I'll sacrifice a "cute" style on my natural hair ANY DAY for health and length. If I wanna look sharp/cute, then I do my wigs/clip-on extensions. Or, I do PS styles that still look nice using accessories. If I do wear my own hair out, then it has to be a special occasion or for a date. Those days are over where I would use too much heat, gel, or tension to make my hair look a certain way.
I do my LF's when leaving the house anyway, but um, yeah...at home, these Celie braids do look a mess sometimes--especially when it's 'bout time to take it down, wash, and re-braid! Those serve as my PS under my LF's. But, hell it's only me and my daughter, so who cares! I pull it all together quite right when I have to go out. My buns & other PS NEVER look "busted." I ain't havin' that.
ETA: Most days at home, I have on my black satin scarf over my braids, and then I take that off and throw on a wig to go out! lol