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Hello How Natural Beauties, we all love great protective hairstyles! There are so many options to choose from. Box braids, twists, updos, and corn rows are all categorized as protective styling. Our How Natural Beauty pictured here has been rocking her favorite protective style, Senegalese twists, since 2k1; well before she even embraced her natural tresses. Our How Natural Beauty admittedly confesses to often wearing her twists for way too long! Sometimes for up to 4 to 6 months…(face palm).
When Protective Hairstyles Become Overprotective
So, when does hair protection become overprotective? Just as an overprotective parent is not good, nor is an overprotective hairstyle. You want to give your ends a rest, but you also want to avoid breakage. A protective hairstyle should be worn for two months or less. I know when we’re counting our coins, this can seem fairly expensive; but the benefits greatly outweigh the costs. When you wear a protective hairstyle for longer; it is no longer protecting your hair and very well could be causing damage, leading to:
- Breakage
- Lack of length retention
- Build up
- Moisture Blockage
- Matted hair
- Hair shedding
If you’ve read our “Natural Hair 101: Becoming Hair Goals” guide, then you know that healthy hair is achieved by consistently maintaining it. If you haven’t read the article; please be sure to do so soon. Wearing a protective hairstyle for longer than two months does not allow you to keep up with the maintenance needed for healthy hair. Anything that grows needs nourishment. Protective styles should be taken down routinely and redone. In between protective styling you should be following a good maintenance routine on your hair as outlined in our Natural Hair 101: Becoming Hair Goals” guide.
So yes, continue to protect your hair, but never be overprotective. What’s your favorite protective hairstyle How Natural Beauties? Are you guilty of being “overprotective”?
