41 of the best curly hairstyles for rocking big, bold, curly hair
We won't count all the reasons why we love curly hairstyles, but among them: it's big (that volume), it's bold, it's beautiful, it's unapologetic and it's truly individual, since each and every curl pattern is unique. Yes, curly hair comes with its own set of challenges – curls naturally have a tendency to crave moisture, even when they're topped up regularly and they can throw a diva strop the second they sense a brush nearby – but, we respect the tenacity, and you can't deny curls have got personality.
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Some of us are born with it, while some of us use tools to enhance them or create them from scratch. Either way, if anyone needs reminding: your curls are drop-dead-gorgeous. In the last few years, there’s been a move away from chemical straighteners and relaxers towards embracing more naturally curly or textured hair.
According to Subrina Kidd, one of The Collective London’s senior hair stylists and textured hair expert, the key to making the most of your natural hair is to get to know your curls. “Some women aren’t aware of how to work with their own hair because it hasn’t been in its natural state for so long. This is why I’m finding a lot of women saying they need help with their texture.”
How to style curly hair
We asked Keshia East, founder of No Knot Co. and owner of some mega curls of her own to drop her top tips on how to truly champion the power of your curls:
- Always style your hair and detangle when it’s wet. I like to brush my products in, and it’s so much easier when the hair is wet – preferably straight after you’ve wet/washed it.
- Leave in conditioner is the best. I use it after wash days before adding more products, the again to refresh throughout the week. It’s my holy grail product.
- Tools are so important. I use a brush for detangling, one for styling, and one for volumising (an Afro pick works here). It’s so important to have the right tools.
- Another holy grail, is my hair spray bottle. It's perfect for refreshing the hair throughout the week!
How to take care of curly hair
“Good hair starts with a good scalp.” Says TV personality and hair stylist Jonathan Van Ness who is no stranger to a good set of curls. “If you have hair, a scalp, or you’re living and breathing, the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil is going to be so good for you. Taking care of your scalp is a great way to make sure that the overall health of your hair improves. When the hair follicles are clogged, new hair can’t get through.” JVN adds.
It's important to give those curls all the love and encouragement they deserve, especially given the fact that curly hair can easily become dry and damaged. Luckily, the right curl creams and gels should provide all the essential moisture and nourishment for naturally curly hair to thrive. Multitasking products like JVN's Complete Air Dry Cream, £23, JVN Hair are a good place to start.
How to create curly hair (if you don't have it already)?
Waves can be amped up with a simple scrunch and some sea-salt spray. And for those who have naturally straight hair, it's still possible to get in on the action with a curling wand and styling products to encourage bounce and hold.
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What are the best curly hairstyles?
Many celebs have been embracing their naturally or enhanced curly hair, think Yara Shahidi, Tracee Ellis Ross, Zendaya , Kerry Washington and Ice Spice to name a few. However, it's also easy for us curly girls to stick to one or two hairstyles for ease, the 'up do' and the 'free the curls' and simply because it's easy and it's already in our locker.
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But there are endless ways to style your curls, whether natural, or with a little help from a curling wand.
Browse through these gorgeous curly hairstyles and bring a new bounce back into your life…
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Influencer, Larissa kept her curls feeling light and tailored with a little undercut action (if you look close). It's cool, contemporary and cute.
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Want a style that's sleek and straight, but also voluminous and curly? Actress Mckenna Roberts has got you with this half and half ponytail that's sleek at the crown, then pretty and curly at the back.
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When your curls are this stunning, there's only one thing to do: tease them even bigger.
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Brit hair stylist, Michelle Thompson, is the queen of curly cuts, tapering and tailoring each and every curl perfectly for the prettiest definition. This shoulder length cut and curly fringe is 10 out of 10.
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Kiana Alexis has got curly festival hair down with these half-up bunches.
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The Big Chop never looked so good.
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The subtle tapered layers give gorgeous volume and shape.
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The shaggy layers have a retro ‘70s feel and we’re loving it.
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They're swinging, they're sexy, they're (also) ‘70s inspired and they're stunning.
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The best way to emphasise your pretty curl pattern is to bounce the light off them, spotlight highlights are like a mini ring light, illuminating curls with carefully placed highlights.
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Long enough to braid or tie back, short enough to showcase the shape.
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Combine gorgeous texture with this season's cool-girl shade.
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These pretty mid-length curls have been carefully cut curl by curl to create the most delicious shape.
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Pin the back back and let the front do it's thing.
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Dress for success with some statement accessories.
icespice / InstagramStrawberry shortcake curls
There is something very adorable, yet cool and put together about these tightly coiled curls that we see Ice Spice rocking all the time. Add a red dye tinge and you got yourself strawberry shortcake curls.
jasmeannnn / InstagramKiss curl edges
This cool and modern take of thos 90s butterfly clips hairstyle is grown-up but still cute and fashionable.
alissa.ashley / InstagramPulled back-fro
Sometimes we just need to let our curls do what they need to do to be in top form. Here these are styled with a tidy pullback around the edges for a clean finish.
jaymejo / InstagramTusled curly low bun
Tusled curls can still be top clean-girl aesthetic. Pull it back with a could of structured curls falling from the front and side of the face, with a clawclip to enhance the look of the bun.
Bertrand Rindoff PetroffCurly fringe
If there is anything that can instantly amp up your curls it's a curly fringe.
