If you have curly hair, finding a hairstyle that looks modern, stylish, and easy to recreate can often be tricky. Too many barbers treat curls as uniform when, in reality, what makes curly hair so interesting is its individuality. No two curls are the same, so knowing how and where to distribute weight, accentuate your facial features, and get the most out of your waves is key to nailing a great men’s hairstyle with curly hair.
As a qualified barber, I’ve worked on a range of different hair densities and types, seeing firsthand how different curly hair can be from person to person. So, if you are a male with curly hair looking for the best short curly hairstyle, you’ve come to the right place. Below, I’ve selected the best haircuts for curly hair men that are trending right now.
With this extensive list of haircuts for curly hair men, breaking down the styles by length, characteristics and what to ask the barber for. Here, you’ll discover curly tops, messy fringes, natural waves and a bunch more, but be aware that figuring out the right cut is more of an art than a science. In my opinion, you should consider everything from body type and personality to preferred clothing and face shape before settling into the barber’s chair. Importantly, not every hairdresser is equipped to deal with the unique challenges that guys’ curly hairstyles can present. So, whether you are looking for long curly hairstyles or something short, make the most of consultation before you choose a cut and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
About the Author
As a qualified hairdresser and barber with an SHB30516 Certificate III in Barbering from The Queensland Hairdressing Academy, Nick Hall is an expert on men’s haircuts and styles. Prior to joining Man of Many as Editor-in-Chief, he spent five years as a senior stylist at Brisbane salon The Chopspot and two years at Sydney-based barbershop Kings Domain. The men’s hairstyle expert has personally chosen every haircut on this list, providing extensive first-hand details and insights related to each style.
Best Men’s Curly Hairstyles at a Glance
- Best for short curls: Tight Curl Fade
- Best for loose waves: Beachy Waves
- Best for professionals: Wavy Slicked Back
- Best low-maintenance curly hairstyle: Wavy Fringe
1. Wavy Slicked Back
Wavy Slicked Back Characteristics
- Longer Length on Top: The main characteristic of this cut is some additional length on top. This creates a natural flow that lends itself well to wavy curls.
- Thick Hair Density: With this men’s hairstyle with curly hair, it’s important to prioritise density. If your hair is too sparse, this cut will only accentuate the thinness of the top section.
Best Face Shapes for Wavy Slicked Back
- Oval
- Round
- Square
If you’ve watched Bradley Cooper in movies like Limitless or A Star is Born, then you’ve already seen the slicked-back wavy hairstyle in action. What makes this men’s short, curly hairstyle work is density. The hair needs to be styled in a backwards direction whilst damp, which will ultimately dry and set in a natural flow. As a result, the hairstyle is better suited to those with thick, dense hair that has enough eight to sit back and fall with natural graduation. If the top section of your hair is too thin, you won’t be able to achieve the wavy slicked-back look, as the hair will sit up and create unnecessary contrasts in height and weight.
Additionally, if the coils of your hair are too tight, you may struggle to achieve this look. I would recommend scissor-cutting the sides for this curly men’s hairstyle, as it allows the top section to naturally blend without creating too much of a visual contrast. In this scenario, finding the right hair product will prove essential.
How to achieve a Wavy Slicked Back
- Make sure your hair is damp
- Squeeze some pomade into your hand and then stroke your fingers through your hair in a front-to-back motion
- After working the product through your hair, let it settle and dry
- If something feels amiss, try a lighter product or creme
2. Beachy Waves or Curls
Beachy Waves Characteristics
- Texture: With this style, the emphasis remains on texture so it’s a good idea to use a texturing product such as powder or sea salt spray.
- Movement: With this curly men’s hairstyle, the coils of the hair are far looser, giving a softer and more natural appearance. This helps to create the illusion of movement, which is critical for this style of messy curls.
