Layered Curly Haircuts: Dry, One Curl at a Time

Curls cut wet can spring up shorter than planned once they dry, which is why almost every cut here is done on dry, styled hair, one curl at a time. Good layered curly haircuts put the layers where your curls actually sit, not where a comb pulled them straight.

1. Dry Cut Long Layered Curls

Medium to thick hair with type 3A to 3B curls does best in long layered curls cut dry, the first of the layered curly haircuts I go to because the layers land where the curls sit. Styling is leave-in and gel on soaking wet hair, scrunched and diffused. The cut happens on dry, styled hair, curl by curl, with weight removed from the mid lengths and the perimeter kept at mid back. Ten weeks between trims.

2. Curly Shag, Crown Layers Kept Short

Medium density hair with type 2C to 3A curls on a round or oval face suits a curly shag with short crown layers, one of the layered curly haircuts that restores height when the top falls flat. Styling is curl cream scrunched in and air-dried, or a diffuse with the head upside down. On dry hair the crown layers go short, the sides get point cut to the jaw, and the fringe stays long. Eight weeks between trims.

3. Curly Bob With Hidden Layers

Thick hair with type 3A to 3C curls on an oval or heart face suits a curly bob with internal layers, which get rid of the triangle shape. Styling is gel on wet hair, scrunched, diffused, with a drop of oil to break the cast. On dry hair the perimeter goes in at the chin, then shorter layers get slid through the interior so the inside lightens while the outside stays full. Eight weeks between trims.

4. Face-Framing Layered Curly Lob

Medium density hair with type 2C to 3A curls, on most face shapes, suits a layered curly lob with a face frame, where the length stays at the collarbone and the face pieces sit at the cheekbone. Styling is mousse on wet hair, scrunched and air-dried. The cut is done dry, one curl at a time, with the frame beginning at the cheekbone and long layers behind. Eight weeks between trims, eight between glosses.

5. Top-Layered Curly Pixie

Medium density hair with type 3B to 3C curls on an oval or heart face suits a curly pixie with a layered top, short at the sides and curly above. Styling is curl cream on wet hair, scrunched and air-dried. On dry hair the sides and back get graduation, and the top is cut curl by curl so each one settles where it falls. Five weeks between trims keeps the sides clean.

6. Curtain Bangs for Long Curly Hair

Medium density hair with type 2C to 3A curls on an oval or long face suits curtain bangs on long curly hair, which get cut dry, one curl at a time, from the cheekbone to the jaw. Styling is a leave-in, the bangs twisted away from the face while wet, then diffused. The length sits at mid back with long layers starting at the collarbone. Six weeks between bang trims, ten for the length.

7. Chin-Layered Shoulder Length Curls

Medium density hair with type 3A curls on a round or square face suits shoulder length curls with layers from the chin, the safest of the layered curly haircuts for a first-time layer client. Styling is gel on wet hair, scrunched, diffused, cast broken. The cut is done dry, with the shortest layer at the chin and the perimeter point cut at the shoulder. Eight weeks between trims.

8. Wolf Cut on Curly Hair

Medium to thick hair with type 2C to 3B curls on an oval or round face suits a curly wolf cut, which is a shag with more length left at the back. Styling is sea salt spray scrunched into damp hair and air-dried, or diffused for crown lift. On dry hair the crown goes short, the layers get razored to the jaw, and the back stays at the collarbone. Eight weeks between trims.

9. Round Layers for 3C Curls

Medium to thick hair with type 3C curls on an oval or long face suits a round layered cut, which forms a circle shape. Styling is leave-in and gel on soaking wet hair, scrunched in sections, diffused on low. The cut is done dry, shorter at the crown and longer at the nape, with the sides graduating between them. Ten weeks between trims, a deep condition every two.

10. Banged Curly Bob

Medium density hair with type 2C to 3A curls on an oval or long face suits a curly bob with bangs, cut fully dry so the bangs do not spring up short. Styling is curl cream on wet hair, scrunched and air-dried. The bob goes in at the chin with point cut ends, and the bangs get cut curl by curl at the brow. Five weeks between bang trims, eight for the bob.

11. Fine-Hair Layered Curls

Fine hair with type 2C to 3A curls, on most face shapes, suits layered curls that are point cut and never razored, so the ends stay full. Styling is a light mousse on wet hair, scrunched, then diffused upside down for lift. The cut is done dry with long layers from the chin and the perimeter at the shoulder. Eight weeks between trims, and no heavy creams.

12. Curly Shag Under a Curtain Fringe

Medium density hair with type 2C to 3A curls on a round or oval face suits a curly shag with a curtain fringe, which gives height and frames the face. Styling is mousse scrunched into wet hair, diffused, with the fringe twisted back. On dry hair the crown goes short, the layers get point cut to the jaw, and the fringe is cut at the jaw with a center part. Seven weeks between trims.

