A Curly Dilemma: Best Haircuts & Styling Tips for Curly Hair
- Heather Oliver
- Sep 24
- 11 min read
What's Inside:
Got curls? Then you know curly hair can be a gift, but also a curse as it can be extremely challenging to manage.
The good news is, with the right haircut and styling products, you can achieve beautiful, healthy curls that behave the way you want, and look the way you'll love.
In this blog, you’ll learn about the common challenges of curly hair and how to deal with them, get tips for styling your curls, and learn which haircuts are best for curly hair.
Dealing With Curls: The Struggle is Real
We estimate about 30% of our clientele have curls—in fact, it’s one of our specialties. Curly hair is characterized by its S-shaped or coiled pattern, which can range from loose waves to tight ringlets. And it’s these hair shapes and patterns that contribute to the unique challenges people with curls deal with every day.
The chief complaints we hear about curls are frizziness, dryness, tangles, and styling challenges. Let’s break these down.
In a Tiz Over Frizz
If curly hair had an arch nemesis, it would be frizz. Nothing is more frustrating than when your hair expands into the shape of a fluffy helmet. I’m more wavy than curly myself, with Type 2A hair, but when I try to wear my hair wavy, it loves to “expand” and get poofy as the day goes on—so I feel your pain!
To fight frizz, my go-to products are Oribe’s Impermeable Anti-Humidity Spray or Back of Bottle’s Shining Armor Frizz & Heat Primer.
But what causes frizziness in the first place?
Frizz occurs when the hair cuticle is raised, which causes the hair to appear dry, fluffy, and unmanageable. This is usually a result of lack of moisture, damage from heat styling or chemical treatments, exposure to harsh environmental conditions, using no products or the wrong ones, or a combination of these factors.
The Snare of Parched Hair
Another challenge with curly hair is dryness. Curly hair tends to be drier than straight hair because the natural oils produced by the scalp have a harder time traveling down the curved hair shaft. This can lead to brittle, straw-like hair that is prone to breakage.
Danielle Palm, another Type 2a at Alkali, describes her hair to be as dry as a desert. Her hair saver is Oribe’s Gold Lust Transformative Masque, an incredible deep conditioning treatment. She also loves Back of Bottle's Free Reign Curl Cream.
Mangles of Tangles
Tangling is also a common problem with curly hair. The S-shaped pattern of curly hair causes the hair strands to rub against each other, creating knots and tangles. This can make it difficult to comb or brush curly hair, and can also lead to breakage.
Courtney Mercer, a Type 3a, knows the tangle struggle all too well—especially after shampoo days. To get rid of tangles and prevent them, her go-to product is Oribe Cleansing Creme. It gives her moisture and control, has a lather-free cleanse to remove build up, detangles, reduces frizz, and is super gentle on curls.
The Trials of Style
Finally, curly hair can be difficult to style.
Curly hair requires special care and products to keep it healthy and looking its best. This can include using sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners, avoiding heat styling, and using leave-in conditioners and curl creams to help define and hold curls.
When it comes to styling her fine curls, Alkali senior stylist Brittney Shanks knows the struggle more than anyone. Her go-to products to get her curls to behave are Oribe Supershine Light and Dry Texturizing Spray.
Pro Tip: “Leave-in conditioner isn’t just for wet hair. Are your curls fuzzy after sleeping on them? Smooth a dollop of leave-in conditioner over them and scrunch!” - Brittney Shanks | Hairstylist at Alkali
Cutting Curly Hair
A good haircut is important for any hair type and texture, but even more so for curly hair. But the truth is, finding a stylist that’s truly skilled in cutting curly hair can be challenging.
When curly hair is wet, it can stretch out and appear longer. But when it dries, it shrinks back up to its natural length. This makes it harder to predict how short it will be when dry—and is why a lot of curly-headed clients leave some salons unhappy with their cut.
Another challenge for cutting curly hair is that it has a 3D structure to it. Because of this unique structure, one of the biggest complaints we hear from clients about previous cuts are what we call “Christmas tree layers.”
We love a beautifully decorated Christmas tree as much as anyone else, but Christmas tree layers isn’t the look you want if you have curly hair. With this type of layering, you can actually see where layers start and stop 😱. On top of that, it tends to give you an unwanted triangle shape to your hair—hence the name Christmas tree layers.
A well-trained stylist can cut a complimentary shape with seamless layers that adds fullness where you need it, while removing bulk from troublesome areas. This way, your cut will be beautiful, easier to manage, and pleasing to the eye.
Pro tip: It’s vital for your stylist to know if you style your hair straight and how often. Certain styles just don’t look good on both straight and curly hair.