Best Face Shapes for Beachy Waves
- Square
- Oval
- Heart
The natural, sun-kissed look has been popular for decades, and that isn’t likely to change any time soon. For men with curly hair, it’s a big opportunity, with natural beachy curls or waves the pre-eminent aesthetic. Emulating the relaxed, tousled look of hair after a day at the beach, this hairstyle for curly hair males is best characterised by its loose, natural-looking top and sides. For the most part, this kind of men’s curly hairstyle has layers that are over-directed from the top section. Essentially, this means that hair around the ears and nape falls naturally without creating a flat or blunt edge.
To achieve this, ask your barber to layer the back and sides, leaving the edges natural. This requires some sectioning during the cut, which may take some time and is often best suited to hairdressers. When cut correctly, you should be able to hold the hair out at a 90-degree angle and see the hair naturally reduce in length as it works down.
If you have naturally curly hair that isn’t overly coiled, beachy curls are a fantastic option. This hairstyle is youthful, relaxed and low-maintenance, making it one of the best curly hairstyles a man could ask for.
How to achieve Beachy Waves or Curls:
- Using products such as sea salt hairspray, apply a generous amount to the top of the hair
- Using your fingers, work your hair in a front-to-back motion
- Apply a moisturising treatment to get those waves or curls flowing, and to keep the hair from drying out
- Regularly run your fingers through your hair to reshape and restyle
3. Wavy Quiff
Wavy Quiff Characteristics
- Volume: With shorter sides and an elongated section at the fringe and on top, the wavy quiff is best known for its height and volume.
- Shorter Sides: This cut is better suited to shorter sides, creating a greater contrast for the voluminous top section.
Best Face Shapes for Wavy Quiff
- Square
- Oval
- Round
The wavy quiff for men—also known as the curly quiff—looks exactly as it sounds. It’s highlighted by a voluminous, upward-facing poof at the front of the top hair, which recedes in volume as it goes toward the back, and comes flanked by shorter sides. Like many short hairstyles for men, keeping a slightly longer amount on top will provide a more aesthetically pleasing general silhouette, elongating your face and keeping you looking professional.
Depending on how curly your hair is, you might find the blend between short and long sections quite abrupt. If this is the case, look for a barber who is adept at working with afro hair or tight curls, and ask for a low fade or gradual blend. Additionally, if you have naturally thick or wavy men’s hair, there might be some trial and error before you master the styling of this popular look. In my opinion, this style works best on hair that has some natural wave or curl, however, it’s tightly coiled. If you have very straight hair, you might need to use heat styling tools to achieve the waves.
How to achieve the Wavy Quiff:
- Starting with damp hair, blow-dry the hair while lifting it up and back with a brush
- Use a continuous upward brushing motion and apply a light heat with the hair dryer
- Once dry, apply a light amount of pomade and work the product through with your hands in a front-to-back motion
4. Curly Side Part
Curly Side Part Characteristics
- Defined Part: Like the classic side part, this short curly hairstyle is best known for its clear disconnection between sections at the top.
- Natural Overhang: In many cases, this haircut can benefit from some extra length in the fringe, which sees the hair overhang on the opposite side to that with the part. This gives some nice balance and allows for a more natural curled flow.
Best Face Shapes for Curly Side Part
- Square
- Oval
- Round
Some haircuts never go out of style, and the curly side part is undoubtedly one of them. Effortlessly carefree, I always feel there is something kind of radical about this particular men’s hairstyle, even if it has nearly a century’s worth of history behind it. For the most contemporary take, keep your hair short on the sides and longer on top, but try to avoid a ‘disconnected’ style.
This refers to a recent trend in barbershops where stylists shave the hair up to the part. While easier to style when fresh, the hair will inevitably grow out awkwardly and often, this process involves shaving a small section of the crown. Instead, ask to leave some weight on the side and to be blended. This also has the added benefit of versatility, looking for more polished and neat, whilst also still being interesting enough to stand out from the crowd.
From there, leave a significant amount of hair on top—generally two to three inches—and style it to the side in one direction. A quick word of advice: figure out which direction your curly hair naturally grows in and then part it accordingly. For styling, I would highly recommend blow-drying the hair with a diffuser, which allows you to manoeuvre the hair at the parting whilst also maintaining as many curls as possible. You can also dry your hair while scrunching it with your hands to encourage curl formation.
