As a man, choosing to wear your natural curls can leave you feeling like you have limited styling options. So much so that you've likely made a habit of just combing out your hair and going about your day. But one of the cool things about your curls is their versatility. There is a whole lot you can do with your curly hair and protective styles are a great way to have fun with it while keeping it healthy and stylish.
That's right gents, protective styles are not just for women alone. There is a slew of different styles that are perfect for men who choose to wear their natural hair, and, in this post, we'll be covering the best options.
What Is A Protective Style?
For those unfamiliar with the term, a protective style is essentially any style that keeps the ends of your hair tucked away and “protected” from damage. Doing this reduces exposure to external factors like weather and over manipulation that can dry out the hair and cause knots, tangles, and breakage.
Protective styles are a great addition to any hair routine because they keep your curls healthy and helps you retain length if you are trying to grow out your hair.
Protective Style Maintenance Tips
Now as low maintenance as the concept of protective styling sounds, it does not exactly mean you can just leave your hair in a style and abandon it. To ensure your mane remains healthy and flourishes while in a protective style, you gotta follow a few key steps.
Shampoo Before Installing The Hairstyle
Clean hair and scalp is the first step to achieving quality results with your protective style. This is why it is very important to shampoo beforehand to remove any buildup of oil or grime. Lather up with our Manuka Honey Shampoo to give your hair the reset it needs ahead of your styling session.
Deep Conditioning Before Protective Styling
A deep conditioning session is another essential pre-styling step you need to take. Deep conditioners replenish the hair with any moisture you may have lost while shampooing. They also strengthen, soften, and smoothen the hair strands. All these combined effects will make the hair more manageable and elastic, limiting your chances of ending up with any breakage while you install your protective style. Our Manuka Honey & Avocado Deep Conditioning Hair Mask is the perfect formula to give your curls that extra boost of moisture and nourishment.
Keep The Hair Hydrated
Once your hair has been styled, it is crucial to keep it properly moisturised to prevent dryness and breakage. You can spritz the hair with our Coconut & Jamaican Castor Oil Everyday Curl refresher to infuse the hair with moisture throughout the week or opt for Sofnfree's leave in conditioner If you prefer a slightly thicker moisturiser. Whichever product you choose, be sure to follow up with a few drops of Sofnfree's Hair and Scalp oil to help create a film around the hair and reduce the rate of water loss from the strands, effectively sealing in the moisture for longer.
Oil The Scalp
Since your hair is in a protective style, that means your scalp will get a lot of exposure as your curls will be tucked in. This means you cannot afford to neglect the scalp. If it is dry, it will be even more obvious in a protective style and in low-humidity weather like the winter, your scalp can become increasingly itchy. So, you gotta stay on top of things by applying a nourishing scalp oil like Sofnfree's Strengthening Oil at least once or twice a week. With an invigorating blend of coconut, rosemary, mint and Jamaican black castor oil, this is one oil that is bound to leave your scalp super healthy and even boost hair growth in the process. Keep in mind that you don't have to get crazy with it. All you need is a few drops gently massaged in and you're good to go.
Keep The Hair Wrapped Before Bed
If you want your protective style to last long, you've gotta keep it covered before you go to bed. Before you say that sounds too extra, hold on a minute and hear us out. See, the thing is when you sleep on your regular cotton bedding, it can increase friction which causes the hair strands to rub against each other, causing a ton of frizzy and roughness. This constant friction can even make your hair prone to tangles that could result in breakage. So, to combat all this, try to wrap the hair in a satin scarf or durag before going to bed. However, if you can’t stick with a daily routine of covering your hair, then simply switch to a silk pillowcase.
10 Protective Hairstyles For Men
1. Cornrows
Cornrows are one of the most versatile protective styles you can try. They work well with just about any hair type or length. Even if your curls are fairly short, you can still manage to get them into neat cornrows. Additionally, they look incredibly fashionable and sharp, plus they can be styled in many different ways. You can make them with different special designs and cuts or keep them simple with straight-back cornrows. Just smooth down your sections with Sofnfree's curling mousse to tame any flyaways.
2. Two Strand Twists
Two strand twists are another great protective style for men. They look very suave and give your curls a slight stretch. Twists are also very low maintenance. All you need is a gel like our Curl Elongating Gel to make the sections shiny and smooth and you're good to go.
3. Stitch Braids With Fade
If you have got a fade haircut and have decided to start growing out your hair, this is the ideal look to frame the face. In addition to looking super cool and stylish, a combo like this will draw attention to your high-top fade and accentuate your facial bone structure. To keep the braids neat and shiny, you can work in some of our Flaxseed Oil & Rose Water Gel.
4. Locs
Locs are more of a long-term protective style as they cannot easily be taken down once they are set. However, they are an amazing option for those who permanently want their curls tucked in and out of the way. With locs you never really have to worry about detangling or consistently styling your hair. All you gotta do is keep it clean with Sofnfree's Manuka Honey Shampoo and also moisturised during the week with our Everyday Curl Refresh.
5. Man bun
Want a protective style that is easy and barely requires any effort? Then go for a classic man bun. This style is more of a low-manipulation hairstyle since your hair will not be completely tucked in but it will keep your ends protected. Just work in a dollop of our curling creme to define your curls before tying the hair in a bun. Feel free to get creative with it. You can place the bun closer to the neck for a low bun look or pull it higher for a classy look that highlights your facial structure.
6. Man Bun with Fade
This is another style that is perfect if you have a Fade cut or are considering a slight fade. It is a cool and stylish variation of the man bun that lets you play around with different looks.
7. Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are a playful and fun protective style you can wear on casual days when you're pressed for time and need something easy to install and take down. However, your hair needs to be at least medium length to properly wrap around itself and create that stacked look. To keep your Bantu Knots smooth and frizz-free, coat your curls in our flaxseed mousse before you proceed with styling.
8. Box Braids
Box braids are an iconic protective style common with many celebrities and they can become your go-to as well. You can opt for chunky Braids or decide to get them done in medium or small sizes for a more dramatic look. Smooth down any flyaways with Sofnfree's Curling Mousse and you've got yourself a style that will last up to two weeks.
9. Kamikaze Twists
Looking for a unique and trendy alternative to two-strand twists? In comes Kamikaze Twists. This hairstyle has become increasingly popular with both men and women because of its fun neatly wrapped base. Kamikaze Twists look amazing on just about any hair type but to keep them neat, you gotta make sure the hair is coated in Sofn'free’s Curl Elongating Gel.
10. Pop Smoke Braids
Pop Smoke Braids were popularised by the rapper Pop Smoke and have since become a huge hit with fans of protective styles. This style is great for those with thin or short hair but it also looks great on guys looking to show off their length. Just make sure your curls are properly hydrated with Sofnfree's Manuka Honey & Avocado Leave-in Conditioner before you make the braids.
So, there you have it fellas, ten dapper and stylish protective hairstyles that will keep your curls safe from damage and over-manipulation. Everyone's personal style is different so feel free to try out whatever works for your vibe and hair type. Whether you go for twists, braids or a casual bun, as long as you maintain a consistent haircare routine in combination with the protective styles. Your curls will flourish beyond your expectations.