Levels of protective styles

Protective styles are styles that reduce manipulation and or protects your ends

Highly protective
Mini twists
Braids
Weave
Canerow

Less protective
Twist outs
Braid out
Buns
Bantu knot out

I stick with highly protective as I'm lazy and these styles mean once installed there is little maintenance.  Mini twists are my favorite as they can be styled just like loose hair and are easy to remove.

Protective Style Challenge results

The beginning of my protective style challenge was 29/08/2015 it is now 02/01/2017, I have not done a follow up video as I can’t be bothered to straighten my hair and I am not really bothered about length anymore.

My guidelines and results 

-No heat (not even indirect) I used heat 4 times, twice for box braids. temperature was nor more than 190 c

-No combs or styling tools (finger detangle only) I combed my hair four times 

-Deep condition every 2 weeks (natural products) I didn’t deep condition quite this much and I used store products

-Protective style (mini twists mostly) I wore my hair in protective styles 90% mini twists 10% box braids

-Very low poo (I will alternate between shampoo and co wash monthly and use clay wash in between) I only shampooed once a month, I used clay and African black soap

other things

I tried to stop using shea butter and use a store-bought product this back fired. I am back to shea butter.

I stopped using DIY conditioners as much and adding oils to my deep conditioners.

I stopped caring about ingredients as much.

I got one big trim and did a few dustings.


This year I will attempt a silk press and get a trim then. 

Here is my hair after me doing a perm rod set. My hair was not combed or blow dried prior to this and the only product I used was shea butter and a Dark and Lovely Au Naturale Sheen Sealing Nectar 170ml (used for the nice smell).

Join me this year :)

Maybe next year I will do a follow up video.