Natural & Transitioning Hairstyle Gallery for Ideas and Styling Inspiration

[See my favorite hair products here.]

A subscriber (Hey, DLT!) was searching for one of my natural hairstyles and couldn’t find it.

She suggested I create a hairstyle gallery so all my styles are on one page.

Your wish is my command. 🙂

Below I’ve divided the page by style with links to videos/tutorials.  Unfortunately I’ve been a little lazy about taking pictures lately, but I will be more diligent in the future so I can continue to update this page.

Many of these styles can be worn on both transitioning and natural hair.  If you’re still transitioning, add perm rods to the ends when appropriate.

Curious about products I use?  Click here.

Rod Sets

Rod sets are great because you can wear them when you’re transitioning or natural.

My First Rod Set on All Natural Hair

On day 6, I added a headband to mask the sides that had been smushed from sleeping.  The rest of the curls held up well.

To see the full list of products used and a video tutorial of this hairstyle, click here.

Rod Set With Flat Twists

This was the first time I was able to flat twist going upward (8 months transitioning).  If I can learn to do this, anyone can!  Just keep practicing. 🙂

Here’s the video for this style.

Rod Set With Pompadour

I was transitioning when I created this style.

Click here to see a video tutorial of this hairstyle.

A Beanie With Curly Bangs

A fun, easy style with rod set bangs and a beanie.  Click to see how I created this hair style.

Flat Twists

Slanted Flat Twist Up Do

This is my favorite flat twist style.  Sorry there’s not a clearer pic of the hairstyle.  I didn’t really have any good still shots so I took a screenshot from the video.  I was 12 months into my transition here.

Watch me create this hairstyle.

Flat Twist Bun

This is a great protective style for both transitioners and naturalistas.

Click here for a video tutorial of this style.

Flat Twist Up Do

I wasn’t a fan of this style at first, but it grew on me.  Another great transitioning style.  Just rod the ends.

Here’s the video tutorial.

Flat Twist Pony

If your hair is not long enough to make it to a ponytail, this is a way to “fake it till ya make it.” 🙂   I was nearing the end of my transition here and needed something casual and simple.

I don’t have a video for this exact style, but here’s another variation with bangs.

Flat Twists “To the Side”

Another flat twist style you can wear in twists and take the loose twists down for a twist out.

Click to watch the video.

Flat Twists & Two-Strand Twists

I wore this style near the end of my transition.  My hair was almost all natural with the exception of a few ends here and there.  This was the first time I could wear two strand twists without rodding the ends.

The Puff/Pony

If you’re still transitioning, you can still wear puffs, just use small perm rods to curl the ends.

Mini Twist Out Pony

This is a ponytail I created after wearing my hair in mini twists for about a week.

Another puff accessorized with a headband…

Wash and Go Puff With Eco Styler Gel

After wearing a wash and go style with Eco Styler Gel for three days, I put my hair into a puff.

Wash and Go With Kinky Curly

I liked the Wash and Go (above) with Eco Styler much better than with Kinky Curly Curling Custard, but the puff came out nice.  You can really see how the curls popped.

Click here to read more about the Kinky Curly Wash and Go.

Wash and Go With Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme

This is a FOR REAL wash and go because I didn’t spend time shingling product through my hair and it dried pretty quickly compared to the styles above.  It took me all of 15-20 minutes to create out of the shower.

Click to learn more about this puff hairstyle.

Here’s another wash and go with Shea Moisture Leave-In Conditioner (Can only be found at Amazon.)

Click here to see how I achieved this style.

Side Twist Out Pony

Click here to watch the video on this style.

Chunky Twist Out Low Puff

Watch the video on this hairstyle.

Side Puff

This is one of my favorite lazy styles. I just take a Goody band, doubled it up, slid it up my head and to the corner to make a side puff.

I use Eco Styler Gel and water to slick my edges down and tie a scarf on my head for about 30 minutes for a better hold and slick look.

Twists and Twist Outs

Super Stretched Twist Out

I created this look by twisting my hair in about 15 large twists every night with water and Oyin’s Burnt Sugar Pomade.  Then I took it down in the morning.  It takes about 20 minutes to twist.

As you continue to re-twist your hair at night, it will continually stretch your hair so it doesn’t shrink up as much.  The product also helps keep it stretched, but doesn’t make it greasy.  (You don’t need a lot of Oyin.)

By day 5, my hair was super stretched.  One night, I didn’t re-twist. I just put the hair in a lose ponytail and it stretched it even more.

This is a great way to reduce shrinkage without using a blow dryer.

My Favorite Mini Twists 

It takes me anywhere from 4-6 hours (depending on the size) but it’s so worth it because it lasts weeks.

Watch the hairstyle video to see how I created this style.

Two-Strand Twists With Flat Twists

When you wear the sides of your hair up, it can give the illusion of longer hair.  This is one of my favorite two-strand twist hairstyles.

Watch the video on this style.

Medium-Sized Twists

This was my first set of twists after I became completely natural.  I used Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercreme.

Twist Out With Flat Twists on the Side

Twist Out on Medium Sized Twists

Stretched Twist Out on Mini Twists

You can really cut down on shrinkage if you stretch your hair before twisting.

See the comparison between stretched and non-stretched styles here.

Homemade Flaxseed Gel Twist Out

This is some AMAZING stuff and now my go-to product for twists and twist outs.

Check out my flaxseed gel recipe and watch me make it.

Wash and Go

5-min Wash and Go With Kinky Curly Curling Custard

Here’s the trick to doing a moisturized, residue-free wash and go in just few minutes on kinky hair….

Your hair has to be super moisturized!  Read about the Max Hydration Method here.

Wash and Go with Eco Styler Gel

Watch the video tutorial on this hairstyle.

Protective Styling

I’m not a fan of wearing my hair in protective styles because I need fullness for my narrow face. LOL

However, I was participating in a protective style challenge on my hair forum and this is the style I chose.

It’s simply two-strand twists that are randomly pinned to the top of my head.  I also have 3 flat twists on each side to give it a cleaner look.

Products I Use

Curious about the products I use on my hair?  Check out my up-to-date list of natural hair products I use.

Here’s a list of the products I used when transitioning.

Save on Products at Amazon

I buy a lot of my hair products on Amazon because I can often find great deals, but be careful.  Always compare prices with the actual retail sites (if applicable) because sometimes 3rd party resellers will hike the prices up.