Who has gron their hair out sans protective styles

Napp

I think buns have been a culprit for my short edges. i think i might give up on protective styles for now ans just wear my hair out. who has done this with success. please tell me your hair type and regimen

ignore the mistake in the title. im in a rush~

TotallyTwisted

bump

jcurlady

I don't do protective styles. I can't deal with 3 hours trying to twist and they still don't come out the way I want them. I do wash and gos that last for at least 3 days. I only pull my hair back when I have to go to work. I do DC at least once a week. You're welcome to look at my fotki. My mom did twist for me once but I didn't like them. They didn't make a week.
hth

shawnette

Hair type: Mostly 4a with some 3c on sides and back, 2b in the front.

My non-regimented regimen:

I henna or bentonite every week (sometimes both), followed by a deep conditioning. I then apply whichever of my concoctions I feel like using and twist my hair (2 or 3 strand) for the night. I sleep in a satin bonnet or on a satin pillowcase. The next morning I take down the twists and run my hands through my hair a few times to break up the twists. I avoid heat as much as possible, rarely use combs and the majority of my products are home made. I have never worn a bun and probably never will, though I do love a good puff.

(I did bentonite last night and I have henna in my hair right now.)

subbrock

i dont do protective styles either.

my routine is very easy going and not really set in stone. at most i use a sulfate free shampoo once a week, but recently ive been strictly co washing. i use [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Elucence-Moisture-Balancing-Conditioner-p-39.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=elucence-elucence-moisture-balancing-conditioner]elucence mb conditioner[/buylink] for co washes. on my wet hair i always use elucence mb + oil as a leave in. ive been adding some shea butter to my edges and ends for extra moisture and protection. about once a week i do a deep treatment. i have been using mop extreme moisture, but i am a big fan of [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Jessicurl-Weekly-Deep-Conditioning-Treatment-p-106.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=jessicurl-weekly-deep-conditioner-treatment]jessicurl wdt[/buylink] (which works great as a leave in too). once a month i'll do a protein treatment with [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Elucence-Extended-Moisture-Repair-Treatment-p-200.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=elucence-extended-moisture-repair-treatment]elucence extended moisture repair treatment[/buylink].

mochakiss82

When I transitioned, I used flex-rod sets all the time. I went to a salon, I'm not the greatest at doing my hair. When I got fed up, I would pull it back and I think my hairline is paying for it. It's some damage, but not very noticeable. So I'm going back to flexrods, so I can have low-manipulation for an extended period of time.

HTH

HappyNappyE

I haven't been doing protective styles but I do notice growth.
Sun-wash w/ peppermint castile soap/water/EVOO
rinse out condish
Sun Silk l-in(for now)
Wed, Fri Co-wash
Rest of week 2 strand twist nightly with Cantu leave in and shea butter on ends.
I normally wear my hair in a puff

Fleurzty

I've done both. Grow my hair with and without protective styles. If your edges are being affected by your buns, I'd say definitely slow down on them or at least loosen them. I just got done working on an article on the blog on the topic, so check it out! Link is in my siggy.

Legally Natural

I remember reading some hair forum where other people were having the same problem and someone said that you can't do protective styles the same way all the time. They said switch it up. For example, if you always put your hair in a bun, try doing braids or twists for a while. Someone also said that she did protective styles for a while and then did something like a rollerset or a wash n go.

teshon

This is my second 'grow-out" without the use of protective styles. A few months ago I started shingling my hair and that's the closest I get to protection. It lasts for up to 3 days or sometimes even longer . I like to wear puffs, but only because my hair isn't long enough for me to know if I'd like bunning or not. I try not to wear a puff to often because I don't want my edges to break. But whenever I do, I make sure to mix Castor or some kind of oil with my gel/hold products so that they're moisturized.

Naya

My hair has definitely hit a growth spurt and I never do protective styling. I'm a wash and go girl. PS don't work for me, its too much work and my curl pattern takes forever to return after wearing protective styles for a bit.

DangerBlakey

I didn't in the past and lazily do so now, but it hasn't made that huge a difference. My hair grew, but around armpit length, the ends are always busted.

