthy hair, and how to reduce breakage. I talk about how to actually do protective styles properly to allow for growth. Protective styling is one of those things that is really amazing when it is done correctly, but can be tragic if done wrong. You can have protective styles without loosing your edges, experiencing a lot of breakage, or any other things that can commonly be associated with protective styling. In this video I go over hair growth tips for natural hair and relaxed hair. Everything I discuss here can be applied to both. My hair regimen for natural hair growth is very simple. I do a lot of protective styling! What is different though is that I do it without experiencing a lot of breakage. I give hair tips for growing long natural hair and relaxed hair. I go over my hair growth journey and exactly what I did to learn how to grow hair past the shoulder length plateau. I show you how to grow long healthy natural hair and long healthy relaxed hair. While there is really not much you can do to grow your natural hair faster, what you can do is learn how to reduce breakage of natural hair or relaxed hair and how to retain more length
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Hey guys, it's shawn and welcome back to my channel, so i'm really excited for this video today because i'll be talking all about protective styling and how to make sure that you're actually getting growth out of your protective styling and retaining as much length as possible. So if you're familiar with my channel you'll know that protective styling is what i have used to grow my own hair down to my waist. This is my real hair right now, yeah before trying protective styling like i literally tried everything you can think of my hero. Stuck at the shoulder lamp had so for essentially all of my life. It wasn't until a few years ago, when i discovered the magic of protective styling like around 2014 2015., i was actually able to finally grow my hair past that everything changed when i realized this. One thing about hair that just changed my life, which is that if we want to get longer here, there's not that much we can do to make our hair actually grow faster from our scalp. Our hair is growing at all times and there's not really much. We can do to change the rate our hair is growing, but in order to get longer here, what we can do is reduce how much our hair is breaking, which increases how much length we're actually retaining allowing us to have longer here and the best way to Reduce how much our hair is breaking is to just leave it alone. Like imagine a world where you never gave your hair an opportunity to break, it was impossible for it to break during a certain period of time that world is the world of protective styling. By putting your hair up in a protective style, literally making it impossible for any breakage to occur, while it's tucked up away, you can actually retain all of the growth that you're getting throughout the duration of the protective style. So it's not really a matter of. Do protective styles actually work to promote longer hair? It'S more of a question of how do i do protective styles properly to actually keep all of the retained length that i'm getting from the protective side. You can still do wigs. You can still do weaves. You can still do box braids. All of that i use all of that to grow my hair. I feel like there's a misconception around that as well. I feel like protective selling, gets a lot of negativity that advice that you're getting to not do certain protective styles is actually keeping a lot of people from growing their hair, because if i had never discovered protective styling myself, my hair would still be at that shoulder-length Plateau, but i wish i had this kind of video whenever i was younger, to tell me how to actually make sure that i could actually get growth from protective styles, because i genuinely believe that it is the best way to grow your hair. If you are doing it correctly, which is what i'll be talking about in this video today, so the biggest reason why a lot of people aren't seeing longer hair from protective styles is one thing that i feel like a lot of people. Don'T talk about enough at all, which is so strange, because i think this is the biggest reason, but the way you take down your hair, that's the actual moment of truth, if you're taking less than 30 minutes to take down a longer term protective style, you're doing Something wrong: it should take you more personally. It takes me a few hours like i'll make sure i have a good movie played and i'll just take my time, because that's literally, if you can avoid breakage during the takedown, then all of the length that you grew during your protective style will actually be retained. And i also have a video up on how to properly take down your hair from a protective style. I know so many people who will have braids i've been keeping for a really long time and then you can see literally physically see so much growth happening, but then, whenever they take it down and wash it afterwards, their hair looks the same length. How is that possible right? The only way that that could have happened is if a lot of breakage occurred whenever you're taking it down, simply because you're being too rough on your hair, i get it a lot of us don't have time, but you really really do have to take your time. If you don't, then there's no point in the whole perspective style, if you're, just gon na break all of your hair when you're taking it down, and that also goes for braids, especially if you have longer braids and your hair shorter. We like to cut the braids, make our job a little bit easier, make sure that you're not actually cutting your hair at the beginning of my hair journey. I definitely underestimated how long my hair was and cut my hair, so be be careful, especially if it's like a weave, and you have to cut if you need to get someone else to help you. The best protective styles are the ones that cause the lowest manipulation to take down. So if you have a bunch of small box braids, those are still good protective styles, if you're willing to take the time to actually remove the buildup from each of those box. Braids and like carefully detangle your hair, whenever there's more spots for you to detangle and more opportunities for tangles to exist, there's more chances for you to accidentally rip out your hair, because those types of protective styles will take a lot more patience to actually take down. But it's not just actually taking down the hair. It'S after you take down the hair. You still need to spend a few hours to actually thoroughly detangle your hair. If you had in a more intricate style like box braids, where you have to make sure that you're carefully detangling all of your hair before you wash it that's another thing, you want to fully detangle your hair before you go in to wash it because that can Also cause a lot of maddie and then so. The second reason why you may not be retaining all of the length from your protective style and getting the most out of your protective style is because you're not leaving your protective styles in for the right amount of time. Personally, for me, i think the longer the better my optimal time for protective styling is three months and allow me to explain why, because i've tested it out, leaving my protective cells in for shorter versus longer and actually seeing how much growth i'm getting because i've been Doing this for, like years now, the longer ones are the ones where i retain the most length because for protective styles, every time that you put in a protective style you're, putting some type of manipulation onto your hair to actually cornrow your hair box spray to divide And part your hair causes manipulation. If you have natural hair that you have to sometimes blow out before you braid, that's another source of manipulation, so each protective style that you do you're, manipulating your hair to put in the protective style and then you're also manipulating it to take it down. If i do protect the style for three months versus four weeks or one month, that's one time of putting in and taking down a protective self versus three times of putting in and taking down a protective stuff and with that