Do you have natural curls? Show us @BritandCo!
Do you have natural curls? Show us @BritandCo!
(Photo via David Bennett/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Do you have natural curls? Show us @BritandCo!
Do you have natural curls? Show us @BritandCo!
(Photo via David Bennett/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Black women's hairstyles are some of the most diverse I've seen — we're known for wearing our natural hair one week only to show up to work with braids the next. As one of my former hairstylists told me as a pre-teen, "You have to keep them guessing!" And while it's always fun to switch it up, it also a great way to experiment and find a summer look that feels effortless. With that in mind, here are six Black hairstyles that I think we'll see a lot of this year, regardless of hair texture. Here's to finding your own next look, ladies!
Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Braided hairstyles are by far one of the go-to styles for summer. They help keep hair protected from the heat and other elements that may cause dryness or frizz while creating a cute style that lasts anywhere from 4-6 weeks.
While knotless braids have become a lot more popular, more people are opting to wear 'Goddess' knotless braids which includes an unfinished look or an addition of wavy or curly human hair extensions in between the braids. It's the perfect style for a summer vacation that includes a ton of beach or water park days.
Image via Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Admit it — you've lowkey always envied Edna's luscious bob in The Incredibles. It makes sense because she is a succinct fashion designer that knows how to create looks. Even if your inspiration isn't Edna, chin-length bobs scream sophistication and can make any casual outfit look like a 90s off-duty model look.
Image via Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Women can't get enough of classic updos, and I don't blame them. I have very fond memories of seeing older Black women wear them to special events so I have a soft spot for them.
If you're trying to figure out what what kind of updo you want to wear, take a cue from Keke Palmer! Her sleek updo manages to look soft as well as voluminous and it also frames her face.
Image via Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Short haircuts are here to stay, especially when we know it's going to be hot during summer! Since I've cut my hair on three separate occasions, I know a few tricks that make sure my hair was razor sharp and shiny every time I stepped out. One of them is making sure I used a moisturizing shampoo and conditionerduring each wash day. This help me set the tone for styling.
Next, I recommend using a heat protectant spray that won't dry your hair out if you plan to use a blow dryer and curling iron. If you plan to let your hair air dry, you could also mold and set your hair using a good foaming mousse!
No matter how you choose to wear your pixie haircut, it's sure to look glorious when you properly prep your hair.
Image via Rob Kim/Getty Images
It wouldn't be right if I didn't refer to this look the way the TikTok and Instagram girlies do. Known as one of the most popular Black women's hairstyles, this is actually referred to as a 'bussdown' middle part — and it looks fabulous on Ciara. Truthfully, anyone can wear this style because it's universal (love it) and isn't specific to one group of women. I mean, even Law Roach has been know to wear a good bussdown middle part, and we love him even more for it!
Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Not everyone will reach for braids, short hairstyles, or extensions though. Some women will be rocking their natural curls, allowing them to be on full display this summer. If you plan to be one of them, make sure you try Beyonce's Cécredline to give your curls the volume and shine they deserve!
Black women's hairstyles should be fun and look carefree during summer even if the process of achieving certain looks takes a while!
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Lead image via Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
It's almost time to return to Cousins! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 is coming this summer, and Prime Video just gave us a first official look at Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad. The new episodes will open at the end of Belly's freshman year of college, and in addition to seeing the evolution of our favorite characters, author and co-showrunner Jenny Han says "there are going to be surprises" in the final season. Eek!
Erika Doss/Prime Video
"There are the things that [fans] know and then there are things they think they know, and then there's going to be, hopefully, things that surprise them," Jenny Han tells Entertainment Weekly. Listen, I am a very proud member of Team Conrad, and seeing how cozy Belly and Jeremiah are in these pics (not to mention the set leak that's definitely not in the third book), I'm starting to wonder if Prime Video is teasing I should switch teams.
But no matter which team you're on, Lola Tung promises the season won't let you down.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
"The one thing I've always admired about Jenny is that every season and every decision about what's coming next is purely to serve the story," Lola says. "She's never going to do anything that doesn't make sense for the story. It's all about this beautiful world she's created and giving the fans something really, really special and giving us something really special to work with."
And that includes some sweet moments which Jeremiah and Belly, who "are, at their core, best friends," Lola adds. "That relationship is something that's so special and so unique to them, so it's exciting to see this season and how their relationship blossoms."
Erika Doss/Prime Video
But don't worry Conrad fans, we also get a look at the elder Fisher brother who "we know that he went to Stanford, and so he's continuing on his journey to become a doctor, as you can see from that white coat," Jenny says. "I think people won't be surprised to see that."
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Jenny Han also teases this image is actually a flashback, "so do with that what you will." BRB, I'm off dreaming of a beach vacation. I also can't help but point out the warm color grade of this season! The golden look makes everything feel warmer and more magical — and offers a youthful glow as Belly gets older.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
But for those of us who care more about Steven and Taylor (Sean Kaufman and Rain Spencer) than the main love triangle, we got this single crumb from the new images. And I'm more than happy about it, thank you very much.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Belly (Lola Tung) gets cozy on campus in a hoodie and sunglasses.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
And Belly and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) get cozy with each other at a party.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
But they work as hard as they play! I have this exact outfit Belly's wearing, and you best believe I'm adding it into my fashion rotation.
