19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (2024)

19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (1)

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Just because your hair is tucked under a protective style doesn’t mean you should forgo your entire hair care routine. Of course, you won't be able to wash your hair with your traditional shampoos or conditioners or treat your strands with nourishing leave-in creams as frequently and easily as you do your natural hair, but it's all about minor adjustments.

After spending eight-plus hours in the salon chair for braids, the last thing you want to do is cut the full length of your protective style short due to negligence. “Depending on your style, the suggested time I tell clients to shampoo and treat their hair if they don't have protective styles is every two weeks. However, with protective styles like knotless braids, I'd say between three and four weeks, especially if the front of your hair needs a touch-up,” Stasha Harris of Magic Fingers Studio in Brooklyn tells ELLE.com.

Enter: Scalp cleansers that take the place of traditional shampoos, refreshing sprays that keep your hairdo moisturized, and anti-itch oils that’ll soothe your scalp, not disrupt it. All of that and more, ahead.

1

Best for Flyaways

AmPro Shine 'N Jam Magic Fingers Setting Mousse

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (3)Strong hold
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (4)Can be sticky

The final step of most protective styles is setting the hair in place with mousse. Harris uses this mousse to tame flyaways and keep the braided style looking as fresh as possible post-salon.

2

Best for Nourishment

AmPro Vitamin E Oil

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (6)Keep hair soft
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (7)Doesn't come with a nozzle applicator

To seal in the moisture in your hair, add Harris' favorite lightweight oil to nourish your strands. “You always want to be mindful of the product you're using, especially if you'll be re-applying it the next day and so on,” Harris says.

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3

Best for a Quick Clean

Sea Breeze Actives Fresh-Clean Astringent

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (9)Removes build-up
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (10)Contains alcohol

Originally used to cleanse your skin, Harris says it's also good for cleansing your scalp while wearing your protective style. Douse a cotton ball with the solution and pass it through your hair. “We're taking it old school with this one but you want to dilute it with water,” Harris warns.

4

Best Edge Control

Hair by Susy Edge Control

19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (11)

Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (12)Doesn't flake
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (13)May need to reapply throughout the day

Yes, the grape smell is worth the buy alone. But the edge control has a firm grip that doesn't leave behind any residue. “Clean the surface of your edges and apply the product and let it dry or wrap it for five minutes to let it set,” Oludele suggests.

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (15)Super moisturizing
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (16)Can feel heavy on fine, thin hair

“If you're going to cleanse your hair weekly, you should spray or rub some type of leave-in conditioner, and then seal it with an oil,” Harris adds. Her favorite? This under $5 staple from African Pride.

6

Best Braiding Gel

Shine N Jam Magic Fingers For Braiders Extra Firm Hold

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (18)Strong hold
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (19)Can feel heavy on fine/thin hair

This jam helps to tame flyaways and doesn't weigh down the hair or leave white flakes. “What this does is conditions the hair while you braid it. It also serves as a holding agent so you can braid comfortably,” Stasha Harris, founder of Brooklyn's Magic Finger Studio, says.

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7

Best Multipurpose

Hair by Susy Ouee Hair Oil

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (21)Mixture of nourishing oils
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (22)Runny on scalp

Susan Oludele, aka HairbySusy, swears by this oil, thanks to its nourishing cocktail of oils. “This product has 11 ingredients [including] castor oil, peppermint, lavender, and tea tree oil. This product is designed to add moisture to your scalp, and rejuvenate and repair your scalp,” she explains. What's more, the oil doubles as a skin moisturizer to lock in moisture, especially during the colder months.

8

Best for Frequent Cleansing

African Pride Black Castor Miracle Braid & Scalp Cleansing Rinse

19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (23)

Now 20% Off

Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (24)Long nozzle for easy cleaning
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (25)Scented

The long nozzle helps to get in between each braid or cornrow to break up the gunk that forms at the root of your hair. Castor oil, peppermint oil, coconut oil, and micellar water are blended together to soothe itching and keep your hair moisturized to prevent breakage.