How to achieve a Curly Side Part:
- Find your natural part, brush all your hair forward and draw a direct line from the centre of your crown to the corner of your hairline
- Comb the hair to one side
- Apply a light pomade of matte product and work it through with a wide-bristle comb
- If necessary, apply a light heart and comb through with a hair dryer
5. Tight Curl Fade
Tight Curl Fade Characteristics
- Short Top: With this style of curly hair, men are encouraged to keep the top relatively short. This allows for a more rigid contrast and a neater look.
- Gradual Fade: The key characteristic of this style is the integration of a fade, which can be raised or lowered depending on your preferences.
Best Face Shapes for Tight Curl Fade
- Square
- Oval
- Round
One of the most straightforward and clean curly hairstyles for men involves fading the back and sides, whilst leaving a slightly longer amount on top. For people with tight curls, this hairstyle is incredibly versatile and low maintenance, as tighter coils will tend to sit more forgivingly on top. Leaving around two to three inches worth of hair on the top will give you enough to play with and style, however, it is important to remember that as it coils, it will appear shorter.
As with all fade hairstyles, how low you go is up to you. If you are looking for a slightly more extreme look, you can take the sides and back down to bald or try a burst fade. On the other hand, a slightly longer clipper length will appear more approachable, but it will ultimately require more upkeep as it grows out.
Importantly, the tight curl fade is quite versatile, meaning that you have the option of choosing where the blend point should go and how high up the head you’d like to see the fade. With this style, a taper would be my recommendation, as it is among the most popular trending hairstyles for men. However, mid, high, and jarhead fades would all work well with this style of classic haircut.
How to achieve the Tight Curl Fade:
- Spray a light mist of water or sea-salt spray onto the top of the hair
- Using a diffuser, work the hair with a hairdryer
- Ensure that all sections are covered
6. Wavy Fringe
Wavy Fringe Characteristics
- Texture and Volume: With this short curly hairstyle for men, the emphasis is placed on the front of the hair, showcasing the natural texture and volume of wavy hair.
- Added Length on Top: To achieve the wavy or messy fringe with curls, you will need to keep the hair on top longer to allow the waves to form, while the sides and back are typically cut shorter.
Best Face Shapes for Wavy Fringe
- Square
- Oval
- Round
For men with relaxed wavy or curly bangs, consider the wavy fringe. It works best when you retain most of your hair length at the top, employing either a high or low fade on your back and sides. By opting for this style of short curly hair for guys, you are able to enhance the natural flow and fall of your curls, making them look more manageable and stylish. Focusing the weight of the curls to the front will draw attention to this section and keeping the sides and back short, generally under a clipper guard #2, means you don’t have to worry about maintenance.
This also has the added benefit of reducing bulk, which can be a major headache for guys with curly hair. It’s all about bringing out the style, volume, and texture of your wavy men’s hair and medium-long bangs, and then seeing where that takes you. If the barber knows what he’s doing, he’ll cut your hair in layers to lower the weight and keep the volume and texture intact.
When styling at home, you should scrunch your damp waves as your hair dries, using a texturing product to hold everything in place. If you use the right products, which in this case would be sea salt spray and clay, you’ll be able to style the hair easily and quickly each day. If you want defined curls without too much hassle, I would definitely recommend this hairstyle.
How to achieve a Wavy Fringe:
- Use mousse on damp hair and scrunch your wavy fringe at the top, giving it volume and a slightly messy appearance
- Keep everything in place by way of a light hair spray
- Add a texturing product if you want more texture
7. Wolfcut
Wolfcut Characteristics
- Rounded Fringe: The wolfcut features a ’70s shag-style fringe that helps to frame the face and create a balanced facial symmetry.
- Mullet Back: This cut also sees a natural fall of the hair at the nape, similar to what you would see on a modern mullet.
