Category:

Protective styles

No Hairpiece Protective Hairstyles

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 21 January 2022

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Not everyone is fond of using extra hair on their heads and this was me for the whole of 2021. Working in a hair salon, I would have hairstyles lined up with different new hair extensions for the whole year. To detox from such mentality, I decided to challenge myself and not do braids and twists with hair extensions. And, it was liberating.

I learnt so many different ways to style my hair because I had to style my hair very often. Sometimes 3 times a week especially when I did not use gel to style my hair. I show some of those hairstyles on my YouTube channel. And here is another of my recent one. I will most definitely do a compilation of all the hairstyles I did last year.

This is a version of a staple hairstyle that I have done over the years, either on twists or loose hair. This time though, I wanted to create a subtle low bun and I liked the outcome. What do you think? Please leave me a comment.

21 January 2022 0 comment

Easy Holiday Hairstyle On Natural Hair

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 25 December 2021

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

I know, life gets in the way and doing your hair may not top your to do list. And still, you need to look good. There are many natural hair hacks every natural haired girl should know and one of them is a sleeked ponytail, high bun or high puff. Yes you may not wear it for a long time but it sure saves a bad hair day many a time.

This hairstyle is one of those. When you don’t have a lot of time on your hands and yet you don’t want to look like you have fallen on hard times. Because you haven’t girl. God has blessed you so abundantly and you need to look it as well.

Let’s start from washing the hair. If you can, do it in the shower. It is easier to detangle under running water. The knots just melt away. When you are done with your final rinse, while in the shower, brush your hair wet to tie a ponytail. Be careful not to make it too tight though. This helps stretch your hair for drying. Wear a satin scarf, a durag or something to keep your hair down while it is drying. This step may not be necessary if you have very long hair. But if your hair is short, even 2 inches long, you can use this method to dry your hair stretched. Go about your day while your hair is drying.

It does not have to dry completely as well. When time allows, undo the ponytail and style your hair as you wish. Apply gel only on the top of the hair to set your hairstyle.

Since you may not have enough time to dry the gel, do not apply too much. Brush it down to sleek.

Tie a satin wrap, scarf, durag or doek to really lay your hair for about 30 minutes to an hour. In this time, you can do other stuff or prepare your hair piece. when hair is close to somewhat dry, you can remove the wrap and attach the hairpiece.

That’s it. Total time from wash to finish should be less than 30 minutes. Surely, even with the tightest of schedules, you can pull this one off. Watch the video for more visuals.

Will you be trying this hairstyle, any time soon? Please tag me on your socials. My handle is @evemafupa Until then. have a merry Christmas and the happiest of 2022.

Of course I will give you some photos because I (shyly) did a mini photoshoot on my phone.

25 December 2021 0 comment

Hair care Protective styles

How To Delay Wash Day When in a Protective Hairstyle.

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 7 September 2020

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Why would one want to delay that? Water is our friend right? Ummm, not so much when you are wearing a protective style and you have my type of hair which will just fray out when washed. So, yes, water is still my hair’s best friend but in moderation. No immersing, not dipping, no showering but just spraying. Hear me out.

I did these braids some 4 weeks ago. Now, before I would wash my hair weekly religiously. Not joking. I would. But, that meant my hair pulling out of the protective style, if I tie my braids at the back, you would think I have short hair and not see braids at all, after 2 weeks of having them in and already washed twice. There would be big gap between my scalp and where the braid starts, which many used to confuse with hair growth but I knew it was more of loose hair than hair growth.

A week old bob box braids

I must confess, one of the reasons I used to wash my hair religiously was also because I had n choice. Many of you who have been following this blog for a while, know that I have been fighting running battles with dandruff for a very long time. So, it has been the custom to wash my hair weekly when in a protective style and 3 times a week when I have my hair out. Needless to say, for reasons mentioned earlier, this weekly hair washing has been working against me as far as keeping my protective style neater for longer.

4 weeks in bob box braids

This year though, I found a way of making sure my scalp does not flare up with dandruff, so I can stretch my wash days for longer while keeping my scalp fresh and my hair moisturised.

How I prepared my hair for a protective style.

In preparation to do these braids, I washed my hair with a dandruff shampoo. One that I have been trying for some time and will soon be for sale online. It has tea tree oil, peppermint, menthol and Vitamin E which all help for a healthier scalp, free from dandruff.

I also did a protein treatment, under the steamer for stronger hair when my hair is in a protective style. I then had these short braids done, which are so cool because there is no need to tie them all the time, no unnecessary pulling, and they are heavy as well because there is very little extra hair on my head.

