The Only Protective Style Guide You Will Need For Your Hair Journey

Contents

• Best Practices
• Twists
• Braids
• Locs
• Weaves and Wigs
• Crochet

If you are on a hair growth journey one of the most consistent themes you will hear is that you must do protective styles in order to see real growth success with your hair.

These days most of us understand this concept completely and at least once or twice per year we go on the hunt for that one style that will give us a break from our hair and that will up our style that much more.

Protective styles are pretty much a part of most of our daily lives and collectively as an industry, we have developed countless different styles that we can choose from when that time comes. In this post, we wanted to give you the ultimate protective style guide, something you can always refer to when you are a bit confused about what to go with.

Before we give you the ultimate protective style list though, here are a some best practices you should know when doing protective styles.

Best Practices

Make sure you do a protein treatment

Always strengthen your hair before you install your style and after you take down your style just to give your hair the strength it needs to avoid stress as well as reverse any weakness it may have endured while in the style.

You might be wondering why your hair would be weak after you have locked it away and the answer is your hair strand is still just a fiber. While it is being protected especially in styles that wrap the length of your hair you can put some stress on your hair. The protein treatment will ensure that you give your hair just what it needs before and after your long term style. (This might not apply to every single protective style, but it is applicable to most)

Leave the style in for 8 weeks maximum

Protective styles are only protective up to a certain point, beyond 8 weeks you risk damaging your hair and setting back all of your accomplishments.

8 weeks is the recommended amount of maximum time you should wear your style for it to be effective so make note of the date of your install and the date you need to undo it.

Keep your scalp clean

Scalp health is super important for hair health and this is no different when you are protective styling. Depending on the style you choose you may be able to get to your scalp and clean it when it gets itchy or dirty. Click here for our post on how you can clean your scalp with Witch Hazel.

If you are wearing a style where your hair is covered then you have to make sure that your scalp has everything it needs prior to your install and after you take it down. Now let’s get into the ultimate protective style list.

Twists

Two Strand Twists

Two strand twists are installed using your own natural hair using two loose sections of your hair and twisting it to form one single twist within the section.

This protective style is a favorite amongst naturals who just want something quick and easy and they typically last for a week or two.

Mini Twists

The same as two strand twists but these twists are done using super small sections of hair and can last up to eight weeks. Mini twists are a great option for women who do not like adding hair to their hair but need a break from constantly styling loose hair.

Flat twists

Flat twists are similar to two strand twists but the technique requires that you twist each section against the head to create what looks like a  twisted corn row. This style lasts up to a week or two and can be used for those of you who do not want a long term style.

Senegalese Twists or rope twists

Senegalese twists are definitely a favorite and once installed can last up to 8 weeks. They are awesome because your hair is completely covered and you can wear them in a variety of styles. There is a bit of confusion between, Senegalese twists, Marley Twists and Havana Twists which will be discussed in the next section.

The most important thing to note about Senegalese twists is the hair that is used. These twists typically use Kanekalon hair which can look super shiny and give your style a tighter look. They look less like dreads and more like shiny twists.

Marley Twists

Marley twists are a fan favorite amongst naturals because the twists look very much like our afro textured hair. Marley twists are installed using Marley hair using the invisible root method. Once your install is done, it will seem like you are growing the Twists right out of your head.

Havana Twists

Havana Twists are the exact same thing as Marley twist but twice the size. You use the same hair but the section of hair you are protecting is much bigger in comparison to Marley twists.

Braids

Box braids

Hands down one of the most popular protective styles to date, box braids are a staple in the hair industry and a staple for women who just love the way they look. Box braids are individual plaits that are divided by small square like parts on the scalp. You can make them big or small and you can use synthetic or natural looking hair to braid the hair.

Personally, I love short box braids as shown in the above image which is perfect for women who have short hair and prefer to keep it that way.

Ghana Braids

Ghana braids really hit the scene hard in 2015 and are an African style of braiding hair that looks very similar to advanced cornrows. They are also known as banana braids, Cherokee cornrows, or invisible cornrows.

Goddess braids

Goddess braids are similar to Ghana braids but they are a lot looser in comparison and look slightly raised from the scalp. The styles for goddess braids are endless, they can be one single braid, braided around the head, two braids or four braids arranged beautifully on the head.

Cornrows

Most of us have been rocking cornrows for as long as we can remember because historically cornrows were done not only to keep afro textured hair intact but often used as road maps for slaves who wanted to remember escape routes.

Cornrow styles are now worn by everyone, women, men and children alike and are often combined with twists and other combinations of styles for unique outstanding looks. Cornrows can be done using your own hair or it can be done using added hair that is fed into the braid to create gorgeous styles.

Locs

Faux locs

Not to be confused with regular locs faux locs represent the best alternative to trying locs without the commitment of actually locing your hair.

Faux locs are created when natural hair is wrapped with yarn, synthetic or human hair. The technique used to create the locs are what makes it look like an actual loc and what protects your natural hair. The style can last up to 8 weeks.

Goddess locs

Goddess Locs are a type of faux loc where some of the individual faux loc extensions* are left loose and wavy causing a softer wilder look to faux locs. They were created by Trichologist Dr. Kari and worn by some of the most famous black celebrities.

Bohemian locs

Bohemian faux locs are yet another version to faux locs where the look of the locs are distinctly rougher than goddess locs making them slightly messier looking but in a good way.

Weaves and Wigs

Weaves*

Whether you leave some of your hair out or your hair is covered completely a weave is one of the most popular protective styles to date. You can use a weave to completely change your look using loose hair of all different textures bought in the form of tracks and sewn onto your hair.

Using braid patterns and sewing the hair in specific patterns helps you to control the styles you are able to do with your hair which makes the style look even more natural.

Wigs

Wigs are a super convenient way to cover your hair completely without the commitment of sewing the hair down. Wigs are a great form of protective style because you can braid your hair underneath and remove the wig* once you are done using it.

Wigs* can have synthetic hair or you can purchase them with human hair. They also come either with lace or without and have combs and adjustable straps for the perfect fit.

If you love collecting wigs* you can change your look from day to day not to mention you can protect your hair long term with wigs by just caring for your real hair weekly as you would normally.

Crochet

Crochet installs are more about how you install your protective style rather than what you use. Crocheting your protective style refers extensions* that are literally crocheted into your own hair that has been cornrowed into a specific braid pattern.

The style uses a latch hook tool to install the hair and because you are installing it into your already braided hair using this method is less stressful on the roots of your hair and less stressful on your strands overall.

Believe it or not, crochet has been around since the 90’s but seems pretty new because of how popular it has been the last couple of years.

You can install faux locs, box braids, twists and loose hair by crocheting it into your braid pattern and the style lasts up to eight weeks depending on the style you choose to do.

Updos and buns

Added to the protective style conversation are styles like buns and updo’s that also can serve to protect your hair because you are hiding the most fragile parts of your hair, the ends! As such they deserve a mention but they can also easily be placed in the low manipulation style category which is why they only get a small mention.

Final thoughts

If you are looking for a protective style this guide will help you to make the decision a little easier or a little harder if you cannot decide which one to pick. Our advice? Try them all!