When did protective styles start getting a bad reputation in the online natural community?

[Napp]

It seems that techniques used pre YouTube influencers were have been forgotten or something because now a days protective styles have gotten very bad rap.

I silently boil when a YouTuber who came out in the last few years talmbout some “protective styles are not protective” and then give a twist out as an example.

Now people are dogging braids but what ever happened to many of us do crown and glory and growafrohairlong.com teachings?!

Now you just see videos of girls with neglected foundation braids and not washing their hair for months at a time.

I dont like how they keep changing things that worked for us before stylists looking for a come up and finally do too little, too late.

I don’t like it out here! Don’t get me started on shingling. That was originally a miss jessies technique back when defining curls on black hair became a styling option for more people. The hair would be smoothed into roof like shingles to dry and define curl pattern. Now it means something else completely.


Just a little ramble from me

 

[faithVA]

It seems that techniques used pre YouTube influencers were have been forgotten or something because now a days protective styles have gotten very bad rap.

I silently boil when a YouTuber who came out in the last few years talmbout some “protective styles are not protective” and then give a twist out as an example.

Now people are dogging braids but what ever happened to many of us do crown and glory and growafrohairlong.com teachings?!

Now you just see videos of girls with neglected foundation braids and not washing their hair for months at a time.

I dont like how they keep changing things that worked for us before stylists looking for a come up and finally do too little, too late.

I don’t like it out here! Don’t get me started on shingling. That was originally a miss jessies technique back when defining curls on black hair became a styling option for more people. The hair would be smoothed into roof like shingles to dry and define curl pattern. Now it means something else completely.


Just a little ramble from me

We gonna need a link or example or something. I have watched a hair yt video in years.

 

[spacetygrss]

I’ve seen this as well. They’ll leave twists/braids in their hair for 3+ months, not wash their hair, oil their scalp, remoisturize, etc and then talk about how they aren’t protective styles. Ma’am your hair needs to be protected from YOU.
I just saw a TikTok video of a woman who says she washes her hair every 6 months. It’s wild.

There’s also a push for everyone to be a straight natural. Nothing wrong with keeping your hair straight if that’s what you like. However, acting like tried-and-true protective styles like braids, cornrows, two-strand twists, etc don’t work as protective styles for a large portion, if not majority, of naturals is silly.

 

[GGsKin]

@Napp What’s this about shingling now?

I have noticed how braids and ponytails are getting a bad reputation as harbingers of breakage. I find it funny how a lot of the stylists (not all) who mention it in their IG reels, do not give nuance or mention the treatment of the hair in the duration of the style. To me, it’s not necessarily the styles that are causing breakage, but bad practices with unsuitable tools- not moisturising, or too tight, too much hair added to a small section of naturally growing hair etc. Some seem as though they are genuinely trying to help, but I also believe for some, it’s a marketing tool to get more clients in their chairs and reliant upon their services.

I tend to watch YT hair for specific research- so I haven’t noticed a trend in this kind of content creator, but it’s unsurprising, because I have seen the trend on IG, with stylists.

 

[Theresamonet]

Protective styles got a bad rap when people started using them as an excuse to neglect their hair. Protective styling still requires maintenance. Braids and weaves won’t protect anything if you let your hair dry out and become brittle, or if your follicles get clogged with dead skin and buildup. I’ve seen people take down six-month-old styles that they never washed or moisturized even once. The Crown and Glory method wasn’t just about braiding your hair and forgetting it. It was a complete (and foolproof) regimen for caring for hair while in braids. It seems like we’ve kept the terminology from a lot of Black haircare techniques, but the original ideology has been forgotten.

ETA: Also, any style that simply hid your hair wasn’t automatically considered protective. If the style was too tight, it wasn’t protective. The C&G method prohibited micro braids. You had to consider the potential damage from installation and takedown. Now I see people gluing lace down on their edges or gelling and hardening their hair for quick weaves, and calling those a 'protective styles'. The plot has been lost.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

When stylists(Black Girl Curls, Cut It Kinky, etc...) entered the social media hair care space. They created a movement to discredit every popular practice that originated on haircare message boards and YouTube. They hyper focused on the outliers with extreme regimes and hair care practices and tried to make it seem like that was the norm in the diy hair care community.

