What Happened When I Tried Products Created For Protective Styling
It's been a protective style summer for me and honestly, it's looking like it will be that way for the winter too. I've never been a fan of protective styling because, in my experience, it hasn't always been protective. I've either experienced tenderness from super tight braids or my edges have taken a hit. To avoid these cons when it comes down to getting protective styles, there are a few things to consider: the type of style, the stylist, and most importantly, how to maintain your real hair under your protective style.
I never paid much attention to how important it was to care for your hair while it was in braids or twists. I always thought it was protected so I didn't need to do much, but that's far from the truth. Our hair requires the same TLC it does when it's out and in its natural state, i.e. through washing, moisturizing, and even deep conditioning. So, I tried two products for protective styling and here's why I think you should never go without them.
Writer Krissy Lewis by Drea Speaks Photography
Girl + Hair’s RESTORE+ Restoring Hair Treatment Balm
Writer Krissy Lewis by Drea Speaks Photography
The entire line is easy to use and I would definitely recommend this for all of your protective style needs, but I want to highlight the Restoring Hair Treatment Balm. Here's why:
The Tool + Product Consistency
Girl + Hair prides itself on having easy-to-use tools that work, making it easier for us to keep our hair hydrated. The applicator allows you to get into your stands and roots easily and the slightly loose consistency allows the product to flow through your hair. The treatment balm is made with castor, shea, Abyssinian, and olive oil. Together, the oils act as a source of moisture, shine, as well as a heat protectant. I can't lie; I was a little concerned about how the castor oil might work because typically it's pretty thick. However, it was the right consistency to glide through each strand of my hair as I added moisture. It's recommended to use and massage on the root/scalp of your hair, but I think it's perfect for using throughout your hair.
Consistency is very important when it comes to protective styling. We need products that have the capability to access our hair whether it's in braids, twisted, or under a wig.
The Moisture
As I said, this is an oil-based product that adds shine and moisture. You can use it alone, but you gain the ultimate moisture when used with a leave-in conditioner. It's recommended to use this product daily, but to be honest, I didn't have to. I used it every other day or every two days, and my hair was still very well moisturized. Of course, it depends on your hair and the level of dryness you experience. Please use it as you see fit. It was also recommended to use on the scalp, but I used it throughout my entire hair — my ends, the synthetic hair, all of that! Our ends are very crucial too so don't forget to moisturize it as well.
Okay so we love to have options, right? I also tried the moisturizing mint shampoo from Taliah Wajiid's protective style collection and here's what I thought.
Taliah Wajiid's Bamboo And Coconut Milk Moisturizing Mint Shampoo
Writer Krissy Lewis by Drea Speaks Photography
The Tool + Product Consistency
The entire line is affordable and accessible. One product I keep using over and over is the Bamboo And Coconut Milk Moisturizing Mint Shampoo. I love the tool! Honestly, it's just as good as the Girl + Hair applicator. I think they both do a great job of giving us access to our real hair while in a protective style. It makes it easy to get into each twist or braid. It is also runny and lathers pretty well, making it even easier to wash your hair.
Ingredients
Honestly, I am not the biggest fan of products that contain coconut. Coconut oil has never done anything for my hair so I avoid it. Ironically though, I love the ingredients in this product. It moisturizes and the mint soothes. It's made with peppermint, aloe, bamboo extract, coconut milk, vitamin E, along with other various ingredients. Together, this one shampoo moisturizes, soothes, cleans, and strengthens your hair while it's tucked away.
I know some people skip shampooing and do other methods like co-washing with conditioner, but honestly, I think it's very crucial to shampoo, especially when your hair is tucked away. The ingredients are very important to me, especially in shampoos, because not every cleanser is helpful or even healthy for your hair. However, build-up happens easily and as long as you're using moisturizing shampoo or shampoo with beneficial ingredients, you don't have to worry about any harsh effects due to shampooing.
So... Overall What Do I Think?
After trying both products, I think either way you go, your hair will thank you for it. Both products understand the importance of protecting our real hair under braided or twisted styles and it shows throughout the line with each tool that they use. Both brands have amazing product consistency and another plus, it's both affordable and accessible.
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Featured image by Dreaspeaks Photography
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Freelance writer, content creator, and traveler. She enjoys the beauty of simplicity, a peaceful life, and a big curly fro. Connect with Krissy on social media @iamkrissylewis or check out her blog at www.krissylewis.com.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Why You Should Implement The Closing Shift Cleaning Hack Into Your Daily Routine
A new cleaning hack could allow you to do away with Saturday cleaning altogether because your house is already tidy. Closing shift cleaning is a viral trend originally named by influencer Clara Pierce, who shared with her followers how she keeps her apartment clean and how that leads to productivity and a better overall experience in her apartment daily.
"Whenever I'm really trying to set myself up for success for the next day, I close up my apartment like I'm closing a shift at work. Sometimes, the closing shift involves cleaning my entire apartment, and other times, it involves cleaning it 10% to make sure that it's better for the next day," Pierce shared with her followers.
The Closing Shift Cleaning Hack
@clararpeirce goodnight 😴🫶🏼 #closingshift #closingshiftcleaning #nightroutine
The closing shift video has garnered over 3.8 million views, and the hashtag #closingshiftcleaning now has over 71.3 million views, proving that TikTok users are benefiting from this cleaning trend. Now that we've entered the spring equinox, I applied this trend to my own home and discovered that spending an hour tidying my home daily versus having days where I clean for hours was far more productive.
The day-to-day ways that your home can become messy with dirty dishes, clothes, boxes from packages, etc., can easily create an environment that isn't conducive to rest. My home is my sanctuary, and with a busy schedule, making time on the weekends for one big clean wasn't giving me the experience that I needed in my home.
But taking the time every night before I went to bed to clean allowed me to wake up in an environment that not only looks good but feels good for my space and my mind. It also helped me to develop a routine to clean my dog's food and drink bowls nightly so that he was also benefiting from the closing shift routine, as the FDA recommends washing pet food bowls and utensils "after each use" and cleaning water bowls daily.
Decluttering experts such as Rebekah of Organize for Love have shared similar organization skills across social media platforms and through their offerings for those looking to organize their homes and lives. In this Instagram post, she discusses the importance of scheduled decluttering as well as having a routine to clean.
Have you tried the closing shift cleaning hack for your daily routine, or are you team "get somebody else to do it" with a weekly housekeeper? Please sound off in the comments, and let's get to cleaning.
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