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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

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

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

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