Curly hair cuts need to be talked about more. No matter how good a style is, if the cut is bad it can ruin everything. With this sort of cut, there is no point watching those YouTube tutorials, and no point buying those products if your hair’s cut doesn’t match your natural curl pattern. At best, you’ll just end up fighting with your hair on a daily basis. A perfect example is one of my clients who has beautiful 3B curls, and she was almost in tears because she got a blunt one-length cut, and she just could not understand the reason there was so much volume at the bottom of her hair. The problem was not styling, it was a structure problem. After some layers were placed and some space was created for her curls to relax, she was able to get rid of so many products in her hair routine.
This is the point of this post. Out of the 15 hairstyles built to work with curls, some of them are fancy, some are purely for everyday, and some are just plain fun. What all these hairstyles have in common is that they are designed to let the curls shine and are not meant to be tamed. Without further ado, let’s get started.
#1: Half-Up with Braided Crown Detail
Looks complicated, but you can do it in a few minutes!! Braid at the top, looks fancy, keeps the volume, and meansxx it has low maintenance. One of the rare updos that looks better with curly hair, because of the texture. Grab good curl cream, work it through damp hair, so everything has definition, and you’ll need some light-hold hairspray to keep the braids intact. The curls will do the rest.
#2 Rich Chestnut Color on Full, Bouncy Curls
This transformation makes it hard to tell who this client was before. Their biggest change is obviously their hair. They got a cut with layers to the elbows which opens up space in the curls, allowing each individual spring to bounce higher instead of being weighed down at the ends. Their chestnut color is warm and inviting, almost rich in color and depth. Hair of this medium to thick texture can create curls that have been laid down for a long time. The hair that sits at the crown area provides a natural lift; it’s almost like a face frame and it doesn’t even need teasing. This is true for any curly haircut worth having, but you will begin to need trims to maintain a desirable shape instead of letting it grow out randomly.
#3 Short Curly Taper with Sun-Touched Highlights
My favorite thing about this cut is that it’s like a cheat code for thick curly hair. All that density on top gives you volume for days, and the taper keeps everything looking clean and intentional without you having to do any work in the morning. The highlights are really subtle, just enough to keep it from looking flat, and they give the whole thing a sun-touched quality that’s so hard to get wrong. I won’t sugarcoat this cut needing regular shaping, but between cuts, this is pretty much as low effort as curly hair gets.
#4 Warm Caramel Tones on Flowing Layered Curls
This haircut has a lot of good structure. It has layers that are sculpted to create an illusion of more volume, which is great for cuts where there isn’t a lot of density. It separates good curly cuts from standard ones and goes the extra mile for the details that most people miss. The salon walls also look like they were painted with some cheap latex beige paint. If you have warmer toned skin, the paint is going to blend with your skin and your eyes. It is going to be a bit of a maintenance style, but I recommend a curl defining cream with some moisture so that the waves don’t go crunchy. I like that kind of style that is elegant and doesn’t require a lot of effort.
#5 Brunette Waves with Face-Framing Texture
This style is ideal for people with finer curly hair because the layers add body where needed, and without adding bulk where it isn’t needed. The waves will sit nicely around the face, and it is a flattering style that won’t need a lot of daily use of styling tools. The color would be a level 6 brunette which is the sweet spot that enhances without being a dramatic change. If you have really thick hair then this shape will probably lose its form before your next appointment, but this style is one of the easier hairstyles to maintain at this length. And for people who want movement and volume, this is a great choice.
#6 Tousled Curly Bob with Effortless Bounce
The tousled bob style is ageless, and here is an example of how it works on this model. The curls are more defined at the crown, and then they relax as they move toward the ends. This gives the hair a natural graduation that doesn’t look forced. More of a “cooperated hair day” type scenario. That transition is key the looking too done while still having a clear shape. I recommend a curl enhancer to keep the texture consistent. Other than that, this should be a minimal effort style on most days.
#7 Chestnut Curls with a Soft Curtain Fringe
I know a lot of clients become a little hesitant when considering bangs on curly hair, but these bangs look amazing and are so worth it! We took the time to create soft and textured bangs, so she won’t experience a bang helmet. Instead, these bangs will blend beautifully with the curls! I love that we kept the mid-lengths in the hair, as they are just going to give a great body and bounce without offering her too much of a challenge when it comes to blow drying it! The depth created with that chestnut brown is perfect too, as it introduces warmth without being too warm. The only downside I will mention is that bang trimming does require a little bit more effort as they will shrink quite quickly, but it is just a quick snip and you’ll be good to go!