And for the maintenance, there are things I do weekly and those that I do daily to keep my hair hydrated and smelling relatively fresh since I have not washed my hair again since. And let me confess again, this is the longest I have kept a protective style in without re-doing the perimeter or something.

Weekly routine.

On Friday or Saturday, as I sit with family, watching a movie or just talking, I oil my scalp. That’s right. I apply a hair food on my scalp. This is not your normal hair food though. It’s also a power hair food that is packed with dandruff fighting stuff like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, sulphur, Shea butter and other really good stuff for a healthier scalp. I only apply this weekly because really, that’s all my scalp needs and it it is itch free and dandruff free.

Hair Grow Scalp balm

Daily routine.

When I shower, I don’t cover my hair with anything. I tie a high bun then hop into the shower. When I finish, I know that small droplets of water were deposited into my hair while taking the shower.

In the morning, depending on how my hair feels, I lightly spritz my hair and my scalp with the Nashe Organics daily spray. Those who know this product swear by it for healthy moisturised hair when in a protective style. It also leaves your scalp feeling fresh, revived and your hair moisturised.

Daily Moisturiser

At night, before bed, I repeat the spritzing with the Nashe Organics Daily Spray, and this time, I do it really well. Opening sections and really going on my scalp to spray and also the length of the hair. I still spray lightly though because, I don’t want the spray to start dripping down my forehead or neck. That will just be wastage of good stuff.

And I always cover my head with a satin scarf or bonnet when I go to sleep. That’s a must. And that’s all I do to my hair. After 4 weeks, my braids look decent, I don’t have any build-up, my scalp is free from dandruff, I am not itchy at all and all this after 4 weeks since I washed my hair.

How often do you wash your hair when in a protective style? Let me know in the comments. Otherwise, until then, God bless you big time.

Hey! Have you seen my latest video? Here it is.

7 September 2020 0 comment

Hair Hairstyles Protective styles Videos

Getting the most from your braids

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 10 June 2020

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

We all know the salons are still closed. If you can pull off a DIY on a long -term protective style, like braids or twists, good for you. However, installing a style is one thing and knowing the best way to take care of them and styling them can make a big difference in how much benefit you can get from your braids. Whether it really is a protective style or a disaster and major setback on your hair goals.

There are few things that you need to consider when you have braids in your hair. Top of the list is how to take care of your hair and your scalp while in braids.

Braids can be kept in the hair for as long as 8 weeks. In those 8 weeks, a lot of people do not wash their hair. Which is not too bad. However, the hair may become too dry if water is not introduced to the hair for that long.

Hair Care

Spraying your hair with a water-based spray is important. Even if you do not wash the hair, it can remain moisturised throughout the time your hair is braided. If the spray has a good perfume, even better. Your hair can smell great as well.

Scalp Care

You also need to take care of your scalp when you have braids in. Some of the flaking that a lot of people experience is from general dryness of the scalp, something a good braid spray or scalp pomade can fix easily.

However, if your flakes are a result of dandruff, caused by an overgrowth of yeast on your scalp, an anti-dandruff spray will give you better results and will also keep the itch away. I prefer something with tea tree oil and peppermint oil in it. Works great on my hair.

Styling braids

Hair loss is not something anyone wants but it happens. Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss that is caused by pulling of the hair from its follicles, which tends to inflame the follicles. Prolonged inflammation of the follicles will the cause them to close-down the production of hair.

Tight braids and tight styling are some of the causes for traction alopecia. This can be avoided right? True. There is no need to suffer from hair loss just because of a hairstyle.

Box braids hairstyles.

So, to begin with, never get braided too tight or do ridiculously small braids. It will most definitely cause some hair loss. Some people recover quickly from a once off stint with tight braids or micro braids. However, if it becomes a habit, your scalp may never recover.

Use braids that are not too heavy for hair. I love one million braids from Darling because they are super light and they do not weigh my hair down. Heavy braids tend to pull the hair out from its follicles. And you know what happens when the follicles are inflamed. You do not need that in your life.

box braids

When styling your braids, be strategic about it. Try not to pull from your hairline, especially if your hairline tends to have thinner hair than the rest of your head. Here are some hairstyles you can try which will not be too tight when done well.

Make a part on the side or the centre and tie your braids. Talking about parts, it is a good idea to switch them up as well. Using the same part every day may also lead to hair loss where you normally part your hair.

Style your hair very loose most of the time. You should always be comfortable after styling your hair. If you feel any pulling at all, that style is too tight, and you need to loosen it up a bit.

Night Routine

When you go to sleep, make a loose bun if you have long braids like mine. Wear a satin scarf or bonnet. That will help you keep your braids neater for longer and will also hold your braids in place while you sleep.

