Washing your hair while wearing protective styles is important, because it creates a healthy environment for hair growth and minimizes the chances of you getting a scalp disorder such as dandruff, dryness, and scalp infections.
Which protective style should you wear?
The best protective styles I recommend for allowing you to cleanse the scalp properly are styles that leave your scalp exposed. This includes
- cornrows
- two-strand twists
- flat twists
- box braids
- Senegalese twists
- Havana twists
Talk to your stylist
You should discuss all cleansing and maintenance needs of your protective style with the stylist who created it. If you created the style at home by yourself, you have to research the best cleansing practices based on your hair care needs, technique used, and the overall style.
Which cleanser should you use?
Cleanse
If you are looking for a quick way to cleanse your scalp while it is in a protective style or if you are in between shampoos, you can use Moisture Clenz by Taliah Waajid. Moisture Clenz is formulated with peppermint oil to soothe and cool the skin when it feels tight, itchy, or irritated. Peppermint oil has antiseptic and antifungal properties, which aid in preventing bacterial and fungal infections. Think of Moisture Clenz as a dry shampoo you can use to easily cleanse your scalp. I recommend spraying the Moisture Clenz onto your scalp and using a cotton ball to gently remove oil, dirt, and dead skin cells off of the scalp.
Tone
Another way to keep your scalp clean with protective styles is to use Philip Kingsley’s Scalp Toner. This product is designed to gently remove oil and protect the scalp from harmful bacteria that encourages flaking. Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner has witch hazel, which acts as a very mild astringent. Menthol cools and invigorates the scalp while piroctone olamine combats yeast and bacteria. To use this toner, towel dry excess water from your hair and scalp and use the nozzle attached to the bottle to apply the toner to the scalp. Leave the product in and use it whenever your scalp feels irritated or dry.
Moisturize
If you are looking for a product that can moisturize your scalp and contains ingredients that invigorate and help the scalp feel clean, try Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier Therapeutic. The glycerin in this product helps moisturize the scalp, the eucalyptus oil helps reduces dandruff and itchiness, and aloe vera soothes and calms the skin. You can use Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier Therapeutic 2-3 times a week as a leave-in treatment for your scalp. Simply spray the mist on your scalp and protective hairstyle.
What if you have dandruff or a scalp disorder?
If you suffer from severe dandruff or another scalp disorder, try a protective style that does not require adding hair or leaving a style in for more than one week. Wigs are a perfect option for people with chronic dandruff, because you can take the wig off and shampoo your hair and scalp thoroughly. Make sure to clean wigs and clip-in extensions regularly, so that bacteria and yeast are not being transferred back to your scalp when you put your wig back on.
