18 Haïr Style For Curly Hair That Are Actually Easy to DIY

18 Haïr Style For Curly Hair That Are Actually Easy to DIY

If you’ve got curly hair, you already know the struggle is real. Half the tutorials out there are made for straight or wavy hair, and by the time you adapt them, you’ve lost twenty minutes and a chunk of patience. So I put together this list of curly hairstyles that don’t require a cosmetology degree or a full Sunday afternoon to pull off.

These are the kind of looks you can do with your morning coffee still in hand. Some need a little product, a few need bobby pins, but none of them demand hours in front of the mirror. Let’s get into it.

Wash-and-Go Definition

This is the foundation move for anyone with curly hair, and it’s still one of the easiest styles to master once you get your product routine down. You basically let your curls do what they naturally want to do, with a little help from a curl cream or gel to fight frizz and enhance definition.

It works on almost any curl pattern, from loose waves to tight coils, though the technique for scrunching and diffusing will vary slightly depending on your texture. Low maintenance is the whole point here, and once you find your holy grail products, this becomes a five-minute routine.

Pineapple Updo

Anyone who sleeps with their curls up at night already knows this one, but it doubles as a legit daytime style too. You gather your curls loosely on top of your head with a scrunchie, letting the ends fall forward or to the side for volume.

It’s especially great for thick or long curly hair on hot days when you want your neck free. Face shape doesn’t matter much here since the style sits so high, though round faces might want a few face-framing pieces left out for balance.

Curly Half-Up Half-Down

This one’s a classic for a reason. You pull the top section of your curls back and secure it while leaving the rest down, which gives you volume up top without sacrificing all that curl texture around your face.

It suits medium to long curls best and works for basically any occasion, from grocery runs to date night. If your curls are on the finer side, backcombing the crown section slightly before securing it adds a nice lift.

Twist-Out

A twist-out is one of those styles that looks way more complicated than it actually is. You twist small sections of damp, product-coated hair, let them dry (or dry them with a diffuser to save time), then gently separate the twists once fully dry.

This works beautifully on coily and tightly curled hair, giving you defined, elongated curls with serious volume. It’s a bit more time-intensive upfront, but the payoff lasts several days, which makes it low maintenance in the long run.

Curly Bob with Curtain Bangs

Curtain bangs on curly hair create this soft, face-framing effect that a lot of people don’t realize is achievable without heat styling. The bangs split naturally in the middle and curl right along with the rest of your hair.

This cut suits oval and heart-shaped faces particularly well, and it works on medium to thick curl textures. Maintenance is moderate since you’ll want trims every eight to ten weeks to keep the bangs from growing into your eyes.

Curly Ponytail

The high curly pony instantly reads as put-together, and it takes about ninety seconds to do. Gather your curls at the crown, secure with a scrunchie or fabric tie to avoid creasing, and let the volume do the talking.

Longer curls will get that dramatic ponytail swing, but even shoulder-length curls look great in this style. Wrapping a small section of hair around the base hides the elastic and gives it a slightly more polished finish.

Curly Shag

Layers are a curly girl’s best friend, and the shag cut takes that to another level with choppy, textured layers throughout. It removes bulk and encourages your natural curl pattern to spring and bounce rather than weigh down.

This cut works particularly well on medium to thick curls and tends to suit round or square face shapes since the layers add length visually. Styling is mostly hands-off once you’ve got the cut, just scrunch in some product and let it air dry.

Two-Strand Twists

Similar to a twist-out but left in as the finished style rather than taken down, two-strand twists are a protective option that still looks intentional and stylish. You section your hair and twist two pieces around each other from root to tip.

This style is ideal for coily or very curly textures and can last a week or more with proper nighttime care. It’s genuinely one of the lowest-maintenance options on this list once it’s done.

Curly Space Buns

Space buns aren’t just for straight hair. On curly hair, they take on this playful, voluminous shape that looks great for festivals, workouts, or just a fun everyday look. Part your hair down the middle, twist each side up, and secure into two buns.

