It seems like every natural hairstyle that promises to keep your hair long and damage-free actually ends up doing the opposite: from knotless braids causing hairline breakage to sew-in/leave-outs damaging the front half of your hair.
The whole point of a protective style is to protect your hair, so I thought my hair would flourish in braids if I got them done back-to-back. But I could not have been more wrong. As someone with fine type 4 hair, braids caused way too much damage to my ends and scalp. So, over the last couple of years, I’ve committed to wearing my hair natural for at least 10 months of the year– that means no braids, no wigs, and no clips-in. During this period, I’ve learned how to style my hair in ways that don’t compromise its health but still give me the freedom to look the way I like.
Formal events
If you’ve spent any time on the wrong side of social media, you’ll hear talk about how natural hair is childish or unsuited for formal events. Instead, society seems to praise wearing styles like wigs or sometimes braids to look put together. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to wear these styles, the idea that natural hair (type 4) is informal is texturist and simply mistaken.
To me, nothing screams formal louder than a blowout, and this applies to natural hair, too. Blow-dry your hair using lightweight products, like Olaplex no 6 and 7, until it’s stretched but not straight, so you don’t miss out on volume. Alternatively, a slickback can sometimes be more reliable. If you are new to styling your natural hair, or you’re just not entirely comfortable wearing your hair out, a slicked-back bun for events is a great option. Using gels that won’t dry out your hair or hair sprays, and a soft-bristle brush, are my go-tos for buns. My tip is to make sure it’s not too tight and not kept in for too long to avoid hairline or crown breakage.
Summertime
For the few weeks of summer I spend on holiday, I opt for braids. My goal is to keep my hair as healthy as possible, and if I’m jumping into the sea or pool every 6 hours and having to wash and detangle my hair accordingly, I think it’s too much manipulation. But having braids in for two weeks, which aren’t too tight or heavy, saves me from having to restyle my hair often on holiday. I always make sure to get my hair trimmed beforehand so my split ends don’t get any worse while the braids are in.
When I’m not doing anything water-based, I opt for an afro or braid-out in summer. Using strong-hold mousses like the Doux mousse will keep your braid-outs thick and bouncy, and I think that’s the perfect look for summer. But natural hair will inevitably shrink with humidity, so keep that in mind!
Fall/Winter
The second it drops past 10 degrees, it’s my time to head to the salon. Maintaining straightened natural hair in fall and winter is so much easier, as you don’t have to worry about the summer humidity ruining your freshly done hair or sweating your press out on a stuffy train. Personally, I opt for salon-quality blow-dries with a round brush and do overnight curls, to keep the volume but still have a sleeker look.
But with colder weather often comes dryness. So if you choose to keep your hair straightened throughout winter, keeping your washdays frequent and using hydrating and moisturising products are crucial steps to avoid breakage from dryness. Every couple of days, I use the Amika Dream Routine cream, and I’m convinced it’s magic. It doesn’t undo your straightening, but you wake up with shiny, moisturised hair. Just make sure to use one pump and a few drops of hair oil!
The gym
When I started going to the gym with my natural hair out, I’ll admit it was a struggle, because I just did not know how to keep my hair looking fresh after a sweaty session. But the secret is tension. I know this seems counterintuitive, as you don’t want to have high tension styles, but keeping your hair tied up and off your face and body is the way to have your hair fresh and stretched till your next wash day. I like to put my hair into two buns/bantu knots and tie them with satin scrunchies. I then tie down the front of my hair with a silk scarf or a strip of stretchy material (like a cut-up pair of black tights). The most important part of this whole process is leaving your hair to dry after! Don’t take the headband off until after you’ve stopped sweating, and your hair will look good as new when you do.
Hopefully, I have convinced you (even a little) that natural hair is for every season and every event. Keeping your hair in protective styles is a great option, but hair doesn’t need to be protected year-round!