How to Style Curly Hair

Styling your curly hair can transform your tresses and enhance your look for every event. Whether creating a special do for an upcoming event, or getting your hair out of your face, knowing how to style curly hair is essential to make the most of loving your hair.

Table of Contents:

• Why Do You Need to Style Curly Hair?
• Find Your Curly Hairstyle
• 5 Styling Solutions for Curly Hair Problems
• How to Create a Curly Hair Styling Routine
• Best Products for Styling Curly Hair
• 10 Great Ways to Style Curly Hair
• What To Avoid When Styling Curly Hair 
• Protective Styling
• How to Style Curly Hair for Sleep
• The Importance of Scalp Health for Styling Curly Hair

Why Do You Need to Style Curly Hair?

Curly hair can pose challenges in achieving the best results in styling. Halo frizz, flyaways, dry frizzy-looking ends, and even humidity can pose issues, but all is not lost! Without the help from curl-friendly products, these hair types might not look how you want them to.

Certain specialist styling products can help in creating the specific curly hairstyles that you are envisaging, ensuring that the results are successful and long-lasting and giving the look of your dreams.

Find Your Curly Hairstyle 

The easiest way to style curly hair is to embrace your curls whilst doing it! Styling your curly hair up without much extra work can be achievable in many styles, especially with the aid of styling products for curly hair. Styles include:

• Braids - Side braids on long hair or even pigtails for shorter hair can look beautiful! French braids can be a very sleek curly hairstyle but may be trickier with layered hair.
• Space buns - Space buns are a fun way to embrace your curls, pulling them up into buns on either side of your head.
• Messy high or low buns - High or low buns can look beautiful with curly hair. You could even use a special doughnut (or a sock if you don’t have a doughnut to hand!) to make that bun fuller in lower-density hair.
• Pineapples - The ultimate in curly styling – simple yet chic, the pineapple piles your curls on top of your head, allowing them to tumble down from the hair tie in the most striking way.
• Chignons or twists - Very achievable with curly hair, chignons or simply twisting your hair in on itself at the back of your head can create a beautiful romantic look that can even be enhanced by adding some flowers or a clip.

Sleeker styles, such as a slicked-back bun or a smooth ponytail, may need a little extra work to combat frizz and ensure a smoother look. Further to this, blow-drying curls straight or using heatless options for curls can prove tricky to maintain, especially in more humid or hotter weather. A good wash day base will be needed to set up these styles successfully. 

Overnight waving or curling options require different approaches based upon the tightness of your curl. As tighter curl types will require extensive stretching of the curl to create overnight waves, for example, sectioning the hair into smaller parts and applying rods or twists to produce a slightly looser curl may give a better overall result. 

5 Styling Solutions for Curly Hair Problems

All types of curly hair can present an array of issues when styling. From tackling frizziness to damage, it’s important to make sure you’re caring for your locks as best as possible when you're styling curly hair. 

Let’s tackle some of these problems that may impact you when you’re styling curly hair: 

Frizz

Halo frizz or frizz throughout the hair can cause a style to look less put together. If you struggle with frizz, ensure you are addressing the root cause of frizzy hair to minimise it. Frizz can be caused by: 

• Build up: in which case, clarify your curly hair
• Over manipulation: in this case, try to smooth the areas affected with frizz-minimising products such as leave-in conditioner, gel, hairspray, or oil.
• Dryness: in which case, add extra conditioning into your routine

The best products for frizzy hair can help you tackle this as you style your curly hair. 

Soft Curls

Some curly hair is naturally very soft, especially very fine hair. This can cause difficulties when styling curly hair as the hair can struggle to hold a style, dropping or falling out. 

Try incorporating protein-enriched products into your wash day routine to combat this, or use a product to add texture as you style, such as a curly hairspray.

Dry & Dull Hair

Curly hair is prone to dryness, which can make your style less glossy and healthy looking. Ensure to add enough conditioning products into your routine.

• Condition well after shampooing
• Deep condition as needed
• Don’t skip the leave-in conditioner 

Ensure to also clarify your hair regularly, as build-up can be a cause of dry hair!

Tangles & Breakage 

Tangles should be removed before styling curly hair to avoid excess breakage. Avoiding tangles starts with your wash day routine with thorough conditioning and styling products that help smooth the cuticle. 

Damaged Hair 

Styling curly hair can be much harder when your locks are damaged. This is because it tends to suffer from many of the aforementioned issues. Damaged hair needs protection. 

• Minimise the use of heat and chemicals, try using a heat protectant like our Miracle Shield
• Use bond rebuilders, such as the Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve

Use protein-rich products, such as those from the Curlsmith Strength line.

