Actresses Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Hollywood 2012 Awards

My fingers are crossed that actresses Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer will grab gold Oscar statues today at the 84th Annual Academy Awards for their respective roles in the blockbuster movie, The Help.

Davis is a contender for Best Actress and Spencer is up for the Best Supporting Actress' Award.

If they win, they'll join an elite group of Black actors that include Hattie McDaniel, Denzel Washington, Monique and others. Of course, I'll be watching for the fashions -- lovely gowns, plenty of sparkly diamonds and fab outfits -- on the red carpet. Natural hair on the red carpet will be an added bonus (maybe Davis will wear her natural hair?), but maybe I'm setting my expectations too high?

Stay tuned to HairNista.blogspot.com for the latest in Academy Awards' fashions and styles on the red carpet.

What do you think about the Academy Awards? Will you be tuning in? Who do you hope wins?

Color on the Red Carpet

Black celebs turned the red carpet out in bold colored gowns over the weekend at the NACCP Image Awards in Los Angeles. 

I'm a big, big fan of color. Nothing makes our skin glow more than color in our wardrobe. The bolder, the brighter, the better. So I was too happy to see that most actresses played color up big this year, especially at a red carpet event where you usually see a sea of nothing but black.

And in the middle of winter? Apparently, they got the color memo! And they worked it, in brilliant shades of orange, candy-colored pink and deep blue. Take a look at a few of my fave looks, as featured on Essence.com.

What do you think of these colors?

I almost didn't recognize actress Keke Palmer. She looks smashing -- and all grown up  -- in this hot pink gown with a sweetheart neckline and a flowing train by Naven. Very classy.

Actress Viola Davis glows in this tangerine halter gown by LeRoux. Davis takes the sexy up a notch, with the orange complimenting her rich, chocolate skin tone. But I have to ask: Where is the natural hair she sported recently? Don't you think this would have looked even more smashing with her natural hair? I do.

Tiffany Hines is working red and ruffles in this gown. I love the shade of cherry shade of red.

Tamera Mowery wears a one-shoulder gown from BCBGMAXAZARIA that mixes several trends all at once, with a long and short hemline. Not a big fan of the multiple style trends, but I do love the color!



Sanaa Lathan wore a classic gown modernized with a wonderful burst of orange.

Regina King is fire-engine red in this gown by Romona Keveza dress that shows off her sculpted arms.

Octavia Spencer's ocean blue gown by Tadashi Shoji that compliments her curves.

Viola Davis Looks Magnificent in Marchesa

Actress Viola Davis wowed the red carpet at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in L.A. over the weekend.

She looks DIVINE in this Marchesa gown. The white and gold accents beautifully accent her complexion. I love everything about this look! By the way, she snagged the SAG Best Actress award for her role in The Help. The Help co-star Octavia Spencer won Best Supporting Acress.

Could an Oscar be not far away?

Hit or Miss? Golden Globes

Black glitterattis sizzled on the red carpet during the 2012 Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills.

Actors Octavia Spencer, Idris Elba and Morgan Freeman took home honors -- setting the stage for hopeful Oscar wins later. Ya know we showed up and showed out! It was all glam and glitz, with Black Hollywood's style game on point, of course.

Here are the hits and misses. Photos by Getty Images.

The queen of hip hop soul sizzled in this beaded Michael Kors gown. Love it!

"The Help" actress Octavia Spencer sizles in this demure, yet fashionable number by Tadashi Shoji. It's got just enough elegance and sass, while not over-the-top.

The Help actress Viola Davis is a smash hit with this one shoulder, Grecan-inspired Emilio Pucci bordeaux gown. Uber sexy, with the revealing shoulder and the thigh-high split.

Love actress Paula Patton, but I'm not a fan of this fishtail dress by Monique Lhuillier. I love the design of it, but the color ... not so much. A different color, maybe?

Amber Riley sizzles in this red gown by Badgley Mischka. Very haute, and richly compliments her skin tone.

Idris Elba is stunning and dashing as ever in this black tux. I love the rhinestone tennis shoes.