Protective Styles really necessary for growth???

[TonicaG]

Ladies,

I'm just curious, quite a few of you are strongly promoting protective styles to really see growth. I'm not opposed but is it really necessary. There are others that wear their hair down on a daily basis and still have below bra strap length. (Not sure how they protect the ends...).

I have a colleague who is not a member of this board and she too wears her hair down and has below bra strap length and she ain't even the least bit concerned about her ends and she doesn't use any of the products discussed on this board, in fact she uses a little of the Mizani oil every other week.

I was so anxious to buy this and that because it worked for her and her and ended up spending lots of money on products and try this hair method because it worked for... It kinda had me down and then I had an epiphany that each of us has to do what works for us and not do it because it works for someone else, we're all different.

I'm not opposed to protective styles, but I am seeking clarification. If someone could possibly shed light on this, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

Slyver2 is a great authority on this topic. She never, ever wears protective styles and her hair is long and lookin great. Now where is she...? :scratchch

 

[Carlie]

No, protective styles aren't necessary for growth. Hair will grow regardless of the style.

 

[vangrey]

Slyver2 is a great authority on this topic. She never, ever wears protective styles and her hair is long and lookin great. Now where is she...? :scratchch

you know i was thinking the same thing!

@tonica: i have never worn a protective style and it is not necessary for growth. i think ppl wear them to protect their ends from rubbing up against clothes and drying out. i think as long as you moisturize your ends at least once a day when wear your hair out, it should be ok.

 

[Lorraine]

It depends on the state of your hair. When I joined LHCF I was exposing my hair to a lot of heat, unnecessary manipulation, and harsh weather. By washing daily and putting my hair in a bun I gave it a break and allowed my hair to do it's thing. If your hair isn't broken nor damaged I wouldn't worry about a consistent protective style.

 

[Jewell]

I don't think they're necessary for growth, either, because I wore my hair down practically every single day (except days I had clinicals and had to have my hair up, though I would immediately take it down afterwards) for the past 2 years, and I haven't had problem with my hair growing more or less. I have to admit that a few years ago (about 2002) I had cornrows for a couple weeks, and my hair grew very fast. I try to put my hair up because the ends do get dry, regardless of whether or not I moisturize them before I wear it down. My hair just sucks up whatever I put on it. I usually wear a wool peacoat, and if I don't put my hair up, its breakage city back there.

I would love to continue to wear my hair down everyday, but I have to get past brushing and combing all the time when it is down. To keep from doing this, I just twist it around in back and clip it...or I wear a braid down the back. I'll wear it down when its warmer...I won't be wearing wool sweaters and coats then. Also, I'll be able to CO wash/shampoo and head to work with it wet and hanging down like I used to before it got cold (its like 80 degrees here by the end of April and very humid all the way until late September).

 

[Mariaat40]

Ladies,

... It kinda had me down and then I had an epiphany that each of us has to do what works for us and not do it because it works for someone else, we're all different.

This is the key. Some folks can wear their hair down everyday and have great growth. And others have only seen growth because of the use of protective styles. You have to find what works for you and your hair. Protective styles have worked for me but I'm not real rigid with it. I like to wear my hair down on weekends.

 

[simplycee]

When I first came to these boards I was not into wearing protective styles. I hated the way my head looked when wearing a bun. I wanted longer hair but couldn't figure out why my hair never grew longer than a couple inches past shoulder length.

My hair tends to be dry. As we all know your ends are the oldest part of your hair so we must treat them gently if we want to maintain length. I keep my ends saturated in moisture and tucked away. When I started using protective styles my hair got longer. Why? Because I was keeping my length by preserving my ends.

In my opinion getting longer hair is not about whether your hair is growing, we know it does GROW regardless of the style. Longer hair is the result of keeping your ends from breaking. Being able to see the results have been worth it for me.

Some people are able to wear their hair out eveyday without breakage. I just don't happen to be one of them.

 

[MonaLisa]

When I first came to these boards I was not into wearing protective styles. I hated the way my head looked when wearing a bun. I wanted longer hair but couldn't figure out why my hair never grew longer than a couple inches past shoulder length.

My hair tends to be dry. As we all know your ends are the oldest part of your hair so we must treat them gently if we want to maintain length. I keep my ends saturated in moisture and tucked away. When I started using protective styles my hair got longer. Why? Because I was keeping my length by preserving my ends.

In my opinion getting longer hair is not about whether your hair is growing, we know it does GROW regardless of the style. Longer hair is the result of keeping your ends from breaking. Being able to see the results have been worth it for me.

Some people are able to wear their hair out eveyday without breakage. I just don't happen top be one of them.

Well said SimplyCee.

 

[brownhaired_bonanza]

Some people are able to wear their hair out eveyday without breakage. I just don't happen top be one of them.

I'm the same way. I do a world of good for my hair by wearing it up most of the time. Anyone who can wear theirs down each and every day and keep length, more power to ya.

 

[TonicaG]

Thanks to each of you for your responses, but help me understand this, how are the ends getting moisturized if the hair is down???

 

[Poohbear]

No, protective styles aren't necessary for growth. Hair will grow regardless of the style.

I totally agree.

Protective styles my help retain length, but you can get breakage from both protective styles and wearing your hair down. As long as you take good care of your hair, you will retain the growth that you achieve.

 

[Poohbear]

Thanks to each of you for your responses, but help me understand this, how are the ends getting moisturized if the hair is down???

Your hair doesn't have to be wet/damp to be moisturized. If you wear you hair down, you can apply a moisturizer sparingly daily just to keep your ends from getting dry and frizzy which will cause breakage.

 

[sylver2]

When I first came to these boards I was not into wearing protective styles. I hated the way my head looked when wearing a bun. I wanted longer hair but couldn't figure out why my hair never grew longer than a couple inches past shoulder length.

My hair tends to be dry. As we all know your ends are the oldest part of your hair so we must treat them gently if we want to maintain length. I keep my ends saturated in moisture and tucked away. When I started using protective styles my hair got longer. Why? Because I was keeping my length by preserving my ends.

In my opinion getting longer hair is not about whether your hair is growing, we know it does GROW regardless of the style. Longer hair is the result of keeping your ends from breaking. Being able to see the results have been worth it for me.

Some people are able to wear their hair out eveyday without breakage. I just don't happen top be one of them.

ITA!!!!!!
Different strokes for different folks.
Now I am one who never ever wear protective styles. I wear my hair down every single day, even now at 19 weeks post relaxer.
I always keep a nice serum(NTM) or jojoba oil on my ends. Its almost like the ends are sealed when I do this.

 

[simplycee]

Now I am one who never ever wear protective styles. I wear my hair down every single day.

Lucky girl!

 

[Isis]

I found that protective styles worked for me mainly because I wasn't focused on keeping my hair and ends moisturized before. I didn't know about protective styling until I came to LHCF and my hair was very damaged from all the heat I was using. I quickly learned how to wear buns, French Twists and other updos for the first time and soon realized I could retain my growth.

After looking at beautiful, long manes of the ladies here who wear their hair down all of the time (natural and relaxed), it seems that moisture is the main key no matter what the style, especially the ends. I will always enjoy wearing my protective styles, mainly because they are hairstyles that look good on me. I will be wearing my hair down also.