8 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR NATURAL HAIR FOR MAXIMUM LENGTH RETENTION

By Crowniva
Jul 24, 2022

8 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR NATURAL HAIR FOR MAXIMUM LENGTH RETENTION

Protecting the hair has many proven benefits that help minimize damage and promote hair health. Some of these benefits include growth, length retention, and soft, hydrated curls and coils. The goal is to protect the hair strand particularly the ends so that they will not break off therefore allowing you to retain length. With consistent hair protection practices over time, you are sure to see growth.

HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR CURLS AND COILS?

Wear a satin or silk bonnet, scarf or pillowcase. Satin or Silk is recommended as this material helps to prevent friction between your hair and your pillow or any harsh surface that materials such as cotton would have allowed. Apart from preventing hair snags and breakage,  these type of materials protect the hair from lint built up that tends to be quite a nuisance as it can get stuck between your curls and coils and is quite a pain to get out.  It also preserves hair moisture as well as help to maintain or keep hair styles in place. 

Use moisturizing products such as a leave-in conditioner. It is very important to keep hair well moisturized and sealed always.  A great hair spray or leave in conditioner such as our Hair Mist or our Go-Plenish Leave in Conditioning Daily Deluxe, helps to add that necessary moisture needed for soft manageable hair and also helps with the ease of detangling. A hair oil or hair butter such as our Golden Thrive Hair and Scalp Oil and Pure Lock Hair Butter are excellent products to lock in moisture after applying a leave in conditioner or other moisturizing hair product.  Avoid using hair products with drying alcohols at all cost.  These products leave the hair brittle and dry which causes the hair to break off.  

Wear your hair in braids or two-strand twist. If you are using braid extensions, a hydrating spray and hair oil will help keep your hair moisturized and properly sealed under the braids. Without extensions, please ensure you have moisturized and sealed your hair before, during and after braided or twisted styles. It is particularly important to pay careful attention to the ends of your hair as this is the oldest part of your hair and needs the most care. Minimizing manipulation of your ends as well as properly moisturizing and sealing your ends often will help to drastically minimize split ends and breakage. Wear styles that allow you to tuck in your ends as much as possible.

Shampoo and condition your hair regularly. A clean scalp and follicles protects the hair strands therefore helps the hair to thrive allowing it to reach a healthy state.  It is recommended that a cleansing shampoo with a pH between 5.5-7 and conditioner be used each week. A cleansing shampoo has its purpose, which is to open the cuticles and remove buildup and scum (hair products/oils, dead skin cells, dust, dirt, sweat, germs and bacteria) from the hair shaft and scalp. Our Redi-fine Moisturizing and Sulphate Free Shampoo helps to gently cleanse and remove buildup without stripping the hair with harsh sulphate ingredients. The conditioner's purpose on the other hand closes the cuticles and helps restore the pH balance of the hair.  Our Set to Repair Moisturizing and Sulfate Free Conditioner works perfectly with our Redi-fine Shampoo to restore moisture, soften your strands and strengthen your follicles after the shampooing process.  

Wash your hair in sections! This will help to minimize tangles, knots, and breakage of your curly and coily hair. It also helps make the process more manageable and allows you to do a better and more thorough cleaning of your hair and scalp.  The washing process should comprise of handling each section at a time; first shampooing each section and rinsing, then conditioning each section and rinsing. It is essential that you gently handle your curls and coils and preferably finger detangle to further minimize breakage when washing your hair in sections.

Deep condition hair weekly to biweekly or as needed based on your hair needs. Deep conditioning helps to repair any damage to your strands, keeps hair hydrated and soft, improves elasticity, and helps define your curls and coils. How do you know when a deep condition is needed? Deep conditioning should be done when hair is dry, feels brittle, and looks dull.  Use a deep conditioner either after rinsing your regular conditioner from your hair or in place of your conditioner.  After applying your deep conditioner, hair should be placed under a plastic or aluminum foil shower cap for about 30 minutes before rinsing.

Do not detangle hair when dry. This is the ultimate recipe for a hair breakage disaster. A detangling product helps to soften the hair and add slip and moisture to loosen knots and tangles which helps to protect the hair by minimizing hair breakage. Along with your detangling product, use a detangling comb, brush, or your fingers to carefully unravel your tangles. 

Minimize applying or exposing the hair to too much heat and UV Rays. The heat from the sun or UV rays and heat styling tools can cause your hair to become damaged.  UV rays from the sun expose your hair to natural radiation. This type of radiation reacts to the hair in a different manner than it does to our skin, but still has damaging affects. Extended exposure without protection to UV rays can cause your hair to become fragile, brittle, or thinned over time. UV rays also cause the texture of your hair to change. They can make your hair feel rough and dry instead of silky and smooth. Also, the excessive use of heat styling tools such as blow dryers, curling irons, and straightening irons, can also be damaging to your hair. Exposure to the sun should be limited and heat tools should be used in moderation. Other protective measures such as using a hair mask, deep conditioning, heat protectant, etc. should be used to help protect the hair.