If you have curly hair, you know that hair care is a must if you want to preserve your curls and keep your hair healthy. Hair care sometimes means extra styling time.
The good news is that not every style requires you to wake up early! No matter what hair texture you have, there are simple and stylish looks you can create with your natural curls. Check out our list of easy hairstyles for curly hair to see what looks you can quickly pull together.
1. Curly Pineapple
The curly pineapple is a staple for everyone in the curly community. Throw your hair up in a high ponytail and let your curls drape down for an easy and chic look. This looks great for an errand run or for a day in the office. You can use a headscarf or gather your hair to one side to mix up this look. Pineappleing your hair is also a great way to stretch your natural hair without heat.
2. Half-Up, Half-Down
Photo source: Melanie Santiago, a hair styling Pro from Philadelphia, PA
Looking for an easy trick to spice up your hair? Go with a half-up, half-down look. This can be as simple as tying or braiding back some of your hair. Add a bold hair clip or use a cute hair tie to elevate this look. If you have extra time, you can add some clip-ins to your hair to create length and volume.
3. Sleek High Bun
Nothing beats a classic bun! For a sleek look, you’ll need to detangle your hair with water and gel. You can also work in some hair balm if you’d like to keep your hair extra smooth and tame any flyaways. Once you’re done detangling your hair and working the product in your hair, gather your hair and put it up into a bun.
4. Messy Bun
If you’re short on time and don’t want to style your hair, a messy bun is the perfect option. All you need to do is gather your hair and tie it off with a ponytail holder. You can leave out some strands to frame your face or mix this look up by positioning the bun higher on your head or lower against your neck
5. Braided Space Buns
Photo source: Neosha leak, a hair styling Pro from Charlotte, NC
Buns and pineapples are great, but there are lots of new styles you can try with your curly hair. Space buns are a popular style that feature two buns on your head. There are many ways to get this look by braiding your hair or applying gel for a sleeker buns. You can also choose to keep your hair in two fluffy or braided buns.
6. Braided Headband
A braided headband is the way to go if you want to let your hair down. You can go with any style of braid you want. Chunky braids are a popular option and look great when you’re pulling back your hair. You can also include multiple braids of different sizes if you’re going for a whimsical look.
7. Headwrap
Who doesn’t love a headwrap? They come in so many different colors, there are lots of ways to tie them together, and you don’t need to worry about what your hair looks like underneath. It’s also an easy way to keep your curls protected when you’re transitioning your natural hair.
8. Large Pigtails
Pigtails aren’t just for kids. Keeping this style sophisticated comes down to how you wear them. Try wearing low pigtails close together for a casual vibe. You can also start off your pigtails with braids while you let the bottom half hang loose.
9. Bantu Knots
Bantu knots are a regal look that can last about a week or two. You can mix up your typical Bantu knots by incorporating braids or twists. You can also experiment with different parts and knot sizes for a unique look every time. Regardless of how you recreate this look, make sure you add leave-in conditioner to your hair to keep your hair hydrated.
10. Brushed-Out Curls
Brushing out your curls sounds counterintuitive, but detangling every once in a while is a great way to keep your hair healthy. It’s also an easy way to give your hair some volume. Depending on your hair texture, it’ll also give you some flexibility to try out new styles.
11. Tapered Cut
A tapered cut is a great hairstyle for a no-fuss look. The beauty of a tapered cut is that you can keep the top part as short or as long as you want. You can keep it long if you still want to style it or cut it short if you want to forego heavy styling. Even with a short tapered cut, you can play around with color or extensions to mix up your look.
12. Side-Swept Curls
Sweeping your curls to the side is a quick way to create a sophisticated look. You can make a hard part for an edgy style or just flip your hair over for an effortless look. Big earrings add a sophisticated touch if you’re wearing this style for a night out.
13. Afro
A full Afro is a beautiful style that can show off your volume and your curls! The key to this look is to regularly condition your hair to lock in moisture and shine. You can pull off lots of looks when you’re ready to transition to another style. Afro puffs, ‘fro hawks, and twist outs are just a few examples.
