Having naturally curly hair can be both a blessing and a curse.
The bounce, volume and texture of curls is beautiful, but curly hair also comes with its own set of styling challenges. Finding the right haircut is crucial for managing and enhancing curly locks.
The cut should work with the natural curl pattern to achieve the perfect balance of shape, movement and face-framing layers.
The Shoulder-Length Shag
The shoulder-length curly shag is a fantastic cut for tight ringlets or corkscrew curls.
This style has lots of choppy layers cut throughout, including plenty of face-framing layers around the eyes and cheekbones. The layers remove weight from dense curls and encourage natural volume and bounce.
The length is kept right at or slightly above the shoulders.
This medium length is great for showing off the dimensional layers while keeping some hanging length on the curls. The shaggy perimeter gives the shape softness and movement.
To style, apply a curl defining product like a serum or mousse.
Diffuse dry upside down to boost volume. Finger comb through the layers to break up the curls into a tousled, carefree look. The curly shag is versatile enough to wear tousled and natural or primped up for more glamour.
The Angled Lob
The angled lob is a medium length cut with angled face-framing layers. It works best on loose spiral curls or looser curl patterns like waves.
The perimeter is kept several inches below the chin at an angled downward slant. The angle is longer in the front and graduates shorter in the back.
Lots of shorter layers are incorporated throughout the interior and sides. The layers are shortest around the eyes, cheekbones and jaws to frame and expose the facial features.
The graduated angle shape is perfect for accentuating the natural curl pattern. The slanted lines complement the curves of the curls.
This style can be air dried or diffused with fingers raking through to arrange the curls into place. The angled shape easily tucks behind one ear for an asymmetrical look.
It can also be worn pushed back on both sides for full exposure of the face-framing layers.
The Tight Coil Lob
For those with very tight coils, a blunt cut lob with light face-framing layers is ideal. This style has length right at the collarbone and chin. The perimeter is kept blunt and heavy to let the tight curls naturally spring up and out.
The layers are only cut into the very interior and side sections. Avoid over-layering to keep the coil pattern intact. Keep the shape simple and the layers minimalistic.
The shapely length of the lob allows the coils to shrink back into their beautiful natural pattern. Embrace the shrinkage and tight density of the coils. This cut requires minimal styling beyond a touch of moisturizing curl cream.
The Volume-Boosting Long Shag
The long curly shag haircut is great for loosening up thick, dense curls that need more volume and movement. This style has choppy, ragged layers cut from the top down to the mid-lengths and ends.
The perimeter is kept longer, grazing at least past the collarbones.
The stacked layers remove weight and bulk from stuffy curls.
The layers are concentrated heavily around the crown to create lift and height on top. Layers also fall across the cheeks, jaw and eyes for a soft face-framing effect.
Rake fingers through the layers and scrunch curls when dry for separation and added body. The long shag shape encourages curls to pop outward for maximum fullness and bounce.
The Shoulder-Grazing Shag Bob
For hair with a mix of tight corkscrews and loose beachy waves, a messy curly shag bob is ideal. This cut has lots of short choppy layers cut throughout the interior and sides.
The layers measure between 2-5 inches long, thinning out the dense curls into light airy texture.
The perimeter is kept blunt and heavier at the shoulders to balance the layers.
The blunt ends let the curls curl naturally without thinning them out too drastically. The length is perfect for showing off vivacious curls while keeping some hang time.
The shaggy layers are styled with a sea salt spray for touchable texture.
Finger coil any tight corkscrews and let waves air dry for a beachy, nonchalant vibe.
The Curly A-Line Bob
The curly A-line bob has lots of versatility for curly girls. With an A-line shape that angles longer in the front, this cut follows the natural curvature of curls beautifully.
The length graduates from collarbone grazing in the front to above the collarbone in the back.
Lots of tight curls look fabulous with a blunt cut A-line bob. For softer curls, add in light face-framing layers around the eyes and cheeks. This cut also looks amazing styled slickly smoothed out or wildly tousled.
The magic is in the A-line shape, which can be worn tucked behind the ears or pushed back to show off the face. This cut flatters round, heart, oval and square face shapes equally.
The Curtain Bang Lob
Curly curtain bangs are a gorgeous way to incorporate face-framing layers into a lob haircut. The length falls right at collarbone level for an easy-to-style medium length.
The perimeter is kept blunt and one-length all around.
The layers start above the eyebrows as long swooping bangs. Part the hair deeply side to side and cut the bangs to sweep across the forehead and cheekbones dramatically. Add shorter layers in front of the ears as well to open up the features.
This cut requires some styling finesse when drying. Smooth the bangs down with leave-in conditioner and finger coil them in sections until dry. Let the rest of the hair air dry to maximize volume.
The Shoulder-Skimming Shag
For curly hair that straddles the line between coiled ringlets and loose waves, a shoulder-length shag is the perfect compromise. This cut has choppy light layers cut throughout, but leaves some medium density along the bottom.
The layers remove bulk and heaviness starting from the ends and working up towards the roots. The perimeter ends between the chin and shoulders for great hang time. Layers will measure between 3-6 inches throughout the interior and sides.
Add stronger layers around the eyes and cheekbones to open up and frame the features. Style with mousse for definition and use clips to lift the roots while air drying.
The Wispy Chin-Length Bob
Fine curly hair types are best suited to lightweight wispy cuts like this chin-length bob. The length falls right at the chin, removing bulk without losing too much length.
The perimeter is blunt cut but very lightly thinned with point cutting. This creates softness while avoiding blunt heaviness along the bottoms. Layers are kept minimal and light.
The face framing happens around the eyes and cheekbones with a few curled tendrils. The top layers are texturized heavily at the roots for volume and height. Avoid strong layers throughout to keep the wispy style intact.
Air dry and scrunch in cream for separation and definition. Embrace the lightweight movement and softness this style allows.
The Sculpted Pixie
Very tight coils and curls look fabulous sculpted into a curly pixie cut. These curls work best with longer pieces left on top and incorporated into the sides. Keep the heaviest length layers on top, about 3-4 inches long tapering down the sides and back.
Build height and volume by thinning out the interior layers on the sides and crown. The tightly coiled curls will spring up into the sculpted shape easily with the weight removed. Embrace the shrinkage and work it into the sculpted pixie style.
On finer curls, the pixie layers should be left more uniform and delicate. The graduation from longer to shorter can be quite subtle. Focus on exposing the cheekbones and neckline for delicate framing.
The Endlessly Versatile Chin-Length Cut
No curly hair article would be complete without mentioning the quintessential chin-length bob. This cut never goes out of style because it perfectly suits so many curl patterns and types.
The chin-skimming length is short enough for volume yet long enough for styling versatility. It keeps curls bouncy but avoids the dreaded triangle shape from shortening too dramatically.
The perimeter can be blunt and heavy for thick curls or texturized for fine hair. Layers should concentrate heavily around the eyes, cheekbones and chin to open up the features.
This cut is suitable for air drying smoothly or rough drying for extra volume. The chin-length bob simply cannot be beat for easy, flattering, classic curly style.
Finding the perfect curly haircut is an artform combining the right lengths, layering techniques and face-framing details.
No two heads of curls are alike, which is why an array of amazing curly cuts exist.
I hope these descriptions give you inspiration for your next Fabulous curly haircut.
Your locks will thank you for the curl-enhancing shape up!
