Afro: See It on Your Photo
Natural curly or coily hair grown out and shaped into a full, rounded silhouette. Often flatters oval, oblong, square and diamond faces.
Included in Creative Spark and Elite Pro
Try this style with Creative Spark
Face shapes it suits
- Oval
- Oblong
- Square
- Diamond
Rather than fighting shrinkage, an afro works with it. Curly, coily or kinky hair is left to grow out and then shaped so the outline sits evenly around the head, whether that means a compact, neat round or a large, dramatic halo. No heat is needed.
Shaping is usually done on dry, stretched hair, since coils shrink when wet. Between appointments, a pick lifts the roots and evens out the silhouette. Most people trim every ten to fourteen weeks to remove split ends and refresh the shape.
The rounded volume adds width at the sides, which tends to balance oblong faces and soften square and diamond angles. Oval faces can go small or large. For round faces, a shape that is taller than it is wide usually works better than a perfect circle. Keeping the hair moisturized makes a big difference: a leave-in conditioner, a sealing oil or butter, gentle detangling with fingers or a wide-tooth comb, and satin at night.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I shape an afro evenly?
- Many people have a stylist shape it on dry, stretched hair, since coils shrink when wet. Between cuts, a pick helps you lift and even out the shape.
- How often should an afro be trimmed?
- Every ten to fourteen weeks is common to remove split ends and refresh the shape, though some people trim more often to keep a precise outline.
- What keeps an afro moisturized?
- A leave-in conditioner and a light oil or butter to seal in moisture usually help. Sleeping on satin reduces dryness and breakage.