The Best Hairstyles for Curly Hair
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The Best Hairstyles for Curly Hair

Curly hair has a mind of its own — the right cut works with the curl pattern instead of fighting it. Layers remove weight so curls spring up instead of falling flat, and shapes that avoid a wide triangle at the bottom keep curls looking deliberate. Here are the cuts that flatter curls best, each one you can preview on your own photo.

What to look for with curly hair

Cut for the curl, not the length when wet. Layers and a rounded — not triangular — shape let curls expand evenly and stop the bottom-heavy look.

Blunt, one-length cuts tend to sit flat on top and pile up at the ends on curls. Texture, face-framing and a little length variation give curls room to move.

Curly Shag hairstyle
01

Curly Shag

Layers give curls shape and cut bulk for spring.

Shag Cut hairstyle
02

Shag Cut

Built for texture — every layer lets a curl bounce.

Curly Bob with Bangs hairstyle
03

Curly Bob with Bangs

A curly bob with soft bangs frames the face.

Curly Pixie hairstyle
04

Curly Pixie

Short, low-effort, and all about the curl pattern.

Long Curly Layers hairstyle
05

Long Curly Layers

Long layers keep length without a triangle shape.

Wolf Cut hairstyle
06

Wolf Cut

Choppy layers add volume and definition to curls.

Layered Cut hairstyle
07

Layered Cut

Even layers distribute weight for bouncier curls.

Boho Layers hairstyle
08

Boho Layers

Soft, lived-in layers for effortless curls.

Butterfly Layers hairstyle
09

Butterfly Layers

Face-framing layers show off curl around the face.

Mixie hairstyle
10

Mixie

A pixie-mullet hybrid that suits textured curls.

Twist Out hairstyle
11

Twist Out

Defined, stretched curls set from two-strand twists.

Money Piece hairstyle
12

Money Piece

Brightened face-framing pieces add curl dimension.

How to Find Your Face Shape (and the Best Cut for Each)
How to Find Your Face Shape (and the Best Cut for Each)
FAQ
01What is the best haircut for curly hair?
Layered cuts — curly shags, long curly layers and curly bobs — are the most flattering because layers remove weight so curls spring up, and a rounded shape avoids the bottom-heavy triangle look.
02Should curly hair be cut in layers?
Usually yes. Layers stop curls from sitting flat on top and piling up at the bottom; they let each curl expand evenly for shape and bounce. Blunt one-length cuts tend to look triangular on curly hair.

Your next haircut
is one selfie away.