My guide to protective styling

What is a protective style?

It is a style that groups our strands together, tucks away our ends and minimises manipulation of the hair.

Preparing your hair

Step 1: Pre-poo - I use a mixture of 1 tablespoon of caivil fusion hair grow oil, 10 sprays of aunt Jackie's e-blast spray and 10 drops of Iwori beauty mongongo hair strengthening oil mixed together. Sectioning my hair I apply to my roots, do a gentle massage with my head upside down. I then put on my shower cap and woollen cap and proceed to apply heat with my soft hood and hairdryer on low heat for 20 minutes after which I sleep with my pre-poo.

Step 2: Clarify - I do a 10-minute clarifying wash with aunt Jackie's oh so clean shampoo.

Step 3: Condition - I condition my hair with Tresseme Botanics conditioner, finger detangle my hair and leave to soak for 10-15 minutes before rinsing.

Step 4: Protein - I spray rice water onto the roots and lengths of my hair, do a 5-minute head massage with my head upside down and then leave in for approximately 20-30 minutes before rinsing.

Step 5: Moisturizing deep condition - I apply my shea moisture raw shea butter deep treatment masque in sections, comb through with my Denman brush and cover my head with cling wrap and my woollen cap before applying heat with my soft hood and hairdryer on a low heat setting for 30 minutes. Once completed I uncover my hair and allow it to cool down for at least 20 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Step 6: Locking in moisture - I then apply my aunt Jackie's quench leave-in conditioner, as I am so much moisture hydrating lotion and Jamaican black castor oil to seal in my products. I then plop for 10 minutes after which I allow my hair to air dry

Step 7: Taming flyaways - I apply shea moisture braiding gel to each section before styling

Caring for your protective style

Just because we've done a protective style does not mean we get to neglect our hair. I try to incorporate moisture and protein into my aftercare so that my hair remains at a healthy balanced level of both. Here's my routine every alternative day:

° Spray the roots of my hair with rice water mixed with two pumps of as I am so much moisture hydrating lotion and use my fingertips to gently massage it into my hair.

° Apply my oil mixture (1 tablespoon caivil fusion hair grow oil, 10 sprays of aunt Jackie's e-blast spray and 10 drops of iwori Mongongo hair strengthening oil) to the paths in my hair once complete I flip my head downward and to a gentle 10-minute scalp massage.

° When sleeping I cover my hair with my silk bonnet

Important things to remember

Protective styles should be kept in for approximately 4 weeks. This means that you'd need to include a wash day to your schedule. For washing, I mix aunt Jackie's oh so clean shampoo and water into my water spray bottle and spray this to the root area of each section and gently rub with my fingertips before rinsing.

° Protective styling alone doesn't make your hair grow, how you care for your protective style stimulates growth.

° If it is hurting you, remove it immediately.

° Your edges should never be tucked in your protective style if it is, undo your style immediately.

° Tighter is not better. Your hair is at risk of breaking.

How do you prepare and care for your protective style? share some of your advice and tips in the comments below.

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