13 Natural Hairstyles from Afropunk Johannesburg to Try Now

"I think a crown has always represented the queendom of Black women."

By Amira RasoolPhotography by Andile Buka

January 3, 2019

Image may contain Human Person Sunglasses Accessories Accessory Clothing Apparel Face Jacket and Coat

In South Africa, embracing natural hair is not just a movement, it's a lifestyle. This lifestyle reveals the truest and most authentic version of a person, and for some, it provides a sense of pride and unity. During the second annual Afropunk Joburg festival in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the historic Constitution Hill, Black women came out in droves to celebrate and showcase their one-of-a-kind style.

Intricately-braided hairstyles indigenous to the continent flowed down the backs of festival goers in colorful shades of purple and blue, and hair woven crowns towered over the crowd. Mini afros, shaved heads, and Bantu knots also made an appearance along with traditional tribal white eye dots and an impressive range of rainbow color lip palettes. No matter how bold or subtle each woman's look was, the beauty of this all-encompassing natural lifestyle illuminated the festival grounds. Local Johannesburg-based photographer Andile Buka was on the scene to capture all of the beautiful #BlackGirlMagic on display.

Andile Buka
1/14
Amonge Sinxoto
"I think a crown has always represented the queendom of Black women. Obviously, I don't walk around with a crown every day but I think on the days that I do, it's like this is what we as a people represent — royalty."
Instagram: @a_monge
Andile Buka
2/14
Mpho Moloi
"Bantu knots are for my people. African women wear bantu knots. They're quite stylish and wearable, that's what I love about it."

Andile Buka
3/14
Rosa
"Unicorns inspired my hair look. Also candy, flavor, and happiness. I'm a mermaid."
Andile Buka
4/14
iindirhe
"I'm a big believer in Afrocentric looks. I feel like, in a cosmopolitan context, that's what I've been born into and that's what I'm adapting to. So, my look is definitely inspired by Afro-futurism. It's taking what Africa is now and looking at it from a futuristic sci-fi perspective."
Instagram: @iindirhe

Andile Buka
5/14
Dineo Sebona
"Africanism inspired my hairstyle. I think it goes really well with my style as a person. I also like resting my Afro, and [I like wearing] braids better than rocking a wig or a weave."
Andile Buka
6/14
Palesa
"I love being all punk'd up."

Andile Buka
7/14
Lungile Zulu
"I love wearing my natural hair because it's less work, there's no ingredients, it's just me. I come as I am and I just love it."
Instagram: @lungile_mageba_zulu
Andile Buka
8/14
Mbongwa Zulu
"I wanted to bring color but something not permanent, just for the festive season. I decided you know what, I need color in my life so I just bought wool."
Instagram: @vho_mlindos

Andile Buka
9/14
Kaya Mtengwane
"My look was inspired by African Identity in a time of Afro-modernism. I went for minimal make-up because it speaks to my short hairdo. I identified discernible features of various styles and traditional aesthetics. This I did by adding the kufi hat and earrings with African motifs."
Instagram: @kayamtengwane
Andile Buka
10/14
Joy Gracious
"I cut my sides because I'm all about embracing new beginnings. So, shaving my hair off every now and then is actually just praising my crown."
Instagram: @joygraciouss

Andile Buka
11/14
Ashleigh de Gee (Red Robyn)
Musician Ashleigh de Gee aka Red Robyn went bleach blonde for her debut Afropunk performance after winning this year's Afropunk Joburg Battle of the Bands.
Instagram: @redrobynmusic
Andile Buka
12/14
Serah Phiri
"I love everything about rocking my natural hair. I'm free, I feel like I haven't succumbed to society's expectation of what a black woman should look like. I honestly feel a lot of women should embrace their natural hair."

Andile Buka
13/14
Kagiso Maleka
"I feel like natural hair embodies a black woman. As much as I want to try to press it down or straighten it or whatever, it can't be suppressed, it just comes back up again. That's what a Black woman does. I think it epitomizes Black womanhood."
14/14
Want more Teen Vogue? Like us on Facebook to stay in the know!