Whether you’re rocking knee-length hair or a pixie cut, loose 3A curls or a rich head of 4B coils, the choice to go natural comes with infinite possibilities. “Healthy, natural hair can be styled in countless ways and still keep its integrity,” says Dominique LyVar, Senior Stylist at Devachan Salon.
Natural hair expert and stylist Sabrina Yamani Yamga from SPACE by Alex Brown in Chicago also recommends styling natural to her clients over alternatives, not just for hair health, but to take a stance against decisions like the 2016 Supreme Court rule to ban locs during the hiring process. For Yamga, it goes deeper than a beauty choice. “Kinky curly hair defies gravity and grows towards the sun,” she says. “For decades, we’ve been told to straighten our hair towards the Earth to fit into the Western corporate narrative, but our natural texture was literally made to stand up and stand out. In our community, it represents freedom.”
When considering your hair type and the style you want to try, Yamga stresses the importance of knowing your wave or curl type, especially if you’re doing the styling yourself. “Type four is the easiest type to maintain braids, Zulu knots, and dreadlocks, because of the kinks and coils,” she says. “People with kinky, coily curls most definitely aren’t the only ones who can pull these off, but they will have the easiest time maintaining them.” She recommends that people with Type two and three hair maintain a quick wash-and-go routine with a co-wash at least once a week to maintain moisture that traditional shampoo can strip away.
Once you’ve actually chosen a style, maintaining it with the right products is key. For wavy or loose curls, Yamga recommends beach-y salt sprays, sugar sprays, and mousses like Ouai’s Wave Spray or IGK Rich Kid Coconut Oil Air-Dry Styling Cream to get natural texture to the hair. For curly to kinky texture, LyVyar stress the importance of hydration and deep conditioning to protect the integrity of the curls. Yamga recommends using Olaplex’s Number 0 or Amika’s Soul Food Nourishing Mask at least once a week. But it’s not just about adding moisture—it’s about removing drying ingredients from your routine. Both Yamga and LyVyar stress the importance of avoiding drying ingredients like alcohol, sulfate, silicone, and salt in your hair products if you have type 4 hair.
And now, time to style! See below for a variety of sun-reaching natural hair inspiration from Instagram.
1
Wash-and-Go
The ultimate natural hairstyle, this one’s pretty much self-explanatory, and easy to make your own. The amount of products you use is totally up to you.
2
Slicked-back Pigtails
Equal parts elegant and playful, Yara Shahidi is giving us the girl-next-door look—complete with perfected baby hairs.
3
Braided Pony
Tracee Ellis Ross’ tight low braid is so chic that you’d never know how easy the look is to recreate.
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4
Half Ponytail
Beyoncé pulled back the front portion of her hair and tied it into a high knot for a glam look that has us wanting to channel our inner Queen Bey more than ever.
5
Halo Braid
This regal look is one long braid that wraps around your whole head and ends in two pigtail braids.
6
Twist Out with Two Buns
Make this versatile one extra chic, fun, or glam by playing with the size of the buns and by adding accessories to it, too.
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7
Loose Half Pony
We all love a youthful look like this one that emphasizes your curls. Don’t worry about trying to be precise with this one—leave some pieces out in front to frame your face.
8
Swept Up Braids With A Head Wrap
Not only does a head wrap protect your delicate roots for longer, but it can also add some eye-catching height to your crown.
9
Microbraids Bun with Head Wrap
A bun like this one is an easy go-to that can be dressed up or down with the head wrap to protect your strands.
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10
Low Side Pony
Simple styles like this low pony are a reminder of how fun it can be to play with baby hairs.
11
Afro
Pick out your afro to make it extra voluminous–everyone's heads will turn in admiration.
12
Blow Out
There’s nothing like a blowout if volume is what you’re going for. Condition your hair in twists before you start the blowout to add some additional texture to it.
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13
Half Topknot
Let your curls float sky-high in this modern updo and let your baby hair make a sophisticated frame for your face.
14
Twists Topknot
Taraji P. Henson’s playful birthday look was even more vibrant with her bright red colored strands.
15
Side-Parted Curls
For those days that you want to try something new but won't take a ton of time, take a cue from Kerry Washington and position your coils to one side.
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16
Braids In A High Bun
Want to reinvent your braids? Style them upwards like the ultimate Cool Girl Gabrielle Union-Wade.
17
Braided Bangs With Jewelry
Lupita Nyong’o’s stunning birthday post showing off her braided bangs is one of the most chic things we've seen this year.
18
Braids In A Topknot
Long braids can take a long time to install, but once you have them, they are incredibly versatile (see: Kelly Rowland’s topknot).
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19
Half-Up Braids
Pull up your braids high in pony to frame your face–it looks especially great with lighter hair.
20
The Pineapple
Here's a great way to show off your bone structure (and makeup!).
Neha Tandon
Former Senior Commerce Editor
Neha Tandon is the former senior commerce editor of Women's Health. She has written for New York Magazine, Cosmopolitan, BRIDES, Harper's Bazaar, Business Insider, Byrdie, and Well+Good.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise. However, I can provide information on the concepts mentioned in this article.
The article discusses various natural hairstyles and provides tips for styling and maintaining natural hair. It emphasizes the importance of embracing natural hair as a way to express individuality and challenge societal norms. The article also mentions the significance of understanding one's hair type and using appropriate products for maintenance.
Natural Hair Types
The article mentions different hair types, specifically referring to the "wave or curl type." It categorizes hair into four types: Type 2 (wavy), Type 3 (curly), Type 4 (kinky/coily), and Type 4B (rich head of coils). Understanding your hair type can help in choosing suitable hairstyles and maintenance routines.
Styling Tips
The article provides styling recommendations for different hair types. For wavy or loose curls (Type 2 and 3), it suggests using beach-y salt sprays, sugar sprays, and mousses to enhance natural texture. For curly to kinky texture (Type 4), it emphasizes the importance of hydration and deep conditioning to protect the integrity of the curls. It also recommends avoiding drying ingredients like alcohol, sulfate, silicone, and salt in hair products for Type 4 hair.
Hairstyle Inspiration
The article showcases a variety of natural hairstyles through Instagram posts. Some of the mentioned hairstyles include wash-and-go, slicked-back pigtails, braided ponytail, half ponytail, halo braid, twist out with two buns, loose half pony, swept-up braids with a head wrap, microbraids bun with a head wrap, low side pony, afro, blowout, half topknot, twists topknot, side-parted curls, braids in a high bun, braided bangs with jewelry, braids in a topknot, half-up braids, and the pineapple hairstyle.
Hair Care Products
The article suggests using specific hair care products for maintaining natural hair. It mentions products like Ouai's Wave Spray, IGK Rich Kid Coconut Oil Air-Dry Styling Cream, Olaplex's Number 0, and Amika's Soul Food Nourishing Mask. These products are recommended for enhancing natural texture, providing hydration, and protecting the integrity of the curls.
Remember, it's important to choose products and hairstyles that work best for your hair type and personal preferences. Experimenting with different styles and products can help you find what works for you.
