When it comes to hair, summer typically means one thing: protective styles. Box braids, twits or faux locs are oftentimes the easiest way to protect and manage hair during the humid and hot summer months.
And while it can be counterintuitive to think protective styles can cause damage to your hair, that can sometimes be the case, so be careful.
To break down protective hairstyling dos and don’ts, we tapped Dove hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez to share her tried-and-true tips on caring for hair between protective styles.
Keep reading for this game-changing information!
1. Always Finger Detangle Post-Protective Style
“After taking braids down or taking your weave out, you want to detangle your hair using your fingers. Using your fingers creates less tension and won’t pull out healthy hair,” Alvarez shares.
She also recommends using a detangling spray, like Dove Absolute Curls Leave-In Detangler, before moving on to using a wide-tooth comb to finish the detangling.
2. Scalp Care is Very Important!
“Clarify your scalp to get rid your scalp of dry flakes and the buildup that’s accumulated over the past couple of months,” she says.
3. Don’t Overlook Deep Conditioners
“Deep conditioning is the next essential step after taking down braids,” Alvarez tells us. The stylist recommends, sitting under the dryer with a treatment like Dove’s Anti-Frizz Oil Therapy Mask for at least 20 mins.
Masks not only help to treat dry and damaged hair but it also leaves it stronger and hydrated.
4. Do Not Hold On To Dead Ends
“Getting rid of dead ends after taking out a protective style is crucial to your hair growth,” she tells us. While it can be tempting to hold on to length, it’s imperative to give your ends even a light dusting.
5. Give Your Hair A Break
Because protective hairstyles can add extra stress and tension to the hair and scalp Alvarez recommends giving hair a break from protective styles every so often.
“Let your scalp and hair breathe in its natural state, and wear it styled in a wash-and-go, a twist-out, or even an updo before reinstalling a protective style,” she says.