Best Hairstyles for Black Women in 2012: Find your Hair Style from Weaves to Braids to Cornrows

We are women and we want to look good and stand out. One of the surest ways of doing this is by having an exceptional hairstyle.

Your hair style says a lot about your courage, wisdom and history.

The hairstyle of the average African American black woman is neither fully traditional nor modern but somewhere in the centre. We have a varying display of all sorts of hair extensions, but there are those of us who prefer to make statements with our crown of glory and not just our beautiful well toned bodies.

If you have not done so, read the hub on vintage hairstyles for timeless inspiration from the pictures there.

Doing your hair up in corn rows and braids has the advantage of giving you a distinctive and free spirit look. It immediately labels you as a creative person not afraid to be stand out. If you go as far as having a permanent look then you are on your way to creating a brand.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, The Nigerian author of the book Purple Hibiscus, has a trademark hair style.

She has her hair done up in twisted shoulder length braids with a few beads on either side of her face.

The look is demure, African, all woman and projects strength and confidence.

Or who can forget the sight of the exuberant black tennis player with her golden braids barely restrained.

Who can forget Serena Williams in her early days. Her hair style as well as her tennis prowess set her far apart from the crowd.

It announced her as an independent woman and a survivor. No one was surprised at her staying power or her later creative ventures.

Although the braids hairstyle remains neat for a longer period, it has no real advantage over the weaves and cornrows.

The most important factor if you decide to make cornrows or the so called Ghana weaving your 2011 style, is to find an artist who doubles as a hair dresser. this is because the beauty lies in the intricate nature of the rows

The poster child for the weave hairstyle remains the black singer-artist Alicia Keys.

Her weaves appear with the precision of architectural designs coupled with the delicacy of lace work.

You can work in as many rows and crossovers as you like into the patterns.

The more the weave meanders the more playful a hairstyle it becomes.

The cornrows of the hairstyle can be made tightly, straight to the point and businesslike, similar to the second picture of Alicia Keys to the right and below.

This hair weave(second picture) is easier to make especially if your hair stylist is not very artistic, further more it remains neat for a long time.

This hairstyle or any of its numerous variations or the loose braids is the style of choice if you are employed in the formal job sector.

Not many employees are happy to see you come in with cascading curls and weaves in flowing in all directions.But personally I love the more playful styles.

You can take a cue from the first picture and make it soft and demure looking.

This is perfect for an evening out or other social event. However it begins to look rough in less than 2 weeks and must be redone.

Try and leave at least 7 inches of braided hair after the weave ends so you can put it up, tie it into a pony tail or just leave it to cascade down your back as your mood dictates.

Your hairstyle will reflect and define your mood.

Another way to jazz it up and make your own statement is to use a certain colour of extensions every time

Take a second look at Ms Keys, her hair style pronounces her as a woman who is artistic yet well grounded in reality, strong yet subtle and eclectic in nature.

What better image can you have as an artist. Irrespective of the vocals that stream out between her lips, her look is a unique performance.

There is a variation of the cornrows called Ghana weaving which is increasingly popular in West Africa.

The beginning of the weave is small and tight, but it becomes larger as it progresses down the head.

The beauty of the ghana weave is as a result of the artfull way the hair extensions are incorporated.

It can be woven into as many imaginative hair styles as the regular cornrows.

So what do you think.

You need a definitive hair style that makes a statement of who and what you are.

So decide on one, cornrows, braids weaving and let your imagination fly.

Make any comments or ask me questions below so I can know how you feel.

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