6 Styles You Can Expect #TeamBlackGirlMagic To Rock This Summer

In a few short months, summer will be upon us, so that means black girls worldwide will be summer time fine! It also means carefree hair to match those carefree spirits! Here are some styles that you can expect our team to be rocking.

Crochet Braids

Crochet braids are one of the latest trends in the natural community. They are a simple style that lasts for weeks to months. The great thing about crochet braids is that you can style the hair in several different ways. You can braid it, twist it, curl it and even flat iron* it!

Senegalese/Marley/Havana Twists

Senegalese twists, Marley twists, and Havana twists are all popular summer styles. If you plan on spending time at the beach or by the pool, these are easier than dealing with your own locs. They are all very similar, but there are slight differences between each.

The hair used for Marley Twists is coarse, as its aim is to be as close to natural hair as possible. It can be found in most local beauty supply stores.

The packs of hair are cheap since you usually have to buy several packs to get the desired thickness. A drawback is that, from my experience, Marley twists can be very heavy. The last thing you want during the summer time is to feel weighed down. However, just like any style, once you wear it for a little while, you start to adjust.

Havana Twists are a lot lighter than Marley Twists though the hair is more expensive. They’re usually thinner in diameter. A drawback is that, since you can only order this hair online via fingercomber.com, it isn’t as easily accessible. You can’t just run to the store and buy this type of hair, or so I’ve read.

Senegalese Twists find their namesake in Senegal. Synthetic kanekalon hair is used for this style, which ultimately make the twists tighter and sleeker. A drawback of this style is that your technique has to be skilled in order for the style to stay since it unravels easily.

Box Braids

Box braids were made popular in the 1993 movie Poetic Justice starring Janet Jackson, and have made a recent comeback. I’ve seen women wear box braids in countless styles: short bobs, buns, french braids–you name it!

It’s common for ladies to wear gold ornaments in their braids for extra flavor. If you want lighter hair but aren’t completely comfortable dying your own, then wearing colorful box braids is always a good choice! As with twists, they are a great style that you can keep in for several weeks to even months.

Faux Locs

Faux locs can be a great style to try before deciding to permanently loc your hair. They are achieved in one of two ways: either with Marley hair or yarn. Yep, that’s right. A good ol’ ball of yarn! You just wrap the hair around individual twists until you get it to its desired length.

Yarn is a lot cheaper than Marley hair and you can find it in just about any color. But, again, Marley hair can be found in most local beauty supply stores.

It’s just up to you to determine which look you want. Locs with Marley hair will look more authentic. Yarn is edgier, yet it easily unravels because of its soft texture. If you want the same look but a softer more manageable feel try goddess faux locs as well!

Bright Color

I don’t know what it is about the summer, but we sure do get bold! You’ll catch black girls wearing bright red, pink, purple and even blue hair! And you know what? It looks GOOD. Something about bright color wakes our souls up and lifts our spirits. That’s why we wear bright dresses, nail colors and lip colors, too. Our outer appearance is just a reflection of the glow that’s happening within us.

If you do decide to color your hair, make sure you check out one of my previous articles about hair dye. It’s important to check your facts and get multiple professional opinions before making any drastic hair decisions.

Wash-N-Go’s

In the winter months, many naturalistas wear the above-mentioned protective styles to prevent the hair from drying out in the cold air. Since it’s no longer cold, it’s time to let our hair down!

The humidity actually works in our favor and gives us voluminous ‘fros that people can’t help but want to touch! You won’t have to wait nearly as long for your style to dry because the sun will shine its glory on it instantly.

What is your favorite summer style? Comment below!