Koudou also recommends adding a hair oil to your routine to prevent dryness.

Simply put: “If you’re not sleeping with a bonnet on at night, don’t expect your hairstyle to last for two months,” says Helena Koudou, founder of Slayed in Braids. Unlike cotton, silk helps your hair retain moisture and eliminates frizz, which will help you extend the wear of your look. To keep your protective style looking as crisp as it did when you left the salon, one of the most important things is to make sure you wear a silk bonnet or scarf at night. What’s the best way to maintain protective styles? Once you’ve settled on your look, you’ll want to be mindful of scalp tension and ensure the foundation isn’t too tight, says Kamara Brown, a crochet-braids specialist: “Otherwise it may lead to traction alopecia, headaches, and scalp soreness.” While many of us grew up believing that pain was the name of the game when it came to getting braids installed, we now know that overt tightness can actually cause hair loss-the exact opposite of what you want when opting for a protective style. Still, it’s important to make sure your natural hair is in good shape before getting a protective style, says Christiana Cassell, a stylist in Los Angeles: “It’s better to get a good cut or trim before braiding so your hair can withstand having any tension.” Natural curls-and particularly type 4 coils-are already drier and prone to breakage, so a great protective style can both help your hair retain moisture and help it grow faster. In short, protective styles help keep textured hair healthy by limiting its exposure to any damage caused by the sun, the heat, the cold, or overmanipulation. Braiding your natural hair is protective in and of itself, and less likely to damage your hair without the weight of additional extensions. However, there are plenty of protective styles for natural hair without weave. Protective styles often involve synthetic hair wrapped around or on top of your natural locks, shielding them from the elements and allowing them to grow unbothered. How do protective styles protect natural hair? But before you decide on your next style, make sure you know the basics. They can easily be switched up to add length, or you can mix in different colors and textures to change up your look. Not only are they tried-and-true methods for preserving our natural hair they’re also just plain fun. They’re beautiful in any season, keep your natural hair healthy, and allow for experimentation without a major commitment. Protective hairstyles are a perennial wonder for natural hair.

Box braid styles