Lately, on various social media platforms we have been seeing memes portraying what it’s like when #GrowingUpBlack. One childhood memory that comes flooding back into our minds deals with a scarf and a single pink foam roller for our bangs. Oh yes, growing up any black girl can remember learning how to tie up her hair at night. Why was this a necessary step when getting ready for bedtime? It is because our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, you name it recognized that this simple technique could provide protection against hair damage.
Nevertheless, what about if you wear a particular hairstyle such as braids, is it still necessary to perform the tie up at night? Some may make the argument that braids are a protective style in itself so tying them up is not really a needed step at night. However, is this truly the case?
Yes, braids are a protective hairstyle, but without proper care you can still cause hair damage. Always tie up your braids at night in order to protect them from any friction that occurs as the head rests on pillows and bed sheets. Moreover, never use cotton scarves, aim for one that is made with satin, silk or nylon. Cotton scarves have actually been known to pull on extensions or any hair protruding from your braids. Therefore, keep braids looking their best as well as protect strands by wrapping up your hair regardless of the hairstyle.
We tried hard not to like this look, but can no longer stand it… it is fire! From Tumblr to Instagram we have noticed more and more photos of black guys indulging in the blue hair trend. We are loving all of the different variations including high top cuts and partial color just on the sides.
Blue hair even on women is a VERY bold hair look. Nevertheless, when done right it is one of the most chic wild child hairstyles that anyone could wear. In a world saturated with ombre, blonde and pastels it is quite refreshing to see a solid color getting mad love.
Besides, just blue hair we have even seen some guys completely go all in and try a multi-tinted style. We figured the mermaid hair color trend would only be a girl thing but seeing it on men proves that anyone with the guts can claim the glory. If a man possesses the innate style and personality then the his dyed hair will blend in with his fashions naturally.
Mermaid Hair Color
If your man or best friend is interested in going blue here are a few hair dye tips that you can share with him:
Beat the Heat: Dyed hair and heat styling are not best friends, so such styling should be avoided. Unlike us girls many men will let their blow dryer collect dust and air dry their hair. That would actually be a better option because heat seriously strips hair color.
Prevent the Rinse: After bleaching tell that dude to avoid getting his hair wet like its the plague. Excessive hair washing and water will cause fading to happen even faster. Guys can try using a dry shampoo in-between hair washes to help keep dyes vibrant longer.
Cold Water Rinse: Since we are on the topic of cleansing, whenever blue hair dude does his final rinse it should be with cold water. He doesn’t need to freeze like an Eskimo, but as cold as he can stand. Unlike hot water that will strip color, cool water will close the cuticle, make hair shiny and lock in the color.
Thoughts? Join the discussion on our Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or tweet us @1966magazine.
For thousands of years women have sought to have hair that can be truly deemed as a “crown of glory.” Women have tried natural remedies and have even attempted more unconventional methods in order to lengthen their strands. For instance, in ancient Egypt the fat from hippos, snakes and crocs were applied to the scalp in hopes of encouraging hair growth. Cleopatra is also of said to have recommended an concoction of ground up mice, bear grease and horse teeth.
Now before you go laying mouse traps it should be noted that Cleopatra’s suggestion didn’t work so well and her lover Caesar turned to fashion to hide his receding hairline. You may recall this prominent figure wearing a hair wreath and now you know why.
This just goes to show that hair growth has been an important issue for centuries and women as well as men are willing to try anything to attain length. One method that is used frequently in more modern times is growing out hair by wearing a wig. I personally have used this method and with much success. My hair went from damaged and above my shoulders to healthy as well as to the middle of my back.
My natural hair after I stopped wearing wigs
Growing hair by wearing a wig was successful for me because it allowed my hair to “breathe.” We do some much to our hair via heating tools, rollers, you name it that sometimes it can be beneficial to give your hair a little vacation from all of those contraptions. I have found that by wearing wigs especially if it matches my natural texture, I can reduce the amount of heat used on my hair and encourage it to grow faster. In my experience I have found that the more I just leave my hair alone the more growth I achieve. Therefore, it is no wonder why women have flocked to get braids or sew-ins to grow their hair. Such styles allow locks to grow in a controlled and protected atmosphere.