Erika Doss/Prime Video
Great news! The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 will have 11 episodes instead of 7 or 8 like seasons 1 and 2 did. Stay tuned for the official release schedule.
Prime Video
The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 cast features all your favorites:
Meet The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Cast before the new episodes air on Prime Video this July!
The holiday season offers plenty of opportunities to get dolled up to celebrate. We apply the most dramatic makeup looks and change up our coifs (with sparkling accessories to boot) for all the special occasions on our social agendas. While some might consider this time of year to be blowout season, centering around straighter, smoother styles, there are also plenty of ways to highlight textured tresses. To get into the spirit of the season, a few of our favorite celebrity stylists shared their go-to holiday hair ideas, with a variety of curl patterns in mind.
1. Serious Sparkle: This crystal-encrusted look that Vernon Francois crafted for Amandla Stenberg is sure to steal the spotlight without much effort. “This is an amazing way to upgrade your ponytail by using accessories on the front part of your head,” he says. To nail the look for yourself, slick your strands back into a high pony with a little bit of gel and tease out the texture of your tail. “Remember to give lots of volume to the ponytail, this makes for a better statement,” he says. Finish the look with lots of crystal-covered bobby pins, like the Kitsch X Justine Marjan Classic Rhinestone Bobby Pins ($49) or the Sincerely Jules by Scünci Crystal And Pearl Bobby Pins ($8). (Photo via Amanda Edwards/WireImage/Getty)
2. All Tied Up: Scarves are synonymous with the season, but they can also serve as an exceptional accessory for your hair, according to New York-based stylist and Ouidad Curl expert Jessica O’Brien. To achieve a style like this one that Crystal Starr wore, start with damp hair and slather on a layer of Ouidad Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream ($26) and add the Moisturizing Styling Gel ($26) on top. Diffuse hair until it’s dry and add sheen with Ouidad’s Shine Glaze Serum ($20). Next, slick the sides with the curl cream, section out the bang, and brush the rest of the hair into a loose ponytail using a WetBrush Shine Enhancer brush ($12). “A quick way to get smooth hair after it’s [been] styled is to run hot water over a boar bristle brush,” she notes. “The wet brush helps to smooth the hair back nicely.” Loosely wrap a hair tie or elastic around the hair once and finish by adding a headband or silk scarf — like the AEO Blush Velvet Headband ($13) — that matches your ensemble. (Photo via Allen Berezovsky/WireImage/Getty Images)
3. Haute Half Up, Half Down: This versatile ‘90s look has proven its range from casual cool to formal and fabulous, depending on the outfit you pair it with. For Janet Mock’s turn on the red carpet, stylist Andrew Fitzsimmons prepped her curls by applying TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier ($19) before drying them with a diffuser. After sectioning the hair from ear to ear, he smoothed the top half into a small ponytail, adding a little ORS Olive Oil Edge Control Gel ($5) to tame any flyaways. With a spritz of hairspray, he finger-combed the rest of her curls to boost body. But the pièce de résistance came courtesy of a Chloe + Isabel Bun Cuff ($48) used to cover the ponytail’s hair tie. “[It] gives this look a little extra festive touch,” he says. (Photo via Andrew Fitzsimmons)
4. Basket-Weaved Bobby Pins: According to Creme of Nature stylist Kara Williams, the lead-up to the holidays is the best time to go red. In fact, that’s how she started this look with a bit of the brand’s Moisture Rich Hair Color with Shea Butter ($6) in Vivid Red. While you can work with your own natural texture, you can also change up your curl pattern by applying the Heat Protector Smooth & Shine Blow Out Creme ($7) before blow-drying it straight. After drying, curl your tresses with a wand and break them up a bit with the Coconut Milk Essential 7 Treatment Oil ($6). Next, use the Coconut Milk Edge Tamer ($7) to smooth the right side of the hair, securing it in place with gold accent pins. Finally, apply the edge tamer over what’s already been slicked down, creating an eye-catching basket weave effect secured with more gold pins. (Photo via Creme of Nature)
5. Split Decision: If you prefer something a tad more low key, this look that Jessica Williams recently wore can “add a little holiday spirit or ‘living the best life’ flair” throughout the year, according to celeb stylist Tym Wallace, whose work has been seen on the likes of Taraji P. Henson, Tiffany Haddish, and Mary J. Blige. After washing and conditioning, he suggests starting by making a deep side part and then applying Creme of Nature’s Pure Honey Moisturizing Whip Twisting Cream ($8) to damp hair and using the Texturizing Curl Setting Lotion ($8) as you two-strand twist the hair. Once dry, release the twists with your fingers and use a pick to define the parted hair, combing along each side of the part to create stacked coils or fluff them out further for added volume. Finish the look with a touch of the Pure Honey Moisture Infusion Edge Control ($5) for added hold. (Photo via Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
6. Simple Yet Sophisticated: Stylist Eloise Cheung, who counts Awkwafina, Victoria Justice, and Chavi St. Hill as her clients, offers an elegant updo idea that looks similar to Zazie Beetz’s that you can achieve when you’re in a time crunch. Begin by prepping damp curls with a dollop of John Masters Organics Volumizing Foam ($28) and diffusing with the T3 Micro Cura Luxe Dryer ($285) and Soft Curl Diffuser ($30). Once fully dry, pull the hair into a loose ponytail just below the crown and begin to twist into a bun, leaving the ends out. Next, secure the bun with French hairpins and arrange the curls to your liking, pulling a few shorter pieces out to frame the face. To lock everything in place, finish with a blast of R+Co’s Outer Space Hair Spray ($17). “It will make your look last until the end of the holiday party,” Cheung says. (Photo via Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images)
