Most professionals don’t understand cut curly hair. They treat curls like they are straight hair that bends, and they are surprised when the cut ends result in a triangular and mushroom shaped head. Just last month, a client came in with gorgeous 3B curls. I saw that someone cut layers of her curled hair while they were wet and cut them horizontally. If you know anything about the awfulness that is curl shrinkage, this was straight up violence. After I dried her out and reshaped everything with the right layering, she was crying because she felt like her hair reflected how it should have all along.
A curly layered haircut is a two-in-one because you are both removing the pyramid weight of the hair, and also letting each individual curl bounce up. However, the placement is key because what can look great for one curl pattern can look wild for another. This is why when I get this kind of haircut I get really excited, because when it’s done well, not much else can top it. The layered curly haircut looks I have right now are the most exciting I’ve ever been about them, and I have a highly opinionated take on every single one of them.
#1: Honey-Gold Curls with Layered Volume and Natural Frizz Halo
The frizz halo is lifting the shape without the need for backcombing or an excessive amount of product. The cut is letting the fro grow so the layers are long enough to achieve this, and she is rocking the gold hand-painted pieces where the light hits. This is true curly texture and medium density hair, with dry cut layers sitting just past the shoulders. If you have fine or low density curls, this shape is going to fall very flat for you. Because of this the ends are prevented from clumping into a shape that is too triangular. This also works for oblong and oval faces as the width will sit around the cheekbone area. The shorter face-framing pieces are also non-uniform so the cut has a nonchalantly planned appearance.
#2 Shoulder-Length Curly Shag with Warm Caramel Pieces
Your cut works if your individual curls are fine but you have a lot of them. The layers are cut dry, and carved through the layers to let each curl spring individually, so the shape looks full, without looking heavy. The shortest layers are at the cheekbone and fan out, which widen the mid face. That is good for oval and longer face shapes. The round faces, not so much. The balayage has a slight caramel tint that is weaved through the curl clumps so instead of traditional sections, you get that scattered sun-kissed warmth through a medium brown base. In humidity, this will lose definition fast. It’s a medium-density, shoulder-length cut that lives or dies by how willing you are to scrunch and diffuse on wash day. And on the days in between, it will do whatever it wants.
#3 Chest-Length Dark Chocolate Curls with Curtain-Swept Layered Volume
Skip this hairstyle if you have fine or thin hair. Without medium or thick hair to do the work for the structure, the layers just collapse. My eye was drawn to the short layers at the top of the head that kick out instead of laying flat. This makes me think that these were cut dry with sliding to let the curl pattern determine where the weight falls. The color looks like a single process dark chocolate brown with no highlights, which is what makes it grounded and easy. The long curtain bangs that frame the face help to open up oval and heart face shapes. This is a cut where you just wash and go for someone whose natural hair texture is 2B to 2C. The movement is clearly not fought for and humidity will make it bigger. This is not a warning, just something you should be at peace with before committing to it.
#4 Warm Auburn Waves with Chest-Length Layered Body
The layers begin just below the chin and really start at the mid shaft. Hence the top portion is nice and dense while the ends are free to move a bit more. This is an ideal choice for medium to thick wavy hair, as the upper weight holds everything at the crown from poofing out. The color looks a warm auburn with a dark base, and it catches the light beautifully. It doesn’t scream “I color my hair”, so it was probably done with a single-process demi with a copper-red tone instead of with foils. Fine or thin hair will not look able to achieve this color. The density here does most of the work, and no product can fake it. This length works well for round or oval faces because of the waves. More width is added gradually rather than all at once. The center part and longer face shapes mean there is nothing breaking up the forehead, which could feel heavy.
#5 Long Copper-Gold Curls with Loose Layered Shape and Frizz Crown
When styling inner shaping of hair, it uses weight on the ends so the curls can bounce up. Here we have a long, medium-density hair with natural 2C/3A curls. There are a few layers cut at chin-length and some longer. The color appears to be a natural copper base with sun-kissed golden pieces toward the front, which would indicate either mild hand-painted balayage on warm hair or sun-faded. This length is preferred for oval and oblong faces since there is no chopping across the jaw or too much volume in the cheeks. The drawback of this type of layers is that they need to be left alone and it looks like most people can’t help it and disturb the curls too much on wash day.
