Uzo Aduba is one of the hottest stars around right now due to her leading role in the popular Netflix series Orange Is The New Black, and she’s been rocking the red carpet at numerous awards. Part of what makes Aduba stand out so much, though, is that she has amazing natural hair – her style is far from Beyonce’s straightened Met Gala look. No, Aduba’s hair announces that she’s black, proud, and beautiful – and you can get that look too.
Take One: SAG Awards
Aduba kept things simple for the 2015 SAG Awards, opting for a simple, sleek look fashioned by stylist Vanessa Heshima Sims. With just a few products, Sims slicked Aduba’s hair back and set some beautiful barrel curls with a 1 inch curling iron. Those with short hair can pull this off at home by pulling your hair back, curling, and setting the curls with your favorite hair spray. Don’t overspray it – you want to look sleek, not stiff. It’s also important to take it easy on the heat when first blowing out the hair because excess exposure to high temperatures can impede hair growth.
Take Two: Basic Bantu Knots
For those not in the know, on Orange Is The New Black, Aduba wears her hair in a style known as bantu knots. Bantu knots should always be started with dry hair with moisturizing products used to hold the knots in place. Don’t use mousse or gel, though, because it can make your hair dry out and break. For hair like Aduba’s character Suzanne, you’ll want lots of smaller knots, though they can be any size you like.
Over-twisting can also cause breakage, so be careful to only twist the hair two or three times as you form the knots. Then when it’s time to take them out, gently unscrew them without trying to pick them apart. You’ll have more success letting the twists work themselves out on their own and do less damage in the process.
Take Three: Golden Globes
Aduba’s style during the early days of Orange Is The New Black was limited by her bantu knots – her award show styles through season two required extensions so that she wouldn’t have to take out the knots. But with the knots out, Aduba hit the Golden Globes in 2016 with gorgeous flowing hair. A simple straight part and flat roots turned into bob-length waves. This look is so simple, yet elegant, it’s perfect for work or a night out.
Aduba is a master of natural hair and she owns her look from the screen to the awards stage. You can too with proper care and styling, and you’ll quickly find that maintaining natural hair is both simpler and easier on your hair than chemical processes meant to force it from it’s natural form. Instead, channel Uzo Aduba – proud and beautiful.
