60+ Trendy Black Hairstyles to Wear in 2024

Are you making the most of your hair’s type and texture? Whether you’re curly, coily, kinky, or relaxed, show it off by choosing a style made for you. Check out 60+ black hairstyles for women in our photo guide below.

Looking for Black Hairstyles for Women?

Too often, hairstyle guides don’t depict enough options for black women. With your unique hair texture and type, you need to look at styles that take advantage of your hair’s amazing body and texture without forcing it into submission with hot tools each morning. 

If you’re looking for something new to do with your ‘do, you’re in the right place. We’ve got a huge compilation of the best modern black hairstyles for women in this photo guide. 

From protective hairstyles that keep your strands secure as it grows to casual styles when you want to wear it down and loose, we’ve got you covered. And whether you wear your hair natural or relaxed, with or without extensions, we’ve got some beautiful styles for you to check out. 

60+ Black Hairstyles for Any Occasion

Get ready to do your hair toss and check your nails. You’re gonna look good as hell with any of these styles! 

1. Relaxed With Body and Waves

Relax, girl – you’re going to love the casual yet polished look when you wrap the ends of relaxed hair around a large-barreled curling iron for undone waves like this. 

2. Tapered Ombre Fro with Side Part

Natural hair gets a boost with ombre color and slight tapering that keeps the weight out of the ends. 

3. High Ponytail With Face-Framing Curls

Refresh your ponytail by pulling out a few flattering face-framing pieces. The higher your ponytail, the more volume you’ll achieve! 

4. Balayage Shag With Bangs

This is the curly/coily version of a trendy wolf cut, with short layers that start high up and a full fringe. All you need is some hand-painted balayage color to really set it off! 

5. Long Curls With Side Part

If you prefer wearing your hair long or with extensions, this free-flowing curly style is on point. 

6. High Bun With Face Framing Pieces

Here’s a simple yet elegant style that works for any occasion – casual or dressed-up. Spritz your bun with hairspray to lock it in place and prevent flyaways. 

7. Curly Afro With Curtain Bangs

If you’ve got tight curls that border on coils, we love this middle-parted afro style paired with trendy curtain bangs! 

8. Ombre Frosted Tips

This bold take on the ombre hair color trend is calling your name! Work some curl cream in while your hair is damp for a little more definition. 

9. Defined Lioness Coils

If a lioness had a mane, it would look like this. Exude confidence when you let your coils do their thing with the help of a little curl cream for definition. 

10. Pretty Picked-Out Afro

We love the fresh look of a fully picked-out afro, and there’s no better way to show off your face, shoulders, and decolletage than a short style like this. 

11. Bodacious Curls

Big, bodacious curls with tons of body make it easy to wear your hair down. This look works with natural loose ringlets or relaxed hair styled with a curling iron or rollers. 

12. Side-Swept Layered Coils

Layers help “prop” your hair up to create tons of volume and bounce. With a few shorter pieces cut in around the front, you get the effect of side-swept bangs. 

13. Top-Heavy Pixie Fade

Here’s a great style for round faces because it draws the eye upward, slimming the face. Leave extra length on top with a faded pixie cut to keep the volume focused up top. 

14. The Middle Part

Middle parts are all kinds of trendy right now, and you can rock with the best of them when you split your coils down the middle in a style like this. 

15. Low Bun With a Twist

There’s a fun twist in this style – literally. Take a small section of the front, twist it up, and pin it back into a low bun with the rest of your hair. So pretty! 

16. Kinky Drop Fade

Prefer keeping your hair short? Kinky textures pair perfectly with a structured drop fade like this. 

17. Polished Low Bun With Middle Part

This low bun/middle part combo is a great quick style that gives you an effortlessly polished look. 

18. Half Microbraids

Tiny microbraids are done on the top half of the hair, where it’s then pulled into a high puff ponytail. 

19. Pineapple-d Pony

Pineapple-ing refers to pulling curly or coily hair into an ultra-high ponytail to help curls keep their shape and bounce. This ponytail looks cute and keeps your curls perfect! 

20. Relaxed Ballerina Bun

If your hair is relaxed, a high ballerina bun is a simple style that works for any occasion. Just brush your hair into a high ponytail, twist it in one direction, coil it around itself, and secure with bobby pins to create this bun. 

