This weekend New York City’s Randall's Island hosted the Governor’s Ball Music Festival. A staple in the city the annual festival featured performances from Chance the Rapper, Childish Gambino, and Cage The Elephant. But while the crowd was mesmerized by the stars on stage we were stuck on their style. Melanin and textured manes literally stole the show. See our favorite showstopping beauty looks below.

It used to be all about gelled down baby hairs & frizz free blowouts but the natural hair community is embracing imperfections in new and exciting ways.

The volume on this electric style is almost as sexy as this sheer cage tank. Get into how she finished the look by adding an oversized jacket and the perfect “don't wish you could find a shade that makes you look this good without seeming like you were trying” lip color.  

Sidebar: are we the only ones who are noticing how global warming is impacting festival style? We predict parkas & crop tops will be the wave all season long. Thanks a lot congress!

Brightly colored hair has always been a festival staple and it looks like this season is going to be no exception.

Get the look with our purple rain hair.

This young lady paired a royal button down shirt with a tiger printed tank and pendant necklaces. Her short curls are a great low maintenance pick for a music festival. Not only does the lack of fuss  get you to the ferry on time, you can to jump up and down without needing to take your hair out of your eyes.

Short styles are gaining in popularity as more and more women discover how freeing they can be. 

 Recreate the lock using our McKenzie extra small curls. Go with a longer length so you can taper the cut to suit you.

This queen looked unbothered as she swung her ombré locs. Recreate the look by using our kinky bulk hair to add faux locs. If you're not looking to make as quite a bold a statement as the one made above ombré is a great way to ease into color. It also works well in a conservative office environment which is a plus because sadly not every day can be about tunes, sun, and style. Though for the record, we totally think it should be. 

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram to check out our take on festival beauty all season long!

Photo Credits: Essence, Governors Ball 

If you’ve ever been lost down the beauty guru rabbit hole you’ve probably felt like your favorite YouTuber had something you didn’t and they did-countless hours of trial and error. Curls & Couture’s Courtney Danielle might be known for her signature twist out and awesome curl definition now but there was a time when all she had was questions and a rattail comb like the rest of us. Find out how this popular digital influencer acquired the skills to install her own protective styles, her secrets to slaying on #baecation, and what she loves about connecting with all of you below.

Where did you acquire the skills to do your own hair?  

That was trial and error. What I started to do when I was transitioning is I got curly hair and I would teach myself how to do curly hair on weave before I fully went into natural. So by the time I was fully natural I had almost a year of practice doing twist-outs, braid-outs, flexi-rods, all of that. And then anything I wanted to learn I would watch on YouTube or I would ask professionals. Whenever I go to a stylist I’m asking them questions. “What are you doing?” “Why are you doing that?” “Why is this important?” “Why are you using this technique over that technique?”

How does it makes you feel now that YouTubers are learning from you?

I think it’s cool. It makes me happy. I love when people tell me “I learned how to do a flexi-rod set because of you!” I’m like “for real?” It gives me the confidence that I’m doing something right.

How do you take care of your hair when you’re traveling?

Protective styles. That is the number one thing to do because it’s easy as long as I have a protective style I’m good.

How do you deal with TSA limits on liquids in your carryon?

Usually I end up taking a combination of travel size and full time products depending on where I’m going. When I went to Bali I took a full size conditioner but I usually take only one full size product. Whatever styling product I can get hold and moisture with I bring. If I’m doing braids, faux-locks, or crochet I take travel size products.

What are some of your favorite travel-size products? 

Girl+Hair. It’s what I travel with. That and Jane Carter they have a whole travel line. Oh and Devacurl, their super cream, It’s not travel size but it’s a small bottle and it won’t spill in your bag.

How do you use Girl+Hair?

I use it when I go away on vacation I like the ease of it. When you’re doing protective styles you have to really get in between each braid. For me, having that applicator bottle, having the ability to just get up and go and not worrying about diluting my shampoo or diluting conditioner enough so I won't get build up, things like that are important to me. It was really easy to use. I also like companies that start in the home. It’s not a big manufactured product. And I like that she has a science background. The people behind the brand are important to me too.

What made you want to work with Girl+Hair?

They reached out to me sometime last year when I had faux-locks. I liked what they stood for and the fact that they were solely dedicated to under care. There weren’t any brands that did that so that was interesting to me. I thought it was different.

Your boyfriend was featured in a video where he styled your hair. Do you guys share products? How does that work?

Girllll! In the beginning he used to take all my products. He was literally taking products as I was using them. Then I got the Jane Carter men's line and now we both love Jane Carter and I don't have to worry about him taking my stuff!

Do you think that’s a good way to bond in your relationship?