i'm able to avoid so much more. A lot of people will say that they don't like doing longer protective styles, because when they take it down, they see a lot of breakage. While it is true that some hair types may be a little bit finer and not able to carry a protective cell for longer, there are also some people who can take protective styles for longer and would benefit from a longer protective style. But the thing is, whenever your hair is in a protective style for longer, you're gon na have a little bit more build up. Gon na have a little bit more opportunities for it to tangle, which will require you to take more time to actually take it down. As long as you are taking your time to take it down, like, i never have problems with seeing extra breakage whenever i leave my protective style in for longer as long as i take my time to actually take it down, but i would say if you don't Keep your protective cells in for up to three months, you're scared to try it. You can just try increasing the amount of time that you actually keep your protective style in for a little bit longer and see how your hair reacts. Because to me, there's no point in putting all that manipulation to install some box braids that you're only going to keep in for three weeks i mean sometimes i'll be honest. I have been doing that like more shorter term protective styles and i've talked about this. How that i believe, is one of the reasons why i haven't been seeing as much growth in the past almost a year. Just because i like changing up my hair, a lot and i've kind of become happy with the length of my hair. But i'm not as crazy about growing it, but whenever i am really intense and want to grow. My hair three months is truly the optimal time to keep my protective styles in. If you just have a hair texture that just does not do well in longer term. Protective styles, that's okay, too, and that kind of goes into my next point, which is you have to make sure that you're doing the right protective styles for you after making sure that you're actually taking the time to take it down properly and all the things that I will mention in this video if you still notice that your hair just doesn't do well in certain protective styles. It'S okay. There are two main things that you want to keep in mind, which is one: how much manipulation does it take to actually install the protective stuff? So if it's a very, very simple protective style, like i don't know like six twists versus individual box braids, the simpler protective style will cause less manipulation. And if you have hair, that is a little bit more delicate and doesn't respond well to manipulation. Then you might want to opt for those protective styles. Sometimes cornrows basic cornrows can be too much for some people with extremely extremely fine hair, so i've heard of people just twisting their hair under wig. There are other alternatives to like the main protective styles that you see, and the second thing to keep in mind is the actual weights of the protective style. If you have finer more delicate hair, think about okay, is this hairstyle gon na be something that's a little bit heavier? Can my hair withstand weight? You might just need to switch to some protective styles that don't require added hair and also, if you have finer or weaker, more delicate, hair, doing a protein treatment right before you install your protective style can also help a lot now. The fourth reason: i think this ties for the top reason why a lot of people aren't seeing the benefits of protective styles. Your braids are just too tight. It'S not normal to go home and not be able to sleep properly because your head hurts so much like it hurts to lay on the pillow. I almost forgot that that used to be a norm since i started doing my hair myself, but after i put it in protective style like i don't feel pain, and that should be normal and the protective sauce still looks good like you can see my tutorials. For me, it really helps that i do my own hair myself, so i can feel if i'm putting too much tension on my hair. You don't want to be going to someone who was an extremely tight braider and just sitting there in the chair and not saying anything, either find someone else or just explain to them that you really really want a style that won't put as much tension on your Hair, i promise you. It is possible to still have good looking protective styles that don't look all loose but still look normal without hurting yourself and without putting tension on your hair, and i guess this is one big category of like the installation process. If your braids are too tight, that's one problem: your edges will be the first to go. Another thing is just mishandling and being rough with your hair when you're installing the protective style. So especially if you're going to someone else, maybe she has five clients after you, she's just interested in getting her money and getting out she's being really really rough, be mindful of how someone is actually taking care and handling your hair even before they start braiding. And if you're getting braids, for example after the braids are done, are they snipping some of the stray hairs that are left out because those straight hairs? Those are your hairs that that is your hair, that's sticking out, and that goes actually back to another point about takedown and how to know if the amount of hair that you're losing during your takedown is normal, because when you're taking down a protective style, you will See a lot of hair in your comb. You will see here come out because, especially if you've had it in for a longer time, all of the shed hair that should have naturally shed out because of your hair's natural cycle of shedding and regrowing. All that shed hair that was stuck and stayed up in your hair. That'S the time when it will all be released and with that you'll see longer pieces, longer strands of hair falling out and that'll indicate that okay yeah. This is actually shed here. But if you're, seeing short small pieces coming out, that's breakage and that's when it's a problem and if you're seeing that breakage think okay, am i being rough with my hair right now? Is my hair, maybe just fragile from other reasons from before that is causing it to break right now, and i have to be extra gentle with it or whenever the person was putting it in, they should do anything that could possibly cause breakage just cut off some Loose ends that were sticking out think about those things, and those are the reasons why you could be seeing breakage. The next reason why you may not be seeing all the lengths on your projected stuff. That'S the next thing to keep in mind if you are venturing into protective styles and want to get the most growth. Is it's so important to switch up what types of styles that you're doing, because some protective styles are better for your hair in some areas than others? So it's really strange, i don't think, there's personally one protective style that i think is perfect for all areas of my hair. For me personally, i found that braids, going straight back under anything, is really good for the bulk of my hair under a sew-in under crochet. Under wig, my other protective style that i think is really really good for growing. My edges specifically, is actually big box free, so it's different for everyone. Just pay attention to how your own hair is responding in different protective styles. Each style will have its own pluses and minuses, so just switch it up to get the most benefits overall, it's also really important to switch it up, because you don't always be parting. The same areas of your hair, you can vary where you're experiencing a lot of manipulation for your protective styles, by just switching up the way you do your protective styles and just varying the types of protective styles you do in general and then so. The next very big thing to keep in mind is the importance of just feeling for yourself and listening to your own hair. If your hair hurts, if you feel a lot of tension on your edges, listen to that and be willing to either tell the hairdresser to stop or if it's afterwards be willing to take out the style. You don't have to sit in that style. For a few weeks and think oh baby just needs to