Best Face Shapes for Wolfcut
- Square
- Triangle
- Heart
- Round
Moving on to some of the best long curly hairstyles for men, the wolfcut is an obvious standout. A favourite in recent years, this medium-long length style is a modern take on the classic ’70s shag haircut, embodying all the same flow and rebellion as the historic style, albeit with a touch of a mullet thrown in. With this curly hairstyle, you are able to frame your face with your bangs, creating a nice visual harmony with the elongated nape section.
If you are opting for this style of haircut, I recommend growing your hair out for at least six months to get the most out of your fringe and sideburns. Make sure that the barber feather blades the longer areas, the ears, back, and fringe, so that the hair falls naturally and with enhanced softness.
For reference, the edgy hairstyle was adopted by Korean women but has slowly crept its way into the looks of the everyday Aussie bloke. The hairstyle is essentially a blend of the ‘80s mullet and a shag, characterised by choppy layers on top and longer layers on the side. It doesn’t matter if your hair is long or short, straight, wavy, or curly, because the wolfcut style gives you that effortlessly tousled, bouncy vibe that looks flawless on everyone.
How to achieve a Wolfcut:
- Ensure that the hair is wet so that when you are blow-drying, it can be manipulated into different shapes.
- Add a pre-styler. For certain looks, one with a shine finish will allow the streaks and the reflection of the hair to create more movement when you blow dry it through.
- Using your comb, manipulate the centre part.
- Use your fingers and start at the reference point of your eyebrows, pull up to the top and pinch the mid part.
- Blow dry the hair in the direction you wish to see the flow. Keep everything on lower speed and medium heat, that way you can blow dry everything through and manipulate the hair.
8. Natural Afro
Natural Afro Characteristics
- Natural Curls: This style of cut embraces whatever curls you have, regardless of hair density or texture.
- Maintenance: To maintain a solid natural afro, you will need to condition and treat your hair regularly to ensure there is no excessive build-up of oils.
Best Face Shapes for Natural Afro
- Square
- Oval
- Round
Sometimes it’s worth keeping things natural. If your hair has a solid density of curl that can be reshaped and restyled, adding a bit of sea salt spray and running your hands through the top can make a world of difference. For this curly men’s hairstyle, a rounder shape is preferred as it helps to frame the face more generously, so longer sections at the top, graduating down to shorter lengths at the nape, are essential.
Importantly, just because the style is natural does not mean that it requires no maintenance. In fact, as the hair on top regularly grows out at different speeds to the hair on the sides, it may require regular trips to the barber for general upkeep. I also recommend using a keratin-based conditioner quite frequently and letting the treatment naturally absorb into the hair over time. Try using a sulphate-free shampoo, avoid excessive washing and make sure you keep the hair moisturised.
The goal here is to increase the health of the hair from the roots rather than try to scrub and dirt out. Improving your hair health will allow you to better manage the excess build-up of oils, which can add extra weight to the hair and stop it from curling effectively.
How to achieve a Natural Afro:
- Spray a light mist of water or sea-sale spray onto the top of the hair
- Using a diffuser, work the hair with a hairdryer
- Ensure that all sections are covered
9. Curly Taper
Curly Taper Characteristics
- Faded Sideburns: The main characteristic of this curly hairstyle for guys is the faded sideburns. Depending on where the blend point is, you could opt for a low, mid or high taper with curly hair.
- Gradual Transition: The hair on the sides and back of the head gradually fades into longer hair on the top of the head.
Best Face Shapes for Curly Taper
- Square
- Oval
- Round
If you are a male with curly hair, a taper fade is a great option for keeping things neat and tidy. As I mentioned in our guide to taper fades, men with naturally curly, coil-like, or kinky hair textures hair really benefit from a strong contrast between the sideburns and nape and the darker curled sections on top. Depending on the blend point, you can customise the height of the taper to suit your specific style needs, from low to high, however, I would definitely recommend a low taper as this option gives you a bit more length to play with on the sides. Conversely, those with a rounder face shape may want to take the fade a little tighter in order to highlight the facial structure.
