We’ve decided to put together a list of hairstyles for curly hair, as many ladies blessed with curly or even wavy locks insist on straightening their tresses periodically. So we wanted to show some love to this much disputed and love-hated type of hair.
Curly hair, either medium or long, with perfect strands, shiny and perfectly defined, always attracts attention! Men and women always look admiringly at a wavy hair ornament that bounces off their shoulders, and they want to get an identical hairstyle for at least a few hours!
The truth behind natural wavy hair is not as charming! Mother Nature’s curls come with many disadvantages. Curly hair requires special care, from a haircut, dyed, styled to simple washing!
If you have wavy or curly hair, you probably know that you have to be careful when choosing care products: shampoo, conditioner, mask, and styling products. They should never be for volume. The special ones for this type of hair are preferable because their ingredients are specially selected so that the product is adapted to curly hair. It doesn’t load it, it doesn’t dehydrate it, it doesn’t spoil its texture.
Learn how to style your wild, beautiful coils with these inspiring hairstyles for curly hair of any length!
The examples below will show you several ways in which you can embrace rather than reject your curls – no matter their pattern. We’ve also got celebrity-inspired natural curly hairstyles, so let’s start browsing them all!
1. Hairstyles for Long Naturally Curly Hair
While there are plenty of hairstyles that accentuate that luscious curly mane, letting your hair down is always a great idea. Create a deep side part to add extra volume, add some anti-frizz serum, and you’re ready to go! Such beautiful long curly hair rarely needs any styling products.
2. Effortless Hairstyles for Curly Hair
Cute hairstyles for curly hair are easy to come by, particularly when a short mane is in focus. This chin-length short haircut makes the most of these bouncy curls by simply letting them run wild and free.
Tip! This hairstyle works well with straight hair too. Just use a curling iron to create large coils and style them in an apparently messy manner.
3. Boho Style for Long Naturally Curly Hair
Curly hairstyles for long hair are all the chicer when they include this natural boho vibe too. Part your hair down the middle, define the curls with nourishing oil, and add a few flowers as a finishing touch.
4. Hairstyles for Wavy Hair
With such a rich chocolate hair color and beautifully defined large waves, it’s no wonder you wouldn’t want to hide your hair from the world. Wear this effortless hairstyle for wavy hair with the utmost confidence.
5. Soft Large Curls Hairstyle
This is a romantic hairstyle for curly hair that mixes soft large curls with wavy bangs. Those high-volume coils at the ends add a charming natural note to the overall look. The look is made all the more interesting by the different shades of blue of the hair.
6. The Rihanna Hairstyle
Rihanna is the ultimate queen of look changes. She can sport a daring undercut today, natural curls tomorrow, and outlandish red hair color the day after. Here she is flaunting her gorgeous natural hair texture in a high ponytail with strands falling over the face in a bangs-like manner.
7. The Salma Hayek Hairstyle
Flaunted by Hollywood darling Salma Hayek, this is one of the simplest yet most effective hairstyles for naturally curly hair. The tight and bouncy curls are styled with a classic middle part and left to fall free over the shoulder for a natural yet beautiful look.
8. Tight Hairstyles for Naturally Curly Hair
This may be one of the most difficult to style curly hair types, yet who needs styling when those tight spirals are naturally well-defined? The volume will never be a problem either. Part the hair down the middle and create a bold and voluminous hairstyle for medium curly hair.
9. The Christina Hendricks Hairstyle
Christina Hendricks rocked this amazingly simple yet very pretty hairstyle for short curly hair. Blame it on the curls or her signature mesmerizing copper-red color, but we definitely consider this one of the best curly bobs.
Its asymmetrical nature only helps add to its beauty, as does the swift transition from the slightly wavy bangs to the wealth of short locks. Replicate the look by using some defining cream to secure the curls.
Did you think that the grain is only for straight hair? One of the best short looks for curly hair is the bob. It is a haircut that has volume and is wonderful to highlight a playful personality.
Unlike straight hair, this chalk style offers texture and volume. Bangs, even if they are rare or short, help this trendy haircut even more. A short curly and slightly messy haircut is trendy, fun, and easy to maintain.
If you are not afraid to choose a short style, and you want a haircut that has a ton of volume, this could be the haircut you are looking for!
10. Audrey Tatou Hairstyles for Curly Hair
Audrey Tatou is one of the most elegant presences at any festivity or gala. Her effortless beauty and naturally wavy hair have turned her into a style icon. Just admire this chic hairstyle for short curly hair. The curls are tamed in smooth large waves that were perfectly styled to frame her face.
11. Medium Hairstyles for Naturally Curly Hair
We’ve talked mostly about short or long hair, now it’s time to shine some light on medium-length curly hair. Bold and voluminous, this hairstyle is enhanced by the long curly bangs. If curly hair needed any extra bang, this is the way to add it.
