So, you’re trying to grow your hair past your chest? Or maybe you struggle to get it below your shoulders? There are so many things that people will try telling you is the magic bullet for your hair. In my experience there really isn’t any one thing that will get you the hair you want. But that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult, or complicated. Protective hairstyles were one of just a few pieces to the healthy-hair puzzle that my younger self wishes she knew about.

That’s why I’m smiling in a cornfield with my hair braided and cutting leaves with scissors. Ok, that does sound a little odd XD But it’s true! Keeping your hair collected with itself and up and away from any source of friction is an absolute must when attempting to grow your hair to Classic Length or Longer. There’s really no way around it.

Backpack straps, purses, blankets, that polyester fuzzy jacket you wore the other day, pillows, car upholstery, carpet, bath towels, the list goes on… All of these are sources of friction that can and will rough up your hair, snag it, and be counterproductive to your longhair dreams. Some of these can actually be addressed by how you use them (i.e. bath towels), but others need some proactive effort to avoid. Once you get the hang of it though, it’s quite straightforward.

The reason why I’m cutting leaves in the photo is because I was helping another lab in the agricultural department prep their field for the work they were doing. The reason my hair is braided has little to do with fashion (though I think it looks cute) and everything to do with ensuring it stays healthy. There is something to be said though, about the protective hairstyles being part of the lifestyle and therefore being a look of their own.

Again, this was before I decided to lop it all off. I was intending to grow it out to where I used to have it when very young at 30 inches (yes!) but there was so much damage that I decided to just start over completely. It was also an excuse to try out a pixie cut for the first time, and, well, since I’m now growing it out again (the right way this time), I will admittedly be missing how cute the pixie cut was. XD

Using braids, buns, and twists to keep the hair safe is something that should be implemented nearly round the clock. Especially if you are doing physical labor, working with animals, raising children, or just like to be active, your precious hair must always stay out of reach. The reason why friction is your enemy and protective hairstyles are so crucial is because your diet and rate of hair-growth is only as good as your ability to retain the length of your hair. You can be doing “everything right” and still not see your hair get past a certain spot because any time the hair shafts grow that far they get snapped off. It is not surprising then that people in ancient cultures regularly wore braids and almost never let their hair hang freely.

Many women will even incorporate beautiful ribbons and headscarves into their braids and hair-wraps for the added benefits of more structure and keeping down the frizz. If you think your hair needs some extra help, it might be worth looking into how to wrap some fabric into your locks and enjoy the aesthetic while you’re at it. There are lots of places to buy scarves; including more ethical choices such as Ten Thousand Villages, OurRescue, and select Etsy sellers who advertise reclaimed cuts. Something similar to consider is, when caring for your hair at night, to try using a silk or satin bonnet. This can be for holding your braid(s) close to your head and away from the blankets, as well as for keeping hairs along the scalp from getting pulled out of the braids. I tend to move a lot at night, so it makes it easier for me because I have peace of mind that I wont yank myself when just trying to roll over.

I still use the bonnet, in fact, despite my hair being about 2.5 inches long right now. This is because I enjoy how it shields my growing hairs from friction and it helps keep my head warm in the wintertime. That was something I underestimated when I first cut it all off–just how much cooler my head would feel. So for me, the satin bonnet pulls double duty, preventing my hairs from getting roughed up while keeping me cozy.

By now I have learned to put my hair up into buns using hair-sticks and hair-forks, probably my favorite method as it’s so protective and stylish. Then at night I like to braid my hair rather as there’s no danger from hair-sticks while sleeping. I also just feel better knowing I won’t somehow snap any of my pieces, as some are much thinner than the others (though more on that in a post of their own). I admit I haven’t yet learned how to French or Dutch braid my own head. I can do a classic braid on all of my hair at once but, if I try doing two braids I can only manage just one of them on the right side of my head. This, embarrassingly and frustratingly, has been something that has taken me years of getting my coordination down pat in order to do. So, no shame to anyone if you haven’t figured this stuff out either!

A final note for trying to implement these hairstyles is that elastics are a no-no. These are usually too tight for the hair, create uneven tension that weakens hair roots, rips out hair where it’s brittle, and even leaves divots along the shafts where they had repeated use. Scrunchies are a better alternative as they are much more gentle on the hair, but even then scrunchie ponytails must be kept at a minimum. These are good at keeping hair out of your face in a pinch but they still leave the ends to swing around and get caught on things, which won’t protect your hair in the long run. In trying out buns it is also important to not wrap too tightly or this, too, will hurt your roots.

On occasion I use recycled nylon loops for something quick but more often I use short lengths of twine to tie off the ends of my braids. These can be easily adjusted and removed without any damage to your hair. Sewing thread can be used for this purpose, allowing for a variety of colors you can’t get with conventional elastics and a look that’s more subtle, almost as if your hair were magically holding itself together if you pick just the right shade!

At the end of the day I still find that using my hair’s own volume and length to keep itself wound together is the safest method, and it amazes me just how many ways there are to style hair-sticks into your hair. You can even pick out resin pieces with tiny flowers embedded inside as if they were miniature terrariums. Etsy has lots of these and they come in all kinds of floral, woodland, and ocean themes, just to name a few.

Thanks for joining me 🙂 Enjoy the cool weather and maybe a nice cup of tea!