Protective Styles

Protective styles are very important in retaining growth. It's something I am trying to get into more so that I can retain more length. My current goal is to just get it long enough for a pontail or bun, then I'll go from there. I probably have about 2-3 inches until I can get it into a ponytail. I have Alicia Keys pictured because she is so beautiful, and she proudly sports protective styles! Well anyways, here is a list of good protective styles to experiment with! There are plenty of tutorials on youtube for them!

1. Twist-out
2. Two Strand Twists
3. Flat twists
4. Braid-out
5. Box Braids
6. Micro/Pixie Braids (please be careful that these are not too small or too tight. I see so many girls with bald patches from these. For this reason I have never and probably will never get this style even though it's cute. But I hear of many naturals doing these with success!)
7. Cornrows
8. French Braid
9. Bantu-knot out
10. Bantu-Knots
11. Finger Coils
12. Ponytail (Not everyday or in the same spot everyday, tension in one spot will break off
the hair)
13. Phony Pony
14. Buns (Not everyday or in the same spot everyday)
15. Phony Bun
16. Sew-in Extensions
17. Clip-in extensions (if you do the rollerset/silkwrap method first. It's a good alternative to quick weaves with damaging glue.)
18. Wigs (this is my current protective style of choice, See my post on the benefit of wigs. Only secure them with bobby pins, don't use glue, tape, or the combs! I prefer synthetic lace fronts!)
19. Rollerset and/or silkwrap
20. Setting hair with Flexi Rods