Janet Jackson Hair-spiration for Essence Festival 2018

Apr 20, 2018

Janet The Legend

I am so ready for this year's Essence Festival! Their lineup is fantastic, and some stars will have us celebrating the old and new music. Your ticket is waiting for you so go ahead and reserve yours today! I nearly couldn't catch my breath as I found out Janet Jackson is going to perform because I have never seen her sing live. If you are a fan like me let's start off by singing the lyrics to one of my favorite songs! “I get so lonely. Can't let just anybody hold me. You are the one that lives in me, my dear. Want no one but you." Yes, Ms. Jackson!

Festival Looks

Okay, let me bring it back to the present and gather myself. Janet Jackson is an icon, and no one can deny that. Janet Jackson has grown up right in front of our eyes as part of the Jackson Family or as an abused child on Good Times. Her impressive resume started there but does not end there. I am so excited about the Essence Festival this year! Janet Jackson will be performing and when I saw that I immediately started practicing my dance moves to her biggest hits. I also am trying to decide which bomb style I am wearing to her show! Honestly, there are so many to choose from, and I need your help in making a decision. I have numbered the styles below and guess what? Your votes will be the deciding factor. I depend on you all to make sure I am cute for the Essence Festival this year! Don’t let me down! Now you know what we have to do! Instead of pressing play on your playlist I have created a unique playlist on YouTube just for this article. Go over to and press play on my Janet Jackson playlist so you can get in the mood to recreate one of these looks on yourself and I am so excited! I expect every one of you to tag @privatelabelextensions in your Janet Jackson inspired look!

1. Poetic Justice Love

I love the movie “Poetic Justice.” It is one of my all-time favorite movies, and you guessed it! It’s all because of the matchup between my girl Janet and Tupac Shakur. The film is still a relevant story, and so are Janet’s braids. Let's get into how you can rock these braids now and for the summer.

Poetic Justice Braids

Supplies

Wide-toothed comb
Elastic bands
Braid hair (1 pack)
Scissors
Bobby pins
Hair clips
Rattail comb
Leave-in conditioner

Step 1.

Apply Cantu leave-in conditioner

Step 2.

Take your braid hair out of the package

Step 3.

Remove the rubber band or elastic band from the braid hair

Step 4.

Grab the end of the braid hair and “feather” it Note: Feathering gives your braid hair uneven ends to allow your braids to taper off at the end. Pull on the bottom to remove the blunt appearance.

Step 5.

Trim off the ends of the hair to neaten them

Step 6.

Rattail comb section hair well

Step 7.

Part your hair consistently and neat

Step 8.

Clip the other hair out of the way

Step 9.

Comb through the hair to detangle it

Step 10.

Apply edge control to the very beginning of the braid

Step 11.

Smooth the product with your rattail comb

Step 12.

Divide your braiding hair into two even sections

Step 13.

Divide one of the sections into two more sections by making one section smaller than the other

Step 14.

Grab the smaller section and put it over the bigger section

Step 15.

Bring the two hanging pieces together

Step 16.

Now you have both sections connected in the center

Step 17.

Grip one side with three fingers and put your fingers between the hair on the opposite side

Step 18.

Rotate your hand with the three fingers gripping the hair and go through the loop to grasp your hair

Step 19.

Always feed your natural hair between your index finger and your thumb

Step 20.

Open your index finger and your thumb to grab your natural hair

Step 21.

Your other hand keeps your other hair out of the way

Step 22.

Insert your index finger under the middle section to grab the outer section

Step 23.

Continue this process by rotating your index finger under the middle section

Step 24.

Grasp the outer section and braid it

Step 25.

Adjust the thickness of the braid by borrowing hair from one of the other two sections

Step 26.

Use your scissors to trim the ends of your braids

Here’s how to wrap a turban around your braids to complete the look.

Step 1.

Use an elastic headband

Step 2.

Flip head over and put braids in a high ponytail

Step 3.

Take two of your braids from the center of your head and wrap them around your braids. Secure your hair snugly.

Step 5.

Tuck your braids about four times

Step 6.

Flip your braid back

Step 7.

Adjust braids to make sure they aren’t sticking up or out

Step 8.

Pull some of the braids out around the hairline to reduce tension

Step 9.

French braid the braids all the way down to the end

Step 10.

Take your fabric and wrap it around the back of your hair (trendy turbans)

Step 11.

Pull the turban ends to the front and crisscross them

Step 12.

Tie the scarf in the back of the braids to get them high Your other option is to make folks think you have your whole head braided when you don’t! The hack I am sharing below is a quick way to get the look without all the time it takes to get the style. Let me put you on to this braid hack.

Box Braid Hack

Supplies

Crochet braids
Crochet needle
Bobby pins
Hair gel
Comb
Elastic band
Black shoestring

Step 1.

Section off the hairline of your hair

Step 2.

Pin the back of your hair up

Step 3.

Braid your natural hair and use eco-style to smooth edges

Step 4.

Crochet each braid individually at your hairline

Step 5.

Slide your crochet needle under the braid with the latch closed

Step 6.

Open the latch when it is through the braid

Step 7.

Attach your braid to the hook

Step 8.

Close the latch and pull it under your natural braid

Step 9.

Pull the end of the braid the loop

Step 10.

Pull it snug but not too tight because you don’t want a lot of tension on your edges

Step 11.

Tuck your natural braid into the crochet braid

Step 12.

