Curly hair is undeniably a gift, offering volume, texture, and a unique beauty that sets it apart. However, managing those gorgeous curls can sometimes be a challenge. Once you discover the techniques and products that work best for your curls, it’s easy to fall into the habit of sticking to a few go-to styles. But why limit yourself? Your curly hair is full of potential, and with the right inspiration, you can explore a wide range of chic and simple hairstyles that showcase your natural beauty.
In this article, we’ve compiled 50 stunning hairstyles for curly hair that are not only easy to achieve but also effortlessly stylish. From casual updos to polished looks, these hairstyles are perfect for any occasion—whether you’re running errands, heading to the office, or dressing up for a special event. We’ve also drawn inspiration from some of your favorite celebrities who know how to rock their curls with confidence and flair.
Ready to elevate your curly hair game? Keep scrolling to discover 50 simple and chic hairstyles that will inspire you to embrace and celebrate your natural curls every day.
Sky-High Pony
The beauty of this hairstyle is how easily you can dress it up or down, depending on the event. Pair it with a bright lip and some overalls for a funky, casual look, or go the evening route with a clean cat eye and an LBD. Either way, the style takes about three minutes to execute.
- Tease the hair if you need to create more lift and volume at the crown. “Teasing the hair to intentionally give that ‘bedhead’ feeling… really progresses the updo,” says Downing.
- Gather your hair into an ultra-high ponytail at the crown of your head and secure it with an elastic.
- Stick two or three vertical bobby pins on the underside of the ponytail to keep the elastic lifted.
- To keep your curls nice and bouncy, enhance the ends with a curl-defining cream.
Byrdie Tip
You can also prep damp curls with a curl-defining cream if you plan to wash it before styling.
One-Minute Side Braid
Don’t be intimidated by how high-impact this hairstyle is: It takes 60 seconds.
- If you’re starting with freshly washed hair, grab a curl-enhancing spray, scrunch it through damp hair, and let it air dry.
- Part your hair naturally. Then, grab a small section of hair on just one side of your head and begin braiding back toward the crown of your head.
- Once you’ve gotten to the back of your head, pin the section of hair to secure the style. Then, pull the top layers of your hair over the end of the braid so your curls can camouflage the pins. And voilà! You’ve got a model-worthy hairstyle.
Romantic Updo
This updo looks romantic, but it’s quite simple. Even better—it requires zero heat styling. “I love to see a loose and carefree style to naturally curly hair, so the hair still moves and has personality,” says Downing.
- After letting hair air-dry and applying a curl-defining cream of your choosing, gather hair into a ponytail halfway between the nape and crown of the head.
- Wind the ponytail around the base of the hair tie to form the bun.
- Use three to four bobby pins to secure the hair into place before misting it with hairspray to lock everything in. (Don’t worry about the hairline; flyaways make the look more relaxed, i.e., romantic).
Sleek Updo
This effortless style perfectly suits a summer party or festival. (Plus, your bone structure will really shine.) To make it even funkier, secure with a chic, elevated scrunchie like Lupita Nyong’o did on the red carpet.
- Start by brushing your hair to ensure a smoother texture. Like with look #2, you can tease the crown to create a lift.
- Brush up into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic.
- Divide the ponytail in half and twist those two sections into a thick, messy twist.
- Use bobby pins to secure the bun to your head and adjust the shape and size. Add the scrunchie and wrap it around the bun until it’s secure.
- Smooth down any flyaways with styling gel and mist all over with an oil for shine.
Chic Half-Bun
Half-buns somehow look good on every hair texture and length, which is probably why the style isn’t going anywhere. To get the look, follow Ferrara’s advice:
- “Gently gather the hair curl by curl, starting from the center top of the head down to where both ears are, to the center of the head just below the crown,” she says. “Make sure to keep an eye on the silhouette to keep it balanced from side to side and to avoid… uneven bumps throughout.”
- Don’t worry about keeping it too neat, and “make sure to have no hard lines or partings when pulling the hair back to keep the look looking messy and effortless.”
- Twist the ponytail around itself and then coil it toward the base until you have your bun. Ferrara suggests using a clip or barrette to secure it. “A hair tie or scrunchie would work to fasten the hair, but it could cause the style to lose its messy or looser look,” she says.
Low Bun With Braids
Here’s a genius hairstyle that’s especially great for those with curly hair and natural texture. Yara Shahidi epitomizes this look beautifully.
- Start with braiding your entire head of hair. This style makes use of cornrows, which may require a salon trip if you’re not an advanced braider.
- Next, pull braids into a low ponytail or bun, leaving a few out before securing.
- Wrap the left-out braids around the base of the bun.
- Lock it in with a couple of bobby pins.
Headband
We’re consistently inspired by Ruth Negga’s minimalistic approach to gorgeous curly hair. Here, she proves you don’t necessarily need a lot of length to elevate your look.
- Let your hair air-dry before prepping it with a curl-defining cream.
- Now, all you have to do is add a headband of your choosing! (We love the subtle camouflaged vibe of Negga’s.)