#6 Long Sunlit Curls with Subtle Warm Pieces and Minimal Layering
People with fine hair won’t be able to achieve as much fullness as seen here because fullness comes from high-density curls which no product can replicate. Most layers here fall just above the collarbone. This helps the weight of the hair keep the curls from feeling too springy and instead allows them to be more stretched and elongated. The crown area has a lot of volume so you can’t really see the part. The look of a few warm hand-painted highlights through the mid-lengths is great because it means no obvious grow-out line and gives a thrown together look rather than a really obvious freehand balayage. This haircut is wonderful for oval and oblong face shapes as it does not add width at the cheekbones. Round faces might feel a bit buried with this cut. When the sun hits it, the color will be nice and natural but could look a little dull when the light isn’t as bright.
#7 Warm Blonde Curly Layers with Loose Collar-Length Shape
If you have curly hair, instead of relaxing curls and putting them into a “done” style, you might want to consider other options. Layers were cut while the stylist was dry cutting, and all the curls were allowed to spring and ring them to their natural ends. The resulting cut does look intentional, but not overly constructed. The layers bring width to the temple and cheek areas which is more flattering on those with longer to oval-shaped faces but a round face will feel wider as a result. The warm blonde highlights here seem naturally done as the roots are slightly darker rather than highlighted all the way to the part. This style might not work on finer thinner curls as there needs to be more shape and volume for the cut ends, otherwise, it can look sparse.
#8 Chin-Length Brunette Curly Bob with Windswept Layered Texture
This haircut will suit you if you have hair that is naturally wavy or that has a loose curl, and if you have fine to medium hair density. I like how the hair has an asymmetrical fall with one side tucking in while the other side pushes away from the face. It looks like the stylist achieved their goal of having the curls fall into place naturally and it seems like that was done with dry cutting. In my experience, this sort of thing requires time and quite a few people to avoid trying to push the hair into some balanced position. The length of the cut is just around the chin, which will look very nice and easy on highly oval and heart-shaped faces, while rounder faces might feel like this cut removes definition from the face. The color is most likely a single-process warm brunette and seems to have no highlights. This look is caused by sunlight catching finer strands at the crown of the head, which indicates that the color technique is not a modern coloring method, and that the hair is just lighter at the top layers while some strands are more transparent than others. When thick, coarse curls are this cut, it will look extremely different. Instead of the hair falling into place, it will grow outwards and create a mushroom shape.
#9 Chin-Length Blonde Curly Layers with Natural Texture and Lift
This is not going to look the same on you if you have fine or medium density hair. That volume at the crown is coming from super thick curls, and no product is going to mimic that. The dry cut layers give each curl the freedom to spring out into the position that gives you that effortless look. The longest pieces end at the jaw, and the shorter layers create fullness at the sides. This style is really ideal for oblong and oval face shapes. For round shapes, it can hit the cheeks awkwardly because there aren’t longer pieces below to balance off the width. The warm blonde here is working softly. The uncoloured roots will grow out brown, which helps with the blend instead of a stark line.
#10 Tousled Honey-Blonde Curly Bob with Dry-Cut Layers
The crown has a nice lift without teasing or creating product buildup. This means that finer curls were dry cut so they can stack and prop each other up. The color is from a natural sandy base and has been hand-painted with honey pieces that light up in a non-stripy way. That restraint keeps it looking believable. This cut is suited for the 2C to 3A ranges of medium density curls, and for oval or heart-shaped faces. The volume will sit wide around the cheekbone area and taper down at the jaw. If your curls are thick and coarse, this shape will go wide quickly and you’ll lose that airy and undone quality. The frizz halo look is part of the style, so if you’re someone who constantly fights frizz, this cut might actually set you free.