13. Gray Blending on Long Layered Curls

Medium density hair with type 3A curls, on most face shapes, suits long layered curls with gray blending, which covers the grow-out. Styling is a leave-in plus gel, scrunched in and diffused. The cut is done dry with long layers from the collarbone and the perimeter at mid back, then fine highlights and lowlights get woven through the curls. Ten weeks between trims, with the blending refreshed every twelve.

14. Curly Pixie Bob Shape

Medium density hair with type 3B curls on a round or square face suits a curly pixie bob, which keeps the nape short and the front at the cheekbone. Styling is curl cream on wet hair, scrunched and air-dried with the front pushed forward. On dry hair the nape gets graduation, and the front and top are cut curl by curl. Six weeks between trims, eight between glosses.

15. Thick-Hair Layered Curly Cut

Thick hair with type 3A to 3C curls on an oval or round face suits a layered curly cut with the weight removed from inside. Styling is gel on soaking wet hair, scrunched in sections, diffused on low. The cut is done dry with long layers from the chin and internal layers slid through the back so the shape sits flatter. Eight weeks between trims, a deep condition every two.

16. Curly Mullet Shape

Medium to thick hair with type 2C to 3B curls on an oval or long face suits a curly mullet, short at the front and long at the back. Styling is sea salt spray scrunched into damp hair and air-dried. On dry hair the top and sides go short, the fringe gets point cut to the brow, and the back stays at the shoulder. Six weeks between trims keeps the front short.

17. 2C Waves, Face-Framed

Medium density hair with type 2C waves on a round or square face suits face framing layers that start at the cheekbone and fall to the collarbone. Styling is mousse on wet hair, scrunched and air-dried. The cut is done dry with the shears angled down, and the perimeter stays at the collarbone with point cut ends. Six weeks between frame trims, ten for the length.

18. Curly Lob With Blunt Edge and Inner Layers

Thick hair with type 3A curls on an oval or heart face suits a curly lob with a blunt perimeter and interior layers, which keep the outside full. Styling is a leave-in plus gel, scrunched in and diffused, then oil to break the cast. On dry hair the perimeter goes in blunt at the collarbone, then shorter layers get slid through the interior only. Eight weeks between trims.

19. Tapered Short Curly Crop

Medium density hair with type 3C to 4A curls on an oval or heart face suits a short curly crop with a tapered nape, close at the back and curly on top. Styling is curl cream and finger coils through the top. On dry hair the nape and sides get scissor over comb, and the top is cut curl by curl to two inches. Five weeks between trims.

20. 4A Curls With Long Layers

Medium to thick hair with type 4A curls, on most face shapes, suits long layers cut on stretched, blown-out hair so the lengths match. Styling is leave-in and cream on damp hair, twisted in sections and diffused. The curls get blow-dried straight, long layers go in from the collarbone, and then the hair reverts. Ten weeks between trims, a deep condition weekly.

21. Curly Bob Parted to the Side

Medium density hair with type 3A to 3B curls on a round or square face suits a curly bob with a side part, which moves the volume to one side. Styling is gel on wet hair, a side part, scrunched and diffused. On dry hair the bob goes in at the chin with point cut ends, and the heavy side is left slightly longer. Eight weeks between trims, eight between glosses.

22. Baby Bangs on Layered Curly Hair

Medium density hair with type 3A to 3B curls on an oval or long face suits layered curly hair with baby bangs, cut dry above the brow, curl by curl. Styling is curl cream on wet hair, scrunched, diffused, with a drop of gel to smooth the bangs down. Long layers run from the chin with the perimeter at the shoulder. Four weeks between bang trims, eight for the length.

23. Curly Shag for the Over-50 Client

Fine to medium hair with type 2C to 3A curls on a round or oval face suits a curly shag for women over 50, with the crown short and the sides at the jaw. Styling is mousse scrunched into wet hair and diffused upside down. The cut is done dry, with the crown layers point cut short and the sides and back kept to the jaw. Seven weeks between trims; violet shampoo weekly if the hair is gray.

24. Deva Layered Cut

Medium density hair with type 3A to 3C curls, on most face shapes, suits a Deva style layered cut, done dry one curl at a time, with the whole head shaped before a single section gets wet. Styling is gel on soaking wet hair, scrunched and diffused without touching. Long layers run from the chin with the perimeter at the collarbone. Ten weeks between trims.

25. Curly Lob With Crown Height

Fine to medium hair with type 2C to 3A curls on a round or square face suits a curly lob with crown lift, which comes from shorter layers at the occipital bone. Styling is mousse, scrunched, diffused upside down. The cut is done dry with the perimeter at the collarbone, long layers from the chin, and two shorter layers at the crown. Eight weeks between trims.

Read next: best bob haircuts for fine hair and wolf cut with curtain bangs.

Layered curly haircuts must be cut on dry, styled hair or the curls spring up shorter than planned once they dry. FYI, a curly lob gets its crown lift from shorter layers at the occipital bone, perimeter held at the collarbone. That one-curl-at-a-time method is what lets the shape fall where it should.