Curly hair has a unique charm and beauty that deserves to be celebrated, but sometimes it can be tricky to style. Whether you have tight curls, loose waves, or anything in between, tons of easy curly hairstyles can help you look chic and feel confident, all without spending hours in front of the mirror. If you’re looking for a simple yet stylish way to show off your curls, this guide has you covered with 15 trendy and easy-to-create curly hairstyles. Each one is designed to be simple, stylish, and suitable for a variety of occasions.
So, let’s get into these curly hair ideas that are sure to make you fall in love with your natural curls all over again!
1. Curly Bob with Highlights
Imagine the playful look of a bob mixed with bouncy curls. The curly bob is a versatile, easy-to-maintain hairstyle that flatters every face shape. To elevate it, add subtle highlights that complement your natural curl pattern. For instance, opt for caramel or honey-blonde highlights that add depth and dimension to your curls. This color technique enhances the texture, giving your hair that sun-kissed, voluminous appearance.
The curly bob with highlights is perfect for anyone who wants to make a statement with their curls but doesn’t want to deal with the upkeep of long hair. The highlights bring out the richness of your natural curls, making them pop without overwhelming your face. Whether you’re at the office or on a date, this hairstyle will keep you looking effortlessly chic.
2. Curly High Ponytail with Deep Red Streaks
One of the simplest yet boldest curly hairstyles is the high ponytail, and it gets even more stunning when you add a pop of deep red streaks. The high ponytail is already a go-to for those days when you want to show off your curls while keeping them out of your face. But, by incorporating some deep red hues or burgundy highlights into the mix, you get a trendy and striking look that’s impossible to ignore.
To create this style, gather your curls into a high ponytail and secure it with a scrunchie or hair tie. Leave a few curls to frame your face for added softness. Apply red streaks to some sections of your curls to give them dimension and shine. The deep red color complements the natural texture of your curls, providing a bold contrast to the hair’s natural dark color.
3. Loose Curly Waves with Balayage Highlights
Loose curly waves are a perfect hairstyle for those with naturally curly hair who want to showcase their texture with ease. By adding balayage highlights, you can achieve a sun-kissed, beachy look that’s both effortless and elegant. The balayage technique uses hand-painted highlights to create a seamless, natural gradient of color from dark to light. The result is soft, dimensional curls that shine with movement.
Opt for warm blonde or soft caramel tones for the balayage highlights to create a natural-looking contrast against the darker base of your curls. This style works wonders on all curly textures and adds a healthy, glossy shine to your curls. The soft waves offer a relaxed yet polished look, making it ideal for both daytime outings and evening events.
4. Curly Mohawk with Red and Black Contrast
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to showcase your curls in a bold way, try a curly mohawk with striking red and black contrast. The mohawk is a dramatic and edgy style that brings attention to your curl pattern while giving your hair an intense, fashion-forward vibe. To make the mohawk even more eye-catching, use a combination of vibrant red and deep black tones. The black color at the base with red highlights or streaks creates an intriguing contrast that stands out beautifully against the curls.
This style works best with shorter, more defined curls and is perfect for those who love to experiment with edgy looks. Whether you’re attending a concert or just want to make a statement, the curly mohawk will turn heads wherever you go.
5. Curly Half-Up Bun with Ombre Red Hair
For a casual yet chic look, try the curly half-up bun with ombre red hair. This style allows you to keep your curls under control while still showing off their texture and volume. Start by gathering the top half of your curls and securing them in a high bun. Let the rest of your curls fall naturally, and if you want to take the look up a notch, incorporate an ombre red color technique. The ombre effect gradually transitions from dark roots to a fiery red, creating an intense, fashionable contrast that highlights your curly texture.
This style is versatile and works for any occasion, whether you’re heading to a casual coffee date or a fun night out with friends. The red color adds a fiery touch, while the half-up bun keeps things neat and stylish.
6. Curly Twist Out with Caramel and Honey Blonde Highlights
A twist-out is an easy yet gorgeous curly hairstyle that works wonders for creating defined curls. This style works particularly well for people with type 3 or type 4 curls. To achieve the look, section your damp hair and twist each section into a small coil. Once dry, unravel the twists for bouncy, well-defined curls. To make this hairstyle pop, add caramel and honey-blonde highlights throughout your curls.