However, there is one mistake that can completely blow the wig technique that will actually have you losing hair instead of growing it. I know because I made this same error and I would like to help you avoid it. Whatever you do at all cost, DO NOT FORGET to care for your hair underneath your wig.
Now I’m sure you are thinking but Arianne that’s it, that is so simple! Yes, it is but it is something that often goes to the wayside due to the ease and simplicity of wearing a wig. Wearing a wig will have your hair styled and ready to go in minutes or less with you out the door.
For example, for blending reasons I prefer to wear half wigs because I believe it gives you a more natural look since part of your own hair is visible. This also gives you more versatility to change up part position and your hairstyle in general. When I was wearing wigs I would part my hair leaving some out near my crown while pulling the rest back into a bun. I’d then slide on my wig and get on with my day. A process that took five minutes tops even on a bad day.
When I originally grew my hair out I was like a well-trained military general. I was militant about applying leave-in conditioner plus a hair oil every single day. Or I would wet my hair to add moisture then apply my Mane N’ Tail conditioner to keep my strands well-nourished. I would do deep conditioning treatments as well as hot oil treatments and scalp massage. The result? My hair grew several inches in mere months.
The problems came when after I achieved my desired length I became quite laxed in my hair routine. I wasn’t so consistent and eventually my lack of care began to show. I lost literally palmful chunks of my hair and I also experienced my fair share of shedding. My tresses also became dull in appearance with the development of split ends.
Therefore, what is the hair lesson to take away from my hair growth experience? Whether you are wearing extensions or wigs always continue to give proper care to your own natural hair. Moreover, once you achieve your desired length continue to keep up the good hair practices that got you there. As I have learned the hard way, hair journeys are never ending and if you deviate off the right path you can suffer some bad consequences. So then, stay focused because your hair will either reward you or punish you for the way you treat it.
Thoughts? Talk hair by leaving a comment or hit us up on our Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or tweet us @1966magazine.
Zendaya Coleman is one starlet who is never afraid to give a bold hairstyle a try. Moreover, even when there have been those that have attacked her sense of style she put them in place… with grace of course! Therefore, speaking of “grace” if anyone would ever have the guts to channel an iconic look worn by one of fashion’s elite it would have to be by someone confident as well as fearless right?
Well, we definitely have to give it up to Coleman for being such a doll (btw she really is one thanks to Barbie) and paying homage to the legendary Grace Jones with her strands. Zendaya posed for a Mane Addicts photo shoot rocking a High Top Fade that also gave us Kid N’ Play vibes (google kiddies, you’ll get a kick out of those pics when you find them LOL). Nevertheless, all the hair fun did not just stop with Grace Jones, hair stylist Larry Sims showed off his amazing skills using Brooke Shields and Diana Ross as inspiration as well!
Grace Jones High Top Fade From Back In the Day
Larry Sims is one of our favorite hair stylists of all time because he NEVER disappoints. We first became fans seeing his work for Janet Jackson’s All For You tour. Who can forget watching the HBO special and seeing her wavy extensions literally get caught in her sunglasses and she just tugged till they slipped out like it was her own hair. Moreover, she ran her fingers THROUGH like it was her own and nothing was getting hung up anywhere. When it comes to hair that is some serious skills and technique to make tresses look and feel so natural.
Moreover, we love all the various styles that Larry always creates for Lupita Nyong’o. Natural hair can be way healthier than chemically treated hair, but as any woman can attest to, sometimes you just don’t know how to style natural locks. Sims demonstrates time and time again that there is a wide range of styles that can be achieved on natural hair. So then, enjoy the quick look at Zendaya’s stunning hair transformations!
As we know the natural movement is going so strong right now in the black community which is great. It’s nice that we as black woman are embracing our natural textures and seeing that our …
Are you the type of hair-lista that loves to live on the edge? Has your hair seen more changes in color than the Care Bears rainbow? If so, you may just be a future candidate for The Undercut.
The Undercut is exactly what it sounds like when it comes to the look and feel of this black hairstyle. An undercut is where the back sections of your head/hairline is cut or buzzed very short. Some daring ladies even choose to the extend the look to include the sides of their head (think Rihanna).
We came across a few undercut styles on Instagram which reignited our love for the style, yet the one featured up top was our absolute favorite. The diagonal design and the purple hair color just sent us to the moon. Below you will find a little more inspiration that may just convince you to give this a look a try!
