Curly Hairstyles For Men

Picture of Written By KONG

Written By KONG

Director/Master Barber

The real cost of a bad curly haircut isn’t just the money spent. It’s the daily frustration of fighting a style that simply doesn’t work. For too long, the default advice for men with curly hair’s been a lazy “just cut it short.” Settling for a look that resembles a stressed out poodle’s unnecessary. It’s time to master a look that actually commands respect. Navigating curly hair for men starts with the right foundation: a great haircut.

This guide provides the plan for modern curly hairstyles for men. It’ll break down the top curly hairstyle options for every length and provide the exact language to use with a barber, ensuring a cut that meets expectations.

Key Takeaways

  • The best style depends on hair types: For cropped lengths, the Textured French Crop’s sharp and easy to maintain. For medium length, the Tapered Undercut offers the most versatility. For long curly hairstyles for men, strategic layers and waves are essential.
  • The number one rule’s contrast: A great look’s created by contrasting clean sides with natural curls on top. This’s the secret to avoiding a shapeless, “triangle” look.
  • The secret to defining curls for men’s simple: Apply styling products to soaking wet hair immediately after a shower. This locks in moisture and creates sharp curls before frizz can start.

Popular Curly Haircuts - Best Short Curls

Choose these popular curly haircuts for curly hair that stands out. These looks provide a powerful aesthetic that requires minimal effort in the morning.

1. Textured French Crop with Fringe 

  • What It Is: A timeless style with a sharp edge. It pairs a tight skin fade on the sides with textured curls on top and a heavy fringe pushed forward.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A Textured French Crop with a high skin fade, leaving about 5 cm on top to push the fringe forward.” Using specific terms removes all guesswork.
  • How to Style This Cut: With fingers, rake a small amount of lightweight curl cream through damp hair. This’s one of the essential products for a routine to achieve a natural look. Let it air dry.

2. Faded Curly Top 

  • What It Is: The classic crew cut, redesigned. It keeps the length simple but uses a natural curly top for a more interesting, defined curls look.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A modern Crew Cut with a clean mid fade blended into a textured crown.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Work a pea sized amount of matte paste through dry hair. This style’s designed to be easy and typically takes less than 30 seconds.
3. Taper Fade High and Tight 
  • What It Is: A bold, high contrast style. The taper fade’s taken very high up the head, leaving a distinct block of fade curly texture on top.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A High and Tight with a clear contrast, using a high taper fade that’s disconnected from the curls on top.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Apply a defining gel to damp hair and gently scrunch it upwards. This’s key for creating a sharp look that lasts all day.

Need a haircut that truly works?

Check out the detailed grooming services below to find the right plan for a specific hair type, including an eyebrow clean up to finish the look.

Curly Hairstyles for Men - Versatile Medium Options

Growing hair out provides more options. These styles show off curly hair while staying professional, allowing more of the natural pattern to show while maintaining a sharp appearance.

4. Modern Texture Quiff 

  • What It Is: A style built on volume, where the hair’s pushed up. With curls, the curly mohawk inspired quiff’s got significant natural body.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A curly mohawk style quiff, keeping about 10 cm of length at the front that gets shorter towards the back. Pair it with a low fade.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Apply a volumising mousse to damp hair, then use a blow dryer with a diffuser attachment. This method’s fundamental when wanting to maximise volume.

5. Side Swept Textured Fringe 

  • What It Is: A relaxed, messy yet stylish look where the longer fringe on top’s styled over to one side.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A side swept fringe with a mid drop fade. I need enough length on top to style it across with plenty of natural texture.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Work a curl cream through damp hair using only the fingers. The one rule here’s to never use a brush, as it’ll instantly pull curls apart and create frizz.

6. Tapered Undercut and Coiled Textures 

  • What It Is: A very versatile cut that creates a clean separation, perfect for tightly coiled textures or looser spirals.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A tapered undercut, keeping around 10 to 12 cm of curls on top with a neat finish on the back and sides.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Use a light cream for a relaxed, natural finish. For a sharper look, use a light hold gel to lock in those curls.

Long Curls, Spirals and the Modern Mullet

For those ready to embrace texture, these longer looks require a precision cut to manage weight. Precision cuts are vital for curly hair to create a stylish, deliberate shape.

7. Modern Mullet

  • What It Is: A modern take on the classic that focuses on texture. It combines a burst fade around the ears with longer waves at the back.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “A modern curly mullet with a burst fade around the ears. Keep the top textured and let the curls at the back flow naturally.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Use a curl cream through the back and a small amount of styling paste on top. Using different products enhances the contrast.

8. Long and Layered Curls 

  • What It Is: For truly long hair, layers are the secret tool. A skilled barber cuts internal layers to remove bulk, which prevents the hair from looking heavy.
  • Ask Your Barber for This: “The long hair feels heavy and shapeless. I need strategic internal layers to reduce bulk and create a better shape for these spirals.”
  • How to Style This Cut: Use a weekly deep conditioning mask. A pro tip for long curls’s to use products with UV filters. High UV radiation can damage the outer layer of the hair, which leads to unwanted frizz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best curly hairstyle for short hair?

The best cut depends on the goal. For a sharp, easy to maintain style with high contrast, the Textured French Crop with a skin fade’s ideal. For a more classic look that’s easy to manage, a Faded curly top offers simplicity with texture. Both options specialise in minimising styling time while highlighting natural curls.

Frizz’s often caused by a lack of moisture. The most effective way to manage it’s by applying products when the hair’s soaking wet, immediately after a shower. This technique traps water in the hair shaft. Use a leave in conditioner first for hydration, followed by a gel or curl cream to seal the outer layer and block out humidity.

Men with curly hair benefit from several key styling tips. A leave in conditioner provides a moisture base. For styling, a curl cream offers soft definition for a natural look. A defining gel provides a stronger hold to maintain shape all day. For volume, especially in medium length styles like a quiff, a volumising mousse’s essential.

A taper gradually shortens the hair down the back and sides, typically leaving more length at the neckline. A fade, such as a skin fade, cuts the hair down to the skin, creating a much sharper, higher contrast look between the sides and the longer curls on top. A fade’s generally considered more modern than a taper.

Long curly hair for men’s not necessarily hard to maintain, but it requires a specific approach. The main challenges are managing weight and preventing dryness. A proper haircut with internal layers’s crucial to remove bulk. Maintenance involves using more product, regular deep conditioning, and a gentle drying routine with a microfibre towel to avoid breakage.

Curls Are an Asset, Not a Problem

This guide provides the language and the plan to walk into any barbershop with confidence. Putting these techniques into practice with a specialist who understands textured curls makes a difference. At Lomax Barbers, the team specialises in special occasion haircuts and transformative styles to ensure the look of the client’s best for weddings, birthdays, or a night out in Chadstone. Whether in Oakleigh, Clayton, or Huntingdale, a signature style’s achievable. If a current grooming routine treats texture like a problem to be solved rather than a signature crown, it might be time for a fresh approach.

The transformation from daily frustration to a signature style’s just one haircut away.

An expert will help you build a style that fits your unique features and lifestyle.

Need a haircut that truly works?

Check out the detailed grooming services below to find the right plan for a specific hair type, including an eyebrow clean up to finish the look.

On This Page:

KONG

Director/Master Barber

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