grow out, and then i won't feel the tension anymore. By that time, your edges will have already been gone and pulled out. It'S not worth the style to lose your edges because then you'll be spending months. If not like a year or so trying to grow back your edges for a protective style that you only left in for two months, i remember for me specifically the very first time i ever did crochet braids. I didn't know that you're supposed to braid your hair a little bit looser to allow for wiggle room for the crochet braids, and i just braided my hair normally the way i normally do not that it was tight or anything, but it just wasn't loose enough, and I put the crochet braids in and i remember that day it didn't really like. I didn't feel pain, but the next day i could feel like tension, especially along my edges, and i was also on a plane ride. So i don't know if it's because i just had nothing else to think about so literally while i was on the plane. I just started taking out the crochet braids that were along the perimeter of my hair and there was a white man sitting next to me. Probably thinking that i was crazy, but i didn't care and then after that i learned. Okay, you have to braid your hair a little bit looser if you're going to crochet something through it and that's why. I make a strong point to mention that in all the crochet videos that i make sometimes it just takes you learning what styles work for your hair and if you realize that way, this style is causing a certain amount of tension, be willing to take it out. One thing that you may notice that i didn't mention in this video that a lot of people mention is the importance of like moisturizing your hair every day whenever it's in a protective style. While i don't think it's a bad thing to moisturize your hair, if i'm being everyday like that, if i'm being completely completely honest, i don't think my hair has benefited from the times when i did do that versus the times. When i didn't do that because, like i said, i've been doing protective selling for a long time, so i've kind of done both as long as i was keeping up with the other things like making sure that i'm taking my time to take down my protective style. Making sure that i'm not feeling attention my protective style things like that, and even if i slacked on like moisturizing my hair and all of that, i'm still, i was still able to get the same amount of growth, but whenever it comes down to taking it down, You want to make sure that your hair is moisturizing all that, so what i do is i make sure that my hair is of course moisturized going into the protective stuff, and then i make sure that, like a week before, i know i'm gon na take it Down i re-moisturize it apply an oil, something like that to make sure that my hair is softened up for whenever i take it down and whenever i take it down. I also have a video on this, but i also apply a lot more detangling and leave-in conditioner to make sure that i'm taking down my protective styles properly and then every time else is just whether i feel like it. And that's just me being completely honest and i also have a dedicated video showing you exactly how i take care of my protective styles, while they're in a protective style. For me personally, i think that's a bit overkill to be heavily moisturizing, your hair every single day, while you're in a protective style. I know a lot of people say that, but one major thing that i've noticed from like my whole growth journey and for so long being stuck at the shoulder limb side. So, even after watching, like hundreds of youtube videos, like i'm, not kidding you when i tell you that i did try doing so much, and i noticed that a lot of what they said would be very repetitive, like things that i feel like they just heard from Other youtubers and started telling other people themselves, and i would also look at them and see like how long is their actual hair like? Are they just saying this stuff to make a video to be on youtube? Do they actually live by this stuff? Are they just copying what someone else said so i feel like that kind of relates to the whole. You need to moisturize your hair every day whenever you're in a protective style, because, if you're not you're, neglecting your protective style, you're, not gon na get any growth. Like it just sounds nice as a youtuber to say no one's gon na disagree with you even for me, i don't like being like. Oh wait. It'S not that important and while i don't feel like it hurts, i've tried both of like moisturizing my hair every day and not being so crazy. I'M moisturizing my hair every day and i can tell you that it really doesn't make that much of a difference. I would still recommend it, but i'm just saying that the other things that i mentioned earlier in this video are way more important to having a successful protective style and i'm speaking from genuine experience and things that i've actually lived. And if anything, my hair is proof. Whenever i was very serious about growing my hair, it would be for three months at a time and then i would leave my hair out for like one to two weeks and then i'd put in a new protective style, and that's literally all i did to get My hair this way, so i'm so happy to be able to make this youtube video, not just repeating the same information, but actually showing you and being honest about what actually worked for my hair things that have taken me years to really learn when literally nothing else That all these other youtubers have been telling me works besides just leaving my hair alone being sure that my protective styles were actually protective styles. Aren'T too tight, i wasn't feeling tension. I was listening to my hair, making sure that everything is good with the installation and the takedown. That'S all that matters with the protective style. So i really really hope that this video helped you like, as you can tell this stuff, makes me really excited because protective sound changed my life, it really really did. I cannot stress that enough, but yeah. Thank you for watching this video. If you liked it you can subscribe, you can also find me on instagram, i'm on there as well and yeah i'll, see you in the next one.
Comments
Mary J Flanagan: Every time I let a "professional" do my hair, it comes out to be shorter or damaged. When I do my own hair, it grows.
B MELA: Imagine if our parents had this energy. I really believe that a lot of the issues some black women face when it comes to length retention and hair maintenance, comes from the lack of knowledge our parents had. It’s like, the hair is tough so you gotta be tough with it. When in actuality our hair needs extra care and tact in order for it to flourish to its fullest potential. I really would love to leave my future children’s hair alone but there’s this irrational need for our of children’s hair to always look super neat all of the time. I think it’s because there’s this idea that you represent your parents in a good light when your hair is constantly fresh, laid and put together. As an adult you can throw a wig on top of your indistinguishable cornrows and call it a day, but as a child you obviously can’t do that. ♀️
Jackie Chann: I hate when girls judge a girl for wearing a style for over 2 months, those b the same ones washing their hair everyweek thinking that’s what’s growing it, everyone’s hair is different ♀️ not saying u can’t wash it every week but don’t call ppl hair dirty or judge and get mad if someone judge u
Luyanda Sikhakhane: can we take a moment to emphasize how beautiful she is. gosh her face is so smooth
Mary Okonye: Nigerian hairdressers left the chat. Taking out your braids takes them 5 minutes. 5 people working on your hair breaking everything away
Thembi Baloi: I actually watch the entire 18 minutes without skipping and I enjoyed it. This is vital
Jennie McCollum: I agree with this completely. I lived in South America for almost 3 yrs, literally in the jungle. So I kept my hair braided up, just my own hair bcz no access to weave. anyway, when I straightened it for the first time years later, it was almost too my waist. Also I drank like a gallon of water a day and only ate natural food. No fast food, no processed food, again bcz there was no access to it lol.
