For most naturals, there are days when you don't feel up to styling your hair because some of these hairstyles take so much effort to achieve and the frustration is usually real when your hairstyles don't turn out how you want. We all have those lazy mornings when we want to look cute but with minimal effort.
To help you get that mix of cute and low effort looks, we want to share 5 easy hairstyles you can achieve on your own. We didn't come up with these hairstyles, these are tutorials by your fave natural hair youtubers.
1. Half up, half down
This tutorial by Coffeenomilk will show you how to achieve the half-up, half-down style.
What you need
- Afro comb
- Toothbrush
- Hard brush
- Elastic hair tie
- Coconut oil
- Edge control gel
- Styling gel
Step 1: Section your hair
- You should start with completely dry hair to ensure maximum length for this look.
- Section your hair into 6-8 parts and put it into twists. You should use snag-free hair ties at the roots to get a blow out effect and eliminate frizz.
Step 2: Takedown some twists and moisturize
- Takedown the twists at the front section, apply coconut oil to your hair and edges.
- Pick through the front section of hair with the Afro comb for some volume.
- Use the hard brush to smoothen up any flyaway hair.
Your hair should look like this.
Step 3: Put your hair into a bun
- Apply some edge control to the hard brush and smooth it onto your edges.
- Gather up your hair into a bun with a snag-free hair tie.
Step 4: Lay your edges
- Apply your favorite gel and smooth down your edges with a toothbrush.
Step 5: Take down the twists at the back and comb
- Take one twist at a time and smooth down with the Afro comb. Ensure that you comb it down so your hair stays down and not up.
- When you are done with each twist, go ahead, and rock your style.
2. Sleek low puff
This tutorial by Maureen Onchiri will show you how to achieve the sleek low puff style.
What you need
- Water
- Hair tie
- Castor oil
- Gel
- Wide-tooth comb
- Denman brush
- Edge control
- Bobby pins
- Toothbrush
- Scarf
Step 1: Section your hair
- Part your hair into three sections, two at the back and one in the front. Working in sections will make it easier to get your hair flat and sleek.
Step 2: Finger detangle and moisturize
- Start with one of the sections at the back Spritz with water and finger detangle thoroughly. If you are using an old twist out for this look, you can finger detangle at the roots only to retain the definition at the ends.
- Apply castor oil to lock in moisture.
- Then apply a gel to smooth down the section and tie-up with a hair tie.
- Repeat the same process to the second section of the hair at the back. Then tie up both sections with a hair tie.
Step 3: Create your part in the front section
- Create your part either a side or middle part. Spray the area you would be parting with water, especially if your hair is dry.
- After you are done tie up the larger section and work on the smaller section.
Step 4: Finger detangle and moisture each section
- Spritz water over the smaller section and finger detangle thoroughly.
- Apply castor oil to lock in moisture and smooth down with gel.
- Comb with a wide-tooth comb to hide the parts of an old twist out. Tie it up with the hair at the back.
- Repeat the same process for the larger section but work in much smaller parts to ensure it's sleek as possible. Use a Denman brush to smoothen down each part.
- Then tie up each part with the rest of your hair into a low puff.
- Bobby pin any flyaway hair.
Step 5: Lay your edges
- Apply edge control to the perimeter of your head and lay down your edges with a toothbrush.
- Tie-down your edges with a scarf for about 15 minutes.
- Take off the scarf and your look is ready.
If your hair is too short to be gathered into a low puff, you can achieve this style using clip-ins.
3. Curly Pineapple Updo
With this tutorial by Shanice Alisha, you will see how to achieve the curly pineapple updo.
What you need
- Spray bottle of water
- Fine tooth comb
- Wide-tooth comb
- Brush
- Leave-in
- Styling gel
- Elastic hair tie
- Setting lotion
- Scarf
- Hooded dryer
- Perm rods
- Shea butter
- Afro pick
Step 1: Thoroughly detangle
- For this step your hair can be washed or in an old style.