French Twist
Despite appearances, it doesn’t get much easier than an eye-catching French twist. This style is great, as it works better with unwashed hair. The rules stay the same regardless of texture, be it curly and thick or straight and fine.
- Apply a dry shampoo throughout the hair—especially at the root—to maximize volume and body.
- Then, rake strands back into a mid-height ponytail, stuffing it into a French twist. Secure with three large hairpins at the top, middle, and base of the twist.
- You can use your fingers to deconstruct the look, tousling some flyaways and tendrils at the nape of the neck and around the hairline. Leave as is or finish with a spritz of flexible-hold hair spray.
The Classic Slick-Back
Surprise: A sultry slick-back doesn’t require slippery straight locks. We think the look is even better paired with curly hair and natural texture. We’re inspired by Shay Mitchell’s approach, as it’s the quintessential style when you’re looking for a hit of glamour sans the fuss. Plus, it couldn’t be easier.
- Let hair dry, and then grab a high-quality boar bristle brush.
- Work a styling gel through strands and brush back to smooth and slick back curly hair.
Faux Bangs
Long curly hair gives you the unique opportunity to fake a fringe. This tutorial by hairstylist Irinel de Leon shows you how to get the look:
- Pull your hair into a high ponytail, securing it with a non-damaging hair tie.
- Bring most of the hair from the ponytail forward so that it drapes across your forehead.
- Roll up a silk scarf or bandana and tie it around your head so the knot is in front. This bi-sects the hair, intensifying the pseudo-bang effect.
- Use your fingers to adjust any stray pieces, misting the hair with water in areas that need reviving.
Wide-Brimmed Hat
Tucking your curls under a hat like Janelle Monáe does here may seem like an easy fix on bad hair days, but be careful. “Hats are so tough when it comes to curly hair because you feel like you have to fully commit to one to shade your eyes or keep your head warm,” says Ferrara.
- “For a summertime look at the beach, pool, or golf course, visors are back in style and can shade the eyes but not squish the hair. There are some cute ones out there.”
- “For the winter, a warm hat like a beret is a great option to keep your curls from getting squished like they typically would underneath a beanie.”
- A wide-brimmed hat that sits more lightly on top of the head and doesn’t flatten your curls too much is another stylish option.
Banded Ponytail
The banded ponytail is a cute style for natural curls. Follow this tutorial from Laulanne Cecilia:
- Start with completely dry, clean hair.
- Apply a little bit of gel around the crown of the head, brushing it through.
- Comb the top half of your hair into a high ponytail, leaving the rest down for now.
- Then, create a second ponytail lower down on the scalp, attaching it to the first one.
- Repeat until you have three linked ponytails connected by a bubble of hair.
- Continue adding elastics to the bottom of the ponytail every few inches until you reach the end.
- Fluff out the bubbles between bands to create volume.
Sleek Pouf
In a pinch, Logan Browning’s pouf is a super easy updo to recreate for formal or casual occasions. Take Downing’s advice for copying the look:
- “Work with a smoothing oil,” says Downing. He says to distribute the product from roots to mid-lengths.
- Then, “with a soft brush, gather all the hair from roots to your opposite hand positioned at the high crown.”
- “Neatly gather the hair to this point, secure with a hair tie, then visually dress the bun and pin back onto itself,” says Downing. Touch it up using your fingers to make sure the hair lays the way you want it to.
- Finally, secure with hairspray.
Voluminous Half Up
A messy half-up/half-down style hinges on choosing the right products. Follow the instructions for #5, but be sure to backcomb the areas you want volume before securing your hair back. In terms of products, use a generous coat of texturizer.
Deep Side Part
Romantic waves with a dramatic side part is a look that never fails. To DIY, follow Ferrera’s tips:
- “For curly hair, use your natural texture to your advantage,” she says. “Use a curling iron or wand to enhance parts that may have fallen flat, flip over, and spray with flexible hairspray for some added volume.”
- Adding more flexible hold hairspray, “use a boar-bristle brush to lightly brush out the curls.”
- “On the shallow side of the part, you can fasten the hair behind your ear with pins or a comb with some sort of embellishment.”
Frizzy Half-Up/Half-Down
Brush out your curls before pulling them back into a half-up/half-down using the steps from #5 for a trendy frizzed-out look.
Dainty Headband
A dainty headband à la Julia Garner is the perfect match for a flirty, curly bob. Similar to look #7, this is mostly about taking care of your cut. Follow Ferrara’s tips for taking care of chin-length curls:
- First, get the right haircut. “Layers are important for the curl pattern to form, whether you want more of a shag (short layers) or a bob (long layers),” Ferrara says. ” A one-length style will not work well for this length because the silhouette often turns out looking like a triangle on your head.”
- “To style these looks, it all depends on if you love to embrace your volume or… want to have it more streamlined.”
- “Apply product all over the hair that has been only wrung out from the shower (to get better slippage for the product to be distributed).”
- “To get more volume, a curl mousse, light hold gel, or cream are best… to have more controlled and polished curls, a gel is best.”
Byrdie Tip
“A good stylist that knows your hair type will know what your hair needs and can do, and it is important to know and understand that with curly hair, there is no one-size-fits-all haircut,” says Ferrara.
