Detty December Hairstyles That Last the Whole Season

By the first week of December, most people in Lagos already have a calendar that looks like a puzzle. A wedding on Saturday, a birthday on Sunday, a church event midweek, a trip to see family, and somewhere in there, work. Your hair is expected to look good through all of it.

Most people plan their hair for the first event and hope the rest will sort itself out. It usually does not. A style that looked perfect for the first party can look tired by the third weekend, and redoing it every few days gets expensive and hard on your hair.

Thinking about detty december hairstyles as a season plan, not a single look, makes everything easier.

Plan the season, not one event

Start by writing down the dates that matter. Which ones need you to look polished, which ones are casual, and how many weeks does the run last? That gives you a realistic idea of how long your hair has to hold up.

Many people find that one solid base style, with small changes in accessories, wraps or the way it is styled, carries them through most of the season. That is usually kinder to your hair than a fresh, heavy style for every occasion. We cover event planning in more detail in hairstyles for owambe, which is worth reading alongside this one.

Styles that tend to hold up

Medium braids
A sensible middle ground for a long season. They look neat for weeks, can be pulled into buns and half-up shapes, and are easier to look after than very small or very heavy sets. Our guide to box braid sizes explains the trade offs.

Cornrows and feed-in styles
Tidy, low maintenance and quick to refresh. They suit weeks when you do not want to think about your hair, and they work well under a gele or headpiece.

Twists
Gentler on the scalp than many braided styles, and easy to style up or down depending on the event.

Wigs and closures
A dependable option for a season of many photos, as long as the base underneath is prepared and looked after. See how to wear a wig without damaging your hair.

Neat buns and updos
Practical for heat and travel, and easy to dress up with accessories.

Styles that rely on fragile curls or a lot of daily styling often struggle when it is hot and humid, so think carefully before choosing one for a long stretch.

Heat first, then harmattan

December in Lagos is rarely simple for hair. Early in the month you are dealing with warm, humid days, sweat and dancing. As the season goes on, harmattan can bring dry air and dust, which changes what your hair and scalp need.

So your routine has to be flexible. Keep the scalp clean and moisturised, keep your ends protected, and adjust as the weather changes. Our guide to harmattan hair care explains how, and how often to wash your hair in braids covers keeping a scalp clean without disturbing the style.

Travelling with your style

Plenty of people travel in December, whether by road, by air or both. A few small habits protect a style on the move.

• Wrap your hair in satin or silk overnight, especially in unfamiliar beds
• Pack a small kit with a satin scarf, a light oil, a few pins and a soft edge brush
• Cover your hair on dusty roads and rinse or wipe the scalp when you arrive
• Avoid sleeping in a tight style that pulls at your hairline

These little things make a real difference to how the style looks in week three.

Book early and be clear about the timing

December is usually a busy time for stylists, and last minute bookings tend to mean rushed appointments. Decide on your style, confirm your date and time, and tell your stylist when your first big event is so she can plan around it.

It also helps to choose someone you trust before the season starts. Our guide on how to choose a hairstylist in Lagos covers what to check and what to ask, and hairstyling prices in Lagos explains how to compare quotes fairly.

If one of your events is a wedding where you are in the bridal party, or the bride herself, start earlier and plan a trial, as we explain in bridal hairstyles for Nigerian brides.

Get your hair ready first

A style goes in better on hair that is clean, moisturised and detangled, and the appointment tends to run faster too. Do this a few days beforehand, not the night before. The steps are in preparing your hair before a styling appointment.

Protect your hairline through a long season

Long seasons and tight styles are a risky combination for the edges. If your hairline is already delicate, say so early and ask for lighter tension at the front, and do not ignore pain because the calendar is full. Our guide on how to protect your edges explains the warning signs, and mistakes to avoid when getting your hair styled covers other common problems.

Plan your takedown before you install

This is the part people forget. Installing a style in early December with no plan for taking it down usually means it stays in well into January or February, long past its best. Most protective styles are happiest coming down after a few weeks, not months, so pick a realistic date and put it somewhere you will see it. When the time comes, do it slowly, using how to take down braids without damaging your hair. And to keep the style looking neat until then, see how to make your hairstyle last longer.

Keep general principles in mind too. Our guide to protective hairstyles that actually protect your hair explains what makes a style genuinely low tension.

Booking with a professional

A season this busy is when a lot of people prefer to have an experienced stylist handle the install, so the hair is one thing that is already sorted before the first invitation. If that sounds right for you, Zerrar Hairstyling makes it easier to book a hairstyling service and ask your questions before you commit.

The bottom line

December asks a lot of your hair. Plan for the whole season rather than the first event, choose a style you can look after in changing weather, protect your scalp and hairline, book early and decide when the style will come down. Do that, and you can spend the season enjoying the events instead of worrying about your head.

BOOKING CTA:

Want your hair sorted before December gets busy?

Book your hairstyling service through Zerrar Hairstyling:
https://hairstyling.zerrar.com