Beauty & Fashion
When you have natural hair, protective styling becomes your BFF. Not only is it a way to quell the sometimes monotonous feeling of doing your hair and allows you to switch it up, but protective styles are hairstyles that are essential to your hair's growth and ability to retain length. So, win win.
And for those of us who weren't aware already, the perfect time for protective styles is during the colder months when hair can become susceptible to breakage due to the harshness of the weather. Plus, since your hair is tucked away, it reduces the amount of heat and manipulation that could occur with daily maintenance. Looking for some inspo to help you spice it up? We got y'all!
Below are 9 protective styles that we've loved this year, aimed to protect your natural hair all season.
Box Braids.
There are several ways to add your own personal flair to box braids. You can install them using ombré braiding hair, adding hair jewels, or opting for triangle-shaped parts.
▲Faux Locs.
Faux locs are a great way to achieve the look of locs without committing to the actual process of getting locs. For the most natural looking faux locs, braid your natural hair and wrap those braids with any coarse hair extension. If you're crunched for time, opt for crochet faux locs.
▲Fulani Braids.
Fulani braids are becoming more and more popular. This protective style is created by having your hair braided back, while keeping one or two braids facing forward. Keep them bare, or accessorize them heavily with beads.
▲Senegalese Twists.
Senegalese twists are two-strand twists that are a bit smaller in size compared to Havana twists and have a much smoother appearance. They are installed using kanekalon hair, making this a pretty inexpensive protective style.
▲Boho Locs.
These boho locs are an extension of the faux loc family. Your natural hair will be protected and braided down into cornrows. These loc extensions already do majority of the work for you, because they come in a wavy/curly texture.
▲Feed-In Braids.
Feed-in braids are one of the most natural looking protective styles because they give off the illusion that the braids are actually growing from your scalp. Your natural hair will be used as the starter braid for any feed-in style, and braiding hair extensions will be added to your natural hair strand by strand for this style.
▲Lace Front Wigs.
Investing in a quality lace front wig can be very costly, but the versatility that can be attained with a lace front wig makes it all worth it. While it does present limitations when it comes to parting and pulling off certain hairstyles, it makes up for it when it comes to applying heat and color.
▲Jumbo Braid Ponytail.
The benefits of sporting a jumbo braid ponytail come down to cost and time. This style only requires one pack of jumbo braiding hair, making it one of the most inexpensive protective styles that can be done within 30 minutes from start to finish.
▲Havana Twists.
The main difference between senegalese and havana twists is the type of hair that is used. Havana twists are installed using havana twist hair, giving it a more coarse look than senegalese twists. They also happen to be larger.
▲Want more protective style inspiration? Check out these posts here.
Featured image by Getty Images
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