If you meet Taylor without a ponytail, she's humble, forgiving, and a true virtue of patience. But there's nothing that brings out my inner hot girl like a 40" yaki braid from my local beauty supply store, and that's big facts. Celebrities like Beyonce, Yara Shahidi, and Alicia Keys have all championed the braided faux ponytail with all the style and grace Biggie talked about and xoNecole has the details on how you can achieve this style, too.
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We're only a few weeks into the year and I know you're trying to get your finances all the way together, which makes this elegant yet budget-friendly style a perfect choice for mavens who want to slay without sacrificing a check at the hair salon.
With a brush, a pack of hair from the beauty supply store of your choice, some edge control, and a whole lot of bobby pins and the possibilities of your braided pony are endless.
If your interest is piqued but you're not sure where to start, here are some celebrity-inspired styles that will have you heading to the store ASAP:
Beyonce
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Give your chemically-treated hair a break and try out a blonde braided pony as a protective style.
Yara Shahidi
Earlier this week at the Golden Globes, Yara gave us all the Set It Off energy with this 90-style braided pony by Rio Sreedharan.
Issa Rae
Film Magic / HBO
Issa Rae never fails to come through with the natural styles and this one of a kind spin on a jumbo braided pony is no exception.
Yara Shahidi
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No gallery of braided ponies is complete without a proper topknot and Yara Shahidi's expertly crafted high bun fits the bill perfectly.
Marsai Martin
Marsai Martin may be young, but she's here to show the world that high fashion comes fun-sized, too. Add gold thread to level up your elegance instantly.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Getty / Steve Granitz
This braided pony perfectly modeled by Tracee Ellis Ross is reserved for expert home stylists who know their way around a fishtail.
Janelle Monae
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This butt-length, jewelry-adorned braid is proof of Janelle Monae's undeniable drip. Level up your pony by adding accessories that match your fit.
Featured image by Instagram/@rio_hair.
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The experience goes beyond a typical college reunion; HBCU Homecoming is a family reunion, a fashion show, a cultural festival, and a week-long turn-up that embodies what it means to be unapologetically Black and educated. For HBCU alumni, the journey back to the yard each year is rooted in a love and pride that’s hard to put into words but impossible to deny.
From statement pieces to tech must-haves, every item represents the intersection of Black pride and HBCU love, ensuring that you show up to the yard in style and with intention. So whether you’re repping your alma mater for the first time since graduation or looking for fresh pieces to express your HBCU pride, these essentials will have you standing out, because, at HBCU Homecoming, it’s not just about showing up—it’s about showing out.
Thread Goals
diarrablu Jant Pants in Alia Noir
High-waisted, wide-legged, and ready to shut down the yard, the Jant Pants by diarrablu bring a whole new meaning to campus chic. Handcrafted in Dakar, Senegal, these free-flowing jacquard pants are perfect for stepping onto the yard with style and ease—making them a must-have for any HBCU alum’s closet.
Silver & Riley Convertible Executive Leather Bag Classic Size in Olive
This all-in-one luxury bag isn’t a bestseller for nothing. The Silver & Riley essential is made of Italian calfskin leather and thoughtfully designed, as it can be worn in four different ways: a shoulder bag, crossbody, a top handle, and a backpack. Chic and elegant, the Convertible Executive Leather bag is “the bag that every woman needs in her collection.”
Renowned Women's Intuition Cotton Graphic T-Shirt
Renowned
Renowned’s Women’s Intuition Cotton Graphic T-shirt features a bold graphic print inspired by the power and essence of women’s intuition. With its striking design, this all-cotton tee is a vibrant thing, making it a statement piece that celebrates feminine energy.
Mifland Million M Mesh Crop Shirt
Talk about bold, the Million M Mesh Crop Shirt combines edgy style with comfort, featuring Mifland’s signature print on a semi-see-through mesh fabric. Show up and show out in sophisticated flair.
HBCU Love FUBU
Melanin Is Life Melanated & Educated - I Love My HBCU Hoodie
Show off your HBCU love with this piece that represents everything you gained from your alma mater: a top-tier education, a community that lifts you up, and a deep sense of esteem for yourself and your culture. Wear it loud and proud, because being melanated and educated isn’t just a flex—it’s a legacy.
HBCU Culture Spelmanite Sweatshirt in Navy
Spelmanites, rep your Spelman pride with this unisex crewneck sweatshirt, designed for ultimate comfort and a relaxed fit. Made from a cozy cotton/polyester blend, this classic sweatshirt is as durable as it is stylish—making it an ideal piece for any Spelmanite showing love for their alma mater.
HBCU Culture Howard Is The Culture T-Shirt
Rock the ultimate flex by showcasing your Howard U love with HBCU Culture’s Howard Is The Culture t-shirt. This unisex tee offers a comfortable, relaxed fit that’s perfect for celebrating your HBCU spirit without sacrificing style or comfort.
