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The Best Natural Curly Hairstyles for Every Length and Pattern
You’ll want to try them all
One thing the best natural curly hairstyles never lack is versatility and dimension. Whether you have 2A waves or 4C coils, retro-inspired looks like the wolf cut and sleek half-and-half updos seamlessly highlight the beauty of their volume and free-flowing bounce.
The diversity of curly styles has come a long way in part due to the creation of more styling products for a broader range of curl patterns. There still may be trial and error required to find the right essentials for your hair, but factors like the right curly haircut and overall knowledge of the types of products that work best for your needs are usually a good start. “With curly hair, period, shape is so important, a good cut. If you have looser curls, short cuts, and bobs are a good look,” Kim Kimble, celebrity hairstylist and founder of the Kim Kimble Hair Collection, tells Bazaar.
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Whether you’re looking to enhance your wash-and-go or add extra pizzazz to your look with an eye-catching accessory, the following style ideas take the guesswork out of figuring out what to do with your hair next. To give you some extra beauty inspiration, we’ve rounded up some of the best natural curly hairstyles to try this season and beyond, according to the runway, coveted street-style looks, and top expert recommendations. Read on for a few of our favorite hair ideas, along with some key products we love that can help you get the look at home.
Curly Mullet
The curly mullet—also known as the wolf cut—was not on our 2024 bingo card, but the look has made its way onto our radar. Bouncy layers offer a modern take on the idea of business in the front and party in the back.
Whether you’re going for more of a wash-and-go wet-look mullet or want to touch up your curls after a few days without doing a full wash and reset, Redken’s Refreshing Curl Mist will do the trick. Squalane and jojoba oil work to rehydrate and seal in moisture while reshaping your curls.
Curly Mullet
This easy and playful style makes it easy to channel the best of the ’80s while putting your curl pattern on full display.
It doesn’t take much effort to work this weightless styling foam into your hair, and it provides lightweight hold and curl definition without the crunch.
Curly Mullet
Bazaar editors always take beauty cues from backstage, which includes this wet-look mullet seen on the catwalk at Roberto Cavalli’s Fall/Winter 2024 runway show.
Here’s a water-based gel from the experts at Bread Beauty Supply that keeps frizz and flaking to a minimum.
Shape-Shifters
Kimble notes that one of the keys to an impactful curly hairstyle is the right cut. Along with adding shape, a symmetrical cut like this street-style version tapered version accentuates your face shape while disguising damaged or transitioning ends that may compromise the springiness of your curls.
Amika Un.Done Volume and Matte Texture Spray
For 2- and 3-curl types in need of extra movement and texture, reach for this styling spray from Amika, which can be sprayed all over dry hair, or just where you need it for an extra boost.
Shape-Shifters
According to hairstylists, keeping your layers symmetrical can also help blend looser and tighter curls on different parts of your head. This layered afro seen at Copenhagen Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2024 season stole the show.
A leave-in mask like this peptide option from Lobie makes it simple to keep hair hydrated without over-styling your natural curls.
Shape-Shifters
“For tighter curls, I think round shapes and just shapes in general work great,” Kimble says. She also notes that with tighter textures, bobs are harder to achieve because of shrinkage, so a more rounded style will look better. Here’s a circular, fluffy ’fro that is ideal for tighter textures, like those with 4B and 4C hair.
Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Styling Cream
A little goes a long way when it comes to this versatile styling cream infused with shea butter, cacay, and sweet almond oils. It’s made with tight textures in mind.
Shape-Shifters
We’re making heart eyes at this carefree curly style that packs plenty of volume and easy fluffiness.
Seamlessly pump up the volume on your curls by drying them down with a high-powered diffuser. Dyson’s Airwrap uses an attachment to dry your curls fast, eliminate frizz, and keep their shape intact.
Curly Bangs
Kimble considers coiled bangs to be one of the best curly hairstyles of 2024. “I really love a curly cut with bangs or even a curly pony with bangs,” she says. We’re saving this tapered version, which was spotted backstage at Jill Sander, to our beauty mood boards.
Color Wow Dream Coat for Curly Hair
Fuzzy, flyaway bangs are never a good look. A few pumps of this smoothing treatment before diffusing will keep your curly fringe right where it should be, until your next wash.
Curly Bangs
We love the ease of the soft and slightly undone curls seen on the Spring/Summer 2024 runway at Gucci.
This versatile set of curl-friendly attachments from Ouidad works with just about any blow dryer for more a concentrated heat flow. Based on your attachment of choice, it’s a no-brainer to add volume or perfect definition of hair straight out of the shower.
Curly Bangs
Another bonus to wearing curly bangs is that the style works with a wash-and-go like this wet-look version seen at Paris Fashion Week.
This Beyoncé-approved hair favorite uses a blend of 13 oils and plant extracts to lock in hydration and boost shine.
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