Today’s post is the last installment on how to take care of naturally curly hair and we are going to cover super curly haircuts for naturally curly hair.
In the first post, I shared some of the tools you need for caring for your curly hair, along with grocery store products that work well for curly hair
The second post was all about how to style your hair.
First, let me just say that I’ve probably seen many different hair stylists and tried to achieve a cut that was compatible with my long curly hair. I’ve had two stylists who cut my hair just right and all the others left me with a similar problem: Triangle Shaped Hair.
What is Triangle Hair?
Triangle Hair speaks to the shape of your hair when the layers are not significant enough to take the bulk of the weight off towards the bottom of your length.
This issue happens with straight hair too, but it is usually not as pronounced unless hair the straight hair is very thick or the hair is not straightened with a flat iron.
With naturally curly hair, Triangle Hair is far more prevalent in my experience. There are two reasons why I think this happens more with curly hair:
- A misconception that your curly hair needs to have the weight of your hair to tame your curls and be cut all one length.
- Natural curls will flair out some at the ends as the curls get looser from flow and movement.
Though many stylists are well-meaning. Keeping long layers (or no layers in some cases) is the biggest mistake you can make if you want a more tapered look for your curls.
The reality is you want to lighten your hair up. Here we are in the year 2023 and so many hair stylists now get the need for layers for curly hair.
How to Avoice Triangle Hair
In order to avoid triangle hair, need to get layers cut in your hair but long layers won’t do. You must insist that you want SHORT layers. In fact, I think I had long layers in this photo.
If you are going for this look of mine above, I don’t want to sway you otherwise. But if you aren’t, you must insist upon short layers.
It doesn’t really matter if you have medium or longer curly hair, my experience is that haircuts for naturally curly hair must have short layers.
I’ve had stylists TRY to give me short layers but I still got long layers.
Back when I originally posted this, it really was a challenge to get a stylist to truly give me short layers. Maybe that has changed due to social media, Curly Girl, and more understanding of curly hair.
Basic Haircut Instructions
I wish I would have captured my curly hair layers before and after when I first had my hair cut properly. Through a quick Google search, you’ll see for yourself the difference short layers make. My stylist up in Rapid City sent me these instructions for the next person who cuts my hair and I plan on quoting her exactly as follows:
“Increase layer and let the bottom drop out. Slide cutting from the top down to take out the bulk, or you can thin with shears. Top layer should be 6-7 inches long. Frame face.”
Those were her instructions on how to talk to a stylist about a long curly haircut.
If you look at the top photo (the non-triangular hair one) you’ll see that I have short layers. This is really what you want if you want to have long curly hair and be able to wear it down.
So those are the basic instructions for haircuts for curly hair.
Key Takeaway: You have to have short layers, which will lighten the weight and enhance your curls.
I’d love to hear if you have some product you love to use for your hair or if you have a tip you’d like to add, please comment below.
*UPDATE #1* I had a stylist in Fort Walton Beach, FL who did an amazing job of cutting my hair. She cut it dry and have me the short layers I need. She also said someone with naturally curly hair should NEVER have their hair thinned with thinning sheers.
I love your tips. I can’t wait to not “shampoo.” I have very itchy scalp especially on the second day. Do you think not “shampooing” will help with this? Thanks for your tips. I’ve had short cuts growing up to tame my curls. My mom even gave me the dreaded perm which caused my hair to Afro. My mother was a hairdresser & I started running from her in middle school. I can’t wait to try this method!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
I’m not sure Kellie but you sure can try it! I scrub my scalp with the conditioner and that may be just what you need. Hope this helps. Oh and you cracked me up about your mom. God love her, I’m so grateful my mom didn’t have more tools! Haha!
Yes, never ever use thinning shears or razors on curly hair. Ask me how I know…uuggh. This is what I have finally found works to tell stylists, no matter who it is they seem to get it, after many years of trial and error. “I need lots of layers, some call them round layers others call it 180 (as in 180 degrees from crown). The first layer needs to start at my jaw line. I don’t want any definite lines between the layers, and no point at the back, just a nice smile line along the bottom.” Always check it before you leave and if it’s not enough layers, they can always go back and cut in more.
That’s right! Thank you Amanda!
Hi Julie,
I came across your blog randomly on an internet search of curly hair tips. Thanks for your insight!
Also, incredibly, I recently moved to Fort Walton Beach, FL and am in search for a hair stylist. I saw that you had a favorite stylist here. Any chance you can get me the contact info for that stylist?