Lea Cooke: Seun at 0:45 "Everything changed" Me, in bed, whispering: *when the fire nation attacked*
Jojo: I’m caucasian and have massive respect for people with natural hair. I’m also kinda jealous of this gorgeous hair type, damn it’s beautiful. I have hair down to my butt, however, I have crazy split ends, I throw it up in a bun, I drag a brush through it and have enough have in the brush to create another me, plus I often go over a month between washes (my hair doesn’t stink, it’s just used to not being washed everyday). I have the same crappy cheap brush that I’ve had for years. Again, huge respect to you guys and girls who actually care for your hair.
TheHeartsandCake90: This was so good! I feel so inspired. Your hair is beautiful
Thea hurst: She's the first person on YouTube I have seen speaking all facts, this is some really good advice y'all. ❤
Tarotbyanaja: You came for my soul when you said “ I see people with new growth from protective styles but then when they take it down their hair is the same length “ my hair hair breaks so much this video is extremely helpful Bc everything you said we shouldn’t be doing is exactly what I was doing
LaQuisha Willis: Everybody gives me so much flack for how long I leave my crochets in but I promise you my sister is speaking the absolute truth. My hair is bra length before I blow it out and I haven't flat ironed it in years so I know that it is pretty long. Even a high ponytail is hitting my shoulder blades. I didn't know this was a thing, but I just happened to learn that leaving my hair alone makes it grow like bananas. I wear it out for a week and then it goes back into crochets for a minimum of 3 months. It takes hours to detangle and wash but all it does is grow like crazy. My 5-year-old daughter's hair is in the middle of her back as well and I twist her hair with beads on the end. I leave her style in for a minimum of a month and it just grows. Trust the process ladies.
zeppelin_'72: It's sad that black hairstylists don't know how to work with black hair without damaging it. If you want healthy hair, you have to do it yourself. Other races can go to salons without issue but it's a whole thing when it comes to black women.
Lola A: After watching your videos, I've been putting my hair in cornrows. Its been 6 months now and my hair has grown 5 inches. So thank you
Brielle Cruz: This has been the first natural hair video (in a LONG time) that I enjoyed. Beautiful Dark skin woman. Dropping knowledge. Getting to the point instead of posing in front of a camera regurgitating the same damn style. Subscribing now!
Lyn Johnson: This is exactly what I've learned over the last year! My hair craves moisture and loves to be left alone! So as long as I do those two things it grows and has grown past my shoulders for the first time in my adult life! Thank you so much for all the great advice!
zhkoji: I know for a fact I'm not the only one watching this when my hair hasn't grown past my shoulders
Taylor Pate: this is probably the MOST informative video i've seen on natural hair/protective styles and i honestly think it has a lot to do with what you mentioned at the end of the video (other youtuber's just repeating things they've heard other people say but they don't even incorporate into their own routine). thank you so much for your transparency!!
313sButterfly: This is exactly how I've always done my hair and when people ask how my hair got so long, and when I actually tell them that I wear my braids for no less than 3 months, I don't allow tight braiding, I use tea tree oil and vitamin E, and I also don't put heat on my hair... They frown up and say "that's too much work!" Why ask then? Lol
Mojisola Wadsworth: I was reading the comments as I watched the video (useful tips, by the way, thank you) and I can say that you're the first YouTuber I have seen who has liked as many comments (if not all) from a video. That says something about your character. You are taking the time to interact with your audience. Well done, it's a nice trait.
Lesego Tlhosane: I tried leaving my braids for 2 months and my hair grew so much.
Ceyoncè knowles 🤰🏾: Exactly why Beyoncé left Blu Ivy hair alone.. So many people was telling her to comb it out and get it done the way they saw fit. Look at her daughter hair now, natural long, and full!!!
It's_Angelikax: me a white girl with wavy hair: oh mhm ✍ yep✍ got it ✍ yes queen share your knowledge✍
S Bright: This is hands down, the most informative video I've watched about growing natural hair and it's all FACTS! I'm a witness of doing EVERYTHING you mentioned for growth and my hair is thick, healthy and literally to the middle of my back, well below my bra line; the longest it's ever been . Thanks for sharing your knowledge, your hair is beautiful and so are you ❤.
Ludmilla Paul: Set it and forget it!!! I’m a protective style junky and it’s been my weapon in retaining length, too. Lol I feel so affirmed by this video. People have this misconception that protective styles are hair neglect and it’s more like hair rest. Awesome tips!! Also, for your point at 14:38 - agreed! moisturizing *everyday* can lead to product build up, especially waxy edge controls. I generally spray with a leave in every few days, then moisturize and oil as needed. I have low porosity hair and if it’s properly moisturized before the style, it retains moisture pretty well throughout. Also, if I’m wearing box braids for an extended period, I’ll get the edges redone like every 6 weeks.
Cheyanne Rockett: I’m glad I found this video. My family does my hair and to put it short: they basically believe pain means it will last longer. I hated weaves because they irritate my scalp but nothing else lasts in my hair. Now that I have control over my hair and left it alone besides a good washing since it get very dry and is dandruff prone, my hair has done very well.
