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The holiday season is officially upon us, meaning it’s time to deck the halls, wrap the presents, and, of course, find the perfect hairstyle to make your festive moments truly shine. Gone are the days when Black women felt obligated to straighten their hair in adherence to a formal dress code. Though many still love a good silk press, in 2023, that is only one hairstyle option when attending a gala, holiday party, or any other formal event.
These days, Black celebrities strut down the red carpet sporting all types of crowns, proving just how versatile Black hair can be. From braids to bundles, from locs to ‘fros, our kinky, curly and coily tresses offer an endless canvas of creativity to explore. However, even with so much variety, it’s easy to lean into the same, safe styles. So, we’ve gathered some of our favorite formal hairstyles, hopefully inspiring you to try something new this holiday season.
Release the ‘fro
For decades, Black women were led to believe their natural hair was “unkempt” or “unprofessional.” Although many have since transitioned into rocking their natural hair daily, some don’t consider the varied ways they can style their afros for formal occasions. While an afro’s size and texture make a statement, you can consider accessorizing your ‘fro with hair jewels and pins to add a bit of extra razzle-dazzle. Take a look at how some of your favorite stars have styled their ‘fros for red carpet events:
Release the ‘fro
Uzo Aduba attends the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Release the ‘fro
Zendaya attends 3rd Annual InStyle Awards at The Getty Center on October 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Release the ‘fro
Actress/producer Gabrielle Union, recipinet of the Breakthrough Producer of the Year award, attends the CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards brought to you by the Coca-Cola Company at Omnia Nightclub at Caesars Palace during CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners, on April 26, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Release the ‘fro
Shoniqua Shandai attends Amazon’s “Harlem” Series Premiere at AMC Magic Johnson Harlem on December 01, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Release the ‘fro
Viola Davis walks the runway during “Le Défilé L’Oréal Paris – Walk Your Worth” Show as part of Paris Fashion Week at the Eiffel Tower on October 01, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Pietro S. D’Aprano/Getty Images for L’Oreal Paris)
Release the ‘fro
Tracee Ellis Ross attends the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards at L.A. LIVE on September 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
Release the ‘fro
Megan Thee Stallion attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Release the ‘fro
Kerry Washington attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Since most “updo” hairstyles are modeled on straight hair, those of us with kinky or curly hair textures often think we have to straighten our hair to recreate the look. However, with the right products and a few extra bobby pins, these same styles can look just as good on hair in its natural state. Here are a few ways stars have embraced natural hair textures in styles:
Add texture to traditional styles
Marsai Martin attends the 11th Annual Shorty Awards on May 05, 2019 at PlayStation Theater in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Shorty Awards)
Add texture to traditional styles
Gabrielle Union arrives at the premiere of Spectrum’s Originals “L.A.’s Finest” at Sunset Tower on May 10, 2019 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Issa Rae attends the 2019 Women In Film Annual Gala Presented by Max Mara with additional support from partners Delta Air Lines and Lexus at The Beverly Hilton on June 12, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Women In Film)
Add texture to traditional styles
Janelle Monáe attends the premiere of Focus Features’ “Harriet” at The Orpheum Theatre on October 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rachel Luna/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Janelle Monáe attends the 51st NAACP Image Awards, Presented by BET, at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
In this image released on December 13, 2020, actress Yara Shahidi prepares for her appearance on CNN Heroes at The West Hollywood EDITION in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Issa Rae, winner of Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series category speaks at the 52nd NAACP Image Awards Virtual Press Conference on March 27, 2021 in Various Cities. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards)
Add texture to traditional styles
Tracee Ellis Ross speaks onstage during the Fourth Annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, presented by the Critics Choice Association at Fairmont Century Plaza on December 06, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association)
Add texture to traditional styles
Janelle Monáe attends the 2022 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET)
Add texture to traditional styles
Dominique Thorne attends Entertainment Weekly’s Annual Comic-Con Bash at Float at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on July 23, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Ari Lennox attends the 2022 GQ Men Of The Year Party Hosted By Global Editorial Director Will Welch at The West Hollywood EDITION on November 17, 2022 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Tabitha Brown attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards Nominees’ Luncheon at Fairmont Century Plaza on February 04, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Tabitha Brown attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Janelle Monáe attends the 5th American Black Film Festival Honors: A Celebration of Excellence in Hollywood at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on March 05, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Quinta Brunson attends the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Add texture to traditional styles
