The 22 Best Protective Hairstyles for Curly Hair during the Summer

Having curly hair is beautiful, but just like all precious items, it requires delicate care and attention. If you have curly hair, then you have probably experienced hair breakage, at least, once in your life. That is because our ends are vulnerable to extreme conditions like heat waves during the summer, heat or chemical styling, etc. which cause hair damage. To prevent this we turn to protective hairstyles. Here are the 22 best protective hairstyles for curly hair!   

What is considered a protective hairstyle?

A team is safer and stronger in numbers - that's exactly what protective hairstyles do for you. It protects your strands from harsh conditions by putting them into groups. No wonder braids and twists are so popular! Protective Hairstyles also tuck your hair (especially your ends) away to limit its exposure to manipulation, the sun, cold, and any factor that can cause hair breakage and damage. It also does this without tugging on your front hair or causing scalp tension that will lead to excessive hair shed and loss. So whether you choose to do protective hairstyles with or without extensions, always ensure they're not too tight at the roots. This is very important, especially for fine hair like type 4 hair and dyed hair. 

Protective Hairstyles without weave

Bantu knots on natural hair

Pride in the royal twirls of Bantu knots. Originated from the Zulu people of Southern Africa, this hairstyle is perfect to keep your strands compact and secured from manipulation and damage.

Colored box braids

Bubble braid half up half down

Pineapple Hair

Flat twist

Small straight back cornrows

Side-parted crown braid

Mini twists

Cornrows with beads

Side parted two jumbo twists

Space buns

Mixed colored box braids

Protective hairstyles with weave

Classic 2 strand twist updo

Twists are a protective style classic, that has made its mark in the natural hair world (especially natural coily hair). Regardless of your hair length, 2 strand twist protect your ends from damage, has minimal tension at your roots, and helps hair growth. Plus, it's just drop-dead gorgeous.

Cornrows with ponytail extension

Here is another easy protective style you can do when you're on a run. Use a clip-in ponytail make you look fabulous

Tribal Fulani braids with beads

If you're going for a sophisticated protective style for your natural hair, you should try Fulani braids. Out of all protective hairstyles on this list, this should be the most sophisticated, and adding beads will accentuate the style further. 

Faux Locs

Marley twists

One thing we love about Marley twists is, that the older the better. In fact the messier the more sophisticated. Named after the legendary reggae artist, Bob Marley, these twists were meant to look like dreads but it's still stunning irrespective.

Medium knotless box braids

Out of the many protective hairstyles out there, these medium knotless braids with curls take us deep into the ocean of mermaids. We even love knotless box braids more when embellished cowries and gems!

Two buns hairstyle 

Head wrap

Also called a pineapple hair wrap, this easy protective hairstyle is the perfect way to protect your hair while sleeping. So it's an at-home and going-out type of hairstyle. If you're wondering how to tie a head wrap, here is a tutorial on six ways you can do just that!

FAQs on Protective Hairstyles

How long should a protective hairstyle last? 

When your hair is in a protective style, especially for braids and twists, it accumulates daily shed hair. If this is left for a long time, it can lead to tangles and mats and we all know how frustrating tangles can be. Depending on your hair type, you should leave it between 1-2 months (2 months being the maximum for all hair types).

How do you moisturize natural hair with protective hairstyle? 

For protective hairstyles on natural hair without weave, moisturizing your hair is fairly easy. You can go in with an anti-microbial oil like tea tree oil and creams like Sulfur8, to prevent yeast from creating flakes. Spritz your hair with water and finish with a water-based leave-in-conditioner. The same goes for styles with weave. With extensions, you can wash your braids or twists once every two weeks or less, depending on your daily activities and how you sweat. Use a clarifying shampoo to gently scrub your scalp and natural hair. Rinse off and air-dry for some minutes. When it's not dripping wet, go in with a blow dryer, then seal the remaining moisture in with your favorite essential oil. 

Did you like these protective hairstyles for curly hair? Comment down below your favorite one!