The highlights will add dimension and shine, making the curls appear fuller and more voluminous. The contrast of the blonde highlights against the natural dark hair color creates a vibrant and youthful look, perfect for both everyday wear and special occasions.
7. Curly Side-Parted Shag with Red Tones
A curly side-parted shag is a stylish, retro-inspired look that works especially well with curly hair. The shag haircut is all about layers, creating movement and volume, and it pairs wonderfully with curly textures. To elevate the look, add deep red or cherry hues to the hair to create an eye-catching color contrast. The side part adds an element of asymmetry, making the style even more playful.
This hairstyle is perfect for curly-haired individuals who want to embrace their natural texture while adding a pop of color and a touch of vintage flair. The layers provide volume and a fun, tousled effect that’s effortlessly chic.
8. Curly Pixie Cut with Bold Red Highlights
The pixie cut is a bold choice for those looking to go short, and it looks stunning when paired with curly hair. A curly pixie cut allows you to show off the natural bounce and volume of your curls without the heaviness of longer hair. To add a touch of drama, incorporate bold red highlights throughout the curls. This contrast of red against the natural black or dark brown curls is striking and modern.
The curly pixie cut is low-maintenance and offers a fun, youthful appearance. It’s perfect for those who want to experiment with short hair while still embracing their curls.
9. Curly Updo with Subtle Blonde Highlights
An elegant curly updo is perfect for formal events or special occasions. By adding subtle blonde highlights to the updo, you can create a soft, radiant glow that enhances the natural beauty of your curls. Gather your curls into a loose bun or chignon at the nape of your neck, and allow a few curls to fall around your face for a soft, romantic look. The blonde highlights catch the light and add depth to the style, making it look elegant and refined.
This style is ideal for weddings, proms, or any formal gathering where you want to make a polished impression.
10. Curly Messy Bun with Rose Gold Highlights
For a more relaxed, everyday look, try a curly messy bun with rose gold highlights. The messy bun is an effortless hairstyle that allows you to embrace the natural texture of your curls while keeping them up and out of your face. The addition of rose gold highlights provides a soft, unique color that adds warmth to your curls without overpowering them. The result is a laid-back yet fashionable look that’s perfect for casual days or quick outings.
11. Curly Low Ponytail with Dark Purple Highlights
If you’re looking for a striking yet easy style, try a curly low ponytail with dark purple highlights. This look is simple to achieve by gathering your curls into a low ponytail and adding some dark purple streaks throughout. The dark purple color provides a cool contrast to your natural curls, adding a mysterious and chic vibe to your look.
12. Curly Braided Crown with Rose Gold Highlights
The curly braided crown is a romantic and whimsical hairstyle that’s perfect for weddings, proms, or any formal event. This style involves braiding two sections of hair from each side of your head and pinning them across the top of your head to form a crown. Allow the rest of your curls to cascade down the back for an ethereal, boho-chic vibe.
To add some extra flair, incorporate soft rose gold highlights into your curls. The subtle metallic tones will beautifully enhance the richness of your natural curls and create a glowing, sun-kissed look. This style not only frames the face but also highlights your curls in a way that is both soft and dramatic.
13. Curly Low Chignon with Subtle Pink Ombre
The low chignon is a classic, elegant updo that can be transformed with a curly twist. This hairstyle is simple yet refined, with curls twisted and pinned into a low bun at the nape of the neck. Add a subtle pink ombre color to the ends of your curls to infuse the look with a soft, feminine touch. The pink ombre blends seamlessly from your natural color into a delicate pastel hue, creating a dreamy effect.
This style is perfect for those with longer curly hair who want a polished look that isn’t too overdone. It’s ideal for formal occasions, such as weddings, galas, or evening dinners, where you want to showcase your curls in an elegant and sophisticated way.
14. Curly French Twist with Burgundy Highlights
A French twist is the ultimate elegant updo, but when paired with curly hair, it becomes a stylish twist on a classic. To create this look, gather your curls and twist them upwards, securing them neatly at the back of your head. Add some deep burgundy highlights or streaks throughout your curls for a rich, deep color contrast that enhances the texture.
This is a timeless hairstyle that’s perfect for formal events or evenings where you want to exude sophistication. The curly texture softens the sharpness of the twist, and the burgundy highlights provide a modern edge to the classic style.
