16 Hair Styles For Short Hair Curly That Are Actually Easy to DIY

16 Hair Styles For Short Hair Curly That Are Actually Easy to DIY

If you’ve got curly hair and you’ve been stuck in a rut of scrunching product in and hoping for the best, this list is for you. Short curly hair has so much more range than people give it credit for, and once you find the cut and styling routine that works with your texture instead of against it, mornings get a whole lot easier. Below are sixteen styles that actually hold up to real life, not just salon photos, and every one of them can be done at home with a few basic tools.

Flamboyant Red Curled Bob with Subtle Highlights

There’s something about a red curly bob that just demands attention, in the best way. The curls sit at chin to shoulder length, and subtle highlights woven through keep the red from looking flat or one-note. This works beautifully on medium to thick curl patterns, and it suits pretty much any face shape since the length can be adjusted to hit at your most flattering point. Maintenance is moderate, mostly because red pigment fades faster than other colors, so you’ll want a color-safe shampoo and a gloss touch-up every six to eight weeks. Style it with a curl cream and diffuse on low heat for bounce without frizz.

Butterfly Haircut for Short Curly Hair

The butterfly cut translates surprisingly well to curls, even though it started as a straight-hair trend. It’s all about heavily layered pieces around the face that open up and frame your features, almost like wings. On curly hair this creates natural volume without the bulk, which is a common complaint with shorter cuts. It suits people with fine to medium curls who want movement without constant thinning. Styling is genuinely low effort, just apply a lightweight gel to damp hair, scrunch, and let it air dry or diffuse.

Balayage Hair Ideas

Balayage on short curly hair is one of those things that photographs differently every single day, because the light hits each curl at a new angle. Hand-painted highlights that are lighter toward the ends give dimension without the harsh regrowth line you get with foils. This works on almost any curl type and length, and it’s especially flattering on darker base colors where the contrast can be subtle or bold depending on your mood. Upkeep is fairly gentle on your wallet since balayage grows out naturally, though you’ll still want a purple or blue shampoo occasionally to keep brassiness in check.

Curlhalo Haircut

This one’s newer to the scene, and it’s basically a rounded, halo-shaped silhouette that hugs curls close to the head before flaring out slightly at the ends. It’s a great pick if you have tighter coils or spirals and want something that reads polished rather than wild. Round and oval face shapes tend to love this one because it adds width at the crown and balances things out. You’ll want a curl-defining cream rather than a heavy gel here, since the goal is soft shape, not crunch.

Shaggy Short Curly Hair with Natural Texture

Shag cuts and curly hair were basically made for each other. Choppy layers throughout give your natural texture permission to do its own thing, and honestly, the messier it looks, the better it works. This suits medium to thick curls best, since finer curls can sometimes look a little too sparse with heavy layering. It’s low maintenance in the styling department, but you’ll want regular trims every eight to ten weeks to keep the shape from growing out shapeless.

Bouncy Caramel Tousled Curls

Warm caramel tones on tousled curls give off that lived-in, sun-kissed vibe without actually needing a beach trip. The tousled part comes from scrunching in mousse and letting curls clump naturally rather than separating them too much. This color works particularly well on medium curl patterns and looks gorgeous against warmer skin tones, though honestly it flatters just about everyone. Touch-ups are needed roughly every two months to keep the caramel from turning brassy or dull.

Layered Short Curly Hair for Volume and Shape

Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one, and layers are exactly that for curly hair that feels heavy or shapeless. Cutting layers throughout removes weight so curls can spring up and show their natural pattern instead of getting weighed down. This is ideal for thick, dense curls that tend to feel like a helmet without some strategic thinning. Styling wise, less is more, a curl cream and a diffuser will do most of the work for you.

High Puff

The high puff is a classic for a reason, it’s fast, it’s fun, and it works on nearly every curl type from loose waves to tight coils. Gather curls up into a high ponytail or bun using a soft scrunchie, then gently pull at the base for extra lift. This style suits shorter curly hair especially well because it gives the illusion of extra length and volume up top. It’s basically a five-minute style, which makes it a lifesaver on busy mornings or humid days when you don’t want to fight your hair.

