For nearly a decade, women of color have been going natural—saying good-bye to relaxed, chemically-laid hair and embracing their kinky, coily texture. When I went natural in 2009, I loved feeling the tight curls on my head and whipping up different concoctions in the kitchen to make my hair feel soft. (Note: If you’re thinking about using avocado, make sure to use a food processor or mash it really well; I had chunks of avocado in my hair for days!)
Now, as my hair grows along with my career, I’m constantly looking for hairstyles that can get me out of the door in 10 minutes, that look cute for a presentation or casual Friday, and that fit my natural style without using heat. Here are six of my favorites that are perfect for the office. (Tip: You’ll need bobby pins, a banana clip, skinny hair bands, a spray bottle filled with water, gel, and extra virgin olive oil or grapeseed oil.)
1. Five Minute Chic Twists
I got some length-envy when I saw Zarah’s video, but I tried her chic twists with my short hair and the style was just as cute. This style is quick, pretty, and perfect for after-work happy hour.
2. High Bun
A high bun looks super polished—perfect for a presentation—but the truth is, it’s a very basic style. Ambrosia does an awesome job of showing us how to gather and pin up this go-to ’do. (You can also achieve the high bun look with braid extensions, too.)
3. Banana Clip Double Bun
Yes ladies, we’re bring back the banana clip—but don't worry, we'll cover it with our gorgeous locks. Shelli’s hair is long and lovely, but I used a shorter banana clip for the length of my hair and loved the look. It also got me out of the door ahead of rush hour.
4. Twist Out
In this video, Chery demonstrates how to twist and untwist thicker natural hair. This style isn’t as quick as the others, but if you twist at night and unravel your tresses in the morning, it's perfect for a workday look.
5. Flexi-Rod Curls
London-based Peeks shows you how to curl your hair using flexi rods. Again, this process should probably be completed on Sunday night while you’re switching from a Real Housewives reunion to Game of Thrones. But once the style is finished, you can wear it for nearly two weeks by pinning it up or adding cute accessories as Peeks shows us toward the end of the video.
6. Roll, Tuck, and Pin
This is my personal go-to for late night-early morning situations. Helecia does a fantastic job of explaining the nuances of handling coily hair to complete this style.
Want more? There are tons of phenomenal lady blogs dedicated to women like me who want healthy, natural hair minus avocado chunks. Black Girl with Long Hair, Curly Nikki, and Natural Chica are great sources for natural hair styles and hair care tips, and they also serve as mini-communities of women looking for new ways to rock their ’fros. Have fun!