If you’re looking for inspiration for your next hairstyle, you’ve come to the right place. Afrocentric hairstyles are not only beautiful but also empowering. They celebrate the diversity and uniqueness of African culture and hair types. Whether you’re looking for something edgy, classic, or simply stunning, this list of 40 Afrocentric hairstyles has got you covered.
#1 — Afro Puffs
With Afro puffs, the hair is styled into small, puffed up sections, giving it a playful and carefree vibe. To achieve the perfect Afro puffs, start by defining your curls with a curl-defining product and gently brushing them into individual sections.
#2 — Fro Hawk
The Fro Hawk is a popular afro hairstyle that combines the edginess of a Mohawk with the soft, natural curls and coils of an Afro. To achieve this look, you’ll need to shave or buzz the sides of your head, leaving a strip of hair down the middle. The afro hair can then be styled into a tall and pointy shape, creating the illusion of a mohawk. This style is great for those who want a bold look that’s both stylish and low maintenance.
#3 — Twists
Twists are a classic afro hairstyle that works for just about any hair type. The process involves twisting two strands of hair together to create a rope-like texture. Twists can be styled in a variety of ways, from short and sleek to long and flowing. They’re a great way to give your hair a break from heat styling and a protective style for when you’re looking to grow your hair.
#4 — Braid Out
The braid out is a fun and flirty hairstyle. Getting a ‘braid out’ involves braiding small sections of wet hair and then untangling the braids once they’re dry. To get this look, start by washing your hair and applying a leave-in conditioner. Then, braid each section of hair and secure it with a hair tie. Once your braids have dried, gently untagle them and fluff the roots for a full and voluminous look. The result is defined and bouncy curls that you can wear to special occasions, or just about anywhere. 😉
#5 — TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro)
This hairstyle is for those who are not afraid to embrace their natural hair in its shortest form, usually less than 2 inches. . The TWA is styled with a gentle wave and a defined texture. This style is great for those who want a low-maintenance look, as well as those who are just starting out on their natural hair journey.
#6 — Fade with Afro
The fade with afro is a hairstyle that combines the classic fade cut with an afro. The hair is cut into a fade on the sides and back, while the top is left in its natural curly state. The result is a stylish and modern look that looks perfect for any setting- casual or formal.
#7 — Dreadlocks
A classic and timeless hairstyle. The hair is styled into individual locs, which are then twisted and locked together, resulting in a textured pattern. To achieve this look, start by sectioning your hair into small, manageable sections. Then, twist each section from root to tip, using a twisting product to hold the style in place. Once your locs have set, you can maintain them by retwisting them every 4-6 weeks.
#8 — Curly Fro
The “Curly Fro” is a classic and timeless hairstyle that is perfect for those with naturally curly hair. This style involves cutting the hair into a short afro and letting the curls form into a big and voluminous ‘fro.’
#9 — Braided Updo
With this style, your hair is styled into individual braids, which are then secured and styled into a variety of updo styles, such as a bun or a twist.
#10 — Cornrows
Cornrows are a traditional African-American hairstyle that involves braiding the hair close to the scalp in a straight line. The braids can be styled in various patterns and designs, ranging from simple and sleek to intricate and elaborate. Cornrows are a versatile and practical hairstyle that can be worn for a variety of occasions, from casual to formal. They are also a popular choice for those who want to protect their hair from damage, as the braids help to keep the hair in place and prevent breakage.
To achieve this look, your hair must be cornrowed by a professional braider, who will braid the hair in a specific pattern, using an underhand technique. The braids can be left in for several weeks and should be properly maintained with regular washing and moisturizing.
#11— Afro with Bangs
“Afro with Bangs” is a fun and stylish take on the classic afro hairstyle. This look involves adding a fringe of bangs to the front of an afro, creating a unique and eye-catching style. The bangs can be cut to various lengths and styles, from short and choppy to long and side-swept, allowing you to customize this look to suit your face shape and personal style.
#12 — Twa Taper
The Twa Taper is a stylish variant of the popular Teeny Weeny Afro (TWA) hairstyle. This look involves tapering the hair at the sides and back, creating a sleek and modern silhouette that is both versatile and easy to maintain.
#13 — Twa Twisted Out
The Twa Twist out takes small sections of hair and twists them to create bouncy curls that spread out evenly across the head. The twist out is a great way to show off your natural hair and create a fuller, more voluminous look.
#14 — Twa with Color
A unique and eye-catching way to showcase your natural hair. As the name suggests, it involves adding color to your TWA hairstyle, allowing you experiment with different colors to see what fits.
#15 — Bantu Knots
Bantu Knots are a traditional African hairstyle that have become an iconic symbol of African culture, heritage and cultural identity. This style originated in southern and central Africa, and has been worn by African women for centuries.
Bantu Knots are created by twisting small sections of hair into tight knots, which are then secured with a hair tie or bobby pin. The result is a series of knot-like formations that give the hair a distinctive and textured appearance. This style can be achieved on any type of natural hair, from tightly coiled to loose curls, and can be customized to suit any face shape or personal style.
#16 — Afro with Braided Sides
This style combines the classic afro hairstyle with braided sides for a unique and stylish look. The braided sides provide a fun and modern twist to the classic afro, making it versatile and eye-catching for any occasion.
#17 — Natural Afro
The Natural Afro is a timeless and classic style that celebrates the beauty of natural, kinky hair. It involves letting your hair grow out in its natural state without chemical treatments, heat styling, or manipulation. The hair is styled in a way that shows off its natural texture and volume, creating a lush, full look.