Satin scarf

How long can one keep braids on for?

About 8 to 9 weeks maximum. 10 weeks, umm, you are pushing it. But that is final. No more than 10 weeks please. The tangles and knots that you may need to deal with after 10 weeks or more will not be worth it.

Just to recap.

Take care of your hair while it’s in the braid. Moisturise often to combat dryness and breakage.
Take care of your scalp. Keep it fresh, moisturised, and free from flaking.
Make sure your braids are not too heavy for your hair. You may lose hair over them.
Avoid any hair loss by utilising looser methods of styling your braids
If you have micro braids, do not make that a go to hairstyle. Micro braids may cause hair loss especially along the hairline. Bigger section are a better option.
Tie a satin scarf or bonnet when you go to sleep. It will keep your hairstyle for longer and keep your braids in place while you sleep.

Having braids can be the best thing that you could have done for your hair this winter. But, they can also be the worst nightmare ever. That depends on your choice of braid extensions, the style or size you choose to get installed, how you take care of your actual hair and your scalp, and how you style your braids.

For these braids, I used 4 packs of Darling One Million braids in colour 1/35. They are lightweight, the sections are not too small and I could style them in so many ways without any issues. Here are a few ways to style Box braids without losing hair over them.

Once you get them installed, make the best of them, and also take the time to enjoy them. Until then. God bless you all during this hectic time.

10 June 2020 2 comments

DIY Hairstyles Protective styles Tutorials Videos

A protective Style on a Budget

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 18 December 2019

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Hey! Hey! It’s the festive season and our hair, well my hair and a lot of people who have been visiting my Salon in the past days, also goes festive. The colour, the style and everything needs to reflect the season we are in. Right? I know, your budget may not allow for a lot of play when it comes to funky hairstyles and you may be feeling down and out. Well, don’t be. Come out to play. There is a lot that can be done with a limited budget. With just R80 or less, you can create this hairstyle too. If you have the crochet hook and thread of course. If you don’t have a crochet hook, a bobby pin will do as well. I’m not kidding. I did a video tutorial using a bobby pin to do crochet braids some moons back and you may want to watch it. Otherwise, get yourself a crochet hook. It’s not too costly. Get it here.

One million braid

In the video, I used just under 2 packs of Darling hair in colour T30 and that will cost you way less than R80 if you get it yourself from the shops and not from a hair salon. If at a hair salon, prices may vary. That’s also part of where they get their profit from. Sourcing hair for clients. You are going to need a bit of time as well to prepare the hair and do the installation. In total, about 4 hours. But, you’re probably on holiday anyway and that should not be a problem.

So, here is the process. I braided the straight one million Darling braid and then put it in hot water so that it could curl according to the braid. I then dried it and unravelled the braid to release some amazing curls and crocheted the curly hair to my natural hair. Viola. Watch the video. It is very visual and more step by step than I can ever be able to explain.

If I don’t get to writing/blogging again before Christmas, well, Merry Christmas and a blessed 2020 to you. Oh my God, it is already 2020. I remember back in the days in college, when we used to think 2020 is so far ahead and made goals that should be realised by year 2020. Well, it’s here. And I hope you will have a great one. Love you and may God bless you richly. Watch the video. Subscribe if you haven’t already and also leave me a comment. I will greatly appreciate that. Until next time, hugs.

18 December 2019 0 comment

Hair care Protective styles

Braids, Protective Styling

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 15 February 2019

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

If they cause your hair to pull out, and you end up having a receding hairline, That’s no longer a protective style right? Because, if the hair you are trying to protect fall out with the braids, there’s no progress there. Braids are indeed a very good and reliable protective style but if not done well, they will end up taking you 2 steps back instead of a step towards your hair goals, whatever they may be.

I had braids done on my hair recently and I think they were too tight. I did not loose much hair but I think my hairline looks thinner. Receding hairline or traction alopecia being a very common problem among African women can happen to anyone. Braids being a common cause of traction along the hairline, I thought to share some tips on how to tell that your braids may not be a protective style after all.

How to tell your braids are too tight.

There’s visible pulling especially along the front hairline. This you need to tell the stylist right away that the braids are too tight so that changes can be done.
You are finding it hard to tie them down even after 3 days of having them in. Failing to tie your braids soon after they are done may be understandable because some people like myself have generally a sensitive scalp. But 3 days in, then you know they are too tight. Wash your braids. They tend to loosen a bit after being washed. Or even just run some water through them without having to use shampoo or conditioner.
There is some white stuff along your hairline specially. That’s your hair that has already pulled out from your scalp. There is not much that you can do at this point to prevent any damage except that you will need to give your hairline some rest, so no braids for some time. Do loose twists or something much simpler, that does not cause any inflammation of your hairline so that you give it a chance to heal and usually, the lost hair will grow back. It’s when the pulling is left to go on unabated that scarring happens and hair refuses to grow again.

