Locs, twists, and buns are just a few examples of popular protective hairstyles that are common among men and women of all ages in the natural hair community. In addition to the beautiful outward appearance, protective hair styling has a wide range of benefits that are not always visible to the naked eye. Here we will be going over 3 of them in the hopes that you will consider protective styling during your next salon visit. 

• Maintain Moisture- Weather has a large impact on the amount of moisture that natural hair retains. Your stylist may recommend having a moisture treatment done and potentially even a trim prior to putting your hair in a new style. Using a protective style in addition to giving it moisture using products like leave-in conditioners will help your hair bounce back. 

• Encourages length retention- Breakage is an all too common culprit to damaging hair. It can be caused by a lack of moisture and can result in split ends, brittle texture and knots. Once your hair has been styled, it will be protected from breakage and will encourage your hair to grow. Many people find that there is a significant reduction in the numbers of tangles and knots because of the style itself. 

• Spend less time getting ready- There is beauty in just being able to roll out of bed and not have to worry about styling your hair. Some styles last for a week and others can last for 2-3 months. Speak to your stylist to see when you should schedule your next visit and if you can, book the appointment in advance. 

Always be sure to wear a satin/silk bonnet at night to keep in the moisture and prevent your hair from drying out. If you do not want to use the bonnet, use pillow cases that are made of satin/silk to continue to protect your hair.  Protective hairstyles are an essential part of natural hair care and there are many different options to choose from. At our natural hair salon we can help you find the right hairstyle to suit your lifestyle. If you are looking for a big change, we also do color on ethnic hair.