How To Repair Your Hair After Taking Down Protective Styles

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Have you recently taken down your protective style and noticed some hair damage? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered with effective solutions to repair and rejuvenate your hair!

Protective styles like braids, twists, weaves, and wigs are excellent for giving your hair a break and promoting growth. However, improper takedown or neglecting aftercare can lead to hair damage, breakage, and even thinning edges.

If you’ve recently taken down your protective style and noticed some hair woes, fret not! We’ve compiled a practical guide to repair and revitalize your hair post-protective style:

1. Gentle Detangling: Start by gently detangling your hair using a wide-tooth comb or your fingers. Be patient and work in small sections to avoid unnecessary pulling and breakage. Apply a detangling leave-in conditioner or aloe vera gel to ease the process.

2. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize: Hydration is the key to reviving your hair’s health. Use a hydrating deep conditioner or a hair mask with nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera. Let the product sit on your hair for at least 30 minutes to restore moisture and softness.

3. Hot Oil Treatment: Give your hair some extra TLC with a hot oil treatment. Warm up your favorite hair oil (such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or argan oil) and gently massage it into your scalp and hair. This will help to strengthen your hair and stimulate healthy growth.

4. Protein Treatment: After protective styling, your hair may need a protein boost. Choose a protein treatment that matches your hair’s porosity and follow the instructions carefully. Protein treatments help repair damaged hair and restore elasticity.

5. Trim Split Ends: Regular trims are essential to maintaining healthy hair. After protective styling, check for split ends and trim them to prevent further damage. This will also encourage new growth and give your hair a fresh start.

6. Protective Styling Alternatives: Give your hair a chance to recover by opting for low manipulation hairstyles. Styles like buns, ponytails, or twist outs can protect your hair while allowing it to breathe and grow.

7. Scalp Care: Don’t forget about your scalp! Keep it clean and nourished by massaging it with natural oils like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, or rosemary oil. This will help promote a healthy scalp environment for hair growth.

8. Limit Heat Styling: Avoid excessive heat styling while your hair is in recovery mode. If you must use heat, apply a heat protectant and keep the temperature low.

black woman combing her natural hair

9. Patience and Consistency: Hair repair takes time, so be patient and consistent with your hair care routine. Adopt a healthy hair care regimen and stick to it for the best results.

Remember, everyone’s hair journey is unique, so what works for someone else may not work for you. Listen to your hair’s needs and adjust your routine accordingly. With a little love, care, and patience, your hair will bounce back from its protective style adventure, stronger and more beautiful than ever!

So, how are you planning to pamper your hair after taking down your protective style?

Share your favorite post-protective style hair care tips with us in the comments below!

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Brandelyn Green is the Founder of VoiceOfHair, a platform to help women of color find the best hair care products, regimens and hairstyles! Since starting VoiceOfHair in 2014 she has grown the social media platform to over 1MM+ on Instagram and Facebook. As a natural who is also a salon goer, she wanted to create a platform where people could find the best products, hairstylists, advice and trends.
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