Meredith Rose writes;
I will be participating in a major beauty pageant this coming August. I have just big chopped this past month, and after thorough evaluation and prayer, I have decided that I will be completely natural for this pageant. I have concluded that if I am to be judged on beauty and poise, I will be completely ME. I will be judged for who I AM. I will not glue any wigs onto my head, sew – in Malaysian or Indian tracks into my African hair, nor will I clip -in numerous amounts of extensions. The fabulous India.Arie proposed a question, “Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?” The answer is “NO!”. Accept me, pageant judges, as I am, or disregard me. The choice is theirs. 🙂
My question is, I am looking for some marvelous ways I can style my 4a/4b hair for pageantry. Keep in mind, pageantry hairstyling is much different from wedding styles or prom styles. No accessories may be used and braids and twists can not be utilized. Think “Miss America”, or “Miss USA”.
I appreciate your assistance!
Good luck! Post pics in the forum when you've finished winning.
Good Luck on the Pageant. I just want to say that it's ridiculous (not to mention culturally insensitive) that you can't wear braids or twists! I'm pretty much outraged by that!?!? Yes, I know it's a way of styling your hair, but so is flat ironing it. They are really wrong for that.
Im competing in a pageant aswell but im going to get a kinky weave. 🙂
Thats too bad about braids or twists….I was thinking about a fabulous flat twist updo. Good luck with the pageant. I love that you are going to be natural, which is really a refreshing thought.
Here are some updos that could work for a pageant:
http://collegecurlies.blogspot.com/2010/11/1940s-inspired-updo.html
http://collegecurlies.blogspot.com/2011/02/low-maintenance-style-for-win.html
Good luck!
I say crop it even closer ala Flaviana Matata- Miss Tanzania from a few years ago, who competed in the Miss Universe Pageant- I think she placed in the top 10. She was just stunning!!!! I remember watching that pageant with my dad, brothers and uncles who had never watched a beauty pageant in their lives! The only reason they watched was because of Ms. Tanzania! LOL. These were the same family members that told me I looked like a boy when I big chopped.
In conclusion- crop it even closer. Experiment with color perhaps. And work it!
Good luck. Let us know how it goes for you. I'm sure you'll be beautiful.
OMG ME TOO! Just last night I was trying to figure out what to with my hair for an upcoming pagent…i think a roller set or curlformers will do
Perm rods or flexirods. Good luck!
Check you out! I'm in a national pageant in June. I'm natural as well but I will wear a weave (personal preference). I was recently at a pageant where a contestant rocked a BEAUTIFUL TWA. I would suggest you do the same with your favorite products. As long as you are confident the judges will see the crown lives IN you 🙂
That is really awesome!!! I hope everything goes well. Win, lose, or draw you are still a winner in my book just because you have the courage to go against the norm and represent the beauty of black hair in its natural state. Best to you!
Good for you! Depending on your hair length, you could do some finger coils. A flexi rod set will work and you could leave it down or make a nice updo. 🙂 ~KF519
Good luck with the pageant!
I would go for twist out. Since your hair will still be fairly short that will be a great natural style to rock!
You could do a rod set, I know that's what worked for me when I had a twa or like the other ladies stated, was an go is understated and can accentuate your beautiful features! Good luck w/ the pageant, and THANKS FOR REPPIN THE NATURAL CHICAS!!
I agree with Anon@12:30! If you have a really short TWA i would embrace it. BCs have a way to really bring out the beauty in our features! & yes for certain sections such as, the formal wear, i would play up my accessories to glam it up!
I agree. Wear a blowout afro. The bigger the better! 😉
Wash and go with you fav styling gel. I like Kinky Curly CC. Whatever style you choose I would practice it. I would try some of the styles mentioned above over the next several weeks. Taking pictures of each style and day. You never know, you may perfer 2-3 day old hair style vs freshly done. Maybe even keep a short journal on how you feel about your hair each day with each style.
I know this may soud like a little much but you want to be prepared so that your results on the day will not be a surprise. Whatever you choose, it will be prefect for that day.
WTG on the pagent! Help you this helps.
wow them with a beautiful blown out afro.
Why not let it be! If you just cut your hair, I'm guessing it's pretty short still. Borrow a leaf from high fashion and wear it as a TWA or cut it even closer to something like a buzz cut. It's a bold statement in itself.Having really short hair tends to accentuate black women's features. Play up your look with the right make-up and accessories. I hope this will still be within pageant guidelines. For reference look at the link below: It's Kenyan model Ajuma Nasenyana in Anthropologie's February catalog:
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=CLOTHES&navAction=jump&id=CLOTHES-CATALOG3#/25
For more inspiration: Rachel Stewart, the artist recently cut her hair, look for her images or look her up on Black Girl Long Hair site. Other models with really short cuts are Alek Wek, Ajak Deng. If you watch any of them on the runway, you notice that they have a presence.
So be confident and own the stage! Remember, there are people who will disapprove of your look so you have to be strong as well. Good luck, hope this helps!
Sue
Curlformers, a big twist out or bantu knot out would be gorgeous and authentic!
Miss Black North Carolina has beautiful, natural hair. I met her an a Natural Hair Expo last year. You may want to check out her pics for ideas.
http://www.missblackusa.org/bios.php#nc
Best wishes to you!
Hmm…Good luck with that.
I would suggest Bantu knots the night before to create a looser curl but I guess that would depend on the length of your hair. The other suggestion I have would be a roller set in large rollers to give your hair body and wave. I know when my daughter was in her Natural Beauty pageant I just did finger curls with her hair but there is a huge difference in a child's pageant and an adult. Best of luck to you.
Best of luck to you and yay for being authentic! What about a twist or braid-out? Also, maybe some coils. I would do a google search or search some sites like CN and others dedicated to us naturals for some picture ideas.
Let us know what you end up doing!