For more help determining your hair’s needs, and which curly hair products are best to achieve your goals, take our quiz below:

How to Create a Curly Hair Styling Routine

 Styling starts with a good curly hair routine. Proper curl care can minimise frizz, help maintain a style even in the highest humidity and ensure that a style looks tip-top without becoming dry and losing its shine. When thinking of how to style curly hair, consider these steps:

• Removal of build-up: A stronger, clarifying shampoo, such as the Curlsmith Wash & Scrub Detox Shampoo, should always be included in your routine to ensure you remove build-up from the scalp. Build-up causes dryness, dullness and can also weigh down a style, causing it to drop.
• Effective conditioning: Effective conditioning is essential to combat dryness in curly hair. Choose from a strengthening, light conditioner, such as the Curlsmith Multi-Tasking Conditioner, or a richer deep conditioner that adds extra moisture, such as the Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher. Well-hydrated hair suffers from less frizz and flyaways and is overall softer and easier to manipulate when styling your curly hair.
• Prepping your curls: Before adding stylers to your curls, always prep them with a leave-in conditioner, curl cream, such as the Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream, or leave-in spray, such as the Moisture Memory Reactivator. These products provide ongoing nourishment and frizz control to the hair, ensuring that your curls remain moisturised even on day 2 or 3 of your style.
• Adding foams: This is part of the wash day styling that comes before we jump into updos, blowouts, and the like. Foams, such as the Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam, can add volume, body and “grit” to the hair. These are especially useful with finer and lower-density hair and often ensure that when styling curly hair, your locks are fuller and stay in place better.
• Using gels: Curly hair gels, such as the Curlsmith Shine Gel, add longevity to when styling your curly hair, helping to fight humidity and ensuring your curls last for days. Gels are essential for any updo to ensure that you are able to maintain your style for much longer.

Best Products for Styling Curly Hair 

Aside from your curl care routine, many products can enhance your style as you are creating it. The best styling products for curly hair include: 

Hairsprays

Hairsprays are designed to be used on dry locks when styling curly hair. Hairsprays hold your curls in place, and help to lay down frizz and flyaways. Hairsprays can also support finer hair, giving “grit” and body, meaning the style is able to last for longer.

Some hairsprays can leave the hair feeling sticky or crunchy. If you want to avoid this, try the Curlsmith hairsprays for curly hair, which will help control your hair, without any of the yucky feeling!

Gels

Curly hair gels are great for styling curly hair, but they tend to be heavier than a hairspray. This makes them ideal for slicking down styles and controlling frizz in sleek styles: buns and high ponytails. Gel can also be used for edge control to shape any stray baby hairs.

The best gels for curly hair tend to have a tighter consistency, like a jelly, because they offer flexibility and don’t weigh down your locks. The Curlsmith Shine Jelly or the Curlsmith Curl Defining Style Souffle, can be particularly useful for learning how to style curly hair. 

 

Leave In Products

Up-styling curly hair without causing any frizz can be difficult. Styling and manipulation can create some unwanted texture, so you need to arm your curls with the right tools to help get rid of frizz.

A light leave-in conditioner, spray or balm can be perfect to tackle this in areas where curls are left loose and need to be redefined for less frizz or a more consistent shape. The Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm is a perfect product to help you style your curly hair.

Light Oils

If your hair is lacking shine once you have styled it, add it straight back in with a light oil. Curly hair oils help to smooth the surface of the hair, reflecting light better and giving that beautiful, shiny effect when styling curly hair. 

Oils can also help protect your hair as you continue to wear your style throughout the week. The Curlsmith Shine Oil or Bond Oils are two examples of lightweight options that will instantly elevate your look.

10 Great Ways to Style Curly Hair

Curly hair is beautiful in its natural state, but you can enhance it with a gorgeous style to make the most of your tresses. Whether you’re searching for how to wear your curly hair on holiday or how to style curls for a festival, you’ll find plenty of inspiration. 

1. Messy buns and ponytails: Create a beautiful up-style with a bun or ponytail, embracing your curls with face-framing pieces. 
2. Pineapples: The iconic curly look of piling those beautiful curls on top of your head and then tying them in place gives a full and luscious appearance.
3. Faux bangs and a bun: Did you hear?! Curly bangs are in! Use the ends of your hair folded over your forehead to create beautiful curly bangs and a high bun.
4. Space buns: Great for any occasion, space buns can showcase curly hair in all its glory, creating a fun look that all will love.
5. Braids: French, Dutch, or a simple plait; braids can elevate any curly hairstyle, giving a romantic and dreamy feel. 
6. Twists: If you struggle with braids, why not try twisting your hair from the top of your head or temples, creating a halo, or matching twists on either side of your head?
7. Chignons: For a more elegant updo, try a curly chignon, These give a beautifully textured effect, whilst keeping your style very refined and chic.
8. Fauxhawks: These work particularly well for thicker hair and give an edgy, modern feel. Perfect for Summer festivals!
9. Half-up, half-down: For those who want their hair out of their face, but still want to showcase their curls down, this is the perfect option.
10. Tucks: Tucking the hair in on itself and then pinning it in place can achieve a simple, yet effective updo with curly hair.