Natasha Matu: That's why people with dreadlocks actually get longer hair because of low manipulation
Lynn's INTENTION: Bottom line...I wore weaves for ten years and my hair grew almost to my waist..I said great I don't have to wear weaves any more and stopped..Inside of two years my length had broken off by half and was almost as short as when I started so I put it back under my weave again... I could find no product that allowed the breakage to stop when it was down sadly and I was very very carefull when combing it. And you are soooo right do your hair yourself!!! No hair dresser is going to take the hours of carefull strand by strand detangling it takes to take down the protective style after three months being in there..its like combing out dreads! Do it yourself!!!
Lena Cheri: This is true! I started 2 strand twisting and leaving it for a month. Spraying it with moisture and oiling. My hair is growing and healthy now
noneyah: After 18 years of growing my locs I'm ready to apply the same principles to grow my natural hair to waist length too! I'm confident I can get it there in 4-5 years by just keeping it in protective styles till it has reached desired length
Raquel Raquel: Great tips on being more gentle to avoid breakage. And Thanks for showing love to protective styles because I see that a lot of influencers like to give them a bad rap and I’ve had very positive experiences w/ protective styles. But I would like to add that everyone should keep in mind some people have different truths, moisturizing for you may have not made a difference but for some it does. I see it do wonders for me & others I know. Of course not by overkill but just not letting it get to dry. Also as a licensed cosmetologist (that actually does take my time to nourish natural hair lol) I can say while there are some one size fits all tips, there are things that work best for some & not others. Anyway keep up the Good work
Kenne Auqué: Everyone ask me all the time how I got my hair to my tailbone, I always say I leave my hair alone. I hardly ever comb my hair, my go to hairstyle is a bun or 2 braids. They look disappointed, I guess they wanted to hear some magical growth serum♀️
Covid-19: Thank god, this video isn't a waste of time like other video, she tried her best to explain as much detail as possible. And everything that she is saying is in fact true. She as my sub, well done.
Reg. Pson: Since watching this, after three months I’ve managed to grow my hair about 4/5 inches
Chandra's Corner: My mother had me at an older age. She had my sister and I's hair flowing down our backs natural. She took her time and we had hot oil treatments and deep conditioning days.
Bora Gonsal: I have a really good feeling about my protective style I have in rn. I truly enjoyed gaining valuable knowledge from your video and how you spoke about it with a beautiful smile on your face made it all the more enjoyable! Keep up the great work boo.
Naya's Channel: My mom is a licensed natural hair stylist and Im a 2 time cancer survivor still battling for a 3rd time. She does protective styles on my hair and grows back faster and healthier than before . But everyone is different
Ceeelk: I’m trying to learn how to do my own protective hairstyles. So far I tried box braids for the first time and I’m removing it after 1 month as I’m watching your video because it wasn’t looking good anymore but I’m happy to see my hair seems fine but I really don’t know how to do cornrows despite watching so many tutorials and this the hairstyle that hurt the most my hair when I go to the hairdresser this growth journey isn’t easy but thank you for your advices and encouragements. It’s reassuring to know I haven’t been doing something bad by keeping my protective hairstyles for month despite getting so many comments about how bad it is, I can keep doing it without feeling guilty now, thank you. You’re such a naturally beautiful woman btw. I’m glad I discover your video. God bless you.
Maya Entsieh: Honestly, this is one of the most informative and honest videos on hair growth and protective styling techniques I've watched so far and as of today, I'm starting my own hair care journey✈️.... Thanks Seun, keep being beautiful ...
Kendra Brown: Omg I’m so glad I found you!!! Lol I’ve been trying literally everything to grow my hair after I cut it from extensive heat damage and I feel like this is the first honest video I’ve watched. Thank you!!
Tolu Idowu: Honestly, I was skeptical at first when you suggested leaving the crotchet in for 6-8 weeks. I was thinking, wouldn’t it be unhygienic to leave your hairstyle in for that long but I gave it a go. I left my passion twist in up until the middle of January from the start of December and wow the amazing growth I saw when I took the crotchet out. Your method works!!! Thank you I didn’t apply any growth oils or any products while I had the crotchet in so it could stay neat and last longer and my hair still grew without products. I’ll be doing this more often now with about three weeks breaks in between to treat my hair. Ps~ on a box braid break for two years hahah
Calfuray 67: Remember when our mothers and grandmother used to tell us “keep your hand out of your hair “
THOMAS MILLER: Hello from Germany, Interesting, i have not heard the term "protective style", although it makes sense after viewing your video and taking in the substance of what you were saying. My daughter is 12 and i do her hair and my son's hair whenever i am with them which is normally every 3 to 4 weeks, she really likes having her hair in a 'protective style', but i suggest to her that she only leaves it in for 2 to 4 weeks then take it down, or i do when i am with them. It complicates things a bit that their mother is a bit clueless about what is needed for their hair (Afro-American Dad, Blond German Mom), but i make sure to drop tips in order to make sure that changes. My daughter's hair is about the same length as yours, never died, never 'chemically killed', i tend to do a good moisturizing that includes a leave in conditioner, and at times ORS olive oil Hair pudding which makes braiding a breeze. Very informative video, thanks for sharing
Jasmine Williams: I just started my natural hair journey about a month ago, I'm 16, and you have no idea how much this video had helped and inspired me.
Ann Gaines: You speak truth! Thank you! I have not seen a hairdresser in 30 years and the only thing I really know how to do well is braid my hair. My truth is that as soon as I get my hair to a decent length, I get the overwhelming urge to do something drastic, a big chop or a color, or too much heat, or combinations of the aforementioned because now my hair is gray. I don't worry a lot because I know a good cut and some protective styling will fix almost anything. My hair is substantially thinner since thyroid disease and menopause but it's soooo much easier to handle that I want to do everything with it. I am especially fond of your crochet braiding technique and I think that will try that in 2021.
