by Emilia Obiekea of AdoreBotanicals.com
Learning how to style your hair, especially as a new natural, can feel like attempting to solve a Rubik's cube. Styling can be pretty discouraging. Here are some very simple styles that are guaranteed to alleviate protective styling frustrations.
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Here is an easy flat twisted halo style by AlleySinai. Her technique is nice and simple. I also love how she is sure to tuck her ends away. Be sure to protect your ends too!
Have a sensitive scalp and delicate edges? Check out Christine Emmanuelle's video on her simple way of installing Marley aka Havana twists without causing stress to your hair.
KaliKashmere created a very simple tutorial on how to do box braids. Her tutorial is a nice foundation. Create braids of any width and length you prefer.
Rocking braids is boring? Said no one ever. Check out MyBlackHair's many styles for her braided hair.
Another way to protect your hair is to do regular single braids or twist with your own natural hair. Just because you're wearing a protective style doesn't mean that it will be boring. AfricanExport, from YouTube, shows that you can always accessorize your hairstyles. Here her hair is simple single braids that are pin curled. Pop on a hat, scarf, bow, flower, etc... and you're good to go!
What's your favorite protective style?
by now. Well, it doesn’t disappoint! This oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, which both help promote hair growth and length retention, decrease breakage, and strengthen the hair. Coconut oil
has a low weight (which helps seal the hair) and consists of hydrophobic properties that allow it to draw moisture from the atmosphere into the hair, which helps the hair retain moisture.
is definitely one of the best and most versatile oils for natural hair and can be used for all of the purposes we listed at the beginning. It’s great to use as a prepoo or mixed into your favorite conditioner because it will naturally help melt the tangles out of your hair. You can apply coconut oil to your scalp to assist in alleviating dandruff, or simply apply it to your hair to style, add shine, combat frizz, moisturize, and seal.
consists of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, protein, and minerals that work together to make it one of the best oils for boosting hair growth. You’ve probably heard of using 
to help regrow your edges or simply to kickstart your growth journey. The rumors are true: this unrefined and nutrient-rich oil increases blood flow to the scalp, resulting in thicker, stronger, and longer hair. This is because castor oil
has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that remove dead skin cells from the scalp and stimulate hair follicles for growth.
is a great natural way to combat all of these issues.
is its own natural conditioner: it penetrates the hair shaft better than some other oils and nourishes, softens, and strengthens the hair. 
also has an anti-inflammatory property that helps rid the hair of dandruff and product build-up on the scalp. It also assists in reducing hair loss by fortifying the hair against any kind of wear and tear.
works very well for scalp massages: it will help you stimulate hair growth and maintain a healthy scalp. Add it to your spray bottle mix to help keep your hair moisturized throughout the week. Since 
penetrates the hair shaft, it also works great for hot oil treatments and will result in hair that looks and feels softer and stronger.
has an even higher content (72%) of monounsaturated fats than coconut oil
: these fats provide nourishment and make your hair super shiny.
to your shampoo will treat dry, itchy scalp and adding it to your conditioner will give you excellent slip to make detangling a breeze. It’s not heavy enough to be ideal for being used to seal moisture into the hair, but it does actually help moisturize the hair so always keep it handy to fight dryness.
doesn’t always get as much “shine” (no pun intended) as it deserves. Much like avocado oil
, it is great for addressing dry scalp but also hair loss, and in preventing split ends. But unlike any other oil, jojoba mimics your hair’s own natural oil (sebum) which causes your strands to respond quite positively by absorbing it into the hair shaft, which results in more moisturized and shinier hair. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, and E, which work together to protect against damage. It has an even higher content of monounsaturated fats than avocado oil
(98%!) which of course make it excellent for strengthening the hair against breakage. It adds volume, encourages hair growth, and helps the hair revert from damage.
also works great for scalp massages because it gives you great benefits without weighing your hair down. It is excellent when used in deep conditioners because it helps the hair bounce back, especially from heat styling.
