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Argue all you want, but curly hair is NEVER boring; it’s as versatile as it can get. The problem is curls tend to have a life of their own, so if you think you can tame them like your straight or wavy counterparts, you’ve got it all wrong. The truth is: they will not always look the same. There are way too many ways to style curly hair; think messy bun, side-parted open hair, a wavy ponytail, and so on. This practically leaves no room for conformity – and a lot of scope for experimentation. Besides, no hair brushes or combs are required. So, curly hair cannot, and shall not, be tamed. However, if you choose the right haircut, you don’t have to worry about bad hair days. In fact, there’s so much more you can do with your locks, as long as you are open to experimenting.
To know the what, why, and how of curly hair, click here.
The Best Haircuts For Curly Hair
Here’s a lowdown on the best haircuts for curly hair.
1. Shoulder Cut
If you have thicker or denser curls, the shoulder cut will allow your locks to beautifully frame the face. Keep it simple without any bangs or fringes and ensure each curl is well trimmed so it doesn’t sit on the one below it. This keeps your curls looking defined which is key to achieving this look.
Style With: L'Oreal Paris Extraordinary Oil Hair Serum, Anti-Frizz Serum With UV Protection
2. Bob Cut
Ideal for short hair, a bob cut plays with the natural texture of your hair to create a power statement look. The hair is cut just above the shoulder, and it can be shaped to partially embrace the forehead. It’s especially great for people with round faces who want to introduce the illusion of angles to their facial structure.
Style With: Bare Anatomy EXPERT Ultra Smoothing Serum
3. Medium Cut With Highlights
If you don’t want to compromise on the volume, opt for a medium cut. Highlighting the curls that fall over your shoulder will add life to dull locks. Use a volumizing spray or backcomb the hair on your crown area to keep it from looking flat. Mist a detangling spray to keep the curls from getting frizzy and collapsing on each other.
Style With: Fable & Mane MahaMane Detangling Leave-In Conditioner
The Best Hairstyles For Curly Hair
Here’s a lowdown on the best hairstyles for curly hair.
1. Layered Curls
Layered curls create a weightless shape while lending volume and movement to hair. It’s perfect if you don’t have defined curls and want to create the illusion of volume without bulkiness. Layered curls usually work great with medium to long-length hair.
Style With: True Frog Volumizing Mousse For Curls
2. Long Curls With Fringes
If you are aiming for the girl next door look, don’t think twice before opting for the long hair with fringes look. The front has a hint of long curls that will frame your cheeks and allow you to be playful with your curls. A regular trim every 3 months will keep the cut looking fresh and structured.
Style With: Vega R3- RB Round Hair Brush
3. Side Parted Short Curls
Show off your short curls with a side partition. It slightly opens up the face and draws attention to the eyes while making your other facial features more prominent and defined. Smooth a hydrating serum to keep your curls bouncy and soft.
Style With: Matrix Biolage Smoothproof Deep Smoothing 6-in-1 Serum
4. Stacked Curls
Stacked curls can give you the perfect runway-ready look. What’s it all about? The hair is cut to create graduated layers which creates the illusion of full-bodied and voluminous hair. When cut at the perfect angles, it allows room for more movement and looks uber-chic. You can never go wrong with this one especially if you’ve long hair.
Style With: Osmo Curl Spray Volumising Curl Enhancer
5. Basic Center-Parted Curls
Centre-parted cuts are ideal for highlighting facial features and framing the face. It might seem intimidating at first but if you style it right, you can definitely rock the middle part. Short or long, it works with any hair length and texture as well while still demanding low maintenance. When it comes to styling this look, lean onto a blast of sea salt spray for beachy waves.
Style With: Toni Guy Sea Salt Texturising Spray
6. Finger Coils
When pressed for time—and in the absence of styling tools—harness the magic in your fingers to give way to thick, dense curls. After applying a leave-in conditioner and detangling your knots with a wide-toothed comb, section your hair into two parts and slather on a dollop of curl-enhancing cream. Begin twisting and twirling your strands until they coil when you let go!
Style With: Curl Up Curl Defining Cream
7. Corkscrew Curls
Embrace your experimental side with corkscrew-esque ringlets that’ll make everyone do a double-take. Grab a curling wand and tightly wrap sections of your hair around the iron for bouncy corkscrew curls. Spritz hairspray to increase their shelf life, and avoid brushing your hair or running your fingers through the curls.
