Afro blood is very hot, so are curly hairstyles for natural hair. Full of volume, texture, and shine, curly hairstyles for black women are a well-known, recognizable, and even integral part of Afro girls’ image.
However, it doesn’t mean that all black curly hairstyles look similar, typical, and boring.
Ladies can try different types of curls long hair or short curly hairstyles: natural hair texture, dramatic curls, tight, spiral, fluffy, waves, defined curls; experiment with the length, for example, a curly bob, add a trendy middle part or curly bangs, make a pony, a curly puff or a bun, braid their locks in multiple ways.
Actually, in this article, we’ve collected so many styles aka photo proofs that demonstrate how diverse, personalized, and beautiful curly hairstyles for black women can be.
Top Curly Hairstyles for Black Women
African-American curly hair is notorious for being kinky, coarse, unruly, and very challenging to style. You can’t just wash your hair and leave it dry naturally if you’re aiming for a healthy-looking, glossy, and neat final simple style.
No matter if you prefer to wear your curls loose and keep the natural hair shapes, or tame your real hair with various braids, knots, ponytails, and half-ups, the healthy condition of the hair is the key to that gorgeously rich look of all black hair styles.
That’s why it’s vital to use special hair products for natural curls, starting from your shampoo and ending with styling products.
And if you’ve run out of creativity and can’t come up with an idea of how to spice up your dark curly hair and stand out with your new curly styles, look for inspiration below. Here, we have a gallery of the most recent interpretations of curly hairstyles for black women for any taste.
Loose Curls Black Hairstyles
@sorellahairco
Loose curls are not a typical texture for black women, and it makes this curly style especially incredible. Of course, it takes time and effort to get this size of curls on the natural texture of curly black hair, but it’s definitely worth it. Let them fall down the shoulders or tie in a high disconnected ponytail with bangs like in the picture above.
Long Black Curly Hair
@kaykayx__
Don’t wanna build up pompous volumed hairdos? On the contrary, try to stretch out your curls slightly. If you apply a medium hold hair product on your palms and gently comb through the wet hair with your fingers, trying to straighten the locks, you’ll get a similar soft waves black hairstyle. Something for formal occasions.
Edgy Red Bob with Deep Side Part
@oficialcrisoliveira
Well, this fiery curly bob for a black woman is all about breaking rules, turning heads, and literally burning any place she goes to. The deep side part plays a key role in building the shape of this short curly style. If you’re a girl who was blessed with naturally curly hair, try this kind of parting at least once in a lifetime.
Half-Braided Curly Hair
@the.curlfriend
This is what we were talking about when mentioned a huge variety of braided styles for black women. Here, there is only a touch of cornrows braids on one side of the head, but this detail completely changes the whole look of curly hairstyles.
Black Curly Hair with Highlights
@kaylaniquiocho
One of the most popular ways to spice up curly hairstyles for black women is to give them a charming touch of blonde highlights, especially, contrasting blonde highlights. This color game makes the texture of curls even deeper, emphasizes the dark eyes of a girl, and adds a note of playfulness to the image.
Spiral Curls Black Hair
@larissasampaioo_
Spiral curls are a nice alternative to usual Afro curls. This kind of curls turns a black woman into a living doll, so tender and fragile. And look at this touch of bold orange now! How dare she! Protective style! But this is a smart step: to add an element of disorder and mess into such a girly effortless style. This tandem is always a win-win one.
Wavy Hair for Black Women
@crystalotv
A wavy hairstyle for black women is not a common thing. No wonder, since you’ll probably need a hairstylist to achieve those luscious waves. Choose these black hair waves for the day when you wanna look especially magnificent.
Big Bun for Black Women with Curly Hair
@fashionbombdaily
Big bun curly hairstyles for black women are a solution for the cases when an upstyle is a necessary measure but you wanna look chic and stylish at the same time. Thanks to the natural puff and volume of Afro hair, making a big bun won’t be a trouble-making task, especially on short curly hairstyles.
Curly Bob for Black Hair
@mailah_beaute
The shorter the black woman curly hair is, the more effortless in care this short style is. This rule explains why so many black girls tend to choose bob haircuts. Even with a rather short hair length, they won’t look too modest or minimalistic.
Black Curly Hairstyles for Medium Hair
@cachosrubinathy
And now we go a bit longer – and you can see, how a romantic vibe volatilizes with every extra inch of length. And if that volume is not enough for you to stand out, how about juicing your curly hairstyle with gorgeous maroon shades.
Long Natural Curly Hair
@thenaturalhairlover
And here we come to the maximum length. Playful, youthful, not obeying any rules or limitations…natural long curls emphasize the true self of black women – that’s why such styles always look harmoniously with Afro appearance.
