**This post is sponsored by Head & Shoulders and SheKnows Media, all opinions are my own.**
It’s crazy how time flies! My hair finally has some length to it, and this is with a 1inch trim to remove some of my not so happy ends. This time last year I was begging my hair stylist to tell me that my hair was long enough to be braided back so that I could wear a custom lace unit (I cringe every time someone calls it a wig) while my hair continued to grow out of that ugly, awkward phase. You know that phase where your hair is either too long or too short for certain hairstyles? Lucky for me, she was able to make it work and between my unit and a multitude of head wraps, I was set for the summer!
Now that the warmer months are back, I’ve been giving some extra thought to how I want to wear my hair now that I have the length to really play with styles. Lately, I’ve enjoyed living my dreams of being that one friend with the big blonde curls, but as much as I love rocking my hair in all its glory, some days it’s a bit much to deal with on a regular basis. And if I’m truly honest, after working late some evenings, I don’t want to be bothered with the prep that it takes for me to make sure my hair will be presentable the next day before going to bed.
When I know I’m going to have a busy week, I give myself a reprieve by twisting my hair into a fun protective styled updo that gives me the convenience to get up and go. Styles like this are quick and easy because all you’re doing is flat twisting your hair. To make it easier for sleeping purposes, I typically do two flat twists in the back and save all the fun for the top of my head which I twist up into an intricate crown. Styles like these are perfect for the summer because you can rock a braid like look without having to sit for hours in the salon or deal with the strain on your edges from the weight of braids.
When I’m wearing my hair in a protective style such as this, I can typically go two weeks, of course with proper care, without having to do anything to my hair. The less I manipulate my hair, the better it is for length retention and growth. There are several benefits to wearing a cute protective style during the summer and some would agree that the most significant advantage is not having to deal with it, but that doesn’t mean we can neglect our scalp. We need to make sure we maintain a healthy scalp so that our hair can continue to grow strong and healthy.
One of the biggest tradeoffs to wearing protective styles is dealing with a dry or itchy scalp. It’s inevitable. No matter how you try to sneak in that head pat, we know what you’re doing, girl! When wearing a protective style, we often tend to over moisturize our hair which results in product buildup. Plus our hair texture can prevent our scalp’s natural oils from traveling the length of the hair shaft, resulting in us piling on more oil because we think our hair feels dry. This causes buildup which can cause itching. One way to combat this is to use products that help both your hair and scalp retain much-needed moisture without stripping it of its natural oils.
In between shampoos, I like to use the Head & Shoulders Clinical Solutions Leave on Treatment. It’s a lightweight spray that can be used directly on your scalp for relief from scalp issues in between washes, and it doesn’t have that chemical smell that one would associate with most “clinical treatments.” The scalp care active ingredient is zinc pyrithione (ZPT), which fights itch, dryness, and flaking.
Besides your protective style and product build-up or using oils on the scalp, other causes of scalp itch and irritation could be environmental factors. Head & Shoulders has done research and found that your scalp is just like your skin. When your skin gets red from too much sun exposure or sweats due to working out or the humidity, your scalp is having a similar experience and this can exacerbate scalp issues.
No matter how you plan to rock your hair this summer, whether it’s long flowing locks, chunky braids, or a simple twisted updo style like the one I’m wearing, make sure the health of your scalp is a priority. A couple sprays of the Head & Shoulders Clinical Solutions Leave-In Treatment is enough to get me through my two weeks of protective styling before I shampoo my hair again. It goes a long way to help reduce the itchiness that I normally feel and keeps me from constantly scratching which can damage my scalp.
How are you rocking your hair this summer? I’m definitely looking for hair inspiration so if you have some fun styles to share drop your links to the photos in the comments belo
