Exploring Shaved Sides Hairstyles for Black Hair
shaved sides hairstyles for black hair paired with styled tops represent an emerging hair trend making waves in the black community. Blending edge with versatility, the cut allows self-expression from office-friendly to eclectic.
Overview of Shaved Sides Popularity Among Black Women
Traditionally taboo, shaved sides gained traction in 2022 among black women thanks to trendsetters on social media. Key drivers include:
- Natural hair icons like Lupita Nyong’o and Keke Palmer donning undercuts
- #shavedsides videos earning over 300 million views on TikTok
- Google searches for “shaved sides hairstyles black” up 5000%
The refreshing style reveals confidence, celebrates black beauty standards, and gives women more options beyond extensions.
Breakdown of Top Shaved Side Styles Rocked
Top styles spotted range from:
Everything from edgy disconnected undercuts to softer parted crops appear across social – each putting black hair front and center.
Step-By-Step Tutorials on Cutting Shaved Sides at Home
Achieving flawless shaved sides without visiting the barbershop takes skill. Below are tutorials to DIY the style:
@missaudreee ‘s Parted Faux Hawk Guide
The step-by-step shows using clippers to shave the sides down to the scalp while artfully fading to longer lengths up top. Parted strategically, the dimensional faux hawk carries intrigue.
@naturallycurlykee ‘s Disconnected Undercut Method
This visual walkthrough focuses on creating a longer curly fro on top with sharply disconnected shaved sides for dramatic contrast and versatility styling different parts. The precision pays off.
@curlzandcoils’s Temple Fade for Beginners
Ideal for undercut newbies, this tutorial teaches carving a soft temple fade to test the waters before committing to full sides. It allows gauging comfort levels with lower risk.
Spotlight on Top Black Hairstylists Pioneering the Shaved Sides Trend
Leading celebrity stylists like Felicia Leatherwood, IrnCutcher, and Sheen Carson coined signature shaved styles that sparked mass attention. Their artistry brought edge to the mainstream.
Felicia Leatherwood’s Sculpted Caesar Cut
Natural hair pro Felicia Leatherwood’s dimensional Caesar undercut seen on Issa Rae and Marsai Martin gained instant traction for its eye-catching yet office-friendly silhouette. Signatures include zig-zag parts and defined waves up top.
IrnCutcher’s Disconnected Passion Twists
Checked by IrnCutcher, Meagan Good and Chlöe Bailey’s sleek disconnected side passion twist styles communally shifted acceptance of shaved sides plus protective styling pairing beautifully. The stark contrast captivated commentators.
Sheen Carson’s Curly Faux Undercut
Worn by Keke Palmer and Yvonne Orji, Sheen Carson’s trademarked curly fro exaggerated disconnect undercut plays with extreme volume on top balanced against closely cropped sides. The innovative proportions push boundaries.
Cultural Significance of Shaved Sides Hairstyles Catching On
Beyond fierce style, normalized shaved sides mark progress combatting hair discrimination and rigid standards dictating professionalism.
Challenging Traditional Femininity Norms
Women cutting their hair short historically signaled defiance – shattering myths that longer hair equals more attractive, professional and feminine. Shaved sides similarly reject outdated biases, celebrating women defining beauty themselves.
Expanding Legal Protections Around Hairstyle Choices
After Banana Republic fired employee Destiny Tolliver for her short undercut, New York joined 19 states banning hair discrimination with the Crown Act – finally legal protection for black women’s right to wear afros, braids, shaved sides or any texture without consequence.
Inspiring Youth Through Representation
Young girls seeing icons like Keke and Lupita proudly wearing cuts once deemed “radical” in corporate spaces, schools and beyond feel empowered in their blossoming self-image – dangling hair false flags for womanhood.
Key Takeaways on Cultural Rise of Shaved Sides Hairstyles
Core lessons from the shaved side renaissance:
Expression – Shaved styles exhibit confidence to defy boring hairstyle norms.
Inclusivity – Successfully challenging traditional white beauty standards that alienate.
Freedom – With protective legal rights won, the choice feels safe and freeing.
Inspiration – Trendsetters with shaved styles motivate younger generations in their identity.
