17 Easy Curly Hairstyles That Look Absolutely Stunning

17 Easy Curly Hairstyles That Look Absolutely Stunning

Hair · Beauty

17 Easy Curly Hairstyles That Look Absolutely Stunning

By Shreya Hundekar· 9 min read· Hair

From shaggy curtain-bang lobs to copper balayage ringlets, curly hair is having a real moment right now. Here are 17 curly looks to screenshot and take straight to your stylist, with a styling tip for each one so you know exactly what to ask for.

A Note Heads up: some links below are affiliate, so I may earn a tiny commission (at no extra cost to you!) on things I genuinely adore. Please read my Disclosure Policy for more.

Part One

Effortless Everyday Curls

No fuss, no heat styling required, just healthy, well-defined curls that look good whether you’re heading to work or brunch.

Idea 01

Long Defined Curls

Long dark brown defined curly hair styled naturally with a middle part
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This is what healthy, well-defined curls look like with zero extra styling, just a good curl cream and a middle part. The spiral pattern stays tight and bouncy from root to end, no frizz fighting for attention.

Styling TipApply curl cream to soaking wet hair and scrunch upward, this is what locks in definition before frizz has a chance to set in as your hair dries.

Idea 02

Shoulder-Length Curls

Shoulder length dark curly hair styled naturally, smiling in a cream sweater
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Cropped to shoulder length, this curl pattern gets to show off more bounce per curl than longer lengths, where weight tends to stretch curls out. It’s a great length if you want maximum volume without a ton of upkeep.

Styling TipShorter curly cuts need regular trims, around every 8 weeks, to keep the shape from growing out into a triangle silhouette.

Idea 03

Curly Balayage Closeup

Curly hair with blonde balayage highlights shown in a close-up portrait
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Shot up close, this balayage shows exactly how the color wraps around each individual curl, lighter on the outer curve, deeper in the coil. It’s the kind of detail that’s easy to miss in a full-length photo but is what actually sells the color to a stylist.

Styling TipBring a close-up reference photo like this one to your consultation, not just a full-body shot, so your colorist can see exactly how the highlights should sit within each curl.

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Part Two

Curly Shags & Curtain Bangs

The most-requested curly cut right now: heavy layers up top with soft, face-framing curtain bangs. This group shows the same shag-and-bangs combo from a few different angles and settings so you can see how it holds up everywhere from a salon chair to golden-hour sunlight.

Idea 04

Curly Shag with Curtain Bangs, Selfie

Dark curly shag haircut with curtain bangs styled naturally, selfie in a bohemian sunroom
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Heavy curtain bangs split down the middle frame the face without ever needing a flat iron, the curl pattern does the work of blending them into the rest of the shag automatically.

Styling TipCurly curtain bangs should be cut slightly longer than straight ones, shrinkage from curl pattern can pull them up an inch or more once dry.

Idea 05

More Angles: Curly Shag & Bangs

Curly shag haircut with curtain bangs shown from front, side, and back angles in a four-panel collage Curly shag haircut with curtain bangs photographed in a hair salon Curly shag haircut with curtain bangs styled in a salon with an exposed brick backdrop
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Same haircut, three different settings, front-on in a salon chair, side profile against exposed brick, and a full multi-angle breakdown. Seeing a cut from every side like this is the easiest way to judge whether the layering will actually work for your length and curl type before you commit.

Styling TipAsk your stylist to photograph your new cut from the front, side, and back before you leave, a shag’s layering is impossible to fully judge from one angle alone.

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Part Three

Curly Hair, Bold Color

Balayage, copper, and buttery blonde, this group covers what happens when curl pattern and color work together to add even more dimension.

Idea 06

Curly Balayage, Off-Shoulder Sweater

Curly hair with brown and blonde balayage styled loosely, worn with an off-shoulder cream sweater
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Soft, sun-kissed balayage catches every curl as it falls, brighter through the top layer and deeper underneath. Paired with an off-shoulder knit, the whole look reads relaxed rather than styled.

Styling TipBalayage on curly hair needs to be painted with the curl pattern in mind, not straightened first, ask your colorist if they route the color while your hair is in its natural texture.

Idea 07

Blonde Curly Bob with Bangs

Blonde curly bob haircut with curly bangs shown in a close-up portrait
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A curly bob keeps this golden blonde shade compact and full, with soft curly bangs that shrink up to sit right above the brow. It’s a bold, high-maintenance-looking cut that’s actually easier to manage day-to-day than long curls.

