by Cameron Ziglar
Here we are! Winter is upon us. While we are happy to see the holiday season, we also want to keep you stylish and protected. It’s time to catch up on some protective styles to keep us from the dangers of winter weather. Wondering what protective styles will protect your natural hair? We have a few cute, easy, and lasting styles to choose from that will keep you cute and slaying during the holiday season.
What Are Protective Hairstyles?
But wait, what are protective styles? Don’t be shy to ask, we’re all here for the same reason! Protective styles are hairstyles meant to keep your hair protected from too much manipulation but let’s get a little deeper. A protective is any style that tucks away the ends of your hair. But what are we protecting our hair from? The ends of our hair are sensitive, if not kept protected, they can easily be manipulated and lead to the things we don’t want on our natural hair, like split ends.
Why Protective Styling Is important for Natural Hair
Natural hair can become dry, tangled, and frizzy, and with too much tugging and pulling it can lead to breakage. Breakage can also come from heat damage, shedding, and weather. Yes, WEATHER!
Cold dry weather can drain our beautiful crowns of the natural oils and moisture it needs throughout the day. With dry hair comes breakage, frizz, and an itchy scalp. In order to keep this from happening to our natural hair, it is important to protect it with protective styles.
Protective Styles for Natural Hair
Here are a few protective styles that will keep you looking cute and protected during the winter season.
Twist Set
Twist sets are a great natural style that keeps your hair protected, stylish, and is very versatile. This style is perfect for embracing your natural hair and keeping it protected and moisturized. Many styles can be worn with twist sets, and when you take them out the results are gorgeous! Twist sets can be worn as a protective style or just for the style itself. It’s a simple style that can be done right at home with the right products and doesn’t cost a dime! This style can last up to four weeks with the right maintenance.
Bantu Knots
Bantu Knots are a stylish and contemporary protective style that are simple, easy, and can be done right at home. This style does not require added hair and doesn’t cost any money unless you choose to add hair. This style is cute and has a cute and stylish result when you choose to take them out as well, leaving you with beautiful bouncing curls. This style can last up to two weeks with the right maintenance.
Headwraps
Headwraps are a style that anyone can do. It is simple, easy, and cute. It doesn’t require any added weight or stretching on your natural hair, and it can be taken down and put back up throughout the day. It is super versatile and can be styled the way you like. Let’s not forget to mention, it costs little to no money at all and you can do it right at home! Headwraps are a great protective style for us, natural women, on a budget.
Sidenote: Cotton can be bad for your hair with the pulling and rubbing. It can pull the moisture from your hair and lead to dry and textured hair. It is best to wear a silk bonnet or scarf underneath your headwraps. There are also silk headwraps for locking in moisture and protecting your hair.
Protective Styles with Braids
Protective styles with braids are a great style for protecting your hair, looking cute, and relaxing from maintaining the everyday styling of natural hair.
Crochet
Crochet is a braided style that begins with your natural hair braided down with many optional styles of weave to add to your hair. This style can be with faux locs, box braids, twists, curly hair, straight hair, etc. The options are endless. This style is faster, easier, and healthier for your hair than the traditional option for box braids, twists, locs, etc. This style is not as heavy on your natural hair and can lead to less breakage. It is cute, and you generally cannot tell a difference between crochet and the original styles. Crochet styles can last up to six weeks with the right maintenance.
Box Braids
Box braids are a super cute traditional protective style for all hair types. This style has been the go-to for decades and still is today. This look is cute, stylish, and versatile as well. With many gorgeous options to chose from with styling, color, length, size, and many more things that can have a unique touch when it comes to box braids. This style can last up to eight weeks with the right maintenance. These can be done at home or in a stylist’s shop near you! Remember, if you do not have a personal stylist, you can find one on our website at swivelbeauty.com.
Sidenote: Be advised that box braids can lead to breakage and loss of edges if you do not have the right person styling them. Be sure whoever is styling your braids is not making them too tight, although tight braids may last longer and look fresher, they can put too much stress on your edges and pull them out. The right hair is important too, with hair that is too ruff, it could lead to stripping of your hair and breakage.
Feed-in Braids
This is a gorgeous style for braids and very versatile. These feed-in braids can be done in many different styles and give many different looks. Although this is a great protective style, they do not last very long. Those looking for a style that lasts longer than two weeks should probably look for another style. This is a quick look for a short vacation or to last for a weekend.
Protective Styles for Relaxed Hair
Though many of the styles mentioned previously can work for relaxed hair, here are some styles that can work well with relaxed hair too.
Faux Ponytail
Some of us want a cute style that will look as natural as possible. A faux ponytail is a cute style with easy installation. All you’ll really need is your choice of styling gel or wax for a sleek appearance. A comb and hard brush, and the hair for your faux pony. This style can last from one to two weeks with the right maintenance. Also, if you don’t want to do this at home, you can always visit your local stylists for this look. If you don’t have one, check on our website Swivel Beauty for stylists near you!
Weaves and Wigs
These are styles that are guaranteed to keep you looking cute! Installing wigs or weaves can be tricky at home and may require some practice. But never fear, there is always a way! For these styles, you will need your choice of a wig or weave, glue or thread, a comb, a brush, and heat such as a blow dryer, and flat iron or curling iron. If you feel that you aren’t the right person for the install, you can always visit your local stylist! Also, these styles can last up to six to eight weeks depending on your choice of installation. This could be a lace front wig, a sew-in, a closure, etc.
Sidenote: Be advised that too much glue can pull out your edges/baby hair so be sure always know exactly how much is enough and try to stay as far away from edges as possible during install. Also, keeping an install in too long can leave to matting and dreading so be sure to only keep an install in for the recommended duration.
Bun/ Top Knot
Buns and top knots are a simple go-to style, and if you did not know, now you do. This is a protective style! Buns and top knots are a super cute, go-to style. For those mornings when your hair is simply not cooperating, a bun is the style to choose! This style protects the ends of your hair and keeps the moisture locked in. Although this is a style that typically lasts only throughout the day, it’s so simple, you can wake up and do it again the next day!
All of the styles listed are styles that can be done by a professional. If you do not know a professional hairstylist, our website offers a way to find one in your area. Doing these styles without the right tools and knowledge can damage your hair and the whole purpose of these styles is to protect it. Visit our website at swivelbeauty.com for more information.
Pro Tips: Maintaining Your Protective Hairstyle
Maintaining your protective styles is important for longevity. The best way to keep them looking fresh and moisturized is to keep them fresh and moisturized. This can be done by keeping your styles covered at night. This can be with a silk bonnet or scarf for coverage. Also, be sure to keep these twisted and braided styles moisturized with oil, this can help prevent itching and keep them from having a dry look. Braided and twisted styles can also be maintained by keeping the perimeters fresh. If you aren’t ready to take the style out, just re-do the perimeter for a fresh look. Also, don’t wash the style too much. This can cause frizz and strip hair of moisture.
Bottom line
Winter weather can be damaging for textured hair, and one of the best ways to keep your hair protected is to wear any of these styles. Low manipulation and low heat will have your hair flourishing by summer.