Black Hair Updos
From LoveToKnow Hair
Black hair updos can be sleek and sophisticated or easy and fun, but the best updos should do more than just look great: they should treat delicate black hair appropriately to keep it looking fabulous whether it is up or down.
Black Hair Challenges for Updos
African American hair has a coarse, rough texture that can be difficult to style into a sleek updo without extensive use of heat styling tools or heavy hair products, both of which can break and damage hair if used inappropriately. The first step toward a beautiful black hair style is to be certain the hair can be coiffed into updo styles: not all hair can be. If an appropriate style is chosen, however, updos can be elegant and stylish for any occasion, including fun everyday hairdos, prom hair updos, wedding hair styles, or for other special events.
Types of Black Hair Updos
There are several types of updo that look stunning with black hair, including:
- Sculpted Updos: These lovely styles are carefully arranged and often feature extraordinary height and intricacy such as loops, curls, or waves.
- Braids: Thick braids or micro braids can easily be arranged into intricate updos with a delicate and sophisticated appearance. Braids can also help control unwanted frizz and are easy to rearrange for different looks.
- Half Updos: Leaving hair partially down can be dramatic and romantic, particularly if the updo part of the style is elaborate.
- Sedu Updos: Because most black hair is naturally kinky and curly, a sedu hair style is instantly unique and elegant, particularly if tendrils are allowed to frame the face to emphasize the sleek straightness.
- Ponytails: Quick and simple, an updo ponytail can easily be accessorized for a more formal occasion.
- Buns: Sleek and minimalist, a bun can be an elegant style that is easy to arrange. For more variation, buns can be twisted as knots or made from braids as well.
Within these basic types of updos, there are many ways to personalize the style to add individual flair perfect for your best look.
Finding Updo Inspiration
One of the best ways to discover your best updo is to check out pictures of black hair updos to see the wide range of styles available. Pictures and style galleries are often featured in black hair magazines, particularly during wedding and prom season. Celebrities often sport stunning updos on the red carpet, and trend setters such as Beyonce Knowles, Tyra Banks, Ashanti, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, and Angela Bassett regularly showcase gorgeous updos.
Online photo galleries also have a range of black updos on display. Check out these sites for great inspiration:
Ideas for Your Updo
Once you know the type of updo you’d like to try, it’s time to personalize the look to highlight your own individual style. There are many ways to personalize your updo, including:
- Highlights: Hair highlights can be a spectacular way to emphasize a stunning updo, particularly a sculpted look or if the highlights are high contrast to the hair’s base color.
- Accessories: Adding hair accessories to the updo can make it sparkle. Crystal hair pins, tiaras, or combs look fabulous in dark hair, while flowers or colored pins are magnificent in lighter chocolate hues.
- Bangs: Bangs can be left in a soft tendril to the side of the updo or carefully molded across the forehead to add drama and dignity to the style.
Styling Your Updo
Getting the best updo takes more than just an hour or two to create the look. To perfect your black hair updos, you need to be aware of pre-style care and the appropriate ways to treat your hair to keep it looking great.
Pre-Style Care
To ensure that hair can be styled into a luxurious updo, eat a diet for healthy hair and drink plenty of water for several weeks prior to the special event. This will keep hair gorgeous from the inside out and make it easier to arrange in an elaborate style. If chemical hair straightening, hair dye, or hair extensions will be needed, take care of those treatments several days prior to updo styling to give the hair a chance to rest and recover from the harsh treatment. Be sure to condition hair thoroughly so it is well moisturized and supple, and get a quick trim to eliminate any split ends or other obvious damage.
Styling
If your hair is very frizzy and difficult to manage, it may style more easily if it has not been washed thoroughly right before styling. A professional stylist can offer the best results for your updo, though elaborate styles can be expensive. If you would rather not visit a hair salon, be sure to practice with your updo so you can achieve the right look easily.
Use natural hair products for blacks to style your hair with ease, not guilt. Harsher styling products can damage hair and while the updo may look fabulous, after it is taken down damaged hair can be much less enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to use copious amounts of products when necessary to help your hair keep the right look, but take care to protect it simultaneously.
The best black hair updos – whether they’re dramatically sculpted, highlighted styles or easy ponytails with elegant accessories – are styles you can feel comfortable with, confident that your natural beauty is showcased in an outstanding, unforgettable look.
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This page has been accessed 30,301 times. This page was last modified 20:33, 8 November 2008.
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