Hair

Best Haircuts for Curly Hair: Short, Medium, Long and Volumizing Styles Loved by Celebrity Stylists

From pixie cuts to layered lobs, these celebrity-loved haircuts will bring your curls to life!

By Anna Traver April 28, 2025

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Have naturally curly hair, but just don’t feel like your curls are living up to their fullest potential? Believe it or not, it could simply come down to your haircut. Sometimes, flat curls are lacking life because they aren’t cut in a way that allows them to have maximum bounce and body. But, you may not know where to start when finding a curly haircut for you, especially if you already have short hair (let alone a stylist who actually knows how to cut curly hair)—we can help with that! We asked celebrity hairstylists for the scoop on the best short haircuts for curly hair, in addition to the best curly cuts for medium-length, long and thin hair.

What to look for and avoid in haircuts for curly hair

The best haircuts for curly hair are all ones that let the curls truly flourish and shine. And to achieve this, layers are going to be your best friend. “Layering is an absolute must for curly hair. It’s essential for letting curls flow freely, which helps keep the hair looking fresh and natural,” affirms Zoey Taylor, a Curl Hair Specialist at CurlsQueen.

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Layers help to take unneeded weight off curls, which in turn makes them bouncier and more voluminous. Plus, layers help curls fall and blend together beautifully.

On the other hand, you’ll want to stay away from blunt cuts if you have curly hair, our experts say. “Avoid blunt bobs, straight-line cuts or anything clearly designed for straight textures—these just don’t translate to curls. They tend to cause bulk, frizz or a triangle shape,” advises Jessica Ruby, celebrity hairstylist, curly hair specialist and Owner of The Flamingo Lounge. “The best curly cuts are shaped by a stylist who understands how curls move and live. And skip any reference photo that’s straight hair—trust me, it won’t look the same.”

Also, to avoid damage to your curls, your stylist should not use razors or thinning shears, warns Vito Esposito, celebrity hairstylist and wonder of Vito Esposito Salon in Beverly Hills, as “they can destroy the curl pattern and create frizz.”

Best haircuts for curly hair, according to stylists: short, medium, long & thin

Keep scrolling for our experts’ favorite celebrity inspiration for short haircuts for curly hair, as well as medium-length, long and thinning curly hair inspiration.

Short haircut for curly hair: The curly pixie cut

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Pixie cuts are always an excellent style for short hair, and they work beautifully with curls, as we can see here with Liza Colón-Zayas. “The curly pixie has turned out to be one of my most favorite looks for short curly hair; it defines and adds great volume to the tight curls,” says Taylor. “This is indeed a trendy, low-maintenance style, but it is also very versatile to wear sleek or to tousle to a more natural and lived-in look.” Best face shapes for a curly pixie cut: “I love this cut because it gives shape without taking away the romance of the curl. It’s perfect for oval or heart-shaped faces, and is very flattering and very feminine,” says Esposito. Taylor adds that it also works well for square faces since the short layers soften sharp angles. To get the look: At the salon, Taylor says to ask for “light and airy on top,” which will help with definition. “You can also specify that you want the sides shorter and increasingly tapered but keeping the same natural texture of the curls,” she says.
Short haircut for curly hair: Curly pixie shag cut

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A crossover between a pixie cut and the hyper-popular shag, the pixie shag haircut for curly hair is one of Ruby’s favorites. This cut has “short cheekbone-framing layers and a soft fringe,” she says, and is “modern, bold and makes curls pop.” A perfect celebrity example of the pixie shag is Halle Berry, whose curls here look full of body and volume despite their short length. Best face shapes for a pixie shag cut: The curly pixie shag is so flattering on oval face shapes as the voluminous shag helps balance the face’s length. To get the look: Ask your stylist for a shaggy, ear-length pixie with stacked layers. Also, the key to this cut, and really any curly haircut, is finding a skilled curly hair expert. “The trick to making this cut work is getting it done by a stylist who knows how to cut curly hair dry, with attention to shrinkage and curl pattern,” Ruby tells us.
Short haircut for curly hair: A layered, curly bob

