If you have natural hair, protective styling is one of the best ways to keep hair damage at bay. Protective styles, such as braids, twists, and knots, help protect your strands from the elements and over-manipulation, while also allowing it time and opportunity to grow. Another perk: protective styling offers a relatively carefree way to style hair that requires minimal daily upkeep—once the style is created, it can remain in your hair for anywhere from several weeks to several months, depending on the type of style and how you care for it.
But bear in mind, “relatively” carefree doesn’t mean there’s no maintenance at all. Getting your favorite braids or twists installed can help protect your lengths and ends, but you still need to pay special attention to your scalp, especially since many of these styles can cause tension on the scalp and perimeter of the hair.
Follow this four-step scalp care routine to ensure your scalp stays healthy and balanced while you’re wearing your favorite protective styles, which ultimately leads to stronger, healthier hair.
Step 1: Prep your hair (and scalp!) properly for your protective style. Regardless of what style you choose, you’ll want to start with clean, hydrated hair and a fresh, buildup-free scalp.
- Double cleanse your scalp: start with the Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo to loosen buildup and dead skin, then follow with our MegaStrenght+ Dandruff Relief Shampoo Charcoal + AHA/BHA to gently dissolve excess oil and congestion.
- Follow your double cleanse with the Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask to hydrate, calm, and soothe your scalp.
- While the scalp mask works its magic at your roots, prep the rest of your hair with an ultra-hydrating deep conditioner. Try our Superfoods Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Mask to make sure your lengths and ends have all the moisture they need.
Step 2: Style with a healthy scalp in mind. This means making sure that your stylist doesn’t pull your hair too tightly, or you could experience breakage or hair loss in the form of traction alopecia. True, this may mean that your style might not last as long, but that’s a small price to pay to preserve your edges!
Step 3: Maintain your style with weekly cleansing and hydration, gentle care, and plenty of moisture.
- Use a truncated version of your pre-styling scalp routine for your weekly wash day. Apply our Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-exfoliating Shampoo and Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask to cleanse and hydrate your scalp—just make sure to rinse thoroughly.
- Pro Tip: For a more targeted application, try adding your Micro-exfoliating shampoo to a squeezable applicator bottle to focus the product directly onto the scalp.
- Always handle braids and twist gently to avoid over manipulation and air dry to avoid using heat.
- If you aren’t comfortable with a weekly wash routine and want the benefits of a clean, hydrated scalp, you can use our Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment drops which are infused with tea tree oil, known for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties, plus peppermint and spearmint oils to help soothe and hydrate scalp skin. Apply the Superfoods Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture 3-in-1 Leave-In Spray on your lengths and ends to infuse the hair with hydration and protect it from UV damage.
- For added hydration and to help prevent breakage around the perimeter of your hair, apply the B. Well Organic + Cold-Pressed 100% Castor Oil to your edges, parts, and ends, either in the morning or before bed, to nourish the hair follicles and skin.
Step 4: Reset your scalp between styles. After the removal of your protective style and before installing another, give yourself another double cleanse to deep clean the scalp and remove any dirt, oil, build-up, or bacteria. This time, use our Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask on the rest of your hair to strengthen and repair any damage or breakage, and infuse the hair with the perfect balance of protein and moisture.