#8 Deep Chocolate Curls with a Dramatic Side Part
I really appreciate what the side part is doing here. It distributes the volume to one side in an intentional and slightly glamorous way. And the best part? You don’t need any heat to style this. There’s a lovely richness to the dark chocolate color, and it really shines through the curls. The mid-length cut is also ideal to keep this style from feeling too heavy. If you have curly hair that is thick and grows out a lot, you’re in luck because this is a cut that practically styles itself. Just part it and you’re all set. To keep everything defined, a mousse applied to wet hair will be helpful, especially in humid climates where frizz comes out of nowhere and creates chaos.
#9 Medium Curls with Wispy Fringe
Regardless of your plans, this style will be a great fit. Whether you’re dressing for an occasion or spending the whole day on the go, this style works. The fringe is soft and subtle, which gives a nice touch of softness to the forehead region and allows the more dominating ringlets to stand out. Sometimes, this style can be affected by humidity, so placing a small amount of anti-frizz serum on your bangs can really help keep it under control. Other than that, it requires very little upkeep. I know it may sound like a cliché, but with this hairstyle and curl combination, it really is true.
#10 Cinnamon-Toned Defined Short Curls
The “cinnamon” color is nice, but I think the cut is better, and I can’t wait to get to the cut. The cut is doing something really alive with these curls. All of the coils catch the light differently, and it gives an almost 3D effect, which a flatter color would not give as much. I would describe the cut as short to medium length with tight, well-defined curls. If you have naturally dense hair, this is the kind of shape that just falls right into place after a wash. You can put in some effort to keep the color vibrant. Some color-safe shampoo and regular gloss treatments help. But the cut is pretty forgiving between appointments.
#11 Sun-Kissed Curly Bob with Asymmetric Layers
The subtle asymmetry in this cut adds a level of sophistication that avoids a harsh u201casymmetrical haircut.u201d There is enough balance in the hair for the stylist to say asymmetrical without skirting the definition of a bob.u201d The shine of the added warm tones is lovely and shimmering, just like the sun! Highlights on curly hair are always difficult to predict. It can be tricky on how high the curls are. The hair was cut short, which can limit styling choices, but with a shape as good as this, there are plenty of options. With a curl defining cream scrunched in after washing, the style will be perfectly complete.
#12 Chestnut Waves with Textured Curtain Bangs
I suggest that customers request textured bangs because they want something different but not overly radical, and here’s why. They change the whole look of a haircut and, with wavy hair, they just blend in. The medium length here has a wave that’s soft, not tight and super curly, just easy going. The chestnut color gives warmth and dimension but without being high maintenance with lighter skin tones. This is one of those styles that goes from work meetings to dinner without having to change anything.
#13 Flowing Chestnut Curls with Soft Layered Movement
I like the fact that the layers on this cut are not harsh. They just suggest that the curls separate and move individually instead of clumping together into one big mass. That’s the real difference between having curly hair that looks intentional and curly hair that looks like it hasn’t been cut in a long time. I also like the few lighter strands near the face. They brighten things up without having to upkeep full highlights. With this one, just make sure you keep up the conditioning. The mid-length is right in that zone where if you’re not careful, the ends look dry. You’ll find the shape of the cut is easy to maintain.
#14 Tousled Chestnut Waves with Lived-In Volume
I’ve dubbed this cut “hair upgrade” as it still embraces the client’s natural hair texture but helps create a more effortless look. The short layers add volume while looking super easy. Plus, the tousled texture means all you need to do is add some mousse, diffuse it for a few minutes, and walk out. The warmth in this chestnut color is beautiful and a great cooler complexion match. If you do not like styling your hair, I assure you this cut needs minimal styling but in a fun way where you just scrunch and go… not some boring, tedious, intricate kind of styling.
#15 Caramel Spiral Curls with Dimensional Color
These caramel colors are lovely on the spiral curls. The way the highlight spiral curls are lighter on the outer coils and deeper on the inner ones gives an amazing illusion of depth and dimension. The movement of all of these curls is amazing, even in this still photo. The closely set spiral curls will give lots of volume, and the short length will make it an easy style to maintain and manage. Be sure to keep up on your regular colour trims to avoid the caramel from going brassy and to keep a neat shape. The right products and curl definition is all in the technique so do not touch the curls a lot while they are drying.
#16 Long Caramel Waves with Root Shadow
During our appointment, I mentioned the lighter roots from a color type job, which is nice because it helps create depth towards the top. Plus, you get to avoid that color job every 6 weeks due to regrowth anxiety. This cut definitely has that included, and it feels intentional. The shoulder length cascading layers just feel so sophisticated. You’d think about this type of hair all night at a wedding. If your hair is naturally thick or of medium density, this style will also suit you. And with the level of shine and definition this style has, you’re definitely going to want to add a curling iron and some moisturising products to your grab-and-go routine, as it will require a greater than daily level of upkeep to get it done.
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