Blog - Summer Hairstyles for Natural Hair with Your Snappees
August 3, 2018 by Swirly Curly
Are you looking for a few great summer hairstyles to wear for your natural hair? Curly hair tends to get frizzy during the hot and humid summers, so it’s a good idea to have some ways to get your strands off your face and neck.
Summer is the opportune time to grow an strengthen natural hair. Winter can cause hair to become too hard and brittle, but the hotter months can be the source of fast growth and length retention.
However, you’ll want to shield your hair from the UV as much as possible and wear it off the neck to prevent salty sweat from damaging the ends.
Snappees were made for curly, thick hair, and they’re easy to use on days when you have lots of outdoor activity.
Here, you will find three quick summer hairstyles you can do before you head out to the sun.
Easy High Puff Hairstyle
The high puff tends to be a favorite for naturals because it gives you a chance to rock a stylish ponytail, even when you have short hair.
If you’re new at doing the high puff, you’ll find it difficult at first, and even old veterans struggle with this style. But this style becomes much easier when you have a Snappee or two.
It’s because Snappees allow you to easily draw the hair up into the puff without breakage. And the snapping mechanism makes it so that you don’t have to do further tying.
Snappees come in packs of three, so you’ll always have a choice of how many you want to use for each style. For the high puff hairstyle, you can use one or two Snappees.
Use a single Snappee if you want it fairly tight. It’s best to reserve this hairstyle for only important occasions, and not overdue it. It’s the perfect hair for a job interview or crucial event.
Otherwise, use two Snappees for maintaining looseness around the edges. Two-Snappee high puffs are good to wear on the regular basis because they’re tension-free.
To use two Snappees, just snap one Snappee onto another.
Here’s how to do the high puff hairstyle:
- Gather your hair upwards, to the top of your head to position the puff.
- Smooth the hair with your hands. Use a brush if you need it extra-smooth.
- Let go of the hair and grab a Snappee with two hands. The hair will fall back down a little, but that’s okay.
- Holding the Snappee on each end, draw the hair onto the crown of your head.
- Pull the two ends together and snap.
- Voila! You have a high puff.
- Apply gel to your edges if you like the laid look.
Moisturize Before You Shampoo
Applying moisturizing ingredients right before you step in the shower is a sneaky way of moisturizing between washes. This technique is known as pre-pooing. It moisturizes and protects the hair from the potential damage that can occur during wash day.
A pre-poo will help to reduce breakage and quicken your detangling sessions. Your main goals on wash day should be to hydrate the hair and cleanse the scalp.
Using a pre-poo will help your natural oils to remain intact. Plus, it will allow you to cleanse your scalp without having to worry about the effects on your hair.
Pre-poos don’t need to be elaborate.
Pre-poos don’t need to be elaborate.
Doing a pre-poo can be as simple as saturating your hair with your regular conditioner as the first step in your wash day. Shea butter, aloe vera, and coconut milk are also great pre-poos.
Pre-poos can be done before a co-wash too, especially if you’re still experiencing breakage after adopting a co-wash routine.
Refresh Your Natural Hair At least Once During the Week
Seven days is too long to make your hair wait for hydration. Even if you do the LOC method, your hair will likely need hydration and moisturization during the week.
You can either wet your hair in the shower for hydration, or simply use a water spray bottle to dampen your hair. If you want more than water, try a detangler, a leave-in conditioner, or aloe vera juice.
Then follow the hydration with the rest of the steps in the LOC method.
Reduce Friction
Reducing friction is one of the lesser known ways of keeping your hair hydrated. The less you rub your strands, the more the oils will stay intact. Here are some ways to reduce friction:
- Use Softer Ponytail Holders. Pay attention to the type of hair tie you use. It’s not enough to only avoid metal clasps. Aim to wear ponytail holders that are made of a soft material—something that won’t rub against your hair. Snappees are soft and extra helpful because they don’t require you to pull them from your hair.
- Avoid Friction from Shirt Collars. If your hair is neck-length, and a rough shirt collar or sweater could potentially harm it, make sure you protect it. Your clothing may be too abrasive, and that will sabotage your efforts to have moisturized hair. Placing your hair in a bun or ponytail will help to get it off your shirt. You can also try wearing a silk scarf around your neck to provide a soft surface for your ends.
- Avoid Cotton Towels. Cotton towels are too drying and abrasive for natural hair, and they should be avoided. Use a cotton t-shirt or a microfiber towel instead. Microfiber towels are not 100% cotton, so they tend to be easier on the strands.
- Protect your Hair During the Day. Use a hat or scarf when you’re outdoors. Wind can make your curls rub against each other and cause breakage. Hats are great for protecting against UV rays. Slip your hat or scarf on when you’re outdoors. Just make sure it is satin-lined, so you’re not causing further damage when you go to remove it.
- Protect Your Hair During the Night. Cotton pillowcases are a big enemy of curls. You may not see evidence of breakage on the pillowcase in the morning, but you’ll probably find broken ringlets on the shower floor on wash day. Pillowcases rub against the strands and can wipe off oils that could have been used to protect your mane. Instead, wear a satin bonnet at night to guard against damage.
Hydrating, moisturizing, and protecting your hair between washes will give dramatic improvements to the health of your curls. If you adopt these things into your regimen, you’ll likely have longer, thicker, and more lustrous hair within a few weeks.
What about you? Do you have any special techniques you do to keep your natural hair moisturized during the week?