The crew primping Miss Virginia, Nancy Redd, of Martinsville, never had a chance to capitalize on what they said was a secret weapon: her natural hairstyle.

Popular natural hairstyles include: twists sets, twist-outs, braid-outs, box braids, and marley/ havana twists, wash and go, and yarn braids.

With the school dance coming up, the girls go to the town where they purchase clothes and Poppy gets a makeover, opting for a more natural hairstyle.

As well as comfortable, practical, well-fitting uniforms, his reforms introduced neat, natural hairstyles for all, with no wigs, powder and grease or hair-tying evident.

However, since the 1960s, natural hairstyles, such as the afro, braids, and dreadlocks, have been growing in popularity.

This includes efforts toward promoting as models those with clearly defined African features; the mainstreaming of natural hairstyles; and, in women, fuller, more voluptuous body types.

There was a slide show where the woman made negative remarks about black women's natural hairstyles in the workplace, calling them "shocking," "inappropriate," and "political."

Originally featuring two large fringes in front of his ears, the hairstyle changes to a sporadically arranged natural hairstyle.

Nimat Bilal-Young, whose focus is natural hairstyles for black women, with Monique Dula, left, and Geraldine Breakfield.

Ms. Bilal-Young has tapped into a growing demand among black women for natural hairstyles.