12. Pixie Cut Hairstyles for Curly Hair
Although it doesn’t feature too often on lists of hairstyles for curly hair, a curly pixie cut is, in fact, easy to manage. Take a break from a demanding rich mane and style the short curly hair as your imagination dictates. Also, you can consider cutting the hair at the nape of the neck very short to make maintenance even simpler.
Girls with curly and thick hair will love this pixie haircut. The hair is cut short everywhere, with a few longer curls in front that fall perfectly on the forehead. Unlike straight hair, on naturally curly hair, the Pixie haircut tends to look more feminine and with more volume.
It is easy to style and always looks elegant. For a bolder look, add strands or color to stand out.
Pixie haircuts on curly hair represent a minimalist style but are attractive at the same time, being popular, not only for their beauty but also for their ease of wearing. It is a practical haircut that can be easily arranged.
13. Easy Hairstyles for Naturally Curly Hair
Hairstyles for curly hair should always feature natural-looking coils that frame the face. This medium-length curly hair is parted down the middle to add more volume and structure to the hairstyle.
14. Long Blonde Hairstyles for Curly Hair
AnnaLynne McCord is the proud owner of some beautiful tight curls and she flaunted them on every occasion she got. Get your cues on hairstyles for curly hair by watching the 90210 TV series – fan or not – she really makes the most of her natural hair.
15. Loose Hairstyles for Curly Hair
Achieve these loose curls by rolling your hair on the curling wand from mid-length to almost the tips. Straight-ended waves define this hairstyle, one of the best for thin curly hair. If you don’t have the voluminous richness of tight curls, wear your wavy hair with a middle part to create one.
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16. The Kerry Washington Hairstyle
Kerry Washington surprised everyone when she renounced her treated straight hairstyle to return to her natural coils. Replicate her look and wear your curly hair side-swept and over-the-shoulder for a chic and elegant look. The smooth anti-frizz finish is the final touch to this look.
17. Afro Hairstyles for Naturally Curly Hair
This side part layered haircut and large volume-creating waves and curls are nothing short of stunning. A natural look, this is one of those hairstyles for curly hair which requires little to no styling. Air-dry it and add an anti-frizz serum in the morning, and you’re ready to go!
18. Short Black Naturally Curly Hairstyle
Flipping your mane to one side or another isn’t reserved only for girls donning long curly hair. Short curly hair is just as fit to meet the challenge of creating a visually compelling look.
19. Thick Naturally Curly Hairstyles
If your curly mane is made of gorgeous tight springy coils like these, then we envy you. With this natural volume that creates a beautiful structure, all you need to do is care for your hair.
Top Tip: use professional hair products designed for curly hair. It’s tricky to maintain soft and smooth curls without proper hair care products.
20. Short Wavy Blonde Hair
Sun-kissed wavy hair and a beach-ready hairstyle: these intentionally messy wavy locks with a slight wet look are ready to be taken out!
Top Tip. If your hair is naturally straight hair texture, this hairstyle is relatively easy to create: all you need is a bit of styling wax.
21. The Vintage Hollywood Curls Hairstyle
This is one of the best hairstyles for curly hair that emulates a one-of-a-kind vintage hairstyle with a deep side part and over-the-shoulder curls. Make sure your curls and waves are well defined and sport a healthy look. This is a classic flattering women’s hairstyle for the Red Carpet and not only.
22. Hairstyles for Curly Frizzy Hair
If the natural frizz that comes in a package with gorgeous curly hair won’t go away despite your best efforts, try going for a curly hair look that embraces it. It may sound complicated, but rest assured it’s not.
Wash your hair, twist it in a ponytail, and then let it air dry. Remove any bobby pins or hair bands holding the ponytail, add an anti-frizz serum, and style the loose waves in a messy look.
23. Layered Hairstyles for Naturally Curly Hair
Long layered hair is the ideal base for creating structured volume for naturally curly hair, particularly if it reaches this impressive length. We love the all-natural look of this effortless hairstyle for long curly hair.
24. The Alicia Keys Hairstyle
Alicia Keys used to hide her beautiful curls for a while but now that she’s unraveled them for the whole world to admire, Alicia is a source of invaluable tips and tricks. She is all about natural beauty these days.
25. Delicate Hairstyles for Curly Hair
We love the delicate look of these tight and bouncy curls. They are worn over-the-shoulder for a timeless and elegant gala look that can be used as your everyday look too. The trick is to create a messy side part and use bobby pins to secure the curly locks to your chosen side.
26. The Beyonce Hairstyle
There is hardly any hairstyle or hair color that Beyonce cannot rock. Call us partial, but this is one of our favorite hairstyles for curly hair donned by the queen of R&B. The layers are perfectly balanced to create a weightless look yet the richness of the soft curls helps add structure to the overall look.
27. 1920s Hairstyles for Curly Hair
This hairstyle for short curly hair truly reminds us of the roaring 20s. Nothing close to demure, this hairstyle with a modern twist creates an intentionally messy look. Don’t even try to tame those curls, let them loose for a relaxed look.
