pRoy, www.steelfeatherlaceelephant.com

As seen on Black Girl with Long Hair!

When I first began my transition to natural hair, I was concerned about two things: thickness and length. All of the articles I read re-enforced the same things -- gentle hair handling, proper moisturizing, pH balancing, and endless bouts of protective styling to gain and retain covetous length. Ladies would debate (and some still do) if coloring your hair made you any less natural, and a perfectly defined twist-out was everything. Now that we're in the tail end of 2014 and on the precipice of 2015 (wasn't it just May like two weeks ago?), a new natural aesthetic has taken over. Of course there will always be loyalists who won't roll with the changing tide, but many of our favorite naturalistas and hair crushes have jumped in hair first and embraced change. Let's take a look at 4 areas that are shifting and defining the aesthetics of natural hair:

1. Shaped & Tapered Cuts instead of Endless Length
Hair length has been a point of obsession for Black women long before natural hair even came about. Somehow, our beauty and social value became linked to the length of what grew out of our scalps. Many naturalistas are taking a "been there, done that" approach to long hair, and getting second big chops, tapered cuts, or frequent trims to maintain a certain length and shape. This shift in style takes the focus away from hair growth challenges, length check videos, and the pressure to hit certain growth benchmarks along the natural hair journey. Short cuts are about self-expression, convenience, and of course, style. 

Jenell Stewart, www.kinkycurlycoilyme.com

2. Not Being Afraid of Hair Dye

Kala, www.youtube.com/thekglifestyle

Somewhere in the mystic handbook of everything natural, there is a clause that states one can no longer be considered natural if she uses anything other than henna, juices, berries, and plants to dye her hair. Fortunately for us, that clause is outdated. I think I can safely say that we've arrived at a place where the full spectrum of what defines natural hair does not dis-include ladies that like color. Even with that acceptance, there are still plenty of ladies are still on the fence about hair dye, and the concerns are valid. Especially those pertaining to potential damage from color. But with all the knowledge and information circulating the web about how to care for colored hair, why not take the plunge and switch it up a little bit? Naturalistas everywhere (myself included) are stepping outside of their comfort zones and embracing new colors -- from honey blonde highlights to purple ombre (and everything in between).

Donna, www.youtube.com/donedo

3. More Creativity with Protective Styling

photo credit: www.mommynoire.com

Protective styling used to be a loathsome chore, full of unflattering tucked twists and braids. Even on their best day, most protective styles were still nothing more than glorified buns, or a straight wig that looked nothing like your natural tresses. Thanks to the ever-present creativity and ingenuity of naturalistas everywhere, protective styling has become more inventive and glamorous than ever. Companies like Heat Free Hair, Big Chop Hair, and even Indique are offering wigs and weaves that can look just like your own natural hair. Faux locs took off after the box braid and marley twist trend, allowing transitioners and naturals alike to experiment with the look sans commitment. And I don't think I even need to mention what crochet braids have done for folks in terms of protective styling.

www.youtube.com/thechicnatural

4. A New Relationship with Frizz

Bianca Alexa, www.youtube.com/simplybiancaalexa

It used to be all about achieving perfect curl definition for wash and go's, or getting that uber defined braid-out. Combatting frizz used to be a major part of the conversation in caring for and styling natural hair. A few fro' picks and upside-down diffusings later, the right amount of frizz is everything! Using lighter styling products and a little more fluff action to get that "day 3 look" on day 1 is the new goal. Perfectly defined hair has its place too, but the shift in embracing frizz (whether on purpose or because of the weather) is fly.

Sumetra Reed, www.youtube.com/supernaturalmetra