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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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
