Naturalista | Zikoko!

There comes a time in every naturalista’s life when trying to figure out a cute protective style suddenly becomes rocket science, or you simply don’t have the time to. The afro comes in handy, but you don’t have to stick to one afro style.

Switch up your ‘fro with these hairstyles.

Afro with side plaits

Image: Sunika.co.za

You don’t need to have expert plaiting skills to achieve this look. Add two or three simple flat twists, secured with bobby pins, to one or both sides of your head, and you’re good to go.

Twist out afro

Image: Natural Hair Mag

This look can be achieved by styling your damp, moisturised hair in large twists (preferably the night before), allowing it to dry completely before untwisting, and using your fingers to comb them out slightly.

Side part afro

Image: Glory Okings

Whether your ‘fro is short or long, this style will look good, and it’s easy to make too. Just comb your hair out and part the side you prefer.

Full afro

Image: All things hair

TBH, rocking a full afro involves serious skills. You’ll have to make sure your ‘fro stays full, round and doesn’t bow to humidity. But once you hack it, you’re sure of a bold, beautiful look every time.

RELATED: 8 Natural Hairstyles That Won’t Stress Your Life

Low afro

Image: Marsai Martin on Instagram

If you have fuller hair, you can also try a low afro. Just be sure to use enough conditioner and bobby pins or other accessories to hold your hair halfway down.

High ponytail afro

Image: All things savvy

For better hold, use a shoelace or satin hair tie to keep your ‘fro in place. The idea is for it to be firm, but not too tight.

Low ponytail afro

Image: Jumia

If your ‘fro isn’t long enough for a high ponytail, you can also go low.

Double afro puffs

Image: Coils and glory

When one ponytail isn’t enough, do double.

Mohawk afro

Image: Byrdie

There’s absolutely nothing boring about a mohawk. Best believe you’ll be turning heads with this look.

RELATED: 12 Hairstyles That Make Transitioning To Natural Hair Easier

Afro with bangs

Image: Latest hairstyles

This style might be tricky, especially for 4C hair, but it can be achieved by styling your hair like you would a twist out, with lots of water and mousse, and positioning it how you want it to look immediately after, so it dries like that. Keeping it that way throughout the day may be tricky, but it can work.

Half-up afro

Image: Hot beauty health

Why choose between a ponytail and a full afro when you can have both?

Afro with cornrows

Image: Hairadviser

If you’re one of those ~~witches~~ insanely talented people who know how to make cornrows on themselves, this style is a stunning alternative to a full ‘fro.

Short afro

Image: Junior Green

Short hair? You can also rock your ‘fro with style. For volume, comb out your natural hair or play with whatever accessories you like. The goal is to be your best fashionable self in whatever hairstyle you choose.

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NEXT READ: 20 Stunning Ghana Weaving Styles to Try Out in 2023

Tife Oni

June 16, 2023

Her

Afro hairstyles, Haircare, natural hair, Naturalista, Nigerian women, protective hairstyles
Every naturalista knows that caring for natural hair is not beans. If you’re not going broke trying to buy the right products to control your mane, you’re figuring out how to style it without using up five working days. It’s a struggle.

These eight easy-to-recreate styling ideas will save you time:

Twist-outs

Image source: Hairstyle hub

Twist-outs are a natural hair staple because it involves relatively low effort. You can easily do a twist-out after wash day (and a full detangle) with little or no products. Get an easy tutorial to follow here.

Low bun

Image source: African American hairstyle videos

A low bun is another perfect simple hairstyle for the stress-hating naturalista. It’s great for both formal and casual occasions, and even if you have short hair, you can always include hair extensions yourself if you want a fuller look.

Here’s a simple tutorial that I found.

Fauxhawk

Image source: Adanna Madueke (YouTube)

If you’re looking for a longer-lasting protective style, then you should try the fauxhawk. It’s a chic look for a fun night out or if you just want to switch up your style for a few weeks.

