This chic style is ideal for women seeking a new look without visiting a salon, as it alleviates tension on their scalp while keeping strands neatly organized and protecting against heat damage.
Esperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding’s name derives from the Spanish word for hope. She’s a bassist, vocalist, and composer who began performing professionally at four. She finished high school at 16 before teaching at Berklee College of Music at 20. Spalding became the first jazz musician to win the Grammy Award for best new artist in 2011. She proudly rocks her natural hair, wearing her thick afro with pride, and has recently initiated an effort to establish a sanctuary for BIPOC artists.
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Norwood, one of Hollywood’s leading natural hairstyle experts, constantly explores different medium-length natural hairstyles. Her long list of protective styles includes tucked-up, effortlessly classy yet seductive buns. For added flair, you could even add a headscarf. She showcased a full fro and Marley twists look using a Heat Free hair For Kinks collection wig at the Queen Latifah show. Bun hawks are also an elegant yet easy and fast hairstyle for medium black hair that is both quick and stylish. You can use beads or clips to adorn this updo.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross has become one of the go-to icons for natural beauty products aimed at curly and coily textures through her brand, Pattern Haircare. She has showcased her textured locks in various styles, such as tapered fros and heart-shaped braided ponytails. She displayed long braids almost reaching her calves at the 2020 NAACP Image Awards. Marie Claire Magazine’s Summer 2021 cover shoot featured Tracee Ellis Ross with two distinct looks – her signature kinky-straight bob and a wavy mullet tailored specifically for Ross.
Oprah Winfrey
As a talk show host and life guru, Winfrey has covered various topics over her 25-year broadcasting career. She’s also worn various medium natural hairstyles in that time, from big curls with blonde highlights to her current sleek shoulder-length locks. According to her longtime stylist, Nicole Mangrum, Winfrey keeps her locks healthy by washing and deep conditioning at least once weekly. She perfected her Jackie-O look with a sleek bob and thick bangs as her empire expanded during the 2000s. However, for her Legends Ball in 2009, she went for longer, gently curled strands that beautifully framed her face – a perfect style for honoring women such as Tina Turner and Diana Ross.
Cicely Tyson
Cicely Tyson brought natural hair into mainstream awareness through her appearances in the TV series East Side/West Side with cornrows. Tyson made her mark as an actress portraying numerous female solid roles on stage and screen, such as sharecroppers in Sounder and characters from Roots and the King TV miniseries. Medium-length bobs can look sleek and edgy when worn on straight or wavy black hair. They can be styled with bangs for a more feminine look or kept slicked back for an elegant appearance. This protective style can also be worn in a bun to showcase its natural texture.