Style With: Wella Professionals EIMI Boost Bounce Curl Enhancing Mousse
8. Spiral Curls
Give your curling wand a rest and pick up the flat iron. After air-drying or blow-drying your hair, grab a thick strand and place a heated iron approximately 3/4 of the way up the strand. As you hold the flat iron vertically, with the tip pointing upwards, twist the closed iron, making your way towards the end of each strand. Repeat this process with all the sections of your hair and run your fingers through your mane for light, bouncy curls.
Style With: Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream
9. Curly Crown Braid
Perfect for a casual brunch or when you’re looking to dress down, a curly halo braid exudes elegance and how. Part your hair in the middle and section each side into three strands, beginning at the nape of your neck. Make a reverse French braid or Dutch braid on each side, creating a halo on the crown of your head once done.
Style With: Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Thrill Fibre Gum
10. Curly Side-Swept Hair
A super-easy way to elevate your basic hairdo, sweep your hair to one side to flaunt thick, voluminous spiral curls. To invite a dash of glam to your overall look, add embellished hair pins and clips to the sleek side.
Style With: Fix My Curls Defining Hair Gel For Curly And Wavy Hair
11. Curly Updo
Get red-carpet-ready with a curly updo that brings your ringlets under the spotlight. A hairdo for a more manageable mane, accessorise your updo with bejewelled pins and headbands that’ll quickly take your look from drab to fab.
Style With: Arata Advanced Curl Care Hair Gel
12. Loose Curls
Perhaps, just let your curls run loose—wild, free, and untamed. However, bear in mind that caring for curly hair is no easy feat. Invest in a suitable curly hair shampoo and conditioner, and pamper your tresses with a curly hair-specific mask every once in a while.
Style With: Dove Beautiful Curls Defining Gel
Tips For Maintaining Curly Hair
• From one curl friend to another: Lay off the shampoo. Stick to shampooing your hair just once a week, and focus more on conditioning if you don’t want to encourage more frizz.
• Ask your stylist to cut your hair dry and not wet. Dry cutting allows for a better understanding of the shape and the amount of coils present in hair. A clear picture of how the hair will look post-haircut is possible only with dry cutting.
• A hydrating mask may sound extra but trust us your curls could do with some hydration boost. It can give you shiny, bouncy and frizz-free curls until your next wash.
• It’s essential to close the cuticles and seal in moisture once your hair wash is complete. This can be made possible by ensuring the final rinse is with cold water. Warm water can be comforting but give the cold water treatment a try and you will notice the difference in your hair texture.
• This may sound like a controversial tip but trust us, it helps to use a brush when your hair is damp. Opt for a wide-toothed brush so you don’t end up ripping the hair from your head and detangle your hair before you section it and condition it.
• Thanks to the coils, curly hair tends to shrink and look shorter than it actually is. This is why it’s important to cut less than you intend so you don’t end up losing on the length.
• When styling curly hair, the easier and safer method is using fingers. Using combs to distribute products can lead to hair breakage and split ends.
• Do you brush your hair from roots to ends? It’s time to reverse the direction. Brushing the ends first helps detangle your hair from down. It then gets easier to move the brush from the roots and along the lengths to the ends without damaging or breaking strands.
• Give the blow dryer a break. Whenever possible, let your hair air dry as it really lets the products sink in and doesn’t cause the hair to frizz after drying. Regularly depending on the blow dryer for a quick dry can affect the texture of your hair and thereby rob your curls of their shine.
• Tend to leave your hair open when sleeping at night? Tie your hair into a pineapple updo by loosely tying your hair on top of your head. This will prevent the curls from lying flat on your pillow and losing their shape by morning. On that note, also get yourself a silk pillowcase if you’ve still been using a cotton one. Why? Unlike cotton, the silk case won’t cause friction a.k.a. Frizz.
FAQs On Haircuts For Curly Hair
1. Suggest short haircuts for curly hair.
Recommended short haircuts for curly hair include pixie cut, shaggy cut, choppy cut, asymmetrical bob, undercut, and layered bob.
2. Suggest haircuts for long curly hair.
Recommended haircuts for long curly hair include long curls with bangs, layered curls, foundation cut, and A-line lob.
3. Will haircuts for curly hair help the curls look better?
When done right, haircuts can enhance the natural curl pattern. It will help the curls appear springier and bouncier if they have been appearing flat of late.
4. Can hair go from straight to curly?
If the amount of androgens spikes in the body, it can alter the shape of hair follicles from round to flat which in turn may give rise to curly hair. A favourable combination of genetics, hormones and body chemistry can also change your hair texture and shape gradually and in such a case it’s possible to go from straight to curly hair.
