3 KEY WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HAIRLINE WHEN WEARING A PROTECTIVE STYLE

1. Give direction on how you want your pro

tective style installed.

When getting a protective style installed like braids or weaves, the popular theory is that the tighter the installation, the better. Many also believe that every little bit of your edges needs to be captured in the braided style or foundation braids. When it comes to keeping your hair and edges healthy, both are really, really big misconceptions.

As I noted above, your edges are made up of shorter, more fragile hair. Tightly installed protective styles can mean trouble for these precious strands. Your edges rely on the longer hair around them to be healthy, strong, well-moisturized and not overstressed. Tight installations interfere with all of that, and leave your longer hair weaker which in turn causes your baby hairs to be weaker as well. Weak hair is prime for breakage and loss. Your edges should never be braided because they are neither strong nor long enough to handle the weight of the braids—and can also break or fall out under the strain.

That’s why it’s important to let your stylist know if the installation is too tight. Your installation should never hurt you, leave your scalp tender or make you unable to move your face without discomfort. You should also be able to sleep without feeling as if your head is literally throbbing. Direct your stylist to leave your baby hairs out of the braids and smooth them down with a moisturizing treatment like my Hairline Help! 2-in-1 or my Hairline Help 2-in-1 Plus™ Bamboo And Biotin Edge Grow.

2. Give your hair proper protection as well as a chance to rest.

A protective style should never be worn for longer than eight (8) weeks at a time. This time limit is not only about the style still looking good after two months, but also about being able to give your hair and scalp the deep cleansing, conditioning and care they need without hair extensions, weaves or wigs getting in the way. Again, your hairline depends on your entire head of hair to be healthy and moisturized. Just as you allow your body to rest after a beneficial work out, you should give your hair and hairline a chance to rest too.

Instead of going directly from one protective style right into another, it’s important to thoroughly prepare your hair before going into another protective style. I have the perfect pre-style regimen that uses just three of my Protective Styles products: The Healthy Hair Under There Bamboo, Avocado And Peppermint Conditioning & Restoring Serum; the Gro Hair Gro Bamboo And Coconut Milk Growth Oil ; and the Intense Moisture Bamboo And Coconut Milk Strengthening Leave-in Conditioner. Apply all three as directed on the bottles, sit under the dryer, shampoo and style.

It is also important to not wear a style that is braided away from your face consecutively. Switch up the direction of your style to give your edges and hairline a break. While protective styling does help you cut down on manipulation of and heat applied to your hair, constantly wearing a protective style that is based on braiding away from the face can be stressful on the hair, hairline and scalp as well. Don’t make the mistake of missing all the benefits of a protective style by wearing it too often. After all, you want to see how much your hair has grown and flaunt your own length—and healthy hairline—too.

3. Use products that will promote healthy hair growth.

Another big misconception is that you can just install protective styles without needing to do much else to your hair. The truth is that your own hair still needs to be cared for and maintained even when it is being worn in a protective style. While wearing a protective style, you still need to:

• Hydrate your scalp and moisturize your hair to promote a healthy growth environment and keep your strands from becoming dry and brittle.
• Cleanse your hair and scalp to prevent dirt and product build up.
• Repair any damage, wear or tear your hair and hairline may experience by properly nourishing your scalp and hair.

The kind of products you use to accomplish these three critical steps in hair care matters. Products that contain GMOs, parabens, alcohol, mineral oil, DEA, petroleum or formaldehyde can dry out, be particularly harsh, or cause excessive build up on your hair and scalp. The key is to use products with ingredients that naturally support, properly feed and don’t weigh down your hair and scalp. My Protective Styles collection was especially made to hydrate, cleanse and repair your hair and scalp to give you healthy, growing hair while rocking a protective style, your natural hair or even chemically-treated hair—precisely because of the ingredients in each of the products.

Each item in the Protective Styles line is made with SciNatranol—a breakthrough ingredient I’ve discussed before but can’t underscore enough. It is a powerful combo of bamboo, basil, biotin and other natural ingredients that can help your hair and scalp absorb collagen which gives your hair elasticity; reduces dandruff and itchiness; boosts your hair’s ability to regrow thinning or lost hair; and pumps up your hair’s thickness and shine. No other products on the market contain SciNatranol; no other products protect your hair like this.

If you have any questions on protective styling, hair loss or the Protective Styles collection, please don't hesitate to email me at asktaliah@naturalhair.org.