At the coil conversations hosted Jabu Stone.

I hope this helps someone and you are able to keep those edges or that hairline growing. Prevention is better than cure so do what you can to make sure you preserve your hairline. If you notice any thinning, take precaution quickly and nip it in the bud so that you don’t scar. It takes longer to recover a hairline than loosing it. So, take care. Don’t loose hair or sleep over a hairstyle. Here are some of the photos I took when I had the braids in.

At the coil conversations hosted Jabu Stone.

With Jabu at the coil conversations hosted Jabu Stone.

And some photos after removing the braids. Does my hairline really look thin or it’s all in my mind?

Natural hair

Here is to healthy hair. God bless you.

15 February 2019 3 comments

Hair Protective styles

Trending Winter Protective Hairstyles

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 12 June 2018

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Winter is here and with it comes changes in the way we take care of our hair. For those of us in Gauteng, our winters are generally dry and moisture is top most needed aspect of our routines. We moisturise and moisturise. Because of the dryness and generally less time on our hands, waking up early is not that easy on cold winter mornings, most people, including myself, prefer to do a lot of protective styles. Several groups and bloggers also have protective hairstyles challenges round about this time. Kind of hibernating the hair a bit. Low manipulation hairstyles which are highly protective is what we are talking about today in case you are still struggling to decide on which hairstyles to choose from. I’m here to help you. I have noticed a number of trending hairstyles and those are the ones I want to share with you.

Marley twists or Senegalese twists are my favourite. Maybe because I know how to do these myself. They are the easiest when it comes to DIY and they are also trending this winter. Not so much the ones with Brazilian wool because these need the ends to be burnt and when not done well, the burnt ends will cause considerable damage to your jerseys this winter. Opt for the ones with Marley hair or Afro twist hair.

These Marley twists with invisible root are everything.

Box braids. These are always trending right? Box braids have been trending for a very long time and who doesn’t like box braids once in a while. I find that when I do box braids, my hair is not as tangled when I remove them unlike when I do twists. Box braids also stay neat for longer. You can also make box braids really jumbo, a medium thickness or everything in between depending on what you fancy.

Jumbo box braids from Nashe Hair Studio

Faux loc’s or fake locks. Not fox locks as some people always want to sound the ‘x’ in the faux. Let me educate you a little bit. A simple google search for the word will bring out the below. Click on the picture to go to google so you can hear how it sounds.

Now that we have that out of the way. Let’s talk about how faux locks are really great when it comes to winter protective styling. With faux locks, all the hair is covered. And for a protective style to be a good protective style, the ends need to be covered. Since the hair ends and the weakest part of the hair and prone to breakage, retaining length involves preserving the ends as much as possible. Faux locks offer such protection 100%. With the introduction of Brazilian wool which is much lighter than kanekalon fiber, many are now choosing to do faux locks with wool. However, the fiber ones are also a great option as I find they stay longer. Using Brazilian wool is cheaper, way cheaper than using fiber though. Goddess locks are also quite trending this winter and a good option if locks are your thing.

Brazilian wool locks with curled ends from Nashe Hair Studio

Faux loc’s using Brazilian wool

Flat twists, for those with fuller or longer hair can be worn as a protective style as well. Done with or without extension, can be kept in for a good two weeks. The greatest advantage of flat twists is the fact that the style does not pull too much on the hairline. It’s the most gentle style that I know and if receding hairline is one of your main worries, then give these a try this winter. You wont regret it.

Flat twist updo
Image source stayglam.com

Flat twists done on dense full and healthy natural hair @nashehair

Crochet braids or more like crochet hair is also trending this winter. There are a lot of options available as well to the hair that can be used. From soft dread, Marley hair, and other curlier and looser varieties. We are spoilt for choice. Crochet braids are so versatile and you can style them is so many different ways, allows for some access to the scalp whilst the style is on and is much quicker to do than braids and twists. Faux loc’s can also be crocheted in and that is really awesome. Takes way less time than wrapping the loc’s. Crochet is the thing right now.

Nothing can be as real as this

The good old wig is also trending this winter. With people who never considered themselves as wig girls have now fallen for the wig and wigging it big time. Personally, I think a wig is every girl’s must have for those rainy days and it is a very good protective style as well. With the advent of all types of wigs of late, you are spoiled for choice while protecting your hair for the harsh winter cold.

