Looking for the most elegant, yet easy updos to try on your 4c hair for a special event such as a wedding, birthday or anniversary?
In this post, I have compiled a list of 40 beautiful updos to try out.
These hairstyles can be done on short hair, you only need to add a kinky hair extension such as Marley hair to be able to replicate the hairstyle.
To get the polished and smooth look in this post, you will need to fully comb out your hair and do a blowout with heat using a blow dryer.
If you don’t want to add heat to your hair, you can stretch your hair with African threading or using the banding method, then comb your hair out after taking out the hair bands or thread.
Please note that your updo may turn out looking different from your inspired hairstyle if you have a different hair length, texture and hair color.
40 Beautiful Updos to Try on Your Natural Hair, Regardless of Your Length or Hair Texture
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1. Faux Hawk Updo on Short 4c Hair
This style is done best with Marley hair extensions and gel to slick it back. Eco Styler is a great gel with a stronghold. Rubber bands and a rat tail comb are also needed for this hairstyle.
This hairstyle is best done on dry hair with just gel or a small amount of cream.
This simple hairstyle by Fatou is one of my favorite hairstyles that I love to do when I put my hair up in a bun.
All you need to do is to pull your stretched natural hair into a bun, loosely twist small sections of your hair, and tuck them in the middle with bobby pins.
To get a smooth bun look, wrap your hair with a silk or satin scarf for a few minutes and take it down afterward.
9. Smooth Roll-n-Tuck Frohawk with Couple Flat Twists on the Sides
To achieve the cornrows, some gel and bobby pins will be your best friend.
This is a beautiful hairstyle you can do yourself at home to try when looking for something new. For some sheen, spray the finished hairstyle with a spray sheen.
10. Intertwined Twists Updo on Short Natural Hair
If you have a shorter hair length that’s at least six inches long, you can achieve this hairstyle either by yourself or with the help of a hairstylist.
All you need to do is to stretch your hair by doing a blowout or with the banding method. For some sheen, spray the finished hairstyle with a spray sheen.
11. All-Back Bun with Wrapped Two-Strand Twists
This is a hairstyle you can easily do yourself at home.
Just stretch your hair with a blow drier so that you can perfectly replicate this hairstyle and you’re ready for your date!
A bride that plans to wear a wedding veil on her wedding will be best served by this hairstyle because she can just clip her veil at the back of her hair, on top of the twisted hair.
And when it’s time to take down the veil for the reception, she can easily do that without worrying about messing up her hairstyle.
This is a perfect hairstyle for medium-length 4c hair. It’s so easy to do that you can do it yourself at home. Be sure to work with fully detangled and partly stretched hair, so that you get lots of volume.
Adding color to your hair can make a hairstyle stand out and look more fun.
As naturals, you don’t need to be afraid of color.
We can color your hair and still have healthy, beautiful natural hair. As long as you can continue to care for your hair with regular deep conditioning.
If you want an up-do that will last a few days, you will enjoy getting this hairstyle done because the cornrows allows you to wear the style for several days at a time. This elegant updo is perfect for a night out or an office party.
There is something so beautiful about smoothed-down edges with a textured updo.
Some people shy away from it or laugh at people who do it but they just don’t understand or know how to rock it perfectly like the beauty in this photo.
24. Updo on Thick 4c Hair
If you don’t want to stretch your hair with heat or by any other means, you can still wear an up-do, as long as you’re creative enough to come up with something beautiful, such as this half up-do with afro bangs.
Type 4 hair can do such amazing things when it comes to hairstyles.
You can create amazing creations like this just from the way your hair grows from your scalp.
30. Elegant High Bun with Accessories
You can never go wrong with a simple, but gorgeous bun! Accessories can really take a simple bun to the next level as well as adding a gorgeous twist to the front. Add a kinky hair extension for more volume and length.
31. Faux Hawk Updo with Cornrow Style
Small cornrows like this will require a steady hand and lots of patience and skill.
If you don’t want to add extra hair to this style, twisting your hair into Bantu knots will still make this style look elegant and graceful.
For this style, it looks like it was blown out with a blow dryer to give it a smoother look.
