Before the oppressive summer heat descends on Atlanta, therapist Brittanee Sims usually gets her thick, curly hair braided at a salon to preserve her healthy mane. But it’s more expensive this year.

For many Black women, braids, wigs, and weaves are more than just a hairstyle. They’re a cultural expression, protective care, and a form of everyday self-preservation in a society where beauty ...

Read this before your next braid styling session. Protective hairstyles have become a go-to look for many women of color that would like to give their natural strands a break — especially during the ...