Oh my gosh yes! He loves it. He comes to me like “my curls are popping today!” I have to tell him “alright relax!” Beyond the hair he’s a videographer so he can relate to the creative aspect.

At last year’s Curlfest you wore really long cornrows what are you planning on rocking this year?

I want to do that style of like cornrows in the front with boxbraids in the back or to the side with the hair jewelry. I’m feening to do that! I love charms. I did a festival look for a video and I used them.

One last question. HOW did you create that halo braid?

Haha. I have a fake halo braid I made.

 It’s fake?!

 Yeah. I put my hair in a bun then I use chunky braiding hair and I secure it to the back of the bun and wrap it around. It takes me thirty minutes. If my hair is stretched it takes probably fifteen minutes.

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*This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.  

Photo Credits: Curls & Couture

While formal events like the Academy Awards and the Met Ball bring out wig snatching couture and breathtaking ball gowns from some of our favorite stars less formal occasions provide the perfect platforms for sharing their personalities!

On-trend styles like mini dresses and metallics may have ruled the night at Sunday night’s 26th Annual MTV Movie Awards but supermodel Jourdan Dunn made a splash by choosing to combine textures. She crushed it in wide legged satin trousers and a velvet off the shoulder blouse from designer Johanna Ortiz.

But what really made the brown British bombshell stand out wasn’t her supple skin or snatched waist it was her showstopping waist-length ponytail. Recreate her look for your next big night out with our kinky bulk hair using the steps below!

1. Start out by washing and blow-drying your hair with a sulfate-free shampoo.
2. Part your hair to one side of your face. Don’t forget to place the part on your best side for selfies (and don’t you dare try and act like you haven’t figured out which one that is)!
3. Treat your hair with a leave-in conditioner and then brush it down on both sides with a bristle brush. Remember the focus is on the added hair here so make the base of your initial ponytail as neat as possible.
4. Slick your hair down with an edge control. Try Palmer’s Coconut Oil option if you don’t want one that makes your hair hard and inflexible.
5. Secure your hair with a ponytail holder.
6. Wrap the edge of ponytail with strand of kinky bulk hair.
7. Add additional bulk hair to ponytail. Secure the hair to the initial ponytail with bobby pins. Be careful not to poke yourself by jamming the pins into your head. Insert them at an angle and check to make sure they're secure. 
8. Moisten your fingers with oil or leave-in conditioner and separate hair with your hands.
9. Tease your hair to add volume with a rattail comb.
10. Top off with your favorite lightweight finishing spray!

Finish the look by adding your favorite oversized hooped earrings and a bold lip. We like The Lip Bar’s “Bawse Lady”. Try this look the next time you’re trying to spend your Saturday night styling like one of the original “ Yonce’ “ girls.

Photo Credits: Marie Claire, Malayan Mail, FashionBombDaily

You asked for it and we delivered! Kinky bulk hair is now available for purchase at Latch N Hooked! A certain vocal segment of our customers have been longing for us to loosen up the reins (and the curls) on our protective styling offerings to allow them the freedom to experiment. With bulk hair you can create the wigs, twists, and updos that you’ve been imagining altering them as you please. Want to know how you can use the freedom of bulk hair to create a style that suits you? Get inspired by these three looks below!

Brushed Out Ponytail

In her recent shoot for Mane Addicts “Black’ish” actress Yara Shahidi shines. The volume of the textured ponytail created for her by stylist to the stars Cesar Ramirez pairs beautifully with the simple look she’s sporting styled by Ade Samuel. Recreate it by slicking down your hair, wrapping the end of the ponytail with hair and adding textured hair to the ends. Don’t forget to add some shine by using some oil from Mielle Organics, which Shahidi identifies as one of her favorites!

Flat Twists

Flats twists are a great way to achieve maximum style with minimum maintenance. Just take a comb, some ecostyler gel, some Bobby pins and get to work. Adorn them with beads and charms for special occasions, or buy your second pack in a different shade so you can slip  some color into your style. Looking for a more modern twist on this trend? Pull them up into faux hawk like Tessa Thompson's character did in "Dear White People."

Classic Pompadour

As we reminded you on Valentine’s Day, special occasions no longer require stick straight hair. Use bulk kinky hair to embrace your hair texture with elegance like Teyonah Parris did while slaying on the red carpet in Marchesa and a pompadour at the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Or kick it old school and pull the hair up into a firm bun like Auntie Pauletta did at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony.

We love seeing how creative you get with our products! Make sure you share the styles you use our kinky bulk hair to create with us on social media using the hashtag #latchednhooked.

Photo Credits: Yahoo, People, Blackfilm