African American celebrities are some of the biggest hair trendsetters -- from Rihanna's short, edgy style (that is forever evolving) to Tyra's long, sleek strands, these ladies are known for their signature styles. And while many women attempt to recreate their looks, they never truly succeed at pulling them off quite as well. Why is that anyway?

We think it is because we see celebrities like Jennifer Hudson, Mariah Carey and Halle Berry rocking gorgeous hairstyles on the red carpet, but we never really learn how their hairstylists actually created them. Are the styles as easy as they look, or are there many more complicated steps to them?

We spoke to Tippi Shorter, celebrity hairstylist whose clients include the fabulous Alicia Keys and Lauren Hill, to find out. Here she weighs in on how to recreate these amazing African American hairstyles, and explains why certain styles work and why others should be avoided. Scope out the hairstyles in this photo gallery and make note of the looks you want to try. Then be sure to steer clear of the ones that might not flatter your face shape, or worse, damage your beautiful, but fragile hair -- eek!