18 Protective Hairstyles for Natural Hair That You Can Slay Year-Round (2024)

As much as you may love wearing your natural hair, now and then, you may want to switch things up with a new 'do or a cute color without committing to altering your real hair long term. Maybe you're prepping for a spring break trip, and you're looking for a style that can get wet at the beach and still look great when you pose for pics with your besties at dinner. Perhaps you're getting ready to leave for college and want to slay a new 'do that doesn't require much effort before you head to your AM classes. Enter protective styles. They're the perfect way to change your hair texture, length, and hue, all the while cutting down the time you normally spend styling your hair. As the name suggests, protective hairstyles also serve as a way for your natural hair to take a break from daily styling, which can potentially lead to damage. Seventeen caught up with professional hairstylists to give you the rundown on the best protective styles for natural hair and how to maintain them.

What are protective styles?

"Protective styles are good options because the hair is tucked away and doesn’t require daily touching or maintenance," celebrity stylist Njeri Radway says. Known for making sure former FLOTUS Michelle Obama's braids are always laid to perfection, Radway recommends protective styles because they keep the hair safe from the "earth's elements," like sun exposure and extreme heat and cold. Along with protecting hair from harmful elements, 'dos like braids, twists, and Bantu knots, can limit heat styling and cut down over manipulation. While these styles can be achieved on most hair textures, Lynette Lavia, stylist at Nunzio Saviano Salon, recommends long-term protective styles with extensions for curly and Afro-textured hair.

How long can you wear protective hairstyles?

The length of time you can wear protective styles varies. According to Radway, if you wear braids and twists on your natural hair without adding extensions, "you could keep that style in for two to three weeks." If you're using extensions that require braiding hair or other added hair, the licensed cosmetologist recommends keeping the style in between four to twelve weeks.

Can protective styles help hair growth?

There's an age-old tale that protective hairstyles promote hair growth, but Radway debunks that myth. "Protective hairstyles do not promote hair growth," she explains. According to the natural hair expert, your rate of hair growth is often determined by genetics. On the other hand, protective styles can help promote hair health when installed and maintained properly. Because your strands are safely tucked away from frequent manipulation, and subsequent breakage, Lavia agrees that protective styles can aid in length retention.

How do you maintain your natural hair in protective styles?

Protective styles keep your tresses safe from harm, but it's important to maintain a healthy haircare routine while they're in. Every two weeks, Radway recommends using a clarifying shampoo to focus on removing buildup from the scalp and roots and following up with a conditioner and moisturizing oil. For optimal scalp health, she suggests applying an antiseptic spray or tea tree oil (known for its antifungal properties) to keep your scalp fresh, especially if you work out or sweat a lot. Lavia agrees and recommends keeping the scalp hydrated with "lightweight, plant-based oils and moisturizing creams" to prevent dryness.

How can you prevent breakage?

As fun as protective styles are to wear, there are some instances when people experience breakage on the crown and nape of the neck. According to Lavia, this breakage "occurs when too much tension is applied at the scalp while braiding the hair." She suggests letting your stylist know "when the area they are working on feels too tight" to prevent traction breakage and alopecia, better known as hair loss caused by long-term pulling.

If you're adding braiding hair to your natural hair, Radway advises you to practice extreme caution. "You want to keep the tension on the hair to a minimum," she warns. "Make sure you aren't using an excessive amount of hair [extensions] on your own strands" because the weight against your natural strands could also lead to breakage and long-term hair loss.

How do you preserve protective hairstyles?

Once you've got the protective style of your dreams installed, both experts recommend one final step to help preserve your look. Sleeping with a silk or satin head wrap or bonnet is key to preventing your new 'do from getting frizzy. Wool and cotton textures typically dry out the hair and can cause breakage from the friction of the fibers. So look for softer materials like silk and satin. And that's it. You can literally put your bonnet on at night, take it off when you wake up the next morning, apply edge control if necessary, and go. What a way to reclaim your time.

Protective styles are a fun way to explore creativity through various colors, lengths, and textures. Ahead, get major style inspo and discover 18 protective styles for natural hair that you can slay year-round.

Bantu Knots

Bantu Knots on Natural Hair

Bantu knots, aka chiney bumps, are a traditional African hairstyle that packs two looks into one. You can rock your natural hair in the knots as is, or leave your hair in the curly texture formed by the knots when you take them down.

Bantu Knots with Fulani Braids

Does it get much better than rocking two hairstyles at one time? Turn heads with this intricate design.

Half-Up, Half-Down Bantu Knots with Knotless Box Braids and Beads

When it comes to protective styles, bantu knots, box braids, and beads reign supreme. This half-up, half-down option gives you the best of the most popular styles.

Cornrows

Braided Up-Do

Serve face with your locks braided into a stylupdop-do.

Small Feed-In Braids

Who said traditional cornrows have to be boring? Super-small feed-in braids with a pop of color are the perfect way to spruce up the hairstyle we all know and love.

Stitch Braids with Feed-In Braids

Teeny weeny feed-in braids add a bit of spice to everyday stitch braids.

Zig-Zag Cornrows and Knotless Braids

Creative styles are one of the best things to love about braids. You can rock straight backs, zig-zags, and tons of styles in between. Styles like this zig-zag cornrow and knotless braids duo help showcase your personality.

Knotless Braids

Goddess Knotless Braids

Curly ends are the perfect way to turn knotless braids up a notch.

Jumbo Knotless Braids

If you're in a rush but are dying to try out knotless braids, go for the jumbo-sized ones. Their large size makes them super easy to install, and we all love convenience.

Medium Knotless Braids

Medium-sized knotless braids are the perfect in-between. They don't take as long to be installed as small ones and they last longer than jumbo ones.

Locs

Individual Crochet Locs

Crocheting has risen as a helpful protective style installation technique. These beautiful locs can easily be crocheted individually.

Marley Locs

From their size to their texture and clean parts, these locs are literal perfection. Excuse me as I screenshot and save for my personal style files. 😂

Ombre Soft Locs

Soft locs are some of the closest styles to real, authentic locs, and the ombre ends pictured here make them even more realistic.

Twists

Havana Marley Twists

Unlike Senegalese twists, where stylists use Kanekalon hair, Havana Twists are created using multiple pieces of Havana Twist Hair, often resulting in larger, fuller twists.

Mini Twists

If extensions aren't your style and you want to keep things au natural, opt for mini twists. Once they're installed you can throw them up in buns, ponytails, and even braided styles.

Passion Twists

Getting ready for a vacay? Passion twists are the perfect protective style to rock, especially when there are tropical vibes involved.

Senegalese Twists

This traditional African style has spawned dozens of recreations and is known for its light, airy results.

Weave

Closure Sew-In

Closure sew-ins give you the luxury of swapping up your hair texture, length, and color, all the while keeping your natural hair safely braided underneath.

Wigs

Headband Wig

Headband wigs are the perfect protective style to keep things short and simple. All you have to do is brush your hair back, throw it, and go. There's little to no installation time, and it can be removed whenever you'd like.