IG@milkayemima #naturalhairstyles

Natural Hair Styles: 25 Badass Bantu Knots Inspiration Pics

Here’s a shout-out to one of the most well-known but, perhaps, underestimated natural hairstyles – Bantu knots. Plus, they give you an added benefit – you can transform them into a flawless Bantu knot out! Find out how in: Perfecting and Maintaining the Bantu Knot Out – 14 Fantastic Tips.

Enjoy these 25 Bantu knot photos that show just how versatile and glamorous this protective hairstyle can be.

Perfect knots and edges

Slayed edges and immaculate knots really do make a perfect combination. And, it’s an awesome way to kick off our look at just how stylin’ Bantu knots can be!

IG@thebaemagazine #blackqueen

 

Knots and long braids

Long braids pair beautifully with these braided knots. Add some chunky beads to complete the look and… it’s everything!

 

 

 

IG@prestigious_hair_ #braidedhairstyles

 

 

Undercut and Bantu knots

This natural hairstyle has got it going on – on all levels, literally! From the undercut sides to the pony in the back and those sweet knots in between, it has so much style to offer.

 

 

IG@katrinaxkreates @ #NaturalHairStyles

 

 

Green knots

Whether you decide to really go green or just tweak the lighting a bit – these big knots and chunky braids will get you noticed. Just add that look of confidence and work it, girl!

 

 

IG@naynayplus #bantuknots

 

 

 

 

Orange knots

 

Forget highlights! We’re simply loving these knots done completely and boldly in vibrant orange hues.

 

IG@ms_os_beauty_ #coloredlocs

 

 

 

 

Bantu knots and beads

Cornrow tendrils with dangling beads add a touch of sophistication to this protective hairstyle. If it’s making you think of a fauxhawk, don’t worry – we’ve got one coming up just for you!

And, those earrings tell us it’s time to remind ourselves of a little bit of history: “Bantu” is a Zulu word for “people.” Over 100 million people from about 500 ethnic groups in Africa make up the Bantu peoples. They speak roughly 600 distinct Bantu languages.

IG@thatfunkywater #healthyhair

 

Half-up-half-down

Go ahead – let your confidence shine right through with braided knots in the front and your luscious curls framing them in the back.

 

IG@tanesaluvluv #loveyourcurls

 

 

 

Pink and blonde knots

 

Who says baby pink is only for babies? It’s for beautiful knots on big girls, too. We love these!

 

IG@kays.lensesphotography #bantuknots

 

 

Rope twist knots

Bantu knots can be made in a number of ways and how you do them is really up to you. These rope twist knots have a mesmerizing quality, making you feel like you could get lost in those coils!

 

 

IG@sheluvs2_crochet #ropetwistbantuknots

 

 

 

 

Knots with orange highlights

If you’re not the kind to hold back or shy away from standing out, then these knots with orange highlights are definitely for you.

 

 

IG@ differenthairshop #bantuknots

 

 

 

 

Small knots

Many curly girls do their knots with extensions to add more volume to the style. That’s awesome but – bigger isn’t always better. These small, neat, and spikey knots are all the proof you need!

 

IG@chi_nation101 #bantuknots

 

 

Emerald Bantu knots

 

Shades of green give these small Bantu knots a big style boost. If you’re considering coloring your hair, too, be sure to read Caring for Your Natural Hair Before and After a Dye Job – 11 Tips.

 

IG@makedoteo  #bantuknots

 

Medium knots

Accessorizing your knots is one way to show off your personal sense of style. Of course, the accessories don’t actually have to be in your hair. We’re loving how this African choker and pearl necklace combo pairs with these super-neat knots – regal!!

 

IG@naturalbeauti25 #blackqueen

 

 

Big knots

If you’re in a hurry and need a natural hairstyle that’s both simple and stylish – this is it!

 

 

IG@zantobe #bantuknots

 

 

 

Big and tall knots

Plan on going big with your knots? Get some inspo from this natural beauty. These big and tall knots rock!

 

IG@starletshair #protectivehairstyle

 

Want more inspiration that best suits your hair type? See our recent feature: 12 Natural Hair Influencers to Follow (According to Hair Type)

 

Brown and fuzzy Bantu knots

These natural and naturally beautiful knots are giving us all the feels. We can’t stop staring at them!

 

 

 

IG@jack.v.photography #bantuknots

 

 

Dreamy pink Bantu knots

This color is off the charts! Want your own dreamy pink knots but you’re a little wary of using commercial hair dyes? We’ve got you covered, girl! Read all about natural dyes for natural hair.