- Spritz hair with water and saturate it completely.
- With a fine-tooth comb, separate the front section of hair which you would be using for the bangs, then twist and put it into a Bantu knot.
- Divide the rest of your hair into 4 sections, finger detangle first and then detangle with a wide-tooth comb. You can apply your favorite leave-in while you detangle.
Step 2: Do the pineapple updo
- Apply your favorite styling gel to the outer perimeter of where your puff would be and brush it all up with a firm brush.
- Take out your hair tie and firmly place it around where your puff would be. Hold it in the front and push it up in the back. Check the sides to see that there are no flyaway hairs.
- If you are satisfied with the look, secure your puff.
Step 3: Install perm rods
- Apply leave-in to the smaller section of hair you Bantu knotted, thoroughly finger detangle, and also detangle with a comb.
- Part into 3 sections and apply setting lotion to each one.
- To install the perm rods to each section of hair, twist it at the roots, place the perm rod right underneath the hair putting the hair as close to the edge of the perm rod, and firmly securing it around the rod.
- Twist it as you get to the end so you don't have any flyaway ends. Roll it towards the roots and then clamp it nearest to the root. Sounds a mouthful right? But it is quite easy, just do it slowly.
- Repeat for the other 2 sections. Do the same process for your puff too.
- Cover up with a scarf and allow to dry overnight or use a hooded dryer.
Step 4: Take down the perm rods
- Unclamp the perm rods, unravel, and swirl your curls.
- Massage Shea butter onto your fingertips and separate the curls.
- Fluff your pineapple updo with an Afro pick to get more volume.
- Your look is ready.
- You can always skip the perm rods process by installing curly clip-ins.
4. Flat twist halo
Learn how to achieve the flat twist halo style with this tutorial by One Smart Fro.
What you need
- Spray bottle of water
- Gel
- Hairbrush
- Elastic band
- Bobby pin
- Edge control
- Satin scarf
Step 1: Refresh your hair
- Part your hair into 2 sections, making sure it is a diagonal parting. Spritz each section with water and finger detangle.
- Apply gel to your hair and around the perimeter and brush.
Step 2: Make the first Flat twist
- To flat twist, take a piece of hair in front, split into two, pick up hair under and twist as you go. Knowing how to flat twist is essential to making this style.
- When you are done flat twisting, tie down the ends of the twist with an elastic band.
Step 3: Make the second flat twist
- For the second section, start the twist from a deep part then work your way around your head.
- After you are done, tie down the ends of the twist with an elastic band.
- Finally, take out the elastic bands, and tuck in the ends at the back of your head with a bobby pin.
Step 4: Lay your edges
- Use your favorite edge control and lay your edges. This step is optional.
- Tie-down your hair with a satin scarf for about 10-15 minutes to achieve a nice and flat look.
5. Braided Pony
Candice Jones will show in this video how you can achieve the braided pony style.
What you need
- Spray bottle of water
- Leave-in
- Styling gel
- Denman brush
- Edge control
- Hair tie
Step 1: Moisturize your hair in sections
- Spritz water over your hair.
- Divide your hair into sections, apply your favorite leave-in to one section, and brush from root to end with a Denman brush.
- Part your hair into 2 sections, apply a gel to one section, and brush again.
Step 2: Make the first braid
- Before you start braiding, apply some edge control to the roots and back of your hair to get it smooth and sleek.
- Knowing how to braid is key to achieving this hairstyle. Braid slowly and use a Denman brush whenever you run into tangles.
- When you are done with the first section. Repeat step 1 for the second section and braid.
Step 3: Make your pony
- To create your pony, loosen the ends of your braids, get an elastic hair tie and tie your hair with it. Make a loose but secure ponytail.
- You can fluff your ponytail with your hands and use a brush too.
Step 4: Lay your edges
- Finally, lay your edges however you want with your favorite gel.
- Viola, your look is ready.
