TikToker Ohemaa Afia noted the emerging hair revivals in a recent video, claiming that styles go in a cycle every five to 10 years. \u201cHave you guys not noticed that a lot of these hairstyles were trending five to 10 years ago?\u201d she said to her followers last month. \u201cWe embraced them, had the moment, then thought they were disgusting, forgot about them and now they\u2019ve come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Afia hit the nail on the head. I\u2019ve also found myself gravitating to styles I started with when I first began experimenting with my hair. Back in the noughties, installing weave with leave-out was my go-to but I quickly found disgust in the style as it fell out of trend and was replaced with frontals and closures.
\nWhether braids or the silk press, now that the more natural styles have come back around, I\u2019ve fallen in love with the leave-out (the risk of heat damage and all) once again, completely forgetting I had been here once before. The hair revivals seem to bring on a weird deja vu: you know you\u2019ve seen the style before but thanks to re-branding, they are teased as something shiny and new. As Afia and trend analysis experts have found, there\u2019s a cyclical nature to what we class as \u201chot or not\u201d and it comes as no surprise that the Black hair community is flip-flopping between opinions.
\nSo, according to what\u2019s trending on social media as of August 2022, here\u2019s a list of the Black hairstyles that have made a comeback. Let\u2019s see if this list ages well\u2026<\/p>\n
Fulani braids.<\/p>\n
Fulani or \u2018feed-in\u2019 braids are a traditional braiding style originating in West Africa, yet were ignorantly dubbed \u201cBo Derek braids\u201d (thanks, Kim K) after the actress who wore the beaded cornrows in the1979 film 10. Worn in 2001 by Alicia Keys and Beyonce, they now go by their traditional name and have since been brought back into style by the likes of Willow Smith and Rihanna.<\/p>\n
In 2022, the style is on the rise with over 19 million views on TikTok . Antoinette Ale, founder of Black hair care platform Haircrush, believes its popularity is thanks to the style being \u201clow maintenance.\u201d
\n\u201cFulani braids have re-emerged with the desire to have the beautiful braided look. They take half the time and require half the effort to maintain,\u201dshe said.\u201cThey\u2019re also perfect for holiday as they\u2019re low maintenance and give a polished look.\u201d
\nTo fit in with the extravagance of 2022 styling, the Fulani braids have been given the \u2018goddess\u2019 makeover, incorporating curly weave under the braids, which as Ale describes, forming the perfect \u201cbeachy, summery vibe\u201d for holiday.<\/p>\n
Feathered braids<\/p>\n
Made popular by Brandy in 2002 and Beyonce across the early 2000s, the iconic micro braided pick-n-drop style provided the perfect blend between wanting loose waves, bouncy curls or sleek straight tresses without the hassle of tracks, sewing or glue. Having been given their 2022 revamp, the micro braids are now known as \u2018feathered braids\u2019 and are simply braids with hair left out at the ends. This imperfectly perfect style still has the same features as it did in the past, allowing for the ends to be curled, feathered or layered to your liking.<\/p>\n
Weave with leave-out<\/p>\n
The return of leave-out was met with some controversy. The style has always been notoriously known for damaging the left-out portions of the hair if the heat was applied carelessly. But if it wasn’t a problem then for some, it sure isn\u2019t a problem now.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Unbothered, influencer Antoinette Victoria shared her excitement at the leave-out\u2019s iconic return to trending status. \u201cIn the 2000s, women favoured less-is-more styles and that\u2019s why these hair techniques have made a comeback. I\u2019m so here for it! I love that more women with Afro hair are not afraid to try leave-out styles now and then.\u201d
\nContent creator Mikai McDermott is also embracing the new phase of trying different styles and particularly enjoys the flexibility of the leave-out. \u201cI think they are so versatile,\u201d she tells Unbothered. \u201cI love seeing women modernise iconic Y2K styles, it\u2019s exciting and shows that we can embrace recent history and rework it in new ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Braids with beads<\/p>\n
When looking for the best way to level up your simple-braided look, beads are the best answer. Playful, colourful and easy to use, beads have been added to knotless braids, Fulani braids, cornrows, and more for centuries, but more notably from the 1980s to the early 2000s.<\/p>\n
Venus Williams brought back the beaded style at the King Richard premiere last year, paying homage to her and sister Serena\u2019s signature childhood hairstyle and called the revival a \u201crepresentation of her roots\u201d.
\nIn an Instagram post, Venus confirmed the pair didn\u2019t wear beads to be different but instead wore them because they were a part of their heritage. \u201cBeads are a typical style for African American children and have deep roots in African history,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
Butterfly clips<\/p>\n
Butterfly clips have made their way back into mainstream pop culture, with influential stars like Megan Thee Stallion and Normani incorporating the cute accessory into their hairstyles. R&B star SZA\u2019s famous \u201cLove Galore\u201d look included Monarch butterflies clipped around her infamous curly locs. Derived from the late 90s\/early 2000s and seen popularly on Tyra Banks and Mariah Carey, the butterfly clips are still a quick and easy way to level up simple afro-puffs or a slicked-back bun.<\/p>\n
Swoop Bangs with bumped ends<\/p>\n
It was common knowledge that signing up for a silk press meant your style would be finalised with some bumped ends \u2014 it was inevitable, inescapable and wasn\u2019t about what you wanted, it\u2019s just how the style came.
\nRihanna, Normani, Keke Palmer and more Black celebrities have reworked the bumped ends to their liking. Channel 1950s elegance and combine it with the sleekness of the swoop bang and boom! You\u2019ve got the ultimate baddie aesthetic style.
\nAnd it doesn\u2019t stop there. Throw your hair up in a ponytail by adding a bit more gel, hairspray and elbow grease to create the popular Barbie ponytail which has over 70 millions views on TikTok. Some have even taken the swoop bang further, by forming a heart shaped parting, ensuring a cute look from every angle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Y2K renaissance is in full swing and the 2000s influence has been making its presence known across the Black hair community. With over 483 million users searching the term \u2018Y2K Black girl hairstyles\u2019 on TikTok, styles like the weave with leave-out, Fulani and pick-n-drop braids are making their iconic return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":16708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,36],"tags":[7,37,38],"class_list":{"0":"post-16711","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fashion","8":"category-lifestyle","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-fashion","11":"tag-lifestyle"},"yoast_head":"\n