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Style

How My Natural Hair Became My Favorite Style Accessory to Rock

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This article was syndicated from Abigail Munroe as a part of Her Campus Style’s Black History Month celebration.

Growing up, I never really saw a lot of women of color — apart from my mom — really embrace their natural hair. The trend within my community was to perm or relax your hair and have it as straight as possible, and in a formal or professional environment, straight hair was a must. I never really understood the pressure for my hair to be perfect until middle school, when all of my friends started to explore fashion and personal style. That’s when I began to wear weaves and extensions.

I remember the first time my mom really allowed me to straighten my hair for my 13th birthday — the compliments came rolling in at how beautiful my hair was, and that I should wear it like that more often. From that moment, I noticed myself begin styling my hair in a way that I thought was more acceptable to the people around me. At one point, I almost didn’t know what to do; I’d have the perfect outfit, makeup would be slayed, and I’d find myself spending so much time trying to figure out what to do with my hair.

This is when I decided to make a change — I vowed to keep my hair heat free for one whole year.

I started to watch YouTube videos and find natural hair ideas to try. I turned to some of my biggest fashion idols, like BeyoncĂ©, Keke Palmer, Justine Skye and Zendaya, who rock their natural hair. I began experimenting with different styles that flattered my face frame. I’d soon discover that certain styles were just not flattering at all for my facial structure, no matter how cute they were.

It seemed like everyone — including the people around me, social influencers, and even celebs — started rocking their natural curls; it was becoming more and more popular. As I began to experiment with what hairstyles worked for me, I began incorporating my love for fashion into how I styled my hair. I began to play around with different hair accessories, like hats, scarves, headbands, and even hair jewelry (which I didn’t even know was a thing!).

My hairstyle choices became my favorite way to express my creativity and personal style. Who knew there were so many different natural styles that would fit me, and my personal style so well?

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Felicity Warner

FSU '18

Felicity was previously the Style Editor for Her Campus Media. Felicity graduated in May of 2018 from Florida State University with a double major in Editing, Writing, & Media and Media/Communication Studies. Before joining the team full-time, Felicity was a staff writer, content editor, the managing editor, and the campus correspondent throughout her four years at the FSU chapter. She has interned with Better Homes & Gardens, Sarasota Magazine, and Sachs Media Group during her college career. In her spare time, Felicity likes to explore new coffee shops, go to any local concert, or hunt for new finds at her favorite thrift stores.

Felicity was previously the Style Editor for Her Campus Media. Felicity graduated in May of 2018 from Florida State University with a double major in Editing, Writing, & Media and Media/Communication Studies. Before joining the team full-time, Felicity was a staff writer, content editor, the managing editor, and the campus correspondent throughout her four years at the FSU chapter. She has interned with Better Homes & Gardens, Sarasota Magazine, and Sachs Media Group during her college career. In her spare time, Felicity likes to explore new coffee shops, go to any local concert, or hunt for new finds at her favorite thrift stores.