 

 

IG@delamaracademy #bantuknots

 

 

Zigzags and Bantu knots

Not sure whether to call these knots or buns? No worries – the “knot bun” is a thing!

 

 

IG@hairbeauty_vibe #knotbun

 

 

Twisted zigzags and knots

 

Continuing on our zigzag theme… Here’s a chic and creative way to incorporate your twists into your Bantu knots style.

 

IG@nubiessebox #4chair

 

 

Fauxhawk Bantu knots

Here’s that fauxhawk we promised you earlier. It’s delicately decorated and the look is rounded off with sublime edges.

 

 

 

IG@modernsalon #protectivestyles

 

 

Knots and hoops

We have to keep highlighting the accessories. ‘Cause when you dress up your knots the right way, then you can bask in that African queen vibe – enjoy!.

IG@naturalstylestory #blackqueen

 

 

 

 

Gray-haired knots

 

It’s important to enjoy your hair at every stage of your life. These gray Bantu knots have ‘Happy Hair” written all over them!

 

IG@runtowardyourlife #naturalhair

 

Red Bantu knots

 

“You may not be a natural redhead, but don’t let that stop you from rocking red hair (and these sweet red knots) at least once in your life.” —- Pretty sure somebody famous once said that!

 

IG@beautybyzhaniece #bantuknots

 

 

Pink Bantu knots

Looking to make a statement with your hair? Go with these pink-wrapped Bantu knots. They definitely and confidently scream “pink hair don’t care!”

 

 

 

IG@itsgugu #bantuknots

 

Curly knots

Textured hair – gotta love it! Let your curls do the talking by showing them off in your knots, bangs, and all over!

 

IG@lynnswayxx #TeamNatural_

 

 

 

Want to see more beautiful natural hairstyle pics? Check out our recent post: 27 Really Gorgeous No-Heat Natural Hair Styles

Do you do Bantu knots as part of your natural hair styles lineup? Let’s hear about it!

CurlyNikki says:

Bantu Knot Outs on My Fine, Blown-Out Natural Hair

Bantu Knot Outs on My Fine, Blown-Out Natural Hair

Hey hey!

After nearly 2 weeks of rocking turbans (they’re my new thing), I had to actually do my hurr.  I have a Dr. Oz appearance later this week, so I needed to henna my sparklahs away and practice my bantu knot-outs… I get rusty with the execution sometimes lol!  I thought I’d throw it back to the Fotki days with some bathroom shots!  As you can see above, I don’t do straight parts… or any parts for that matter.  I just grab, knot, and go! I usually end up with about 8-10 slightly damp knots that I sleep in (HELL!) and release in the morning.

I tension blow dry clean, 90% dry hair after applying a bit of Jane Carter Leave-in for heat protection and moisture.

And then add 1-2 pumps of Nairobi’s foam to each section prior to knotting.  I don’t use any pins to secure, I just wrap the ends and make sure they are saturated with the foam for a less frizzy look.

I sleep on the finished knots under a scarf, and immediately in the morning, I release them in case there is any dampness that needs to dry-

Once all the roots are dry (they usually are and there’s no need to wait before this next step), I separate a little, fluff a lot, and pull my hair down into two low ponies to stretch the curls.  I use small banana clips to prevent any dents in the curls or ruining them altogether.  They provide tension at the roots without flattening the texture.

Final Result! bantu knot outs bantu knot outs

Hey hey!

It’s 2009, again.  One, because I’m excited to post on CurlyNikki.com (do you like the new lay out?!), and two, because I’m rocking a bantu knot out on stretched hair. It’s been a minute since I’ve revisited this style, and I fully remember why it had been a trusted go-to for years. Only on damp or dry hair, tho. Bantu knot-outs on wet hair are a BIG no-go. They never never ever dry.

1. I need a cut.  My shape is off because I haven’t been able to get to my stylist, Marie Simone, in St. Louis since late 2019! I’ve been trimming my own ends, but yeah, I miss my precision situation! I also miss my bob! My hair is at its fullest-looking when its sitting pretty between my chin and collar bone.
2.  I am usually in NO mood to wash, detangle and re-style my hair.  If I get a moment to myself, I use it to meditate, read, or sleep. I’m actually never in the mood to wash, detangle, and re-style my hair. But here we are.
3. When I MUST wash, detangle, and style, I need at least the styling portion of the session to be quick af. I usually opt for my 8 or 9 flat twists on damp hair (for a flat-twist out), but the shape and my ends have made it very difficult to get away with this go-to style.
4. I want full looking curls without the hassle of hair rollers of any kind. Hair rollers take entirely too long to install, the drying time is disrespectful, and if I sleep wrong on the first or second night, the set is trashed and all of that hard work was for not.
5. I require a style that will last through at least several nights of my kinda sleeping.

