• Cornrow braids and defined curls create a tame afro hairstyle.beautiful african american woman image by Elke Dennis from Fotolia.com
  
  Afro hairstyles are characterized by puffy, billowy hair that is free to take any form the wearer desires. The Afro can be worn wild and in a halo shape around the head or worn tame, short and in tight curls. The hair can be also styled into puffs, or braided and pulled back. Afro hairstyles can be worn both short and refined as well as long and exotic.
  
  

Curly Afro

• This Afro hairstyle is a mass of tight, ringlet curls. A stylist defines the natural curls in the hair and allows them to take a free-form shape around the head. The hair is either left as a halo shape circling around the head or parted in the middle or to the side, allowing the curls to billow out in either direction. The wearer is free to have either short or long curls with this style. Short curls give a manicured look, and long curls give a natural, untamed look.
  
  

Braided Afro

• For this hairstyle, a stylist adds cornrow braids to the sides, top or both, and leaves the back part of the hair in an Afro. The stylist forms the braids in a stylish design and to the wearer's liking. The Afro hair is left free or formed into puffs. These puffs are placed on the side, in the back, on the top or on either side like equal ponytails. The stylist either leaves the Afro part of the hair puffy or defines individual curls for a tamer look. A "faux hawk" is formed when the stylist braids the hair along either side of the head, leaving the hair along the top strip to form a tame Mohawk, and the hair is often in small defined curls.
  
  

Pulled-Back Afro

• An Afro hairstyle looks defined and stylish pulled back. This style is characterized by sleek hair, pulled close to the scalp and gathered at the back top to form an Afro puff. Hair accessories add style to the look. Another way to wear this style is by pulling the hair back sleek on the head and applying a headband. The Afro hair billows out behind the headband, while the front of the hair is sleek and smooth.