#18 — Tapered Cut
The Tapered Cut is a hairstyle that involves gradually tapering the hair length, starting from the top and gradually reducing the length downwards. This style is ideal if you want to retain some hair at the top while also giving your hair a neat and tidy look.
#19 — Flat Twist Out
A twist out is a popular styling technique for afro textured hair that involves twisting small sections of the hair in a particular direction and then untangling them to create bouncy curls. The Flat Twist Out is a variation of this technique that involves twisting the hair flat against the scalp, creating a sleek and sophisticated look.
#20 — Afro Kinky Curls
The Afro Kinky Curls are a natural and versatile hairstyle that showcases the beauty of kinky hair. This style involves letting the hair grow out in its natural kinky texture, without the use of chemical treatments or heat styling. The curls are typically worn in a big and full Afro shape.
#21 — Passion Twists
Passion twists are a hairstyle that consists of two-stranded twists made using a special technique that creates a spiral effect. The style is often achieved by using hair extensions and is popular among people of African descent. It is a low-maintenance, protective hairstyle that is ideal for those who want a versatile look.
#22 — Big Natural Fro
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The title of this hairstyle is pretty self-explanatory. You only need to grow your natural hair into big, voluminous sizes and then style them as you want – parted, braided, as a bun or whatever you fancy!
#23 — Braided Afro
Afro braids are a type of hairstyle in which small cornrow braids are woven close to the scalp using natural African-textured hair or synthetic hair extensions to create intricate designs and patterns. The braids can vary in size and be styled in different directions, and can be accessorized with beads, shells, or rings to create unique looks.
#24 — Afro Puff With Pompadour
Afro puff with pompadour is a hairstyle that combines two popular black hair styles. An “afro puff” is a type of natural hair style in which the hair is styled into a puff or ball shape at the crown of the head, often achieved by gathering the hair at the top and securing it with a hair tie. The “pompadour” refers to a hairstyle characterized by a raised front section that is combed upward and back over the head. When combined, the result is an afro puff with a raised, voluminous section in the front, resembling a traditional pompadour style.
#25 — Curly Mohawk
The Curly Mohawk is a hairstyle that combines the punk rock edge of a Mohawk with the texture and volume of curly hair. This style involves shaving the sides of the head and leaving a strip of curly hair down the center. The length and height of the center strip can vary, and the curls can be styled to create an edgy and dynamic look.
#26 — Kinky Twists
Kinky twists are a type of hair twist style that involves using kinky textured hair extensions to create a twisted style. The twists are usually achieved by twisting the extension hair around the natural hair, creating a coily pattern. This style is popular among African-American women and is often used to add length, volume, and texture to natural hair.
#27— Box Braids
Box braids involves dividing the hair into small square-shaped sections, or “boxes,” before braiding each section. These braids are usually created using synthetic or human hair extensions and can be styled in a variety of ways, including sleek and straight, or voluminous and curly. This hairstyle is popular among African Americans.
#28 — Short Natural Curls
The hair is styled into tight curls that are less than 3 inches in length. This hairstyle is achieved through the use of various methods such as twist-outs, bantu knots, or curling rods.
#29— Natural Afro with Shaved Sides
Usually natural afro with the sides of the head shaved or trimmed short.
#30— Braided Mohawk
A hairstyle where the hair is braided into thick cornrows that run down the center of the head, while the sides are also braided or shaved.
#31— Coarse Afro
This is a style where the natural afro is left unaltered, with its coarseness being embraced.
#32— Natural Afro with Side Part
Here, the afro hair is parted to one side and is usually very voluminous.
#33— Fade with Braided Afro
The sides are shaved/faded here, with braids running down the centre or side of the head.
#34— Afro Puff with Twist Out
An Afro Puff with Twist Out is a hairstyle where the hair is styled into an afro puff and twists. The afro puff is created by pulling the hair up and securing it with a hair tie or clip at the crown of the head. The rest of the hair is then styled into small or medium-sized twists.
#35— Bantu Knot Out
A hairstyle where the hair is styled into small sections and twisted into knots, called Bantu knots. The knots are then secured with a hair tie or bobby pins and left to set overnight or for several hours. After the knots are untangled, the hair is left with a defined, curly texture.
#36— Afro with Beads
Here, small beads are added to the tips of the afro for a decorative touch. The beads can be made of various materials such as plastic, glass, or metal and come in different colors and shapes. This style is a popular choice among the Fulani tribe of West Africa and and is often seen as a way to express cultural pride.
#37— Cornrow Braids with Afro
A hairstyle where the hair is braided into cornrows and the remaining hair is styled into an Afro. The cornrows are braided close to the scalp and can be styled in various patterns, including straight, zig-zag, or circular. The remaining hair is styled into an Afro puff or left loose for a voluminous look.
#38— Braided Twa with Bantu Knots
When you take two popular african hairstyles (the bantu and twa) and combine them, you get this unique hairstyle. In this scenario, the braided twa (teeny weeny afro) is styled into bantu knots. Usually perfect for people who have or fancy short hair.
#39— Natural Afro with Headband
A headband is used to accessorize and decorate the natural afro.
#40— Short Afro with Twists
With this hairstyle, the afro is styled into twists that are less than 3 inches in length.
That concludes our list! We hope you enjoyed that! If you still feel like experimenting with your hair, we also made a list of futuristic hairstyles you’ll love!