Hair Tips: Once you get an undercut done the compliments will roll on in, but the maintenance can be a headache without the right products. Hair never stops growing which means your hair is not going to stay looking perfectly cut. In between reshape hair cuts keep hairs slicked down and in place with gel or mousse. This will also help maintain the look until you can blend the hair together if you are over the undercut and growing out your hair.
Thoughts? Make it rain in the comment box below or hit us up on our Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or tweet us @1966magazine.
This year hair trends dipped back all the way into the decade that was the nineties. Bantu Knots reemerged as a stylish and high fashion hairstyle that was even spotted coming down a Marc Jacobs catwalk. Nevertheless, time seems to be the killer of most hair fads that find their way into the spotlight. For example, what happened to twisties that were worn at the crown or mini ponytails with most hair hanging down straight (google Aaliyah.)
Since cool hair seems to come and go it is quite the feat when one hairstyle seems to stand the test of time. When it comes to Bantu Knots numerous celebrities have worn this modern hairstyle and we would like to briefly pay homage. Here are 8 black celebrities who all prove why Bantu Knots are still the bomb.
Lauryn Hill
Rihanna
Mel B. aka formerly Scary Spice
Halle Berry
Jada Pinkett Smith
Janet Jackson
FKA Twigs
The late Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes
Bonus: When Solange Knowles took over as the Art Director for sneaker brand Puma this was the ad campaign designed for the Wild Wonder Puma Collection. Notice anything?
Thoughts? Talk hair with us on our Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or tweet us @1966magazine.
No, these are not mini-buns as some have began to refer to this hairstyle. What is shown in the various photos within this post is a natural black hairstyle that is known as Bantu Knots. How can you recreate this style and why might you want to wear it?
Let’s start with the latter portion of the above question first. Here is a quick stat that is proving that black women want to show off the true beauty of their locks. Sales for perms and relaxers are drastically declining as more and more women opt for healthier hair options. Chemicals used in those harmful relaxers have led to burns, unhealthy scalps and hair loss that for some have resulted in baldness.
Since more women are jumping on the natural bandwagon this means more natural hairstyles need to come to the fore. Bantu Knots are perfect for fun, causal outings and can even help you achieve a cute curl pattern without using heat by performing a twist out. Less heat can mean less damage for your precious tresses.
You may start off like this…
But end like this…
Or this.
Moreover, when styling this hairstyle you will be adding moisturizer/oils which will help give your hair the much needed hydration it needs. Black hair tends to be dry so it is essential to add moisture to your locks often. Doing so will encourage healthy hair growth and stronger hair.
Therefore, how can one design Bantu Knots? Now, for anyone girl who has ever attempted this hairstyle there is a trick to it. Watch the following video to see in real time how to get the Bantu Knot style easily and simply!
See it is not too bad right? Well, that is why even our little divas can use this style to their cute advantage too! This next video demonstrates how to create Bantu Knots using the double strand twist method. It is shown on a tiny cutie pie but really even us older gals can use this same technique.
That’s all she wrote! Have fun creating those mini-buns, oh we mean Bantu Knots (wink, wink)!
Thoughts? Talk hair with us on our Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr or tweet us @1966magazine.
While all eyes have been on the amazing fashions coming down numerous runways we have still kept our peepers peeled for other trends as well. We took note of the fabulous hair that has been making its way to the front row. Celebrities play just as an important part as the models themselves when it comes to making a runway show successful. The more high profile persons you see camping out on the front row the hotter the designer must be and sought after.
Celebrities have been coming out to play in droves for New York Fashion Week making for a buffet of serious style. Therefore, what hairstyle trend have we seen to be a common denominator amongst the rich and fabulous? Leading ladies and music superstars have been indulging in the bob effect. These cuts are chic, very sassy and scream, “I am woman hear me roar!” Here are a few ladies we spotted:
Loving the Waist-Length French Braids at the Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear Mara Hoffman runway show. This is such an easy look to achieve either with your own tresses or with Marley hair to add extra length. French braids look so classic and chic and better yet it’s a great protective hairstyle. So follow the instructions from these videos and take inspiration from Mara Hoffman’s show so that you too can have the look from the runway.