Naffy70: I can vouch for this method. I put in crochet braids twice in the last 6 months and kept them in for about 2.5 months each time. In my mind, I felt like I had them in way too long, and both times I had to sloooowly remove the buildup and tangles and saw a bunch of shed hair. BUT, my hair is about 4 inches longer than I have EVER seen it be lol.
Qi Qi: The fact that these youtubers are sharing all this information instead of actual cosmetologist is mindboggling. And it speaks Volume
XAI TIIE: I have actually tested the leaving protective style in your hair for 3 months almost 4 , I wore long crochet twists consistently for 3 years and I have seen major growth from doing that, she is speaking straight facts, and my grandmother and her mom have the same thinking of " Don't you think it's time to take it out its been about a month." , they would criticize me for keeping it in longer but I knew by keeping it in longer my hair was growing that way. My hair was past my shoulders to bra length. But My hair cant go without a protective style for too long especially now because my length has gotten shorter now, I know that sounds crazy but that's how my hair is, everyone was telling about following the moisturizing daily and do this and do that , and take a long break from protective styles because it's bad for your hair, and now my hair is breaking off again, also due to stress and anxiety lately, but watching this video reminded me of what I need to to do what was working for me. And I'm so thankful that the times I did get my hair done by this lady that was so rough to the point I to her to leave my edges out, I'm so thankful I still have them, my hair can take a pretty good punch Thank you so much for this video because it helped me to go back to what was working for me, especially during this pandemic! Love your vids!
dajawnchriscross: I feel this way exactly. I always do protective styles to grow my hair. I’m also always cutting my hair to about 1/2 inch every two years when I get bored and I usually achieve bottom of neck/top of shoulder hair in little over a year that is super healthy and happy. I find for me personally, not touching my hair at all works best to growing it. But, I am also extremely delicate in my take down and making a recovery hair treatment to ensure I keep all that new growth. I also rarely have any hair loss/shedding after washing and detangling. This time around, I would like to continue growing my hair versus cutting it again and your video makes me feel I’m on the right track! I was just looking for some protective style videos and I stumbled on this. Great info.
Jo-Jo Guilliams: Very powerfulI like how you think outside the box. Honestly I haven’t had my hair done pro by anyone during COVID this entire time but already my hair is growing more! I’m also about to start monthly rice water treatments to my hair and see what happens then along with more continuous protective styles. Thanks for the truth and love sis!
Samantha King: My hair has been the same length for a few years and I do protective styles all the time. My issue is probably how I take down my protective styles and going so many years without getting trims and my ends clipped. My hair is very healthy it’s just a matter of retaining the length is my struggle. I need to also give my hair a break in between protective styles, I suck at doing that! Thanks for the video!
Athaliie Kouassi: “Leave your hair alone!” That’s why your man has longer hair than you...
Kayla Danielle: I'm glad I watched! At my old school the kids would always ask me why I had my braids in for months and they would laugh but my hair is much thicker and longer than theirs
Judgment Proof: Actually, protective styling helped my hair to grow. If my hair is done well enough, I can go days without needing to groom my hair. The only downfall is, when your scalp starts itching, you must figure out why. It can be anything from dry scalp, needing washed or even new growth. Another thing your hair might need is to be taken down and brush really well and you might also need a scalp massage in the process. This has been my personal experience. Anytime you need to scratch your itchy scalp, make sure to use a pic because it’ll get up under the style without you ever having to put your hands on it. That way, you don’t have to touch your hair when you have the right pick to help ease that itch As for detangling your hair before washing, I always wash mine first and then try to detangle under running water. Trust me on this one, it definitely works. Then when it gets detangler, use conditioner below the scalp. If your scalp is dry, then go ahead and use the conditioner on your scalp but don’t overdo it. The downfall of conditioning the scalp is a short time later your hair will start looking greasy and your scalp will start itching because stuff from your hair will start settling into the scalp pores When detangling your hair, you always want to start at the bottom. Getting a detangling brush is going to be the most helpful. When you start getting higher up the hair shaft, find a real good tight grip position above where you’re going to be brushing your hair and very gradually work your way up. That way, you won’t hurt your scalp if you happen to be tender headed. You’re also minimize hair loss depending on how big of a wad of hair or you end up losing. If you go to long without taking your hair down and actually brushing it, it’ll get matted and make matters worse. The more matted it gets, the longer it’s going to take to get your hair completely brushed out As for getting your style too tight, yes, you can definitely hurt your scalp. That’s when you have two options. Take it down and do it looser. I also found something else that works to ease the scalp pain, and that’s putting a little bit of collagen elastin lotion right on the area where it hurts and it works like a dream! I’ve actually done my hair so tight the scalp itself was painful, even after taking my hair down and re-doing it. I was always big on barrettes and not braids. Even pulling your hair too tight in the barrettes can be painful when your scalp has had enough and starts hurting. Just take it out, redo it looser and use collagen and elastin lotion by Saint Ives and watch how quick the pain goes away. Painful scalp is an extremely rare event with me and has only happened a few times in my life Mentioning corn rolls, yes, you certainly want someone gentle for sure! When you get someone gentle and then working with your hair actually feels good, you’re going to want that person doing your hair more and more. That’s because when you get the right person, you can actually sit there and relax, even go into kind of like an almost meditation like state. People have even been known to actually fall asleep when someone’s playing with their hair
Keziah M: You're speaking the truth.One of the times I noticed serious length retention is when i had a protective style for two months.At the end of the first month,i shampooed my hair,conditioned it and oiled my scalp while in the protectove style...and when i took them down i was shocked.Too bad i still didn't know how to properly care for natural hair so during that time when my hair was free it broke off and i remained at the usual shoulder length with less thickness
Michelle Wright: I love how humble you are about your beautiful hair, God I am sure appreciates this and continues to bless you for this. Thank you for the tips on growing natural hair :)
Ronni j: Your transparency is refreshing just STRAIGHT to the point and your hair is DEFINITELY proof that what your sayin is FACTS...im definitely going to incorporate your advice on my hair thanks for sharing...