Oh, um I have fly-away-thin kinky hair. I wash with [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/DevaCurl-No-Poo-p-53.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=devacurl-devacurl-nopoo]Devacurl NoPoo[/buylink] (sometimes a random natural shampoo) and detangle with VO5, then leave in DevaCare One. Make about 20 twists that will eventually be a twistout sometime during the week. I strive to do this 2/week, but it usually happens once a week. I should probably step my deep conditioning up.

afrodominican1

I have done protective styling maybe 2 weeks duing my entire year of being natural and not even all at once. I feel like my hair does better with jsut cowashing and doing shake and go's. I think that i shed hair unnecessarily when i do protective styles. once I make it past 2 days of PS my scalp ends up itching like its on fire. i just gave up on protective styling for now or at least until my hair gets longer.

cayisha_azul

I am a huge fan of two strand twists. When I did my BC in December 07 my hair was touching my eyebrow when I pulled it down. Now it touches my lips and I just had it trimmed. I wear my twists for a week and then a twist out for another week. So I only wash my hair once every two weeks. My hair has always grown at an average pace (6 inches a year) however, I have had a hard time controlling breakage. This hairstyle has helped me retain my length.

Hakim Nuraldin

I wore buns off and on for like a year and change while I was transitioning. I am so sick of that style. ( on me ) When I BCed I couldn't wait to wear it out every day, and I haven't looked back. The only exception is after I wash it and twist it up for about a day or so so I can have the twistout, which will last me up to a week and a half. I just want it to be out all the time. It has grown significantly though. When I BCed in May of last year, I had around 4 to 5 inches stretched, now it's up to 8-10. So I don't really think you need to wear PS all the time to get growth and length, just keep the ends trimmed, and moisturize like crazy.

MissKinkyCoily

During my transition I wore protective styles about 50% of the time. After my transition I wore buns a lot but not all the time. My hair hasn't had a problem retaining length. As long as I don't mess in it too much, its fine. Weekly DTs and minimal combing are my secret. Here is my old routine (while transitioning): Twists on Day 1, Twistout on Days 2-4, Updo or Puff on Days 5-7. That worked great for me for years. Just remember to spritz with water and moisturizer throughout the week. Good Luck!

violetmauve

My hair is in some kind of protective style most of the time. When left exposed to the elements I get tangles and have issues with dryness. It really depends on your hair. When not wearing a protective style I moisturize, seal with some kind of oil like castor oil and twist my hair up at night. This help keeps tangles and dryness under control.

missmonie

when i first cut my relaxer, I wore ponytails and buns a lot and my edges got really thin. then i started wearing wash n go's all the time and my hair got really knotted. So like someone else said, it might be best to switch up the styles. over the past year, I've been wearing wash n go's half of the time, and then there's a split between ponytails/buns and twists/twistouts. I might flat iron every few months as well. i've experienced growth, but most importantly fewer knots with this method.

eccentric_kurlz

Hair grows with or w/o protective styling. BUT, I've noticed I retain more length with less manipulation. Protective styling involves more than just bunning. Pulling in a pony and bunning can result in broken edges because the constant tension in the same direction. It's counterproductive if bunning is being used to protect your ends, but you're not really protecting growth closer to the roots. Not saying you can't protect both, but considering the hair closest to the hairline tends to be the most fragile, it will at some point experience breakage.

Also, if you leave it in a bun w/o letting your hair out and relieving the tension(by maybe just tieing a satin scarf around to keep the edges down when you're at home and overnight), that increases the likelihood of broken edges.

You would need to utilize other protective styling options, and adjust the frequency of pulling your hair back if bunning is something you like to do.

I know alot of folks don't do protective styling and their hair has thrived. Mine included. All I really did was wash n gos and pony-puffs. But as of late(the last 4 months)I've just found with more length and tempermental hair, twisting my hair and then wearing a twistout is just less work, requires less maintenance, and I experience less breakage. Also makes it easier to do my dt's and henna treatments because my hair is already detangled as twists and twist outs keep my hair from get tangled.

I can twist my hair in med/sm twists in an hour and half or less, and all I do for the next week is oil my ends and cover with a scarf and bonnet at night. Also, I can do various styles with the twists or the resulting twist out. Pinned up, pulled back, etc.