Styling TipCurly bangs shrink significantly more than the rest of a curly cut, ask your stylist to cut them dry, not wet, so the finished length is accurate.

Idea 08

Copper Curly Hair with Bangs

Copper red curly hair with curly bangs, styled with glasses and a green dress
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Vivid copper on a full head of curls is a genuine statement color, especially with bangs adding even more texture up front. Paired with glasses, it’s proof that bold hair color and glasses frames can absolutely coexist.

Styling TipIf you wear glasses, ask your colorist to keep the brightest copper pieces slightly back from the hairline, too close and they can clash with metal or bold frames.

Idea 09

Long Copper Curls

Long copper red curly hair styled naturally, photographed in soft natural light
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Grown out long, this copper shows off just how much dimension a single color can hold across dozens of individual curls, lighter where the light hits, deeper in the shadows between coils.

Styling TipLong copper curls fade fastest at the ends, which see the most sun and friction, a monthly gloss refresh keeps the color even from root to tip.

Idea 10

Retro ’90s Curly Hair

Voluminous golden blonde curly hair styled in a retro 1990s inspired look
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Big, voluminous, and completely unapologetic, this golden blonde curl look pulls straight from ’90s supermodel hair. No sleek middle part here, just maximum volume and movement.

Styling TipFor this level of volume, diffuse your roots upside down while scrunching, it’s the trick behind that lifted, voluminous ’90s curl shape.

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Part Four

Curly Bangs & Face-Framing Layers

Bangs on curly hair behave completely differently than on straight hair, this group shows a few ways to work with the shrinkage instead of against it.

Idea 11

Long Curly Bangs, Floral Dress

Long black curly hair with full curly bangs, styled with a blue floral dress
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Full, voluminous curly bangs paired with long lengths give this look a lot of impact up top without sacrificing length. The bangs are cut wide enough to blend into the sides rather than reading as a hard, separate piece.

Styling TipWide-set curly bangs that blend into face-framing layers are far more forgiving to grow out than a narrow, blunt curly fringe.

Idea 12

Curly Hair with a Silk Bandana

Curly brown hair styled with a teal and gold paisley silk bandana, side profile
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A silk paisley headband pushes these curls back off the face without flattening the volume, a simple accessory trick that instantly dresses up an otherwise low-effort curl day.

Styling TipSlide a silk headband on when curls are about 80% dry, doing it too early can crease the curl pattern where the fabric sits.

Idea 13

Curly High Ponytail

Dark curly hair styled in a sleek high ponytail with gold statement earrings and a green dress
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A sleek, high ponytail lets the curls take over from crown to end while keeping the front smooth and polished, a good going-out option when you want curls to be the statement, not the whole head.

Styling TipSmooth the front section with a boar-bristle brush and light gel before securing the ponytail, this is what gives a curly pony that sleek-crown, full-curl-drop effect.

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Which Curly Look Are You Trying Next?

From a low-maintenance everyday curl to a full copper transformation, there’s a look here for every curl type and commitment level. Save your favorites, screenshot the styling tips, and bring them straight to your next salon visit. Don’t miss Wolf Cut Hairstyles for more shag inspiration, and check out this reader-loved curl cream on Amazon to keep your curls defined between salon visits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do curly bangs need to be cut differently than straight bangs?

Yes. Curly bangs should be cut dry rather than wet, and slightly longer than the intended finished length, since curl shrinkage can pull them up an inch or more once fully dry.

How often should curly hair be trimmed?

Most curly cuts, especially shags and bobs, hold their shape best with a trim every 8 to 10 weeks, since curl patterns tend to grow out into a triangle silhouette faster than straight cuts.

Can balayage be applied to curly hair the same way as straight hair?

Not quite. Balayage on curly hair is best painted while the hair is in its natural curl pattern rather than blown out straight, so the color follows the curve of each curl rather than landing in the wrong place once it dries curly.

How do I keep copper or red curls from fading quickly?

Wash with cool water, use a color-safe sulfate-free shampoo, and book a gloss refresh monthly, ends fade fastest since they see the most sun exposure and friction.

What’s the easiest curly style for second- or third-day hair?

A high ponytail or a silk headband both work well on refreshed curls, since they pull frizz-prone sections back while letting the rest of the curl pattern remain on display.

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