6 Protective Styles You’ll Want To Wear All Season Long

Volume, fluff, definition, versatility — just a few words that come to mind when we think of kinky curly hair. We love it, and we celebrate its natural ability to bloom and shapeshift into something new. But sometimes, you just want it to stay. And that’s where protective styles come in.

Protective styles are typically done on kinky and curly hair to keep it in place for long periods of time, i.e., several weeks. They allow you to cut down significantly on the day-to-day maintenance of your hair. Besides this convenience, when installed properly, they can be helpful in length retention and hair growth.

Protective styles are often done with synthetic kanekalon braiding hair (which tends to be lower maintenance), but you can achieve them with human hair, too. Regardless of the type of hair you choose, you have plenty of options when it comes to picking a style. Looking for inspiration before you head to the salon? Here are a few ideas to get you started before you book an appointment.

1. Box Braids

Among the most popular protective styles out there are box braids, named after the square shape of the parts typically made at the base of the braid. You can get them any length, color, or size you prefer

Like other protective styles, box braids are extremely easy to manipulate into other styles. You can add beads to the ends of them, combine different color blends to make the look more dimensional, or even play with the types of parts at the base. We’ve seen triangle braids, demi circle braids — whatever your braider can bring to life.

Did we mention that box braids also look great when they’re a little grown out? Take the braids Zendaya wore to the Critics’ Choice Awards in 2020. Hers look a little lived-in, but still gorgeous. The effortless vibe the style gives off after it’s in for a few weeks is one of our favorite things about it.

2. Boho Box Braids

Boho box braids are another popular protective style right now, and that’s because they give off a relaxed, undone, woke-up-like-this effect that is both soft and pretty. This style is typically done with a mix of synthetic and human hair. Your braider will install a box braid with kanekalon hair, then braid wisps of curly human hair at various points in the braid.

This style requires a little more maintenance. You’re working with two different types of hair here, and often, the human hair will lose its definition. It does look very cool when that happens, but if you want to make sure those sections stay curly, you’ll have to use a curl definer.

3. Locs 

Faux or real, locs are a classic protective style that has unfairly gotten a reputation for not being as versatile as others. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Singers Chloe and Halle Bailey have shown us countless times just how dynamic locs can be. Their hairstylist has even blended their locs into box braids.

If you aren’t willing to commit to locking your hair, faux locs may be the way to go for you. They’re achieved by doing a simple box braid, then wrapping it with synthetic hair to create the appearance of a loc. 

4. Butterfly Locs

Butterfly locs are the boho version of faux locs. Just like with its sister style, hair is wrapped around each braid. But this hair is wavy, which helps create that extra textured look you see here. We especially love to see them jazzed up with charms — it just adds to the earthy, carefree feel of the look.

5. Cornrows

Cornrows are a classic. They’ve been worn by Afro-descended people for centuries and can be done in infinite ways. Straight back cornrows are about as standard as you can get, but if you’re feeling adventurous and you have someone with skilled hands, you can do just about any pattern you dream up. These days, freestyle cornrows — a process where the braider just braids what comes to mind — are enjoying a resurgence in popularity that’s taking us back to the styles of the early aughts.

6. Senegalese Twists 

Like box braids, Senegalese twists are incredibly versatile — they just don’t keep you in the salon as long. These two-strand twists are perfect for someone who likes the look and length that something like box braids brings, but would rather not sit in the stylist’s chair the whole day. We especially love this look for vacations. They’re a faster trip to the salon and tend to be a bit lighter than box braids, while still giving off that effortless vibe.