What begins with individual black women donning edited cuts will collectively reshape how all women can proudly wear hair as it naturally grows or style it creatively without judgement.
Conclusion
In closing, shaved sides hairstyles are transcending taboo to become celebrated options for stylish black women seeking new forms of expression mixing edge with professionalism. Gatekeepers like Lupita, Keke and Issa unveiling striking cuts at global events signaled a shift.
Empowering hair tutorials opened the possibility of flawlessly achieving shaved styles at home. And laws now protect black women against discrimination for choosing cuts once unfairly deemed unprofessional or un-feminine based on texture.
Excitingly, artistic black hairstylists will continue iterating fresh disconnected and tapered shapes that push boundaries. As shaved sides keep inspiring youth in embracing identity, the rewriting of old beauty norms unveils possibility once restricted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Shaved Sides Hairstyles for Black Women
Why did shaved sides hairstyles traditionally carry stigma for black women?
Eurocentric visuals valuing longer, silkier hair textures had long dominated media as the professional standard – shunning black hair in natural states or creative cuts as “radical” or inappropriate. Shaved sides particularly challenged norms around traditional femininity tied to hair length and texture.
Which public figures helped ignite mass popularity around shaved sides styles?
Seeing globally esteemed actresses like Lupita Nyong’o and Keke Palmer confidently don head-turning shaved styles on red carpets signaled to millions of black women that drastically edited cuts carry intrigue versus impropriety when black hair leads the beauty standard.
What legal progress recently expanded protections for black hairstyle choices against discrimination?
In 2022, New York joined 19 other states in banning hair discrimination by passing the CROWN Act, finally granting black women legal right to wear braids, afros, or shaved sides professionally without consequence – inspiring a wave of women trying side cuts. Companies cannot mandate assimilative hairstyles any longer or risk lawsuits.
How are younger generations inspired by the cultural rise of shaved sides?
Representation matters profoundly. Young black girls witnessing icons like Keke and trailblazers proudly wearing cuts once deemed “radical” in corporate spaces, schools and beyond feel immensely more empowered in self-love – free to define beauty by their own standards beyond outdated norms.
Which top black hairstylists catalyzed the trend with signature shaved styles?
Celebrity stylists Felicia Leatherwood, IrnCutcher and Sheen Carson sparked mass attention as their coined Caesar cuts, passion twists-meets-undercut contrasts, and curly faux hawk disconnects seen on Issa Rae, Meagan Good and Keke Palmer took off across social media. Their artistry normalized edgy cuts as viable beauty trends.
What makes achieving flawless shaved sides at home difficult for beginners?
Without professional tools and experience, evenly transitioning longer top hair into closely cropped sides poses challenges. Missing precision with clippers can result in uneven bald spots or poorly blended disconnects rather than striking contrast. Watching visual tutorials helps build skill.
Should shaved sides be considered appropriate styles for formal events and workplaces?
Absolutely, though outdated norms often still dictate otherwise. Society must adjust biases that creative black hair art remains unprofessional. As icons wear braids, neon colors, afros and shaved sides down runways and on global stages, celebrating black style as high fashion, professionalism standards rightly shift to include cultural expression versus assimilation.
Do shaved sides work as effectively on natural hair textures as wigs or weaves?
Shaved sides arguably make bigger visible impact when carved intricately into natural curls, coils and afros rather than installed lengths. The stark contrast stands out beautifully, allowing textures to take center stage. However, all lengths remain equally powerful and professional when black women own defining beauty.
Should women test tolerance levels at more conservative companies before trying a side cut?
It smart first knowing your workplace rights and protections around style as managers with bias still wrongly equate professionalism with euro-centric looks. New York or other states offering legal protections, DO make cuts feel safer. However testing waters first by gradually going shorter before committing offers valuable data.
What advice do stylists have for maintaining flawless shaved sides week to week?
Consistency remains vital so growth stays neat versus straying into awkward mid-lengths. Identify reliable barbers for biweekly shape ups. Use beard clippers to carefully touch up neck and sideburn lines if unable to visit the shop. And lightly dusting baby powder onto the faded section helps sharply blend new growth for lasting crispness.
