How to Style Your Short/Medium Length Natural Hair

For about a year, I chose to wear curly weave. I could not figure out what to do with my hair after my big chop started growing out.  While I enjoyed the look of flat twist outs and two-strand twist outs, re-twisting every night simply was not feasible.  My hair NEVER looked the same way in the morning when I woke up as it did when I fell asleep the night before.   However, I finally mustered up the courage to wear my natural hair for the summer time.

I reserved to embrace the hair growing out of my scalp.  This, though, required that I learn how to style my natural hair from home, and the styles needed to be feasible for a mom of three.  In other words, I needed easy to maintain, easy to create natural hair styles.

One month into my new hair length, here are some of my go-to natural hairstyles.

1. Flat twists.

Attach a bun to the back of flat twists, and you can wear them for about a week. Your friends and family will love it because they could actually see your face without the distraction of big hair.

2. Two-Strand Twists.

Dare to wear other twist styles in public.  You need options for day to day hair, so try two-strand twists styling on natural hair. Instead of twisting late in the evening, blow-drying forever with cool air, sleeping and still waking up to try to untwist wet hair, wear the twists for a day or two so they have time to dry on their own.

3. Twist outs

Here are a few tricks (learned after much trial and error) to make the look last. Section your hair into 4-6 sections and wear 4-6 ponytails (tied down with a silk scarf) at night.  YouTube has a few great tutorials on good nighttime hair routines for short natural hair.  Some of you have tried tying your hair down with a silk scarf without ponytails.  You tried using a silk bonnets with your hair free underneath, and, of course, you tried, the ever popular, pineapple.  These smaller ponytails serve as mini pineapples for stretch and preservation of style.

4. One low ponytail

My daughter loves this style best.  She always asks for low ponytails more than high ponytails.  After scouring Youtube to find protective styles for not quite medium length natural hair, this video stood out.  You can do the look with or without the extra hair.  No matter what you decide, the low ponytail is a go-to every few days to give your hair a mini rest from twisting and styling.

5. Fro it out

This is why my daughter likes her low ponytail.  It stretches the hair.

You do not always have to have perfect ringlets.  Your fro is just as beautiful.

Other styling tips

So you now have a list of styles, but you still may need to know how to actually create these natural hair styles.  I included some links to videos for some of the styles, but here are some other ways to help you enjoy your looks more and more.

• Anything that requires manipulation requires moisture.  Bounce Back* and water create the moisture needed for low ponytails and twists.  You can lock in the moisture with castor oil and XXIVK*.  You can also accomplish these looks after a fresh wash.  (Use my code TLPOEM to get $5 off any order of $25 or more at the Love of People.)

*I received $0 for talking about the the Love of People.  I am sharing my honest opinion one curly girl to another. For my full disclosure, click here.

• For stretched hair looks, re-wetting will cause shrinkage.  All of your manipulation should take place during twisting and forming ponytails.  The right product mix during the moisturizing phase will allow your curls to flourish and shine when you take the styles out to wear your hair down.

• Change up you stretched hair styles by pulling parts of your hair up/pushed back.  Half up, half down looks are options.  Pulling up one side or twisting just the front or sides gives your hair a new look without too much hard work.

Natural hair is a journey and so is learning how to style your natural hair. What are some things that you have learned about how to style your natural hair in your natural hair journey?

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Check out some of other natural hair blogs to learn more about natural hair care and styling.

1. Natural Hair Growth: Tips & Tricks

2. Curly Hair Care – Spring Edition

3. Going Natural 101 – 5 Things No One Ever Told Me

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