Why the cut works: If you have fine-to-medium hair with tight, spiral curls, this is one of the best curly haircuts for you. Mancuso says the curlier the hair, the longer the layers should be. This sexy lioness mane is tamed with defined curls and tapered at the ends with layers. To get the fun look:
2. Blow-dry your hair with a diffuser, using your fingers to pull hair gently to preserve the natural texture as much as possible.
Step 3: Once dry, lightly apply a curl cream to dry hair to define pieces in the front and combat frizz that resulted from drying (try DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler, $28).
Step 4: Take a 1-inch curling iron like Sarah Potempa Beachwaver S1, $129, and identify some key spots around your face that you want to dress up, says Mancuso. "Curling just a few sections of hair will give you a nice mix of spirals and softness." Continue to do this throughout the rest of your hair if you want to channel your inner wild child, and seal the style with hairspray.
Image via Imaxtree
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Best Haircuts for Curly Hair: Playful Cut
Why the cut works: For ladies with tight curls (which tend to go wild in the humidity) — this natural, chin-length hairstyle is your ideal face-framing cut, according to Dueñas. "I love this haircut for curly hair, because it is a modern and timeless version of the 'fro,'" Dueñas says. "The playful cut is bouncy without looking messy, and it allows you to have large volume, or you can make it more compact — making it forgiving in almost all weather situations." Talk about mane magic. To work this look:
Step 1: Start with soaking wet hair, and apply a quarter-size amount of Ouidad Curl Immersion Silky Souffé Setting Crème, $28, to help smooth curls. Work the product from roots to ends, avoiding your scalp.
Step 2: Once the smoothing cream is evenly applied, scrunch your curls back into shape, and squeeze your hair to remove any excess water. You may either air dry your hair (as not to disturb your curls), or use your diffuser for a faster dry time. To avoid frizz, do not touch your curls until they are completely dry.
Step 3: Once dry, finish the look by gently massaging your scalp to build volume and break curls apart, making sure to keep definition.
Image via Greg Doherty/Getty
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Best Haircuts for Curly Hair: Au Naturel
Why the cut works: If you have thick, very tight curls that tend to swell up more than you'd like, go with this shoulder-length style with long layers at the ends. It's not quite a lob (long bob), but the cut is a length that sits right on your shoulders, which makes Kerry Washington's beautiful curls short enough to maintain but long enough to prevent her hair from getting too big. This particular look is for the ladies who actually "woke up like this." To steal the style:
Why the cut works: Just because you've been blessed with a full head of curls doesn't mean you can't rock an edgy pixie cut (see also: Halle Berry). Coarse, wavy hair looks stunning in a pixie with long layers in the front — in fact, we'd name it as one of the best curly haircuts in town. "The cut creates texture without the fear of looking like a mess or too masculine," Dueñas says. "The bangs also give the illusion of length, despite the style's close crop, which helps to provide a feminine feel."
For this style, Mancuso recommends working with your natural curl and just use a blow dryer to smooth the front bangs:
Step 1: Apply a straightening cream to loosen the waves on damp hair.
Step 2: Using the force of the blow dryer, amp up the fluffy, natural texture of your hair.
Step 3: Blow dry your front layers with a flat paddle brush to smooth the bangs.
Step 4: Run your fingers through the back of your hair and lightly mist with a finishing spray.
Image via Dominique Charriau/Getty
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Best Haircuts for Curly Hair: Wild Pixie
Why the cut works: "For those who have curly hair, the maintenance and time needed to stay on top of longer hair just isn't realistic," says Suave celebrity hairstylist Marcus Francis. "The curly pixie makes a great alternative option." He also notes that it works well for finer textures since the style "gives the hair more fullness than longer hair." Here's how to copy the look:
"For curly styles, I think it's really about using the right combination of products," he adds. "They all do something different, which is what curls need — hold, texture and shine, to name a few."
Finding the right haircut for curly hair can be a struggle — especially when you're working against, instead of with, your natural texture. We know — you've pressed, chemically straightened and probably even begged your curly hair to cooperate. Luckily, you don't have to straighten your curls into submission to flaunt gorgeous hair.
Textured hair, from tight spirals to beachy waves, is what's hot right now. So how do you pull off those looks? We spoke with the best stylists in the biz to find the best haircuts for curly hair — the ones that will let you embrace your natural curls and waves without wrestling every morning with a flat iron.