21. Double Space Buns

Space buns are a go-to style for any hair type. Double space buns will keep your hair contained and secure while looking trendy.

22. Pressed and Balayaged

We’re so im-pressed with this sleek, straight style! Balayage color adds interest to pin-straight strands achieved with a silk press. 

23. Updo With Side Bangs

After you press or straighten your hair, try an updo with side bangs for a different look. Use a little medium to firm hold gel to keep your bangs in place and prevent flyaways in your bun.  

24. Professional + Polished Locs

Dreadlocks are finally earning the respect and acceptance they deserve in the professional world, so why not rock them styled with the top half tied back? We love this look. 

25. Zulu Knots

Zulu knots (or Bantu knots) are a gorgeous protective hairstyle that turns heads. Keep your knots in for a week or so, then take them down to reveal beautiful curls. 

26. Half-Up Messy Ponytail

Pull the top half of your hair up and make a messy ponytail to give off a cute-yet-casual vibe. 

27. High Puff Pony

Get the cute “puff ponytail” effect with short, natural hair pulled into a high ponytail. Use a little firm hold gel to keep the rest of your hair sleek. 

28. Boho Long Coils

Digging the boho casual vibe of this look? Try it on air-dried hair to give your coils a variety of textures that make the look unique.

29. Perfectly Defined Curls

Curl cream can help you achieve more uniformity with your curl shape and size, so work a little into your damp hair and part it to the side to copy this high-definition look. 

30. Accessorized Locs

If you’re getting bored with your locs, accessorize them by adding rings, charms, or beads. Three simple metal rings give this model’s locs a modern vibe. 

31. Faux Locs and Bun

Skinny faux locs create texture and dress up a basic bun to make it appropriate for any occasion. 

32. Side-Stacked Coils

A side part, some gel or curl cream, and a few pins are all it takes to create this cute “stacked” and layered effect on the side. 

33. Coiffed Crop

If you’re the kind of woman who’s known for having not a single hair out of place, this perfectly coiffed crop is for you. It’s tapered in length with short layers for a smooth and polished look.  

34. Silk Pressed Lob

A medium-length lob (short for long bob) is the perfect complement to a fresh silk press! Wear it with a side part for a look that can go from work to nights out. 

35. Accessorized Pony

A simple scarf or headband is all it takes to bring your ponytail to the next level. Pull out a few face-framing tendrils for a flattering effect. 

36. High-Definition Coils

A good curl cream will define your curls and minimize frizz. Work some curl cream in while your hair is damp and let it do its thing! 

37. Curtain Bang Shag

Sick of side parts? Switch to a middle part and have some short curtain bangs cut in to update your look. 

38. Low Bun With Cornrows

Wide cornrows open up your face and put your eyes center stage, while a low bun at the back keeps everything contained and secure. 

39. Half-Up Top Knot With Faux Locs

Neat crochet faux locs can be worn down or up, but why choose when you can try this half-up top knot style? Add a scrunchie for a little throwback.

Read Next: Crochet Hairstyles

40. Senegalese Twists

Big Senegalese twists are super popular and they protect your hair from damage. What’s not to love? 

41. Relaxed Soft Waves

If your hair is relaxed, these soft tousled waves are a gorgeous go-anywhere style that looks great on any face shape. 

42. Jumbo Bun With Box Braids

We love a good jumbo bun, and when it’s paired with pretty box braids, the look is just right. 

43. Casual High Ponytail

High ponytails add a little spunk and energy to any look, even if you’re just rocking a basic white tee! 

44. Long Locs Into Braids

We love the way her natural locs are seamlessly blended into braids with a pretty pop of purple in the front. Create a middle part and pin the front pieces back to recreate this look. 

45. Bleached Box Braids

Bleached box braids are a bold hairstyle all their own, but wear them at this ultra-long length for an added wow factor. 

46. High-Volume Side Part

Don’t think for one second that this high-volume style isn’t for you, queen. Pump up the volume with an airy curl cream that adds definition to your coils! 

47. Intricately Braided Updo

If you’ve got time to sit in the chair for a few hours (or more), rock these intricate cornrows that create interesting designs. Wrap the ends into a high bun for an elegant look. 

48. Kinky Taper

This cute tapered cut gets shorter toward the neckline and keeps you cool. Kinky texture looks beautiful at this easily managed length! 

