WINTER PROTECTIVE STYLING | Prepping Your Hair To Be Tucked Away
Hello Curls...its getting cold outside! Brrrrrrr! Is it just me or does it seem like its time to protect our hair all the damn time. I guess we can only have our hair out in the Spring and part of the Fall! Lol. Naturals really stress summer and winter protective styling because the harsh weather- too cold or just too damn hot! Frizz! Ahhhh! No but seriously, it is getting cold outside and although our hair does not have much trouble with random frizz attacks, the cooler air can be damaging. Especially because we are not walking around with wet hair so we tend to moisturize less often. That leaves our hair more fragile. If a wash n' go was your go to style, I can guarantee it will NOT be it for the cooler months. Going outside with wet hair is not a good idea because it can freeze and then break. So most likely you are going to use a blow dryer more often which dries your hair out. Its almost like you can't win, right!?! That's why most naturals turn to protective styles. Braids, twists, buns, topknots, rolls, weaves, etc.
I'm in the process of installing my favorite kinky weave from PRIVATE STOCK HAIR! I installed the GO NATURAL hair texture during the summer and now that it is getting cold I'm going to rock the FRO NATURAL. I will record the process of prepping my hair, installing the weave and do a few videos of how I maintain it. But I also wanted to give you a few tips on here for those who are curious about how to care for their hair before protective styling. So let's go down the list:
1. Give your natural hair some extra tender, love & care before the install. I shampoo, deep condition and then moisturize my hair with the LOC method. If you want to see my
WASH DAY REGIMEN, go to my YouTube channel to see my entire routine.
J/A/S/O/N/ BIOTION SHAMPOO | THE MANE CHOICE DEEP CONDITIONER | CD LEAVE-IN | ALIKAY NATURALS OIL BLEND
2. Make sure your hair is carefully detangled. Allow it to air dry before starting your braiding pattern. Braiding your hair while wet maybe challenging.
3. When you are ready to start your braiding pattern be very careful with your hair. You do not want to braid too tight. Braiding your hair tight does not ensure your hair lasts longer it just makes sure you will pull it out! Lol. Be gentle with the braiding to actually protect your hair; not stress it out!
4. Oil your scalp before adding your weaving net or weave.
5. Using a weaving net is optional. The net is supposed to help with the sewing process and it eliminates the stress and pulling on your natural hair after your weave is installed.
J/A/S/O/N/ BIOTION SHAMPOO | THE MANE CHOICE DEEP CONDITIONER | CD LEAVE-IN | ALIKAY NATURALS OIL BLEND
2. Make sure your hair is carefully detangled. Allow it to air dry before starting your braiding pattern. Braiding your hair while wet maybe challenging.
3. When you are ready to start your braiding pattern be very careful with your hair. You do not want to braid too tight. Braiding your hair tight does not ensure your hair lasts longer it just makes sure you will pull it out! Lol. Be gentle with the braiding to actually protect your hair; not stress it out!
4. Oil your scalp before adding your weaving net or weave.
5. Using a weaving net is optional. The net is supposed to help with the sewing process and it eliminates the stress and pulling on your natural hair after your weave is installed.
DONNA DELUXE WEAVE NET | DONNA DELUXE WEAVE THREAD | SEWING NEEDLE
6. Now you are ready to sew down your weave. I've read a few articles that suggest you use silk thread instead of the cotton thread. Silk thread is known to absorb less moisture from your hair. I personally still use the cotton thread but I also make sure my hair stays moisturized.
7. Before installing your weave please make sure the hair is clean, moisturized and detangled. You can wash the hair before installation or you can wash it once it is installed. There is no right or wrong way to do this.
8. Once the hair is installed you also want to make sure the hair remains detangled. I like to use my infamous HAIR BEAN or TANGLE TEEZER!
9. Co-Washing is very important to keep the weave fresh and to care for your natural hair under the weave. The co-wash product still gets to your own hair and scalp.
10 Using a leave-in is also beneficial. As you can see most of these tips are the same as when you care for your natural hair.
11 Using a t-shirt after washing, co-washing or moisturizing your hair is key! Just make sure its not an ETC BOUTIQUE tee! As you know using a t-shirt eliminates absorption of moisture from your hair. You need this more than ever since your hair is covered with the weave. You need moisture on your scalp and natural hair, not just on the weave.
12 If you have leave out you want to pay extra attention to those areas to make sure they remain moisturized and well blended with the weave. You do not want to have breakage in those areas so also use castor oil on your edges to eliminate thinning, etc.
13 A nozzle tip applicator bottle will be your BFF! You can add water, your fav oils and moisturizers in this bottle and get to those hard to reach areas under the weave. You can add your fav spritz to your natural hair and scalp every other day or as needed. Apply this mixture first. Have a separate bottle with your fav oils combined to seal in the moisture. You can also use the oil blend as needed if you have problems with dry itchy scalp!
APPLICATOR BOTTLE
13 At bedtime protect your hair with a satin bonnet or a pillow case. Again, we want to eliminate absorption of moisture from your hair.
SATIN HAIR BONNET
14 Overall, you should co-wash the weave weekly or as needed and follow up with the LOC method.
I hope these tips help with protecting your hair. If you follow them you should see major hair growth and/or thickness once you let your 'fro out! But also keep in mind diet, exercise, and genetics play a major part in hair growth. What will be your next protective style this winter? Have a plan and the sleet, snow, and freezing wind won't be able to tell you NOTHING!
More posts from