So yeah, with all that, here we are in 2009, where I am knotting my hair once a week! And when the set turns out lopsided or otherwise not-cute, I do what I did in these pics–bang it and pull up the rest.  Since I was on IG Live, with Lindsey of Crwn Mag (!!!) you can’t tell, but the hair in the back is anything but styled, lol. I pulled it back with a bunch of bobby pins and a banana clip and tried to remember to stay facing forward!

Let me quickly walk you through my bantu knot-out routine depending on where I am in my wash cycle!

Easy 3rd Day Curls | Bantu Knot Out on Stretched Hair

Freshly washed hair

1. I tie my naked, wet hair up in a t-shirt for about 20 minutes to rid myself of all the drippies.
2. Apply Jane Carter Leave-in for a bit of moisture and heat protection.
3. Tension stretch in sections with my blowdryer on warm/low heat (I do it in 4ths– 2 sections in the front and two in the back– I take each section and pull it taught while using the blow dryer angled down the hair shaft.  Since the hair is just barely damp, it dries quickly and gives it just enough stretch.  It never gets a full on Diana Ross look– Just bushy. There’s still quite a bit of texture.
4. Create 10 knots using Nairobi Setting Foam. I’ve tried all of them. My second runner-up, especially if you want a more natural product would be Jane Carter’s Twist-out foam (the set doesn’t last as long for me), or Creme of Nature Style and Shine Foaming Mousse (excellent shine, decent staying power).  I use one or two pumps of product per knot. Make sure the ends are saturated. This is key.
5. Sleep pretty.
6. Take down and allow to air dry for a few minutes, if any parts are still holding moisture.
7. Gently separate the curls with my fingers and fluff at the roots.  I then split the curls in equal halves and pull down into low pony tails using banana clips to secure near my nape.  This stretches the curls so they hang more naturally and add volume.
8. Release the clips, and fluff some more to reveal bantu knot out perfection!

I can usually get 4 days out of my bantu knot out (on freshly washed hair), sometimes more! When it starts looking strange, I’ll fashion it into an I Love Lucy inspired updo!

Old Set

I do this when my hair was previously in a flat twist-out… around day 3 or 4.  

1. Gently finger detangle as I go.
2. Apply one to two pumps per knotted section. The Nairobi foam doesn’t flake at all, even on dry hair. Saturate the ends, while the length is just dampened by the product.
3. Create 8-10 knots total.
4. Sleep pretty.
5. Repeat steps 6-8 from above!

I can usually get 2-3 days out of this style before I have to wash, detangle and style again.  Trying to re bantu knot-out on previously knotted hair will make for a detangling nightmare. I don’t recommend it.

At night I either pineapple using a satin scrunchie, or just pineapple the bang area and pull the other two sections (right side of my head and left side) down into two low ponies using small banana clips.

That’s all I got!

With you in and AS Love,

Nik

Nairobi Foam: Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Panthenol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone Copolyol, Polisorbate, Polyquaternium.

Jane Carter Natural Twist-Out Foam: Water (Aqua), Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Soy Protein (Hydrolyzed Soy Protein), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-45 Palm Kernel Glycerides, Polyquaternium 11, Lawsonia Inermis (Henna) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol.

Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-in Conditioner: Water ( Aqua ) , Glycerin , Polysorbate 20 , Amodimethicone , Fragrance ( Parfum ) , Behentrimonium Chloride , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower , Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract , Equisetum Hyemale Extract , Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract , Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract , Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract , Lawsonia Inermis ( Henna ) Leaf Extract , Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil , Tocopherol , Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate , Isopropyl Alcohol , Trideceth-12 , Cetrimonium Chloride , Phenoxyethanol , Ethylhexylglycerin , Citric Acid , .

Crème of Nature’s Shine and Foam Mousse: Aqua (Water) (Eau), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Polyquaternium – 11, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-40 Lanolin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Mel (Honey) (Miel), Olea Europea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Hydrolyed Wheat Protein, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone, CI 19140 (yellow 5), CI 14700 (Red 4).