Dos and Don'ts of preparing your hair for a protective style

Image by Braid African_Pixabay

Protective styles are an excellent way to relieve your hair of daily styling while also encouraging hair growth and retention. However, before jumping into a protective style, it's important to prepare your hair to ensure that it's healthy, strong, and ready for the extra tension that comes with a protective style.

In this article, we'll discuss the do's and don'ts of preparing your hair for a protective style.

Do’s	​Don’ts
Deep Conditioning Deep conditioning is an important step to take before putting a protective style on type 4 hair. This helps make sure that your hair is moisturised, hydrated, and strong enough to handle the tension of the protective style. Use a conditioner that is made for natural hair or one that has nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, or honey when deep conditioning. Apply the deep conditioner from the roots to the ends of your hair and cover with a plastic cap for 30 to 60 minutes. This will make it possible for the conditioner to get deep into the hair shaft and give it the moisture and nutrients it needs. Rinse your hair well with cool water to help close the cuticle and keep moisture in.	Heat Styling Tools Heat styling tools can be bad for your hair, especially when you are getting ready to put your hair in a protective style. The heat can make the hair strands break, dry out, and become weaker, which can make them more likely to get damaged by the protective style. Instead of using hot tools to style your hair, try methods that don't involve heat, like banding or braiding. This will make it easier to braid or twist your hair into a protective style without damaging it.
Detangle Your Hair Detangling is an important step in preparing your hair for a protective style, as it helps to prevent tangling and matting once the style is in place. Begin by gently finger detangling your hair, working from the ends to the roots. Be sure to use a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush to remove any stubborn knots or lingering tangles without pulling or yanking your hair out.	Use Heavy Products When preparing your hair for a protective style, it's important to avoid using heavy products like oils or butters. These products can weigh down your hair and make it more difficult to style, while also causing buildup on the scalp and hair strands. Instead, choose light products that give your hair moisture and hydration without weighing it down. Look for products with natural ingredients like aloe vera, glycerin, or jojoba oil. These will help to moisturise your hair without causing buildup.
Cut your ends off Trim your ends just before a protective style. This helps to remove any split ends or damaged hair, which can cause breakage and weaken the hair strands. It's best to trim your ends at least every 3-4 months to maintain healthy hair growth.	Too Tightly Instal the Safety Style When people wear protective styles, many make the common mistake of wearing them too tightly. This puts stress on the hairline, which can cause hair to break and fall out. When putting on a protective style, make sure it's not too tight and don't pull the hair around the edges too tightly.

So, are you ready for your protective style?

Love MPL 🧡.