One of the things I love most aboutnatural hairis the ability to create versatile styles.
What people don’t often mention is the amount of time it takes to create these styles.
Sometimes I just don’t have the energy!
DP Jolly / Romance Cox
That’s why I like to give my hairand myselfa break with protective styles.
Protective styles keep the ends of hair tucked away to discourage tugging, pulling, and manipulation.
Protective styles include things likewigs, buns, two-strand twists, and braids (with or without extensions).
But here’s the thing: Not everyone is a fan.
Some consider protective styling as the key to hair health.
Not sure what to think?
We asked 10 popular YouTubers where they stand in the great protective styling debate.
Here’s their advice for anyone trying to keep their natural hair as protected as possible.
How you prep your protective style is just as important as which style you choose.
My favorite protective style is two strand twists!
They’re gentle, easy, and quick to install.
Additionally, they can be molded into other hairstyles easily to switch up your look.
Whitney White,@naptural85
Protective styles are great, but only if you moisturize.
Done the right way, protective styling can help mask mismatched textures and even encourage your hair to grow.
The number one thing to remember before tucking away all your curls is to confirm they are well-moisturized.
Many people think that just because your hair is put away, dryness and breakage wont be an issue.
Your hair can become more brittle and fragile than when you started if you dont prepare it properly.
My favorite protective style is the curly bun.
As far as the best products to use for this style: water!
Water helps with hydration and any minor detangling I might have to do.
It also helps with refreshing the style later if needed.
Ebony Bradley,@EbsCurlyTV
Your protective style doesn’t have to be a big to-do.
I keep it simple when protective styling.
T’Keyah Bennett,@tkeyahbennett
Don’t forget to keep your scalp clean.
To be honest, I’m not a fan of protective styling.
Ashley Hall,@curlsfothegirls
And moisturized.
Don’t forget to maintain your scalp and hair underneath your protective style.
Dry and brittle hair can lead to breakage.
Romance Cox,@heycurlie
Embrace braids.
Protective styling is so helpful, especially in the beginning of your journey.
I love braids because theyre so versatile and allow your scalp to breathe.
Felicia Jones,@hif3licia
Try conditioning spray to keep hair hydrated.
Protective styling can be key to retaining length and keeping your hair healthy.
My favorite protective styles are twists and box braids!
I also love a good leave-in conditioning spray when rocking a protective style.
A quick spray is all I need to keep my hair hydrated and looking fresh.
HappyCurlHappyGirl,@happycurlhappygirl
Play it safe with twist-outs.
Protective styling is not protective.
This is because hair is being stretched out from tension.
I believe that the safest styles for naturally curly hair are twist-outs and braid-outs.
Jarely the Curly Haired Specialist,@faithincurls
Keep it simple.
Protective styling is a great way to keep your ends and your hair protected from environmental factors and manipulation.
Keeping your protective style simple will allow you to get the full benefits of a protective style.
Avoid going for hairstyles that require tension on the scalp and our delicate hair.
A classy two strand-twisted updo or dutch braids are also options.
Jessica Lewis,@mahoganycurls
Go low maintenance.
Choose a style that requires little maintenance and little manipulation.
The more you play around in your hair, the harder it becomes for growth to progress.
My favorite style is my curly puff.
To refresh my curly puffs, I useBy Made Beautiful Curl Quench Refresher.
It has a light tropical scent and does not make the hair dry or brittle.
Nicolette Francis,@modelesque_nic