28. The Frizzy Long Naturally Curly Hair
To achieve this frizzy look and perfect curls for a long curly hairstyle, nourish your spirals with special oil. Add some moisturizer to damp hair and let it dry naturally. A hairdryer would only contribute to the frizzy look.
29. The Zendaya Hairstyle
There is no hairstyle Zendaya flaunts that we don’t approve of and here she is with one of our favorite looks on her. She may be the queen of chameleon-like changes on the red carpet, but we like her best with her naturally curly hair left free and wild.
30. Super Volume for Naturally Curly Hair
Sometimes, the simplest way to wear your curls is to embrace the untamed nature of your mane. Some extra volume never hurt anyone and can make for an explosive display of beauty for those of you who are blessed with tight ringlets such as the ones in this photo.
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31. Top Bun Hairstyles for Curly Hair
A great way to style your curly hair is to tie it up in a messy half-up bun on top of your head. If you want, you can copy this lovely lady’s look and opt for dramatic makeup too – just as she did.
32. Casual Hairstyles for Curly Hair
Every girl with curly hair knows that styling can be a hard battle to win sometimes. That’s why we’ve selected this lovely casual hairstyle for you. Tie your hair in a half-up loose and messy bun and make the most of your day. Add some wave spray to it for a bit of definition.
33. The Modern Marilyn Monroe Style
Granted, Marilyn Monroe didn’t have natural curls on her own, but if you happen to have them, you can tame them in such a way so as to look like the actress. Remember to pair the curls with a vintage makeup style to really look like one of the biggest divas of all time.
34. The Naturally Curly Hair Pixie Cut
If you have curly hair, that doesn’t mean you can’t go for a pixie cut. In fact, you can choose an asymmetrical cut too, which means that one side of your head will be shaved while the other will still have some curls left.
35. Curly Hair and Viking Braids
Take a cue from Queen Lagertha and sport her look. Part your hair sideways and finely braid a few strands of hair and leave the rest of your mane wild and free. The Viking style is in right now, so jump on the trend.
36. Curly Hair and Diamond Embellishments
Here is a very simple updo with a lovely bun and a few loose strands. The great thing about it though is the diamond-studded hair piece that peeks through the curls and catches the eye.
37. The Lob for Curly Hair
Combining curly hair with a lob (or long bob) can be quite risky to pull off. However, if you have a lot of patience, time to style your hair every day, and a lot of hair products, you might have just found the haircut of a lifetime.
38. Curly Hair and Bangs
Ask your stylist for tips on how to wear curly bangs. He or she can also recommend some hair products that will keep it from frizzing or getting too curly. This is also a stylized version of the shag haircut, a more modern take on it.
39. Curly Hair and Turbans
We absolutely adore this look. The natural, long curly hair, the soft woolen turban, the oversized Harry Potter glasses, and minimal makeup make this lady look on top of her styling game.
40. Alice in Wonderland Hairstyle
Take a cue from one of the most famous Alices ever and copy this style. It’s a lovely combination of soft curls, simple braids that cover the head, and a statement bow. A great summery and party look.
41. The Jennifer Lawrence Hairstyle
Although Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t have naturally curly hair, no one can deny that she looks absolutely spectacular with these soft, blonde curls. They are a perfect way to compliment her pretty and sweet round face.
42. The Lady Gaga Hairstyle
We are huge fans of Lady Gaga and her flamboyant and artistic fashion and makeup style on stage and in real life. However, we must say that she has never looked better than with this minimal makeup and natural curls look.
43. The Rita Ora Curly Hairstyle
Singer and actress Rita Ora went for the curly bun of the summer. She paired it with nude eye makeup and glossy lips as well as her signature gold hoop earrings. Some of her curls have even been used as faux bangs.
44. The Mariah Carey Hairstyle
Here’s a throwback picture reminding us all that, before she was the self-declared biggest singing diva in the world, Mariah Carey was just a sweet and simple curly-haired girl. She wore very little makeup and all-natural hair.
45. The Jenny Slate Hairstyle for Naturally Curly Hair
Comedy’s ‘It’ girl is a curly-haired cutie with great style to match. We love Jenny Slate’s casual and effortless look as she always seems to have simply rolled out of bed and walked straight onto the red carpet.
Ready to Change Your Look?
Curly hair is not easy to style or care for or maintain as many curly-haired girls will rush to tell you. However, the solution is to find the perfect hairstyle for your type of curls and hair type. It will then become a lot easier and much less work to style that awesome mane of yours.
Write to us in the comment section below and let us know which one of these hairstyles was the perfect one for you!
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Susan is a successful hair stylist who chose to combine two of her biggest passions: writing and styling! When she is not sharing her experience with out readers, Susan updates her skills and knowledge with new styling courses and trainings. She specializes in event hair and makeup and is working on her own illustrated hairstyle book.
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