#11 Golden Balayage on Medium-Length Natural Curls with Relaxed Layers
This is your cut if you have lots of thin curls. These layers are long and built up gradually and not heavily sculpted. This is how the shape holds and doesn’t look like a triangle. The golden pieces are hand-painted onto the curls that naturally fall forward around the face and not in uniform foils, so the brightness ends up where light would hit. That hand-painted placement is doing a lot. On fine, high-density 2C to 3A hair this looks effortless. On coarser textures the same layers will read heavier and lose that openness. Front pieces of color will need touch-ups every 4 to 5 months because they will fade fast with sun exposure, and they will look muddy before they look grown out.
#12 Loose Curly Layers with Warm Auburn on Medium Density Hair
I notice that the roots are much straighter than the midsection and the ends. This leads me to believe that this curl pattern may be uneven or styled in partially. If your hair does this naturally, it’ll be an easy cut. If it doesn’t, you’ll be battling it a lot. The layers start around the cheekbones and get longer towards the back. Point cutting is used to reduce bulk while the curls clump loosely. The density is average and the hair is collarbone length. The warm orange tone is not red. It looks like a semi-permanent gloss over a natural dark brown, which works well with oval faces like this one. It may also be suitable for heart-shaped faces, but all the width at the sides will make round faces look wider. It will be a humidity mess over the smoother areas of the roots.
#13 Warm Cinnamon Ribbons Through Medium-Length Natural Curls
If you have lots of fine curls, look at this picture. This client has lots of hair, and the layers prevent it from looking triangular. Shortest pieces are at the cheekbone, and longest at the collarbone. The color job is excellent. The cinnamon tones are on the curls that fall forward which makes the dimension show where it should be and not just buried in the back. This probably won’t work as well on hair that is very coarse or tight coils. The curl pattern is a loose 3A. The layers were dry-cut to honor the spring factor. This is good for oval and heart face shapes, and the framing is spot on. If you have a round face, the volume at the sides will widen you.
#14 Sun-Warmed Caramel Ribbons on Long Layered Curls
The majority of this hair has been left alone, so pay attention to the technique in the hand-painted caramels in the mid-lengths, while the unprocessed dark brown root adds dimension to the curls that they wouldn’t have had otherwise. This is medium-density hair with a natural curl pattern of about 3A, and at a length that sits just past the collarbone and still continues. If your curls are finer or looser than this, the same cut will fall flat, and the color will look stripy instead of woven in. This is especially flattering for oval and oblong face shapes as the volume sits wide at the cheeks, but for round face shapes, all that lateral fullness will not be to your advantage. One thing to note is that the curls on her left side separate more than on the left, so this is definitely air-dried rather than diffused to a perfect uniformity, and that is what makes it a good reference photo.
#15 Salt and Honey Curls with Unfussy Layered Shape
The silver growing in at the roots and through the crown is doing more than any highlight could. What’s smart here is that the warm blonde still woven through the mid-lengths keeps the overall color from looking flat or washed out, plus the blend looks intentional instead of grown out. This is a shoulder length cut on medium density hair with layers cut dry to the natural curl pattern, which is why the pieces fall so individually. Oval and oblong faces will love this. If your face is round, the lack of height at the crown and the width at cheek level will not help. Fine curly hair will struggle to hold this much body without serious product.
#16 Medium-Length Curly Layers with Subtle Warm Chestnut Ribbons
The layers are not overly harsh, as the cut and placement have been done to keep to the integrity of the curl pattern. That’s why the shape is solid at this shoulder length. I am also intrigued by the color placed midshaft, because as the curls will highlight it, the roots will remain untouched, so regrowth will be hidden for months. If you have fine or low-density hair, this look will not replicate. The volume you are seeing is on medium to thick hair with a true 2C or 3A curl pattern doing most of the work. This length suits oval and heart shaped faces as the curls frame without crowding, but on rounder faces it will widen things out.