I found this tutorial, so you don’t have to try explaining this style to a hairdresser who will only end up doing something different.

RELATED: Is It Time to Break Up With Your Nigerian Hairdresser?

Bantu knots

Image source: stylecraze

The beautiful thing about bantu knots is that I’m yet to see anyone that doesn’t look good rocking them. You can do them with your hair or add some extensions if your hair isn’t long enough to make the knots.

This tutorial will show you how to style your bantu knots.

Double puffs

Image source: rayann410 (YouTube)

Tired of simple bun styles but still need to leave home in ten minutes? Then you should try double puffs. As promised, this won’t stress your life, and you can experiment as much as you want. Win-win.

You can also use this tutorial for reference.

RELATED: Ten Things You’ll Relate to if You’re a Naturalista

Finger coils

Image source: Chizi Duru (YouTube)

Finger coils are easy to style, but be warned — this is one of the more tedious ones on this list, depending on your hair’s fullness. You’ll probably want to try finger coils during the weekend or when you have more free time.

I found a finger coils tutorial that’s quite straightforward.

Classic afro with top bun

Image source: Thrive Naija

The afro always works, and if you want to do something different with it, just add a top bun.

All you have to do for this style is section off the top part of your hair, moisturise and style it in a tight bun, then finger-comb the rest of your hair into an afro. This quick style works for casual and semi-formal occasions. Here’s a simple tutorial for reference.

High Puff

Image source: healthyafrohair

You can never go wrong with a simple high puff. For a little razzle-dazzle, style it with a cute head wrap, and you’re good to go.

If you have short hair, you’ll find this tutorial helpful.

ALSO READ: What Your Favourite Type of Braids Says About You

Tife Oni

August 2, 2022

Her

diy, hair, hairstyles, natural hair, Naturalista
There are hair struggles, and then there are natural hair struggles. And make no mistake the both struggles are in entirely different categories. As a matter of fact natural hair put the “struggles” in hair struggles.

If you’re a naturalista then you most likely have learnt to live with the paint points on this list.

1. The stress of wash days.

Not to brag but you will loose significant calories on your way to finishing your natural day wash day routine. A natural hair wash day is like an entire marathon pressed into one day but without the spectators to cheer you on. Natural hair will stress you.

2. Expensive products

And then there is the expensive hole natural hair products cost will drill in your pocket. You can DIY it but you will most likely end up with raw egg with a side of banana flakes in your hair.

3. Disappointing length checks

Length checks are one of the highlights of being a naturalista. They are like the checkmate against constant round the clock shrinkage. Some sort of coping mechanism to remind yourself that even though your hair looks stunted, it is still growing. But half the time they are disappointing. You go in thinking if you tug your 1 year and 2 months old hair long enough it will stretch past your lips at least but all it goes past is your nose.

4. Headaches from high puffs

High puffs on natural hair always looks effortlessly fabulous. But make no mistake, your skull will feel all the effort you put into it and it will translate that effort into a headache. And maybe even routine migraines.

5. DIY styling stress.

And it doesn’t help that the Youtube tutorials always find a way to make it seem like the styling will be simple. Two minutes into the routine and they would have listed 3 items you don’t even have in your kit. Natural hair will definitely stress you.

6. Hair dressers who know nothing about handling natural hair.

This is probably the most annoying. Hairdressers know nothing about handling natural hair and they are sometimes not even interested in learning. All they want to do is tug your head left right and be done with you so they can move on to he next customer.

7. Painful combing.

Don’t do it sis. Just don’t.

8. Shrinkage.

The hair is long but it’s always shy. People see you and give you pity stares because how can your 2 year old hair be looking like secondary school low cut? They don’t know what is really going on and your hair is too humble to tell them.

Did we list all the struggles? Which do you find to be the most annoying? Tell us in the comments.

What’s up, Zikoko Fam? It would mean the world to us if you spared a few minutes to fill this Reader Survey. It’s so we can bring you the content you really want!