Wigging it. Smangele from Indalo Nubian Naturals. Follow this Legend on Instagram and you will not have a dull hair moment in your life. @smarty_misshair

Mansero wig

Are there any other protective styles for natural hair which are trending this winter or are generally very good protective styles? Please let us know about them in the comments below or post on Instagram, twitter or Facebook and tag me @evemafupa or Natural Sisters. I am sure you know many more.

I am staying away from any extensions this winter, mainly because I had to go through an antibiotic treatment sometime in May and that messed up my system so badly and I am fighting dandruff on my scalp right now. I’m having to wash my hair twice a week sometimes and a long term protective style wont work well. I have also cut my hair but that is a post for another day. A lot of people have been asking me about a step by step tutorial on how I do my wash n go’s. i just want to let you know that I will try my best to do that for you as soon as I can. But for now, I will be posting what I have already scheduled in the short term. Thank you so much for coming by and I will check you later. God bless you big time. Have an awesome day.

My hair now.

12 June 2018 0 comment

Hairstyles Protective styles Tutorials

Simple Protective Style | Feeder braids

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 16 March 2018

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Hey folks. I hope you are well. I’ve been a bit under the weather but I’m better now. I did this simple protective style last week and recorded how I did it so that I can share with you. I hope you will enjoy it and find some hairstyle inspiration.

Feeder braids

For this protective style, I chose to use a mixture of grey hair and black hair, kind of to mimic the hair just after my forehead. I’m kinda liking it these days. Not sure if I’m going to start using hair dye again for my grey strands but hey, you never know. Maybe it’s just me turning 40 this year. Aging gracefully.

I used Darling Hair, 1 million braids and about one pack of hair because I only used half of the combined packets. It took me about an hour to do this hairstyle but I think it could have been faster if I was not recording as well. I hope you will watch it and let me know what you think.

God bless you. Keep the joy of the Lord in you.

Feeder braids

16 March 2018 0 comment

DIY Hairstyles Protective styles Videos

My Most Realistic Crochet Braid/Weave Ever

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 12 February 2018

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

Nothing can be as real as this

A lot of people thought it was my real natural hair and would be amazed when I told them that I had synthetic hair in. This is the most realistic crochet braids I’ve ever done on my hair. I left out hair right round the perimeter of my head so that I could do more styles with it and boy oh boy, I enjoyed this protective style and was actually sad to take it out. This is one time I also managed to go for 4 weeks with a protective styles and that’s great according to my track record.

Managed to tie in into a bun

Crochet braids or weave is so easy and if you don’t know how to do the cornrows, you can ask someone to help you out, go to a salon even. Besides, the cornrows don’t need a pro to do them because they will be covered. Only requirement is, they should not be too tight, that’s all. In the video, I show you how I installed my crochet braid but I didn’t include how to do the cornrows. However, I hope you will enjoy the tutorial and if you are not subscribed yet, do subscribe so that you don’t miss any of the videos that I’ll be putting out. Make sure you stay connected with me on social media as well. My handle is @evemafupa on Instagram and Twitter. Choose to be happy. No one can give it to you.

Here is the video…

Below are some still shots taken from the video. Don’t forget to thumbs up if you liked it. Will talk to you in the next one. Blessings to you and yours.

12 February 2018 5 comments

Hair care Protective styles Videos

Brazilian Wool Faux Locs Maintenance, + Night Routine

by Evenes Ruth Mafupa 8 August 2017

written by Evenes Ruth Mafupa

faux locs maintenance

Maintaining a protective style like faux locs can be quite challenging especially if they are bulky and it’s a first time like my case. After having the faux locs for over two weeks, I had developed a plan or a routine kind of and I was really getting along with my locs. I loved them so much and I had to make things works between us so I could keep them for as long.

faux locs maintenance

In the video below, I show you how I take care of my scalp, a bit of styling, not a tutorial but just showing you how I styled them and how I wrapped the locs in a bonnet and a scarf for bed. The reason why I covered the locs completely for bed is so that they don’t pick up lint while I sleep. I was so determined to keep these locs for long considering the time it took me to install them so anything that would stand between me and neat locs was considered the enemy.

I spritzed my scalp and not my hair, or maybe just the roots and not the ends as is normally the case. That’s because my hair, my ends were wrapped in the wool so, taking care of my ends was impossible. The ingredients and method of making the spritzer I used this time, to make sure I won’t need to wash my hair for the duration of the protective style is in the description box so click to watch on YouTube so that you can get that as well. Hopefully that will finally get you to subscribe to my channel and also watch some more of my videos. 🙂

As long as you keep smiling, laughing and loving. God bless you while I do the same here.

8 August 2017 2 comments

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