One of the major challenges that women with 4C hair face is growing out their hair. And this is because this hair type is prone to shrinkage. Besides, it is prone to breakage and damage as well. Hence, the need to protect the hair. This is why protective hairstyles come into play. Protective hairstyles not only protect 4C hair from damage or breakage but also help promote length retention. Read on to learn about protective styles for 4C hair.

What are protective styles?

Protective hairstyles are styles that help you protect your hair from touching or detangling. Many 4C hair women could attest to the fact that you have to moisturize and detangle your hair daily if you want to style it. And this is what causes most of the breakage. But with protective hairstyles, you get to leave your hair untouched for a while without any form of manipulation. If you are looking for protective hairstyles for 4C hair, then you are at the right place. Here are some natural hairstyles for 4C hair:

1. Twists

One of the main reasons why women with 4C hair go for protective hairstyles is to prevent weighing down their natural hair. And this is exactly what the twist helps you achieve. This hairstyle is suitable for women with thick and dense hair. On the other hand, those with thin hair can achieve this style with the help of extensions. To create this style, you will need a rat tail comb, a wide-tooth comb, and a leave-in conditioner. 

First, moisturize the hair with a moisturizer or coconut oil, then detangle it with a wide-tooth comb. Then, section your mane horizontally, and secure the front part with an elastic band. From the back, section out a small portion at the nape of your neck, then apply the leave-in conditioner. Section out that small portion based on how big you want the twist to be. Then divide it in half and start twisting it from the root to the end. Roll the ends around your finger to form a curl to secure the twist. You might want to accessorize with hair accessories to add more fun to your look. 

2. Cornrows

Gone are the days when cornrows served as a base for sew-in installations. In recent times, you can rock this protective style for any occasion or event. And it helps promote healthy hair growth. You can braid your natural mane into cornrows or add some extensions. However, while braiding your hair into a cornrow, you should not pull too tight so that your roots will not break and your edges will not pull off. 

Braiding your hair into cornrows is quite easy. You only need to section your hair into two vertical sections, right from the crown of your head to the nape of your neck. Hold one section in a ponytail holder. Divide the other section into two or three depending on how thick and dense your mane is. Braid each part into cornrows. If you wish to add hair extensions, you can add them towards the nape of your neck to give your cornrows length. Visit Ulahair to get affordable and quality hair extensions for your mane.

3. Box braids

Box braids are one of the most popular protective hairstyles out there. Whether they are big or small, they give you a stylish look that you can rock anywhere. They help maintain hair growth and scalp health. Besides, they last longer, so if you are on a tight schedule, this 4C hairstyle is suitable for you. If you desire a full hair look, you will need a few packs of human hair extensions to create this style. 

Step 1: To braid your hair into box braids, start with a clean mane. Then, pull all your hair towards the crown of your head and secure it loosely with an elastic band. 

Step 2: Then section out a portion of your hair at the nape of your neck. Part that section into smaller parts depending on how thick you want your braid to be. 

Step 3: Then start braiding each part with your hair extension. 

Step 4: Continue doing this until you finish braiding the section. Then section out another part and repeat the process until you finish braiding your whole hair.

4. Bantu knots

Bantu knots are a natural hairstyle for 4C hair. This is a quick protective style to try after a wash day. It might be a bit difficult to create this style on your head, but it looks lovely when you get it right. 

Step 1: To start with, you will need a pack of hair extensions. Fold the extension into four and cut out one part of it. 

Step 2: Pull the extension so the end will not be blunt, and comb it to make it smooth. 

Step 3: Then divide your hair into as many sections as you desire for the Bantu knots. 

Step 4: Apply edge control to each section, and secure it tightly with an elastic band. 

Step 5: Starting with a section, pick out a part of the hair extension and use it to braid your natural hair. 

Step 6: When you get to the end of your natural hair, spray with hair spray to tame flyaways and swirl the extensions. After that, roll it around your natural hair. Voila! You have created a Bantu knot. 

Step 7: Repeat this process until you have covered your whole hair. 

5. Crochet braids 

Crochet braids are one of the protective hairstyles for 4C hair. Apart from the fact that it protects the hair from damage, it is easy to install and remove. With this protective hairstyle, you do not need to be a pro at braiding. There is more than one method of installing crochet braids, and you can use any hair extension of your choice. One of the methods is applying it without braiding your hair into cornrows. For this method, you only need to pack your hair into a ponytail. The beautiful thing about this style is that it is versatile, as there are different ways you can style it to suit various occasions.

6. Faux Locs

Faux Locs is another hairstyle for 4c hair. Gone are the days when you waited for years to grow out your locs. In recent years, locs can be obtained in the blink of an eye. Faux Locs are pretty soft and light, so they do not weigh down your mane. Besides, it is a low-maintenance style that only needs conditioning and can last as long as 4 to 6 weeks. There are two methods of installing Faux Locs. You can either crochet it or opt for the wrapping method. Visit Ulahair to get the best braiding hair for Faux Locs in the market. Click and read more on how to faux locs: A Comprehensive Guide To Faux Locs.

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