15. Curly Fauxhawk with Platinum Blonde Streaks
If you’re looking to stand out with a bold, edgy style, the curly fauxhawk is the way to go. This look involves styling the sides of your curls sleek and flat while leaving the top section voluminous and spiked, creating a mohawk-like appearance. The contrast of short sides with a voluminous top makes this look both daring and trendy.
Add platinum blonde streaks to the top section of your curls to create an eye-catching contrast against your natural dark color. The platinum blonde highlights will catch the light and make your curls shine with every movement.
This style is perfect for music festivals, concerts, or anytime you want to channel your inner rockstar.
16. Curly Low Messy Bun with Lavender Highlights
A messy bun can be chic, too, especially when paired with curly hair! The low messy bun is a simple yet trendy way to gather your curls into a casual updo. You can leave some curls loose to frame your face and give the style a relaxed, soft vibe. Add lavender highlights to your curls for a whimsical, playful touch that complements the messy look.
The lavender highlights provide a soft, pastel color that adds personality to your curls without being too overpowering. This style is perfect for relaxed days out, casual brunches, or weekend hangouts with friends.
17. Curly Side-Swept Bangs with Ash Blonde Highlights
For a soft and flattering look, curly side-swept bangs are a great way to highlight your curls while adding some drama. To style this look, curl your bangs to one side of your face and allow the rest of your curls to flow freely. Ash blonde highlights throughout your curls will create a cool, modern contrast to your darker roots, giving the style an edgy yet soft appeal.
This look is great for those who want to add volume and shape around the face while still embracing their natural texture. The ash-blonde highlights make it a trendy, youthful option for anyone wanting to refresh their curly look.
18. Curly Shag with Red Copper Highlights
The shag haircut is one of the most fun and effortless looks for curly hair. Layers add volume and shape, creating a messy, textured look that’s both stylish and edgy. By adding red copper highlights, you can intensify the texture of your curls and bring out the vibrancy of your natural curl pattern.
The warm red copper hue contrasts beautifully with darker curly hair and adds a fiery touch. This is an ideal look for those who want to add boldness to their curls without sacrificing the carefree, relaxed vibe of a shag cut.
19. Curly Twist with Blonde Highlights
A curly twist is a stylish and elegant hairstyle that works well for both formal and casual settings. To achieve this look, section your hair into two parts, twist each section tightly and pin them across the back of your head for a secure and elegant updo. For extra depth and dimension, add blonde highlights to your curls to make the style pop.
The blonde highlights will lighten up the twists, making the curls appear fuller and more dynamic. This hairstyle is perfect for anyone looking for a stylish, polished look that shows off their curly texture.
20. Curly Side Ponytail with Burgundy and Violet Streaks
The side ponytail is a simple, classic hairstyle that can be effortlessly dressed up or down. To give it a modern twist, gather your curls to one side and add some burgundy and violet streaks throughout your curls. The contrast of the dark base with these bold colors adds a fun pop and makes your curls stand out.
This style is perfect for casual days when you want something quick but stylish. The added colors will turn a simple ponytail into a statement hairstyle that still feels fun and easy.
21. Curly Low Braided Bun with Golden Blonde Highlights
For a more intricate yet easy-to-achieve curly style, try a low braided bun. Start by braiding a small section of your curls and pinning it into a loose, messy bun at the nape of your neck. The added golden blonde highlights throughout your curls will enhance the texture and give the hairstyle a light, radiant glow.
This style is perfect for those looking for a polished, sophisticated look without too much effort. It’s ideal for formal gatherings, work events, or even date nights.
22. Curly High Bun with Bold Red Highlights
A curly high bun is a chic and elegant way to pull your curls up, and it gets even better when you add bold red highlights. To achieve this look, gather your curls into a high bun and leave some curls loose to frame your face. Add the bold red highlights to the curls around the bun for a striking contrast against your natural color.
This style is ideal for special events, where you want to make a statement with your curls. The high bun keeps everything neat while the red highlights provide a vibrant burst of color.
Conclusion
Curly hair is incredibly versatile, and there are endless ways to style it effortlessly. From bouncy curls in a bob to edgy pixie cuts with highlights, these 15 curly hairstyles provide something for every mood, occasion, and personality. Whether you’re adding dimension with balayage, embracing a fiery red hue, or experimenting with a bold color contrast, there’s a style here that will make you fall in love with your natural curls all over again. So, get inspired, have fun, and embrace your curly hair with these easy, stunning looks!