It's 30 degrees, you've planned a week at the seaside, and the idea of having to redo your curls every morning seems as unrealistic as it is tiresome.
That's exactly why protective styles exist! Cornrows, box braids, twists, two-strand twists, locs... these styles don't just have aesthetic value, they also protect against external aggressors (UV, salt, chlorine, heat…). Which makes them particularly well suited to the summer season!
However, a poorly maintained protective style can do more harm than good. Dried-out scalp, weakened lengths under the braids, breakage on removal... the consequences are common.
Here's how to avoid them, and turn summer into a season of hair growth.
Why are protective styles ideal in summer?
What a protective style really does to your hair
The principle of a protective style is to gather the ends (the oldest and most fragile part of the hair) away from friction against clothing, wind, sun and daily handling.
Less friction means less breakage. And less breakage means more length retained.
In summer, this advantage is multiplied. The sun oxidises keratin, salt water swells and roughens the cuticle, and heat increases porosity. A hair fibre whose ends are protected withstands these aggressors far better than hair worn loose and handled every day.
Protective styles suited to each texture
Not all textured hair types suit the same styles.
- Wavy hair (type 2) works well with twists, loose braids or twisted buns.
- Curly hair (type 3) benefits from twists, cornrows or braids.
- For coily and afro-textured hair (type 4), box braids, locs, cornrows and bantu knots are the most suitable: they keep the lengths tightly secured and limit shrinkage from ambient humidity.
In all cases, the golden rule is the same: a protective style must be done on hair that is clean, hydrated and nourished, never on dry or weakened fibre. What you do before braiding shapes the result as much as the hairstyle itself.
Preparing your hair before putting in a protective style
Deeply hydrate and nourish before styling
The day before the install is the time for an intensive treatment.
Apply the Intensive Nourishing Mask (shea, castor, macadamia, coconut, olive) along the full length to nourish deeply.
Leave on under the Heated Cap. The cap's gentle heat opens the cuticles and allows the actives to penetrate the fiber.
After rinsing, the choice of leave-in treatment depends on your texture:
Wavy to curly hair (types 2 to 3a):
The Hair Milk doesn't weigh down naturally finer fibers, while smoothing the cuticle before installation. It helps fingers glide during braiding and limits knots at the roots.
Curly to coily hair (types 3b to 3c):
The Nourishing Smoothie provides the extra nourishment these textures need to stay supple under the hairstyle, while the rice proteins already start working on the fiber's porosity.
Afro-textured hair (type 4):
The Leave-in Conditioner fills the porous areas of the fibre and gives it a uniform structure, making braids easier to install and reducing the risk of breakage at tension points, where the style pulls the most.
Maintain your protective style all summer
A protective style does not mean neglected hair.
Under braids, the scalp keeps producing sebum and sweating, and the lengths keep dehydrating, especially in summer.
Hydrate the scalp without weighing it down
The scalp is often forgotten once the hair is braided. Yet it's what feeds the root and determines the health of regrowth. In summer, heat and sweat change its pH and can cause itching and weakening of the follicles.
That’s why it’s important to hydrate it daily.
The Jia Paris Hydrating Spray easily slips between braids to reach the scalp without leaving residue or making the plaits sticky.
The 10-in-1 Multiprotect Spray protects against UV rays and external aggressors, limits fiber oxidation under braids and reduces frizz in the lengths.
Seal and protect the lengths
The exposed ends and lengths sticking out of your braids need to be sealed regularly so they don't dry out.
Discover the Jia Paris 3-in-1 Sealing Oil Serum. Its lightweight plant oils form a protective film over the cuticle without weighing braids down or making them sticky. As a bonus, pequi oil provides protection against UV rays.
Make the most of summer to promote growth
A well-maintained protective hairstyle is also a chance to let your hair grow without breaking. Provided you actively support that growth.
Fighting breakage at the roots and the ends
The roots of braids are the areas most exposed to breakage.
The Growth Lotion lets you target this area precisely. It strengthens the follicle, stimulates microcirculation and reduces hair loss caused by mechanical tension.
For the lengths, the 3-in-1 Oil Synergy combines the most recognized oils to reduce breakage.
Boost growth from within
Hair care isn't limited to what you apply to your hair. Growth is also nourished from within.
The Hair Booster provides the micronutrients essential to keratin synthesis: brewer's yeast for density, zinc to limit hair loss, vitamin B8 for growth.
For those who prefer a tastier format, Hair Vitamins deliver the same benefits as vegan, sugar-free gummies.
Combined with a protective style and topical care, these dietary supplements form a complete routine for visible results in both length and density.
A protective style is also a choice for your hair
Behind the aesthetic choice of protective styles lies a real hair decision: letting your hair breathe, grow and strengthen away from daily handling and seasonal aggressors.
As long as you look after this hairstyle seriously. A hydrated scalp, sealed lengths, suitable nutrition: this trio is what makes the difference between a style that truly protects and one that causes breakage when it's taken down.
With natural, effective treatments formulated specifically for textured hair, Jia Paris supports every step of this protocol, from pre-installation preparation to growth care.
This summer, let your hair work for you.
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