let’s keep it real.
dealing with your natural hair during the summertime can be a lot of work. nobody got time for hours of styling only to deal with the humidity ruining your hard work (but, props to you if you do!) with this in mind, a great solution is getting a protective style, such as braids or twists. for the amount of time spent getting your protective style done, and the amount of money- it’s worth it to maintain proper care so that the style not only lasts for a while; but it looks good (and is good to your scalp) all throughout too!
i recently got knotless braids for my birthday trip to jamaica, and it took 11 hours to get done. you read that right! these braids were down to my ankles, because i’m extra like that, and honey- one month later, we're still going strong! i knew that i didn’t want my investment in this style to go to waste, so it was super important for me to follow a regimen that would keep my scalp healthy & moisturized, and the braids looking fresh and neat for as long as possible. read along for my top tips for maintaining your protective style this summer!
protect your crown at night
just because your hair is braided up, doesn’t mean that you no longer need to protect it at night. sleeping with a silk scarf or a satin pillowcase will help keep your hair frizz free, edges secure, and also protect your braids from drying out. if you’re anything like me, and move a lot when you sleep, it’s likely that your scarf will fall off. sleeping with both a scarf and a silk pillowcase is your best bet in this case, as you’ll be protected regardless.
moisturize as needed
think of your scalp like a plant. plants need water to grow- and so does your hair! everyones scalp is different, but it’s recommended that you moisturize your hair at least 2-3 times every week. a spray bottle will be your best friend! some days, i’ll just use water- and others, a combination of a leave-in conditioner, water, and black castor oil to seal it in.
wash your braids bi-weekly
whether you realize it or not, every day, sweat and dirt forms on your scalp. this can lead to product buildup, and sometimes a foul smell to go along with it. washing your hair every two weeks will help to combat this, keeping your braids fresh looking, smelling, and ready to slay! if you’re worried about your hair frizzing up from the wash, be sure to check out this video on how to properly wash without added frizz.
the less updos- the better
while updos and high ponytails are a whole look, be careful with how often you are styling your braids like this. these hairstyles tend to add tension to your scalp, especially around your perimeter. this can lead to not only breakage and frizz, but pieces of your hair falling out, and headaches too. instead of opting for these styles daily, limit them to 1-2 times per week.
reduce frizz with mousse
and not just any mousse- make sure that it’s water based, as this will reduce buildup and flaking. apply the mousse to the frizzy parts of your scalp/braids, and follow up by tying your braids down with a silk scarf for at least an hour. when you remove the scarf- your braids will be back looking fresh & neat, it’s seriously a game changer! my favorite has been the design essentials curl enhancing mousse- it smells amazing too! if there are any remaining flyaways- use a hair scissor to carefully trim them away, making sure that you’re not cutting your actual hair
refresh your ends with hot water
over time, the ends of your braids may start to look matted. one way to refresh & give them life again is by dipping your hair in hot water. this will help to seal the ends, and also bring back movement so it is not as stiff. i do this once a week, especially i plan to go out as it helps my braids to have that ‘just done,’ look.
don’t leave them in forever
with braids making our getting-ready process so much easier, it can be tempting to keep them in for an extended period of time. this has the potential to backfire, as it is possible for your hair to lock up, and possibly break off if you keep it in for too long. it’s recommended that you keep your hair in a protective style for eight weeks at the max.
will you be rocking a protective style this summer?
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