Men's Curly Hair: The Cuts That Actually Work
Most guys with curly hair have been fighting it their whole life cutting it short just to keep it under control, or spending years wishing it was different. After 40 years of cutting curly hair, I can tell you: the problem is almost never the curls. It's the wrong haircut. Get the cut right and everything else,the styling, the frizz, the daily battle gets a whole lot easier. Here are the styles that actually work, and why.
Men's Curly Hairstyles
A few of the styles we see working best for men with curly hair right now:
Popular Curly Haircuts for Men
Before choosing a style, it helps to know your curl type whether you have loose waves, mid-range curls, or tight coils makes a difference to what will sit well on you. But these cuts work across most curl types.
Short and Tapered
The most versatile curly haircut for men. The sides and back are tapered close, with more length on top to let the curls sit naturally. Works for almost every curl type and face shape, and it's genuinely low maintenance once it's cut right.
Curly Undercut
Short sides, curly top the contrast is what makes this work. It's a modern cut that suits most face shapes, and it gives you a lot of options for how you style the top depending on the occasion.
Long and Loose
If your curls have length, let them do the work. The key is keeping them hydrated so they stay defined rather than going fluffy. This is the style most men abandon too early because they haven't found the right products yet.
The Curly Fringe
Letting the curls fall forward softens the face and works particularly well for men with stronger features. Low effort once you've got the right length.
Slicked Back Curls
A light gel slicked back gives you a cleaner, more polished look without killing the texture. Works well for formal occasions or when you want something a bit sharper.
Messy and Textured
Scrunch in a light cream or mousse, let it air dry, and leave it alone. This is the style that suits curls the most, you're working with the hair's natural movement rather than against it.
Men Who Wear Curly Hair Well
Embracing your natural texture is all the rage right now, and for good reason. Some of the most recognisable men in entertainment have made curly hair their signature:
Kit Harington, Game of Thrones actor, known for his short, defined curls
Shawn Mendes, Canadian singer-songwriter with naturally wavy hair
The common thread? None of them are fighting their hair. They've got cuts that work with their curl pattern, not against it.
How to Look After Men's Curly Hair
Once you've got the right cut, keeping it in good shape comes down to a few basics. Curly hair is naturally drier than straight hair, the oils from your scalp have a harder time travelling down the curl, so moisture is everything.
Condition every wash. Not optional. Use a conditioner suited to your curl type and consider a leave-in treatment for extra hydration between washes.
Drop the sulphate shampoo. Sulphates strip the natural oils that keep your curls defined. Switch to a sulphate-free shampoo and you'll notice the difference within a few washes.
Detangle wet, not dry. Wide-tooth comb or fingers, while the conditioner is still in. Never brush dry curly hair, it's how frizz starts.
Use the right products. A curl enhancer cream or a defining gel applied to wet hair will hold your curl pattern as it dries without the crunch.
Skip the heat. Diffuse if you must, but air drying is always better for curly hair. Heat disrupts the curl pattern over time.
Trim every 6 to 8 weeks. Curly hair hides split ends until they're bad. Regular trims keep the shape and stop the frizz creeping in from the ends. Book a trim here.
Book a Curly Hair Consultation on the Sunshine Coast
If you're on the Sunshine Coast and want to talk through what would actually work for your curl type, come in and see us. I've been cutting curly hair for 40 years and I'd rather spend ten minutes talking it through with you than have you leave with the wrong cut again.
Book an appointment or call 07 5438 9990.
All the best,
Steve
