Parents don’t always have a lot of time to style their children’s hair on a daily basis. Protective styling is a great option and offers the benefits of being low maintenance, helping with length retention and saving time. For some parents, protective styles require extensions to be added to the hair. This can be because the child’s hair is not long enough or thick enough for the desired look the parent wants to create. As a parent looking to explore more styling options that are gentle for your child and easy on your schedule, consider these five kid-friendly protective styles.
Twist and bun
This is a very cute protective style option for your child’s hair. It is easy to create and does not take a lot of time. For this style you will use Kanekalon braiding hair. You can also add to the style with a cute headband or bow.
Cornrows and twisted style
For this style, Marley braiding hair is used. The hair is braided to the side with extensions added. If you want the hair to look curlier you can add the perm rods, but perm rods are optional.
Crochet braid French twist ponytail
Crochet braids are a very cute style on both kids and adults. This style showcases French braids that are braided into a bun with twists crocheted around the bun to create a ponytail. This is a very cute and kid-friendly protective hairstyle option for kids.
Crochet braid layered curls
This cute style is ideal for younger children. For this style you will use soft dread hair and cut it in half and then crochet it in, leaving space in between, so that it is not too full and heavy. Don’t forget to separate the curls for added volume.
Havana mambo twists
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Havana mambo twists are another style option for your little one. For this style the hair is French braided all over. The twists are then crocheted into the back half of the hair only, leaving some French braids at the top and twists in the back.
Caring for Your Child’s Protective Style
Remember that low-maintenance hairstyles still require some maintenance. Be sure to keep the scalp moisturized by spritzing it with a leave-in conditioner or braid spray. Also remember to protect the hair at night with a satin scarf, bonnet, or pillowcase, so that the style lasts and also to prevent breakage.
In most cases, “loosening up” is a positive thing; it’s associated with relaxing, letting go, and having a good time. But when my curls decide to loosen up, it’s a whole different story.
No matter what kind of wavy, coily, or curly you are, you can probably relate: curls that start out bouncy and fresh in the morning sometimes deflate, like a tire losing air, until they’re stretched, flat, and frizzy. But why?
“Curls have a mind of their own,” says Tara Love, the founder of Tara Love Hair, a salon that caters to African-American and multicultural women. “They are very unpredictable because you never know what they will do from one day to the next.”
Gravity
“Maybe the reason why curls fall or get looser is because of gravity,” she speculates. “The hair can also be heavy, as in high-density hair with thick strands. Fine, short hairs tend to curl tighter and experience no real gravity pull.”
If your hair is thick and dense, gravity is likely to blame for your stretched curls—and it’s not easy to fight a force of nature. That being said, you can make your hair less susceptible to the effects of gravity by using lightweight products that won’t weigh you down further. “For curly styles that you want to stay in place, leave-ins and oils are needed,” Love shares.
“I love an old staple called Infusium 23,” she adds. “It’s light and controls frizz. If you need a little oil, I love Jane Carter Nourish and Shine. It’s great for hair and body. Rub a bit in the palm and apply.”
It’s also a good idea to switch out your hard-hold gel for a light cream to keep curls buoyant. CurlTalk member @oh.hi.its.steph recommends SheaMoisture Curl Milk: “I find it to be perfectly moisturizing and curl-enhancing, but not terribly heavy either!”
High-porosity curls and waves are more likely to loosen throughout the day than low-porosity curls. That’s because high-porosity hair has large gaps and holes in the cuticle, making it very easy for the hair to lose moisture; and when moisture evaporates from high-porosity hair, it renders products less effective—which results in loose, frizzy curls.
“If you’re highly porous you might be in need of protein,” says this CurlTalk commenter. A silk protein treatment can help repair the gaps in your hair cuticles to keep your curls intact.
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Since highly porous hair loses moisture easily, it’s essential to stock up on ultra-hydrating products, like leave-in conditioners and sealers. You can also add anti-humectants to your hair care routine, like Ouidad Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel, to seal the cuticle and keep moisture in. At night, try a heavy hair butter treatment—Mizani Strength Fusion Intense Night-Time Treatment is a great option—to lock in hydration and prep your curls for a new day.
In one recent study, physicists studying the curvature of steel rods stumbled upon some interesting findings, namely, what makes curly hair go limp. Their conclusion? “The actual number of hairs per square inch on any individual’s scalp…that greater or lesser crowding may play a role,” according to Time Magazine. In other words, if you’ve got a lot of hair, your individual strands may just be too crowded to stay curly all day.
If this is the case for you, there are two things you can do:
One, incorporate a hard-hold gel into your routine to give you the all-day definition. After smoothing Carol’s Daughter Coco Creme Curl Shaping Cream Gel through your hair, twirl individual pieces around your finger to create a defined curl pattern and diffuse dry.
And two, accept that you’ve been blessed with thick, luscious curls—and at the end of the day, no matter how loose they are, your curls are beautiful. (At least, this is what I like to tell myself!”>
It’s important to note that even with a full morning routine of leave-ins, creams, and gels, curls sometimes need a little midday refresh. What can you do? It’s just their nature.
Ever find your curls falling flat throughout the day? What do you do to keep them springy? Get some extra help with the Best of The Best Texture Tools in 2024.
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