Anyway, my[current]regime:

-Henna/amla treatment monthly(eventually every two months), followed up by DT
-Cassia or amla treatment in between henna
-Cowash after each treatment use HE HH. I cowash only after treatments since I'm twisting my hair
-Twist up after treatments, done every week to week and a half.
-Oil/butter ends with Kemi Oyl Shea Butter pommade, or Natural Oasis styling oil.
-Cover with satin scarf and bonnet at night
-Shampoo only as needed

This will be my regime for awhile.

Paraty

Like others have posted, there are more protective styles than buns. I think if you have long tightly curled/coiled hair, protective styling is inevitable. It's not necessarily for retaining growth alone, but maintaining the hair health, easier styling, and reducing the time you spend on your hair during a week. Simply twisting/braiding your hair in big ugly sections :viking: and unraveling in the morning can be considered a protective style. I compare it to getting the most bang for your buck. It takes me a while to pull off a perfect wash n' go and I have to repeat the steps 2-3 times a week, if not refresh it every morning. In that same amount of time (1.5- 2 hours hours total) I can do a protective style (twists, braids, coils) leave them in for the week, or take them out the next day and wear any style I want from buns, pinned updo's, to my hair down in a twist out/braidout/coil-out for the whole week without touching my hair again. The moisture also sets in my hair better when I twist/braid it up then take it down. With my wash n' go, I have to put moisture back into my hair every other day, and as far as styling, my hair texture is too dense/too much shrinkage to fit into a bun/updo without a headache or possible breakage from pulling. My hair also has lots of volume, but no length in a wash n' go, so I can get that length every now and then with my braidouts/twistouts.

I do believe that your hair can grow just fine without constant protective styling, if you have the time for frequent re-wetting/co-washing to avoid tangles/knots. I do think it's good to take a break from all of the twisting/braiding so that your edges don't break and your ends don't dry out. That's what summer time is for. 8) I know I will this summer since the sun will be out to help my wash n' go's dry gently without the harsh cold air. It ultimately depends on your schedule, the season, and what your hair can handle.

ETA: @ eccentrickurlz, dido. It's not so much the style, but how often you manipulate. You lose less hair when you manipulate less. But, too little manipulation can lead to tangles since you aren't clearing out the shedded hair as often. It's about getting the right balance.

TK*

As a college student on the go, I don't have the luxury to constantly spend 2-4hrs on my hair everyday. I physically can't DO protective styles because they take too damn long! I don't have the patience to sit there with my little rat tail comb and make the parts just so--and section the hair just so. BLAGH!

I don't like "stretching" my hair because I have no idea what to do with it at its stretched length. It'll last about a day or two before I have to resort back to my co-wash regimen--so it's really not worth all the effort.

I take a shower everyday--so my hair is always getting wet. I use my spritzer when it gets dry and sometimes slap some whipped shea on it when I can't get around to washing. My hair has grown like crazy and I don't do protective styles. I have to detangle my hair at least once a week--but I say a simple 40min detangle is better than 2-4hrs of work for a 2-day hairstyle!

eccentric_kurlz

TK* wrote: »

As a college student on the go, I don't have the luxury to constantly spend 2-4hrs on my hair everyday. I physically can't DO protective styles because they take too damn long! I don't have the patience to sit there with my little rat tail comb and make the parts just so--and section the hair just so. BLAGH!

I don't like "stretching" my hair because I have no idea what to do with it at its stretched length. It'll last about a day or two before I have to resort back to my co-wash regimen--so it's really not worth all the effort.

I take a shower everyday--so my hair is always getting wet. I use my spritzer when it gets dry and sometimes slap some whipped shea on it when I can't get around to washing. My hair has grown like crazy and I don't do protective styles. I have to detangle my hair at least once a week--but I say a simple 40min detangle is better than 2-4hrs of work for a 2-day hairstyle!

What styles take you 2-4 hours to do everyday? Tell me so I can avoid those styles all together. LOL!