Will email you her information Melissa! Really miss her as I haven’t been able to get a similar cut here in San Antonio.
did I just read you live in San Antonio? Any luck on someone who knows how to cut curly wavy hair in sa? I sure haven’t. Sooooo frustrated.
No, I’m sorry Cindy. I thought I had a gal but I’m still looking. 🙁
ive had really thick wavy / curly hair my whole life but the hairdresser never cuts it right and theres never alot to do with my hair what is your opinion on haircuts for dark brown hair thats thick and is naturally wavy / curly
Gotta love curly hair issues. 🙂 I’d recommend the same thing for your hair type. Best wishes!
Hello!
I just found your blog via a link on pinterest. Great tips! I’m definitely going to try some of them. I am wondering something though…. My hair is long and curly and I get the “triangle effect” because there are no layers. I had never thought about getting short layers but it actually makes a lot of sense and I kind of want to try it. However, only the top section of my hair is curly…. the hair underneath is straight. Would getting short layers in the top section of my hair me a bad idea (because it would expose the straight hair underneath)? Do you think it stays straight underneath BECAUSE there are no layers? I’m just scared that I’ll end up with something like a mullet if I get it layered. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks again for the post! 🙂
Hi Emily…I have straight hair underneath too. I usually have them cut that hair shorter so it stays relatively hidden underneath my curls. Hope this helps!
Interesting…I have wavy/curly hair and recently got a dry cut with lots of short layers, but am unhappy with it. The stylist said he did it to take off all the extra weight and the “triangle head” effect, which I totally understand. But now I feel like I have a mullet — short & thick on top, and long & wispy down the back. It sticks out in weird places. It’s even refused to curl since I got the cut, and I really don’t know why. Sigh. The hunt for the right cut continues.
Sounds like maybe he didn’t do enough of a gradual layering down to the longest layers. There should definitely be a cascading effect from the short layers down to the longest length.
Ok so I just read your blog and loved part 1 and 2! Um but I’m in high school and I have very long thick curly hair, and in middle school my mom had it cut to my shoulders got 3-4 inch layers and it was a poofed up mess! I’ve been growing it out since and it’s now super long! (Almost waist length) But now I want it like shorter and even after reading and rereading this blog, I’m not sure if short layers are the right thing? I don’t know! Help please?
Short layers are still a great thing for curly hair. Even shoulder length, short layers would be appropriate! I have a friend who did that recently and her hair is still gorgeous and lays nicely. Best wishes!
Hi Julie! I live in Fort Walton Beach and I got excited about your post even more when you said that someone here gave you a great cut for curly hair! I’m so overdue for a haircut for my curly hair but am always afraid when trying someone new. Anyway you could refer that hair stylist to me? I’d love to get it cut before I do some maternity pics (due August 27 with my first. So excited!) Thank you for your awesome blog. I’m going to try doing no POO 🙂
I will send you an email Lindsey. My stylist is AMAZING so have no fear! 🙂
Love the blog! As a fellow curly head, I recently had a life-changing experience with a Deva cut! I had it done about six weeks ago and have never, ever loved my hair so much. I NEVER wore my hair down before (it resembled sheep’s fur, IMO) and now I wear it down almost every day. I actually uttered this sentence to my husband a couple of days ago while looking in the mirror, “This haircut is the best thing I ever did.” Exaggeration? Perhaps, but it is life-changing (*I say this because it’s made me feel prettier and, frankly, that’s important to a woman). A Deva cut is done with dry hair, which is very, very important. They also teach you how to wash and style and for me it’s worked so well – I personally love the products. A lot of the techniques are similar to yours 🙂 I wash with the Low-poo shampoo once a week, leave 1/2 of the conditioner in, then put in a a lot of the Ultra Defining Gel when it’s wet, let’s air dry and separate girls a bit once it’s dry. I also usually set with the Set it Free spray (made with bees wax) which, again, I LOVE. I would definitely suggest all curly girls look into this haircut!!!
Hahaha! Love it Jen! The stylist who cut my hair in Florida actually did something very similar sounding to a Deva cut. She cut my hair dry and it was pretty amazing! Thank you for the product recommendations! I’m always looking for new products to try and improve on.
HA HA so funny that I have finally found someone that shares my problem. Although, I call it “Christmas tree hair”. Beauticians think they know best, but if they do not have naturally curly hair, they haven’t a clue!!!
Hahahaha! I like it! Christmas tree hair!!