Easy curly hairstyles are something of a lifesaver when it comes to living your life, loving your texture and not spending fruitless hours trying to marry the two together. And yes, we all know the throw-it-all-up-into-a-bun technique but there are other, just as simple styles that can save time and show off your natural hair.
Here, we asked women with curly, coily and kinky textures how they best style and treat their hair. From the products that help to scrunch out the crunch to gels, creams and oils, there’s something for every routine, including yours. Keep reading – screenshotting fingers at the ready.
1. Simple claw clip
(Image credit: @amberleaux)
Who: Amber
How: “My go-to style is a half-up, half-down look, secured with a claw clip. It gives your face the same lift as a high ponytail but you get to have your curls out too.” Amber says putting her products in when her hair is soaking wet has made all the difference. “I learned this at my first curly haircut at the Curl Bar,” she tells Who What Wear. “I couldn’t believe how much it reduced frizz and how healthy my hair looked afterwards. My curls stay fresh for longer meaning I can go up to day three or four curls.”
What: “Currently, I’m obsessed with using the Adwoa Beauty leave-in-conditioner, followed by Crème of Nature Pure Honey Defining Custard.”
Adwoa Beauty
Blue Tansy Leave-In Conditioning Styler
Creme Of Nature
Pure Honey Twist & Hold, Defining Custard
2. 80s topknot
(Image credit: @rhiannonderbyshire)
Who: Rhiannon
How: “Besides the classic messy bun, I like to take the top section of my hair in a little ‘80s/Cyndi Lauper-esque topknot when my hair looks flat on days five and six. It instantly creates volume and I like the quite mane-like finished look. These Slip tiny hair ties are brilliant for it – taking in that small section of hair without having to use a regular scrunchie or faff about with hair clips.”
What: “To begin with, my curly hair routine was quite complicated but as an intrinsically low-maintenance person, it wasn’t sustainable. Curl Wow Flo-etry Vital Natural Serum does the job of four products in just one step. It moisturizes, tames smooth and defines – it never leaves my curls crispy, and honestly, my hair looks better using this one product than it ever did when I had an arduous 5-step routine. It’s worth every penny for its simplicity and effectiveness.”
Color Wow
Flo-Etry Vital Natural Curly Hair Serum
Slip
Classic Minnie Scrunchies
3. Slicked-back bun
(Image credit: @charlottemmaguire)
Who: Charlotte
How: “My go-to style is a slicked-back low bun but I’m also a sucker for a scrunchie,” she shares.
What: “I use the Cantu Natural Leave-In Conditioning Cream as my daily moisture lock – it keeps my curls staying fresh all day. Then, the next morning, all I need to do is splash them with water and they’re revived, lasting me an entire second day. Once every fortnight, I’ll use the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Pomade Cream which is great for my hair as it rejuvenates the ends and strengthens my curls.”
Cantu
Natural Leave-In Conditioning Cream
Charlotte Mensah
Manketti Oil Pomade
4. Twist bun
(Image credit: @lekha.ly)
(Image credit: @lekha.ly)
Who: Lekha
How: “I love having my hair out so, usually, I’ll let it towel dry or I scrunch in cream with a diffuser. If I fancy a change I like to twist my hair into a bun and leave my curtain bangs out with a twisty curl.”
What: “I use the Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Créme on my hair after washing – it keeps my curls nourished and defined and any frizz at bay. It also smells amazing.”
John Frieda
Frizz Ease Dream Curls Curl Defining Créme
5. High bun
(Image credit: @marwa_rebei)
Who: Marwa
How: “Typically, I’ll pull all of my hair up, leaving the much shorter bits down around my face. I’m proud of how far I’ve come with my curly hair. For the first 28 years of my life, I wore it straight until one day I asked myself, ‘Why am I doing this? I have naturally curly hair!'”
What: “After showering, when my hair is soaking wet, I take a pea-sized amount of hair cream from the Bumble and bumble Bb Curl Light Defining Cream. I love it because it gives me bouncing curls and it’s light for my hair which is perfect since I have thin and oily hair. When I want more defined and separated curls, I add a light gel from Boucléme that I mix with a bit of water and scrunch into my hair while it’s wet. I’ll usually leave it to air dry or if I have time I use a diffuser.”
Bumble and bumble
Bb Curl Defining Cream
Bouclème
Curl Defining Gel
6. Twists
(Image credit: @morganfargo)
@morganfargo
♬ original sound – morgs
Who: Morgan
How: “I struggled for years with knowing how to keep my curls intact and happy overnight. For a long time, I thought I needed to wash my hair every day if I wanted bouncy, defined, thick-looking curls. Finally, I decided to listen to what my mum had told me to do for my entire life: twists. Where French plaits can leave the hair looking too crimped and angular, two-strand braids (known as twists) keep curls rounded and smooth but, crucially, protected as you sleep.”
What: “My fiancé and I both have curly hair which means we often share hair products, especially when travelling. There’s one that we fight over who gets to use first: the Briogeo Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel. Nothing gets rid of the humidity-induced puff, defines curls or slicks back a bun quite like it. Pop on a large silk scrunchie (kinder to your curls) and you’re golden.”
Briogeo
Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Quinoa Frizz Control Gel
Maven Fargo
Oversized Scrunchie
7. Pineapple
(Image credit: @cescabrags)
Who: Cesca
How: “My favourite hairstyle is either in a trusty pineapple or clipped half-up.”
What: “Generally, my routine consists of shampoo, conditioner (the Umberto Giannini Thirsty Curls), followed by the Ouai Leave-In, which smells great. I then use the Cantu Kids Curl Crème as it’s nice and light, brushing it through with my Denman, Next, mousse – Umberto Giannini again – and scrunch as if my life depends on it. Finally, some gel to keep everything in place. Later, when I need to scrunch out the crunch, I’ll use the Olaplex Bonding Oil.”
Umberto Giannini
Thirsty Curls Moisture Surge Curl Hydrating Conditioner
Ouai
Leave in Conditioner
Cantu for Kids
Curling Cream
Umberto Giannini
Curl Whip Curl Activating Mousse
Olaplex
Nº.7 Bonding Oil