49. Sleek Pixie

Relaxed African hair looks gorgeous in a sleek pixie with side-swept bangs. Use a small amount of pomade or wax on the ends of your bangs to create the piece-y texture. 

50. Red Starter Locs

Starter dreadlocks plus an intense red color gives you…wait for it…redlocks. The vivid color makes new locs look cute while they grow. 

51. Side-Swept Micro Twists

This protective hairstyle ensures your hair always looks perfectly twisted without a hair out of place. We love how tiny these micro twists are! 

52. Sassy + Shaved 

Femininity has nothing to do with the length of your hair – it’s how you carry yourself. We love this sassy shaved look, especially with these fun sunglasses! 

53. Bleached and Dreaded Long Top Fade

Here’s a really unique style that you’ll feel confident wearing! When you’re ready to try something new with your dreads, shave the sides and back. Then fade the longer dreaded top seamlessly into the shaved sides and back. 

54. Relaxed With Blunt Bangs

Blunt bangs beautifully frame the face, especially when they’re paired with long, relaxed hair that looks sleek and silky. 

55. Fro’sted Tips

Add frosted tips to an afro and you get gorgeous fro’sted tips! Concentrating a lighter color only at the ends draws the eye downward and really highlights your coils. 

56. Deep Side Part

Taking your side part over a little further creates tons of volume on one side and gives you a cool, layered effect. 

57. Silver Senegalese Twists

If you like experimenting with vivid and unexpected colors, consider going silver. Styling the hair with Senegalese twists lets the light hit the hair at different angles to create a pretty, silvery sheen. 

58. Jumbo Braids

Jumbo braids bring a unique twist to a style you know and love. These mega-sized plaits won’t pull as tightly on your scalp and are super comfortable to wear. 

59. Shaped + Picked-Out Afro

We’re getting serious vintage vibes from this picked-out, nicely tapered and shaped afro style. It’s a bold and beautiful look! 

60. Summer Puff Pigtails

These puff pigtails are cute poolside, but you’ll be wearing them everywhere! We love how these pigtails are close together – less of that Minnie Mouse look. 

61. Relaxed Balayage Waves

This is a trendy style that any face shape can pull off. Hand-painted balayage color from the mid-strands to the ends, a middle part, and soft, big waves create a glam look. 

Things to Consider

Did you find a few hairstyles you’re excited to try? You’ll love your new hairstyle more if you get a few things straight first. Here’s what you should consider before you settle on a new style. 

• Learn what your hair type is: Black women generally have hair that is considered type 3 (curly) or type 4 (coily/kinky). Each of those types has 3 subtypes (3A, 3B, 3C, etc.) depending on how curly or coily your hair is. Learning your specific hair type will help you choose styles that will look the best on you. Here’s our guide to all curl types: The Ultimate Guide to All 6 Curl Types.  
• Know when to choose a protective hairstyle: Protective hairstyles prevent unnecessary damage and are helpful when you’re trying to grow your hair out. If you’re seeing signs of damage from heat, styling, chemicals, or breakage, you should wear braids or twists for a while to give your hair a break. Check out these guides: How to Do Box Braids on Yourself and Twist Out Guide for Beginners.
• Use the right products: Hair care products geared toward black women or coarse, curly hair are your best bet. But make sure you’re choosing products that are sulfate-free and intensely moisturizing. Here’s a list of our favorite products for natural hair: Best Products for Curly Hair. 
• Understand the risks of relaxers: Relaxers are known to damage your hair, much like other chemical processes. Frizz, breakage, hair loss, dandruff, and early graying are all potential adverse effects of relaxers. Even no-lye relaxers can damage your hair beyond repair, so tread carefully and do your research before getting a relaxer. 
• Beware of traction alopecia: Tight hairstyles, including braids, twists, buns, and ponytails, can all result in traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is a type of baldness that occurs in areas where the hair is constantly tugging on the scalp. Avoid bald spots by switching up your hairstyles often and giving your hair a break after it’s been braided or twisted for a while. 

Black hairstyles for women go far beyond basic braids, afro styles, and twists. We’ve shown you 60+ gorgeous styles for black women in this photo guide. Screenshot your favorites so you’ll have a fresh style to try when you’re ready to switch things up!

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