Danai Gurira attends the AMC Networks’ 2023 Upfront at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 18, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Jayme Lawson attends the 2023 Chaplin Award Gala honoring Viola Davis at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on April 24, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for FLC)
Add texture to traditional styles
Issa Rae attends the world premiere of “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse” at Regency Village Theatre on May 30, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Issa Rae attends the press junket and photo call For “Barbie” at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Tia Mowry attends the Brooks Brothers Hosts Special Holiday Celebration To Benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on December 11, 2021 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Gabrielle Union attends the 2022 Gotham Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on November 28, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Add texture to traditional styles
Honoree Issa Rae attends ELLE’s 29th Annual Women in Hollywood celebration presented by Ralph Lauren, Amyris and Lexus at Getty Center on October 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for ELLE)
Add texture to traditional styles
Issa Raeattends the 5th annual Wearable Art Gala honoring Angela Bassett and Mark Bradford at Barker Hangar on October 22, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Unique Nicole/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Locs, box braids, twists, and, quite frankly, any protective style can be twisted, curled, and pinned to create an elevated hair look. Whether you choose to let them hang freely or arrange them up into an updo, the colors, textures, and look of protective styles can be the perfect accessory for your next formal event. Check out our gallery below to explore different ways to arrange your protective styles:
Revamp your protective style
Actress Zendaya attends the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Tracee Ellis Ross attends the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Issa Rae attends Black Girls Rock 2019 Hosted By Niecy Nash at NJPAC on August 25, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for BET)
Revamp your protective style
Marsai Martin attends the world premiere of Universal Pictures’ “NOPE” at TCL Chinese Theatre on July 18, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Chlöe attends 2023 Billboard Women In Music at YouTube Theater on March 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Dominique Thorne attends the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Arnold Turner/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Revamp your protective style
Chloe Bailey attends the 2023 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 09, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
Revamp your protective style
Quinta Brunson attends the 2023 Hollywood Climate Summit at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on June 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
In this image released on June 10, 2023, Pinky Cole attends her wedding at St. Regis Atlanta on June 10, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Halle Bailey attends the Australian premiere of “The Little Mermaid” at State Theatre on May 22, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Halle Bailey attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Revamp your protective style
Halle Bailey attends the 95th Annual Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
CFDA President CaSandra Diggs attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Teyana Taylor attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Revamp your protective style
Danai Gurira attends Global Citizen Festival 2023 at Central Park on September 23, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images for Global Citizen)
Revamp your protective style
Kelly Rowland attends The Curse Of Bridge Hollow Netflix Special Screening In Los Angeles at TUDUM Theater on October 08, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for
Revamp your protective style
Gabrielle Union attends “The Inspection” red carpet during the 60th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on October 14, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for FLC)
Slay that silk press
When in doubt, press it out. The beauty of kinky curly hair is its versatility, and for many women who primarily wear their hair in its natural state, the change of seasons prompts a stylistic change. With a decreased fear of humidity and sweat ruining their silk press, many naturals use the holiday season as a time to switch up their look. Whether you choose to get it bone straight or want to rock a fluffy blowout, here are a few straight hairstyle ideas:
Slay that silk press
Tracee Ellis Ross attends the Clooney Foundation For Justice Inaugural Albie Awards at New York Public Library on September 29, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Albie Awards)
Slay that silk press
Coco Jones attends the PrettyLittleThing x Naomi Campbell runway show at Cipriani 25 Broadway on September 05, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
Slay that silk press
Kerry Washington attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
Slay that silk press
Keke Palmer attends Reel To Reel: Big Boss Featuring Keke Palmer in Conversation at The GRAMMY Museum on May 10, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Slay that silk press
Quinta Brunson attends the 54th NAACP Image Awards at Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET)
Slay that silk press
Rihanna attends Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 presented by Prime Video at Allied Studios on November 08, 2022 in Simi Valley, California; and broadcast on November 9, 2022. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Imagesfor Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 presented by Prime Video)
Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle reporter covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories.
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