#17 Chin-Length Dark Curls with Soft Layered Shape
This is a good option to consider if your hair is naturally wavy to curly and has a fine to medium density. The layers are cut more conservatively and concentrated on the crown and mid-lengths, which helps with lift as to not make the ends look too thin. You can see that one side is closer to the jaw while the other side is more kicked out. This is not a styled asymmetry, that is just how hair of this length curls, and it works with the hair rather than against it. This length will be the most flattering on an oval or heart face as round faces will lose definition at the jaw line. This is unlikely to look polished every day. Some mornings the curls will clump differently and the overall shape will shift, and if this will bother you, then this is not the right cut.
#18 Warm Copper Curls with Sunlit Face-Framing Layers
With some careful inspection, one can observe that a few highlights were painted onto the front sections of the hair, creating the illusion of dimension, especially in combination with the three painted highlights around the face and crown area. The hair also has a medium density level and approximately a 3A curl pattern, and shoulder length with dry cut layers, meaning the curls can spring up a little more than average, creating a balanced look for oval and heart-shaped faces, as the curls will help to create volume to balance out a smaller chin. This hairstyle also looks like it was created with the intention of achieving a frizz halo effect. The front sections will require some maintenance, and living with curly layers will likely lead to a lot of messy hair days. The color fading to warm tones also makes it easy to maintain, but there will be a contrast to the back pieces every 6 to 8 weeks if you want the outer layers to be more distinct, creating a lot of upkeep on the front sections.
#19 Shoulder-Length Dark Curls with Airy Layered Movement
When you have medium density hair and your curls fall flat from the roots, this cut won’t do anything to change that. Most of the volume is in the mid-lengths and ends. You can see the slight ‘compression’ at the part where the natural weight pulls things down. What you want is likely internal layering, dry point cutting, which allows each curl to spring individually and avoids the mushroom shape that some people fear. This is all dark brown, no color techniques, and no highlights. This works well on oval and heart shapes because the width is at the cheekbone and jaw, which opens the area up. On a round face, that same width would work against you. The curl pattern is a true 3A with some 2C in sections towards the front, and whoever cut this clearly understood how those two textures interplayed in length to sit together without one overwhelming the other.
#20 Mid-Length Curly Layers with Lived-In Blonde Dimension
If your hair is fine or medium-fine, t’s likely that your hair will not look like this. Fullness like this comes from thick hair with a natural curl pattern of about 2B to 2C. Additionally, the layers in the hair should be long enough to hold the weight so it doesn’t go flat at the crown. The roots show a warm brunette that transitions to sun-bleached blonde. This looks like a hand-painted, grown-out balayage. The grow out is working to her advantage. The color looks expensive, but the grow out has not been done in a while. For thin hair with low-density curls, those long layers would just hang down, become straggly, and separate. This is a great haircut for oval and oblong face shapes because the volume goes wide at the cheekbones and tapers just below the collarbone, balancing out the length.
#21 Long Curly Layers with Warm Chestnut Dimension
As great as this looks, it should be noted that your hair has to be of a medium to thick density with natural curls around the 2C to 3A range, for it to look like this. The internal layered curls have been slide cut so that the ends aren’t weighed down and each curl can spring up freely. The color is a single-process deep brunette, and it looks as though there are hand-painted warm chestnut highlights. These only show when they’re in the light, and I doubt many will notice this detail. She has an oblong/oval face, so the added volume on the sides is a nice touch. On the other hand, this won’t be very good for people with round faces since the added width around the cheeks will be unflattering. This is the kind of treatment that will improve over time and is designed for ease of styling.
#22: That Perfect Medium-Length Curl Situation You’ve Been Asking Me About
I do this style at least 3 times a week and I’m not mad about it! It works on so many people! The layering is doing what they are meant to do give each curl space to breathe and bounce, while keeping the overall shape from getting too crazy. What I especially love about this one is how the face framing falls, it’s just soft enough to keep the overall look from being too curtain-y. The dark color is beautiful because it shows the curl definition without any distracting colors, and sometimes that’s all you need.