 

[Lylddlebit]

Ironically, now is a really good time to have healthy, enjoyable hair, regardless of how you style it. The internet just makes it so anyone can sound off like improper hair care or a poor choice accurately represents a thing done well. It's pretty crazy, but I mainly look past it as I take calculated risks and continue enjoying protective styles.

 

[ScorpioBeauty09]

Yes I've noticed people attacking braids lately, especially since that "study" came out about the toxic chemicals in a lot of the popular synthetic hair brands. Criticizing hair brands is legit but braids themselves? I don't understand. In full disclosure, boxed braids have been my signature style for the past decade. Before that I was a straight haired natural. I'm on a braids break while I find another brand of hair to use because the brand I was using made my scalp itch. I've heard caveats about the study and why more research needs to be done before telling BW to stop wearing braids altogether.

Hair needs to be taken care of, whether in protective styles or not. Any style if not done properly and maintained can be damaging.

 

[Angel of the North]

It seems that techniques used pre YouTube influencers were have been forgotten or something because now a days protective styles have gotten very bad rap.

I silently boil when a YouTuber who came out in the last few years talmbout some “protective styles are not protective” and then give a twist out as an example.

Now people are dogging braids but what ever happened to many of us do crown and glory and growafrohairlong.com teachings?!

Now you just see videos of girls with neglected foundation braids and not washing their hair for months at a time.

I dont like how they keep changing things that worked for us before stylists looking for a come up and finally do too little, too late.

I don’t like it out here! Don’t get me started on shingling. That was originally a miss jessies technique back when defining curls on black hair became a styling option for more people. The hair would be smoothed into roof like shingles to dry and define curl pattern. Now it means something else completely.


Just a little ramble from me

This why we need to "do you". Bandwagons have been the cause of many a setback for a lot of people.

It's a case of picking sense out of the nonsense. We can take on board advice, but need to be realistic with the things we want to try. A lot of people knows enough about their hair to know what is realistic for them. Example could be, knowing if you don't detangle/wash your hair for 4 weeks, your hair might just start locking, then you go and leave those processes for say 2-3 months. There are so many examples, but I'm sure you get the gist.

My philosophy is pretty much if it's not broken, there's nothing to fix. The styles and processes that have been relied on by many from days gone buy, are very much still relevant and still work till today. I think it's disrespectful to disregard them, they hold valid spots in HHC practices.

Braids are not for everyone, better put..... You can't let just anyone Braids your hair! Some people pull too tight, some don't plait tight enough, some won't care it your edges/napes are hanging on for their life, others will tailor their techniques to what your hair needs or can handle.

ETA: Brands of braid and weave hair have nothing to do with the style. There's a lot of people out here can braids their own hair too.

Another problem is the influencer culture, you cannot trust everything you read or see on socials. It is, again, not a one size fits all, people are out here Following monetized/sponsored influencers that are just there to get paid. (I'm not saying all, everyone can use their own judgement).

I did find it funny that there's so much talk of shingling, everyone seems to be on that train. We need to give those who came before us/created products to help us their flowers.

 

[mzteaze]

I think "influencers" are often at the crux of the problems simply because too many present themselves as an "authority" on a subject they don't understand. The protective styles as portrayed on social media have truly morphed into a version of "how long can I neglect my hair?". Half of my feed is braid takedown that have been in for 4 months and over.

The one that STILL has me gagging is the chick that kept her silk press for FOUR MONTHS.

 

[Angel of the North]

I think "influencers" are often at the crux of the problems simply because too many present themselves as an "authority" on a subject they don't understand. The protective styles as portrayed on social media have truly morphed into a version of "how long can I neglect my hair?". Half of my feed is braid takedown that have been in for 4 months and over.

The one that STILL has me gagging is the chick that kept her silk press for FOUR MONTHS.

