By Tony Cozart | CozarTips 101
Inherently, no.
Lack of knowledge about your maintenance routine tends to be the culprit behind many of the adverse results associated with wearing protective styles.
Let’s talk maintenance.
Commercial hair doesn’t have a life source of its own. Whether you’re wearing wigs, lace fronts, braids, crochet styles or ponytails, added hair can affect your natural hair and scalp, particularly when the style is worn too long or isn’t properly maintained.
This can contribute to:
- Breakage
- Dryness
- Slow retention of length
- Tangling
- Scalp irritation
- Other scalp issues
The key is understanding how to properly care for your hair and scalp while wearing a protective style.
Let’s Look at the Proper Way to Feed Your Hair and Scalp
Just like you nourish your body daily, you should maintain and nourish your hair and scalp regularly. But not just with any product.
Think about it this way.
If you’re hungry and you grab fast food cooked in excessive oil and grease, you’ve eaten, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve given your body all the nutrients it needs to function at its best.
Your body benefits from a balanced combination of fruits, vegetables, healthy carbohydrates and protein. Those foods provide nutrients your body can absorb and use for energy, growth and overall function.
The same principle applies when caring for your hair and scalp.
If you continuously load the hair and scalp with heavy oils and greasy products, you may create buildup that can weigh the hair down and contribute to scalp problems.
Instead, focus on products and routines that support hydration, moisture and the overall condition of the hair and scalp.
Look for products formulated with ingredients such as penetrating oils, amino acids and keratin, while remembering that everyone’s hair and scalp have different needs.
Most importantly, don’t confuse a protective style with a maintenance-free style.
Your hair still needs attention underneath the wig, braids, crochet style, ponytail or other protective look.
Give your hair and scalp the care they need, pay attention to signs of dryness or irritation, and don’t wait until damage occurs before changing your routine.
Protective styling should protect your hair, not punish it.
~ TONY COZART
THE GODFATHER OF HAIRCARE
