Having curly hair may make a simple side part a lot more interesting. Once, I had a client who could not remember the last time she had anything other than a middle part. And no matter what she tried, her curls never looked alive. So, I decided to move her part a couple of inches to the side, and she gasped. The asymmetry created a beautiful volume and lift to the curls, almost like they were styled. And all that came effortlessly.
Side parts are great and easy because they incorporate all of the unique curly patterns, and add volume and movement to them. This is even more pronounced when you have loose waves as opposed to tight coils. Side parting works with all lengths of hair from bobs to longer styles and everything in between. I have collected photos of my favorite curly hair side parts because I think that all of my clients deserve to enjoy this beautiful hairstyle.
#1: Tousled Cinnamon Bob That Basically Styles Itself
Here’s another look I love! I recommend this style to about 50% of my clientele because of its versatility. It’s a layered curly bob with warm cinnamon tones woven in, which brightens up her entire face! The curls really do this style justice because they spring up individually instead of clumping together, which is what happens when there are no layers and your hair is thick and curly. I also love the color, the warm undertone compliments her skin, and it does more for her complexion than any highlighter. You’ll want to maintain this shape by coming back every 6-8 weeks, but in between that this look is crazy easy to maintain, literally just wash and go!
#2: That Effortless Curly Bob with Sun-Caught Dimension
Some people desire non-straight hair, yet those who have non-straight hair often want hair that is straight. In many cases, people have a preference for a hair type that is typically considered difficult to manage.
She has mid-length hair that is highlighted and curly, and it is incredible to see how sun-kissed strands create movement in the hair and really magnificently illuminate the curls. Instead of struggling with your curly hair by using a flat iron, consider what she has. What you will require is a good deep conditioner to preserve the definition and manage the frizz which will be a result of the conditioner.
#3: Layered Curls Dipped in the Softest Blonde
The face framing layers with curls are really great because each curl has a chance to shine. It may sound like I am going overboard, but the right layers help curls go from competing with each other to working together. The lightened tips styled with the roots show great movement and are perfect to give some life to the look when she is standing still. The lightened tips also create some depth to the look overall. The hair will reward you for the effort and care so remember to put a good leave-in, hydrating cream, and curl cream on wash day. You’ll probably get asked if your hair is natural, but you can bet it looks like it grew from your head just the way it is.
#4: Deep Defined Curls with All the Volume You’ve Been Wanting
Curls like these are what make my job fun! They are so well defined without being crunchy, sticky, or feeling product heavy, which is a really hard balance to find, so huge shout out to the stylist! The medium length is perfect here because it is long enough to showcase the curl pattern, but short enough that gravity won’t pull everything down flat. Because of the great framing I would lean towards this for oval and heart shaped faces, but really it’s the curl definition doing the majority of the face framing work. I really like the light play and subtle shimmery texture of the darker tones. It creates an inner glow effect which is so cool! The pay off for this style is huge just be sure to maintain with a good curl defining product for that wash day separation.
#5: Blonde Ombré Curls That Look Like a Vacation
I enjoy doing ombrés on curly hair more than straight hair. I could argue that straight hair wouldn’t allow for the same color transition as curls. With each individual curl capturing the color differently, it creates an ombré effect that is more intricate and artistic than a basic technique would give. This mid-length style featuring dark roots that fade to a warm blonde looks really nice with straight hair foiled to achieve that sun-kissed look. It provides even volume so it doesn’t feel heavy on one side or super lopsided. I’m going to say the color upkeep is real. The cut is very live-your-life friendly, but you’re looking at toner refreshes to keep the blonde from going brassy.
#6: Spiral Curls That Go On Forever
I’m not going to pretend that I’m not a little envious of this curl pattern! They are thick and long spirals, and the color at the ends adds some nice dimension to the coils. It is a nice color and not too aggressive. It is just enough to give each coil its own identity. The long and thick curls create a good cascade effect, which looks really nice and dramatic. Even though, the effect comes from just the hair doing what hair does, but with a good cut guiding it. For natural textures like this, the best thing to do is keep the hair really hydrated. I mean leave-in conditioner has to be non-negotiable step. This is really versatile and works for everything from brunch to a wedding, and I don’t say that about many styles.
#7: Chestnut Curls with Cool Ash Running Through Them
What separates this style is the color story. A deep chestnut base with ashy highlights for a nice contrast; and on curly hair that blend creates a coolness that keeps the look from being too warm or expected. The curls are plentiful and luxurious. The length is ideal, brushing the shoulders, so there’s no hint of having to tame it. It’s clear that this look doesn’t just come together with zero maintenance. If you’re the type to just let your hair exist for three days straight, this will probably be a chore. But if you love styling your hair and want a reward for all that effort, this is the style for you.
