8 Modern Curly Hairstyles for Men (2021 Guide)

If you’ve been endowed with curly hair, then you’ll love this list of our favorite haircuts for men with curly hair.

Curly hair is one of the most unique hair types. It’s rich with texture in a way that few other hair types are.

As with all things, there’s a flip side. It can be tough for guys with curly hair to find new styles, especially since many hairstyles are meant for straight or wavy hair.

Curly hair can be unruly and tough to work it, so many men feel that they have to stick to the same old style in order to tame their hair.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you have curly hair, you can actually do a lot with it, and that’s what we hope to show you with this list of our favorite curly hairstyles for men.

Interested? Read on for our top 8 curly looks of 2021.

This list is broken down into two sections for short and long hairstyles. If you already know what length you want, feel free to skip ahead to that section.

Short Hairstyles for Men with Curly Hair

Curly hair can be hard to work with, so if you have insanely curly hair that puts up a fight, you’ll probably prefer a shorter style.

Luckily, short curly hairstyles for men can look fantastic. Check out these styles to see what I mean.

#1: Controlled Curls

If you like your curls but also find them tricky to handle, consider this hairstyle. It gives you the best of both worlds by keeping the back and sides short but allowing the hair on top to grow out a bit.

This style looks longer than it is because curly hair is naturally voluminous. This means you can get a lot of body and movement with only a small amount of hair.

#2: Curly Undercut

The undercut is one of the most versatile men’s hairstyles; that’s why you see it on practically every hairstyle list (including our own). It’s a true testament to the undercut’s staying power that it’s also a great style for curly haired men.

This undercut variation is shorter than other undercuts, but again, the curliness of the hair adds volume.

The sides and back stay tight to keep everything tidy and minimal. This is a great choice if you’re looking for something that’s appropriate for both casual and professional situations.

#3: Cropped Shag

When you think of shaggy hair, you either think of really messy hair or the Scooby-Doo character. However, the shag doesn’t have to be an unruly ‘do, and this neatly cropped shag proves it.

The characteristics of a traditional shag haircut are still here, but the hair isn’t out of control.

This haircut suits all types of curly hair, from loose curls to tight ringlets. If you’re after a short, low maintenance cut but still want your hair’s natural texture to shine through, this just might be the style for you.

#4: Loose Ringlets

Here’s a hairstyle for those of you reading who have incredibly curly hair that takes the form of small, tight ringlets. This hair type is often loose by nature, so choosing a similarly loose hairstyle will complement it.

As with most styles, the sides and back are shortened with clippers, but the hair on top grows out and forward a bit, forming a makeshift fringe. This keeps the hair relatively short while still showing off your hair’s curliness.

#5: Curly Fringe

Got big, loose curls? Show them off with this curly fringe style. This cut features an eye-catching explosion of curls at the front that creates loads of texture and motion.

However, this style does have a specific time and place. It’s meant for casual situations where you want to give your hair some flair, not for professional atmospheres that require you to dress business casual and up.

Keep that in mind before you rush into the barber’s chair to get this look!

Long Curly Hairstyles for Men

Okay, keeping it short is fine, but sometimes you want to spotlight your hair’s curliness. That’s where longer hairstyles come in.

Here are our picks for the best long men’s curly hairstyles:

#6: Thick Curls

Looking for something with a bit more volume to show off your curls? You might be interested in this longer style that takes full advantage of the hair’s curliness to create body and volume.

It’s another versatile look that can be worn in many situations.

Even though this is a longer style, it’s not messy. Everything’s still neat and in its place. If you have naturally messy or tangled hair, then this style will amplify that texture, so be aware of that.

#7: Large Textured Curls

If you’re of Middle Eastern descent and have looser curly hair, check out this style. It’s similar to the previous style, but this one is grown out more and is more suited for hair with larger curls.

This haircut offers a nice balance of volume and length. Again, the volume comes from the hair’s natural body, so you don’t need to use any volumizing products.

#8: Long Messy Curls

With their unique hair types, black men can sport distinctive haircuts that practically no one else can. Of course, this can also present a challenge, but these hair types are actually pretty easy to work with if you know what to do.

This look is one of our favorite curly hairstyles for black men. It’s simple yet impactful, allowing the hair to naturally hang loose. (And for those of you who know Andre Walker terminology, this is ideal for 4a hair.)

Conclusion

That wraps up our list of the 8 best curly hairstyles for men. I hope this has helped you find some inspiration for your next look.

Are you going to ask your barber for one of these next time? Let us know what you’ll be rocking in the comments below!