20 Curly Hairstyles For Every Hair Type (2024)

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For Fine Short Hair: A Shag

Celebrity hairstylist Irinel de Leon says that if your hair is fine and curly, a shag cut will instantly amp the volume. She likes a shag cut with some fringe, as seen here on Alanna Arrington. But if you’re not ready for that, she recommends doing a deep side part instead.

For Fine Short Hair: Tousled Pixie

Celebrity hairstylist Madison Clifford says this style of curls increases the volume of fine short curly hair and gives the illusion of thicker hair all around. Part it on the side for a more dramatic effect, like Julia Garner did.

For Thick Short Hair: Rounded Layers

De Leon says that layers help create a rounded effect to help frame the face and give hair a nice rounded shape. (We just love this look on Kerry Washington!) You can add a side part for added volume and if you want to stretch curls, she recommends pulling the ends and hovering a diffuser over hair in three-inch sections.

For Thick Short Hair: '70s Afro

Clifford loves this '70s-inspired hairdo for thick short hair and says this works best if you already have coily texture similar to Ice Spice. To achieve this look, she says to ask your stylist for some tapering at the nape with the volume on top to create a teardrop shape.

For Naturally Curly Short Hair: Face-Framing Pieces

De Leon says that face-framing pieces just work really well with naturally curly hair in general, but especially if your hair hits just above the shoulders. If you have looser curls, she says this is another way for you to incorporate a layered cut with fringe bangs à la Zendaya.

For Fine Medium Hair: Layered Fringe

Speaking of fringe, de Leon says long layers with fringe bangs suit many face shapes. She recommends using a good hair dryer with a diffuser attachment to give curls body and shape. Flip your hair upside down if you want some volume in the crown area to get Sandra Oh's look.

For Fine Medium Hair: Bouncy Curls

Clifford says that wrapping fine textured hair around a curling wand gives the curls a rounded shape that will make hair appear fuller, as demonstrated here on Emmy Rossum. Spritz on some texture spray and a textured paste for separation and definition.

For Thick Medium Hair: A Shag With Bangs

For something edgy and rocker-esque, a shag is the way to go. Clifford says this cut can be done with any type of curl, but especially looks great with thick curly hair that just sits past the shoulders, like Rihanna's style above. She recommends you ask your stylist to cut curly hair dry for best results.

For Thick Medium Hair: Face-Framing Pieces

To pair with layers, de Leon recommends adding face-framing pieces out front to define your face shape like Jennifer Lopez did. It makes for one of the most versatile curly hairstyles out there. “This haircut is very forgiving and is very easy to manage,” she says.

For Naturally Curly Medium Hair: Blunt Cut With A Center Part

Calling this a “cool girl” curly hairstyle, de Leon recommends the blunt cut with a center part for those with naturally curly hair at mid-length. Have it sit either below or right at the shoulders, like Yara Shahidi.

For Naturally Curly Medium Hair: Modern Shag

De Leon is a fan of the shag in general, but Ciara's updated version has layers that are a bit longer and adds a little roundness around the face.

For Fine Long Hair: Long Layers

De Leon is a fan of long layers for curly and long fine hair to give it shape and body, as seen here on Iman. She says that if you want to add any fringe, keep it light so that it doesn’t overwhelm your fine hair. You can also add some face-framing pieces for some dimension.

For Fine Long Hair: Disco Vibes

To get Beyoncé's look, Clifford recommends wrapping small sections of hair around a small curling wand throughout. Then you’ll brush out those sections thoroughly and spray hair with volumizing spray to get that disco-like volume.

For Thick Long Hair: Long Angles

De Leon says that long angled cuts mixed with long layers throughout the perimeter will open up the face and give your hair shape without creating too much volume. But volume is buildable and she says you can use a diffuser to add some body if you want. Just look to Camila Cabello for inspo.

For Thick Long Hair: Wet Hair

The “I-just-got-out-of-the-shower” look has become a staple on the red carpet and IRL, as evidenced here by Megan Fox, and now Clifford says it should be your go-to if you have thick long hair if you want something that will last for hours. She recommends using a mix of gel, mousse, cream, and oils to get that shiny wet look while also getting hair to hold.

For Naturally Curly Long Hair: Effortless Waves

The easiest way to style naturally curly hair is to do nothing at all. Clifford likes the air-dried look on naturally wavy/curly hair, as seen on Fletcher, which she says you can easily replicate using a waver or different-sized curling irons throughout.

For Naturally Curly Long Hair: Side Part

Another easy curly hairstyle for your long natural curls is a simple side part. De Leon loves this Taylor Swift-approved style to add body to the hair with minimal effort. Plus, she says it works with any face shape.

For Naturally Curly Short Hair: Ringlet Bob

Nicole Kidman offers a master class in enhancing already curly hair: the ringlet curl. A curling wand will go a long way toward achieving this look, as will a side part and short, sultry bangs.

For Thick Short Hair: Pinup Curls

For 1920s-coded pinup curls, take a page out of Ruth Negga's book. The Passing actress likely sported her piled ringlet style thanks to a set of curlers and some heat styling.

For Naturally Wavy Long Hair: '70s Shag

While air-drying certainly isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to haircare, it works really well for naturally curly or wavy long hair, as epitomized here by Vanessa Hudgens. With curly bangs and long layers, her shag is perfectly '70s-coded—and probably involved some heat-free finger curls.