Mastering Protective Styles for Natural Hair: Mistakes to Avoid When Wearing Wigs
Hey there, gorgeous!
If you’re reading this, you’re probably embarking on or are deep into your natural hair journey. First off, a big kudos to you for embracing your natural beauty! But, let’s be real – the journey can be a bit daunting with all the dos and don’ts floating around.
Today, I want to talk about three common mistakes that a lot of us make: wearing protective hair styles for too long, not washing/conditioning our hair, and choosing the wrong protective hair styles.
Why It’s Important Not to Make These Mistakes?
Making these mistakes can really put a damper on your hair health. Healthy hair is not just about looking good; it’s about feeling good and being confident in your natural beauty. So, let’s tackle these one by one and make sure you’re avoiding these pitfalls!
Wearing Protective Hair Styles for Too Long
Protective Hair styles are a godsend, right? They give you a break from daily maintenance and can help your hair grow. But ladies, here’s the thing: leaving them in for too long can do more harm than good. When you leave in braids, twists, or weaves for extended periods, you risk tangles, drying out, matting, and even breakage.
Braids are an easy and popular warm weather style. I know it can get easy to leave that style in for a little longer because of the hustle and bustle of your busy everyday life. Wash days are shorter or even non-existent. You can get some extra sleep or watch an extra show because you don’t have the everyday maintenance of styling your hair. Have you seen your hair thinning or seen someone else with very thin to no edges before? It is a wakeup call to take better care of your hair. Not giving your hair time to between styles, especially braids and weaves, is not a road you want to go down. It may not show up immediately but over time you will see evidence of an issue. Your hair needs to breath and take a break from the style it is in. Also, remember with braids that it is common to use synthetic braiding hair which is more drying. It is harder to moisturize your hair when there’s another layer of hair over it. Leaving braids in for too long is damaging for multiple reasons due to the potential for it to dry out and also there’s nowhere for your shedding hair to go until you remove them.
Remember to keep your scalp moisturized while in protective hair styles and remember to switch up your styles every 6-8 weeks. Trust me, your hair will thank you.
Regularly Washing Hair
Yes, cleanliness is next to godliness, but over-washing your natural hair can strip it of its essential oils. Natural hair thrives better with less frequent washing because those oils help in keeping your hair moisturized and protected. However, that frequency is dependent upon your specific hair needs and your daily activities. If you’re heavy into a workout schedule and are exposed to a lot of dust and dirt you may need to wash your hair more often to remove the environmental elements. Remember that washing your hair removes product build up so if you’re only washing your hair once a month you have a whole months’ worth of oils, creams, dead skin cells, dirt, and everything else in your hair! How would you feel if you could only wash your body once a month? That’s exactly how your scalp and hair feels.
A general rule is to aim to wash your hair every 1-2 weeks. In between washes, use a Leave-In Conditioner to keep your hair hydrated and fresh.
Click here for ideas on great oils to use
Choosing the Wrong Protective Hair Style
Not all protective hair styles are created equal. Some can cause more tension and stress on your hair than others. Styles that are too tight or heavy can lead to breakage and damage, especially around the edges. When I decided to go natural, I decided to wear a sew-in to get me through my transition period. I thought I was doing everything right by giving my hair breaks between me removing the weave and adding it back. However, after 10 months I noticed my edges were thinning on one side. It was very faint, and I am sure I was the only person that noticed. I immediately stopped getting sew-ins after taking out my latest install. I 100% care about the health of my hair over anything else. Having long thick hair with no edges makes no sense to me. Obviously, the tension of the braids and sewed weave was too much for my hair. Tight braid styles like that I avoid. I still get my hair braided in natural styles, but I don’t allow my hair to be braided too tight.
Some people use wigs as a protective hair style for their hair. If you are a wig wearer, you’ll want to try out our bamboo wig liner it is perfect for reducing friction and protecting your hair under your wig. It’s also great for setting looser protective hair styles like twists or braids.
Summary: What We Learned
To wrap it all up, avoiding these common mistakes can significantly improve your natural hair health.
- Wearing Protective Hair Styles for too Long: Switch it up every 6-8 weeks and keep your scalp moisturized
- Regularly Washing Hair: Increase washing every 1-2 weeks and maintain moisture with a hydrating oil and conditioner. You can learn about great oils in this post.
- Choosing the Wrong Protective Hair Style: Go for lighter, low-tension styles and protect your edges with our bamboo wig liner.
I love versatility and this product allows you to get your use in multiple ways weather it is protection under a wig, turban, scrub cap or hat. By steering clear of these pitfalls, you’ll find your hair not only looks great but feels great too. Remember, beautiful hair is healthy hair! Ready to take your natural hair game to the next level? Check out our full range of products here and start nurturing your beautiful tresses today. Let’s make this natural hair journey a joyous one together!
Stay fabulous, Endia
Want more ideas for low tension protective hair styles?
What you will love about our bamboo wig liner
- Luxurious light reusable stretchy fabric
- Multi-use for wigs, hats, turbans and MORE!
- Helps to prevent breakage
- Retains moisture
- Same properties as silk