Protective styles are an essential part of the natural hair process and having a good haircare regimen is key to maintaining the coveted look. Traditional products like shampoos and conditioners aren’t what you’ll use when wearing a long-lasting style like box braids or bantu knots and will be using different products to help with moisture retention and hydration. We’re breaking down the best products for protective styles according to the NaturallyCurly community, as voted in the 2023 Best of the Best Awards. Read on to see which products help add longevity and give your hair a great hold to maintain your protective style this summer.
Each category has a winner for Type 3 Curly, and Type 4 Coily hair as well as an overall winner for all curl types. Not sure what your curl pattern is? Take our Texture Typing Quiz to learn more about your unique hair type.
Best Product for Braids and Twists for Type 3 Curly Hair, and for All Curl Types: Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Honey Curl Forming Custard
If you’re looking for a beautiful definition and hold that will stretch your curls and coils, look no further than this Honey Curl Forming Custard from Design Essentials. This can be easily applied to your wash-and-go routine, finger coils, Bantu knots, and two-strand twists with plenty of hold and shine. The rich blend of almond, avocado, honey, and chamomile make a sweet blend that work together to seal in moisture, reduce breakage, and protect hair strands during styling.
Type 3 curlies love this product for its ability to define, shape, and elongate their hair texture for braids and twists. This is a fan favorite because it can provide hold without being sticky, flaky, or creating any residue on your scalp. It helps to fight shrinkage by elongating your natural curl pattern and can be used with a twist set or flexi-rod set for the ultimate bantu knots, flat twists, or 2-strand twists.
Best Product for Braids and Twists for Type 4 Coily Hair: The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Pearly Braid Out Glaze
Here’s to endless moisture that your braids and twists will love as the Tropical Moringa Sweet Oil and Honey glaze works to deliver a flexible hold that is great for type 4 textures. This product can be used to smooth and soften tighter textures while reducing frizz for your protective styles. It can be applied to wet or damp hair from roots to ends as a styler for braid-outs and twist-outs for added moisture and shine.
BEST PRODUCT FOR LOCS
Best Product for Locs for Type 3 Curly Hair: Lockology Peppermint Tea Tree Oil For Locs
Hello to this unique blend of peppermint, green tea, and other natural ingredients to strengthen your locs and promote growth. The pointed tip helps you to directly condition your scalp tp relieve itching and promote growth. You can easily remove pesky build-up and rinse your locs easily which can help within conditioning and sealing in moisture.
Best Product for Locs for Type 4 Coily Hair, and for All Curl Types: Taliah Waajid Black Earth Products Lock It Up Tight Hold
Locs are going to love this product because it provides a great hold with no flaking and can help to tame frizz and hold styles longer for any hair type. The infusion of yarrow root, rosemary, nettle, and Indian hemp are great ingredients for starting locs, loc grooming, and two-strand twists. If you’re looking to define your curl pattern this can also be used to help shape and define curls without any flaking or hardening.
This is a superior product to help with locs because there is no alcohol which means no flaking while maintaining your loc style. It works well with type 4 coils and kinks because of the excellent hold and non-flakey build-up. You can use the palm or comb rolling technique to twist new growth without any sticking or gumminess between strands.
BEST EDGE CONTROL PRODUCT
Best Edge Control Product for Type 3 Curly Hair, and for All Curl Types: tgin Miracle RepaiRx Smooth & Protect Edge Control
Our edges are some of the most delicate and fragile hair we have which means they need ultimate protection and care. If you’re looking for a smooth and finished look to help lay and sleigh your edges, look no further than the tgin smooth and nourishing edge control that is infused with biotin and castor oil. It is a nutrient-rich formula that helps promote hair growth and holds edges in place without any buildup or flaking.
This anti-breakage edge control didn’t make our list twice for just any old reason. It’s great for type 3 hair because it can help you create sleek styles that will enhance any braids, locs, and twists. It provides a long-lasting hold with non-sticky and non-greasy formula that nourishes hair with shine and moisture.
Best Edge Control Product for Type 4 Coily Hair: Flawless by Gabrielle Union Repairing Edge Control
Type 4 coils and kinks love the flawless repairing edge control for its biotin, passion fruit seed oil, acai palm oil, and buriti oil that helps to rebuild and strengthen hair. This is gentle enough it can be used every day with your protective styles while still providing a long-lasting hold without any flaking.
Check out the rest of the 2023 Best of the Best Award winners to for more curly community-approved products. You might just find your next Holy Grail!