This works on shorter curly bobs and longer curls alike, though longer hair will give you bigger, fuller buns. Face-framing curls left loose around the front soften the whole look nicely.

Curly Bangs with Long Layers

Full curly bangs paired with long layers throughout the rest of the hair create a face-framing effect that suits nearly every face shape. The bangs curl up and back slightly, avoiding that flat, weighed-down look bangs sometimes get on curly hair.

Thick curly hair handles this cut especially well since there’s enough volume to support the bangs without them looking sparse. A light curl cream applied only to the bang area helps keep them defined without disrupting the rest of your style.

Flat Twist Updo

Flat twists along the hairline leading back into a bun or puff combine two techniques into one polished style. It’s a bit more involved than a basic twist-out but still totally doable solo with practice.

This works great on medium to long curly or coily hair and gives you an elegant option for more dressed-up occasions. Once you’ve done it a couple times, you’ll have it down to fifteen minutes or so.

Curly Lob with Side Part

A curly lob, or long bob, hits somewhere around the collarbone and pairs beautifully with a deep side part for extra volume on one side. It’s a versatile length that works for thin, medium, and thick curls alike.

Oval and heart-shaped faces tend to love this length since it frames the jaw nicely. Maintenance is moderate, mostly regular trims to keep split ends from disrupting your curl pattern.

Curly Braid Crown

Two loose braids pulled back and pinned across the crown of your head create a soft, romantic look that still lets your curls shine everywhere else. This is a great one for humid days when you want some hair off your face without fully pulling it back.

It suits basically any curl type and length past the chin. Leaving a few curly pieces loose near your temples keeps the look from feeling too severe.

Diffused Curls with Side-Swept Volume

Using a diffuser attachment while scrunching your roots upward creates serious volume, especially at the crown, and gives you side-swept movement without ever touching a curling iron. This is a favorite for fine curly hair that tends to fall flat.

The technique works on any curl pattern but makes the biggest difference for looser waves and curls that need a boost. It’s an easy add-on to your regular wash-and-go routine.

Curly Mohawk Braid

A softer, everyday take on the mohawk, this style braids or twists the sides back while leaving a strip of curls loose down the center. It’s edgier than most of the styles on this list but still simple to recreate.

Best suited for medium to long curly hair, this look works well for nights out or anytime you want something a little different. French braiding the sides takes some practice, but two-strand twists work just as well if braiding isn’t your strong suit.

Curly Bantu Knots

Bantu knots are sectioned coils wrapped tightly around themselves to create small, secure knots against the scalp. Worn as-is, they’re a striking protective style, and left in overnight, they’ll give you defined curls when unraveled the next day.

This style is especially popular on coily and tightly curled hair textures. It takes some practice to get your sections even, but once you do, it’s a quick style to recreate again and again.

Curly Bob with Undercut

Shaving or closely cropping the underneath layer while keeping length and curls on top creates dimension and takes weight off thick curly hair. It’s a bolder choice, but the top layer styling stays just as easy as any other curly bob.

This works best for thick to very thick curly hair since it genuinely reduces bulk. Round and square face shapes tend to benefit most from the added structure this cut provides.

Curly Low Bun with Face-Framing Pieces

A relaxed, low bun at the nape of the neck with a couple of curly pieces pulled loose around your face reads effortless but intentional. Gather your curls low, twist or coil into a bun, and secure with pins.

This is a great option for medium to long curls and works for both casual days and slightly dressier occasions. It’s gentle on your curls too, since there’s minimal tension compared to higher, tighter styles.

Whatever your curl pattern or hair length, there’s likely a style on this list you can start practicing today. The real secret to easy DIY curly hairstyles isn’t some fancy technique, it’s just getting familiar with how your specific curls behave and building a small routine around that. Give a few of these a try and see which ones become your new go-to.