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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
Goddess Knotless Braids
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
Short and Sweet Bob
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
Classic Updo
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
Cute Pixie Haircut
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
Middle Part Sew-In
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
Curls Out
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
Last year, some of us celebrated the holidays apart from our families for the first time. COVID has brought with it many changes, some of them arguably positive (like increased flexibility to work from home), some difficult (such as the realization of vastly different political and social views between family and friends), and some horrible (obviously, the health implications of a global pandemic). However, for some of us, celebrating the holidays without family members isn't exclusively due to COVID. In addition to so many of us living in different areas than our families of origin, some of us simply don't have close bonds with the people we grew up around. Sometimes, this can cause loneliness.
If you're not close with your family members, the holidays can be a difficult time. This is doubly true if you don't have a close circle of friends to call upon. But make no mistake, if this sounds like your situation, you're not alone — there are thousands of other people going through the same struggles you are. We sat down with Irad Eichler, founder of Circles, a website that connects people who are sharing similar struggles, like heartbreak, grief, or loneliness. Here are some of Eichler's tips for coping — and even thriving! — during the holiday season when you're not planning on spending it with your family, for one reason or another.
Don't Fall For "Perfect Families" On Social Media
The first VERY important step to having a joyous holiday season when you're going it alone is to stop believing the narrative that others' family situations are perfect, Eichler says.
"Remember people only post a moment in time, and only the moments when they look their happiest and best."
In addition to the fact that everything you see on social media is curated for the 'gram, it's also important to remember that by focusing on what others have and you lack, you risk failing to see the great things at play in your own life.
"These holiday periods can become a time of focusing on who and what we don't have, rather than who or what we do, and can cause a negative spiral into depressing and dreadful feelings of inadequacy," says Eichler.
Gratitude is the reason for the season, after all. So instead of only seeing the negative, try some gratitude journal prompts to help you focus on what's actually really wonderful about your life right now.
Make An Effort To Deepen New Connections
While it may seem like everyone has friends and family to spend time with during the holiday season, that doesn't mean no one is available for deepening a blossoming relationship or new friendship.
"Make a list of people you can or would like to connect with, and try to reach out to at least one of them," advises Eichler.
Reaching out doesn't have to mean a big plan or an hour-long conversation. Even a quick text letting a friendly coworker know you're thinking about them can go a long way toward deepening the relationship and moving it in the direction of closer friendship.
Don't have an acquaintance in mind? Then it's time to make new acquaintances. What's more in line with the Christmas spirit than attending a Meetup or event full of people eager to make new friends?
"Join groups with similar interests to yours, such as hiking, baking, or games. Push your boundaries and be brave - you might find new people who have much in common with you."
Give Back
The holiday season is a great time to focus on giving back to your community, and coincidentally, acts of generosity and kindness are known to reduce loneliness and help people feel happier. One study found that knowing a few of your neighbors and doing small acts of kindness for them — such as cheering them up, listening to them, mowing their lawn, providing advice about local business recommendations and job opportunities, and chatting over the fence — was statistically correlated with feeling less lonely and having a lower risk of depression.
Helping out elderly neighbors can be a particularly gratifying way to give back.
"Notice older lonely people in your neighborhood or community who might have no family at all, and offer to help them," says Eichler. "These can become mutually meaningful connections, and help you 'adopt' a grandparent."
Connect With Others Online
Finally, use the Internet for its highest and best purpose: to connect people. Whether you're using Meetup to find in-person events, digital forums for having conversations about special interests, or programs like Circle for getting support from others in your situation, the opportunities to create new connections are practically endless.
"There are many interest groups that can be found digitally, where or any person can connect with others in the same life stage, going through the same challenges, or who would like to explore the same interests," Eichler states. "Meaningful connections can be formed easily in these circumstances. The Internet enables us to find and connect to people all over the world who fit this, and to whom we can become more easily attached, as we are able to find people with the exact interests that energize us."
If you're struggling with loneliness, you're not alone. Connect with our digital community of makers and creatives here at Brit+Co by following us on IG and signing up for our newsletter!
This post has been updated.
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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Zach Bryan and Brianna "Chickenfry" LaPaglia's explosive breakup is everywhere right now. From his seemingly one-sided social media posts to all the bombshell revelations she keeps dropping, it's clear this split is NOT amicable. Both parties are dropping tons of lore, info, and everything in between — including new music?! — right now, so it makes sense if you can't keep up. Luckily, I'm here to help break this breakup down for you! Here's everything you need to know about Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry's relationship...or lack thereof.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
October 22, 2024 – Zach Bryan Announces His Breakup With Brianna Chickenfry
On October 22, 2024, after some recent speculation that Zach Bryan and Brianna Chickenfry split up, Zach took to his Instagram stories. The country star said, "Addressing something: Brianna and me have broken up with [each other] and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I'll always thank her."
