Finding fresh ideas for men’s curly hairstyles can be a challenge, but here are a few tips that might help. Customers with curly hair would come into the salon wanting to embrace their curls instead of fighting against them. One of my clients would walk out of the salon with a new attitude. He is memorable to me because of how often he came to the salon. He came to the salon every two weeks and would get his hair cut as short as he could because he thought it looked bushy and out of control. He got that haircut and eventually I was able to convince him to let his hair grow out and just shape it. He stood there looking at himself in the mirror for a minute and spoke first. He then said, “why didn’t you make me do this sooner?” Clients love seeing their curly hair transformed into something amazing.
I am sharing 15 curly hairstyles because I believe they are worth trying, no matter whether you have straight hair or medium to tightly coiled curls. I could go on and on about these hairstyles and all of the different options available, but I promise that with this list, you will find something that inspires you. Not all of these styles will work for every hair type, but there is something for you in this list.
#1: A Clean Tapered Crop That Lets Thick Curls Do the Talking
This is a type of cut I offer often to gentlemen with thick and curly hair. Many guys with those kinds of curls tend to come in requesting cuts that are ‘easy, but not boring.’ This cut fits the bill perfectly. The top stays long and curly to provide that ideal lift and change many desire, plus it offers a fantastic frame for the face. The sides are tapered down, so nothing too drastic. nnDue to the cut’s construction, the strong curl pattern at the back creates and maintains a soft structure and shape to the curls for a whole day. Regular trims are needed to maintain the shape of this cut as the side curls will lose that defined shape quite quickly.
#2 Sculpted Curls on Top with Razor-Sharp Edges
After you leave the barbershop, you will look good for about a week and a half. When the top curls are freshly cut, they will have a lot of movement and the definition will bounce, giving you personality. The edges will also complete the look and give it your personal touch. To keep everything together, I’d recommend buying a good curl cream. This cut will look great on you if you like a professional look that isn’t stiff.
#3 Tousled Medium-Length Curls with That Nice Natural Color Variation
I love this style because it looks so easy to pull off. Good hair is just good hair. The length of the curls is spot on so they fall naturally rather than getting long and losing the curl. The color looks effortless as it is not one uniform color, rather it is highlighted and low lighted which gives it an appearance of being naturally colored. This is advantageous because it means a grow out isn’t visible. This style works best with naturally wavy or curly hair. It won’t work with fine straight hair without a lot of effort. But for the ideal hair texture this is a wash-and-go style. It looks great without a lot of time and effort which is awesome.
#4 The Curly Shag, Effortless but It’s Doing a Lot
Shag cuts for curly hair are great. When styled properly the curls bounce and nothing feels stiff. The shag look is a little more chill as it can give an effortless look; however, this is often a goal for many of my clients. This cut has various layers giving it more volume and movement. Because of this, it can be paired with any outfit regardless if it is casual or more dressed up. People with medium to thick hair will see the best outcome. It is recommended to visit your stylist at least once every couple of months to keep the cut maintained, but this cut is one of the easiest to maintain once you have grown out some length.
#5 Loose Tousled Curls That Just Kind of… Go
This is an ideal haircut for people who appreciate how their curls look, but don’t want to spend much time styling their hair each morning, so thank you for that. The ideal length is medium, with naturally voluminous, attractive curls, and a tousled look keeps the style from being overly polished. It is relaxed in the best way possible. One caveat I will make is about humidity. Curls of this length and texture can be prone to frizz in humid weather, so on those days, lightweight defining gel or mousse is your friend. Other than that, you’re essentially letting your hair be your hair, and that’s kind of the point.
#6 Windswept Curls with a Side Part That Actually Looks Sophisticated
This is an amazing style! A side part on curly hair can be hit or miss, but with this style I think it works! The chestnut tones look warm and natural plus the part and curls combination are on point. I can see people thinking ‘this guy has it all figured out’ and it’s nice a haircut can do that for you. This is not a bed head haircut so some effort will be needed to style it of course and a good curl defining cream should do the trick without the crunchy look. This style works best with medium to thick hair that has a natural wave or curl and is super flattering on oval and square face shapes.
#7 A Curly Quiff with a Fade That Means Business
You can see great use of contrast in this cut. There is a lot of volume and texture on top with a quiff style, while the sides drop into a clean fade. This cut frames the face a lot more, especially defining the jawline. I believe this cut works best with medium and thick hair as you need a good amount of curl density to achieve that look on top. The sides of the hair will not require maintenance until you are due for a haircut again, but you will need to maintain the top. While the hair is damp, applying a curl enhancing mousse or cream will help keep the curls bouncy and separated to achieve that look. The cut is very versatile and looks good with either button up shirts or a hoodie.
