Collage: Briana Rengifo; Source images: Courtesy of subjects; GettySave this storySave this story
You did it! You stuck with a rigorous hair-care routine, got regular trims, and didn't let the age-old myth that you can't grow long natural hair stop you. But now that you’ve reached your goal, you’re not sure how to style your curls. When your strands start to graze your shoulders, it's easy to become lazy about styling. After all, wearing it down is such a flex.
The beauty of long natural hair lies in its versatility. Having inches, as they say, allows you to experiment with a variety of hairstyles, usually without having to add any extensions. Loose braids, soft blowouts, flexi rod sets, and mini twists are all styles you can easily fashion your long strands into. Most of them require little to no heat, so you don’t have to worry about damaging the hair you worked so hard to grow.
But what exactly is considered long hair? It depends on the person, says Bea Carmichael, global educator for styling at Aveda. A person’s “typical length, style, and growth timeline all play a role in how the word is defined.” It’s also hard to determine the true length of curly hair unless it's in a stretched state. For this story, we’re defining “long” as at least shoulder length when stretched.
To maintain your length, you have to continue to get regular trims. Sounds counterintuitive, but Carmichael emphasizes that trimming helps “prevent split ends from traveling up the strand, helping you keep your length.”
As for styling, you’ll need a strong arsenal of products to help twist, braid, slick, and brush your hair into different styles, but experts say less is more when it comes to what you put on your hair. “A misconception is that heavy products equal [better] hydration. However, long natural hair thrives on balance,” says Carmichael, who recommends cleansing and detangling with hydrating products, moisturizing with lightweight leave-ins and lightweight oils, and always using a protectant when heat styling.
We’ve scoured the internet and studied stars like Tracee Ellis Ross and Yara Shahidi to compile a list of cute, stylish, and easy natural hairstyles every long-haired maven should try.
Hairstyles for Long Natural Hair
Half-up twists
Courtesy of @ashleymasseCurly low ponytail
Getty ImagesHalf-up space buns
Courtesy of @4CchroniclesSky-high puff
Courtesy of @ashleymasseFace-framing baby braids
Courtesy of @cachebisasorHigh puff with a hair wrap
Courtesy of @itsdaelleBraided ponytail
Getty ImagesMini twists
Courtesy of @curlcodeblackFluffy blowout
Courtesy of @marielamada
Courtesy of @rachealakuaMini braids
Courtesy of @tiana.myJumbo twists
Courtesy of @curlcodeblackFlexi rod set
Courtesy of @goldynapsBraided updo with tendrils
Courtesy of @curlsidoadore_Sporty headband
Courtesy of @naturalblackgirliee_Side part ‘fro
Courtesy of @naturalhairbestie