I think my hair just recoiled on her behalf..... I agree, I'm very selective about who/what I'll watch regarding haircare, although I've seen some funny clips along the way. I click into a video, hear some foolishness and know they don't know anything about HHP or see hair so bad, there's just no way I'm even going to give any airtime. It's difficult to believe that they are serious.

If I kept braids/weave in for more than 5 weeks, my scalp can't take it. Leaving them in for 4 months, I'd proably have dreads!

 

[BeautifulRoots]

One thing that may be exacerbating the issue is that stylists put a LOT of Let's Jam and/or edge control onto the scalp and hair while styling braids. I understand it's to get the hair to lay down and make the parts extra crisp. That much product on the hair and scalp may not be helping the style be protective, especially if it sits for months.

 

[Angel of the North]

I’ve seen this as well. They’ll leave twists/braids in their hair for 3+ months, not wash their hair, oil their scalp, remoisturize, etc and then talk about how they aren’t protective styles. Ma’am your hair needs to be protected from YOU.
I just saw a TikTok video of a woman who says she washes her hair every 6 months. It’s wild.

There’s also a push for everyone to be a straight natural. Nothing wrong with keeping your hair straight if that’s what you like. However, acting like tried-and-true protective styles like braids, cornrows, two-strand twists, etc don’t work as protective styles for a large portion, if not majority, of naturals is silly.

You made me laugh with the hair needing protecting from you comment Honestly, I would not want to be in the vicinity of someone who hadn't washed their hair or was taking out hair after that length of time.

Just because someone is nose blind to the stench coming from their hair, doesn't mean that nobody else can't smell it. I personally do not put any products on my scalp as my hair doesn’t need it, but if it was in a weave I definitely would as I'm not moisturising my hair in the same way I would normally. What my mind's eye is picturing with 4 months post install, is rainforest wild.

I don't have many social accounts, I have an IG, I mostly follow dogs and trainers there. I dip in to some of the hair stuff that pops up. I'm happy to not have a tik tok account because I know their doing the most over there and also do not have FB. I feel sheltered a very good way that I'm missing all that action and inaction.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

One thing that may be exacerbating the issue is that stylists put a LOT of Let's Jam and/or edge control onto the scalp and hair while styling braids. I understand it's to get the hair to lay down and make the parts extra crisp. That much product on the hair and scalp may not be helping the style be protective, especially if it sits for months.

I braid my own hair. I don't use any of that mess for my braids. This excessive use of product is a recent thing. IMO, it's rooted in texturism. The excessive baby hair fad is too. Many are really trying to make type 4 hair look like silky type 3 hair while braided.

 

[Angel of the North]

I forgot to say, this movement about straight naturals is not something I was aware of, Sounds weird to me, almost cult like by the sounds of it. I used to prefer my hair stretched as it was easier and quicker to manage, I could stretch it with plaits, twists or roller set. It didn't necessarily need to be straight, and now I prefer my hair curly.

Does being a sraight natural require a lot of heat/silk presses? If the preference was to keep your hair straight, surely it would make sense to relax it and keep it healthy? I might go Google some videos....

ETA: After a quick search, I'm saw keratin treatments, silk presses, products that changes hair texture but not relaxers, heat damage and a tip to grow your hair to WL by keeping your install for 3-4 months

 

[Angel of the North]

I braid my own hair. I don't use any of that mess for my braids. This excessive use of product is a recent thing. IMO, it's rooted in texturism. The excessive baby hair fad is too. Many are really trying to make type 4 hair look like silky type 3 hair while braided.

So that's what it's really about? More high class foolishness., I really dislike the texturism BS, there are beautiful heads of hair of every texture out there.

Don't even get me started on the baby hair malarkey. I've never understood it personally, each to their own I suppose.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

I forgot to say, this movement about straight naturals is not something I was aware of, Sounds weird to me, almost cult like by the sounds of it. I used to prefer my hair stretched as it was easier and quicker to manage, I could stretch it with plaits, twists or roller set. It didn't necessarily need to be straight, and now I prefer my hair curly.