7. Gold Standard: Ifyou have braids, twists, or another protective style to keep your ends intact, a bit of gold can add extra glamour to your holiday party look. Need proof? Check out how Francois added some light-reflecting accents to pair with Lupita Nyong’o’s gown. “I knew we wanted to use gold string [but] in what capacity that was not clear until we started binding it around a handful of the Senegalese twists,” he shares. “This is also a great look if you’re at the end of wearing this hairstyle [because it’s] such a [gorgeous] way to take it to the next level before you take them out.” Gather a few braids or twists into one-inch sections throughout the hair before wrapping Magic Collection’s Gold Braid String ($1) around each section, crisscrossing down the length (closely or more spaced out, you choose), and triple knotting at the ends to tie it off securely. (Photo via Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
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1923 season 2 premieres on Paramount+ February 23, and Michelle Randolph (who plays Elizabeth Dutton in the cast) is "so excited" for you to watch the new episodes — and she's been keeping up with all your fan theories!
"There are some crazy ones. I feel like the biggest fan theory thing is the family tree," she tells Brit + Co exclusively. "I've seen many different family trees and so it's like, 'OK, which one's accurate?' I actually drew my own at one point."
By the end of season 2, Michelle Randolph says "we might be able to fill in some blanks" in the Dutton family tree, which is a very hot topic for internet users! "I had to make my own [family tree] because all of the ones I saw on the internet were like — every single one was different. I was like 'I'm confused.'"
The Dutton family is made up of incredible cast members like Brandon Sklenar, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren, and Michelle reveals that the cast are just as close as their characters.
"There's a giant group chat called Giddy Up, which started during cowboy camp of season one," she says. "A cute little name, and I think I mean we all were on location in Montana and all in the same hotel, and we would get dinners after [filming], so I think even though our characters are very different and in different story lines like we all really did bond, which was really helpful to have each other throughout the chaos of of shooting a show."
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
And if you're a tried and true Taylor Sheridan fan, you've probably picked up on the fact that Michelle isn't just in 1923 — she also has a starring role as Ainsley Norris in Landman! But would Elizabeth and Ainsley get along if they met in an alternate universe?
"That would be a fun thing to witness. I think they would," she says. "They're very different, but the similarities between them is they're both young women who are finding their place in this world and I think that they both actually look at the world through very bright eyes and have a lot of hope, which is an interesting correlation between the two of them. I think Elizabeth has gone through so much more than Ainsley obviously, so there might be a difference there, but I think they would get along."
Check out the 8 Compelling Historical Fiction Books For 1923 Lovers and read our interview with Julia Schlaepfer where she teases the Spencer and Alex's future.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. And this post has been updated.
Leaders in the matcha industry are predicting a matcha shortage this spring. Sparked by a huge surge in demand, it’s possible that your go-to drink could be affected.
Nataliya Vaitkevich / PEXELS
Per The Japan Times, increased demand for matcha powder put an “unprecedented strain” on the tea industry last year, and the same effect is predicted to take place in 2025.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan saw a 185% increase in matcha production from 2010 to 2023 in order to keep up with demand from cafes and home baristas around the world, The Japan Timesreports.
Cup of Couple / PEXELS
Seeing that over half of Japan’s matcha is exported internationally, matcha lovers are looking toward the country for their green tea fix. Search interest for matcha has nearly quadrupled over the past 5 years, and it shows no sign of slowing down.
Olena Bohovyk / PEXELS
This year, mostly organic matcha strains will be affected by the shortage, though lower-grade varieties could face the same issues if consumers begin reaching for them in favor of organic offerings. While top-tier, organic strains like ceremonial-grade matcha are known for being sweeter and smoother, the lower-grade kinds like culinary-grade matcha are noticeably more bitter and don't have the same vibrant color.
Charlotte May / PEXELS
Matcha can only be harvested in the springtime, so though a shortage may be happening now, there’s hope for increased supply in the near future. This year’s harvest will start in April.
Polina Tankilevitch / PEXELS
Even though production will ramp up, Jason Eng of Kametani Tea in Japan, a company that produces matcha for beverage companies around the world, says: “This year will be an interesting one. We haven’t hit a point yet where we’re going to run out, but it’s going to be really tight this autumn – not just for us but for everybody. The demand is off the charts.”
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