You could even add an accessory to your curly style. A bandana, silk hair scarf, scrunchies, or clip can add a splash of colour or interest and break up your style. You could even add a hat if that’s the vibe you are going for!

For more inspiration and step-by-step tutorials for styling curly hair, check out the Curlsmith YouTube channel to see what you can create!

What To Avoid When Styling Curly Hair 

When styling your curls, there are several damaging practices that you may want to avoid, in order to promote your hair’s health as best possible. In styling your curly hair, you should avoid:

• Using extreme heat - It is perfectly possible to achieve beautifully styled curls without the use of extreme heat tools such as straighteners or curling irons. Applying high heat to curly hair can lead to damage and, in turn, extra dryness and breakage. Our hair dryer and diffuser offers gentle heat to minimise damage if you do use heat. 
• Skipping heat protectant: Some styles will require an element of heat, but this does not necessarily need to be excessive. Make sure to use a heat protectant if so, such as the Curlsmith Miracle Shield, to avoid damage.
• Applying too much tension: Tightly scraped back styles that exert excessive tension on the hair and scalp can lead to breakage and even potential hair loss over time (this is known as traction alopecia!)
• Continuously wearing tight hairstyles: For similar reasons to the above, make sure to give your hair a break once in a while instead of constantly employing tight styles.
• Overly brushing your hair: Over brushing the hair may cause breakage. Instead smooth the hair with a product such as the Curlsmith Flawless Finish Hairspray. Alternatively, wide tooth combs may be sufficient.
• Tying your hair up wet: Tying your hair up wet creates a warm, wet environment that is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and can lead to scalp problems such as itchy scalp over time! Leaving your hair wet for too long isn’t good for it either, as water causes the hair to swell.
• Using hair bobbles or elastics that are too small: Some styles may require a subtle elastic but use them carefully as they can cause friction and damage to the cuticle layer. They’re also pretty difficult to remove and can cause breakage as you do so!

Protective Styling 

Protective hairstyles for natural hair can be hugely beneficial in allowing your hair to take a break from the daily application of products and manipulation. Natural hair tends to be the driest hair type, given the tightness of the curl, and needs a lot of ongoing care. As such, moisturizing your hair adequately and then allowing it to rest tucked away from environmental damage can be a great option for styling curly hair.

Protective styles are especially great for those with type 3 hair and type 4 hair. These techniques and styles include: 

• Braids - Box braids, cornrows, or micro braids for example
• Twists - Two-strand, three-strand or flat twists for example
• Bantu knots - these can be of different sizes according to preference
• Finger waves - these can be part of a bigger overall protective style
• Puffs and Afros - whilst these styles do leave the natural hair out, they still lift the hair, minimising friction caused by clothes, handbag straps and suchlike
• Locs
• Weaves and wigs

Many updos can also act as protective styling, including buns, top knots, chignons, and many others mentioned in this blog. Updos can be achieved using your natural hair or extensions, weaves and wigs.

How to Style Curly Hair for Sleep

While sleep protection helps protect your curls overnight, it can also help protect your style too! Reducing friction on your hairstyle can lead to less frizz and dryness, alongside ensuring that your style lasts a lot longer. 

Types of sleep protection that may work to protect your style include:

• Switching to a satin pillowcase, such as the Curlsmith Satin Pillowcase
• A silk or satin bonnet
• A silk or satin scarf, such as the Curlsmith Vegan Silk Scarf
• A buff
• A pineapple (for when your hair has been left loose following a blowout, heatless waves or rods.) Use a silk or satin scrunchie to pineapple your hair, such as the Curlsmith Vegan Silk Scrunchies.

The Importance of Scalp Health for Styling Curly Hair 

Scalp health is integral to healthy hair. Our scalp is skin and should be treated as such. The condition of our scalp often dictates how our hair grows and the health of our hair. Using scalp-friendly hair products can help you to style your curly hair and maintain a healthy scalp. 

Many things can affect the health of our scalp, including: 

• Build up: ensure you are using a clarifying shampoo in your routine.
• UV damage: Protect your scalp when going out in the sun by wearing a hat or scarf.
• Overly tight hairstyles: Avoid applying too much tension to the scalp so the hair follicles do not become damaged.
• Sleeping on wet hair or tying the hair up wet: This can lead to both scalp issues and damage to the hair!
• Chemical burns: This sounds drastic, but relaxers, perms, and even scalp bleach can lead to scalp damage and even potential chemical burns.

A healthy scalp inevitably equals more healthy hair. Healthy hair is more elastic, shinier, less dry, less prone to frizz and breakage, and much more able to hold its own shape. As such, it is generally easier to style than weak, damaged hair.

Care For Your Curls with Curlsmith

While styling curly hair may pose challenges, it is absolutely possible to create glorious looks using our cruelty-free, vegan hair products formulated especially for curl types. From wavy hair products to coily hair products, all free from silicones, sulphates and parabens. Try our curl quiz today to start you on your curly journey.