Does being a sraight natural require a lot of heat/silk presses? If the preference was to keep your hair straight, surely it would make sense to relax it and keep it healthy? I might go Google some videos....

ETA: After a quick search, I'm saw keratin treatments, silk presses, products that changes hair texture but not relaxers, heat damage and a tip to grow your hair to WL by keeping your install for 3-4 months

I think it depends on the person. Straight naturals aren't a new thing. I've been a straight natural since 2007/2008. My straight natural hair is healthier than my relaxed hair. I don't do keratin treatments or wear sew-ins. I do wear braids 2 or 3 times a year. I keep them in for a month. I still have my curl pattern. I wear twists and puffs occasionally in the summer.

 

[spacetygrss]

I think it depends on the person. Straight naturals aren't a new thing. I've been a straight natural since 2007/2008. My straight natural hair is healthier than my relaxed hair. I don't do keratin treatments or wear sew-ins. I do wear braids 2 or 3 times a year. I keep them in for a month. I still have my curl pattern. I wear twists and puffs occasionally in the summer.

Being a straight natural definitely isn’t a new thing. It’s literally how many of us grew up.
However, there is a narrative being pushed that THE way to grow and retain hair is to be a straight-haired natural. In reality, what many type 4 naturals need is well-hydrated hair that is stretched in order to avoid tangling and knots. Stretched doesn’t equal straight. Twists, braids, Bantu-knots, silk-presses, etc will all stretch the hair.

 

[Angel of the North]

I think it depends on the person. Straight naturals aren't a new thing. I've been a straight natural since 2007/2008. My straight natural hair is healthier than my relaxed hair. I don't do keratin treatments or wear sew-ins. I do wear braids 2 or 3 times a year. I keep them in for a month. I still have my curl pattern. I wear twists and puffs occasionally in the summer.

Interesting points you've made (for me). Have you always referred to yourself as a straight natural? What do you do to get your hair straight, and how are you maintaining it/keeping it straight?. I'm just trying to figure out exactly what a straight natural is and how that is achieved.

I find it interesting that being a straight natural has your hair healthier than relaxed, if it is heat that gets your hair straight. There are people who feel the same way about texlaxing too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti heat, although I've barely used any in the last 4 years.

I don't doubt for a second that the concept of "straight naturals" isn't something new, I'm wondering what I would have referred to it as before hearing that term. I don't keep up with trends or the socials, I feel like I might be familiar with the principles, just not with the term.

A personal example for myself would be: I started washing my hair with conditioner, my hair liked it a lot so, I would do this 3-4 times a week. Whenever I finished washing my hair, I would put my hair in a bun or a top knot and air dry, they were my signature styles. I would leave it between 6-8 weeks to touch up relxers, because my regrowth wasn't that noticeable, I had friends/family who relaxed every 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks, not many left it that long.

This would have been roughly 35 years ago. I did a BC in 1999 after a very long stretch to become natural. In 2007 I started my HHJ, I became a lurker of this site, (I didn't actually sign up until 2009), and other hair boards. I researched ingredients, products, principles and practices etc. I came across the terms, cowashing, protective styling and stretching. All tnings I had been doing for many years, just didn't know they had names. I'm wondering if it's the same with straight natural.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

Interesting points you've made (for me). Have you always referred to yourself as a straight natural? What do you do to get your hair straight, and how are you maintaining it/keeping it straight?. I'm just trying to figure out exactly what a straight natural is and how that is achieved.

I find it interesting that being a straight natural has your hair healthier than relaxed, if it is heat that gets your hair straight. There are people who feel the same way about texlaxing too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti heat, although I've barely used any in the last 4 years.

I don't doubt for a second that the concept of "straight naturals" isn't something new, I'm wondering what I would have referred to it as before hearing that term. I don't keep up with trends or the socials, I feel like I might be familiar with the principles, just not with the term.