#23: The Short Curly Cut That Actually Has a Shape
A lot of my clients are apprehensive about going shorter with their curls due to previous haircuts that were done too short by other stylists. They fear getting too overly shrunken because of how tightly their hair curls. The last stylist didn’t consider how the hair would change after the cut. This cut is going to be very good because it looks like the stylist knew how to manage the weight of the hair. The volume is balanced, the curls are labeled, and the cut being shoulder length is ideal because it gives enough hair to pull some back if you want. If you have medium to thick curls and are contemplating shorter cuts, be sure to show this cut to your stylist.
#24: Shoulder-Length Curls with That Subtle Highlight Work
When it comes to highlighting curls, every set of highlights needs to be looked at individually for the best outcome. These highlights are placed strategically around the mid-length and ends so that the curls can move and bounce in the light. I’ve seen so many highlight jobs on curly hair where the colourist simply foil paints the hair as if it were straight resulting in random chunks of blonde that don’t cohesively follow the curl pattern. This is the complete opposite. The layers do a great job at removing bulk in the bottom halves without scragglies on the ends which is a true risk with curly hair if someone goes scissor happy. If your curls are on the thicker side and you want some brightness without a full colour commitment, this is what you should be pointing to.
#25: Sun-Kissed and Layered with Serious Volume
I am really enjoying this! The highlights look soft and subtle, giving off a summer vibe. That look is difficult to achieve on curly hair without overdoing it. The layers add volume without having to use any products, or even volume-buster products. This style will look fresh in the first week and in the third week as well as on the weird days when you’re unsure if you should refresh the curls or let it hang. Having the length go below your shoulders allows for versatility without dragging the curls down. This length is great for thicker hair because it gives more movement without the weight. A good hydrating curl cream is essential, but with this style, you almost don’t have to do any styling.
#26: Rich Chestnut Curls with Layers That Actually Make Sense
Chestnut color is everything, and I will fight anyone who says curly haired people should only go lighter. Chestnut and similar shades bring more depth and complexity to the curls by adding emphasis to the built in shadow and highlight pattern within their curl structure. The mid length layering here keeps this manageable, without sacrificing any of that fullness and you can tell it was dry cut because the shape is perfect and each layer just falls. If you’re battling with some frizz with this cut, a lightweight anti frizz serum on damp hair before you diffuse is going to change your life.
#27: Full-Volume Curly Layers with Real Movement
This style has some great aggressive layering. The different lengths and sections of curls is what creates the movement and energy throughout. Someone is knee-deep in these layers and cut none the wiser. And why shouldn’t they be with thick curly hair. The confidence in the cut with a single miscalculation is most pronounced. Sure they could end up with a mullet, but if all goes well, boy does it go well. The mid-length gives enough control to work with it whether you’re putting in a ton of effort to style it of just scrunch and go.
#28: Warm Balayage on Curly Layers Done Properly
I will continue to stress this until every single colorist hears me: balayage on curly hair is different than on straight hair. You have to think about how to paint the hair with the curl in mind, not the strand. This example is someone who gets it because the warmth woven through looks so natural. The shoulder length layers offer enough shape to frame the face without being too styled, and the root lift looks completely natural. This is the type of cut-and-color combo that people ask what you did different and you just have to shrug and say nothing.
#29: Highlighted Curly Layers with Real Personality
The cut’s highlights placement is intriguing. They seem to have more weight on one side, making it asymmetric and untidy. I greatly prefer this look to color on curls that is too balanced. The layered cut that is around shoulder length is practical and offers enough definition and softness in the curls to imply that she’s using a good styling product. The product probably makes her hair look soft and not crunchy or stiff. If your curls are prone to frizz in humid weather, an anti-frizz humidity resistant curl defining gel will be your cut’s best friend.
