Basic Hairstyles For The Naturalistas

In recent times, natural hair styling has gone beyond the good ol' 'fros. The versatility of natural hair has enabled us to experiment with more styles in such a way that we can fit into any part of the society. The beauty of it all is that it can be done in the comfort of your home. You do not need to be at the mercy of any stylist. The majority of natural-haired girls are their own stylists so you don't need to worry about a thing once you get a hang of it. Usually, it is advisable to get a styler which can be in form of gels, creams or puddings to increase the durability of the style.


Some of the basic natural hair styles include:

i. The Twist-out.
This is probably the most popular style of them all. Mostly because it's super easy and

straightforward. You can achieve effortless curls by simply twisting your damp hair in two strands until you're done with your whole head. The twists can be tiny, small, medium or chunky depending on the style you're going for. Usually, it is left to completely dry overnight. After which the twists are unravelled to reveal soft fluffy curls.

ii. The Braid-out.
This is quite similar to the twist out but in this case, it is braiding the damp hair in small sections round the head and leaving it overnight to dry. The beauty of this is the curl pattern. The type of curls you will achieve on a twist-out is different from that of a braid - out. Plus braid-outs are great for those who want volume while twist-out is for those who don't really mind the shrinkage.

iii. The Bantu Knot-outs.
This is another style that results in gorgeous bouncy curls. They're usually the favourites of ladies with dense hair because the style is better defined. It involves creating bantu knots by

rolling/twisting and knotting small sections of damp hair and also leaving it to dry completely. This is where it gets tricky. When the bantu knots are not fully dry before unravelling, they turn out to be a mess. So, it's important to ensure that the knots are dry before taking down.

iv. Wash and go.

This less common style involves raking gel on freshly washed hair and leaving it to dry. It might seem like a really simple style but trust me, it doesn't work for everyone. Simply because, everyone's curl pattern is different and some people don't have the luxury of waiting for the gel filled hair to dry which is very important and some other minor misgivings. So, once you've tried it severally and it doesn't suit your hair type, stay away from it. But if you do and it comes out beautifully, go right ahead. After all, some ladies have the wash and go as their go-to style because it's very convenient for them.

v. The Afro Puff.
When everything else fails, the afro puff is always there for you. Simply whip out a hair

band, two strands of yarn, a thin satin scarf, or even your bra strap (you'll be surprised) and pack your moisturized hair up in a puff and you're good to go. Easy and convenient. By the time your hair gets longer you could easily turn the puff into a bun by ticking your ends in. Don't forget to brush and/or gel your edges to give it a sleek and clean finish.