Long curls shrink, so a cut that looks right on wet hair can spring up past where it was cut and settle into a triangle once it dries. That is why the long curly haircuts here are done dry, one curl at a time, with notes on curl pattern, density, face shape and how often to book a trim.
1. Long Layers for Curls
I cut long curly layers dry, taking one curl at a time and rounding the layers so the curls stack on top of each other instead of spreading into a triangle. The layers begin at the collarbone and the length stays below the shoulder. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium to thick density, oval or long faces. Style it by diffusing with curl cream over a gel cast and scrunching the cast out once dry. Of all the long curly haircuts in this list, this one is on my chair most often. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
2. Long Curly Hair With Curls That Frame the Face
I cut the front curls dry to the cheekbone for long curly hair with face-framing curls, because that is where they settle once they spring back up, and I leave the layers behind them long. The front gets rounded so it frames the face rather than flaring out. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium density, round or square faces. Diffuse with the front curls clipped forward. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
3. Long Curly Hair With a Curtain Fringe
I cut the curtain bangs dry to the cheekbone on long curly hair, since they will shrink up to the brow, and split them down the center. The layers behind them stay long and rounded. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium density, oval or long faces. Diffuse with the bangs clipped apart until they are dry. Book a bang trim every 6 weeks and a length trim every 10.
4. Long Curly Hair With a Full Fringe
I cut the fringe dry to the nose on long curly hair with full bangs, because it springs up to the brow, and I leave the length long with rounded layers. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium to thick density, oval or long faces. Diffuse the fringe forward and the rest of the hair down. Book a fringe trim every 6 weeks and a length trim every 10.
5. Curly Long Shag
I cut a long curly shag dry, with short layers at the crown so the curls stack high, longer pieces through the sides and the length below the shoulder. Each layer is point cut and a curly curtain fringe finishes it. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium to thick density, oval or long faces. Style it by diffusing with mousse and shaking out the roots. Book a trim every 8 weeks.
6. Curly Long Wolf Cut
I cut a long curly wolf cut by removing heavy weight at the crown with short dry-cut layers, then leaving the length long with wispy curled ends and a curtain fringe. Works for 3A to 3C curls, thick density, oval or long faces. Style it by diffusing with mousse, scrunching, then shaking out the crown. Book a trim every 8 weeks, because the crown disappears once a wolf cut grows out.
7. Long Curly Hair With Just Long Layers
I cut only three layers from the collarbone down for long curly hair with long layers only, so the ends keep their thickness and the shape reads full. Everything is cut dry and the ends are point cut. Works for 2C to 3B curls, medium density, oval or long faces. Style it by diffusing with a leave-in over a gel cast and scrunching the cast out. Book a trim every 12 weeks.
8. Long Curly Hair With Layers on the Inside
I cut internal layers into long curly hair to take bulk out from underneath while the outside keeps its length and shape, all done dry. The underneath curls run shorter and the top layer stays long. Works for 3B to 4A curls, thick density, oval, round or square faces. Style it by diffusing with a leave-in over gel and scrunching the cast out. Book a trim every 10 weeks and ask for the inside to be thinned each time.
9. Long Curly Hair on Fine Curls
I keep long curly hair for fine curls at one length at the mid-back with no layers at all, so every single curl adds to the ends. The only point cutting happens on the baseline, dry. Works for 2C to 3B curls, fine density, oval or heart faces. Style it with a light mousse on wet hair and diffuse head down. Book a trim every 8 weeks and deep condition every two weeks.
10. Long Curly Hair on Thick Curls
I take the weight out of long curly hair for thick curls with internal layers plus rounded outer layers, so the shape stays off the triangle. The whole cut is done dry. Works for 3B to 4A curls, thick density, oval, round or square faces. Style it by diffusing with curl cream over a gel cast and scrunching the cast out. Book a trim every 10 weeks and ask for the inside to be thinned each time.
11. Round-Face Long Curly Hair
I start the layers at the chin or lower for long curly hair on round faces, never at the cheekbone, and I build height at the crown so the face reads longer. The cut is done dry with the sides held in so they do not flare. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium density. Style it by diffusing with mousse and clipping the crown for lift. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
12. Square-Face Long Curly Hair
I land the shortest curl right on the corner of the jaw for long curly hair on square faces, covering the angle, then step the rounded layers down behind it. The front is cut dry. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium density. Style it by diffusing with curl cream and scrunching the front curls in toward the face. Book a trim every 10 weeks, plus a root cover every 6 weeks if the hair is colored.
