Let’s be honest, after a while of wearing hair extensions and your weave repeatedly, your hair needs a break and what better time to do just that than in the summer when the sun is hot, and you definitely don’t want your hair in your face.
You might think that you don’t have many options when it comes to short natural hairstyles for black women but the reality is very different. Make yourself a cup of tea (or grab yourself a glass of wine) and get ready to be amazed.
31 Best Short Natural Hairstyles for Black Women
We all know that growing out your own hair is a long and tiresome process, and it’s easy to get super excited about it right at the beginning, only to realize it sucks later on when your hair isn’t growing as fast as you’d like it to, and your hair won’t style quite the way you had intended either. These designs give you the opportunity to be playful and experimental.
1. Natural Curls + Caramel Highlights
If you’re going through the motions of growing out your natural hair, why not add a vibrant splash of color? These natural curls have been cleverly livened up with some caramel highlights along the top and ends, adding a brand new dimension.
Instagram / styledbyshamila
It’s punk and pretty all at the same time, and at least you won’t need to worry about styling those long braids every day.
2. Natural Mohawk Haircut
If you’re going short, why not go brave and super short? This natural mohawk haircut is a brave one, but for no muss and no fuss, you can’t really beat it.
Instagram / brittj_mua
The best thing about a look like this is you can literally get up and go – comb the top, make sure you keep your hair well hydrated and moisturized, and you’re pretty much good to go.
3. Short Natural Hairstyle with Shaved Sides
If you’re going back to basics and leaving your natural hair to bounce free for a while, make sure you don’t over-wash it. The main point of going au naturel is to do your hair a favor, you’re not going to be doing that by washing it every day.
Instagram / coconutdreamer
Try to wash it only every two to 3 days, encouraging the natural oils to work their magic on your scalp and follicles. Your hair will thank you for it – we’re all washing our hair too much!
4. Short Natural Tapered Cut
Dependent on how short you go, you won’t need heated styling tools to get the look you want but if you are tempted to grab the hair straighteners, don’t.
Instagram / abigail.martina
If your hair is already dry and damaged, or brittle from years of heavy hair extension use, using these heated tools won’t help your hair, it’ll just hurt it. Give your hair a break – that’s the point here.
5. TWA Hairstyle (Teeny Weeny Afro)
If you don’t want hair that’s going to get int he way this summer, the TWA or teeny weeny afro is definitely one of the coolest looks!
Instagram / corkandbeans
Hair that’s this short takes the most minimal of styling and maintenance, giving you plenty of free time to perfect those eyebrows and the rest of your makeup routine.
6. Super Short, Blonde Haircut
Amber Rose is a fan of this look – super short and sassy blonde too! We love it, it’s fierce, feisty and fabulous.
Instagram / alissa.ashley
You will need to have a good chat with your hairstylist before making a bold color change, especially if it’s an all-over color. Remember that you don’t have a lot of hair to play around with, so the color you choose will need to work well with your own skin tone.
7. Cute Natural Style
When your hair is washed, play around with styling ideas and techniques. Your hair is much easily played with when it’s in its wet stages, and you’ll find your locks will easily move, twist, braid and curl into a number of different styles.
Instagram / sheilandinda
Black women often don’t realize quite how many ways there are to style their natural hair, and playing around with curls and twists while it’s wet will give you a wide range of variations when it’s dry. Perhaps it’s time to get experimental.
8. Fade Mohawk
It’s only a subtle change – an undercut with a bigger faded mohawk on the top, but the undercut has been graduated and shaved into a design to give it a little something new and exciting.
Instagram / misskendrak
You might think this is quite a scary look but the shaved areas of your hair won’t actually take that long to grow back. You’ll also need to remember that maintenance will need to be kept up to date with. Regular trims if you want to keep the look for a while, for example.
9. Long Pixie Haircut
Rihanna had a look like this for a while, alternating between wearing it naturally curly just like you can see here, and also wearing it poker straight, looking more like the ‘pixie’ cut you’re usually used to seeing.
Instagram / splendidbeauty
We love the way these tight curls have been left natural – you too could achieve a look like this if you leave the weave alone for a while. Perhaps it’s time for you to starting thinking about these short and natural hairstyles for yourself?
10. Short Natural Hairstyle with Color
If your hair is damaged, plus it’s been colored and dried out too, make sure you’re using the right combination of oils to keep it in good health. Before you wash your hair, add an oil treatment and leave for around half an hour before washing.
Instagram / salonpk
Once it’s washed, towel-dry, ignore the blowdryer, add some leave-in conditioner and style to wait for it to dry.
