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

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!