A few weeks ago, I attempted a new hairstyle: crochet goddess locks and curls. It came out pretty good for my first time doing something like this myself. You can find a picture at the bottom of this list. During the six hours I spent washing, blow drying, braiding, crocheting and retwisting locks, the memories hit me hard: sitting between my mom's legs smelling like conditioner and grease, holding the bobby pins, beads or scrunchies she would need for whatever style she planned on doing. This was the inspiration for this week's piece: 5 hairstyles every black girl has had in their life at least once.
Micros, Box Braids, & Twists
First, let's sit back and appreciate Gabrielle Union's beauty. Moment of silence, please. Thank you.
I have yet to meet a black girl who has never had one, or both, of these styles. Sitting in a chair for six hours teaches you patience if nothing else does. These braids are just a gateway to multiple different styles and look amazing on women and girls of all ages.
Flat Twist
These could never last more than a week for me. All the jam they used made it way too itchy for it to look nice after a week full of scratching with my fingers, bobby pins and rat tail combs.They looked nice for pictures, though.
Ponytails
Slay, Ci. Slay.
Rap-arounds and clip-ons are how I lived during the end of my middle school years and beginning of my high school years. Let's not forget about using JAM and adding a little bit of water to the brush so your hair and edges lay straight. Who else remembers the skin in front of your edges being brushed? The pain was real, especially when there was a bobby pin pushing a little too hard into the middle of your scalp. This style is perfect for laid-back get-togethers and fancy dinners and parties. Forever a classic.
Cornrows
Iconic.
Going to the side. Straight to the back. Leading up to a ponytail or bun. Special designs. Curled at the ends. Beads tied at the ends. The possibilities are endless. One of the proudest moments of my life, as of yet, was learning how to braid. Now I understand the hand cramping my mom went through. Cornrows will forever be a classic hairstyle and go-to.
Sew-ins
Just classic after classic after classic. I have to admit, the first time I got a sew-in, I felt grown af. It was something completely new to me and I loved every piece of it. The amount of colors, hair types, and lengths I could choose from amazed me. From bone straight to beach waves, I've almost had it all, and I'm still not bored.
Some girls decide after one install, sew-ins aren't their thing, and that's okay. Sew-in or no sew-in, black girls' hair is absolutely incredible. We have no bounds in what we could do with it. I may threaten to shave it all off when it doesn't do what I tell it to, but I love my hair and all that it can do.
Now, I know for sure I'm missing some styles, but I just threw out some of my personal favorites and go-to's. And, as I promised, a picture of my newest 'do.