GRADING Best Protective Style for Hair Growth

Sometimes your protective style ain't protecting a dang thing. If you're looking to achieve some hair growth, you want to make sure your protective style isn't breaking it off before you have a chance to realize them inches, boo.

Board certified dermatologist and NIH, SOCS, DF supported alopecia researcher Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD is back helping us with our hair yet again.

TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Ain't protecting a DANG thing
1:14 How the protective styles are rated
2:43 Knotless braids
3:54 Box braids
6:02 Faux locs
8:17 Crochet braids & crochet hairstyles
11:18 Sew-in weaves
16:06 Wigs
21:11 MY protective style?!?!
24:25 Twists
26:04 Bantu knots
26:51 Buns
28:13 Roller sets
28:54 Grade recap of the last few
29:29 Low density vs high density (can you go from low to high?)

FOLLOW ME:

[Anissa_R]

My protective style has been braiding my hair every month or maybe every two months with NO weave in it at all and throwing on my wig using no clips and leaving my hair alone! Honestly leaving my hair alone has saved my hair and has been the most beneficial single thing that I could’ve ever done. My hair is now waist length, healthy and very thick. For the longest time I wore sew ins not realizing that my scalp which was my foundation hated it! My hair would grow only to a certain length but for years I could not get it to grow. I used rice water and all kind of things like onion juice whatever I could find, I’m not saying those things weren’t helping because my hair was thick but anytime I would wear box braids, crotchet or any type of weave my hair would not grow fast in fact it seemed to make my hair weak. I know everyone has different hair and we have to figure out what works for our hair individually however when I was a little girl my hair was long like it is now and it was because my mom braided my natural hair and would leave it that way for at least 3 wks. I allow my hair to be out and rest after I get off work and I don’t usually wear wigs on the weekend I just let my frizzy braids be free then when I feel like letting it flow I wear it for about a week then it’s back under the wig while at work. I don’t do lace fronts and I don’t do clipins period! Hope this helps someone. 😇♥️

Oh and my friend had the audacity to ask me if I walk around the house with my man there with frizzy braids and I said sis if you have a man who cares about that while you chilling at home he is not a man worth keeping. He knows what it is and he doesn’t see that at all he sees me! 😊

[Wildopal]

sitting here with my 4c+ hair like "dang, I can't do nothing!" Wish I knew this before my edges took off!

[AJ]

I learned with my 4c low density hair, “protective” styles are not very protective and I need to just keep it natural! It’s something I’d been considering. This may push me further in that direction.

[victoriar]

Low buns not always good neither…. You suppose to move your buns around and not keep putting the buns in the same area or place every time. Moving it to different places will help with less breakage

[andreyamatthew]

This was super helpful!!! And it's so dope to hear from a Black Woman Dermatologist who understands and uses some of the same protective styles we do. And even having people she knows in her life who she can reference about styles she doesn't wear. It means everything and this is why we are essential in every field especially medical ones.

[Rue]

Leaving my hair alone is the best protective hairstyle

[donnac.]

I also learned, those stocking cap underneath the wigs seems to dry out my hair and the band on the stocking cap could cause hair loss.

[imeekay]

It took me YEARS to learn that larger patches/sections of hair with box braids will pull out less hair. I just figured this out within the last year and I keep more hair. Also, I don’t mind keeping the protective style in for two months versus one because I trust my hair won’t be severely damaged once I take it out.

[lifewithklc]

I wore wigs that I took off everyday after work. I started REALLY taking care of my hair (4c/low po), and it has worked wonders. Even my curl pattern popped back in. Now I wear my hair out, and only wear a wig occasionally when I’m lazy, or just want a different style. I also rarely use heat on my hair, and only sleep on a silk pillowcase with no bonnet.

[jobenjamin]

First time I have ever heard anyone talk about 4C+ hair!! Kudos to you and Dr. Aguh!

[masseiy]

I think the protectiveness of a style depends on if you wash your hair while it’s in regularly AND it’s not too tight

[truthserum]

Break it on down! This is SOOOO needed in the Blk Natural Hair Community!

[JAMAKA]

Crochet, individual passion twists have been a god send for my hair. I have 4c hair (not sure of the density or the porosity), but box braids always left my hair dry, brittle and the take down was painful. With the passion twists, I wash my hair once a week and oil/moisturize when I need too. My edges have come back and my hair has actually start growing. I also learned that my hair HATES braids, any form of them really.

[leonawilson]

My mother has always told me just let your hair breath, keep it moisturized, and sleep with a satin cap, my hair (3c/4a) has always been to the middle of my back if not longer (unless I cut it) my whole life and that's w/hot comp press, flat ioroned, and wearing it natural. I started wearing braids as an adult just because I didn't feel like doing it and I've always told my stylist that it seems like I'm losing my hair and I now know that basically I wasn't getting any moisture. Thank you for this video it's very informative and many people needed to know this. 🙌🏾👏🏾

[Nisa]

Ok so my takeaway is wear your natural hair out when you can and condition frequently for the most part. You are still beautiful without the extensions queens! 🦱👑🦱👑🦱👑

[portiaokafor]

This is an interesting take, and I appreciated the metrics she used to grade these protective styles. My understanding of Kanekalon Braiding Hair is that because it is still considered synthetic hair, there are microplastic fibers that are used to design the hair. As someone with 4b/c hair, it is simply the friction of the fibers against my hair shaft that does not agree with my hair. Not all stylists are able to tuck one's natural hair into the braid properly, so even within a matter of a couple of weeks, you can have pieces of your own begin to creep out of the braid. Therefore, I would encourage caution with knotless and box braids and to really listen to how your hair responds.

Love the video overall!

[curvyjerseyk]

I am not going to cry. First, thank you both for creating this video. It is highly informative and God bless you both. I am a 2x cancer survivor. My tactic was to cornrow my hair and use virgin hair moisturizer, wild hair growth oil, etc. My stylist said to switch it up since I was thinning in the front from wearing wigs. I know now that they have satin wig caps which I plan to purchase. So I got a pony tail. Then I got the ponytail again. I noticed that i was in pain. My stylist took a picture and I have a bald spot in the middle of head. This is new to me. My edges are thin as well. I Just bought edge entitiy beause ppl are saying that it works. I am going back to my initial plan wigs and cornrows underneath then ponytails slick to the back instead. I really hope this works.

[AlahjeLLC]

I have 3c/4a fine hair, High density. My hair LOVES to be silk pressed !! My hair is softest and longest, with the most healthy ends when it’s pressed every 2 weeks . I tried being natural without heat and ended up with single strand knots and my crown breaking, back to straight natural I go

[hrhsophiathefirst]

Very informative. I wore weaves for about ten years pretty heavily and finally stopped when my edges dropped. Not a gradual process, went in for a relaxer the day of my anniversary party, got it wrapped to go. Dropped the wrap that evening and screamed Bloody Murder. Ten years later after trichologist and dermatologist visits I now have mid-back relaxed hair that I treat like the queen she is. I do no protective styles, deep condition every two weeks and keep my hands away from my hair. Good products, good techniques and good practices will work.

[fld]

STANDING OVATION. One of your best videos. This was SUCH an IMPORTANT discussion. Hair health AND Beauty. WOW!!!! Thank you.