14. Pin Curls
Photo source: Kenya Victory-Bryant, a hair styling Pro from Charlotte, NC
Pin curls are a romantic style that look especially beautiful on short hair. It’s an easy look for curly hair since you just need to pin your hair and leave it in overnight. When you wake up, you should have a head full of loose ringlets.
15. Half-Up Passion Braids
Passion braids are also called butterfly braids. You’ll typically need braiding hair and water wave hair to get this look. After your braids are installed, you’ll start pulling on your braids to give them more volume to make this look your own. You can install this yourself or go to a Pro.
16. Pixie Cut
Cutting your hair short cuts down on drying and styling time. However, that doesn’t take away your style options. With a pixie cut, you can play around with your part, slick your hair back, or add some color. Most of the time, your hair is good to go after it has dried if you’re in a rush to get somewhere.
17. Bob with Ombré
Photo source: Mary Tran, a hair color Pro from Santa Monica, CA
Ombrés look great on curly hair because the color seamlessly blends in with your curls. Since the color doesn’t start at your roots, an ombré is a great low-maintenance color option compared to other types of highlights. An ombrés is a great place to start if you want to try out a color, but aren’t ready to fully dye your hair.
18. Waterfall Braid
Photo source: Rim Diggs, a hair styling Pro from Keller, TX
Waterfall braids look intricate, but are simple to put together. It’s similar to the braided headband. The main difference is that this braid is created on only one side of your head. You can keep it simple with one chunky braid or take it one step further by combining multiple waterfall braids into one big design.
19. French Braided Pigtails
Once again, pigtails are a great look for adults if they are styled correctly. You can section your hair off into two chunky French braids to keep them out of your face. Braiding your full pigtails is another great option if you want to keep your hair protected.
20. Two-Strand Twists
Two-strand twists are light and add no tension to your hair. It’s a great protective style that’s easy to put together and combine with other natural styles. On top of that, you can leave in twists for a few weeks. Go for this look if you have a busy few weeks ahead and want a reliable look that’s easy to care for.
21. Flexi Rod Curls
Photo source: Shontell Nicole, a natural hair Pro from Upland, CA
Flexi rods are a great way to work in tighter curls without using heat. All you need to do is section off your hair, apply moisturizer and mousse to your hair, and wrap the rods in your hair. Sleep in it overnight and you’ll wake up to head full of bouncy curls.
22. Buzz Cut
Textured buzz cuts are gorgeous and give room for our other features to shine. This is an especially great option for you if you love to try new makeup looks or hair colors. Buzz cuts can be intimidating if you’ve never had one before, but lots of women with buzz cuts say that it’s freeing to go short. Plus, your hair will always grow back.
23. Voluminous Curls
Photo source: P. Stephens, a hair styling Pro from Woodland Hills, CA
Creating big, bouncy curls is achievable with the right products and care. Use light conditioner and moisturizing products so your curls aren’t weighed down. Clarifying your hair at least once a month can also help keep your curls light. Diffusing your hair is another way to add volume while cutting down on drying time.
24. High Ponytail
Why are high ponies so popular, you might ask? It’s because you can create an instantly chic look just by tying your hair towards the top of your head. A high ponytail looks great with curly hair since your curls add effortless volume to this look. You can drape your hair down your back or let it fall down one side.
25. Pull-Through Braid
Photo source: Amanda Brown, a hair styling Pro from Cypress, CA
We love a style that looks complicated, but is actually simple to create! You can mix up this braid by starting at different points on your head and by adding volume to each section. You can have your braid start big and gradually get smaller or you can make each section big.
26. Retro Scarf Updo
Reach for your favorite head scarf on the days you want to show off parts of your hair without lots of styling. Head scarfs can add a pop of color to your outfit and easily complement your accessories. It’s also an easy way to keep your hair up and protected.
These are just a few options to turn to if you’re looking for a quick style for your curly hair. If you’re still struggling to find easy ways to style your curly hair, check out our community of Pro stylists to get tips from a professional near you.
