’Tis the season for glamorous parties, shaking a leg with your besties and saying yes to dressing up a bit more – just ’cause you can. All the festivities bring fresh opportunities to do a little something different with your hair, too – whether that be braiding it up in a new style, giving your natural curls extra oomph or just switching from a middle to a side part (which is a big deal).
At the Black Beauty Hub, we’re all about sharing and creating a space for like-minded individuals to spill the tea when it comes to Black beauty tips, tricks and hacks, so it felt only right to turn to beloved celebrity hairstylist and artistic director Zateesha Barbour for some much-needed hair inspo as we gear up for festive season. Fresh from a styling session using Shark’s new Glam Multi-Styler, Zateesha shared a few of her favourite looks, her best trick for securing a slicked-back ponytail and some helpful braiding tips.
We’ve just seen you put together some amazing hair looks using the Shark Glam Ceramic and Air Multi-Styler. What is your go-to hairstyle when getting ready for an event?
Personally, my go-to would be something with a lot of texture – especially if it’s for a last-minute invite. Most of the time, I’m all about sleek looks, but for the evening I like to do something a little bit different – so maybe curls. I alternate the direction of each curl for extra volume, a trick easily achieved using left and right curling barrels, like Shark’s Auto Wrap curler attachments. To finish, I use a dry-texture spray all over to lock them in.
I also love an Afro – whether it’s wash-and-go or defined. Sometimes the best thing you can do to your hair is nothing – and that looks really great. If you want to go really defined, you can use tools like Shark’s Glam diffuser attachment and its adjustable prongs to create the look of tighter curls.
That’s the beauty of having 4C hair. It’s actually so malleable because of the texture – you can create artistic shapes and go for super-fun styles and it will hold the shape really well.
What about when you want to bring the glamour with a sleek look?
A slicked-back pony is always a great idea for a big occasion – being careful not to put strain on your hair by pulling it too tight. A big part of nailing the perfect ponytail is in the prep, and realising that the back of your hair is actually the foundation, so this is where you want to give time and attention.
If you’re going really sleek, you’ll want to section out your hair and gently blow-dry it with a tool like the Glam Glossi brush attachment – even if your hair is still wet, you can go straight in with the Glossi brush to stretch and dry your hair without frizz*. Then, use edge control and hairspray to guide it back into a ponytail. For a wavier look that plays on your natural curl pattern, you can skip the blow-dry and just use a bit of gel to slick the hair back. Brushing your hair upward with a bristle brush (or your hand) and tilting your head back will help secure your ponytail.
Make sure to check the tension isn’t too tight when you’re done, then tie your hair with a satin scarf to set the style.
Any thoughts on a sophisticated, protective style for the girlies?
One of my favourite hairstyles that I don’t feel people do enough is bantu knots – they work in every capacity, whether it’s twists of the natural hair or using braids. You also can’t beat classic box braids! I always remind people that even though there’s less prep with this style, what prep there is is still very important. Avoid using oils before getting them done, and if you can smooth out your roots beforehand, it will help the braiding process.
Zateesha recommends gently stretching the hair before braiding — a straightening tool with controlled heat and airflow like the Glam Silki straightener attachment works well for this.
Another thing I advise with any kind of braids is to wear them down for at least a week before styling them in up-dos to reduce tension around the hairline – even if they’re chunky box braids, for example. And don’t be afraid to wash the braids. You can get right in there in the scalp.
Finally, which hairstyles are you loving at the moment?
I’m really enjoying the resurgence of hairstyles that were popular in the ’90s and noughties, whether it’s a cute bob with an intentional flick or even just side partings. The Glam Glossi attachment is the perfect partner for achieving both of these.
A recent hair highlight I had was doing the braided baldy – it’s not super ‘out there’, but it’s great to see people embracing styles that aren’t just about length. I just love that people are enjoying their hair and being free.
So there you have it. Whether you’re prepping for karaoke night with the girls, another December birthday dinner or your work black-tie Christmas party, don’t let lack of hair inspo keep you from doing the most. Give one of these hairstylist-approved looks a go and nail the a glam finish without leaving your bedroom.
Shop the Glam Multi-Styler now at sharkbeauty.co.uk
* Shine/frizz vs air drying.
