Protective Styles for Michigan Winters

A protective style is a good answer to a Michigan winter, but not every style is. From November through March you are wearing a hat most days, washing in a cold house, and drying hair in air that pulls moisture out of it. The styles that work are the ones that survive being covered and can be washed and dried without a struggle.

What a hat changes

You will have something on your head from December onward, so the style has to tolerate being flattened and rubbed for months. Tall styles, elaborate updos and anything that relies on volume at the crown will not survive it. Braids and twists worn down or in a low bun, crochet styles, and units that sit close to the head all work. Whatever you choose, a satin-lined hat or a satin scarf under a wool one is what prevents the friction from undoing it.

Styles that suit the season

Box and knotless braids, which last six to eight weeks and go under a hat without complaint. Twists, which are lighter and come down faster. Crochet styles, which are quick to install and easy to redo if a winter gets long. Cornrows under a unit, which is the lowest-maintenance option of all and lets the hat sit flat. Longer, heavier styles are less suited to a season where they will be tucked into a coat collar constantly.

Washing in the cold

The two to three week schedule does not change, but the drying does. Wet roots under a hat in freezing air is both uncomfortable and damaging, so wash earlier in the day and dry properly with a hooded or bonnet dryer before going out. This is the season where owning a bonnet dryer stops being a luxury.

Moisture underneath

Dry indoor air works on the hair under a style as much as on loose hair. Use a light leave-in through the braids and a scalp oil along the parts every few days, focusing on the ends of the braids, which are the driest part. Do not compensate by oiling daily, which coats the style and gives you buildup to wash out later.

When to take it down

Six to eight weeks for braids, less for twists, regardless of how the style looks. It is tempting to leave a winter style in longer because the alternative is doing hair in a cold bathroom, and that temptation is how people reach twelve weeks and lose hair at the take-down. Plan the next style before the current one is due, and give the hair a week of rest in between with a deep conditioning treatment.