Black Girl with Long Hair,
natural hair info
The New Natural Aesthetic: Shifts and Trends in Natural Hair Styling
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pRoy, www.steelfeatherlaceelephant.com |
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.
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Jenell Stewart, www.kinkycurlycoilyme.com |
2. Not Being Afraid of Hair Dye
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Kala, www.youtube.com/thekglifestyle |
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Donna, www.youtube.com/donedo |
3. More Creativity with Protective Styling
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photo credit: www.mommynoire.com |
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www.youtube.com/thechicnatural |
4. A New Relationship with Frizz
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Bianca Alexa, www.youtube.com/simplybiancaalexa |
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Sumetra Reed, www.youtube.com/supernaturalmetra |
3 comments
I started looking at YT natural videos 2008-2009 and bc'd 2010. For sure all of your points have become more prominent since then. I've definitely seen less of an obsession with length and defintion( I was guilty of this). To me it feels more freeing, you can define natural hair in your own terms.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!!!! Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI love the freedom the new aesthetic offers within the natural hair community. It leaves room for individuality. No more frustration, or pressure to have your natural hair look a prescribed way. I'm a Latina with curly/frizzy hair. I choose to wear it in an Afro style, rather than blow drying it pin straight (not all Hispanic women have hair like J.Lo or Sophia Vergara). The new natural "hair rules" make it that much easier to be who you are. There should be no pressure to make hair grow down your waist, or have curls with perfect definition. It's all about being comfortable in your own skin.
ReplyDelete