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Black hair is magical. We can wear it cropped, bobbed, long, and we can't forget the wealth of textures. When I went natural for the second time (yes, it took more than one try), I became a bit judge-y. To me, if you were a straight-haired natural (someone that grows out their relaxer but wears their hair straight) in my eyes, you were defeating the purpose. Going natural means we can only wear our hair curly, right? Wrong.
I was loud and wrong. There isn't one way to wear natural hair. We should wear our hair how we see fit without commentary from others. Black hairstyles have a range, which makes this new wave of self-acceptance so much fun! Here, we have rounded up twenty-one styles that you can wear anytime you're ready for a switch up. From cropped 4c fros, to stretched out wavy looks, to sleek silk presses, we found an array of different styles to give you a little inspiration the next time you're ready to see what else your natural hair can do.
Flexi-Rod-and-Go
Diandra's golden curls can be recreated with a flexi rod set, no matter your hair texture. Just make sure to have some mousse on hand to help stretch and set the curls. Design Essentials Natural Curl Enhancing Mousse ($16) will give the hair hold without the crunch.
Knot It Up
Freddie Ransome is a top knot queen. Depending on your hair type, you may need to use a gel, mousse, or edge control. (Or maybe all three.) Be on the lookout for flake-free products like SWAG GOO Edge Control Gel ($13) to help keep those edges in check.
Cornrows
Cornrows are a style that works for any type of Black hair texture, not to mention they give you a break from the manipulating and styling that can cause breakage.
Gold Accents
Instagram is such a gem for hair inspiration. When I saw this photo on my timeline, I instantly hit the save button. You can find Kim's tutorial here if you'd like to recreate this look at home.
Mini Braids
Mini braids and twists are a favorite in the natural community. Since they protect and look cute, what's not to love? Moisture is the key here, so use whichever version of the LOC method you prefer to layer your products to help lock in all the good stuff. Krissy used leave-in, a curl jelly, and oil to create the mini braid look we see here.
Go Red or Go Home
The burgundy red hue here complements the skin tone. If you're interested in giving this color a try, Dark and Lovely Fade Resist Permanent Hair Color in Crimson Moon ($5) is a fan favorite.
Slick It Back
With the right molding products and a ponytail extension (if you need it), recreating this look is relatively simple. After styling, you may want to secure your hair with a silk scarf for a few hours depending on your hair texture and let the product air dry or even sit under a hooded dryer.