A personal example for myself would be: I started washing my hair with conditioner, my hair liked it a lot so, I would do this 3-4 times a week. Whenever I finished washing my hair, I would put my hair in a bun or a top knot and air dry, they were my signature styles. I would leave it between 6-8 weeks to touch up relxers, because my regrowth wasn't that noticeable, I had friends/family who relaxed every 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks, not many left it that long.

This would have been roughly 35 years ago. I did a BC in 1999 after a very long stretch to become natural. In 2007 I started my HHJ, I became a lurker of this site, (I didn't actually sign up until 2009), and other hair boards. I researched ingredients, products, principles and practices etc. I came across the terms, cowashing, protective styling and stretching. All tnings I had been doing for many years, just didn't know they had names. I'm wondering if it's the same with straight natural.

I started using the term years ago on this message board. I don't think the members of this board intentionally coined the term or tried to start a movement. This term and others similar to it was used in thread titles to share information, product reviews and discuss different techniques. "Straight hair naturals, what heat protectant do you use", "Straight naturals, do you rollerset or blow dry before flat ironing?", " Straight naturals, how often do you flat iron?" etc....


Different strokes for different folks. I have been relaxed bone straight, texlaxed and natural. Being a straight natural works best for me. My hair is thicker and there is less breakage. I like the option of wearing my natural texture every once in a while.

It's the same.

 

[MzSwift]

I started using the term years ago on this message board. I don't think the members of this board intentionally coined the term or tried to start a movement. This term and others similar to it was used in thread titles to share information, product reviews and discuss different techniques. "Straight hair naturals, what heat protectant do you use", "Straight naturals, do you rollerset or blow dry before flat ironing?", " Straight naturals, how often do you flat iron?" etc....


Different strokes for different folks. I have been relaxed bone straight, texlaxed and natural. Being a straight natural works best for me. My hair is thicker and there is less breakage. I like the option of wearing my natural texture every once in a while.

It's the same.

Yup, it's not new.

And in my corner of Black America, it was called getting a "press and curl" back in the 70's and 80's. Growing up in the 80's, I saw ladies get them every 2 weeks at the shop. I always thought they were all relaxed and wore it fluffy. But now I know that they were really hot combed, flat ironed or roller set natural ladies.


I think this one is a recent photo but I remember this style from the 80's. My aunt and my mom used to rock this too.

 

[Angel of the North]

I started using the term years ago on this message board. I don't think the members of this board intentionally coined the term or tried to start a movement. This term and others similar to it was used in thread titles to share information, product reviews and discuss different techniques. "Straight hair naturals, what heat protectant do you use", "Straight naturals, do you rollerset or blow dry before flat ironing?", " Straight naturals, how often do you flat iron?" etc....


Different strokes for different folks. I have been relaxed bone straight, texlaxed and natural. Being a straight natural works best for me. My hair is thicker and there is less breakage. I like the option of wearing my natural texture every once in a while.

It's the same.

Thank you for clarifying. Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember seeing threads with those titles. I also agree with the sentiment that we need to do what works best for us too. I too have relaxed bone straight, texlaxed and been natural, for me natural works the best and gives me the best hair health.

I think I'm getting different messages about being a straight natural depending on who's giving it. Your version makes sense to me, some of what I saw when I looked it up, not so much. Personally, healthy hair is the most important thing, I'd choose health over length any day.

 

[Angel of the North]

Yup, it's not new.

And in my corner of Black America, it was called getting a "press and curl" back in the 70's and 80's. Growing up in the 80's, I saw ladies get them every 2 weeks at the shop. I always thought they were all relaxed and wore it fluffy. But now I know that they were really hot combed, flat ironed or roller set natural ladies.

View attachment 502878 View attachment 502880
I think this one is a recent photo but I remember this style from the 80's. My aunt and my mom used to rock this too.

View attachment 502882

That's pretty much what we called straightening natural hair worh heat too, pressing your hair.

When I looked it up yesterday I found people with keratin treatments referring to themselves as straight naturals, I would argue that the types of keratin used in that process entails the use of chemicals although the results may not be permanent.

I found people claiming that they were stretching their hair straight using a number of protective styles, except their hair wasn't straight and full of texture.