#30: Medium-Length Curly Layers with Beautiful Definition
This appears to be a “your hair but better” cut, where the intention behind the shape is obvious, but the result is effortless. The definition on the curls is great, very bouncy and distinct, and the layers seem to be enhancing that, rather than disrupting it. What I think makes this cut amazing is that the layers are subtly graduated, so there is no clear shortest layer chopping through the shape; it just gets fuller and bouncier the further down you go. I like a cut that looks as good air-dried as it does diffused, and that’s my gold standard for any curly cut.
#31: Highlighted Curly Texture with Layered Body
I’m really enjoying how well the definition and highlights work together here. The lighter pieces wrap around the outer curve of each curl, creating a 3D illusion and adding thickness to the hair. With this amount of curl, sitting just above the shoulders is a great length to avoid the dreaded triangle. Everything bounces up and out instead of weighing down and spreading wide. I think for regular maintenance I would keep this look, with dustings around every eight weeks or so rather than full cuts, where you just clean up the ends to keep the shape without losing length you don’t need to lose.
#32: Natural Curls with Layered Texture Below the Shoulders
I love when people wear their natural curl pattern, and the cut just goes with it and doesn’t steal the show. Great example here. The layers create some movement and take some bulk out of the bottom, but they just let the curl be. The rich brown has subtle tonal variation that is easy to miss. that natural depth is so much better than an obvious highlight. Grab a good curl cream for thicker hair, scrunch some in on wash day, and don’t touch it again.
#33: Curly Layered Bob That Actually Looks Intentional
I appreciate that the owner didnu2019t ask for just a plain bob thatu2019s been curled and turned into something else. This is an example of a good haircut that takes the curls into consideration. The layers are doing the hard work of keeping a rounder shape, softer, and not boxy or poofy. The length is perfect for framing the face without having to tuck the hair behind the ears All the volume is perfectly balanced so one side doesnu2019t look heavier than the other, which is super common for curly bobs with uneven curl patterns. This is a really good haircut that would suit a lot of different people.
#34: Long Curly Layers in That Incredible Red
Let’s take a moment to appreciate this **red**! This deep red is not a color a natural light redhead would have as a natural color. It’s a stunning choice for color as it highlights every individual curl like an artist’s masterpiece. The long layers create a great waterfall effect with tight curls like this. When color is as beautiful as this particular red is, it’s also very important to notice how well the color picks up each and every curl, and the long cascading layers just do the magic. Of every color choice, this one will most definitely have the highest maintenance. The color will fade and it will demand a lot of upkeep. Expect salon visits more frequently, color depositing conditioners, and in general a lot more commitment before making the decision. But it is most definitely worth it!
#35: Defined Curly Bob with Subtle Color Depth
The dimensional color on this bob is stunning! While some might think this is easy to achieve, that’s not the case here. You must know how the curls will dry and fall, and color before hand so that it lands in the correct positions. The color also adds to the visual dimension. The layers are structured not too stiff, and the length is above the shoulder so this gives the most bounce for the least effort. It’s perfect for someone who wants a change yet doesn’t want to spend more than 5 minutes on their hair in the morning. The shape does most of the work so just keep your curls hydrated and the rest will sort itself out!
#36: Full Curly Layers with Lift at the Crown
This cut has short layers on top, which I think is the most important aspect of the haircut. These layers provide good lift and help avoid that flat-on-top and big-on-bottom look so many curly girls complain about. The crown volume really gives the haircut a polished vibe, even though it has that ‘I woke up like this’ look. The longer layers throughout the rest of cut help it look balanced overall while still keeping the length. This is especially true on thicker hair because the short top layers release some of the weight that would otherwise drag everything down.
#37: Warm-Toned Curly Layers with Gorgeous Movement
I love how the warm highlighted tones reflect over the curls and give me the golden-hour-lighting feeling. Also, the mid-lengths hitting at the perfect spot for max curl spring. I can see that the layers were cut to make the curls stack rather than hang at one length, which is best for that effortless full look. Your diffuser is going to be your best friend with this kind of cut. Flip your head over, diffuse on medium heat until about 80% dry and then don’t touch it. That’s the whole routine.
