Friday 18 October 2013

Caution on protective styling

I am a believer in long term protective styling, I have got my best length retention from it in my pre-hhj days, so I will never knock long term protective styling, the only thing I will knock is the lack of hair bonding time you get with permanent protective styling.

I have a good friend of mine who is always protective styling, and she has recently just got past MBL, with little effort, the issue is, as soon as she removes her weave she has to quickly install another weave because she complains about breakage. Her hair breaks , not stupid crazy, but it breaks. She is uber scared to have her hair out. The issue is she has never had bonding time with her hair. She doesn't know what protein and moisturise balance is, she doesn't know that conditioners have different properties. She definitely has no clue why she has her hair snapping midway, or feels dry and brittle.

I do my best to tell her to use more moisturising products when her hair feels brittle and dry and protein just before her weave installation and not to forget moisturising with a good moisturiser and a give her hair and scalp a good wash. 

Now don't get me wrong I am not trying to say everyone should be on a journey or protective styling is bad, absolutely not my point, I just feel that if my friend gave her hair some time other than relaxer days and the week after to be with her hair and understand it's needs she would enjoy her MBL hair more! Her fear now is she has long hair but if it's left out it will break right down to pre long term protective styling days. As for healthy hair practices, her attitude is 'oh it takes so long, not for me'

A hair journey isn't for everyone....yes.... but an understanding of your hair is so important. 

I will always long term protective style my hair in winter, but if I didn't it's not the end of the world, I understand my hair and we can work something out. Long term protective styling should be a style and not a remedy to avoid dealing with your hair, because as soon as the protective style is gone you start losing all your amazing length.

In the same way we take care of our skin, teeth and general healthy of our bodies, do the same with your hair, if you can't deal with it get a good stylist/beautician, however, if you don't know much about your hair I wonder how you would make sure your stylist is treating your hair well? 

I personally don't think we all need to spend an half a day doing our hair, over the weekends or precious evenings, but we do need to spend some time In order to understand our hair. I don't see a quick fix with hair, unless am missing something can anyone let me know however I can help my friend without her feeling like she is on a journey?

Happy hair journeys ladies! :)

“ To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past. Your history is not your destiny. ”— Alan Cohen

14 comments:

  1. IMO long term protective styling is exactly what your friend needs. Like you said, protective styling is not the issue, the lack of knowledge is. If she were to actually go without these styles, who knows how much hair she would lose. She could maybe try to learn about hair in general while she is protective styling and then try to apply her knowledge between protective styles until she becomes more competent. Interesting post Yvonne.

    Abbi of http://belowthawaist.blogspot.jp/

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  2. Thanks for you comment and advise, I think you have really given me a great point to pass on. :)

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  3. Knowledge is Power and Progress is Proof! I also have friends that if they put in half the effort i do their hair would flourish as its already thick and long. Just encourage her in between her long PS. I'm sure if you offered to give her a wash day, her mind may change, good luck.

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  4. Great post. Maybe you could advise your friend to protective style using her own hair in between installations so if she removes her weave on a Sunday she can wash, deep condition and then bun till Saturday when she can have another installation done. Slowly but surely she will get the hang of taking care of her own hair this way.

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  5. Great post. Maybe you could advise your friend to protective style using her own hair in between installations so if she removes her weave on a Sunday she can wash, deep condition and then bun till Saturday when she can have another installation done. Slowly but surely she will get the hang of taking care of her own hair this way. Sorry had to repost clicked the anon option by mistake first time round:)

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    1. Thanks for the comment Lydz i will definitely pass on the advise

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  6. I think Lydz made a very good point. maybe the brief time carrying for her hair between installations will allow her to see that it's not so bad to wear her hair out a little more. Not all regimens are super complex. I'm sure she can find something that suits her. good luck!

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    1. Thanks for the comment Andrea! That is true not all regimens are complex!

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  7. Since I started my hhj, I've never been in a long term protective style---and the issue exactly what your friend is dealing with. This journey that I'm on is to figure out what my hair loves in order to flourish, so the very last thing that I wanted was to do was be dependent on someone or something else in order get there.

    She doesn't seem like shes interested right now---so I wouldn't push her. Simply let her see your success and be willing to answer any questions that she may have. Let her tell you when the time is right. We can't force the people that we care about to do better----they have to want it for themselves.

    KLP @ SavingOurStrands

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    1. Wow, you have never been in a long term protective style, that is impressive, but I totally understand why.
      You are right about her not being ready or interested, I will be waiting on the side lines ;)

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  8. I love this post. As for your friend, don't push her. Just tell her what she needs to know and let her be. She will come around when you least expect her to.

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    1. Thanks for the comment evalyne, I will be waiting till she is ready :)

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  9. Hey Yvonne, I was looking for an email address for you. Drop me a note @ tomesedition@gmail.com

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