Curtain Bangs on Curly Hair for Face Framing

Curtain bangs get a lot of love on straight hair, but they’re just as flattering when they curl. The center-parted, face-framing pieces soften angular features and work well with round, square, and heart-shaped faces alike. On curly hair they tend to shrink up a bit, so it’s worth chatting with your stylist about cutting them slightly longer than you think you need. A little curl cream scrunched through the bangs keeps them defined instead of frizzy, and a diffuser on low speeds things along nicely.

Softly Tapered Espresso Curls for Round Faces

Deep espresso brown paired with a soft taper toward the neckline is a quietly elegant combination. The tapering keeps things neat at the back while curls stay full and bouncy up top, which helps elongate round faces rather than adding extra width. This color choice is low maintenance since there’s no bleach involved, just rich, glossy brunette tones that need an occasional gloss treatment to stay shiny. It’s a great option if you want something polished without spending a ton of time on color upkeep.

Short Curly Hair with Bangs for Full Cheeks

Full, wispy bangs paired with short curls can be incredibly flattering for fuller cheeks, since the bangs draw the eye upward and create a bit of vertical balance. This works on most curl textures, though you’ll want to have bangs cut slightly longer than you’d expect because curls always spring up shorter once dry. Daily styling is simple, a small amount of curl gel scrunched in and a quick diffuse gets the job done. It’s a soft, approachable look that doesn’t feel fussy.

Warm Chestnut Curls with Soft Volume

Chestnut brown sits somewhere between red and true brown, and it adds warmth without looking dramatic. Paired with soft, rounded volume at the crown, this style feels put-together even on days when you barely touch your hair. It’s especially pretty on medium to thick curls and tends to suit cooler skin tones nicely, softening any harshness. Maintenance is easy since chestnut is a natural-looking shade that grows out gracefully.

Soft Chocolate Waves with Bangs

If your curl pattern leans more toward loose waves than tight spirals, chocolate brown with soft bangs is an easy, wearable combination. The waves keep things relaxed and undone, while the bangs add a bit of structure so the whole look doesn’t feel too loose. This suits fine to medium hair especially well, since deeper waves can sometimes look thin without the added texture bangs provide. A sea salt spray or texturizing mist is your best friend for keeping the wave pattern defined throughout the day.

Flowing Waves with Sunlit Balayage Blonde and Brown

This one’s for anyone who wants dimension without going full blonde. Blonde balayage woven through a brunette base creates that sunlit, just-got-back-from-vacation look, and it plays beautifully with looser curl and wave patterns. It suits most face shapes and looks especially good on medium length curls where the waves have room to move. Because it’s balayage rather than all-over color, regrowth is soft and gradual, so you can stretch salon visits out longer than you’d think.

Charming Espresso Twirls with Asymmetrical Bangs

Deep espresso curls paired with slightly asymmetrical bangs give this style an edge that feels a little more fashion-forward than your typical curly cut. The uneven bang line keeps things interesting and works surprisingly well with square or angular face shapes by softening sharp lines. Twirls hold their shape nicely with a curl-defining gel applied to soaking wet hair, then left to air dry for maximum definition. It’s a great choice if you want something with a bit more personality than a standard cut.

Short Blonde Curly Hair for a Bright Look

Blonde and curly is a bold pairing, but it’s an incredibly fun one if you’re ready to commit to the upkeep. Short blonde curls catch the light in a way that darker shades just can’t, and they tend to make curl pattern and texture even more noticeable. This suits fair to medium skin tones especially well, though warmer blonde tones can work on deeper skin too. Because lightened hair needs extra moisture, a good curl-specific conditioner and a weekly hair mask are non-negotiable here to keep curls from feeling dry or brittle.

Whichever style you land on, remember that curly hair genuinely thrives on the right products more than constant heat styling. A solid leave-in conditioner, a curl cream or gel, and a diffuser attachment will take you further than you’d expect. And if 16 Hair Styles For Short Hair Curly That Are Actually Easy to DIY taught you anything, it’s that short curly hair really can look intentional and low-maintenance at the same time, you just need the right cut to start with.