As with all Afro-focused styles, I would recommend looking for a barber that specialises in curly haircuts for men. This type of hair has a vastly different texture than Asian or caucasian hair, as the flat, ribbon-like structure of the follicles results in tightly coiled strands and often produces more sebum (protective oil) than other types. The dense and coarse nature of the hair can be challenging to effectively fade, particularly for barbers and hairdressers with limited exposure to this hair type.
How to achieve a Curly Taper:
- Run a clipper on the sideburns and nape
- Gradually fade these areas down to the skin
- Ask to keep the blend point of the hair below the temple line
- Spray a light mist of water or sea-sale spray onto the top of the hair
- Using a diffuser, work the hair with a hairdryer
10. Long Curly Hair
Long Curly Hair Characteristics
- Significant Length on Top: When curly hair gets longer, it tends to fall with a natural bounce and coil. This can sometimes make it challenging to style.
Best Face Shapes for Long Curly Hair
- Triangle
- Oval
- Heart
Styling curly hair as a man can often be difficult, so it’s little wonder than many guys choose to grow it out. Long curly hair is a style that has been favoured by actors, musicians and even vikings for decades and in recent years, it has only grown in popularity. I would recommend this style to anyone who has tight coiled hair that is difficult to style. With high density, curly hair can quickly become unrily, so adding length and weight can actually help make it more manageable.
Once you have grown the hair out long enough, I would recommend going to hairdresser, rather than a barber, and have the hair cut in layers. By utilising this technique, the hairdresser will be able to manipulate the hair’s natural fall, creating the illusion of movement. To maintain the health of the hair, make sure you condition regularly and avoid excessive washing.
How to achieve a Long Curly Hair:
- Grow your hair out long
- Cut it in layers for movement
- Condition often
Short Curly Hairstyles for Men Inspiration
Men’s Curly Hairstyle Maintenance Tips and Tricks
The more you know about your curly or wavy men’s hair, the better you’ll be able to sculpt it to your liking. A signifier of youth and vitality, men’s curly or wavy hair can also be a total grievance to groom or maintain. Thankfully, there are a few tips and tricks that will help ease the burden of your daily regimen. That’s right, we said daily regimen. Don’t slouch.
Most of these tips apply to thick, thin, short, and long curly hairstyles alike, though some will favour specific men’s hair types over others. Don’t grow out your curly men’s hair until you’ve mastered the most important ones. Here are some men’s curly hairstyle maintenance tips and tricks:
Styling
- Routinely apply sea salt spray or a similar moisturiser to your curly or wavy men’s hair. This will help keep the volume rich and full and prevent the curly hair itself from drying out.
- Avoid the overuse of dry matte hair products like clay, wax, pastes, pomades, and creams. To be clear: we’re not saying you shouldn’t make these products part of your grooming routine, just that you shouldn’t overdo it. That’s because too much use can poof out the curly or wavy hair, cutting down on manageability and definition.
- If you’re aiming for a shorter, tighter style, then apply a matte-finish product at the roots of your curly hair. Be sure to do it when the hair is still moist.
Washing
- Do not over-shampoo your hair. Instead, shampoo once every two or three days and incorporate a moisturising conditioner as well. This combination will keep your curly men’s hair moisturised and healthy. All the while, you’re avoiding dryness, damage from over-washing, and frayed ends.
Hair Types and Density
- If you have thick, wavy, or curly men’s hair that’s hard to manage, find a barber who can tactfully chop away some underlying locks without hindering the overall aesthetic. The result is a men’s curly or wavy hairstyle that’s formidable, but still controllable.
- Request that your barber point cuts the ends instead of cutting a straight line. The former evokes softness while the latter creates a hard-edged vibe. Be aware that a good barber who knows his way around a curly men’s haircut is somewhat hard to find!
Alternatives to Curly Haircuts
- Short Back and Sides Haircuts & Hairstyle Tips for Men
- Medium-Length Haircuts & Hairstyle Tips for Men
- Long Haircuts & Hairstyle Tips for Men
- Straight Haircuts & Hairstyle Tips for Men
