Beauty Of 5: The Essential Products for Protective Hairstyles

Source: Tammy Carraway / Tammy Carraway

Going to Tammy Carraway’s The Closet 17 Salon in Los Angeles is like hair therapy.

The hairstylist and budding beauty mogul specializes in weaves, but it is the signature part she’s crafted for her natural-looking full sew-in weaves, her growing hands, and her innate ability to help clients de-stress when they’re in her salon that has gained her a cult following in the City of Angels and beyond.

Carraway, who has spent the last 20 years styling hair, also has her own line of extensions, and a line of products specifically geared towards protective styles on the way, like a CBD-infused roll on for edge growth.

“There’s just something about protecting [my clients]’ hair,” Carraway told Madame Noire. “I love weaves and I love protective styles. To me what works best for protective styles doesn’t just come from products. It’s you not having your braids too tight, the net not being too tight, the weave not being too tight. It’s a tension thing, because when people do come to me, [weaves are] a protective style, and their hair definitely grows because they’re leaving it alone. I’m not a hard braider and their edges are still there, so that’s the product in itself. Knowing how to tell people to ease up if they’re too tight with your hair, your hair will definitely grow.”

There are five top products Carraway also swears by to help protect and grow hair in protective styles in braids and weaves. Take a peek at her top tips!

Source: Tammy Carraway / Tammy Carraway

Sulfur8 Dandruff Treatment for Braids, $4.44

Sulfur8 Dandruff Treatment for Braids ($4.44, walmart.com) is one of the first things Carraway tells her clients to use – and spray on their hair. “For protective styles it’s just not about the oil. Your hair definitely just needs moisture,” Carraway said. “The Sulfur8 spray has some good properties in it. It just does wonders for your hair. I tell my girls to spray it in their part, but can you imagine if somebody used it for their braids? Their crochet? It just gives a certain amount of moisture that I just love.”

Source: Brandi Fowler / Brandi Fowler

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo, $5.99

“I’m also a big fan of dry shampoo for straight weaves,” Carraway said. “Because I’m a non-chemical salon, I use dry shampoo and I really like Clean Freak Shampoo (ulta.com, $5.99). I’m also a fan of Tresemme Flawless Curls Shampoo ($3.98, walmart.com) for curly weaves.”

Source: Tammy Carraway / Tammy Carraway

Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, $5.69

“My secret ingredient for products is apple cider vinegar,” Carraway continued, adding that she mixes it into her favorite conditioner. “People sleep on it. I always squeeze like, like three or four shots of apple cider vinegar ($5.69, target.com) in the conditioner and it just does something to the curls that just makes it…that I just love.” One of the conditioners Carraway loves for curly looks that she adds apple cider vinegar to as well is Tresemme Flawless Curls Conditioner, $5.99, target.com).

Source: Tammy Carraway / Tammy Carraway

Cantu Cleanse Root Rinse, $5.79

“Cantu Cleanse Root Rinse ($5.79, target.com) is the root rinse that you can put in, like squeeze into your roots and just rinse it out,” Carraway said. The product cleanses the scalp after prolonged protective styling, refreshes and revitalizes scalp, and is infused with apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil to clarify the scalp to produce healthier strands.

Source: Tammy Carraway / Tammy Carraway

Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil, $6.98

This is another product Carraway swears by – and it actually helps hair grow. She recommends dropping the Jamaican Black Castor Oil  ($6.98, amazon.com) “throughout your whole head and on your edges too.”