Every September, I watch parents up and down the country doing the same thing. Booking the braider. Picking out new beads or thread. Getting the twists done a few days early so everything looks fresh for the first day back.
And every September, I want to say the same thing to all of them. Please do not stop there.
Protective styles, whether that is braids, cornrows, twists or something as simple as two neat plaits, are a wonderful tool. They save time. They protect the ends. They make busy school mornings so much easier. But they are also a bit of a double edged sword. Without proper care, the very style that is meant to protect the hair can end up damaging it.
What the science actually says
Left unwashed, the scalp naturally builds up sebum, dead skin cells and product residue. Research on scalp health shows that when this buildup is not cleansed away, it can disrupt the scalp’s natural balance, leading to irritation, flaking and an environment that makes it harder for hair to grow long and strong. Studies on wash frequency have found that infrequent cleansing allows sebum to break down on the scalp, which is linked to itchiness and discomfort, and that this is quickly relieved once the scalp is properly washed again.
Afro textured hair has its own added challenge. Because of its tight curl pattern, the scalp’s natural oil struggles to travel down the length of each strand the way it does with straighter hair. This means Afro hair is naturally drier and needs more intentional, regular moisture and conditioning to stay healthy, not less.
And when extensions are added, whether for braids or cornrows, that dryness only increases. The added hair has no connection to the scalp’s natural oils at all, so it dries out faster and pulls moisture from the natural hair underneath too. That means the scalp needs regular cleansing and the hair needs to work even harder to stay moisturised and conditioned while it is styled away. This is exactly where Rose of Jericho comes in.
I also have to be honest about something else. Keeping hair in braids for weeks and weeks on end, without cleansing the scalp and moisturising and conditioning the natural hair underneath, is simply not a healthy hair care practice. The scalp still needs to be cleansed, and the hair still needs to be moisturised and conditioned, and that does not stop just because it is styled away. I am not here to tell anyone what style to choose. But I would not be doing my job if I stayed quiet about this.
A simple routine that makes all the difference
You do not need a complicated regime, just a few consistent steps, whatever the style.
Cleanse the scalp twice a week with FunFun pads. A clean scalp is a healthy scalp. FunFun Cleansing Pads lift buildup and dead skin cells that can sit against the scalp for weeks in some styles, so regular cleansing matters even more than usual.
Spritz the hair regularly with Rose of Jericho to keep it moisturised and conditioned. Dryness is one of the biggest causes of breakage. A light, regular spritz keeps the hair underneath soft, conditioned and far less likely to snap.
Clear away gel residue properly with FunFun pads. Baby hairs laid with gel look lovely, but that gel needs to come off properly too. Encourage teenagers to use the same FunFun Cleansing Pads to lift gel away from their edges, not just the scalp, so it does not sit there and weigh down the hairline or strain delicate edges.
These small, consistent steps are the difference between a style that protects the hair and one that quietly damages it.
Why we built the Back to School Kit
This is exactly why we put together our Back to School Kit. It takes the guesswork out of looking after the hair underneath, whatever style your child is wearing.
FunFun Cleansing Pads cleanse the scalp and lift away buildup and dead skin cells, and double up as a way to clear gel from the edges after laying baby hairs.
Rose of Jericho moisturises and conditions the hair while it is in braids, cornrows, twists or any protective style, so it stays soft and strong underneath.
New term, new hairstyle, and the same care that keeps hair healthy all year round.
