Natural Hairstyles (just a few)

Not too often we get clients in the school who have 'natural hair', that being not being relaxed or in it's natural state. It's possible the hair does have some color processing that has been done, but for the most part, no relaxer has been applied to the hair.

This could be hair is worn in an Afro, Braids, Twist, Twist Outs, Locs or other types of styles.

NATURAL HAIR n: \ˈna-chə-rəl ˈher\:

YOUR UNALTERED GOD GIVEN HAIR AS IT GROWS THROUGH THE EPIDERMIS FROM FOLLICLES DEEP WITHIN THE DERMIS. NOT CHEMICALLY ALTERED, COLORED, CURLED OR STRAIGHTENED BY RELAXERS, TEXTURIZERS OR OTHER CHEMICAL AGENTS AND IS ALSO FREE OF ANY AND ALL EXTENSIONS.


Problem comes in when there is not a consensus on what the client wants or either having an understanding on what the styles are call AND understand the vernacular of the clientele.

Understanding is everything!

 

 

So I decided to list as many references on 'natural styles' that I can. I think this will assist many of the students who attend my school who are NOT familiar with working with 'natural hair'. This needs to really have an additional class of it's own. Looks like we are beginning to get more clients with natural crowns! Either you want to understand and service these clients properly or they will go somewhere else. I enjoy working with natural hair, and welcome the challenge. But is seems fitting to me that if one is attending Beauty School, you would want to know something about this type of hair. Regardless, if you will be working with it or not, you just never know. We are all on the planet together, so you might as well have some type of understanding and knowlege about the subject.

Just sayin'.

 

Two Strand Twist or Rope Twist:  these can be left to hang or ropes to the scalp.

 

 



After wearing this style for a few days or either up to 2 weeks, (needs to be properly maintained) it can be taken down and worn as a Twist Out. May be refered to as a protective styling.


The Twist Out has more of a defined wave or curl pattern, which has been altered by the twisting of the hair. Usually, it relaxes the curl pattern.

 

 

The Afro style is hair in the picked out state or just being left as is, can be shaped with clippers to give a more defined shaping or left alone.

 

 

 

 

 

Locs are hair that has been left to loc on it's own, it's in individual sections. Can be styled various ways. Should be maintained every two weeks. Locs are started from 2 strand twist, coils and or braids. They can be taken out by cutting the hair or picking out. I would not suggest the last method, I would locs for over 15 years, cut length & picked them out. It took over a week to complete!

 

 

 

 

Coils are done with a rat tail comb, they are similar to twist but can be taken down & redone. If left alone they will loc!

 

 

 



 

There are also Flat Twist these are done flat to the scalp usually with a rat tail comb but can also be achieved with twisting of the hair with your fingers. They are similar looking to the Rope Twist to the scalp but no division of the hair section in two sections.

 

 

 

 

The next styles I found are considered Kinky Twist. The crossover to other styles to me so judge for yourself. Perhaps they are called so because hair is added in, I'm not sure. I must do further research.

 

 

So in closing besure you consult with your client and know what exactly what they are wanting done to the hair regarding any natural style. Always begin with a good shampoo & conditioner! Be sure to pass along to the client to keep the hair moisturized!

 

I have added some YouTube videos for you to watch! For more information on natural styling or other technques the videos are endless.