Best Haircuts for Curly Hair
Cuts for curly hair can be flexible, and the best one ultimately depends on your unique hair texture, face shape, personality, and the amount of time your committed to styling your hair. Below are a list of haircuts we find work best for curls.
Curly Bob
A curly bob is a layered haircut that’s typically cut just below the chin and can really accentuate your curls. You can wear a bob curly or straight, and with the right products, it’s easy to style and maintain. Bobs are best suited for heart and oval-shaped faces.
Curly Pixie Cut
The curly pixie cut is a great option for those with naturally curly hair who want a low-maintenance style. It adds volume and shape to your curls, and it's perfect for those with an oval, square, or diamond face shape. It’s also great for round shapes, as long as extra care is taken for precise detailing.
You can have a lot of fun with a curly pixie, as it can be styled in multiple ways—from sleek and polished to tousled and beachy. Dress it up or dress it down. Your imagination is the limit!
Curly Shag
If you love being on trend and have curly or wavy hair, you’ll love the curly shag—aka wolf cut, butterfly cut, rockstar shag, and the blunt shag to name a few. These styles feature long layers that frame your face, and add volume and texture to fine or limp curls.
One of the key benefits of the curly shag is its versatility. You can style it in a variety of ways to suit different occasions or mood. With this look, you can apply product and let your curls air dry, or use a diffuser and styling tools for more polished looks.
Curly Lob
This low-maintenance hairstyle is best for if you’re seeking a chic style without the hassle of constant upkeep. Curly lobs work really well if you have thick or coarse hair.
Styling your curly lob can be as simple or complex is you want, but it’s relatively easy to get a polished look without spending too much time on it.
Curly Mullet
The curly mullet hairstyle is a bold and distinctive choice that’s perfect if you want to command attention or have an edgy look and don’t mind taking some extra time to style your hair. This haircut combines shorter trimmed sides and back with beautiful cascading curls on top, which creates a striking contrast.
The curly mullet's especially flattering if you have naturally curly or wavy locks, as it showcases your natural texture while maintaining a structured and stylish look.
Pro tip: “My top advice to clients with curly hair is to have your hair styled curly after your cut. This allows the stylist to see the haircut in its organic form and in the shape it’ll be worn in most of the time. Most times, curly clients look forward to having that smooth blowout after their haircut. While I’m happy to deliver that treat, it does prevent the opportunity for me to educate them on proper products, application, and styling for their curls. For best results, this is extremely important.” - Amber Woodall | Owner and CEO at Alkali
Top 4 Styling Mistakes for Curly Hair
When it comes to styling your curls, this is where a lot of people go wrong.
Mistake #1:
Skimping on your haircut. A haircut is your foundation. And once you’ve had a really good haircut, you’ll absolutely notice the difference.
Mistake #2:
Skipping prep! Too many people skip the prep and go straight to styling. You’re not doing yourself any favors here.
Mistake #3
Using cheap products or the wrong professional products for your hair texture.
Mistake #4:
Skipping the finish! Same as prep, but comes at the end. Don’t skip the finishing product. Each step has an important and specific job—and prep, style, and finish products can make a huge difference on how your curls look!
Top 4 Fixes and Tips for Curly Hair
Alright. Now that you know the top mistakes, it’s probably obvious what the top “fixes” are—just the mistakes reversed!
#1 A great haircut!
‘Nuff said (and covered above)!
#2 Prep
Always prep your curls with a hydrating prep product. Seriously, don’t skip it! This is the stage where you balance PH and address core issues like dryness. Prep products aren't typically for hold—they hydrate—and that’s essential for curls.
Product recommendations for prepping your curls:
Featherbalm and Run-Through provide hold and hydration and detangles without weighing your hair down. If you have fine hair and curls, Featherbalm is exceptional. Both of these products are also quite versatile. They can be used as a texturizer, blowout, or finisher.
If you air-dry your curls a lot, then Hair Alchemy Styling Balm is a must-have in your prep arsenal! It defines curls and gives them a polished look without heat, while fighting frizz and leaving curls soft. As a bonus, it also helps reduce breakage and strengthens weak strands.
If you have coarse hair, battle tangles, or just want to make your hair easier to comb, Priming Lotion is just what you’re looking for. It also adds tons of moisture, prevents breakage, and even provides heat protection.
For medium curly hair, you want to reach for Oribe Supershine or Supershine Light.
Other standout prep products are:
Back of Bottle’s Hi-Hydrating Moisturizing Oil
The reason prep is so important is that it provides a foundation for your styling products, helps detangle, strengthen, and protect the hair, and most importantly, provides moisture.
The bottom line is this: Curls need hydration. Texture can't happen without moisture!
#3 The Right Styling Products
Styling products are where you consider the amount of hold your curl needs, and the type of finish you want.
