What is the difference between low-manipulation hairstyles and protective hairstyles?

What is a low-manipulation hairstyle? What is a protective hair style? What is the difference between low manipulation and protective hairstyles? Why do we need them?

Both low manipulation hairstyles and protective styles are extremely important when embarking on your hair journey (whether natural, relaxed or texturized).

How low manipulation hairstyles and protective hairstyles similar? What is their purpose?

• They are both carried out to minimise breakage 
• They both reduce damage to your hair 
• They aid the hair in healthier (due to reduced breakage and damage) and enable it to grow longer faster (healthy hair grows better then damaged hair).

How are low manipulation hairstyles and protective hairstyles different?

Low manipulation hairstyles:

• Are carried out to reduce hair damage and breakage by minimising the stress put on the hair.
• Hair breaks easier when being handled excessively (excessive combing or brushing, tying it up too tightly, pulling, tugging, etc)- low manipulation hair styles are styles that reduce this
• Examples of low manipulation hairstyles are - heat free hairstyles, braid outs and Bantu knot outs.

Protective hairstyles:

• Are carried out to reduce breakage and damage by protecting the hair from damaging factors such as clothing (which can cause tugging or pulling on the hair).
• Hair is prone to damage in the form of breakage or slit ends if it is constantly rubbing up against clothing, being broken by being trapped under handbag straps (on the shoulder), being caught in earrings, etc - protective hairstyles minimise the odds of hair having to go through this.
• Examples of protective hairstyles are - ponytail's (if your hair doesn't touch your clothes, etc when in a ponytail), buns, weaves, braids, etc

Both protective styles and low manipulation hairstyles aim to reduce damage to hair but can at times pose damages of their own. Its important to take note of the 'likes and dislikes' of your hair as certain things might work for certain hair types and not for others.

For example, braid out are seen to reduce breakage as a low manipulation hairstyle, for some hair types, however, braiding the hair is a lot of manipulation and loosening the braids can cause breakage depending on your hair type.

Focusing on styles that work for your particular hair type will do your hair a world of good.