#8 Salt-and-Pepper Curls with Layers That Actually Make Sense
Many of my clients are worried about going gray, but I remind them that gray hair + curls = AMAZING!!! This is a perfect example of what I mean. The gray and white colors in her hair give her a beautifully sophisticated look that is truly one of a kind and cannot be replicated with any dye job or over-processing. Her salt and pepper curls are stunning, showing off the expertly cut, artfully layered design that is meant to enhance her natural curl pattern. All the layers bounce so beautifully. The color is super interesting and not solid. It is great compared to a solid color dye job which looks cheap. Her curls frame her face beautifully and a medium length keeps it low maintenance. You will want to keep up with regular trims to keep the layers maintained and to help with defining curls I highly recommend a curling serum. This is a perfect way to embrace your natural curls and gray hair!
#9 Rich Chestnut Curls at That Perfect Mid-Length
The first thing I noticed was the color. I love the warm color! I love how this color goes perfectly with the curl pattern and gives a vibrant and neat appearance. The length is also just right; you won’t have to keep adjusting it, and it’s out of your face. There’s also ample volume to give the style some bounce. It is the kind of hair that makes you think the person just came back from an awesome vacation, which I consider a compliment. Having that much life in the hair comes with a price; you will have to condition it a lot to prevent it from turning into a frizzy mess. If you want to skip that, this is definitely not the right style for you. However, if you’re ready to put in a little effort in the conditioning, the daily styling is pretty much done for you.
#10 Tight Coils with Sun-Kissed Highlights That Have a Lot of Personality
I can see why this hairstyle is loved so much! The highlights look very natural. The curls can be showcased beautifully. The perfect hair length means the curls won’t be weighed down, and they will be able to bounce freely. This hairstyle is ideal for someone with naturally coily thick hair because it embraces the natural texture. Keeping this style will require some maintenance. Any defining products will need some reapplication, and the curls will need attention. The highlights will need upkeep just as this style deserves it. In my experience, adding volume to the hair looks paticularly good on rounder faces and it makes the style feel very personal.
#11: Full Voluminous Curls That Own the Space They’re In
You’re going to love this cut if you enjoy lots of volume! It gives an exceptionally full appearance with a tight curl pattern and an even hairline makes it look more natural and less styled. Most haircuts don’t have that effortless look. As a stylist, I believe this cut is most suited for medium density hair with tight curls and a layered cut so that the curls can build on each other to create fullness and tightness. Just keep in mind that hair like this needs a lot of moisture. Tight curls dry out quickly and lose their definition, so you’ll probably want a curl defining cream to keep the hair bouncy and separated. It may seem annoying, but once you find the right product to use, it’s really easy!
#12 Sun-Kissed Curls Fading Into Clean Sides
The volume of the curls is very good and I love the warm highlights as they make the hair more dimensional against the darker base. The faded sides also look good and make the personality up top more clean and refined. Your hairstyle is very practical because the fade removes bulk on the sides and the top is a good length so you don’t have to worry about styling it every day, and it also works best for naturally curly hair with good density, as well as for oval and square face shapes because the curls will frame the face. Since fades grow out quickly, you will need to keep up with them to maintain how good they look.
#13 Chocolate-Colored Ringlets with Beautiful Definition
These ringlets are fantastic! Although each one is unique, they all come together to almost appear as a piece of art. The chocolate shade is deep and warm which looks beautiful against lighter skin tones. The cut shows each ringlet off and prevents them from getting lost in a big clump of curls. This look takes a lot of skill to achieve. For thicker hair types, this is a great option. Curls this beautiful do require a lot of work, and humid days will put your patience to the test. But with results like this? It’s definitely worth it!
#14 Spiral Curls with a Natural Taper on the Sides
This is a nice cut for people that enjoy the curls to be the focus of the hairstyle. These spiral curls are defined and have nice volume up top. The taper on the sides is a nice contrast to the volume so the taper draws the eye straight up which is very clean. I also enjoy the taper because it allows you to go a bit longer without getting a haircut because the grow out is less obvious compared to a strong fade. I think the thicker the hair the better because the more density the better for the hair spirals to stand up. In my opinion a good product is essential to keep the spirals in control and defined, but the overall shape of the haircut really does most of the work for you.
#15 Flowing Natural Curls with Soft Layers
If you’re looking for a hairstyle that is nice and easy to do, this is it. The curls are kept to a medium length, so it’s not too excessive. The softness and movement of the layers provide ample volume, and it’s never too heavy. That’s the main complaint I hear from guys the most. These layers allow the curls to fall in place naturally. The layers that frame the face create a nice effect that highlights the cheekbones. It’s great for work meetings and also great for the weekend casual look, which is what people prefer most. To maintain the softness and shape, and to avoid frizzy curls, a good conditioner is necessary. Aside from that, the hairstyle will remain soft and low maintenance. If your hair has a similar texture as the curls, feel free to take this picture to your stylist.
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