Summer is here! The sun is out, the pools/beaches are open, and protective styles are in! Every summer we can remember our mother putting our hair in some form of protective style because school is closed. So, there is no need to daily or weekly styling. These styles are kept in for 4 to 6 weeks at a time. These traditions we have carried into our natural regimen in the future. However, we are changing it up a notch. We have to care for our natural hair before and after the protective styles as well as during the style. How do we do that? Let us go. BEFORE: 1. CLEANSE You should give your hair a deep cleanse prior to installing a protective style. And no, we are not talking about using a co-wash. Your hair should be cleansed using a cleanser or shampoo. So, the properties of the product should solely be for cleansing the scalp of dirt, oil, PRODUCT, and excess sebum 2. DEEP CONDITION Next, it is time to revitalise your hair strand using a deep conditioning treatment. This has to be a holy grail product that actually gets the job done. The ingredients are able to penetrate the hair shaft with the e oils and butters to hydrate, moisturise and strengthen each and ever hair strand. This allows your hair to absorb the minerals to withstand 4 to 6 weeks without any weekly treatments.
3. DETANGLE And more importantly, you have to detangle your hair thoroughly. We recommend detangling with your wide tooth comb or Denman brush. These tools are able to get to each strand of hair quicker than your fingers would. As well as it is able to remove the tangles better than your fingers would. Prior to installing your protective style, your hair has to be tangle free. Tangles will make the installation process harder. You will spend more time detangling your hair when you are supposing to be styling it. As well as, removing knots and tangles could cause your results to become frizzy. 4. MOISTURISE And finally, moisturise. Remember hydration and moisture is not the same. However, you need your hair to be hydrated in order to properly moisturise your hair. Firstly, your hair has to be hydrated which should be with water, water-based leave in conditioners or aloe vera juice. All of which has the key ingredient which is h20 or water. Then, this hydration has to be sealed into the hair shaft. The sealing is an important step because it allows you to retain the hydration for a long time. More importantly, your hair will not be receiving any form of hydration for 4 to 6 weeks or depending on how long you have the e style in for. And finally you can style into any protective style that you desire.
Your protective style does not have to be grand such as single strand knots, faux locs or crochet braids. It can simple such as a bun, mini twists/braids or even a crown braid. Depending on what you are comfortable with, do the protective style that works for you. Regardless, you need to care for your hair prior to the protective.
