An afro, sometimes called a "natural" or shortened to "fro", is a hairstyle in which the hair extends out from the head like a halo, cloud or ball. This may or may not include wearing such afros long, to several times the diameter of the head.

For many people of Black African descent, an afro is the way the hair grows naturally. Nevertheless, anyone with very curly hair is capable of growing an afro. For people of Black African descent, the spiraling, tightly coiled curls (sometimes referred to as natural afro-hair) can be straightened out somewhat, giving the hair added volume and length, by first braiding the hair, then separating the coils using an "afro pick". The afro pick is an adaptation of a traditional African grooming instrument, which is essentially a narrow comb with long, widely spaced teeth.

History

See also

• Natural afro-hair
• Big hair
• Cornrows
• Dreadlocks
• Jewfro