Ask any beauty maven with textured, natural tresses; the benefits of protective styling are endless. From shielding your strands from environmental exposure to eliminating daily over-manipulation, it’s no surprise that protective styles reign supreme year-round. That said, all protective styles are not the same. Depending on your hair type, style of choice, and installation technique, some styles can do more harm than good. So, it’s no surprise that the debate about the effectiveness of protective styling persists. As a result, low-maintenance protective styles have become a popular go-to.
The idea of low-maintenance protective styles is simple—tension-free looks that can go the distance. Unfortunately, published hairstylist Jachelle Whiting shares that some styles require extensive daily styling, which can cause breakage down the road. In fact, some beauty mavens rely on heat styling tools for blend-ability purposes despite the risk to their hair health. Thankfully, many low-maintenance protective styles help you lock in moisture and minimize knots and tangles on your natural tresses.
Now that you have the intel on the perks of opting for low-maintenance looks, it’s time to explore your best options. Jachelle is giving us the rundown on various styles that prioritize protection without sacrificing style. Here are five low-maintenance protective styles—from wigs to braided looks—worth adding to your hairstyle list.
1. V-Part Wig
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Wigs are a protective style that continues to be reinvented, making your look more natural and seamless. U-part and v-part wigs top the list for versatility and convenience.
“With this style, you get the flexibility of maintaining your natural hair regimen while protecting it simultaneously with minimal leave-out,” Jachelle exclusively tells HelloBeautiful. “You can sew it around the perimeter or use the clips/combs attached to the wig.”
2. Flip-over Quick Weave
If you’re not a fan of glue as part of your protective style installation process, we can understand your hesitation with flip-over quick weaves. However, since the style offers less tension on your natural hair, a seamless removal process, and is cheaper than traditional sew-ins, it’s easy to see why many style mavens are changing their hearts.
Jachelle says, “Y2K’s favorite protective style allows you to bond (glue) the extension-wefted hair to a wig cap using minimal hair in the front for a seamless blend.” As a result, the technique “cuts your install appointment time in half.”
3. Faux Locs
You can never go wrong with faux locs. This gorgeous look continues to surge in popularity due to its minimalist care and maintenance. Unlike other styles that require a touch-up once frizz is present, Jachelle shares that faux locs look better over time as the hair naturally loosens and sports a more distressed appearance. Not to mention, it’s a great way to see how you feel about the style before making a full commitment.
4. Fulani Braids
These gorgeous, customizable braids are a match made in heaven for the creative girlies. Fulani braids, which originate from the Fulani people (Fula) of West Africa, are a unique style that incorporates cornrows at the front of your head with varying sections and braids along your temples. The hair is styled in box braids or knotless braids in the back. The tribal style also incorporates beads and other hair accessories. Jachelle says that style can also be “hybrid with sew-in weft extensions in the back while having a braided look in the front,” further showcasing its versatility.
5. Two-Strand Twists
Calling all naturals who prefer to leave hair extensions out of the equation! If you’ve never tried two-strand twists, it may be time to experiment! Aside from being able to last for weeks on end, two-strand twists make it easy to impart and maintain moisture, and the style minimizes knots and tangles. This helps keep breakage at bay, which boosts hair retention. Remember, while two-strand twists don’t require the use of hair extensions, Jachelle says that you can opt for the desired extensions of your choice to add length and thickness to the look.