Braided up-do
One thing about Ms Marsai Martin is that she will give us a good protective style. This braided up bun has loose curls dispersed through, falling in a delicate waterfall like way. Dreamy.
Amy SussmanXXL waves
Kelly Rowland's XXL brushed out 3B curls are a international treasure and must be protected at all costs.
Vittorio Zunino CelottoFinger waves
These finger waves are a great way to style short or pixie length curly hair. They look glossy, elegant and elevated and Jodie Turner-Smith is making a great case for them.
George PimentelFudge cake curls
These fudge coloured bouncy curls are short but complement Joey King face shape well. They're not super voluminous, but still have body, shine and movement — a triple threat.
Scott BarbourFree fro'
Nonchalant, fly-away curls will never go out of style. Just look at these ones sported by non other than Solange Knowles, who is often seen embracing her natural textures.
Stuart C. WilsonHalf up curly bun
Ella Eyre's iconic half up curly bun is the perfect way to pull hair away from the face.
Kevin WinterBrushed up hair
Beyonce's brushed up curls are glorious. Leaving you with a subtle messy deep wave, with some structure but mostly a lot of volume and fun.
Rich FurySlick high-ponytail
A slick high ponytail with a middle parting can really do wonders to show off your curls. See here how Gabrielle Union is putting a good case for it.
Leon BennettCurly updo
Yara Shahidi is determined to take up more space with her hair. Whether she's wearing it in a ponytail, updo, or loose in all it's natural glory, her curls are always on point regardless.
Ciara / InstagramXXL afro puffs
Afro puffs will forever be a cute go-to for curly and coily girls, to make it a little more grown up, just make them bigger. Here, more is more.
John PhillipsTousled bun
Rita Ora's high tousled bun is heavenly, with a loose and tousled side fringe as her curls intertwine between each other.
Kurt Krieger - CorbisSide sweep
The soft but messy side sweep — everything about this look on Nathalie Emmanuel is giving us life. Add a clip to amp up the glamour.
Dave KotinskyHalf space buns
Justine Skye never fails to serve us with hair inspo. This half up half down is done a little differently with space buns at the top instead of a ponytail or a single top knot.
Stephane Cardinale - CorbisPixie curls
Julia Garner just reminded us how that 2c/3a pixie curls can and are the moment. Here she sports bleached blonde locks with the sides slicked back for a more formal do.
Jon KopaloffDeep side swept pony
Tori Kelly's famous curls are a little more constructed with this Hollywood side swept curls, tided in a low ponytail at the back.
kahhspence / InstagramSky high curly pony
Latto's sky high ponytail perfectly showcases her curls with lots of volume and lots of height. The baby hairs are perfectly styled to add that little summin' summin'.
gregoryrussellhair / InstagramMessy curly bun
We don't get to see Nicole Richie's curls often, but when we do, they're glorious.
jourdandunn / InstagramKnotless boho braid curls
Jourdan's Dunn's curls come in the form of boho knotless braids, and we're so here for it.
Samir HusseinCurl long-hawk
Vicky Hope opted for this long sides tucked in mohawk like style and it looks edgy yet super cute. The mohawk part is essentially a jumbo braid that wraps around the crown of her head and it unravels to feature her long curls.
Jason Merritt/TERMTousled ends
These cherry red tousled ends on Rihanna are all the inspo for the curly girls to get some temp colour on, if they're brave enough.
Steve GranitzPixie crown
Amp up your pixie curls by adding a glam hair band and fluff up the curls around it as Janelle Monae has here.
John ShearerWet curl bob
Tracee Ellis Ross is very prideful of her coils, so much so that she created a whole brand around them — Pattern Beauty. Here she is doing something a little different, with a swept back slick wet curl bob look. Obsessed.
Matt WinkelmeyerTwist out curls
These twist out curls on Keke Palmer are so dreamy. The curls have lotss of definition and are tightly packed into a neat and uber curly afro style.
Cindy OrdRockstar Curls
SZAs rockstar curl's are givin' rock n roll but make it r&b. They are curly curtain bang length fringes and extra long, extra voluminous curls. Inches on inches.
Rodin EckenrothPinned tousled curls
These golden curls on Jena Frumes look amazing pinned in a tousled half-up half down do with a deep side parting.
Fro' East
The East sisters (Keshia and Fleur) curls are so dreamy to look at they both rep them consistently. The blonde highlights add extra dimension, and the volume is unmeasurable. 10/10
Andrew H. WalkerBeachy curls tucked
We can all remember these iconic beachy curls from Anna Lynne-Mccord as she plays the protagonist on the hit series 90210 Beverly Hills. Get the low-maintenance look by tying damp hair into two braids and letting it dry naturally.
Getty ImagesPuff, puff, curl
Cropped, curly and tipped in gold. It's rare to see Naomi Campbell without a centre parting and sleek, poker-straight strands, but this free-spirited style is right up our street.
Leon BennettCurly up-do
Logan Browning's neat curly up-do is probably the most simple and timeless curly style you could get. Slick it up with gel on a tight grip and then let the curls run free. For extra shine add some hair oil on the loose coils.
Dimitrios KambourisBack puff
Leona Lewis sports a slick back, middle parted puff with an XXL mid-way puffy bun. The slick back can be achieved using water and gel or hair spray to keep it all in place.