Call me Crispi: I’ve been doing the least to my hair all year and it’s honestly been growing like never before. I avoid heavy products and use oils instead and moisturise it with masks every so often, it took me a while to come to the conclusion that the least you do ,the better. I keep my hair in twists most of the time, under wigs or under hair wraps and do my braids looser than most people. And it’s honestly been the best thing ever. Many call it lazy but it works.
Sharita Tripp: This is probably the first video I was able to watch from beginning to end. I love how she speaks and gets straight to the point. She is very articulate. Thank you. I will watch more videos.
SELDOM V.: Can we just talk about how you’re killing it in the thumbnail, girl !
Georgia-lorene McEbong: I love how you’re honest that we can’t moisturize everyday. So unrealistic
Anayahh Reee: Yea I'm not the only one who's hair has never grown past shoulder length righttt
Glam With Naomi: I just came across your yt and I just had to subscribe, honestly, this is really helpful, I make my hair myself because it's very soft so most people wouldn't handle it well, I've seen some improvements over 2 years but it's goes back and forth cos sometime after growing the length, I'm guilty of things like not carefully detangling I literally cut my hair while taking my braids down coz I was too impatient to detangle properly watching this was such an encouragement and I'm definitely gonna try these out and see how far my hair goes till end of the year. Thanks so much for this ❤️
Queena Williams: One thing that I started doing for myself is doing mini twist. I do take it out every 2 weeks and do a twist out for 1 weeks. Always make sure to properly moisturize while my twist are in. Before wash, I do am aloe vera pee-poo and take my time while shampooing and conditioning. I always rotate with doing protein once a month and deep conditioning. I feel like it really helps with the growth of my hair because it’s not much manipulation.
Kendall Glover: After I went natural, my hair grew down to the middle of my back in 3 years just by putting it in twists and leaving it alone.
Lauren S: Amazing video! Watched the whole thing without skipping. This is TOO important. So question: How do you maintain/care for your hair while it’s out or straightened? I know that it’s possible to have healthy hair that is regularly straightened, but I’ve never had such luck. Thanks for posting this vital info. I would love to have waist length hair one day
HS J: Thanks! Great info. Sometimes I wonder Is it new growth or has the protective style loosened? I like to set realistic expectations. Also, as a person w/dense, fine 3c/4a hair, I could never do one style for 3 months but I have found that 3 weeks w/ attn to protecting the ends & crowns has been hugely successful as long as none of the styles involve small braids or twists. Texture has a huge impact on the success of protective styles, IMO.
King Girl: Yes, you're absolutely right about the tension. A person can plait neat without plaiting tight. This had been my method since I started learning because I learnt mostly in my mom who has a sensitive scalp and complained a lot
Olamide Adewole: This video is really explicit and informative. I'm glad to know that you don't have to use so many products to grow relaxed hair. Now, straight to work.
Anabel Caceres-Cotto: Hi Seun, I love that you're a relaxed influencer who has done a ton of research and proved that hair can grow relaxed. Do you know anything about hair botox? Or believe hair can achieve the same lengths on texturizers? I personally don't want straight hair all year round since I like curls. But your channel inspired me to be brave enough to venture out of my strict natural hair state. I've used hair botox and loved it! It was like a semi permanent hair texturizer which reverted back to its natural state but wasn't sure if the breakage I saw was from me neglecting my hair or the treatment itself, so I stopped for these last 3 years. I was hoping if you knew anything about this treatment and if so any feedback on this. Texturizers as well would love to hear back on this!
Mariette Mayisa: I also agree, i see results when I keep my protective style in for longer, I tend to redo my hair every 3 months. Although in the past I kept cutting my hair when it gets to shoulder length in 2021- 2023 im going to see if I can reach waist length using protective styling.
angela read: Thank you for providing this information on protective styles. Since 2017, I have been wearing crochet braids and have quite a bit of hair, about 14 to 18 inches in its natural state. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to comb out my hair, with assistance. Generally, I keep my crochet braids in 2 to 3 months. I thought the dead or lost hair was breakage. As a result of wearing a protective style, my hair is thick per my stylist. You answered a lot of questions in this video. Thank you again!
Muva_kay_ Kay: This method definitely works, been doing it for 6 months and my hair is the longest it’s ever been ! Thanks girly ♥️
Darlene Kuedituka: I'll just start leaving my hair alone because I'm tired of trying too hard.
Madonna Uchehara: Seun, if I had ¾ of the length of your hair, I wouldn't know how to act.
C M: This video was spot on. Thank you for being so candid and for actually showing us pics of your hair and transformation.
Abilene Castillo: I agree with everything you said, right on point. About 3 years ago I started putting my hair in braids or cornrows, keeping it in for 3 months at a time. I get my hair done 3 to 4 times a year resulting in longer hair. I also wash my scalp with my braids in to keep it clean and I also apply my own fenugreek oil and take hair, skin and nail vitamins.
Omalicha Naturals: Such great information! Using the right products like our line of natural hair products and protective styling correctly will definitely get you longer hair
Relationship Tea with Tee Ming: Great advice!!! I wore crochet braids for at least 4 years and the middle top thinned out so bad and it would be so sore al the time. Now I braid my hair under wigs as a protective style and my hair has actually been growing back, AND it’s no longer so sore! Thanks again for sharing!
Aaliyah Ismail: Listen to what she’s saying. I’m 11 and also have waist length hair, and that’s because I always wear braids
DJ ✨: i remember my first time having box braids i had so much buildup nobody warned me of this and i was so scared and confused i lost a lot of thickness (and my hair is already on the thinner side ♀️♀️) thank you for the informational video!