DungeonForward FAMU - Strike Bucket - Reversible
DungeonForward’s Strike Bucket Hat brings versatility and style to the FAMU Crown collection with its reversible design, giving you two looks in one. Featuring a sleek black snakeskin-embossed brim lining and a bold outline Rattler emblem, this hat is all about repping your Rattler pride in style.
DungeonForward Savannah State University - HBCU Hat - TheYard
The Savannah State University HBCU Hat by DungeonForward is more than just a hat—it’s a symbol of Tiger pride and a nod to the culture. Perfect for gamedays, tailgates, or just showing off your HBCU love, this hat lets you carry a piece of the yard wherever you go.
Tech the Halls
Anker iPhone 16 Portable Charger, Nano Power Bank
Stay charged up with the Anker Nano Power Bank, which features dual USB-C ports, a foldable connector, and a compact design, making it perfect for those HBCU tailgates and late-night parties you pull up to.
Drip Check
Wisdom Frame 14 Square Sunglasses
Elevate your look with these angular square-frame sunglasses by Wisdom, bringing an ultramodern edge to any outfit. The sleek design makes them perfect for blocking out the haters while you stunt on the yard.
Coco and Breezy Eyewear Fortune in Gray Turquoise
The Fortune Glasses in Grey Turquoise is a bold statement piece to any Homecoming weekend ‘fit that “embody our fearless and outspoken DNA.” With their color and edgy design, these frames by Coco and Breezy are perfect for anyone looking to stand out and express their unapologetic confidence.
Howard U Lapel Pin
Rep your Bison pride wherever you go with this Howard U Lapel Pin from Pretty AmbVision. Whether adding it to your jacket, shirt, or bag, this pin is the perfect way to showcase your love for your alma mater while rocking your HBCU love with honor and distinction.
Mifland Standard Rucksack Mini
The Standard Rucksack is designed to evolve like that HBCU pride—getting richer, bolder, and better with time. Durable, stylish, and built to last, this Rucksack by Mifland is a timeless piece equipped with versatile carrying options and fully adjustable back straps for ultimate comfort.
Stay Fresh, Stay Blessed
Slip Pure Silk Sleep Mask in Pink
Keeping it cute starts with beauty sleep. This luxurious silk mask is an essential for a reason. If protecting your skin and waking up refreshed is your priority, look no further than this Homecoming essential.
Liquid I.V.® Hydration Multiplier Lemon Lime - Hydration Powder Packets
Stay hydrated and energized throughout Homecoming weekend with this Liquid I.V.® Hydration Multiplier in Lemon Lime. Just add a packet to your water bottle, and bless your body with 2-3 times more hydration than water with every packet. Because staying hydrated is the key to popping up and showing out all weekend long!
Loop Experience Plus Earplugs High Fidelity Hearing Protection
Designed for your hearing protection, these sleek earplugs reduce noise without compromising sound quality—perfect for enjoying the band’s halftime show, late-night parties, and DJ sets. Whether you’re front row at the step show or hitting the yard, your ears deserve to be protected in style!
Black Girl Magic Glass Cup
Sip in style and celebrate your melanin with the Black Girl Magic Glass Cup. Perfect for morning coffee, your favorite iced drink, or showing off your HBCU pride on the yard—this cup is all about keeping it cute while radiating your endless supply of Black Girl Magic.
Glow Up & Show Out
Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
What Homecoming weekend can be complete without an assist from this beauty find? Formulated to blend seamlessly into melanin-rich skin (no white-cast), protect your glow while you turn up with the Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30.
Sienna Naturals Issa Rae's Wash Day Ritual Set
Issa Rae’s Wash Day Ritual Set from Sienna Naturals includes the H.A.PI. Shampoo, the Plant Power Repair Mask, Dew Magic, and Lock and Seal to get your crown right. Whether you’re repping your coils or rocking a new color on the yard, these products restore and nourish your strands, keeping your hair healthy, strong, and Homecoming-ready!
54 Thrones Ivorian Cocoa + Ghanaian Coconut Beauty Butter
Stay glowing from the tailgate to the after-party with the 54 Thrones Ivorian Cocoa + Ghanaian Coconut Beauty Butter. Infused with African-sourced ingredients, this rich, multi-purpose butter is the answer to keeping your skin soft and radiant through all the festivities all Homecoming long.
Saie Glossybounce Hydrating Lip Oil
Keep your lips looking luscious and nourished with the Saie Glossybounce Hydrating Lip Oil. Perfect for adding an extra pop to your pout before hitting the yard or freshening up between events, this lip oil is a beauty essential for staying camera-ready all weekend.
Featured image by Visual Vic/Getty Images
As someone who keeps my own 4a-4b hair blown out pretty much year-round (more on that in a sec), I’ve never really given the weather motivator a ton of thought. However, now that I think about it, the method behind their madness actually makes a lot of sense because cooler temperatures can result in having a longer-lasting blowout, which ultimately means less heat damage (since you don’t have to apply heat as often), which is always a good thing.
That’s why, now that we are officially in the season of autumn (yay!), if you happen to rock your curls and coils in their unstretched state most of the time and you’d like to do something different for a while, here is why wearing a blowout is a marvelous option to consider.
