Skip to main content

Spring 2011 Hair Trends for Women of Color

Changing your hairstyle is a great way to transform yourself this spring. According to New York City hair stylist Dana Gibbs of Dana’s Loft Hair, the key word for African-American women’s hair is “reinvention.”

Rihanna/Photo credit: Getty Images

"Try something you’ve never done before or were afraid to,” says Gibbs.

Using celebrities and hair icons as inspiration, here are Dana’s top style picks for the season:

Color Me Bad

Keri Hilson/album art

This spring, pump up your style with a touch of vibrant color.  Go rude girl red like Rihanna or try platinum locks like Beyonce or Keri Hilson.

Product Picks: 

Short and Sweet

Halle Berry/Photo credit Hairstyles.com

Halle Berry’s signature hairstyle is the most enviable short and sassy cut ever. Her pixie is an inspiration to women of color who want no-fuss, get up and go hair.  With the right cut and a little bit of pomade, this look can be versatile and will keep you cool in the hot summer sun.

Product Picks:

A Real Head Banger


Serena Williams/Photo credit: InStyle
Heavy bangs are a hot trend for women with medium to long hair. What makes this look contemporary is that the part starts further back in the crown of the head to give it a 60’s Mod feel.  This fashionable style is great worn in a neat bob or a rocker chick bed head look.

Tennis champ Serena Williams opts for chin-length tresses with bangs. But if you can’t commit to chopping your locks or don’t have the natural length to trim, try a human hair wig or bang clip-ins.  We won’t tell and with the right extensions, no one will know the difference.

Product Picks:

Love Me, Love Me Knot


Alicia Keys/Image credit: SheKnows CelebSalon
Instead of a basic pony, women of color with longer hair might opt for a sexy topknot to keep hair swept off the neck on steamy summer nights. Alicia Keys favors a polished version during award season, but you can opt for a messier version when you replicate the style at home with a boar bristle brush.

Product Pick:

Naturally Curly


Tanika Ray/Image credit: SheKnows CelebSalon
Curly styles are a carefree option for women of color with natural, un-chemically processed hair. This look is low maintenance, holds up well in heat and humidity, and volume can be added with human hair extensions.  “American Idol” Jordin Sparks and entertainment reporter Tanika Ray rock their curly styles with funky flair.  The key to this fun look is to make sure that your hair is cut into a great shape, and adding color adds the wow factor. 

Product pick:

Right Down the Middle


Zoe Saldana/Photo credit: IMDb

The middle part has made a comeback!  The key to the center part -- which was popular in the 70’s and then again in the 90’s -- is to make sure you have the proper length fringe, which is chin length or longer. Any length that is shorter will make your face look rounder and fuller than desired.  Zoe Saldana wears her center part with panache.

Product picks:


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

It's the end of an era. Conway discount stores are closing . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to New York City, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and white checkered pants with a matching lime green

Memorial Day Weekend 2023 Cultural Highlight: DanceAfrica Festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Throughout Brooklyn

In her essay, " African Dance is Medicine for the Mind, Body and Spirit ," dancer, teacher and choreographer Cherie Hill wrote, "The more I perform African dance, the more I discover and enjoy euphoria. When the drums are beating and the body is dancing everything fits in sync and I feel limitless and powerful."   Photo by Nate Palmer                                                                                                                         Hill is honored with a portrait by Cecilia Lamptey-Botchway that's on display   at the  BAM Howard Gilman Opera House  during the annual  DanceAfrica Festival .  The festival celebrates Black joy and resilience and the regal power of African dance.  I mark my calendar each year for the  DanceAfrica Bazaar, where I often run into old friends and see familiar faces. In a Brooklyn that has quickly become gentrified, I love to see us walking tall, beaming with pride and to quote Bey, "shining, shining, shining, y

Soak Up the Last Weeks of Summer Sun At The Rockaway Hotel

Summer is winding down, but there's still time to soak up the sun -- while wearing sunscreen, chic shades and a protective hat or sun visor, of course. If you're in New York City, The Pool at The Rockaway Hotel + Spa  is a cool place to swim, lounge and discreetly people watch while swaying to beat of ambient music.  It's a vibe! Day passes are available for non-hotel guests Monday through Thursday (excluding private events, 10 am -7 pm).  Located in the heart of the Rockaway Beach community in Queens, New York, the Rockaway Hotel is just a few short blocks from the sand and surf. Besides the outdoor pool,  the  newly built 84,000 square foot hotel offers around 60 guest rooms, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a large event space. And it's a nice addition to the area.  When my husband and I visited the popular pool, we enjoyed yummy sips and bites poolside. Lounging chairs are first come, first serve so the early bird gets the spot of their choice. After chilling at t