At the 53rd Grammy Awards, Janelle Monae’s signature style — the expertly sculpted pompadour — was once again a favorite among curly girls. Get the look by flat twisting or French rolling hair up the back to the crown of your head. Bring the bang area up, tuck and secure with bobby pins. By using a satin scarf each night, pompadours can last up to a week — just tuck, tie, and go!
Tracee Ellis Ross showed just how fierce a simple topknot can be when she sported this simple and chic style at the Black Girls Rock! Awards. Get Tracee’s look by starting with wet hair and smoothing into a ponytail at your crown. Roll the hair section by section into a loose, messy bun and secure with an elastic band or bobby pins.
Esperanza Spalding attended the 53rd Grammy Awards in a pinned-up style with her signature kinky-curly coils. You can get Esperanza’s red-carpet worthy look by pinning the back of your hair into a chignon, leaving the front out.
Jada Pinkett Smith went wild-and-wavy in this edgy updo at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood event. Get Jada’s style by sectioning your hair in two halves — one in the front and the other in the back. Pull the back section into a high, wavy ponytail. Cornrow the front section and conceal the end of the braid back behind the ponytail.
Garcelle Beauvais arrives at the Jimmy Choo for H&M Collection in a fabulous pinned-up curly ‘do. Get Garcelle’s look by two-strand twisting blow dried hair and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, untwist your hair and start styling by rolling the hair into a loose French roll. Secure with bobby pins and leave a few pieces out in front to frame the face.
Corinne Bailey Rae arrived at the Elle Style Awards wearing a high halo of lush, shiny curls. You can rock Corinne’s look by sectioning off your bang area and pulling the remaining hair into a loose bun. Take the front section and use a wide tooth comb to add volume at the roots. Pin the hair back into the bun for an easy, glamorous look.
YaYa Dacosta attended the 2011 Women For Women International Gala in a fun, high side ponytail. Recreate YaYa’s look by starting with wet, detangled hair. Flip your head upside down and smooth your hair into a high side ponytail. Allow to air dry and create fullness by finger combing your curls.
At the BET Honors Ceremony, Jill Scott looked glamorous and gorgeous in a sleek pin-up with a textured bang. Get the look by tucking blow-dried or stretched hair into a French twist, leaving out a pompadoured pouf in the front.
At the UK Launch of ‘Women Inspiration and Enterprise,’ Shingai Shoniwa swept her natural coils into a wildly elegant updo. Create a similar style by using a paddle brush to gently smooth the sides and back of your hair into a roll from your nape to your crown secured with bobby pins. Take the remaining hair in the front and create a pompadour. Add accent flowers to top off this fun, flirty style.
We loved Tamera Mowry’s loosely pinned bun at this year’s Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s celebrity carnival. To create this look at home, pull your hair into a tight ponytail and secure it with an elastic at your crown. Twist and wrap your hair into a messy bun, then loop the ends through the elastic.
