Short Natural Hair Styles

So you have natural hair, and you can’t wait to remove the weaves and braids and just let the whole world see you rock it. The only problem is that you feel it is not yet long enough to be released and you are anxiously waiting for it to grow.

Personally, I think the problem the core African Naturalista will face at this stage of medium length is hair styling, especially for those who don’t use extensions. I mean for how long are we going to carry the afro before we get tired of it? This  might not be much of a problem when one’s hair is very long or very short, but in the stage when the hair is just long enough to park, styling will be a major problem, especially for people like me that are not so creative in parking the hair.

Having natural hair is not an excuse to look tacky. The key is to remain neat and beautiful

Here are some styles I have done to get me by. At least, I can try to help those who don’t want to use weaves for a while

1. Afro- I had to use keira care hair defining custard to keep it in place, as my hair is too long for the ordinary afro. If I did not use a custard, my Afro will look too wild, uneven in length and rough. My hair is Type 4, applying this custard on a Type 3 hair will give it a different look

Without head band

With head band

2. Threading with coloured knitting wools (coloured kiko). The hairdresser is to make the thread longer than the hair. You can use more than one colour, but it’s better if they are calm colours. The advantage of this is that you get beauty and length. It is also official enough to take to work

3. Big puffs brushed together- though my hair is way too long for this now. The front, side and back of the hair is to be brushed while the puffs converge to the centre. If they are not brushed, your hair might end up looking the the small kids in primary school carrying the 'puff puff' style.

4. Corn rows with afro. You can make your corn rows longer that the one in this picture, I have done that before. I also have to use the defining custard for this style, in order to calm the hair down. With the custard, any way you comb the hair, the hair obeys you. I guess that is why it is called 'defining'

5. Short Twists. Simple and straightforward. You can do it yourself or get a hairdresser to do it for you. Some people use was, while others use moisturising gel.

6. Mohawk- some employers might not take likely to this, though

7. Regular packing

8. Twist out. I loosed the twist a week after I had twisted it in order to get this style. So you get two hairstyles out of one attempt, or something like that.

There are so much more. If I knew I was going to have a hair blog, I would have been more committed in taking pictures. But these would do for now

Remember, styling short natural hair is not a problem, the main thing one needs is is creativity, then you can always come up with your own way of styling your hair.

What are your ideas on hair styling? Please, share with the naturalistas and if possible send pictures cos frankly, we all need them. Thanks.