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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.
Pros
- Strong hold
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Keep hair soft
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Removes build-up
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Doesn't flake
Cons
- 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
- Super moisturizing
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Strong hold
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Mixture of nourishing oils
Cons
- 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
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Pros
- Long nozzle for easy cleaning
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Long nozzle for braids/twists
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Keeps style fresh
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Infused with oil
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Double-sided
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Strong hold
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Soft and moisturizing
Cons
- 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.
Pros
- Spray applicator
Cons
- 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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Pros
- Lightweight feel
Cons
- Can be runny
Doo Gro's anti-itch oil to keeps itchiness to a minimum and promotes growth.
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Pros
- Great for strengthening weak hair
Cons
- Super thick
Castor oil is the cure-all for any hair ailment. Dandruff and flakes? Castor oil. Breakage? Castor oil. Lifeless strands? Castor oil.
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.