when is protective styling going too far?

YES, it is definitely possible for “protective styles” to damage your hair. I think it can be due to a nmber of different things like wearing the style for too long, not putting the style in correctly, or perhaps using a protective style that isn't good for your hair type. Personally, I'd had to choose to stop using braid extenstions or kinky twists (anything with the addition of fake hair pretty much) because it was suffocating my scalp and breaking my hair. I have a VERY fine natural hair texture so my individual stands are really thin and whispy. These types of hair styles put too much strain on my strands.

I think that not every protective style works for every hair type. For example, my hair is thin, and just like aJwitaFro, I cannot wear extensions. Even without extensions, micro braids and twists are so pretty but they have damaged my hair in the past.