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9

Best for a Deep Clean

Girl + Hair Natural Hair Products, Cleanse Plus

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (27)Long nozzle for braids/twists
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (28)Needs a good amount of product to lather

Cut down your wash day by applying the shampoo directly to your scalp, rubbing it in, and rinsing it out. The shea butter, tea tree oil, and neem oil blend imparts moisture instead of stripping it away.

10

Best for Final Seal

Smooth N' Shine Straight Bodifying Mousse for Straight Hair

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (30)Keeps style fresh
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (31)Can be sticky

Your box braids aren't complete until the hairdresser douses your head with a styling mousse. This one in particular focuses on giving your hair body without weighing it down, and is packed with black seed and coconut oil.

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11

Best for Rollers

Mizani Styling Foam Mousse

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (33)Lightweight
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (34)Not a stronger hold

A must for roller sets and wash-and-gos, this Mizani foaming mousse tackles frizz head-on with shea butter and monoi oil.

12

Best for Strengthening Edges

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Edge Gel

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (36)Infused with oil
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (37)Needs to be reapplied throughout the day

Not only does this edge gel keep those fly aways and edges in tact, it's also infused with coconut and babassu seed oil and biotin to strengthen any weak spots.

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13

Best Edge Brush

Baby Tress Edge Styler

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (39)Double-sided
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (40)Firm bristles

Refresh your hairdo by slicking your edges back with edge control (see next slide) or take your baby hairs and design swirls along your hairline like baby hair queen FKA Twigs.

14

Best for Clean Parts

Soft Sheen- Carson Let's Jam

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (42)Strong hold
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (43)Can be flaky

If you look through any braider's product stash, this extra hold jam is an old faithful. It does exactly what it's supposed to do: Hold your hair in place to keep your style fresh and polished.

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15

Best Sealant

Keep It Tight Burnt Sugar All-Veggie Pomade

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (45)Soft and moisturizing
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (46)Scented

Oyin's pomade has a waxy texture that doesn't dry down too stiff and leaves no residue thanks to its oil-based formula.

16

Best for Locs

Jamaican Mango & Lime No More Itch Gro Spray

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (48)Spray applicator
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (49)Scented

When patting your weave just isn't enough, reach for the big guns. It smells like a tropical island and relieves itchy scalp. Did I mention it smells amazing?

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17

Best for Repairing

Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (51)Strengthens weak, damaged hair
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (52)Can get super greasy

Healthy hair is always the goal and Mielle Organics' mint oil takes you steps closer to strong, shiny hair with just a few drops.

18

Best for Daily Use

Doo Gro Anti-Itch Growth Oil

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (54)Lightweight feel
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (55)Can be runny

Doo Gro's anti-itch oil to keeps itchiness to a minimum and promotes growth.

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19

Best for Growth

Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil

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Pros
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (57)Great for strengthening weak hair
Cons
  • 19 Expert-Approved Products You'll Need to Preserve Your Protective Styles (58)Super thick

Castor oil is the cure-all for any hair ailment. Dandruff and flakes? Castor oil. Breakage? Castor oil. Lifeless strands? Castor oil.

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Nerisha Penrose

Beauty Commerce Editor

Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Prior to joining the team, she was an Editorial Fellow at ELLE.com. In her current role, she helps lead coverage on makeup, skin care, hair, and fragrances. With over six years of experience in the world of beauty editorial, Nerisha enjoys delving deep into the complexities of fragrance notes, hunting for the best fixes for acne-prone skin, and advocating for daily sunscreen use. She regularly researches and tests the latest products, consults beauty professionals (including our Beauty Advisory Board) to determine the best expert-approved formulas to recommend, and conducts interviews with luminaries across the industry. Nerisha received her bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Temple University before joining the editorial teams at Nylon and Billboard. In 2020, she co-launched our popular franchise The State of Black Beauty, an ongoing exploration of—and destination for—beauty at the intersection of Black culture.

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