Tips by people claiming to be straight naturals basically telling you to weave/braids your hair for 3-4 months at a time and just completely forget about it.

I came across a few threads on other sites arguing about what being a straight natural is, this included the concept that anything you do to your hair outside of washing it and leaving it counted as not being natural, along with a whole lot of other stuff that basically confused me. The word movement cropped up a good few times and I was like, did I miss something?

If someone asked me what a straight natural was before Ilooked it up, I would have said natural hair that straightens with blow drying, pressing, roller setting or hair straighteners. I wouldn't necessarily expect that they wear their hair straight all the time either. Hopefully you can see where the confusion came from.

 

[MilkChocolateOne]

Thank you for clarifying. Now that I think about it, I vaguely remember seeing threads with those titles. I also agree with the sentiment that we need to do what works best for us too. I too have relaxed bone straight, texlaxed and been natural, for me natural works the best and gives me the best hair health.

I think I'm getting different messages about being a straight natural depending on who's giving it. Your version makes sense to me, some of what I saw when I looked it up, not so much. Personally, healthy hair is the most important thing, I'd choose health over length any day.

It's hard to find good up to date information. The influencers have taken over and they are all over the place. Their main goal is to push products and tools. The other new online trend is the "air drying" is detrimental to hair health bandwagon. Part of the problem is that everyone is pushing a one size fit all approach. I miss the old forum days. There was a wealth of diverse information for everyone: relaxed hair, natural hair, color treated hair, double processed hair, transitioning, regimen building, weaves, braids, henna, heat users, air drying, heatless stretching, curly girl method, natural products, drug store products, salon products, Dominican products, Indian hair products, diy etc.... The best information is in the archives.

 

[Angel of the North]

It's hard to find good up to date information. The influencers have taken over and they are all over the place. Their main goal is to push products and tools. The other new online trend is the "air drying" is detrimental to hair health bandwagon. Part of the problem is that everyone is pushing a one size fit all approach. I miss the old forum days. There was a wealth of diverse information for everyone: relaxed hair, natural hair, color treated hair, double processed hair, transitioning, regimen building, weaves, braids, henna, heat users, air drying, heatless stretching, curly girl method, natural products, drug store products, salon products, Dominican products, Indian hair products, diy etc.... The best information is in the archives.

The board has changed dramatically, I'm just glad there's still a few old members around, it gives me a sense of nostalgia. I see new/newish members, or threads don't get the same responses they used to.

I really appreciate everyone who takes the time to contribute to threads and messages. Real life has gotten real for a lot of us, people are dealing with so much irl so I respect the time they are giving.

 

[MzSwift]

That's pretty much what we called straightening natural hair worh heat too, pressing your hair.

When I looked it up yesterday I found people with keratin treatments referring to themselves as straight naturals, I would argue that the types of keratin used in that process entails the use of chemicals although the results may not be permanent.

I found people claiming that they were stretching their hair straight using a number of protective styles, except their hair wasn't straight and full of texture.

Tips by people claiming to be straight naturals basically telling you to weave/braids your hair for 3-4 months at a time and just completely forget about it.

I came across a few threads on other sites arguing about what being a straight natural is, this included the concept that anything you do to your hair outside of washing it and leaving it counted as not being natural, along with a whole lot of other stuff that basically confused me. The word movement cropped up a good few times and I was like, did I miss something?

If someone asked me what a straight natural was before Ilooked it up, I would have said natural hair that straightens with blow drying, pressing, roller setting or hair straighteners. I wouldn't necessarily expect that they wear their hair straight all the time either. Hopefully you can see where the confusion came from.

No, no, no. You didn't confuse me at all.

The ppl you're talking about, the ones policing what other ppl do to their hair, are the ones who are confusing.

Around here and other places I've been, I've seen it referenced that a straight haired natural is someone with natural hair who wears their hair straight the majority of the time, if not all of the time. I haven't really seen it applied to a specific straightening process more so just the end result.

But, I'm gonna go back to lurking bc I'm not natural.