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Bobs are one of the “it” haircuts at the moment, and what makes them so great is that they work for so many hair textures! Tracee Ellis Ross above is rocking a layered, curly bob with chic bangs, and her curls look fuller than life. Best face shapes for a layered, curly bob: A curly bob works well with long faces and diamond face shapes, as the curls help to “stretch” the face, balancing a narrower chin. To get the look: Ask for a cut that hits above the shoulders and slightly below the chin with layers that flatter your curl pattern.
Medium-length haircut for curly hair: Layered shoulder-length cut

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“For medium curls, I love the layered shoulder-length cut with a deep side part. It frames the face and gives the curls a soft, glamorous feel,” says Esposito. “Julia Roberts has done this for years—it’s timeless and full of charm!” A side part helps “lift” the curls and hair at the root for even more volume. Best face shapes for a layered shoulder-length cut: This cut is gorgeous on square or round face shapes, says Esposito. To get the look: Esposito says to “ask for layers that start around the cheekbones and keep some structure in the crown.”
Medium-length haircut for curly hair: The curly lob

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The long bob, a.k.a. lob, is also very on-trend and for good reason. For a celebrity example of a curly lob, look no further than Viola Davis. Her length here hits right at where her neck meets her shoulders. “Ideally, the strands should fall somewhere between chin and collarbone to allow curls space without weight,” says Taylor. Best face shapes for a curly lob: “A lob goes well with an oval, square or heart-shaped face because the length gives structure without overwhelming the face, whereas layers add a bounce and voluminous quality to the hair,” advises Taylor. To get the look: At the salon, recreate this cut by asking for a curly lob with layers, and “make sure to mention that you want the layers cut to enhance the natural curl pattern rather than straightening it out,” says Taylor.
Medium-length haircut for curly hair: Curly wolf cut

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Wolf cuts have been in the spotlight for the past few years, and they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Sandra Oh’s curly wolf cut above proves that the style works particularly well for curly hair. “Medium-length curls look best with something bold—a wolf cut or curly mullet is the perfect way to avoid the dreaded triangle,” Ruby affirms. “These cuts are all about volume, face-framing drama, and movement.” Best face shapes for a curly wolf cut: The curly wolf cut is excellent for oval face shapes. To get the look: Ask your stylist for a wolf cut with short, textured layers around the face.
Haircut for long curly hair: Long, curly layers

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“I love long curly hair—when it’s cut right, it’s like music—it flows!” says Esposito. For long curly hair, you want to go for soft layers, he says, “that follow the natural shape of the curl, so the hair doesn’t get too heavy.” Here, Beyonce’s soft, long, layered curls fall so naturally and beautifully while still maintaining volume. “Beyoncé is a perfect example, her curls are always full, glamorous and shaped to perfection. It’s the kind of hair that makes a statement without saying a word,” Esposito says. Best face shapes for long, layered, curly haircuts: This cut is one of the most versatile curly haircuts when it comes to face shapes. Esposito says it works on just about everyone! To get the look: “In the salon, ask for cascading layers that start below the chin, nothing too blunt,” advises Esposito.
Haircut for thin curly hair: Rounded layered haircut

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“For finer curls, the goal is to build volume and lift without weighing the hair down. I love a rounded layered shape, like what Natasha Lyonne wears—it’s airy, sculpted and makes thinner curls look full and bouncy,” says Ruby. “The trick is creating support and movement without over-layering.” Adding bangs like Lyonne’s also helps to add volume to thin hair, specifically at the roots. Best face shapes for a rounded layered haircut: Rounded haircuts tend to work well for narrower, longer face shapes, as the width of the hair helps balance out the narrowness of the face. To get the look: Ask your stylist to keep the length above the bust and infuse it with rounded, soft layers that graduate starting at the cheeks.
Haircut for thin/thinning curly hair: Long, textured layers

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Sarah Jessica Parker has been “hair goals” since her time as Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City. Her hair and curls tend to lean on the thinner and finer side, but she still is able to achieve voluminous body through long layers. “Her curls are not thick, but the shape always looks full and rich because of the way they’re cut,” affirms Esposito. As for styling, adding in a texturizing spray will help individual curls look thicker. Best face shapes for long, textured layers: Long layers work for a wide variety of face shapes. A narrow, long face shape like SJP’s works great for this cut, but it also works on round face shapes, heart-shaped, diamond-shaped and more. To get the look: Ask your stylist to keep your hair long but add in some face-framing layers to make curls pop.

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