14 Natural Hairstyles That Are Drop-Dead Gorgeous

Serena has long been a natural hair pioneer—remember the beaded braids she and her sister used to wear? But her latest look, a set of perfect curls, is as strong as she is on the court. To replicate her style, "visit a natural-hair professional to have your texture assessed by a trained eye for density, thickness, and strength," says Shereen Doucette of Eufora's global team. They'll be able to give you a proper cut, and recommend products—like Eufora's Smooth'n Promise—that boost your natural curl pattern.

A crown-circling braid is as simple as it is elegant. To keep hair from breaking when you plait, wait until it is fully dry to braid from one ear to the other, and start with a moisturizing leave-in moisturizer like Carol's Daughter Hair Milk.

This look takes goddess braids to new heights. Start with a thick fishtail that begins at the crown, then plait smaller braids along the sides and back.

Women with natural hair no longer have to search the beauty aisle for products that were created for women with different hair textures (can we get a sigh of relief?). Now you can shop product lines made for your hairstyle, like Miss Jessie's, which CEO and co-founder Miko Branch created with his sister, Tito. Using these products will not only help you get the style you want, but it also helps prevent damage as you won't have to resort to heat styling nearly as much. Win-win all around, wouldn't you say?

"I love Lupita's hair evolution; it is always beautiful to see a woman who embraces her natural texture as well as her culture, " says celebrity hairstylist Larry Sims. "Many women can attest to the grueling process of growing their hair out, so I'd take a page out of Lupita's book and encourage them to be innovative with styles and textures, like Lupita does here, so they don't give up on the journey."

A center part and braids that come undone toward the ends give this look a boho feel—perfect for the 70s looks that are trending this fall.

"Thick, curly, and kinky hair textures hold this look the best," says Sims of these double-twists. Marley hair, or other kinds of synthetic hair, can be woven into your natural hair at to create long and dramatic twists. Just visit the salon the first time you get it done, then study YouTube tutorials if you're looking to save some cash.

Braided buns running along the crown create a fun and girly look. Try Smooth 'N Shine Spray-On Polisher to keep braids looking healthy.

"Cornrows are a timeless, universal style," says Sims. "It's cool to incorporate different braid lines and angles as opposed to the traditional row." Pull them into a high bun like Joy does here to get extra mileage out of the look.

"Braiding is an art form; I like the crocheting technique, where you braid your own hair down and then crochet in added hair to give you a textured look," says Branch. To really push the envelope, mix in colored strands for a get-noticed-now effect.

If you're going to wear box braids or cornrows, prevent breakage and over-drying by skipping the shampoo once in a while. Instead, head straight for the conditioner—Sims recommends Smooth 'N Shine Deep Recovery Conditioner—which will refresh the scalp without stripping the hair of essential oils that help hair cuticles maintain your style, he says.

Any face shape can rock Bantu knots, says Sims—it just depends on the size of the knot. "For rounder face shapes, create larger knots, and for thinner face shapes, create smaller ones." Easy enough.

"Havana twists are actually double -strand twists created with chunkier sections of hair, so they're actually way easier to make than they look," explains Sims. "All you have to do is double twist a chunky section of hair from root to tip, then use a mousse—I like the Smooth 'N Shine Olive & Tea Tree RevivOil Wrap & Set Mousse—to create texture that also helps with the hold."

While getting to your natural curls after years of straightening can take some time—Yvette describes her process on Facebook—a couple of good products will help your hair speed things along. Try rinsing with Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls or MultiCultural Curls, then follow-up with a leave-in conditioner. When hair is fully dry, gently style with a Denman paddle brush.