Textured hair—with its beautiful coils, kinks, waves, and curls—is a canvas of endless possibilities. It’s a statement of identity, a celebration of heritage, and a testament to versatility. Yet, the question of how to style it for different moments in life can sometimes feel like a puzzle. Whether you’re heading to the boardroom, a brunch date, the gym, or a black-tie gala, your hair should feel like an extension of your personal style, not a source of stress.
Gone are the days of limited options. The modern approach to textured haircare is all about embracing your natural pattern, experimenting with protective styles, and having fun with accessories. This guide is your ultimate resource, offering 17 contemporary and achievable styles that cater to every facet of your life. Get ready to be inspired, empower your routine, and fall in love with your texture all over again.
1. The Effortless Wash and Go
Let’s start with the holy grail for many: the wash and go. This isn’t about just washing your hair and leaving the house; it’s a technique that enhances your natural curl pattern with minimal manipulation. The key is in the application. Using a leave-in conditioner followed by a defining curl cream or gel on sopping wet hair ensures maximum hydration and clumping. Scrunch your hair gently and allow it to air dry or use a diffuser for more volume. The result is a beautiful, low-fuss look that showcases your hair in its purest form.
2. The Chic Pineapple Puff
Perfect for a quick style or preserving your curls overnight, the pineapple puff is a classic for a reason. It’s not just functional; it’s incredibly stylish. Gather your hair into a very high ponytail on the very top of your head, using a soft, coil-free hair tie. The goal is to let your curls spill over like a pineapple top, creating a playful and voluminous puff. For a sleeker look, you can smooth down your edges with a bit of gel and a soft-bristle brush. This style is perfect for a casual day out or a hot summer day when you want your hair off your neck.
3. Statement-Making Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are a powerful and beautiful protective style with deep cultural roots. They can be worn as the final look or used to create stunning, heatless waves. To create them, section your hair and twist each section tightly before coiling it into a knot against your scalp. When worn as a style, they make a bold geometric statement. When unraveled, they release a head full of beautiful, uniform waves. This versatile style works for a day at the office or a night out, depending on how you accessorize.
4. Sleek and Sophisticated Flat Twists
Think of flat twists as cornrows’ close cousin. They are created by twisting two sections of hair over each other, close to the scalp. They can be styled in intricate patterns across the head or used as a face-framing accent along the hairline. Flat twists are an excellent way to keep your hair managed and protected while still looking incredibly polished. They can be paired with a twist-out for a second-day style or left in for several days as a standalone look.
5. The Versatile Two-Strand Twist Out
The twist-out is a foundational style for many with textured hair. By twisting sections of damp, product-treated hair and allowing them to dry completely before unraveling, you create a head full of defined, bouncy waves and curls. The size of your twists determines the outcome: smaller twists for tighter curls and larger twists for looser waves. A well-executed twist out offers incredible volume and definition that can last for days with proper maintenance at night.
6. Elegant Braided Crown
Channel your inner goddess with a braided crown. This ethereal style involves creating two braids—whether cornrows, French braids, or simple three-strand braids—on either side of your head and pinning them across the crown like a tiara. It’s a romantic and elegant look that is perfect for weddings, formal events, or even just to feel a little extra on a Tuesday. It keeps your hair off your face beautifully while showcasing your skills.
7. The Modern Afro
The Afro is more than a hairstyle; it’s a symbol of pride and power. The modern Afro is all about health and shape. It requires consistent moisturizing and gentle picking to achieve that perfect rounded silhouette. Don’t be afraid to play with shape—some prefer a perfectly round ‘fro, while others love a more organic, free-form shape. This style is a confident, stand-out look that commands attention and celebrates your natural texture in its most glorious form.
8. Half-Up, Half-Down ‘Fro
Why choose between up and down when you can have both? The half-up, half-down style is a fantastic way to manage volume while still showing off your length and texture. Simply gather the top half of your hair into a puff or a small bun, leaving the rest down. You can use a colorful scarf or a statement clip to secure it. This look is playful, flirty, and effortlessly cool, making it suitable for everything from a coffee date to a concert.