He continued, noting, "I have had an incredibly hard year personally and struggled through some pretty severe things. I thought it would be beneficial for both of us to go our different ways. I am not perfect and never will be. Please respect Brianna's privacy and space in this and if you have it in your heart, mine too."
To wrap it all up, he closed by apologizing to his fans. He said, "With everything I am and to anyone I let down, I am sorry. I try my best in everything. I failed people that love me and mostly myself."
Brianna hopped on her own Instagram stories shortly there after. She posted, "Hey guys I'm feeling really blindsided right now. Gonna hop off social media for a while and attempt to heal privately, when I'm ready I'll be back and ready to talk. I love you guys so much thank you for all of your kind words. Remember you are so loved and everything's always gonna be okay 🫶"
The Brianna got on Youtube next, posting a raw, emotional video about the situation. Sitting on the floor of her bathroom, she opened up as much as she could in the moment about her breakup. She said, "I just woke up to Zach posting on his Instagram that we broke up and I had no idea that post was going up. He didn't text me, he didn't call me. I just woke up to a bunch of texts, like, 'Are you okay?'"
Brianna, with her teary eyes and red face, explained she's been crying for "five days straight." She said, "I'm at the point where it's like, how can you give someone everything and love them so unconditionally, like through stuff that you shouldn't because you just love them and you want them... like you see the good in them?"
The internet personality said that this is all "so embarrassing" and "really, really heartbreaking." She elaborated that the couple broke up on October 21, but wanted to process on her own and "didn't want it to be public."
Much like her Instagram story, she told her audience that she'll come back when she's ready.
November 7, 2024 — Brianna Claims Zach's Emotionally Abusive, Wanted $12Mil NDA
Well, it appears this week, Brianna decided she's ready. On Barstool Sports' BFF's Pod November 7, 2024, Brianna gave an inside look at the breakup unlike any other. Not only did she claim Zach was abusive, but she also alleged that he offered her a $12 million NDA to "not talk about the relationship."
After saying it's been the hardest year of her life, she said. "I'm still scared right now because I'm scared of him. My brain's rewired and I'm scared to make him mad and last week, I didn't want to talk about it 'cause I was scared."
Brianna then described the alleged emotional abuse. She noted that everything was cyclical and that he would build her up only to break her back down again. "There was always another excuse as to why he was treating me so poorly and why I'm crying myself to sleep every night, why he's screaming at me," she said. "And then you wake up, it's the apology, it's the 'I'm going to be better like I need you in my life,' but if you've been through this — I don't expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven't been through it. I hope you never have to go through it but if you've been there you know what I'm talking about."
Not only does Brianna allege she was offered an NDA, but she said that other women that came before her had to sign their own agreements. She declined the offer because she didn't want to "sign away [her] experiences and what [she] went through to protect someone that hurt [her]." She also wanted to share this experience for other women who've suffered something similar.
And when it comes to the logistics of losing out on the famous lifestyle and alleged $12 million? She said, "It was never about the money — I was with the dude because I loved the dude."
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival
November 8, 2024 — Zach Quit Touring Amid Abuse Allegations
On November 8, 2024, Zach posted on Instagram — where he clearly loves to share all his big news — that not only is his new single "High Road" out today, but that he's also ending his tour early. Read his full statement here:
After not being home for a year and a half I drove out to my mothers gravestone in the dead of night a few days back on familiar Oklahoma roads and I came to realize just like in the past, that she never would call me again
Told her I quit touring because I got accepted to get my masters in Paris next year, I told her I was back in Oklahoma, told her about all my best friends in New York and all the nights we howled with the moon, told her about the immeasurable laughter my band and me have shared these last five years, all the calluses on my finger tips, every tear shed, told her about making it on The Rolling Stone and most importantly told her about porch swinging with my beautiful sister.
I wrote the chorus for this song a month or two back and finished it when I realized I was blessed with all these things.
I figured it was about time I released it.
Thank you guys for listening to ‘This Worlds a Giant’ last night and thank you to all the people who love me; who have truly carried the weight with me.
Seems that all these Quiet Dreams have gotten much too heavy but I’m home now and I’ll hold you through the pain.
High Road is out today and I appreciate all of you"
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