M: So my go to is marley twist that I do myself and they grow my hair perfectly. I have found a great technique for install and take my time taking them down. But in order for me to keep them in longer I can't washing them (i.e.- jump in the shower because I found that my hair can't take the weight of the hair when it is wet it causes too much tension on my hair and breaks off). I moisture, seal etc whilst they are in (but I don't go crazy maybe 3/4 times in 2 months) but obvs over time it causes build up along with everyday building from the atmosphere etc and my fitness level. I prefer 2 months total (but lately had to reduce to once a month ) because I am very active but my spray concoction includes tea tree so it's keeping my build up at bay. Any suggestions on other ways to wash your hair whilst in this type of protective style based on my situation? Many thanks in advance. Great work ❤️
Brittney Littlejohn: Nice fresh video with great tips, Good job Queen Low manipulation definitely is key because my hair retains length fast and I'm a lazy natural BUT my hair retains length faster when I cleanse at least 2x a week. And I can't leave a style I'm for more than 2.5 wks or it'll dread and I'll have to cut it out (recently happened) Also just a tip ladies, make sure you're not gluten sensitive because it causes hairless (know that from experience root.
GrimmAdventures: As a black stylists we know how to do hair without damage, ya’ll just going to the wrong ones. you have to find the ones who genuinely love and care about their jobs rather the ones who care about the money. But yes, that’s accurate leave your hair alone. Get your ends clipped, split ends will split all the way up your hair shaft and break halfway through. keep it moisturized , dryness can cause your ends to break as well. Remember , dont get discouraged if your hair is falling out after a protective style. your hair naturally sheds off but when its in protective style the hair has nowhere to go. so when you take your styles out, hair falling out is normal. its just when it’s excessive that you should worry. your hair shouldn’t be breaking off halfway up your hair shafts. Take care of your ends, do your conditioning treatments (and protein if you use heat or color hair), moisturize, and silk bonnets/pillow sheets are the way to go! Also dont sleep on sulfer 8, that stuff works miracles.
Ann-Marie Elshukura: I have been braiding my hair on and off for nearly a year and this YouTuber is right leaving your hair alone is the best thing you can do for your hair.
wonderspace90: Thank you so much for taking care of your hair and taking the time to share your thoughts, experiences, tips, and advice. I have so much going on I never could reflect on how to take care of my hair. Every week I winged it. God Bless! You are the best!
Patrice On Purpose: Totally agreed. My hair is waist length in the back and I keep my protective styles in 3 months and also I highly recommend deep conditioning treatments before and after. Hot oil treatments are one of the best ways. I'm recording a video on it for my channel today.
MzzYanique D: I agree with you, the longer you leave in your protective style the longer your hair grows. Two strand twist is my goto protective style. Also keeping my hair hydrated is key. Love this video
Candy C: So glad I finally watched this. I took my hair down for the first time since around October. I was very gentle I washed, moisturized and braided. I'm going to do this 4 times this year. Once every 3 months oiling scalp with jamaican castor oil 1-2 times weekly. I'd like bra strap length by years end.
Brenae Alford: This was sooooo helpful!! Thank you for sharing. Destroyed lots of myths and misunderstandings about my hair. Bless you!!
Lola Ishola: I agree Seun. I kept my braids in for about 2 months at a time and then getting it deep conditioned and braided down again. A trim maybe every 4 months? Anyways! i used to have the same issue with hair length. Never grew past my neck! Now, my hair is almost to my bra strap. As a nigerian woman, this is the longest my hair has ever been. I got my first keratin treatment so i can actually enjoy my natural hair. I almost cried in my stylist chair. I feel like my inner child is very happy. I used to get bullied a lot for my hair. Now that it’s long and healthy, i have made a vow to my inner child that i will never cut my hair. Thank you for this video!
Mermaid Glow: Seems like you had a spiritual journey with your hair, a journey of learning and overcoming. SOOOOO HAPPY THIS VIDEO IS OUT. Breaks my heart every time I hear a beautiful (and frustrated) Black girl saying her hair don't grow. I stopped years ago going to the salon, seriously more than 17 years ago. Their business is making money from cutting y'alls hair, you want it to grow protected, don't abuse heat, and frankly don't cut it all the time. I grew my hair long, I do relax, I'm older, I tried growing natural years ago that didn't go well, but it is long.
ero4ahair: Finally a YouTuber that got it right and did not promote some company miracle grow product. Thumbs up to you, I preach the same thing on my channel.
Laya Jalex: I’ve been putting my hair in two loose braids and I’m noticing it’s growing my hair. The only thing I’m struggling with is getting my edges to grow how I want them to. Do you have any tips for edge growth? Thank you for sharing! You have such beautiful hair & you’re beautiful too ✨
Jazmine Alicia: I’m so glad you made this video. I try to speak about this on my page as well. Not in full detail because sometimes it’s hard for me to explain things, but to bring awareness that you really don’t have to do the most to ur hair to gain length.
Expressions By Nadira: 1. Protein treatment before installing a protective style! 2. Styles that require low manipulation to install/ take down 3. not too tight stylez 4. Take time to take down (shorter hair indicates breakage vs longer pieces will indicate from shedding) 5. Switching up the types of protective stylez done and how you do them 6. Learn to listen to your own hair and be mindful of how you feel in a style especially if someone else is doing it for you 7. Moisturizing hair before taking down from protective style
Empress Athanasia de Alger Obelia: The start of my hair problems was when a professional braided my hair too tight, which caused my hair to fall out. The rest was me being lazy about my hair. Now, I'm focusing more on it to hopefully help it grow more. So, this video is very helpful, Thank you.
ColtraneAndRain: One thing I learned about removing weave: use brown thread if your hair is black. That way you never cut hair, only thread.
derbylove82: Just discovered you today and LOVE your videos! Sorry if this question was already addressed elsewhere, but what is your hair care routine while it's in a protective style? Are you adding any oils/moisturizer? Thanks