Protective Styling
Master the fundamentals of protective styling to keep your 4C hair healthy, strong, and growing while looking fabulous.
Hair Prep Techniques
Prepping your hair before a protective style is vital to keeping your hair healthy and properly maintained while in a style too. If it’s been a while since you’ve had a trim, take care of split ends to make it easier to tuck and blend your hair if you’re getting extensions. Start with clean and moisturized hair (aim to deep condition your hair at least once a week). Finger detangle in the shower with conditioner or detangle with a comb while it’s wet/damp for less snagging. Apply a leave-in conditioner and seal it with a light oil. If your hair needs to be blow-dried straight, use heat protectants to prevent heat damage.
Installation Do's and Don’ts
Avoid installing styles on already weak or damaged hair, and never pull too tightly on your edges or baby hairs. Be careful not to put too much added hair in one section, since heavy extensions can thin out your strands. Always braid on dry hair, if you braid wet hair too tightly it shrink as it dries and create even more tension. Know when to take down the style, like when it gets too itchy, or you risk matting and breakage when it comes down.
Maintenance Routines
Establish a nighttime routine for your hair care, even when it's in a protective style. Maintenance at night can reduce the time it takes to get ready during the day. At night, try to sleep with a silk/satin pillowcase, bonnet, and head scarf to protect your hair from snagging and prevent frizz, breakage, and dryness. Another way to help combat dryness is using a light oil on your scalp, and spritzing your hair with a leave-in spray before bed. If your hair is long, split them into 2 sections and lightly twist or braid each section to keep them secure in your bonnet.
