Great Curly Looks for Short and Long Hair

Photo Credit: Fanny Sousaa

Curly hair. Some people love it, some people hate it. Whatever side you’re on, you have to admit one thing, curls can be difficult to deal with.

Natural curls can be unruly and they never seem to go where you want them to. Curly hair is also more prone to frizz. It is for these reasons that many people are on a never-ending search to find the ultimate way to care for their curls.

Well, if you have curly hair, never fear, this article will give you some great tips on caring for curls for both short and long hairstyles.

Caring for Curly Hair

No matter how long or short your hair may be, there are certain rules that apply to curly hair that will ensure you get great looking, bouncy curls without the frizz. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Keep it Moisturized

Curly hair tends to be drier than other hair types. Oil generates at the scalp, but curly hair makes it difficult for it to penetrate down to the ends. This results in frizz and breakage.

To keep your hair from breaking and frizzing, here are some things you should be doing.

• Condition, condition, condition: Whenever you wash your hair, be sure not to skip on the conditioner. In fact, it’s a good idea to even add a deep conditioner every so often, too. Some experts even recommend co-washing which are cleansing conditioners that substitute for shampoos. If you opt for co-washing, be sure to shampoo every so often to avoid build-up.
• Use Serum: A serum will further help to keep hair nourished and tame frizz and fly-aways.
• Avoid Over-Drying: Over-drying will contribute to brittleness and frizz. If you can’t wait for your hair to air dry, try using a diffuser to distribute the heat more evenly. Also avoid towel drying your hair, as this will contribute to frizz. Try squeezing it dry instead or using a microfiber hair wrap.
• Apply Styling Products On Wet Hair: Applying styling products when your hair is wet will help lock in the moisture and help combat frizz.

Styling Tips

Styling tips perfectly designed for your specific hair type can really boost overall hair results. Here is what the experts recommend for curly hair.

• Time Your Washes: Most curly-haired women have that window a few days after washes when their hair looks perfect. This is the time when hair will achieve maximum fullness and curls will be well-defined, but not overly defined. If you have an occasion coming up, be sure to time your washes so your hair will be perfect on your big day.
• Use a Scrunching Technique: Right after getting out of the shower, flip your head over and scrunch excess liquid out of your hair. Then diffuse lightly and continue to scrunch for optimal bounce and volume.
• Use a Curling Iron: It might seem bizarre for a person with curly hair to use a curling iron. However, on most people, curls aren’t uniform. A curling iron helps provide definition and a more uniform look.

Keep Your Hair Healthy

Because curly hair tends to be dry and brittle, constant care is required to keep it healthy. Here is what you can do to minimize damage.

Cut It When It’s Dry: To reduce damage that accumulates between cuts, try cutting it yourself when it’s dry. Just go through your curls snipping off whatever feels dry and damaged. Cutting it dry will help identify damage and it will also prevent after-cut shrinkage shock that can occur when you cut your hair wet.

Use Protein-Based Styling Products: Protein strengthens and repairs the keratin in hair making it grow strong and healthy. Make sure the products you use on your hair are rich in protein to get it looking its best.

Long and Short Curly Hair Styles

The right hairstyles will get your hair looking terrific. A good haircut can bring out the bounce in your hair without producing an overly puffy look. Here are some recommended great curly hairstyles for short and long hair.

Short Curly Hair

If you have curly hair and you like to keep it short, here are some great curly hairstyles for short hair that you can choose from.

The Bob

Bobs are great for bringing out curls. They produce a style that works well with professional and alternative looks.

To get a great looking bob, be sure to ask your hairdresser to cut your hair at an angle. This will provide the layering curly hair so desperately needs. High and lowlights will complement the look perfectly.

Longer Pixie Cuts

Curly-haired people that like to keep their hair ‘boy-short’ may struggle to find a style that works well. However, a longer pixie cut will work beautifully.

The idea is to cut side bangs that flow loosely in front of the face while keeping it all business in the back. This will make hair fall stylishly all the while minimizing frizz.

Scrunched Short Hair

If you can’t be bothered with a lot of styling, and like the look of short hair with a bit of length on the top, simply scrunch the longer pieces for a boyish punk look with plenty of definition.

Undercuts

Undercuts are emerging as one of the most popular looks of 2020. To get the look, the hair on both sides of the temple must be very short or even shaven. Defined curls volumize the top making for a trendy and sexy style that is perfect for curly hair.

Long Curly Hair

If you prefer to wear your hair long, here are some hairstyle options that are recommended.

Medium Length Layered Look

A medium-length works well for curly hair. Cutting your hair so it’s a few inches below the shoulders will really bring out the bounce of your curls while avoiding shrinkage that can be produced with shorter hairstyles. Add a side part and some layers to take the style to the next level.

U Shaped

U Shapes are great for those with long, loose curls. It provides a layered look that offers the perfect amount of definition.

Add Bangs

Some curly-haired people may want to stay as far away from bangs as possible. On curly-haired people, bangs tend to cowlick and misbehave in general.

And although keeping bangs tame does take some extra effort, if you are willing to put the time and dedication in, you can get some great results. Just be sure to have the right hair products and styling tools on hand.

Messy Shag



If you like low-maintenance looks, the shag could be for you. A shag involves lots of layers to produce a wash-and-go style that is a little messy and effortlessly sexy. If you have curly hair, this will be easier to pull off than you might think.

Avante Garde

If you have unruly hair that is hard to manage, don’t fight it, go with it. Shape those curls into structures that will provide a standout runway look that is worthy of a second glance.

How to Curl Your Hair

Now we know how to deal with curly hair. But what if you have straight hair and want a curly look? Well, that can be done! See below on the best tips.

Curling short hair can be challenging. For the most part, you will want to use a curling iron to curl your hair, but in order to get a curl, you will need to curl it around the wand 1-2.5 times. If you don’t have enough hair to work with, this can be difficult to do.

Therefore, you may have to take a more old-fashioned approach.

Instead of a curling iron, wrap your hair around a small object such as a mascara or lip-gloss tube. Small rollers will also do the trick.

Once you have all your hair wrapped around these objects, cover it with a handkerchief. Leave the handkerchief on for 2-4 hours or overnight.

After removing the handkerchief, take out your rollers and pull the curls gently apart with your fingers. Do not use a brush or comb as this will work to straighten your hair.

Spray with hairspray to hold the curls and you are good to go!

How to Curl Long Hair

There are several ways to curl long hair, but most will opt to use a curling iron.

Before starting, brush through hair to make sure it’s nice and smooth. Also, consider the width of the curling iron. Larger irons will make wavy curls while smaller irons will produce tight curls.

Start by separating hair into one-inch sections. Take each section and start at the root wrapping the iron around the hair to form a curl. Work to the end to produce the curly texture throughout the curl. If you want the curls to be a little looser, stop curling before you hit the end.

Once the hair is curled, use a light hairspray to hold the curls in place. Then flip your head over and use your hands to tousle the hair at the root to loosen up the curls.

You can also use rollers to curl your hair in a similar fashion to how people with short hair would do it. Another option is to braid your hair when it’s wet and leave it overnight to produce light waves.

Now that you know all about great curly hairstyles for short and long hair, what new styles will you be trying out?