Things to consider when choosing your styling products:
Do you want to encourage your curls or smooth them out?
Do you want a soft or stiff finish?
Do you want a matte or shine finish?
Your styling options are highly customizable, and depending on your haircut, you may want to invest in products that let you style your hair in different ways.
But you also need to consider your technique, as it’s especially important when it comes to curls.
Air Drying
When air drying your curls, plopping is an excellent way to reduce your drying time and to add definition to your curls without heat styling. We recommend using a Volo hair towel or something similar for best results.
Personal Experience: If the price of the Volo gives you pause, I get it. I felt the same way. But after I got one—I could never go back to an ordinary bath towel for my hair. I was honestly blown away by the difference it makes in drying time, softness, and how my hair looked after drying. It’s more than worth it!
Product recommendations for these techniques:
For curl types 3-4, Oribe Curl Gelée is the way to go. It helps make coils and tight curls more manageable, adds beautiful shine, hydrates, and defines curls while nourishing hair and preventing breakage.
Oribe Curl Gloss is another great choice for hydrating and defining curls and giving them shine—plus, it helps control humidity.
BOB Free Reign Cream is an excellent product for tightening and defining curls and coils. It enhances texture, helps control frizz, softens, and is lightweight. Free Reign is good for all curl types, is silicone free, and made with all clean ingredients.
For finer curls and waves, reach for Oribe Hair Alchemy Heatless Styling Balm. It gives you shine, smooths frizz, and holds without weighing your hair down.
Diffuse For Bouncier, Softer Curls and Waves
If you want bouncier curls and waves, finger twirls while diffusing is the way to go. If you haven’t seen good results with finger twirling, be sure you’re prepping first and using the right products! The key is sectioning small, while following your curl’s natural curl pattern.
Product recommendations for these techniques:
Oribe Oribe Styling Butter defines natural curls while also softening them. It protects against frizz and provides medium hold and lots of hydration to help prevent dryness.
Oribe Creme for Style is another styling product perfect for diffusing. It’s flexible, yet gives you all-day hold, works for short or long strands, helps tame frizz, while conditioning and softening the hair.
For a more polished look and more control when diffusing, Oribe Gel Serum is an amazing choice. It’ll also give your strands tons of shine.
For curl types 2-3, Oribe Curl Gloss is just what you need. It fights humidity and frizz, adds moisture, softens curls, creates brilliant shine, and provides all-day memory.
In the photos below, Amber demonstrates just how fun curls can be. To style straight, she used Back of Bottle Stay+Play, Hy-Hydrating Oil, and Oribe Straight Away. To style curly, she used a cocktail of Stay+Play, Hy-Hydrating Oil, BOB Free Reign Curl, and Oribe Apres Beach.
Styling Curls Straight and Smooth
The key for styling your waves or curls straight and smooth is heat protection and the right styling products. And I don’t care if I sound like a broken record here—don’t skip prep!
Product recommendations for styling your curls straight:
If you want to switch it up and have straight, smooth hair, then Straight Away is the perfect addition to your styling kit. It gives you heat protection, controls frizz, and makes blowing you your curls out silky smooth much easier and faster.
Nothing tames and sleeks waves and curls like Oribe Royal Blow Out. It has incredible heat protection, nourishes and softens hair, adds shine, speeds drying time, and repairs split ends.
If an ultra polished and sleek look is what you’re after, reach for Oribe Gel Serum. It’ll provide you with moisture, radiant shine, and flexible control, all while protecting your hair from heat!
#4 Finish
Last, but not least, is the finish. It’s just as crucial as prep, but for different reasons. This step finalizes your look, and it’s where you can encourage texture and separation and add more hold.
Product recommendations for finishing:
Oribe’s Apres Beach is like a hairspray for curly hair. It’s spectacular for creating piece-y looks and building touchable texture without stiffness. It also adds shine and a light hold.
Another goodie is Oribe’s heat activated Balm d’Or. This gem is ultra light, protects your curls from heat damage, fights frizz, and leaves your hair silky, sleek, and shiny. Back of Bottle’s Hi Hydrating Oil gives you intense moisture without weighing those curls down. It also provides spectacular shine and it’s made from ultra clean ingredients and completely silcone free.
Oribe Gold Lust Mystify Restyling Spray is excellent for second or third day curls, when you don't want to shampoo, but need to dampen your hair. The lactic acid in Mystify reactivates day-old product and restores your hair’s elasticity. The avocado oil works to lock in the moisture needed to reform your curls.
Your Curls Deserve the Best
Whatever your curl challenges, there are cuts and products that can help. It’s all about finding what works best for your unique hair texture, pattern, and your desired look.
All of our stylists are trained on curls. In fact, most of our stylists have wavy to curly hair, so we know your curl struggles first hand!
