If you have curly hair, you can do one of two things with it: Fight the texture or embrace it. By opting for one of the best hairstyles for curly hair, you can finally put the hair straightener down and letting those locks do exactly what they want. Some of the most handsome curly-haired men in Hollywood, like Oscar Isaac, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jay-Z (for a moment), are letting their natural hair texture run free.
Take it as a green light for you to do the same. As celebrity hairstylist Sarah Singh says, it’s better for both you and your hair to embrace the natural shape. “The more you brush, comb, touch, or keep reshaping curls, especially as they dry, the more you break up the pattern and invite frizz,” says Singh. “Curls usually look best when you give them a little freedom.”
Curly hair runs on a spectrum, so figuring out your curl pattern will help dictate which hairstyle works best for you and your particular texture.
But regardless if you’re a 2a or 4c, your curls will need a “solid moisture routine” before you even think about styling—think curl creams and conditioners, both leave-in and those that wash out. Also take into consideration your living environment. “Humidity, heat, dryness, and even how active you are can completely change how curls behave, so the cut and products have to make sense for your actual day-to-day,” Singh says.
Once you’re more attuned to what you’re working
Once you’re more attuned to what you’re working with, here’s some inspiration for your next curl-friendly haircut. The Modern Flow
Longer lengths for men have been trending, and when you have curls, that extra length adds drama and flair to what could otherwise run the risk of looking too American Psycho. This medium-length cut has “soft layers that let the curls move,” Singh says, which adds to a sort of “bedhead chic” that’s somehow put together while looking effortless.
The front of the hair is left just a little shorter to frame the face, while all the hair is brushed back to be both loose and unfussy. The Warrior Mane
Shoulder-length curls feel “big, fluid, and full,” Singh says. This look works because the hair towards the end has room to separate and break apart so that there’s a rock-and-roll energy to it without looking stuffy or overgrown.
Ask your barber to cut the hair while it’s dry because Singh notes that shrinkage can occur between 10 to 50% if it’s cut wet. The Precision Fade
For something neat and tidy, nothing beats a fade when it comes to curly hair. Singh says that keeping curly hair this short allows the wave pattern to reveal its natural texture and dimension. You’ll want to keep the hair on top long enough for that wave to stay visible, and make sure to ask for a lineup to keep the edges clean.
Just don’t push the hairline too far back,
Just don’t push the hairline too far back, otherwise the cut will look unnatural. The Sculpted Coil
For hair between 3c and 4c, the density of the hair coils will start to grow upward rather than outward, Singh notes. Because of the height that the hair gives, the style gives the look a greater style presence. “Ask for a rounded, sculpted shape with enough length on top to preserve the coil formation,” he says.
“The sides should be gradually faded and blended into the top rather than faded down too aggressively, so the overall shape keeps its fullness.”
The Executive Sweep
This style is sort of like the modern flow, except all of the hair is pushed towards the back rather than having any face-framing pieces on the forehead. It’s basically a slick back but with the added benefit of texture so that it’s not too early 2000s finance bro.
A stylist will want to scissor cut the hair to keep its fullness from the front to the crown, while the sides are connected to the top of the head with a soft blend. In Singh’s words, it offers a “lived-in elevated edge.”
The Rom-Com Shag
You have your regular shag, and then you have your rom-com shag. In the case of the latter, a wavy texture gives the hairstyle a different personality that’s all the more sexy and, as Singh says, looks even better when you put less effort into styling it.
She says the textured layers break up the shake so it’s not over sculpted, as do the soft edges and slightly imperfect shape. “Ask for a medium-length shag with loose layering through the top and sides, extra length left through the back, and a fringe that falls naturally instead of sitting too neatly,” Singh says.
Source: www.gq.com
