3 reasons why your protective styles cause thinning ends

What is a protective style?

 

A protective style is any style that keeps your hair ends tucked away and reduces the need for you to comb or manipulate your hair. The purpose of a protective style is to minimize breakage. The less your hair breaks, the longer it will become. 

 

 A protective style should keep your hair safe from daily styling, combing, detangling, and stretching. Many women believe that a protective style is a go-to solution for most of their problems. The truth is protective styling, especially the ones with added synthetic hair, can cause more harm than good. I would argue that we get the majority of hair breakage from wearing some types of protective styles.   Consistent breakage from protective styles will cause your hair ends to get thinner.  

 

Here are 3 reasons why your hair ends seem to get thinner after wearing a protective style

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1. Your ends were already thinning

Adding heavy synthetic hair to hair strands that are already thinning may lead to breakage. Why? Because the thin ends do not have the strength to endure the added weight from the heavy synthetic hair. This will usually cause them to break when you take out the hair. 

 

What to do instead?

 

  • If your hair ends are already thin, go for styles that do not require you to add extensions or synthetic hair. A headband wig is a safe style to wear or wear your hair in twists. If you have relaxed/processed hair, wearing your hair in a bun can be a lifesaver. 

 

  • If you must add extensions or synthetic hair, avoid heavy box braids and faux locs and go for twist styles instead. Passion twist is a very gentle style. Passion twists are light and soft on your hair. 

 

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2. You hurry to take out your protective style

We get it. You have just made your appointment with your hairdresser, and you are in a rush to take your protective style. The process of taking out your protective style can cause massive breakage if not done correctly. 

 

What to do instead?


Our advice, don't rush this step. Ensure that you give yourself enough time to take out your style gently.

 
Many women wait to detangle after they have removed all the hair extensions. Detangle each section as you take the extension out. This will save you time and reduce breakage because you are detangling in small sections.  

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3. You choose a protective style that does not suit your hair's personality

 If your hair strands are fine in texture, wearing protective styles with extensions may cause breakage simply because your hair strands cannot manage the added weight for too long. This also applies to women with relaxed/processed hair. 

 

What to do instead?

 

  • If your hair strands are fine or you have processed hair, avoid heavy box braids or faux locs. These tyles will add too much tension to your hair which may cause breakage.  

 

  • Go for styles such as twist or braid out, headband wigs, or passion twists.