If you’re a hair girlie with a social feed like mine, odds are you might have seen this post come across your feed. Long, shiny, and a soft natural texture, this yaki straight unit looks just like a healthy blow out. The yaki textured wigs and bundles have been gaining traction across social feeds and salon chairs alike, ushering in an alternative to the traditional bussdowns. While many are partial to the silky bone straight styles, there is something to be said about the yaki straight look that’s garnering attention and appears to grow straight from the scalp.
Looking at this trend within the larger conversation of beauty right now, I wonder: Are yaki textured wigs yet another extension to the “untraceable” beauty era? One of the more recent developments of imaginative, somewhat unrealistic beauty standards we find ourselves reckoning with is that of polished beauty looks that appear to be “natural.”
This idea of natural beauty comes after an era of largely visible enhancements. While the standards for this trend do not require actual natural features, it relishes in the appearance of said features. Subtle botox, enhanced skin treatments to promote a makeup-less glow, and hair installs that took quite some effort but look effortless are all tools that keep this trend alive.
A transition to more natural-leaning, yet polished looks may be to satiate the desire for trend participation. But, it may also aid in the global and personal journey to embrace kinkier hair textures. Among the copious amount of hairstyles at our disposal, the ‘dos that mirror even a slight resemblance to the mainstream require total assimilation to be accepted. The compounding standards for “good” and “kempt” hair are never-ending. But Black beauties are increasingly pushing back on this notion by dabbling in textured styles and making louder cases for their elegance, too. Naturals and wig-lovers alike have embraced the look with enthusiasm and emphasize all the benefits it may bring.
For those who love a classic sew-in with leave out or the half-up ponytails, yaki straight bundles blend effortlessly with straightened textured hair, and may even allow for less concentrated heat styling as a result. The seamless blend allows for the style to be lower maintenance due to the decreased amount of manipulation needed to complete the look. People are also noting how much volume the bundles or wigs provide, which of course is an added plus. There is a slight difference between kinky straight and yaki straight bundles, as explained by this TikToker. Both options have their merits, but for the girls looking for that silk press finish without the heat damage, yaki is the way to go.
Be it for heat damage reasons, undetectable results, or simply a style switch up, the yaki texture trend is growing and well worth a try.
