Do you have to protective style the rest of your life to have long hair?

[levette]

I just want to know for us women of color who do not have 1a or 2a or 3a type of hair, , are we going to have to protective style indefinitely. Honestly, this year after the summer time, I have kinda stopped protective styling and have been airdrying and wearing braidouts. My hair seems to have gotten a tad shorter and somewhat thinner but I attribute this to a major trim I got back in July of this year.

 

[brown_skin_poppin]

I think to get to your goal length you have to protective style most of the time, but once you get to your hair goal you can start to enjoy your hair a little more. Before I BC'ed in June my hair was WL and i would bun 7 days a week unless i was planning on going out and then i would usually do a braidout but i would never flat iron my hair.

 

[coyacoy]

I think to get to your goal length you have to protective style most of the time, but once you get to your hair goal you can start to enjoy your hair a little more. Before I BC'ed in June my hair was WL and i would bun 7 days a week unless i was planning on going out and then i would usually do a braidout but i would never flat iron my hair.

Ditto this

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[NappyNelle]

Nope. Protective style to get there - Style like heck when you're there!

But realistically, you'll probably use PS to maintain from time to time.

 

[napbella]

I voted it prob depends on your hair because I also think you will have to monitor your hair once you reach your goal to ensure you are not damaging it in any way while enjoying it.

 

[blessedandlucky]

I don't think you have to protective style to reach your goals. I agree that it depends on your hair. I generally don't protective style but after a (chemical) setback, I am protectively styling more frequently to reach my next goal. I don't think it's essential in general. Plus, I want to enjoy my hair.


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[irsgirl]

I plan on protective styling November to April for the next three years and then after that I will wear my hair down and PS only when needed.

 

[curlyninjagirl]

I don't know if you have to, but I know I will be protective styling for life. I've always been into wearing cute messy buns daily and maybe hair down on special occassions. I don't like wearing my hair down much because I feel like I have to constantly be in front of a mirror all day primping and that's just not how I roll.

 

[davisbr88]

IA with NappyNelle.
It's probably like weight loss. You diet and work out a lot to get to your goal and then once you get there, you have a bit more freedom but you still have to do work every now and then to maintain.
I've been bunning pretty much everyday since June and will continue to do so until I reach my goal. When I get there, I'll probably continue to bun most of the time just out of convenience but will definitely be wearing my hair out at least twice a week.

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

I was seriously asking myself that same question today. But I'm going to have to agree with some of the girls. PS until you get there & then enjoy your hair a lil more. But I think we may have to PS from time to time even after our goal to maintain.

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[Keen]

It depend on your hair type. You have to learn what your hair can handle. Growing and maintaining long hair just require more effort for some people.

 

[BrookeLynn]

Unfortunately I'm starting to think so. Now that my hair is approaching full APL it seems like the ends stay frayed and I can't fend off ssks. I've decided to stay away from twists, wash and gos and curly puffs (basically anything that "hangs") until I get some more length.

 

[MsLi@512]

Buns and updo's don't bother me, I actually like how they look on me. One of my goals is to have a big, juicy, thick mega bun.
Once I hit my goal, I will wear my hair down more to enjoy my length, but won't totally leave PS out of my reggie.

 

[MissAlinaRose]

I voted no, but my real answer is a cross between no and it depends on the type.

It is funny you posted this question because I just wrote a blog post about this. My hair texture is cottony, thick, coarse, and if I were to use the typing system I would classify my curl size as 4b. I personally found out that wearing braids/twists/etc. were no different than me wearing my hair out every day and that length was retained regardless.

However, I know that everyone is different and I think the thickness of strands (read: resiliency) and texture does play a factor in retention.

 

[RoseTintedCheeks]

I think it just depends on your hair. The longer my hair gets, the more lax I get. I use to be all about having a strict regimen, but now it's really simple. I actually prefer to PS and wear my hair out for special occasions. It gives a 'wow' effect.

 

[My Friend]

I think thinking we have to "PS" makes us feel as though we are having to sacrifice something or go "without" the ability to wear it down.

Since being on this journey, I see a lot of 1a, 2a and 3a types in buns. I've noticed that a lot of the time Becky comes to work with her down but by lunch time she has it up in a messy bun.

When I visit Becky's at their home's, they seem to have it up and out the way. (bun). Look at Becky's at the gym, at work, in the pool, in their homes...BUNS

Now mind you, they don't go around saying " I have my hair in a bun" they just simply say "Urg...my hair is getting so long" and then casually whip their hair around and put it in a somewhat messy, sexy bun All the while, all the Bob's in the office start drooling.

