Which protective styles actually work?

[samosamo]

Which hair oils are the best, and for which types of hair.

Are there any truly 100% natural branded products?

What's the best way to wash and care for eaxh type of hair.

If you are a black woman with some knowledge on this, please share!

My hair care routine is simple and inexpensive. I use African black soap only to wash my hair. I use dudu soap or buy my soap from Akoma skincare website. I condition my hair with a creamy conditioner and then use my homemade hair cream to seal my hair. My cream is made up of Organic shea butter, sweet almond oil, castor oil and coconut or palm kernel oil. Again all purchased from Akoma, which has the added bonus, for me of being a black owned business.

I sometimes do a steam treatment with my steam cap as well. My hair is made up of fine strands, and is kinky, curly, soft, and I love it. I normally wear it in two plats in the winter. and out in the warmer months. For me how I wear my hair speaks unsaid words. I am proud of my heritage. I will not harm my hair any more, as I once used to, trying to get it to "behave". I know I have gone on a bit, but there it is. Oh and good old olive oil is another one I will use now and again.

I forgot to add that the tools used is important too. I find that afro piks works really well for me. They have been the best for detangling my hair. I have some metal and plastic ones. I used to have a denman brush, but I found that I was losing a lot of hair with it.

Yikes I have just rattled on without answering the OP question. I think yes protective styles do work. But it is not a case of plating and tucking under or away. The hair needs to be moisturised and kept clean from the scalp. I never oil my scalp, only my hair strands. In the winter, like now my hair is just in two plats at the side that I have pinned the ends up behind my ears. I tend to unravel them about twice a week and use a spray bottle filled with rose water to dampen my hair, then use some of my hair cream and replat until it is time to wash my hair again. At home I have a wig cap that I wear to lounge around in, and I always cover my hair when going to bed.

Very similar to mine, only i very seldom wash it with anything but water.

I use shea butter and coconut oil, as well as some olive oil as a leave in. I confess I don't put a cream conditioner on.

I have my hair out curly and it gets wet mostly every day. SO BAD. I plait it often, sometimes for weeks, in two, Pocahontas style. And then ill wear hair wraps. When I do this my hair grows and grows.

My sister leaves gers in plaits more and it is 3/4 down her back since 2 yeaes ago when she last cut it very short.

Yes, I find that in all a simple routine works for me. My hair gives me no added stress to my life now I know how to take care of it. I have the black girls on youtube whose video's I followed to thank for that. It is also healthy and has some lenght to it, which is not my main concern, just an added bonus.

My go to hairstyle is twists. Sometimes they are thick and sometimes thin.

Knowing your hair porosity is also very important. I have low porosity so my hair doesn't like a lot of products. Low porosity hair loves liquid and light products rather than heavy creams and hair masque. I wash my hair once to three times a week with shea moisture African black soap deep cleansing shampoo. I add a bit of aunt Jackie's leave in conditioner and I use shea butter as I am twisting. It is then left alone until the next wash day. I find twists and braids very beautiful. I feel glamorous wearing my twists and braids, not aunty-like.

If you have high porosity hair you should wash your less than I do. High porosity hair is prone to dryness and need extra moisture.

Of all the oils, jojoba oil is the one that works for my hair. I've low porosity, long but very frizzy/wiry hair. Jojoba applied the night before with some lotion and water (and then plaiting + wrapping it) makes my hair have shape the next day (curls/crinkles).

My hair has grown so much quickly over the last year simply because I am leaving it in plaits longer (lockdowns etc) and manipulating it less.