by
The Natural Haven
By Jc of The Natural Haven Bloom
Have you ever diligently braided or twisted your hair into a protective style but within a week, a niggling temptation to undo the style develops because you are bored with it? Do you actually like the way you look with braids or twists or do you feel that they greatly reduce the body of your hair and make you look ‘scalpy’? Have you been stuck wondering what to do with your hair because you just do not want to place it into braids yet again? If you have answered yes to any of the questions, then you need to learn a few secrets to enjoy and commit to protective styling. These tips will help you keep your hair in the style for longer, make you expand your styling repertoire and improve your self image.
The easiest way to transform box braids or twists into a completely different look is to simply pin them up. If you do not like how your twists look hanging down or if you have had your hair in braids or twists for a while and they are now have a fuzz halo, pinning up the twists is a quick and easy way to create elegance and add neatness to your hair style.
Some people feel that plain box braids or twists make them look childish. This is a legitimate concern especially if your job requires you to look ‘authoritative’. Another concern is that twists and braids can look quite ‘scalpy’ if your hair is not particularly dense naturally. You can achieve a fully protect your hair while still being stylish by simply adding a few cornrows or flat twists. Partial cornrows or twists are ideal because they require less effort and less detangling. Remember that you can additionally pin up the free twists or braids if you wish and this will take care of the ‘scalpy’ issue.
The two previous tips allow all your hair to be 100% fully protected. However, you can opt to have some of your hair loose, although this hair is not as protected as when it is in a braid or twist. The advantage, however, is that the style is definitely one that conquers boredom as you can play with the loose part. Most commonly it will be the hair in the front that is left loose but you can also partially cornrow/flat-twist the front and leave the back open or in a bun or braid the sides and leave the centre open and pinned in a fro-hawk style.
Hair buns are not a protective style for everybody. If your hair has a tendency to tangle up easily when loose (normally hair with high shrinkage and/or high number of kinks), then a hair bun is not a viable long term protective style as it may cause hair to break when detangling. However, if your hair does not behave in this way, a bun with tucked in ends is perfect as a protective style especially if you can leave the bun in for a few days at a time without undoing it.
I am a huge proponent of learning to style your own hair without extensions as this helps you learn what your hair can and cannot do, how it behaves when wet or when dry and how it reacts to products. However, if you are eager for a completely different look then extensions, weaves and wigs are a viable option . As always make sure that your hair is not done too tightly or too small especially at the hair line. Always detangle your own hair prior to going to the salon if you are not installing the braids yourself as not all stylists will take their time to do this.In extensions try to fully protect your natural hair by either braiding all the hair to the end or if you would like an open hair look, try tree braids.
Ladies, what are your secrets for enjoying protective styling?
15 Responses
Help!!! I am seriously thinking about box braids with extensions this summer. Let me give a a quick history- My hair is natural and shoulder length a 3B/C natural texture, no chemicals. I’ve worn it blown dry straight for the last 3years. For the summer, I would love to do a Protective low maintenance box-braids w/extensions hair style. The problem is I’m a swimmer i.e. pool and ocean. Can I style wear this hair style and maintain it? Please let me know. I love the box braid hairstyles w/long extensions. 🙂
thanks.
Eureka.
HELP!! can someone PLEASE help me and possibly a few other older women( 50 and over) with some of these gorgeous natural styles…I ahve been natural for over 4 years. I had a perm and very very short cut for years…got sick at the end of 2008 and my hair began to fall out. I use to be on a great deal of medication and just not healthy…once I got very ill the hair fell out and it took about a year to grow out the perm. I have all natural hair now..it is shoulder length..well let me correct that I have varyig lengths of hair all over my head…the thin is I am kinda stuck with one or two styles. I am left handed and braiding and twisting kinda throws me off. Flat twisting has been difficult for me to do but I keep trying. I am not a big product junkie(gotta watch my pennies and so many products cost more than my budget supports)I really dn’t know which type I am …looks like 3C sometimes..other times..it is a blend of types…not really sure on this. I do know one side of my hair is thicker than the other side, kinkier on one side not so on the other…one side will straiten out with just the blow dryer..the other takes a bit more heat to straighten. Not sure what to do with the grey..which is minimal right now…So..any takers here? I learn pretty fast but require a great deal of patience.
DianaMarie
those tree braids are clearly to tight!! folks stop losing your edges just because smh
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I wish buns were protective for me, but I never see any length retention from them.
Also, this is kind of off topic–yet still related–but how do you keep two strand twists from looking puffy at the scalp?
I usually braid it close to the root then twist
What works for me is to do my twists like a rope twist at the root. Basically doing a spin motion with the hair as you twist. It makes a smoother, tighter, but also skinnier twist. This used to be my default method of twisting but I felt like it was to rough on my finer areas of hair(though I could probably do it now no prob since I’m not twisting every day or two :P). It works well for keeping neat roots though so I like it for my edges when I plan on them showing. I only do it at my roots when I do it since i like fatter and fluffier twists. If you don’t mind skinnier twists you can always rope twist all the way down. I like getting the best of both worlds though :P. There are tutorials on youtube but many of them use extensions I would look for one using just their own hair for the best visual of what I was describing. Though I think one can still get the idea using the other videos.
ok, thanks ladies. I think I’ll try braiding at the root first, because I usually do the rope twist and I still cannot keep my roots from looking loose/puffy.
These pictures don’t do it justice!!! I had the opportunity to see it in person and it is haute!!
#3 I looooovveeee it! I´m not so good at parting but I!ll give it a try! thx
Kyla hairstyle is Gorgeous, did you do that yourself or professionally done?
#4 “Keep it open and tuck in the ends” is my secret for enjoying protective styling.
I love buns and the infinite yet simple variations one can do to create a totally different look. I do my buns on stretched hair (braid-out hair or banded hair) and I find that they are an easy, beautiful (and protective) style for my kinky coily hair. Buns are easy to install as well as easy to take down and detangle on wash day.
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Thanks for this… I’m currently trying out protective styles. I tried Senegalese twists earlier in the year, and I currently have a new flat twists/updo style (see pic below). I always twist my hair after washing and let it naturally dry. I’ll untwist in the morning… but I think after my next wash I’ll try the pinning up my twists because its a shame to have to take them out after all that time twisting!
Thanks!
Here’s my current style!
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Hair style done by London based styleist – Hair ByDavinya (FB)