SUBSCRIBE
Sat, Jul 2, 2022
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi
No Result
View All Result

Summertime is protective hairstyling season

by Vuyile Madwantsi
22nd Sep 2021
in Choices
Reading Time: 14 mins read
A A
You and your hair

Summer is around the corner. Get the worry about your hair off your shoulders. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

Black hair is complex. And with life in the times of a pandemic, who still has the time or patience to reach for a comb? Maybe consider protective hairstyling as a low-maintenance option, ngwaneso.

Like a kind of natural armour, protective styles can guard the hair and the minds of black women against threats both physical and existential.

Black hair is complex but beautiful.
Actress Lupita Nyong’o and activist Michaela Angela Davis. Photo: WikkiCommons

Poetic, we know. But the benefits of protective styling are magic as it protects your hair from stretching, manipulation and environmental damage, says natural hair YouTuber Asekho Nkinqa.

ADVERTISEMENT

Black hair is complex, dynamic, historically mistreated and underrepresented. But legend has it that our tightly coiled hair is divinely designed to protect our brains from the harsh heat of the African sun.

“That hair is strong and resilient but at the same time, it can be quite fine and fragile, especially vulnerable at the curve of the curl and at the ends, which are susceptible to tangles, knots, snags and breakage,” writer and stylist Michaela Angela Davis tells Allure magazine.

ADVERTISEMENT

“So black women routinely gather our strands together and gently tuck in those delicate ends to shield hair from damage and loss.”

Your hair is worthy of good things

Besides contributing to hair growth, protective hairstyling gives your scalp and hair a well-deserved break, says Nkinqa.

“Did you know that combing your hair every day is not good for your hair? Combing your hair every day causes your hair to break.”

“Protective hairstyling does not harm your hair and relieves your scalp; therefore, when selecting a protective style, one should consider what is best for their hair. Hair should not be overly stretched.”

Choosing products suited to your texture

Each person has a unique texture, says Nkinqa. There are four main types of hair texture: type 1 – straight; type 2 – wavy; type 3 – curly; and type 4 – tightly coiled.

ADVERTISEMENT
YouTuber and natural hair enthusiast, Asekho Nkinqa. Photo: Supplied/Health for Mzansi
YouTuber and natural hair enthusiast Asekho Nkinqa. Photo: Supplied/Health for Mzansi

The hair type and texture can be further broken down into A, B and C based on the hair’s curl pattern, density, porosity, width and length.

Nkinqa points out that hair porosity determines which products would be good for our hair.

She says, “Certain ingredients and products do not work for certain hair types.

“High-porosity hair, for example, sucks up a lot of product, which means you may need to moisturise your hair more frequently than a person with low-porosity hair.”

Hair is like skin, she suggests. “I like to compare skincare with hair care because it helps to know what works for you.

“This helps narrow down what you can do and what you can’t do with your hair. For example, I know I cannot do what someone with 3C hair does, while I have type 4C hair; what she does may not correspond to the type of hair I have.”

This summer you can try:

Chloe’s goddess locks:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chlöe (@chloebailey)

Tracee Ellis Ross’ bantu knots

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

Issa Rae’s poetic justice braids

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Felicia Leatherwood (@lovingyourhair)

Thuso Mbedu’s protective Fulani braids

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LACY REDWAY 👸🏾 🧠 💇🏽‍♀️✨♍️🗣💋💪🏾 (@lacyredway)

Amandla Stenberg’s colourful jumbo braids

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stylectory (Website) (@stylectory)

Strapped for cash?

Nkinqa also notes that the costs of protective styling have increased significantly in salons. She suggests you try DIY braids at home.

“I got the impression that going natural would be straightforward and cost less; I had no idea what the journey would entail at the time,” she says.

Uncomplicate the journey with this DIY guide for jumbo braids at home:

ALSO READ: 10 food tips to help you lose weight and stay healthy

Tags: Asekho Nkinqadiy braidsMichaela Angela DavisNatural hairprotective styling
Share130Tweet81Send
Previous Post

What to eat to fight those dreaded allergies

Next Post

UN says these 500 things impact our health

Vuyile Madwantsi

Vuyile Madwantsi

Related Articles

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds
Choices

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds

by Vateka Halile
29th Jun 2022
0

Although olive oil is healthier since it contains antioxidants and vitamins, it's not suitable for some Mzansi staples like a vetkoek. When weighing up which cooking oil to use, remember to always...

Read more
Avoid laxatives as your go-to loo remedy

Avoid laxatives as your go-to loo remedy

22nd Jun 2022
Wonderful eggs

Are eggs as healthy as they are cracked up to be?

15th Jun 2022
Mzansi, how often should you replace your undies?

Mzansi, how often should you replace your undies?

8th Jun 2022
Next Post
Environmental risk

UN says these 500 things impact our health

In episode eight of Sisters Without Shame, Dr Moratwe Masima unpacks what it takes to complete a medical internship. Photo: Health For Mzansi

Podcast: What it takes to be a med intern in Mzansi

Heritage Day recipes

Local meals you can make at home this Heritage Day

Stories

Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting
Loyiso taps into liquid gold of extra virgin olive oil
Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden
Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock
Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be
Meet Mzansi’s Keto Queen, Sharney Blackway
Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green
Yummy Meatless Wellington
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Choices (40)
  • Conversations (76)
  • Featured (1)
  • Grow It (52)
  • My Health (103)
  • Podcast (44)
  • Recipes (56)
  • Remedies (5)
  • Trending (276)

Recent

Wake-up call: Invest early in children’s mental health

Wake-up call: Invest early in children’s mental health

1st Jul 2022
Tips and tricks to help your baby sleep better

Tips and tricks to help your baby sleep better

1st Jul 2022
Sleep deprivation is detrimental to your health.

Why you should log off, shut down and sleep

30th Jun 2022
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

Marketing: +27 71 147 0388
News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

cropped-poster-2022-06-06T090553.304.jpg

Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden

cropped-Untitled-design-6.jpg

Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be

cropped-Untitled-design-28.jpg

Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green

Wake-up call: Invest early in children’s mental health

Tips and tricks to help your baby sleep better

Why you should log off, shut down and sleep

The heavy mental toll of carrying extra weight

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds

When is a disease deemed a global emergency?

No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

By continuing the use of our Website, you are explicitly and actively consenting to our processing of your personal information as per our Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version
Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting Loyiso taps into liquid gold of extra virgin olive oil Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be Meet Mzansi’s Keto Queen, Sharney Blackway Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green Yummy Meatless Wellington