9. Protective Goddess Box Braids
Box braids are a timeless protective style that allows for endless creativity. From shoulder-length to waist-long, from solid colors to ombre and pops of neon, box braids are as individual as you are. They protect your natural hair from manipulation and the elements, giving it a much-needed break while you rock a stunning, low-maintenance look. They can be styled in updos, ponytails, or left flowing freely.
10. Headscarf Glam
Never underestimate the power of a headscarf. A beautifully tied scarf can elevate any hairstyle, bad hair day or not. Whether you’re wrapping your entire head in an intricate turban style or simply tying a bandana around your pineapple puff, it adds an instant touch of sophistication and vintage glamour. It’s also an excellent way to protect your hair from friction while you sleep or from the wind during the day.
11. Defined and Voluminous Shingling
For those who want maximum curl definition and separation, shingling is the technique. Using a lightweight oil or custard, you take small sections of hair and smooth the product down the length of each curl from root to tip, using your fingers. This process, though time-consuming, results in unparalleled definition and a glossy finish. It’s a gorgeous method for showcasing the unique pattern of every single curl on your head.
12. Sleek High Bun with Baby Hairs
The sleek high bun is a timeless updo that looks exceptionally chic on textured hair. After stretching your hair via blow-drying or a previous braid-out, gather it into a high ponytail and twist it into a bun. The magic is in the details: smooth your edges with edge control and get creative with styling your baby hairs. This look is polished, powerful, and perfect for a professional setting or a formal event.
13. Faux Hawk with Twists or Braids
For a truly edgy and fashion-forward look, try a faux hawk. This style involves creating a strip of raised hair down the center of your head, while the sides are kept flat or close to the head. You can achieve this by gathering a series of small puffs, leaving two-strand twists undone, or even with cornrows that feed into the center. It’s a bold and confident style that’s perfect for a night out or a festival.
14. Accessorized Puffs
Elevate a simple puff with statement accessories. A single, large puff at the top or back of your head becomes a work of art when you add a decorative hair pin, a chain, or wrap a beaded necklace around the base. This is a quick way to transform a basic style into something special for an event or a night out. The possibilities are endless, from minimalist gold bars to colorful, tasseled accessories.
15. The TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro)
The TWA is a celebration of big confidence in a short, low-manipulation style. It’s a liberating cut that highlights your facial features and the tight coil pattern of your hair. Styling a TWA is all about playing with shape and texture. You can define your curls with a cream, rock a picked-out ‘fro for maximum volume, or even brush the front into a sharp, forward-facing shape. It’s a bold, modern, and incredibly chic statement.
16. Space Buns
Who says space buns are just for straight hair? They look absolutely adorable on textured hair, adding a fun and playful vibe. Create two high ponytails—either with stretched or shrunken hair—and twist them into buns. The beauty of textured space buns is that they don’t have to be perfect; the frizz and flyaways add to the charm. This is a youthful and energetic style perfect for festivals, parties, or just adding some fun to your weekend.
17. The Classic Cornrow Updo
Cornrows are the foundation for countless elegant updos. Whether you have your hair cornrowed straight back or in a beautiful pattern, you can then gather the ends into a bun, a top knot, or tuck them under to create a stunning silhouette. This style is the epitome of sleek, sophisticated, and long-lasting wear. It’s a go-to for athletes, busy professionals, and anyone who wants a powerful, hands-off style for a week or two.
Embrace Your Texture, Own Your Style
Your textured hair is a powerful tool for self-expression. This list of 17 styles is just the beginning. The most important thing is to listen to your hair—understand what it needs in terms of moisture and protection—and to have fun experimenting. Don’t be afraid to mix and match techniques, play with accessories, and create a style that is uniquely you for any and every occasion. Your hair is your crown; wear it with pride.
