Some people find curly hair quite challenging. Certainly, it takes more time and effort to maintain than most other hair types, and that’s a compliment and a warning. I have had clients in my chair who thought they just had frizzy hair, but ended up realizing how lovely the curls were in an unfortunate haircut by someone who apparently learned on straight hair and just decided to go for it. One of my all-time favorite stories is about a woman who came in to completely shave her head because she had totally resigned herself to the idea that her curls were awful. I was able to persuade her to allow me to do a reshape of what she had. When I spun the chair around she started to cry and I almost did too. It was the first time anyone had cut her hair in a way that actually made it do what it was supposed to do to. It was just incredible!
The right curly cut should cut for the curls, not the person. It should allow the hair to have some shape and remove the wildness. Because every type of curl is different, what might look good on one person may not look good on others. I will show you all 15 styles that I have and love, some may take a long time to explain and others I will have to be a bit quicker.
#1: Bouncy Chestnut Curls with Contoured Layers
This before and after captures my whole philosophy as a stylist. In the left photo, we see long curly hair that is doing absolutely nothing. It is weighing down the owner and just looks lost. The photo on the right is the same person and her curls have been transformed because someone went in with some layering techniques. This particular cut showcases the most definition without losing volume, and that is the tightrope trick you always want to do with medium to thick curly hair. The layering is designed to remove weight from the right places so every curl can form fully without being dragged down by the hair on top. If your curls have been growing out and lack shape, this is your sign. You will have to schedule maintenance every 10 to 12 weeks because once the layers start growing out, the bulk will creep back in and you will lose that definition pretty quickly.
#2: Lush Golden Spiral Curls with Soft Layers
I can’t hide my bias for these golden curls and I won’t pretend. The spiral pattern is stunning and the softness of the layers is perfect! Each curl can bounce freely without making the overall look thin or stringy. I also appreciate the subtle layering around the face because it really helps to frame the look without being too obvious. Naturally defined curls like this are lucky! If you want to achieve this look then moisture is your main focus. You will want to begin deep conditioning regularly as these spiral curls will dry out quickly and lose their definition. Before you even know it, frizz will take over so be prepared!
#3: Voluminous Blonde Ringlet Bob
This look is amazing! It is a shoulder-length curly bob. The shape is perfect and gives enough length to show off the ringlets and keep everything feeling light and bouncy. As for the color-blonde is stunning! The light reflecting differently on each curl gives a stunning dimensional effect that straight hair simply cannot achieve. For someone with a rounder face shape, this style is your best friend. It gives you all that texture and movement without unwanted width. I will say the all-blonde look on curly hair is a commitment! Expect to use color-safe shampoo and deep conditioner as well as make frequent salon visits to maintain curl integrity.
#4: Cascading Chestnut Curls with Dimensional Highlights
The rich chestnut color with light pops of color is a great example of a style where color & cut work so well together that it is impossible to separate the two. The highlights provide great depth to the overall look; however, they look expensive, but they won’t break the bank like some other options, which is a plus! The shoulder length style is smart with this much density. If the hair were to go longer, it would pull everything down, and you would lose that beautiful shape. To keep the curls healthy and to hold their shape, along with the color, a monthly deep conditioning treatment is a must. This look is going to require a lot of upkeep, but true maintenance is very worth it. This is one of the most flattering cuts and color combos for naturally curly hair, and that is another reason to really keep up with the maintenance.
#5: Bountiful Caramel Curly Cascade with Soft Bangs
I love your bangs! I get the worry of adding bangs to curly hair. If done incorrectly, they can form an unblended poofy shelf. However, these bangs are nice and look soft and feathered. They also blend with the curls nicely! I also think the bangs framing the face is nice. The caramel highlights are also a nice touch for added warmth and dimension. For maintenance, I would suggest a color safe shampoo. A good diffuser will help with the bangs as well. Those will need to be trimmed regularly since curly bangs grow out quickly.
#6: Bronze-Toned Shoulder-Length Curly Cut
If you have curly hair, one of the best styling options is to just get a neat, even cut and let the curls do their own thing. This style is exactly that—nothing complicated, just a simple clean cut to the shoulders that lets the curls do their thing. The warm bronzy tone is nice and works pretty well for most skin tones. For someone who wants a clean look without spending 45 minutes each morning to style their hair, I’d suggest this. It is a wash, condition, maybe scrunch and some curl cream and go type of look.