13. Oval-Face Long Curly Hair
I cut long curly hair on oval faces to the curl pattern, because the layers can begin anywhere between the cheekbone and the collarbone. Loose 3A curls take long layers; tight 3C curls take shorter rounded ones. I only cut dry, so I know where each curl will land. Works for any density. Style it by diffusing with curl cream over gel and scrunching the cast out. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
14. Heart-Face Long Curly Hair
I use a curly curtain fringe to balance a wide forehead on long curly hair for heart faces, and I start rounded layers at the chin to add width there. The cut is done dry. Works for 3A to 3C curls, fine to medium density. Diffuse with the fringe clipped apart until dry. Book a fringe trim every 6 weeks and a length trim every 10.
15. Long Curly Hair After 40
I keep long curly hair for women over 40 just past the shoulder blade, with rounded layers from the chin down and face-framing curls placed to lift the cheekbones. The cut is done dry. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium density, oval, round or square faces. Style it by diffusing with curl cream and finishing with shine serum. Book a trim every 10 weeks and a root cover every 6 weeks.
16. Long Curly Hair After 50
I keep long curly hair for women over 50 at the shoulder blade with rounded layers and never use a razor, since mature curls frizz. The crown runs slightly shorter to give lift. Works for 3A to 3C curls, fine to medium density, oval or round faces. Style it by diffusing with curl cream and finishing with shine serum. Book a trim every 10 weeks and a gloss every 8 weeks.
17. Long Natural Curls Cut in Layers
I cut long natural curls with layers dry on stretched hair, so shrinkage is accounted for before anyone is surprised by it. The layers are rounded and the front is cut to the chin while stretched, because it will sit at the cheekbone. Works for 3C to 4B hair, oval or long faces. Style it by diffusing with a leave-in and curl cream. For hairstyles for long curly hair in this texture, book a trim every 12 weeks.
18. Long Curls, Wash-and-Go
I cut long wash-and-go curls dry with rounded layers and point-cut ends, so the hair falls into place straight from the shower. Works for 3A to 4A curls, medium density, oval or round faces. Style it with a leave-in and gel on soaking-wet hair, scrunch, then diffuse or leave it to dry. Book a trim every 10 weeks and use water to refresh between washes.
19. Long Curly Twist-Out
I keep the cut rounded for a long twist-out so the finished curls fall evenly. The style itself sets damp hair in two-strand twists with a cream, dries overnight, and unravels into stretched, defined curls. Works for 3C to 4C hair, medium to thick density, any face shape. Style it by fluffing the roots with a pick. Expect four to five days of wear. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
20. Long Curly Hair Parted Down the Middle
I cut long curly hair with a middle part dry, mirroring the layers on each side and checking both against the nose, with the curls split at dead center. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium to thick density, oval, long or heart faces. Style it by diffusing with curl cream and separating the part while the hair is damp. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
21. Long Curly Hair Parted Deep to the Side
I cut long curly hair with a deep side part dry, with the part set two inches off center and already in place, rounding the layers so the heavy side drops over the forehead in curls. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium density, round, square or heart faces. Diffuse with the heavy side clipped at the root for lift. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
22. Long Curly Hair Clipped Half Up
I cut the front of long curly hair with a half-up clip so it falls at the jaw once the top is clipped. The style gathers the top curls in a large claw clip and leaves the face-framing curls loose. Works for 3A to 3C curls, medium to thick density, oval, round or heart faces. Diffuse before you clip. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
23. Pineapple for Long Curls
I recommend a long curly pineapple for protecting curls overnight, and it doubles as a daytime style. It gathers the curls loosely on top of the head with a satin scrunchie so they fall forward. Works for 3A to 4A curls, at least mid-back length, oval or round faces. Style it by pulling two curls free at the temples. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
24. Low Ponytail for Long Curls
I keep the ends round on a long curly low ponytail by trimming every 10 weeks. The style gathers the curls at the nape with a satin scrunchie and leaves the ends full. Works for 3A to 4A curls, at least mid-back length, any face shape. Style it by smoothing the front with a little gel and a soft brush, then pulling two curls free at the temples.
25. Half-Up Twist for Long Curls
I build a long curly half-up twist from a section at each temple, twisted back loosely and pinned together at the crown, with the rest of the curls left down. Works for 2C to 3C curls, any density, any face shape. Keep the twisting gentle so the curls stay frizz-free. Curly hairstyles for long hair in this category take about three minutes. Book a trim every 10 weeks.
For more, browse medium curly haircuts and mid length wavy haircuts.
Long curly haircuts spring up as they dry, so a cut that looks right wet can jump past where you cut it and set the length wrong. FYI, the long curly half-up twist is the style I reach for, twisted from a section at each temple and pinned low. That keeps the curls off the face without pulling.
