Want to save time on your styles
Sometimes that extra five minutes in bed means the world to you early in the morning. You may think that your two strand twists are fully dry for your twist out or you know how your wash n go is going to turn out, only to see your hair become a huge mess in the process.
Now you have to figure out how to do your hair and determine if you are going to try that style again the next day. Protective styling allows you to get up and go.
You may want to style your box braids or add some accessories to your bun, but no extra styling is needed for your style.
Want to achieve length retention
Now some women can achieve length retention by not doing protective styles. If you notice more breakage when styling your hair, then this option may not be for you.
When some women leave their hair alone for a long periods of time, they notice more length retention than when their hair is in a twist out, wash and go, or other out styles.
This is just a fact and comes with experience. If you are the girl who can wash and go and retain length then by all means do so.
Want to try other styling options
Instead of going through hair envy of wanting locs NOW or long hair NOW, try adding extensions* that are a protective style.
Faux locs and crochet braids are all the rave right now. You can instantly experience how you think you would look in the future if a certain style or long length is your goal.
You are still unsure of how to style your hair
Not only are you taking a break from styling your own hair, but you can learn to style the protective hair style just for your own practice and experience.
If you have box braids, you can teach yourself how to do different styling options with box braids. If you have crochet braids, you can go on YouTube to learn the different and possible styles you can learn, instead of having your own hair down. Protective styling is another tool to help you learn how to style your own hair once you take it out.
You just do not like your hair out
And there is nothing wrong with that! Who says while you are on your healthy hair journey that your hair has to be out all the time.
Confession: Although I absolutely love my hair, I absolutely hate my hair down. My shrinkage is neck length, but when stretched it’s at APL? Yea…
That’s just not for me. I rather have a protective style any day. That’s just what works for me. Some women just don’t think having their hair out is for them and they love how they look with different protective styles.
Your lifestyle agrees with protective styling
If you are always on the go, a busy mom, an exercise guru, or you just don’t have the time to do your hair other than spray water and oil on it, then you should definitely do protective styles. Go for the style that will keep you cute, but out of the way while you have other things to do.
If you are absolutely not sure if protective styling is for you because you just started on your healthy hair journey, try a few different ones out.
Check out the styling options on Pinterest, YouTube, magazines, and our gallery here to get pictures and ideas on different protective styles you would love to try. As long as you continue to care for your hair while in protective styles, you and your hair would definitely be happy with whatever you decide.
Haley M. says
I feel you on not having the hair down. For me, I just don’t like my hair brushing against my clothes and for my ends to get frizzy from that. I love protective styling like buns and flat twists. Good article
Haley M. says
I feel you on not having the hair down. For me, I just don’t like my hair brushing against my clothes and for my ends to get frizzy from that. I love protective styling like buns and flat twists. Good article
ladee neenah says
Is it still a protective style if you don’t use added hair? I do small (but not mini) 2 strand twists on my ear length hair and I wear them for two weeks, just spritzing with water daily and sealing wiith oil. I wear a twist out for the last week and then wash and start the process all over. Does that count? I relly can’t go that long without washing my hair. Two and a half weeks is my limit.
ladee neenah says
Is it still a protective style if you don’t use added hair? I do small (but not mini) 2 strand twists on my ear length hair and I wear them for two weeks, just spritzing with water daily and sealing wiith oil. I wear a twist out for the last week and then wash and start the process all over. Does that count? I relly can’t go that long without washing my hair. Two and a half weeks is my limit.