The Natural Hair Movement is an era of fearless, beautiful men, women, and children sporting their hair in its natural state. For those of us who want to stay true to our roots and still have options for changing up our personal style with no chemical shame, these 21 hairstyles (in no particular order”> are some of the most popular in the world among the #teamnatural crowd.
Two-Strand Twists
This look is a must-try when going natural. It’s super easy to style and will help your curls stay fresh for longer. Here is a simple tutorial for creating two-strand twists.
Twist-Outs and Braid-Outs
After a day of wearing twists or braids in your hair, undo them for a whole new style! As a natural, these are an essential style for attaining volume and hold in our curl patterns. Depending on the products used and the size of the twists or braids, this look varies and is extremely popular among long and short-haired naturalistas alike.
Finger Coils
The clean, polished look of finger coils gives us an innocent play on Shirley Temple circa 1935 in The Littlest Rebel. These ringlets are super playful, fun, and a gorgeous way to display fresh coils.
Flat Twists
The flat twist has been around for a long, long time. Even before the natural movement started taking flight, many used flat twists on our relaxed and weaved hair to protect it from damage and over styling. Nowadays, naturals have turned this once juvenile look into one that can be adorned with an elegant flower or other hair accessory to jazz it up. Watch J Mayo show us her a creative updo using flat twists on her type 4 TWA.
Wash-and-Go
This is probably the most popular of the bunch because it is usually considered the easiest hairstyle for naturalistas. Watch this video for tips on achieving maximum curl definition right out of the shower! The best part of a wash-and-go? It can work beautifully on all hair types from loose waves to tight coils.
Box Braids
Janet Jackson made this hairstyle popular with her role in Poetic Justice, and we’ve been hooked ever since. Box braids take us naturals back to the 90’s when style was a perfect blend of sass and beauty (think Dionne in Clueless”>. Watch NaturallyCurly editor Gerilyn get braids for the first time!
Marley Twists
This protective style earns its name from its island vibe, and is popular among curlies in the warmer months of the year. If you can handle long installation time (usually 6 to 8 hours”>, marley twists are a great way to flaunt your natural hair.
Bantu Knots
Bantu knots will get you the definition and voluminous curls you aspire to. Learn how to craft this protective style for an easy way to retain moisture while looking cute and ready for a night out on the town!
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRESH LENGTHS
Pineapple
The pineapple method was created by the curly community right here on NaturallyCurly.com! A lot of us use the pineapple method to protect our curls while sleeping. As the natural hair community continues to grow and boast of its pride for our hair, more curlies are leaving the house with a pineapple and no worries! It’s a fabulous and simple look when there’s not a lot of time in the morning to style.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MADELYNN DE LA ROSA
Curly Bob
Not everyone wants to be team “long hair don’t care” — and the bob has the sophistication and sexiness to prove that short, curly hair is awesome, too. Sometimes referred to by stylists as the stacked or angled bob, this style is popular during hotter seasons when we need to get all those heavy curls off our necks! Before you chop, be sure to find a salon that specializes in natural hair.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CELMATIQUE
Curly Bangs
If you’re craving a dramatic change but without straightening or losing length, bangs might be for you. In the past, we only saw this cut on straight hair or children, but as all naturals know, there’s nothing curly hair can’t do. More curlies are trying the look as a simple way to add some flair to their regular styles. Use these photos as inspiration for your curly bang transformation!
PHOTO COURTESY OF OHWENDYOH
Blowout
Whenever you need a trim or just want a fluffier, fuller head of hair for the week, the blowout has you covered. There are many different kinds of blowouts—Dominican, Japanese, and Brazilian are among the most common.
Heatless Waves & Curls
Want the look of a blowout without the potential heat damage? Believe it or not, re-texturizing hair does not necessarily call for hot styling tools like a flat iron or curling wand. When us curlies feel like changing up our hair’s natural texture temporarily, we turn to easy-to-use tools like perm rods, flexirods, or Curlformers. Here are just a few of the ways to try a new look without permanently altering your curl pattern.
Fro-Hawk
Growing out your TWA (teeny weeny afro”> can be tedious for the impatient naturals out there. The frohawk is a great way to hide the awkward middle stages of growing your natural hair out by pinning it up into a faux hawk and pairing with some big hoop earrings for a street chic look.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GLEVEEN OCTAVIA
Afro
We adore the ‘fro for tons of reasons. To us, it epitomizes the era of true texture positivity and self-love. To add to the fun, us curlies have our own code for the types of afros we are rocking: from the TWA to the BAA (big a** afro”>. They say the higher the hair, the closer to heaven…then Aevin Dugas must be holier than thou.
High Curly Puff
This high puff will give you the most height and volume your curls have ever seen. Paired with your favorite professional or date night outfit, this curly ponytail will show off your natural curl pattern while keeping your hair up high so it doesn’t overshadow your whole look.
High Bun
While keeping your curls out of your face for some exercise or attending important meetings with colleagues, the high bun is versatile for many occasions. It’s a classic protective style that doubles as a nifty way to mask split ends.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOYJAH
Space Buns
Space buns are a frisky and cute take on a classic updo. This look is a great option if your curls aren’t long enough to pull into one bun. With short hair, try wearing two buns at either side of the nape of your neck instead of up high. For long-haired naturalistas, you may also use a weave hair bundle similar in texture to your natural hair to get the look while still rocking your coils and protecting your ends for the day.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ACTUALLY ASHLY
Ninja Bun
This ‘do is yet another take on a classic bun, but made more modern and edgy with free curls in the back. This fierce updo lets you show off some height with a topknot while still rocking your natural curl pattern. Follow this tutorial for product and styling tips to get the perfect ninja bun.
Goddess Braid
Extremely similar to the halo braid, the goddess braid is a chic and sophisticated look that a lot of natural brides are sporting. In a few simple steps, you can achieve a regal updo that’s perfect for your next event.
Dreadlocks
Affectionately called ‘locs’, naturalistas all over the world have made this lifestyle commitment to a process called “locking”, in which natural hair is twisted and held together on a regular basis until the hair strands eventually stick together as one big strand. The length and thickness all depend on your maintenance and the type of locking process you choose. Of course, patience is above all, as it may take years to get your desired results.