There should be eight to ten braids

Step 13.

Smooth your edges

Step 14.

Brush hair up into a bun

Step 15.

Secure the bun with a bobby pin

Step 16.

Take a black shoestring and string braids onto it

Step 17.

Pull the ends of the strings together and tie them together tightly

Step 18.

The braids should form a ring

Step 19.

Cut off the excess string

Step 20.

Place the ring over your bun

Step 21.

Bobby pin the ring in place

Step 22.

Pull the braids up and wrap them around the base of the ponytail

Step 23.

Bobby pin the end of the braid in place

Step 24.

Take your hairline braids and wrap it around the crochet bun

Step 25.

Pin the braid in place

2. Rhythm Nation

Rock this look if you want to get your life all the way together and make a statement at the same time. Now, I admit, the outfit is not a good choice for the summer sun in New Orleans, but the cap and ponytail are perfect just like Janet Jackson! I love when Ciara did her rendition of the chart-topping hit. Your ponytail should be in the mid-back of the head because you will need to pull it through your cap.

Supplies

Brazilin Body Wave 18-22 inches
Eco-style gel
Rattail comb
Elastic band
Wide-toothed comb
Scarf
Brush
Edge control
Hairspray
Spray bottle with water

Step 1.

Separate hair by parting the front from ear to ear

Step 2.

Spray water onto hair

Step 3.

Add eco-style to smooth hair

Step 4.

Secure your back ponytail

Step 5.

Spray water onto the front of the hair

Step 6.

Comb through hair to detangle with a wide-toothed comb

Step 7.

Use eco-style to smooth your hair

Step 8.

Smooth hair

Step 9.

Add edge control or gorilla snot to your edges to make them sleek

Step 10.

Tie a scarf around the edges to get them flat

Step 11.

Take down the back ponytail

Step 12.

Combine the top and back together

Step 13.

Brush the hair to make sure it is smooth

Step 14.

Braid the ponytail and wrap the braid around the base of your ponytail

Step 15.

Use an elastic band or rubber band to secure the bun

Step 16.

Take the end of the track and stick the weft of your track on the base of your ponytail

Step 17.

Take the hair sticking from the weft and wrap it around the track and the ponytail to secure it

Step 18.

Wrap the weft around the base of the bun

Step 19.

Make sure the wefts line up right on top of each other to keep it in place

Step 20.

Take a piece of hair from the back and wrap it around the base of the ponytail to hide the weft

Step 21.

Spray with hairspray to keep the end of the hair in place

Step 22.

Smooth the front down with eco-style gel if needed

Step 23.

Tame those edges with edge control

3. Anytime Anyplace

The “Anytime Anyplace” video Janet Jackson did was everything! It makes you want that feeling mellow and happy every day. Let's pause one minute and get ourselves a non-alcoholic beverage while you get ready to recreate this hairstyle. I already know you are going to be cute! Create a wig so you can wear it whenever you want. You know we have our days when our hair makes our day! Let's get started!

Supplies

Color Brilliance (honey blonde)
Clairol BW2 bleach
40 Developer
Dome cap
Scissors
Comb
Needle
Thread
Applicator brush
Mixing bowl

Tease hair at the roots to add volume Add your black jeans and a cute tee, and you are ready to yell until you're hoarse at the Essence Festival 2018.

6. No Sleep

Supplies

Bundles of curly extensions (20”, 18”, 16”)
16” frontal
Tweezer
Spray bottle with water
Clairol 20 developerBW2 bleach powder
Adore sienna brown color
Mixing bowl
Wig Cap
Sewing needle
Nylon sewing thread
Gorilla Snot

Step 1.

Spray hairline with water

Step 2.

Part a section and tweeze it to thin it out

Step 3.

Tweeze the hairline to remove the bulkiness

Step 4.

Brush the hair when you’re done to remove plucked hair

Step 5.

Mix 20 developer and white bleaching powder

Step 6.

Lighten ends of bundles

Step 7.

Keep an eye on hair to make sure it doesn’t bleach too light

Step 8.

Bleach frontal

Step 9.

Adore Sienna Brown and hot water mix

Step 10.

Place the lace in the bowl

Step 11.

Allow the color to soak for about 5 minutes

Step 12.

Secure the frontal by looping the thread on the corners

Step 13.

Sew frontal on a wig cap

Step 14.

Begin sewing 20-inch bundle starting in the back

Step 15.

Sew in your 18-inch bundle

Step 16.

Sew in your 16-inch bundle

Step 17.

Put your wig on

Step 18.

Apply gorilla snot to frontal hairline

Step 19.

Tie scarf around the hairline to help hair stay in place

Step 20.

Apply a mousse to hair to get it fuller and shiny

Live Your Best Life this Summer 2018

This summer is going to be amazing during the 2018 Essence Festival. Each year the hottest entertainers, most fly fans, and media diverge on New Orleans, LA for the best three-day event to hit the city. A tradition most celebrate with friends and loved ones, the Essence Festival will be hosting the gorgeous and talented Janet Jackson for their Sunday show! All Janet Jackson fans need to be there to enjoy the old hits and new hits she will be performing on the Main Stage. Private Label Extensions is ready for you to have a good time and look good while doing it! Go ahead and try one of the styles above. Give me your feedback in the comment section and remember you are deciding which style I am wearing this summer as I scream my lungs out! Now, let me go practice my “If” choreography.