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While we wish protective styles could be a “set it and forget it” situation, there is still some care involved to make your cute new hairstyle actually protective. It’s imperative to keep your scalp clean and balanced, and your hair as moisturized as possible no matter what style you have going on.
Scroll down for 10 product recommendations for styling your edges, moisturizing your hair, and cleansing your scalp when you’re rocking a protective style. These products will help you take care of your hair and your scalp to keep it looking as good as it did on day one.
1. Taliah Waajid Protective Styles Refresh And So Clean Bamboo, Avocado And Peppermint Dry Gel Shampoo, $7.99
A gel shampoo made specifically for protective styles from Taliah Waajid’s protective styles product line. It’s a gentle astringent that can be used daily without being rinsed out, refreshing the scalp and reducing follicle irritation.
2. Taliah Waajid Black Earth Products Protective Mist Bodifier Therapeutic Formula, $7.99
If you experience extreme itchiness or scalp tightness with your protective style, this is the product you’ve been waiting for. It soothes with ingredients like aloe vera, eucalyptus, and olive oil to keep your scalp cool, calm, and collected.
3. Camille Rose Naturals Coconut Water Style Setter, $15.99
Use this as a moisturizing styler to help keep your protective style in place for as long as possible. It contains a coconut water base, along with tropical butters and oils to provide maximum hydration.
Don’t miss: 7 Things You SHOULD NOT Do While Wearing a Protective Style
4. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment, $32
For a deep scalp cleanse, this pH balancing non-since formula may be just what you need. It soothes itchiness, flakiness, and irritation, and absorbs impurities in the scalp in hair to detoxify.
5. Naked by Essations Laid Edge Control, $11
When you’re styling your edges to perfection, leave them feeling soft, pliable, and grease-free with this edge control.
6. Uncle Funky’s Daughter Shining Star Hair & Scalp Elixir, $16
Sometimes you need to massage your scalp, just to get the blood flowing. Use this oil elixir to moisturize your scalp and promote hair growth.
7. Taliah Waajid Shea-Coco Condition Daily Leave-in Conditioner Spray, $9.99
Chances are you’ll find it difficult to apply your normal leave-in while you’re wearing a protective style. This shea butter and coconut oil infused spray will keep your hair hydrated until takedown.
8. CURLS Blueberry Bliss Twist-N-Shout Cream, $11.99
When installing your protective style, you’ll want a hydrating cream to start your style off on the right foot. The Twist-N-Shout Cream has you covered with moisturizing oils like olive, coconut, jojoba, and sweet almond.
9. SheaMoisture Sacha Inchi Oil Omega 3-6-9 Rescue + Repair Hair & Scalp Tonic, $10.99
Protect your hair from extra tension by massaging the oil tonic into the scalp, as it delivers omega nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles.
10. Aunt Jackie’s Grapeseed Style & Shine Recipes SLICKED! Flexible Styling Glue, $9.99
For your super slick protective styling needs, you’ll need to pull out the big guns. Aunt Jackie’s Styling Glue can be used as an edge control or wherever needed to tame flyaways for a flawless finish.
Read next: 20 Protective Styles That are Great for Any Occasion
What must-ave products are in your protective style care kit? Share your Holy Grail in the comments below!
