Protective Styling 101 - Long Post for the Newbies!

I wanna talk about protective styling b/c I notice that many ladies are unfamiliar with the term. So, in short protective styling means to keep your hair protected from the elements, your clothing, heat styling and all other damaging agents that can dry your hair out and cause damage or breakage. Braids (extensions), buns, braid outs, weaves and wigs are all examples of protective styles. By keeps your hair from being exposed to the damaging agents and preventing the damage, you are able to retain length.

Ladies with hair shorter than collar bone or shoulder length are exempt to protective styling as far as CLOTHING goes. Of course, if you live in a climate with harsh winters and poor weather conditions you don't wanna expose your hair to this so you should still chose protective styling during these periods. Shoulder length ladies and beyond are the most vulnerable and should protect their hair as much as possible. Your strands are constantly rubbing against, the wool, cotton or other fabrics that your clothing is made of and in case you didn't know, many fabrics esp. wool and cotton are EXTREMELY drying. Be especially careful in those winter months when wearing wool scarves and hats. All of these fabrics can suck the moisture out out of our strands, which equals dryness, and once excessive or constant equals damage, which equals breakage, which equals cutting and that all equals not retaining your length. If you are constantly cutting your ends from breakage how do you expect to grow your hair longer (if that's your goal).

As mentioned above, the winter can be very harsh on our strands. The cold air can affect our hair as much as our skin making it dry and crackly which of course leads to breakage. You should def take the time to moisturize more often during these months and be sure not to go out with wet hair! It can freeze and snap off. However don't be mislead by the summer! Harsh UV rays can also have damaging effects on the hair just as on the skin. Imagine how your skin would burn and peel if all summer long you endured the scorching heat w/o any protectant on your body? Do you realize the sun hits your head 1st? Your hair is enduring more exposure than any other part of the body. The drying nature of the sun's rays mixed with the heat causing sweat on your scalp (salty toxins and we know how drying salt is for the hair and what drying causes right?!). Not a good combination. You can use natural oils like avocado to run through your hair b/4 stepping into the sun. Avocado oil is a natural sunscreen and will simultaneously nourish your tresses by providing moisture. You can also use cute silk or satin scarves to dress up your outfits while protecting your strands and summer hats are always fashionable to protect us from the sun. Be creative.

Now of course I don't have to get into how blow drying, curling irons and other heat tools are sooo not healthy for the hair. Like the sun, the heat from appliances sucks out the moisture, and can burn and dry out your hair. This is one of the best reasons for protective styling. Of course some of you just can't stay away so try to limit your usage to 1-2x per month and ALWAYS, use a heat protectant spray on your strands b/4 using your appliance. I'm currently using Silk Elements MegaSilk Heat Protector and the bottle lasts me forever since I rarely ever use heat.

Lastly combing and brushing are not good for the hair. Say what?! You heard me and I KNOW how you feel. I used to think these folks are sick in the head. I can NOT be unkept! Well I'm eating crow b/c I am officially one of them, I only comb on wash days under running water and guess what, I don't look like a hot mess. Now my protective styles of choice to help me keep it 2gether thru this are braid outs and bantu knot outs. They keep a "curly" look to the head and I pick the back up and make it look all cutesy. My hair isn't touching my shoulders, I don't need to comb b/c of the curls and waves and I still look groomed if you will. The friction of dry hair and a comb is just scaring me thinking about it. If this isn't your thing use your fingers to pull your hair into a pony and bun. The take a BOAR bristle/soft brush and GENTLY smooth down your edges ONLY, use your scarf to flatten while you get dressed and voila!, you look like 1 sleek and smooth mama! If you are going to comb, I wish you wouldn't but if you do, PLEASE DO SO ON MOISTURIZED HAIR WITH A WIDE TOOTH COMB, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!.

Apply these principles and you are guaranteed to see healthier hair, retain more length and less breakage. Protective styling doesn't have to be boring, use your imagination, experiment with your looks and make it work for YOU!!! It may all be foreign at 1st but keep at it and it'll become 2nd nature to you like it did for me. Here's to healthy hair...... Happy Hair Growing (HHG!)