Why Autumn Is Awesome for Blowouts
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One of the best reasons why autumn and blowouts are such a match made in heaven is something that I already addressed in the intro: although there is humidity virtually all of the time (especially in certain climates), oftentimes there is less when it’s colder outside (or, at the very least, your head sweats less) which means that you don’t have to deal with as much shrinkage — which again, means that your blowouts will last so much longer than they would during the late-spring and summertime.
Another thing that is wonderful about wearing your hair straightened out during the fall is the fact that, although UV rays linger around whenever the sun is out (and the sun does indeed shine during the fall and winter; in fact, I used to go to high school with white girls who would bikini ski in order to get a tan), they aren’t quite as potent, which means that you don’t have to worry about them drying out your strands or stripping your color as much as you would when the weather is warmer.
And so, if you want to wear your hair straight (or straighter), fall can accommodate you without you having to worry about it damaging your locks (or natural curl pattern) in the process.
The Pros of Going with a Blowout Hairstyle
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And just what about blowouts is so wonderful, overall? Well, for me personally, I choose to blow mine out, almost every wash day, for the following reasons:
- I don’t have to worry about tangles and fairy knots as much
- My tresses don’t experience as much damage whenever I style it
- My hair tends to have less frizz
- It can reduce styling time
- My nighttime routine is quicker
- When maintained properly, it can last for several days (easily)
- BONUS: It can keep you encouraged if you’re trying to grow your hair out and you want to see results that it is actually happening
Y’all, definitely one of the best things about being a Black woman is our hair is capable of doing so many different things. When it comes to a blowout, specifically, if you want the length, flow, and manageability of an almost flat-ironed or relaxed look while still having a lot of texture and even dimension, this is the hairstyle that will make that happen for you. I am certainly a witness.
5 Tips for Achieving a Healthy and Long-Lasting Blowout
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A part of the reason why I decided to share three different blowout tutorials throughout this piece is that, while the general concept of a blowout is that you use a blow dryer to stretch out or semi-straighten your hair, there are little “tweaks” that can help to give you the exact results that you want; hopefully, these videos can help you out in that department. However, when it comes to things that everyone should do to achieve a healthy and long(er)-lasting blowout look, here are five tips that have definitely given me the results that I like.
1. Dust your ends. If it’s been months since you’ve stretched out your hair, there’s a high possibility that you will need to at least dust your ends. That process can help to remove split ends or fairy knots and help to even out your hair if there is an ever so slight bit of unevenness. For tips on how to dust your own ends, check out the video here, here, and here.
2. Apply more product than you think you should. When I’m prepping my hair for blowing it out, I apply several things: a leave-in conditioner, a bond spray (check out “Everything You Need To Know About Bond-Building Your Hair”), a thermal protectant (a cream-based one is best if you want to really penetrate your stands), and towards the end of blow drying my hair, I will apply some grapeseed oil and/or a sheen or conditioning spray (Bronner Brothers’ Smooth Sheen is a favorite of mine) to give some extra moisture and shine.
For me, it just seems like the more coated my hair is, the more “weighted” it becomes and more conditioned it is, so that there is less dryness and my locks are easier to style.
3. Use a cream straightener. Speaking of hair products, hands down, one of the best things that you can do is apply a cream straightener to your hair before you blow dry it. Not only will it help to smooth your cuticles, but it can also keep your hair straight for a longer period of time than if you didn’t apply it. As a bonus, a cream straighter can add sheen, softness, and more manageability without permanently altering your curl pattern. If you’ve never used a cream straightener before, Cosmo has several options that you can read about here.
4. Braid your hair at night. Okay, do genetics play a role in hair growth? The speed, yes. However, if you maintain your ends, which ultimately leads to length retention, you can eventually have some serious inches, regardless of what your hair type is. Don’t believe me? In walks, Indigenous Strandz — and if you don’t click on any other article in this piece, click on this one here. Although I’m not sure if she braids or twists her hair in order to keep it stretched, her video does represent the benefits of braiding at night in order to maintain your blowout — especially if you want to keep “touch-up heat” down to a minimum.
Although some people like to simply pin curl or wrap their hair up at night, I find that if you sweat at night or you don’t want a lot of “bumps” in your blowout, braiding (including cornrowing) is best. Also, as Indigenous Strandz mentioned in the link that I provided, because your ends are the oldest parts of your hair, it’s essential that you apply a carrier oil like hemp seed or an essential oil like rosemary (or both) as you’re braiding it up in order to nourish your ends and keep them stronger; that way, there is less of a chance that your hair will break off during your blowout.
5. Keep your bedroom cool. I grew up in a cool home, so keeping my thermostat(s) set to 68 degrees is normal to me. And guess what? It’s what’s also recommended if you want to keep your energy bills down. When it comes to your hair, specifically, this hack can help to keep you from sweating out your blowout at night. Then you can wake up the next day, take down your braids (or pin curls), spray some of the sheen that I mentioned earlier, use a paddle brush on your tresses, and boom — you’re good to go! The perfect blowout, just in time for fall. Fabulous.
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