how to style natural hair Archives

This month I decided to get back to working out regularly. Since I’m planning on exercising at least four times per week, there are certain hair styles that I’m thinking will work best for me. It has been a little over a month since I last straightened my hair but that style is not on my current playlist. I was able to keep my hair straight for two weeks but I just don’t see that happening while doing heavy workouts. Here are some of the styles I plan on rocking while I’m getting fit this month.

curlyincolorado.com wash n go hairstyle — My wash n’ go style is perfect for working out

The Wash n’ Go

I call this style the wash n’ go but there is a little more to it than that. This is when I rock my hair in its natural curl pattern. I tend to use different products depending on what I have and how much time I want to spend. Still, I pretty much always use a leave-in conditioner, something heavy to seal and then a hair gel. You can watch me do this style here.

The Puff

This is fast becoming one of my favorites styles as of late. I can wear my puff up high, low or somewhere in between and it still looks great. This is usually my follow-up style after wearing a wash n’ go for a couple of days. My hair already has product in it so I just wet my edges and nape and brush my hair into a puff. Sometimes I use a banana clip placed sideways while other times I simply use a ponytail holder. Click the video link below to watch how I do it.

PUFF HAIR TUTORIAL

The Braid Out

This style can be worn up or down and is pretty easy to maintain. It also is the type of style that looks great when it gets bigger so a little working out won’t hurt it.

These are the styles that I’m gravitating towards lately but I may throw in a bun here and there. Either way, it’s all about keeping it simple and doing what works best for me.

curlyincolorado.com protective hair styles

In January I started my own protective style challenge to see if it would help me with length retention. Normally I enjoy wearing my hair out because I love how versatile natural hair is. This made it a little bit harder for me to decide on a style for the challenge. To keep it interesting, I decided to change up my protective style each week. Here’s a rundown of each style I wore for the first four weeks of the challenge.

WATCH ME PREP MY HAIR FOR MY VERONA GIRL WIG BY FREETRESS

Protective Style #1-Synthetic Wig

Verona Girl by Freetress
Synthetic Wig

I’ve been experimenting with wigs off and on. I thought that the challenge would be the perfect time to practice my wig skills. I braided my real hair into two dutch braids underneath my synthetic wig. I found that this was one of the easier styles.

Protective Style #2-The Bun

Easy Low Bun

Now that my hair is getting longer, I can actually work it into a pretty decent bun. For me this style works best on stretched hair. I usually put my hair into a ponytail and split the ends into two sections. I twist each of them then wrap the twists around the base of the ponytail. Then I use bobby pins to secure the ends. I really like how this look can be worn for an everyday, casual look or dressed up.

Protective Style #3-The Puff

Low Puff; Low Manipulation

Technically this isn’t a protective style. However, it is low maintenance and keeps my hair off of my shoulders. After cleansing and conditioning my hair, I detangle my hair and slick it back or up high using hair gel. I use a ponytail holder or banana clip placed sideways to secure it into place.

Protective Style #4-Dutch Braids

Dutch Braids on Straight Hair

This has been a go-to style for me for ages. I just part my hair down the middle and do a braid on each side. In the picture my hair was straightened but this look also works on wet, damp or stretched hair.

With each protective style I like to smooth my edges with Eco Styler gel which is a staple for me. I also found that my hair needed heavier moisture for styles that are meant to last a whole week. I think my favorite was actually the puff style. My ends were out but it took the least amount of effort. Overall, my first four weeks went well. I’m planning on going for another four weeks wearing some of the same styles. What are some of your favorite protective hair styles?