It’s that time of year when you have plenty of parties and events to attend with family and friends, including of course the obligatory office party. You want a departure from your usual style. You feel like doing something different. Well naturalistas, we have so many options!

Color
Add some pop to your hair by adding color – a hot ombre, honey blonde, green mixed with blue, lavender, red or whatever suits your fancy. Be bold! A professional stylist can be helpful to find a hue to suit your skin tone, personality and lifestyle. And … you can find natural hair colors at your local health food store.

Short Hair Twist
You don’t have to wear extensions or grow your hair long to have chic options. Try a style with twists that moves hair upward, while allowing curls to drop and frame your face.

Curly Updo with Crown Braid
A beautiful alternative for natural textures, is an updo hairstyle with a crown braid. A single braid wraps around the head, with the rest of your curls, afro puff or coils freely flowing.

Pompadour with A Twist
Pompadour hairstyles are elegantly trending, thanks to style mavens like Janelle Monae. Add a bit of holiday flair by styling your hair in this way.

Accessorize!
For women of color with locs, braids, twist and natural curls, dress up your tresses with cuff charm clips, rings, dreadlock beads, rings and ties. They are available in a variety of colors in metallics and even with rhinestones.

For beads, take care that they are snug to stay on securely but not too tight to damage hair, particularly locs. You can also create beautiful metallic spirals by using 20 gauge wire and coiling them around your locs or braids. Just snip with a metal cutter.

These hair accessories are not just for enhancing long hair; get creative with shorter hair too!

Top Knot & Half down
Keep your locs or braids looking fresh with a half updo. This style with a loose top knot, offers height on the crown part with the rest of the hair flowing down.

Sexy Side Sweep
A side sweep allows for plenty of versatility for braids, locs and other natural hair styles: updo, half up half down, ponytail, straight forward side sweep, chignon and more.

Braided Chignon
Simple and elegant, the braid is wrapped and fastened at the nape of the neck.

Piled On Top
Flat twisting your hair presents so many options with braiding! You can use extensions from tiny braids from the nape of your neck and twist them into fuller, thicker braids to create a crown on top.

A flat twist updo works beautifully for those with an active lifestyle. Another flat twist choice is a quick and simple two strand twist, which can be manipulated in a variety of looks. A French Braid coiled on top is also an attractive style. Pins can help to keep your style in place.

Bouncy Finger Coils
Such a great natural style! Use leave-in conditioner on damp hair and follow with hair butter. Brush or use your fingers to detangle your hair. Twist hair around your finger until it’s tightly spiraled. Softly squeeze excess water out to air dry hair. Let your hair air dry completely (takes awhile) before gently separating curls.

Hairstyle Recipes For Black Hair

Flaxseed And Honey Hair Gel

Get ¼ cup whole flaxseeds, 2 cups of water, 1-2 teaspoons of pure honey, a few drops of your preferred essential oil and ½ teaspoon of vitamin E oil.

Let the water and flaxseeds come to a boil in a pot. Stir for 5-10 minutes until consistency is slightly watery. Strain (you can use panty hose) into a container to separate flaxseeds from the gel. Now mix in the honey and oils into the gel. Keep in the fridge.

Homemade Twisting Cream & Curling Pudding

Get ¼ cup shea butter, 1 tablespoon of castor oil, 1 ¼ cup of hair gel
Use a fork or hand mixer to whip the shea butter with the castor oil. Mix in the gel well. Use to define curls for defined curls and twist-out styles. Yields a large batch.

Nice to know there are so many choices for keeping your natural hair fresh and stylish. Let me know what bold, new style you tried to wow everyone this season. Happy Holidays and
As always …

Dedicated To Your Beauty
Juliette Samuel
Esthetician/Author/Publisher
Nyraju Skin Care