Celebrating your natural hair has been a refreshing and beautiful trend for the last few years, and given how amazing it looks – it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Because of this, different African hairstyles are gaining attention as well. While there are so many styles to choose from – and you can hardly go wrong with any of them – we’ve put together a list of some of the top stylish African hairstyles that you might want to try for yourself.
1. Wick Dreads
Wick Dreads are a great style for anyone who wants a funky and unique look. They’re created by twisting and turning your natural hair into dreadlocks, and then styling them into a wick. Wick dreads are the thickest dreads you can get. On medium and short hair, they stand up completely straight – like a candlewick – hence the name. While they do fall down on longer hair. They are so thick that some people who decide on this hairstyle only have a few dreads total.
Also called bonks, these dreads are particularly popular in Afro-Caribbean communities. They are often confused with Congo dreads, but they aren’t the same at all. Congo dreads are usually merged at the roots, while the ends remain separate, and they don’t have to be a certain size.
2. Twists
Twists are a classic African hairstyle. They’ve been around for centuries, and they’re still going strong. There are many different ways to do twists, but the most common is to take two sections of hair and twist them around each other until they form a rope-like strand. This can be done with wet or dry hair, but it’s usually easier to do with damp hair.
You can use your fingers or a comb to twist your hair. If you want a really tight twist, you can use a rat-tail comb. Once your hair is twisted, you can leave it as is, or you can coil it up into a bun or another style. Subtypes of twists include Senegalese twists, kinky twists, jumbo twists, and flat twists.
3. Cornrows
Cornrows are another classic African hairstyle that has been around for centuries. They are created by taking small sections of hair and braiding them close to the scalp. The cornrow can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. You can have one cornrow, or you can have dozens. You can make them tight or loose, straight or curly. You can do them yourself, or you can go to a salon and have someone do them for you.
Cornrows are a great style for people who have short hair, but they can be done on any length of hair. You can create an elaborate design with your cornrows, or you can keep them simple. Either way, they’re sure to turn heads.
4. Frohawk
The frohawk is a relatively new hairstyle that has been gaining in popularity in recent years. It’s a cross between a mohawk and an afro, hence the name. To do this style, you’ll need to have at least 3 inches of hair all around. The shorter the hair, the more defined the frohawk will be.
If you have longer hair, you can still do this style, but it will be more of a subtle look. To do the frohawk, you’ll need to shave the sides of your head (or buzz them if you don’t want to shave), and then style the remaining hair into an afro. You can use gels, creams, or pomades to style your hair.
You can also use a diffuser to give it more of a fro-like look. Alternatively, you can braid the sides of your hair and then put the afro in the middle. This style is perfect for people who want a funky and unique look.
5. Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are created by taking small sections of hair and wrapping them around each other to form a knot. You can do this with wet or dry hair, but it’s usually easier to do with damp hair. You can use your fingers or a comb to twist your hair.
If you want a really tight twist, you can use a rat-tail comb. Once your hair is twisted, you can leave it as is, or you can coil it up into a bun or another style. Bantu knots are a great way to add some texture and interest to your hair. They’re also perfect for people who have short hair.
6. Afro
Of course, you can hardly talk about African hairstyles without mentioning the afro. The afro is a big, bold, and beautiful style that is perfect for people who want to make a statement with their hair. To do this style, you’ll need to let your hair grow out as long as possible. Once it’s the length you want it to be, you can style it into an afro. You can use gels, creams, or pomades to style your hair.
You can also use a diffuser to give it more of a fro-like look. While in the 1960s and 1970s the afro was big and pretty round, nowadays it’s more of an individual style. You can make your afro as big or as small as you want. You can also shape it however you like – the modern twist being having it a bit more freeform.
African hairstyles are becoming more and more popular and for good reason. They’re beautiful, stylish, and unique. So if you’re looking for a new style to try, why not go African? There are plenty of great styles to choose from, and they all look beautiful on curly hair.
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