Tight Curls Black Hair
@rosesovaj
This tight curls black girl mane is for bangs-lovers. Especially, it works great for black women with an oblong face shape and a high forehead. The thing is this shape doesn’t stretch their face – on the contrary, through volume on the sides and a kind of fringe, the face becomes more balanced and elegant.
Short Curly Cut with Amber Highlights
@anniviahair11
Amber highlights will come in handy when a girl is looking for a new way to wear her old short curly style. However, this color is suitable for black women with warm skin shade only. So, before blindly following the short hair style in the picture, first make sure your hairstylist supports this choice.
Very Curly High Pony
@shaniah.g
If you’re looking for an easy short curly hairstyle for Black women, the high curly pony (also known as the pineapple haircut) is the style for you to try on laid-back days. Wanna something extra? Two face-framing braids with beads on the ends will give you what you need.
One-Sided Braids
@pretinhaporquesim
Braided black female hairstyles simplify the life of Afro women letting them not deal with those curls for a while. The braids, especially, long ones, make you look younger, more careless, and wild. To maximize this effect, try shaving one side and sweep all the braids to another side.
Soft Curls with Dramatic Highlights
@sorellahairco
When you have a romantic mood, use your short curly hair to make it clear to everyone. With dramatic highlights, these curls look so soft and alluring. And, sure, the main recommendation for such a gorgeous look is keeping your locks healthy and periodically trim the ends. To give the curls a bounce and such a magnificent glow, use moisturizers and jam for curls.
Honey Blonde Curls for Black Women
@frose._.njb
Hairstyles for naturally curly black hair lift up to an absolutely new level when black girls take a risk and go blonde. The main rule here is to choose the shade of blonde that suits your skin tone. In the photo, you can see, how perfectly these honey blonde curls complement the appearance of this Afro woman.
Curly Pixie for Black Women
@pretinhaporquesim
A curly pixie cut will forever be one of the short curly hairstyles favorites. It allows for multiple styling options but make them easier due to the short hair length. You can wear it with defined tight curls or make it straight, add some bright color, and experiment with design on the shaved sides and back.
Extra Curly Hair with Bangs
@vancitywigs
Some people say that black girls with curly hair shouldn’t get bangs. But why not if the bangs are such a hit?! Relaxed curly hairstyles work magic with curly bangs.
Here is how to wear and cut it right: the trim should be done on dry hair only because if you cut it on wet hair, you may cut off more than you want to (wet curls tend to shrink.) When styling, pay attention to the size of curls and control that it’s the same on the length and on the bangs.
Unicorn Curls on Long Hair
@curlsandconfidence
They say, only bright distinctive colors work for black women hair. This unicorn-inspired pastel mix of colors in the photo just shuts down that opinion. To make your curled black hair more dynamic and fun, combine up to six shades of pastel randomly all over your hair.
Gorgeous Bouncy Curls for Black Hair
@sorellahairco
Short Afro hair is very manageable for black curls. So, with such length, you can experiment with different types of curls. Gorgeous bouncy spirals with plenty of body flow freely and frame the face, creating a feminine, attractive look for any occasion. To add dimension, pair the spiral bob with longer spiral bangs.
Angled Black Cut with Soft Curls
@curly_afro_blackgirl
An angled cut is a great option instead of one-length natural curly hairstyles. This trick will prevent your curly hairstyle from looking bottom-heavy.
And to get such extended, longer curls, you’ll need to stretch the length of your curls by tugging at the ends when blow-drying them.
Healthy Hippie Hair with Waves
@the.curlfriend
Hairstyles for black women with natural curly hair can be healthy, and happy, and hippie – all in one! Just switch on your creativity. Here, we have a combination of a relaxed wavy afro in a hippie manner with two tight-twisted locks that frame the face incredibly. And to keep the healthy look of your wavy black hair, make sure it’s moisturized all day.
Half-Braided Hairstyle with Tighter Curls
@ipstickcoco
Half-braided curly African American hairstyles are a cool way to switch up your usual black hairstyles with curls to something more unique, personalized, and outstanding. To achieve this look, twist in and out the strands in the front part of the head, and let the rest of the hair fall down as curls or continue twisting the locks till the ends. Thus, you’ll get not only a creative black hairstyle, but also a protective one.
Ponytail for Curly Hair
@jewejewebee
A high ponytail is perfect for any occasion. Whether you need a formal updo or just wanna keep your long curly hair out of your face for an active day, a pony is a win-win effortless option. If you have troubles holding your ponytail into place, try using a medium-hold product for a flawless finish.
One-Sided Curly Ponytail
@hiikusshair
We’ve already mentioned that a ponytail is an ideal choice if you need to keep your rebel curls out of your face. It’s simple, effective, and looks great on an Afro texture. However, you can play with the style of your pony too. For example, sweep it to one side. Another cool detail about the ponytail hairstyle in the photo is that it’s based on a twisted-out style. Looks fantastic, doesn’t it?