#38: Bouncy Defined Curls with Soft Highlighted Layers
This person has great curl definition, and their haircut suits their routine perfectly. The soft highlights are just enough to add variation, and the layering gives such a cascading effect that the hair looks healthy and full. For medium to thick hair, you are getting all the volumizing benefits of the layers without the thinning-from-texturizing-shears issue. So much is possible with this level of curl definition!
#39: Shaped Curly Layers Just Above the Shoulders
I appreciate this cut due to its overall structure. It’s apparent that there is thought out construction with how the layers are built. With curly hair construction of this sort is far more difficult to obtain than most people imagine. The length that is above the shoulders is clever, as curls at this height have the most spring and the least weight distracting from the bounce. This results in you getting the most bouncy version of your curl pattern. With a cut like this, regular trims are a must because once those layers start growing out even a little, the shape shifts pretty quickly and you lose that intentional quality that makes the cut work.
#40: Defined Cascading Curls at Medium Length
I appreciate how the curls are separated in this style. The curls are very distinct from each other, which shows that their layers are cut so the curls do not bunch up into solid masses. With thick hair, it can be difficult to get this kind of definition, so getting this look comes down to good technique, Hopefully it is just a light defining cream used in small amounts on hair that is really wet, I like that the layers start at the mid-lengths as it keeps the bottom fuller while still giving you movement and shape through the top half.
#41: Deep Burgundy Curly Layers for the Bold Ones
Going for a bold look is always a choice I can appreciate. This deep burgundy color will look amazing with long curly hair as it will give an incredible editorial look. Most of the time, you won’t see this done as well anywhere outside of a salon photoshoot. The layers are all carefully cut to make sure the volume is even throughout the length. This way the curls won’t bunch up at the bottom and make it look thin at the top. I will say maintaining this color will take a lot of work. You will need sulfate-free shampoo, cool rinse water, and we will probably need to touch up your color every 4-6 weeks. But for those who are willing to put in the work, I promise, the end result will look amazing.
#42: Curly Layered Bob with Softness Around the Face
The front framing on this bob adds softness to the style without going fully into the curtain bang zone. Which, let’s be honest, almost never works with curls. The layers give this bob so much volume and make it look full and purposeful instead of looking like it is growing out from a shorter cut, which is a common issue with curly bobs. Shoulder length is the sweet spot: long enough to feel like you have hair and short enough that it won’t weigh down the curls. Not having to spend long setting this style would be a huge bonus as not having to style it would be a major plus.
#43: Voluminous Dark Curly Layers with Face-Framing Shape
The interplay of such a rich color and the amazing thickness of these curls is truly stunning, and the layers framing the front of the face soften everything in the best possible way. What I particularly appreciate is the way the layers seem longer and more gently sloped than many of the other styles we’ve seen; that helps the overall shape feel full and cohesive instead of choppy or segmented. This technique is incredibly complimentary on medium to thick hair because you get shape and movement without sacrificing any of that gorgeous density. It is rare for a style to look this good in real life and in photos, but this one definitely does.
#44: Warm-Highlighted Curly Layers Below the Shoulders
Her curl pattern paired with these highlights looks super natural and almost sun-kissed. It looks nice that there isn’t an overdone layering situation and the variation is just enough to keep everything moving without being a dramatic multi-layer type of scenario; that is often what curly hair really requires. The length being just below the shoulder provides her so many more styling options. The layers would look really different and cool either way if she did decide to wear it up or down. If your curls are in need of some solid definition, grab a microfiber towel. Regular terry cloth towels are doing you zero favors.
#45: Face-Framing Curly Layers with Caramel Warmth
These curls are stunning! The caramel highlights are done beautifully and really capture the light on the framing and outer curls. Those highlights will even be seen in a face-to-face conversation. With curly hair, highlights can get buried under so many layers on curls, sadly. They can end up being paid for, and colored no one can see which as a stylist it’s genuinely one of my pet peeves. The layers are creating beautiful volume through the mid-lengths and shape tapers a bit at the ends so it doesn’t look bottom heavy. With highlighted curly hair, that will require regular deep conditioning treatments. Not deep conditioning your colored curls will end up in straw instead of hair. The color processing neglecting to deep condition is also a straw situation. The porosity of the curls adds to that as well.