 

[yorkpatties]

I think thinking we have to "PS" makes us feel as though we are having to sacrifice something or go "without" the ability to wear it down.

Exactly. I always see the same language used when people talk about protective styling, people will say they protective style but they want to "enjoy their hair" once they reach their goal. So protective styling isn't enjoyable to many women. What I don't know is, do we need more attractive protective styles, or is it the feeling of having something to prove? Just the psych major in me, not trying to offend or call anyone in particular out, just commenting on the language I've seen a billion times on this board and others. It seems that so many of us are in a perpetual state of waiting. Even women with gorgeous bra strap length are left feeling like they won't be the **** until they are waist length, and waist length women won't be happy until they can sweep the floor with their hair
It's good to have goals, but I truly believe that protective styling will be a constant for some of us who want to have HEALTHY hair of any length, not just long hair. So if this is something we have to do indefinitely, we better find a way to make it enjoyable. No sense is feeling like a schlub 5 days out of the week and only feeling attractive on the weekend. That is no good for anyones sense of well-being.

 

[greenandchic]

My hair is medium to fine and PS is the only way to keep it from breaking. I do wear my hair out more in the spring and summer, but that's because my hair isn't rubbing on my heavy clothes, wool coats, scarves, etc that I wear during the winter months. From October/November to about March/April my hair is up 100% of the time.

 

[Supergirl]

I do believe that there is a "maintenance" level of protective styling. It wouldn't be as much protective styling as it took to reach your goals, but yes I do believe that to maintain, there still has to be some degree of protective styling.

 

[Harina]

I voted no, but my real answer is a cross between no and it depends on the type.

It is funny you posted this question because I just wrote a blog post about this. My hair texture is cottony, thick, coarse, and if I were to use the typing system I would classify my curl size as 4b. /QUOTE]


MissAlinaRose, just making sure, you're saying that the actual strands of your hair are coarse?

 

[Miss AJ]

Not necessarily, but some ladies get so accustomed to protective styling they just continue to do it. If you can wear your hair down everyday without the excessive combing, flat ironing, whipping it back and forth lol then it's totally possible to retain length without wearing it up all the time.

 

[Dee Raven]

I think every hair type needs to protective style to get really long. Look at the Long Hair Community, they talk about protective styling as well. I think that some thick stranded people can get away with being a little more harsh to their hair, but everyone else has to find a balance between length and styling. If you mean all the time PS, I don't think so, but again there is a balance.

 

[AimWard]

Judging from my own hair, I think low manipulation and little to no heat is the key. I wear my hair out 95% of the time. The only time I protective style is when... Well... My hair needs to be protected. I twist it when I go to sleep and I put it up in a clip when I workout (or do anything that would cause damage). That's the only protective styling I do and I'm at WL stretched (and it didn't take me 10 years to get there). We tend to forget that the purpose of hair is for warmth and protection. It's the brain and spinal cord's first line of defense. Being bossy and cute is just an added benefit.

 

[SheenaVee]

I don't think protective styling is always necessary. I, for example, never protective style. If my hair is in a bun or another style that's considered protective it's because I just felt like wearing it like that, not for protective reasons, and my hair is now past BSL despite several cuts. Depends on your hair, I think.

 

[blessedandlucky]

If my hair is in a bun or another style that's considered protective it's because I just felt like wearing it like that, not for protective reasons, and my hair is now past BSL despite several cuts.

completely agree with the above. When my hair is up, it's deliberate and cute.

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[Mis007]

You have to be careful with some protective styles, some swear with braids but this damages my hair.

 

[halee_J]

Like other ladies said, to some degree, yes, in order to maintain health and length. I personally love buns, I want more length so that I can do big, messy, sexy buns

 

[LiftedUp]

There are members here such who have successfully grown long healthy hair without psing so it is possible.

 

[havilland]

it depends on hair thickness i believe.

my hair is fine. i have to protective style most of the time in order to RETAIN. my hair grows but then i have to trim away thin ends all the time.

my thick haired sister does whatever she pleases and her hair grows down her back with no argument. she doesn't trim regularly, protective style or deep condition.

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

Annnnd wanna know what else?! LOL! I think PS'ing has made me extremely lazy with wanting to style my hair for those special occasions. so many times I want to rock a rolletset/saran wrap but nooooo all my energy is quickly drained just by the idea. I only wash, condition & airdry then back under the wig it goes. Sad I know. Sigh....

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