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My haircare routine, regardless of how short or extensive it is, has never been enjoyable. I don’t have a specific reason for this, except to say that I think face masks and the occasional lipstick are so much more fun to play with. For this reason, protective styles are non-negotiable. Whether it’s waist-length braids, extensions that match my natural curl pattern or straight-back cornrows, being able to tuck my natural strands away for weeks at a time is not only a time-saver but the easiest way to switch up my look with little effort. The only downside is dealing with breakage afterward, which always requires a fleet of anti-shedding products.
First, know that it’s completely normal for your hair to shed. In fact, we lose a couple hundred hairs per day, even when we’re not manipulating them into a style. However, when your real hair is braided into plaits or tucked away underneath a sewn-in weave, that daily shedding process is delayed for however long you choose to keep the style in place. So when you do let your natural hair come out of hiding, the amount of shedding can be especially overwhelming combined with the other effects of protective styling, such as build-up and breakage. In those days after removing a protective style, your hair is in need of extra TLC as it regains strength for whatever you plan to do next.
In this case, I’m talking repair masks, protein-rich shampoos, and hydrating conditioners that make detangling a breeze. Ahead, all of the top-rated options that deserve space in your shower.
Aveda.
Aveda Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment
$38.41 at Amazon
Briogeo.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
$36 at Sephora
Bumble and bumble.
Bumble and bumble Bb. Full Potential Hair Preserving Shampoo
$31 at Sephora
Cantu.
Cantu Sulfate-Free Hydrating Cream Conditioner
$4.99 at Sally Beauty
Kiehl’s.
Kiehl’s Magic Elixir Hair Restructuring Concentrate
$20 at Nordstrom
Klorane.
Klorane Shampoo With Quinine and B Vitamins
$22 at Sephora
Not Your Mother’s.
Not Your Mother’s Way to Grow Long & Strong Shampoo
$5.99 at Ulta
SheaMoisture.
SheaMoisture Hydrate + Repair Protein Power Treatment
$11.49 at Ulta
TGIN.
TGIN Miracle Repairx Deep Hydrating Hair Masque
$17.99 at Sally Beauty
The Mane Choice.
The Mane Choice Anti-Shedding & Intense Volume Therapy Shampoo
$11.19 at Sally Beauty
The Ordinary.
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
$17.90 at Sephora
Rossano Ferretti.
Rossano Ferretti Prodigio Regenerating Treatment
$98 at Sephora
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