6 Protective Styles for Natural Hair

By: Mystique Myrthil

Winter is coming soon, which means everyone is thinking about turtlenecks, hot chocolate, and binge-watching Christmas movies. But for those with naturally curly hair, winter signifies the need to protect and maintain healthy hair.

Most people associate natural hairstyles with the summer but during the winter is when your hair needs the most protection. Varying temperatures, different fabric hats, and a huge list of other things are to blame for hair breakage. To get you through this winter, we’ve rounded up a list of six protective hairstyles and tips to keep your hair healthy all season. 

Braids

Box braids or any braided style are perfect and easy for winter. The style can last about 1-2 months when it’s properly taken care of. Keeping your scalp moisturized with tea tree or black castor oil will help keep your braids fresh and itch-free!

Wash-N-Go

One of the fastest styles a naturalist can do before heading out the door is a Wash-n-Go. A quick rinse, moisturizer, and oil can make for a cute, fresh look for the day. Aussies 3 Minute Miracle Moisture is one product that I use in my routine and highly recommend.

Twist Outs

This style is time-consuming but will have you looking fab all fall/winter and keep your moisturized for days. I usually keep my twist-out styles for about 4-7 days and add oil two more times throughout to make sure my hair stays moisturized. 

Quick Ponytail

If you’re ever in a rush, a cute messy ponytail is a style you need. It goes with any look and, you don’t have to spend hours in front of the mirror. All you have to do is a quick rinse and lay your edges! Olive Oil ORS or Eco Styler are two edge control products that work well with the most curl patterns.

Wraps or scarves

Are you having a bad hair day? Then wrapping your hair is the way to go to get you through the day. You can get scarves in multiple colors or keep them simple with neutral tones. This style is ideal for keeping your hair damage-free on cold winter days.

Wigs

Wigs are perfect for winter because they are versatile and come in a variety of styles. One day you can have blonde hair and the next you can have vibrant pink. Wigs protect all of your hair and keep your scalp moisturized. You can also wear cute winter hats and other winter accessories without causing hair damage!