Blessing Onyelobi

April 30, 2020

Inside Life

natural hair, natural hair journey, Naturalista
Being an unofficial ambassador for African hair can be quite appealing, especially when you wow people with your kinky afro and cute hairstyles.

But everything has a downside to it, and the struggle and pain associated with maintaining natural hair is something you wish you didn’t have to deal with.

Here are 10 struggles you’ll relate with if you’re a naturalista:

1) The pain of combing:

Haircare day is always torture for because you know you can’t just pat your hair and be going like you’ve been doing for a couple of weeks.

So you wield that brush like a battle-ax and prepare yourself to cry while combing, which will leave your scalp feeling raw because of how coarse your hair is. And to make matters worse, your hair cuts too!

2) People think you’re broke because you decided to have natural hair:

If only they knew how expensive it is to maintain your natural hair. You had a few hair products when your hair was relaxed, but now you have a truckload and you keep buying more.

3) People advise you to stop looking like a madwoman:

The general agreement is that you look unkempt when you wear your hair naturally, so they never stop asking when you’re gonna have your hair done.

4) Annoying people who touch your hair without an invitation:

Who is this person that thinks you’re a puppy that loves being stroked by everybody without your consent?

5) Your hair shrinks like mad:

You were deluded enough to think you’ll have an afro as big as Erykah Badu’s…

…alas, that’s not the case because hair shrinkage is a real struggle for you.

6) Your hair always looks dry no matter the amount of moisture you apply:

Even if you pour a barrel of oil and moisturizer on your hair, it refuses to shine. Let’s not forget how yucky it feels when the oil starts dripping onto your face.

7) You’ve been tempted to start relaxing your hair again.

Because you’re just tired of the whole naturalista thing sef.

8) You’re very picky about the kind of hair salons you go to.

You used to pop into any salon before your naturalista days, but now you can’t because the hairstylists in most of the salons don’t know how to give your natural hair the TLC it needs.

You end up going back home with ruined edges and a sore head if you choose the wrong hairstylist.

9) Trying to figure out your hair type.

You didn’t even know this was a thing until you went natural, and now it’s all so confusing. Err, you’re not sure if your hair is a type 4a, 4b or 4c, you just know its natural.

10) Thinking of the best protective hairstyle that suits your face is stressful.

There are so many natural hairstyles out there you don’t know which one to choose. You eventually end up packing it in a bun and maybe tie a scarf to make it look cute.

Gabriella Opara

December 16, 2019

General, Inside Life, Oldies

Hairdressers, hairstyles, natural hair, Naturalista
The African hair industry rakes in about 1.1 billion dollars annually in sales of only hair lotions and shampoos but most women still find it difficult to locate the best products for their hair.
If you have been having struggles with locating high- grade natural hair stylists and products on the go, this recently launched app for Naturalistas is here for you.

Yas!
Developed by the trio of Esther Olatunji, Priscilla Hazel and Cassandra Sarfo from Nigeria and Ghana, Tress was launched at the 2016 Social Media Week held in Lagos.

The three software entrepreneurs met while studying at the prestigious Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology, Ghana which has successfully incubated other startups such as meQasa and Kudobuzz which have collectively raised over $600,000 since 2015.
Tress is designed in such a way that the users conveniently find useful information on how to style their hair, products required for various hair textures, where to locate hair stylists within and around Ghana and Nigeria while building an online community of African hair-loving women.

Users who are familiar with Instagram will relate to Tress because the images appear with likes while information of results were designed with a slight touch of Pinterest’s detailing.
Efforts to make booking of hair appointments in salons via Tress are currently in the works.

The app is available for download on Google Play Store and is set to lauch on iOS platform soon. You can keep up with Tress on Twitter for quick DIY tips and giveaways here.

Maryam

March 16, 2016

Gist

African hair, haair, hair app, natural hair, Naturalista