Finding Your Style
After the hair has been cleaned and conditioned it is ready for styling which for curly girls can mean any number of things. One of the truly AWESOME things about natural hair is the versatility. There are literally unlimited possibilities of styles with natural hair. It can be worn in its most natural state without product, or the curls can be enhanced by use of different types of products. The hair can be straightened with the help of a blow-dryer or pressing comb, or it can be styled in any number of braid styles. Below are a few popular styles for Naturals.
This style isn’t necessarily as simple as the name implies. Typically this style involves the shampoo and conditioning process as previously described. From there styling products such as a leave-in conditioner and a gel or mousse are layered on the air to enhance the curl pattern. Then the air is allowed to air dry which can take hours depending on hair density, porosity, products used and environment. Once the hair dries this style can last anywhere from a few days to 5-7 days before it needs to be washed again.
Flat twist are actually a protective style meaning once completed they hair doesn’t have to be tended to for days or even weeks. This style consists of the hair being twisted over itself while laying flat to the scalp in a manner similar to cornrows, but the hair isn’t pulled as tightly. Once the wearer of this style the twists can simply be taken down and the hair can then be worn as is, the style has now been converted to what is called a Twist-Out.
A Silk Press is a style where the hair is straightened by what of a blow-dryer or a pressing comb. From there the hair is typically curled with a flat-iron, curling-iron or curling brush and blow-dryer. This style is preferred when the wearer wants the look of a relaxer but not the more longer term commitment that comes with it.
As the name suggests this style with this style the hair is sectioned off into the desired amount of hair per section and from there each section is split into two smaller sections. Those two smaller sections are then wound or rather twisted around each other. Similar to the Flat Twist style mentioned previously this too can be a protective style that can remain in place for a time. This style can also be taken down and worn in a Twist-Out style afterward.
This style is self-explanatory as most everyone knows that an Afro looks like. It is simply the hair worn in a picked-out fashion. Depending on the hair type the afro could have curls, coils or both. When transitioning from a relaxer many Naturals chose to wear what is called a "TWA" which stands for Teeny Weeny Afro. The style is called that because once all of the relaxed hair is cut off what is remaining is a very short afro.
A Rod Set is a style where the natural hair is rolled onto perm rod rollers while wet and dried under a hooded dryer. Once dry the rollers are removed and the hair is fluffed to the desired fullness.