When you hear women refer to themselves as "natural" visions of mounds of untamed hair, afro's, and dry kinky coils may appear in your head. Now I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with wearing your hair in an fro, by all means, if you like it, we love it. I'm just saying that wasn't the look that I was personally going for. Honestly, I believe this is one of the biggest reasons why black women are so afraid to let go of their relaxer. So, when my hair dresser suggested that I cut out my perm (which had my hair about as brittle as a saltine cracker) I looked at her like she was crazy.
After some thought and research, I finally realized, just because a woman of color chooses to wear her hair "natural" doesn't mean she has to walk around looking like a woman of the wild. There are plenty of "glam-friendly" hairstyles that allow you to both maintain your preferred straight look AND protect the health of your NATURAL tresses.
1.) Dominican Blowouts
Want your hair super straight, but don't want to add too much heat? I am almost 100% sure that your local Dominican hair salon can help you out with that. This procedure usually includes, a wash & condition, getting your hair blown out with a round brush, and lightly pressed with the flat iron. The hair dressers use products that promote hair growth as well as protect your hair from the heat applied. A Dominican Blowout is very low maintenance (just requires a simple wrap & headscarf at night) and will last you anywhere between 2-3 weeks. Be consistent with this styling and you'll start to notice your hair growing (healthy) in no time.
2.) Weaves
Of course weaves are the ultimate glam "natural" hair style. This is because weaves are so versatile that you can achieve maximum styling while majority of your real hair is protected underneath. Usually with this style, women braid their hair and sew (or glue) tracks onto those braids to create the illusion of a full head of flowing hair. When wearing a weave, you should leave out as little hair as possible, just enough to cover your tracks, and ALWAYS remember to use a heat protectant before applying heat. This style will last you anywhere from 1-3 months and with proper maintenance of your hair underneath, you should definitely experience hair growth when you remove the install.
3.) Buns
This classic up-do is super cute, and super simple to create and maintain. This style is ideal for natural hair gals because it is a great protective style and requires no heat at all. How healthy is that?! A bun can be achieved easily, and if you have trouble laying down those untamed edges, try some pomade and a tight scarf for 5-10 minutes.
4.) Wigs
When most women hear the word "wig" they automatically turn up their noses at the thought. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a wig, especially if it is a good one. I recommend purchasing a wig (or making your own) that is made out of 100% human hair. Synthetic wigs tend to look fake and don't last for very long, while human hair wigs look more natural and can be styled a variety of ways. If you think you'd feel uncomfortable in a wig, it may help to try one with bangs. This style is great for those transitioning because it's removable, perfect for maintaining for your healthy hair care regimen and protecting hair.
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