There has been a long standing myth among the natural hair community that the only way to grow long healthy hair is to use protective hairstyles. For those new to the natural hair community, protective styling involves putting your hair into a style that involves tucking your ends away from the atmosphere to protect them from damage whilst your hair grows. The premise is that if the ends of your hair don’t break and your hair continues to grow, then you will achieve longer hair.

This myth is so deeply entrenched in the natural hair community that women will often do back to back protective style for upwards of a year to reach their hair goals. Now don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of women who have achieved amazing lengths from protective styling, but there are a few women who never yield results from all their efforts.

Problems Caused by Too Much Protective Styling: 

• TANGLING from hair being untouched for long periods of time. This especially occurs in styles that take so long to put in that the mere thought of taking them down after only a few days seems like a waste. Thus, those women decide to leave in those styles for weeks.
• DRYNESS from hair that is left untouched and uncared for for too long
• BREAKAGE from over manipulating the hair to create elaborate hairstyles

Loose twists are a versatile long term style that can help you retain more hair length. They require very little upkeep and look great on medium to long length natural hair. Love the look of locs but not too crazy about the commitment? This style is for you!

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During the winter, the harsh weather changes can be damaging to your hair. Think about it: you go from inside a warm house, usually circulating dry air, into a cold, windy, and frigid environment. Not only is the temperature change hard for you, but your follicles can pay a price too. If you’re struggling for simple remedies to the cold, here are four protective styles that can keep your hair safe from the freezing winds.

Wigs are big business, and a great way to alter your style without altering your hair. They are also a protective style, as your own hair is protected under the wig from daily manipulation and breakage. It is also the perfect way to see if you like a particular style before fully committing to it. Now, there are a range of prices when it comes to wigs, and while some prefer high-end, there are some rather great ones that are reasonable. How much you choose to spend on one is completely up to the wearer, and typically is dependent upon how often it will be worn.

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Your hair needs your help. If you want your strands to look their best, they need you to protect them from all sorts of daily dangers. When it comes to protecting your hair from the elements, we have a few tips to keep your hair looking and feeling its best!

The most important thing to remember about protecting your hair from the elements is that it is a yearlong commitment just like the rest of your routine.

Here are a few tips on protecting your hair from the elements.

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Zara writes:
I'd like to share this vid of Nicola talking about her super durable, gray crochet braid style! The hair is from "Latched + Hooked" and is super easy to use! Next time, I'll probably help her with the install!

I first created this super easy high bun for my maternity photo shoot, inspired by a style I saw on the beautiful Cassandra Beccai. Since then, it has easily become one of my go-to styles and the one I get the most compliments on. Today, I’m SO excited to finally share this high bun tutorial with you!s

Zara writes:

Here is a vid demonstrating how I slay this super easy closure wig. I needed a cute protective style that would take little effort to accomplish and also cause no tension. This natural hair texture wig was the answer! Perfect for every hair type and takes less than 2 hours to complete!

Nadine of GirlsLoveYourCurls writes:

This video is a step by step tutorial on African threaded extensions. It is a fantastic way to retain length, because it protects your hair while locking in moisture. I've used this technique to grow my natural hair several times and love it, because it's quicker to put in and take down than regular braids. I have not seen this technique anywhere on YouTube, so I wanted to share it.

Many have asked the question, how can you enjoy your hair if it’s always tied up in protective styles. My response: because it makes life easier. Protective styling is constantly encouraged, especially among type 4 natural with coily hair types because it has the benefit of helping you retain length, but it also comes with more advantages:

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Being a new natural has its challenges. Styling, washing, conditioning and even nighttime routines can make for longer than usual hair care and who needs or wants those kinds of headaches?! Sometimes you want something simple to just get you through the day. Is that even possible when first out of the gate as a natural hair newbie?

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Naturally Elite writes:

My hair is tightly coiled and shrinks up to 70% or more its true length so protective styles are not always my favorite look. I much prefer low manipulation styles like my go to high afro puff because I love having volume, but I cannot deny the benefits of protective styling.

When my hair is worn protectively my hair it isn’t as prone to tangles, in many cases it’s very low maintenance, it retains moisture far longer and ultimately I have less breakage which gives me more length retention. What I have found is that there are some tricks to adding more glam to protective looks…

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I am definitely here for finger detangling my hair and I have been doing it for months now. I had just taken out my faux locs and did not rethink continuing my regular finger detangling ritual before shampooing my hair and let’s just say it did not turn out so well. I ended up with a big mess of tangles and lost a lot more hair shed than usual. I realized that because I had the faux locs in for quite a while, after taking them out (and not detangling it for a few days after that), I had developed some major kinks that finger detangling alone was not able to remove. With the length and amount of my hair, I had to go back to my neglected faithful combs. If you ever fall into a hot tangling mess like I did, remember:

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As a part of the transitioning process or just to protect your luscious curls from the harsh weather and over manipulation, protective styles such as braids, twists, buns, bantu knots, up-do’s, etc.  can be very beneficial. But, if not maintained properly can cause extreme breakage. Since most transitioning and natural beauties seek these styles because they are low maintenance and are considered to be a “break” from daily handling, you may fall into the temptation of not caring for your hair, which will later result in breakage.

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Protective styling is known as a style that helps to protect your hair and ends from the everyday elements. A protective style does not require much manipulation such as combing, brushing and pulling of your hair. I love wearing protective styles all year round.

If you have been keeping up with me, you know that I have been protective styling all summer. The reason that I have chosen to wear protective styles this summer is because I am trying to help my hair grow and retain length, and I’m just not feeling my natural hair right now. Due to a few reasons my hair just has not been super healthy like it should be. I talked about how I had to learn all over again how to care for my natural hair post baby, here.

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Watch as Shekia Renea shows us how she installs crochet braids quickly and easily using Jamaican Bounce Pre-Curled Hair!  Enjoy!

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Braids are one of the most popular protective styles in the natural hair community. I personally have been wearing braids for years to retain length and to abstain from over-manipulating my hair.
If you’ve never done your own braids and would like to learn, just remember that practice makes perfect. You might not get it on the first try but don’t give up! Trust me, the money you keep in your pocket from doing your own hair is well worth the effort.

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