#8: Caramel Spirals with That Lit-From-Within Thing
Caramel hair with curls is one of my favorite looks and I am not ashamed. The combination of color and tight curls looks almost edible like sunlight on honey. The curls have to start a bit longer before they sprang up being that the hair is shoulder length. The curl definition is crazy and I can only assume the use of some really good curl custard. This hairstyle looks good on oval faces because the curls frame the jaw without adding extra width. Moisture treatments look great and are the reason this hairstyle looks so good.
#9: Dark-to-Light Ombré with Curls That Know What They’re Doing
Curls and ombré always pair beautifully together. The coloring technique is achieved wonderfully here, and the melt is soft enough so that each curl appears to reflect a different color, which is so awesome! The color goes from dark at the roots to a light, almost white, shade at the ends. The contrast is so striking that the blend will never look washed out. The added thickness and the medium-long length of the hair create ideal volume and helps the gradient of color to really pop. This hairstyle looks stunning on round face shapes and oval face shapes. A pro tip: if you live in a humid climate, you. will need an anti-frizz serum because the curls will puff up at the first sign of moisture in the air. You’ll also be required to do hydration treatments regularly to preserve the health of the ends, as dry ends will ruin an ombré faster than anything.
#10: Silver Curls That Are Cooler Than I’ll Ever Be
I have to give a shoutout to silver curls because they are so underrated! This head of curls showcases a stunning blend of warm grey tones and cool silver shades that add a wonderful glow to the face. This silver color looks good and does not wash people out. Because her curls are shoulder length and really well defined, I’m guessing she has a lot of hair! Though the color will need regular maintenance to avoid a yellow look, the cut should not need too much work. If you are considering going silver and have curls, this is the sign you have been waiting for!
#11: Long Springy Curls Swept to the Side
This style really shows how a side part can look on curly hair and is an example of what I was talking about at the beginning. The side part pushes all the volume to one side, giving body and height at the roots that is impossible to achieve with a middle part. The middle part would be heavy with curls that thick. The long bouncy curls are framing her face beautifully without needing any face framing layers to do it. The curls just sit where they are supposed to sit. This style is particularly nice on oval or longer face shapes because the side volume makes a nice addition to width where it’s needed. This style is also quite low maintenance and will look good for 3-4 days post washing, so make sure to have a hydrating spray on those refresh days.
#12: Side-Swept Curls That Belong at a Movie Premiere
This certainly has a full glam feel to it. The long thick curls are astonishing sweeping to the side and the mixture of tighter curls in closer proximity alongside looser and larger curls gives an organic and defined textured look. Yes, it is highly polished but the finished product looks like it took a lot of time and effort. I can definitely picture this style at a wedding, a ball, or any dinner where you want to feel like the most stunning person in the room all evening. The abundance of curls suits especially well for round and oval faces as it gives an elongating effect to the face. I won’t lie there is a lot of maintenance that comes with this style. Expect to spend time deep conditioning, styling and the end look will be worth the effort spent.
#13: Golden Medium Curls with Airy Lift
Here is a great option for trendy and adorable hair styles that take under 20 minutes to do. Given that this look has a side part, if you want some extra lift, it won’t take too much work. It’s mid-length which is enough to have a cute outfit, but it’s not a lot of hair to have to style. These gold tones are warm without being too brassy, which is harder than people think. This cut looks amazing on heart shaped faces because the soft volume is great with the jawline. This is best suited for medium hair with this level of volume. To keep your curls looking good between shampoos, just use a light holding curl serum to define the curls, and that will be all the upkeep needed.
#14: Twist-Detailed Side Part with Natural Curl Texture
It’s about time more people tried this side part. There are twists at the part that fall into nice defined curls. Middle curls. Free-falling curls. The combination of these two textures looks clean and effortless. It works for thick curly hair because the twists help control the volume at the roots, allowing the ends to do their own thing. Let’s be real though, twists do require some upkeep, and you might need to redo some based on your hair wash/twist maintenance schedule. The payoff is a nice pull, and a side part doesn’t do much. If you want to seem creative without much thought, this is the style.
#15: Coiled Curls with a Simple Headband That Changes Everything
One of the easiest ways to look good is adding some cute headbands to your hair accessory collection. For example, this hair is medium with a lot of volume and coils and the headband is a sleek black that adds a lot of structure to the overall look. It keeps all the hair off the face and gives a nice pulled back look without losing height on the crown. In addition, she provides a lot of versatility for this style because in two seconds she can swap the headband for a totally different look. The hair will also need a lot of moisture to keep the coils packed and healthy. I also suggest the headband trick to almost every one of my curly hair clients because it totally transforms the look in an instant.
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