#7: Luxurious Ebony Soft Curls with Tapered Nape
I really love how having a tapered nape for curly hair makes the style look modern and purposeful because it keeps the neck more clear. The curls on top can do their thing without being covered by all that hair, and the darker bulk underneath creates a more polished look without any added effort. The only downside is that with shorter curly hair, you’ll end up back in the salon more frequently to keep the shape clean. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, that could mean every six to eight weeks. Also, if you like having the option to put your hair in a ponytail on days when you’re feeling lazy, this probably isn’t the cut for you. Make sure you’re ready for that kind of commitment before you go through with it.
#8: Rich Auburn Spiral Curls with Seamless Layers
I love our new hairstyle! The warm, auburn tones on spiral curls really capture the eye! The blending of the curls is immaculate! The layering looks seamless — this is how curly layering should be done. A poorly cut curl will give off a stacked, disjointed look that is undesirable. With this done, you face will be needed as the look will compliment upon your oval or heart-shaped face. Should you have the curl pattern to go for it, I would be excited to make this happen. Good curl-defining products will be needed, as they should end up forming tight spirals that hold their shape to the end of the day. This hairstyle is forgiving in terms of day-to-day maintenance.
#9: Curly Caramel Highlights with Medium Layered Bob
Warm caramel highlights elevate this cut from “nice haircut” to “I need to know who does your hair!” They add contrast against the dark base for a multidimensional look. Highlights look softer and more sophisticated than one flat color. These highlights will look amazing with your cut for spring and summer! This is a great option if your hair is thick and curly as it keeps the hair versatile enough to dress up or down without a lot of effort. A medium layered bob is one of the bob styles that will suit almost everyone with curly hair.
#10: Deep Espresso Voluminous Curls with Fringe
The first aspect that stands out is the fringe which is accentuated by the deep espresso color. The color adds to the softness and retro appearance of the style which is truly on trend currently. The length is perfect for thick curly hair because it provides volume without going overboard and it allows the curls to fall in an effortless manner. I recommend styles like this to clients with a busy lifestyle as it truly does require minimal effort. You can wash it, apply a leave in conditioner, and go. It is true that more frequent trims will be required for the fringe than the rest of the hair, that is a universal truth for anyone with bangs. Most stylists will do it for free or for a small fee between appointments.
#11: Vibrant Chestnut Curly Bob with Natural Highlights
The best part about natural highlights is that they seem to change every time you look at them. This is the kind of look that gives the impression that she spent a whole summer at the beach. The bob with curls that is thick and bouncy is a good choice as this style will keep everything nice and full without the drag of the weight. The best thing about this style is that it can really be low maintenance and if someone has a head of curls that are well defined naturally, they could use no product at all and look great. Of course, if your curls tend to lose shape easily, you’ll need a lightweight curl mousse on damp hair to keep things in check.
#12: Chic Tapered Curly Pixie for Thick Hair
Are you considering a short haircut? Here’s a great option for you if you have thick beautiful curls! The tapering takes away some bulk but allows the top curls to be free. The lengths are natural and the volume looks fabulously effortless! Giving this haircut is one of my favorites! But to be honest, short curly cuts need to be reshaped more often than longer ones. The growing out of the curls changes the look very quickly. So be sure to budget for a trim every 5 to 6 weeks. Just keep some good curl defining cream and you will be good to go!
#13: Soft Rounded Bob with Natural Curls
A rounded bob looks great with natural curls! The curls and the cuts complement each other. The curls hit the jawline to give some fullness and frame the face beautifully without adding too much weight. Shorter hair is much easier to manage and is faster to dry too with summer coming up! If you like the look of hair pinned back, then you’ll have enough length for that too. Just know the curls can be unpredictable with humidity! During the summer, definitely keep an anti-humidity product on you!
#14: Charming Espresso Defined Coils with Voluminous Top
Because tight curls can be styled easily, all they need is a good cut to support their shape. This cut does the job well. Adding layers allows the curls to lift instead of being weighed down by the length. The medium length is also just enough to maintain a deliberate and full look to the style. The deep espresso color is also a beautiful color and is easier to maintain than the lighter shades, which is great considering the curl pattern will need a lot of moisture. Speaking of moisture, a good leave in will be the most important product to ensure those bouncy curls are as happy and hydrated as possible.
#15 Transformative Tousled Curly Bob with Bangs
Before and after pictures are a big part of my job and what I love about it. This is a huge change from straight and flat hair to a new curly textured bob with bangs. The layers in the hair make the curls fall naturally, and the bangs soften the look and frame her face nicely. Bob haircuts like this one are very practical because they make drying time shorter, and styling hair is easy. The right products for your curls will make the styling routine easy. With the bob, you will need to come back for shaping as it grows out because shorter bobs lose their shape faster than longer bobs, but that isn’t a big deal for the great look this cut gives.
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