Winter is on our doorsteps and all black girls know that it brings with it bad hair days, especially if you are a sister with natural hair trying to protect your precious mane. Winter is all about shorter and darker days, which means you don’t have time to spend styling and washing your hair as much as you need. However, you also need your crown to look good, stay healthy and avoid bad hair days during these cold months.
Protective hairstyles are not only cost effective, but they also require little maintenance – routine basing and a suitable hair spray and you’re done. Save money and time by choosing any look on this list.
Box braids with Boity
In South Africa we have always referred to them as carrot or thick singles, but whatever they are called on your side of town they are back and they make a perfect, long lasting and flexible style for winter. Spice them up and keep colour in winter by wearing them blue, purple, maroon or even blonde.
Braided bob like Lerato Sengadi
This is my personal favourite protective style because it’s short, sexy and doesn’t take forever to put on and take off. It’s better to play it safe with the basic black, blonde and brown colours, but you can style it to suit whatever width and length you want.
Cornrows like Simphiwe Ngema
What I love about this style is that not only is it cost effective, it also lasts for a long time if you take care of it properly. Celebrities like Sindi Dlathu and Simphiwe Ngema have proved that you can wear this style up or down, but it will leave you with more money in your pocket and less time spent in front of the mirror.
Straight up or back like Nandi Mngoma
Another revamped return to a classic look. This time you can rock it up or down and also change the width. My personal favourite is a thick straight back or thin straight up. It’s sexy and away from your face, thus revealing all those beautiful facial features that are often hidden by make-up and big busy hair.
Short hair like Chommie
If all fails, then close your eyes and make that big chop! Here you have complete creative control and there are many styles to choose from. We no longer have to don long flowing weaves to prove our feminity because, thanks to the return of the TWA (teeny weeny Afro), you can literally spend less than 10 minutes on your hair and still look good. I love the fact that it has returned in many variations, from Nandi Mngoma’s Mandela-inspired German cut to Chommie’s blonde do.