Paraty

Very interesting. I was where you were about a year ago in my senior year of college. I hardly had time to style my hair (or style it right since I hadn't mastered twists/braidouts) so I would just throw on a hat during days where I just had lecture hall (you get lost in the crowd of students). When the weather was warm I would co-wash with gel daily. Even now that I am not in school, my weekends are busy and I often find myself styling my hair at 11pm on a Sunday night the day before work lol! Always pressed for time.

The key for me has been flexibility and creativity. If I'm itching to wash my hair in the middle of the week (not literally) but it's in a stretched out style (twistouts/braidouts) I will refresh it with a light spritz, pat some pomade on to give moisture and sheen, then I'm good to go until the end of the week. If I was wearing it down during the week and it starts to revert, I simply use my bobby pins and put it into an updo or cute bun. My updo's last forever since my hair can't shrink up in the style. If I will be going to an event on a Sat. (my usual wash day), I either wake up early on Friday and wash my hair before work, style it Friday night after I get back, or wait until Sunday morning to do my hair.


One thing you said that brought back memories was that you don't know what to do with your stretched hair. That is exactly how I felt which is why I didn't start wearing stretched hair cosistently until almost a year after my BC. My hair would always be just one big fro and the ends would be dry. It does depend on how you are stretching it. I never band my hair to stretch, so it is always stretched into some type of pattern (twistout, braidouts, my natural texture after wearing a puff or wash n' go bun). Stretching it this way helps reduce the density and give my hair shape, so I don't end up with a mass of hair I don't know how to style. From there I do updo's (just grab some bobby pins and get creative) buns, side puffs, half down half up, or just wear it in a bob esp. if your hair isn't long enough to pin up or bun. Also don't forget that you can keep your twists/braids in for the week rather than unraveling them, and stretch those. The 2-4 hours you spend will give you a hairstyle for 5-7 days, that's priceless.

I am not going to lie, it does get exhausting, which is why I constantly experiment. However, once you master a routine like Curly Nikki has her twist n' curl and get into the rythm of it, you won't find your efforts going to waste. Keeping it real once again, wetting the hair often is actually best for the hair and keeps it moisturized, but stretching helps retain length, gives you more versatility if you want to jump from style to style with ease, and allows you to explore various styles without putting added stress on your hair/risking tangles. If you like to wet your hair often, then maybe you could try stretching it for one week of every month and see how your hair feels.

mariag002

Naturally Me wrote: »

I remember reading some hair forum where other people were having the same problem and someone said that you can't do protective styles the same way all the time. They said switch it up. For example, if you always put your hair in a bun, try doing braids or twists for a while. Someone also said that she did protective styles for a while and then did something like a rollerset or a wash n go.

That's what I do. If I bun my hair I never do it in the same spot for too long. I'll make a high ponytail and a low pony. I'll mix it up with rollersets since my hair isn't wet all the time and therefore not in a fragile state. I also give it a break and do a a wash and go. If I do wear it up in a bun I now add sheabutter to the front instead of slicking back with a gel.

At night time what I will normally do is just put a silk cap on to avoid rubbing the crown area against my pillow.

If you are experiencing breakage then you should try to find another hairstyle. It could be that your bun is too tight, it can be the gel, etc..

TK*

I guess I just have to get good at doing braids and twists. It takes ME a long to do because 1. I haven't mastered the technique 2. My hair is very dense 3. I HATE doing my hair

With practice I'll obviously be able to reduce my time. But UGH, I hate doing it! My hands hurt and cramp up. I have so much hair it's so daunting when I look at it sometimes. Just so much WORK!

Paraty, thank you for writing.

Currently my hair is in flat-twists (<<teaching myself) I'm still trying to figure out what to do with stretched hair. It's just a big mass all over the place whenever I stretch my hair out. It loses all shape and function--just a big cloud of hair sticking all over the place on my head. I don't know how to style my hair or get creative (why I hang around this site). I guess I need to buy some bobby pins and rubber bands.

trueT

when i first decided to go natural i cut my hair really short so shor i barely could put it in a pony tail while it was straight. I wore my twist for about three -4 months and my hair grow dramatically. I think when you let your hair rest and dont do to much combing brushing etc it tends to grow more.