Two French Braids
@sorellahairco
Got sick of a regular ponytail and don’t want to wear it, but also want to tame your black long curly hair? Two French braids are a way out! Classic and go-to, this hairstyle will let out that young flirting girl out of you. And pay attention, how wonderful the accessories change the look!
Side Swept Cut
@sorellahairco
Natural curly hairstyles for black women are incredibly popular these days. And these intense highlighted curls in the photo are a great example of how gorgeous healthy natural hair can be. Swept to one side, the whole look gets a brand-new vibe. To accentuate your curls and keep them in place, use an ethnic hair product.
Short Afro Hair
@hiikusshair
The benefits of short curly hairstyles for a black girl are numerous. The thing is natural hair is prone to dryness, which cause breakage more often. Thus, it’s quite of a challenge to grow out luscious and healthy long hair.
Short curly hair styles for black hair are a way easier to maintain, which means you can look perfect without putting too much effort.
Sexy Loose Curls with Side Part
@curly_afro_blackgirl
No doubt, the first association that comes with curly natural hair styles for black women is “sexy”. And this feature will pop up even in the most traditional and classic hairstyles for short curly hair. Keep everything simple and just enjoy your female energy.
High School Chic Hairstyle
@larissasampaioo_
It is a classic style that used to be the go-to hairstyle for school girls with curly hair in the 90s. Tight cornrows to take the messy curls away from the face, a touch of bold red underneath, and gorgeous soft curls tumbling down. The best thing is that it still woks for Afro girls of all ages.
Effortless Black Curly Waves with Balayage
@magdelinembaye
How effortless these long loose waves look! But how skilled you have to be to achieve this lightweight effect on natural Afro curls. They are the perfect example of a professional curly hairstyle that makes you turn around. From casual to formal, this magnificent wavy hairstyle with balayage literally looks appropriate for any occasion and can be paired with any outfit.
Layered Haircut for Curly Hair
@kimdollxo
With layers, you’ll get more volume throughout your entire hair. As a result, your hair will look so airy, almost weightless. Curly bangs will add a more flirty vibe to the image. And again, the more hydrated your curls are, the better the whole look is. So, try applying a lightweight oil for soft and moisturized curls in this style.
Beach Hair
@madwgirl
For Afro women, beach hair can hardly mean loose and careless curls. If left loose, black hair will dry out significantly, lose its shine and become super coarse. Eventually, it can lead to breakages. That’s why The Afro variant of beach hair means protecting the locks by making braids and twists. In the photo, you can see a very cool idea of beach hair for black girls with beads.
Very Curly Hairstyle
@inspirecachos_
When you have that fabulous Afro-American hair, your curls are both a blessing and a real struggle. To minimize all possible problems with Afro hair, get a layered hairstyle with bangs. To maintain the beauty of every curly lock, deeply moisturize the hair regularly.
Half-Up Bun with Waves for Black Hair
@bonitarebel
Want to find a versatile curly hairstyle for black women that will work for any occasion? Look no more: the half-up hairstyle is exactly what you need. This quirky style is a cool way to switch your look as well. Of course, you can stay safe with a classic single bun half-up… but why? If you can look so cute, charming, and gorgeous if rocking the wavy half up half down with double wrapped buns.
Curly Ombre Hair for Black Women
@lisette
Blonde ombré looks win-win on curly black hair, it adds depth and extra grace to the style. So, it’s definitely something you need to try at least once. But be ready that going blondie also has some consequences: the hair quality is inevitably getting worse, so the risk to dry out the curls is increasing. This, the proper care that includes moisturizing and nutrition (which is a must for medium and long Afro hair) should be doubled after getting the ombré.
Long Faux Curly Hairstyle
@curlsidoadore_
Are you in the mood for a bald hair step? If so, it’s time to give a try to a long curly faux. Looks gorgeous, super comfortable, super unique… What else are you looking for? Curly hairstyles for black women can be so diverse, indeed!
1990s Vintage Black Hair Look
@curly_afro_blackgirl
Space buns are a great option for the gym, for a scorching day, or just when you wanna change something in your look. Simple to get, nice to wear.
How to Style Curly Hair for a Black Woman?
@culture.app
To get an ideal curly hairstyle for black women, follow these tips:
- Use a shampoo and conditioner for curly hair
- Before washing your hair, use a conditioning mask for curly hair
- Apply a styling product on wet hair
- Never use a blowdryer without an applicator (use a diffusor)
- Comb hair with a wide-toothed comb
- Moisturize the ends regularly
There are so many reasons to love long and short curly hairstyles for black women: from playful short bob hairstyles to teeny pixie cuts.
With the right inspirational photo and appropriate hair products, you’ll style your natural curly hair in so many different ways. Hopefully, after checking out our guide, you’ll be able to tame your luscious mane.