Summer is officially here! And while Summer is a fun and exciting season filled with beach trips and pool parties, it can also be a stressful time for women with curly and kinky hair due to the extreme heat and humidity that do not pair well with natural hair.
Protective hairstyles are the perfect solution for naturalistas to enjoy the Summer and be hair-worry-free. Protective styles are also great for women who are transitioning from relaxed to natural hair. These styles limit the stress of environmental elements on natural hair, they maintain moisture in your hair and scalp, and promote hair growth and length retention. And of course, they are incredibly stylish!
Protective styles include looks like buns, cornrows, braids, twists, etc. The options are endless and there are countless styles to try out this Summer or when you are transitioning to natural hair. Here are our top 5 favorite protective styles:
- Bantu Knots
Bantu Knots are very easy to re-create, even for beginners. They are a great way to hide your two different textures when you are first transitioning to natural hair. This style is also perfect for those hot Summer days because your hair is up and away from your face.
- Box Braids
Box braids are a great protective style for Summer because they fully protect your hair and don’t require any thermal heat. Boxed braids can last you 4 to 6 weeks with proper care. You can also wet this style, so you can wash your braids to keep your scalp clean.
- Braided Updo
Another popular protective style to consider is a braided updo. There are so many looks to choose from and various braids to use to create this style. Braided updos are great protective styles because they keep your hair ends tucked in and protected from environmental stresses and they also keep your hair out of your face.
- Cornrows
Cornrows are a cool style to try out this Summer, whether you are a full-on naturalista or you just started your hair transition journey. Cornrows are sleek, classic and require minimal maintenance.
- Two Strand or Flat Twists
Tight updos can put a lot of tension on your hair and scalp if used for a long period of time. That’s why we recommend trying soft twists to let your hair and scalp relax. Soft twists are great for all hair lengths and look good on different hair textures. Another great thing about hair twists is that you can refresh your curls as needed with a moisturizing creme. You can also extend this style by taking out your twists after a few days and enjoy the curl definition created from the twists.
P.S. Don’t forget to wear a satin scarf on your head at night to protect your hairstyles.
xoxo
Noussaiba