Occasionally blowing your hair out is good for your hair to stretch it and try different styles.
Heat styling doesn’t always have to be damaging if you do it right, so you don’t need to be so afraid of it.
You also don’t need to be afraid of color, especially if you continue to deep condition your hair on a regular basis.
As long as you are treating your hair and taking care of it weekly, you can use heat and color to switch up your styles.
If you’re afraid to chemically lighten it or you don’t want to commit to one color, you can always try a temporary color wax and switch up your color whenever you want.
33. Hair Buns with Metal Cuffs and Beads Updo
This style used extension hair but this style would still be so beautiful with just two space buns. Beads and metal cuffs like this can be found at any beauty supply store but can also be found online.
Make sure to cover your hair with a satin scarf or bonnet so that you can prolong the hairstyle.
34. Mega Bun on 4c Hair
Natural hair is so versatile and beautiful. You can do amazing things to it like this and look magnificent.
This hairstyle reminds me of a tornado, without the devastation.
The only thing “devastating” about this style is how devastatingly beautiful it is.
35. Rolled and Twisted Hair Updo
To get the hairstyle to have this much volume and density, you can add some hair extensions.
Using an edge control will keep the rest of it smooth and shiny. Baby hairs are not needed.
36. Natural Hair Up-do on Short Hair
If you have short hair and think you can’t pull off an elegant updo without adding hair extensions to your hair, then you will have to open your mind and get creative.
This fold and tuck hairstyle can be pulled off with short hair.
If your hair is only a few inches, you can twist or cornrow parts of your hair, so that you won’t have to pull the front part of your hair too much.
37. Mega Frohawk
For density and volume, adding extensions will give you the look in this photo. This is a beautiful hairstyle for your wedding day or any other special occasion. It’s so elegant and simple. If you are going to be wearing this hairstyle for your wedding, you can add a tiara, hair accessory, or bridal veil to elevate this hairstyle.
A fancy hairstyle like this takes time, patience, and practice. The two mirror hack will also work well with this hairstyle since most of the hairstyle is at the back of the head.
You also will want to have a many bobby pins at your disposal.
For this hairstyle, using a shoelace to create a puff is a great hack that I’ve learned.
Tighten the shoelace to your desired length and tie it tightly so it does not come undone.
After creating the puff, you can create the twists using bobby pins.
Another great benefit of using a shoelace is that the puff won’t wiggle or come loose while you are creating the twists.
Just make sure to tuck it in or use a black one so no one will be able to see it. Then smooth off the edges with a soft hair gel.
40. Elegant Rolled Updo
This style also should be done with two mirrors so you can work on the back of your head a lot easier. Having someone help you with it would be a better idea because you can ensure that your hair will turn out looking beautiful.
The different layers of colors adds another element of beauty to this style. This is especially a fantastic way to show off your hair color when you start getting new growth on your roots.
Which one of these hairstyles is your favorite? Which one(s) will you be trying next? Do you have a question about how to achieve any of these hairstyles if you have a different hair length or type? Please let me know in the comments section.
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Adebola Matthew
Tuesday 1st of June 2021
All the updos are so beautiful ❤️, can I have access to your videos where a beginner can learn from. Thank you in advance.
Daisy Chepkoech
Thursday 3rd of June 2021
Hi Adebola, you can check out our Youtube channel for more beginner tips and tutorials. Here's the link: Coils & Glory TV
SIMEON UDOFIA
Monday 8th of March 2021
How do i achieve no. 27
Adeola
Monday 8th of March 2021
Please reach out to @tasalaHQ. though you can recreate your own style.
Adebola Matthew
Tuesday 1st of June 2021
All the updos are so beautiful ❤️, can I have access to your videos where a beginner can learn from. Thank you in advance.
Daisy Chepkoech
Thursday 3rd of June 2021
Hi Adebola, you can check out our Youtube channel for more beginner tips and tutorials. Here's the link: Coils & Glory TV
SIMEON UDOFIA
Monday 8th of March 2021
How do i achieve no. 27
Adeola
Monday 8th of March 2021
Please reach out to @tasalaHQ. though you can recreate your own style.