#46: Bouncy Mid-Length Curls with Caramel Highlights
What I appreciate is that the curls with caramel highlights look effortless and give the hair more dimension without changing the whole color of the hair, which so many colorists fail at. Plus, they manage to steer clear of going too blond and chunky with the highlights. The layering in the mid-lengths provides fullness at the bottom while the top has enough weight to lie smooth and not poof out all over, which is an ongoing struggle with medium to thick curls. A lot of the bounce is clearly coming from the cut and curl pattern itself rather than an overzealous styling job, which is what you want.
#47: Shoulder-Length Curly Layers with Highlighted Dimension
I want to book a testimonial appointment with this person because this is what well done curly layered hair looks like. I love how all the curls have room to move, and the highlights look dimensional without looking over processed. The face framing layers also guide the eye where they should. What I find fun about this haircut is how you can see the layers are a bit longer in the back compared to the front, creating a nice delicate angle which is more interesting than a one length cut would be. This type of shape tends to be really flattering on oval or heart shaped faces as it balances out the proportions in a way that is not obvious.
#48: Long Cascading Curly Layers with Natural Fullness
I admire the dedication it takes to grow hair long enough to get curly, layered hair. It’s a lot of work to grow hair out that long, as well as the maintenance that goes into keeping those curls healthy. The payoff is equally obvious though. Those beautiful cascading layers provide movement to the hair that shorter cuts struggle to achieve, as well as providing volume from the mid shafts to the tips, which is very healthy looking. When it comes to having long, thick, and medium hair, layers are an absolute necessity. Without them, you end up having a solid wall of curls that don’t move. Even without defined face framing pieces, the shape of the curls helps to frame the face. It contributes to that less polished look, which I really appreciate.
#49: Golden-Highlighted Curly Layers at Medium Length
The golden tones on these medium length curls are a perfect match. They look like they are part of the hair and not an added on element. Getting that right is one of the most difficult things to achieve as a colorist working with curl textures. The clever layering in the mid-lengths contributes to the bounce and volume while overall the shape is round and full without crossing into spherical territory. This is the balancing act you are always doing with curly cuts. This is a low-learning-curve style which means that even if you are not the best at styling your own hair, this cut is forgiving in the way that your third day curls are still going to look purposeful.
#50: Burgundy-Highlighted Curly Layers with Bold Texture
The best colour for hair is burgundy. It’s so easy to see all the beautiful highlights and lowlights in the curls. It adds richness to the colour while also giving it a soft, textured, three-dimensional look. Nothing can compare to a solid colour. Each mid-length layer is allowing each individual curl to really take shape. When done properly, thick, coarse hair can really stand out when the curls are separated instead of clumped. This gives it a lot more texture, which is what you want. I can see that the person who did the cut fully understands the behaviour of thick hair with the way she layered the hair to add movement without having any pieces look sparse. With dry hair, I think she probably uses a good amount of leave-in conditioner because styled like this you want to keep the curls hydrated and controlled and she probably has to use a lot of product.
#51: Natural-Volume Curly Layers at Shoulder Length
This cut may look simple at first glance, but it is actually very well designed. The layering is done to reduce bulk where it tends to build up on curly hair, while still maintaining enough density to keep the shape looking full and healthy. The shoulder length is a good choice because the curls will be bouncy at this length, but not heavy. And you have enough length to do a quick updo on days when you don’t feel like going through the effort. Your natural color will shine through beautifully after a less abrasive cut, and you wouldn’t want to lose the tone variation by coloring it too heavily after your cut. For those considering this style, If you have lovely natural color, my suggestion is to leave it as is and allow the curls to do their thing. Sometimes the best advice a stylist can give you is to do nothing.
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