Curly hair cut wet can spring up inches shorter than planned once it dries, which is why nearly every cut here is done dry, one curl at a time. Layered curly haircuts work best when the layers sit where your curls actually fall, matched to your density and curl type, from 2C waves to 4A curls.
1. Long Layered Curls, Cut Dry
I cut these on dry, styled hair, one curl at a time, taking weight out of the mid lengths and holding the perimeter at mid back. Long layered curls cut dry are the first of the layered curly haircuts I reach for, since the layers fall where the curls actually live. Medium to thick density with type 3A to 3B curls is the match. Leave-in and gel go onto soaking wet hair, then scrunch and diffuse. Trim every ten weeks.
2. Short-Crown Curly Shag
I cut the crown layers short on dry hair, point cut the sides down to the jaw, and leave the fringe long. The curly shag with short crown layers is one of the layered curly haircuts that gives height to hair that goes flat on top. Medium density, type 2C to 3A curls, and a round or oval face suit it. Scrunch in curl cream and air-dry, or diffuse with your head upside down. Trim every eight weeks.
3. Curly Bob Layered From Inside
I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair, then slide shorter layers through the interior so the inside gets lighter while the outside stays full. Internal layers under a curly bob take away the triangle shape. Thick density, type 3A to 3C curls, and an oval or heart face suit it. Work gel through wet hair, scrunch, diffuse, and break the cast with one drop of oil. Trim every eight weeks.
4. Layered Curly Lob and Face Frame
I cut this dry, curl by curl, starting the frame at the cheekbone and running long layers behind it. The layered curly lob with a face frame keeps the length at the collarbone and the face pieces at the cheekbone. Medium density with type 2C to 3A curls suits it, on most face shapes. Mousse on wet hair, scrunch, air-dry. Trim every eight weeks, gloss every eight.
5. Curly Pixie, Layered on Top
I cut the sides and back with graduation on dry hair and cut the top one curl at a time so each sits where it lands. A curly pixie with a layered top is short through the sides and curly above. Medium density, type 3B to 3C curls, and an oval or heart face suit it. Curl cream on wet hair, scrunch, air-dry. Trim every five weeks to keep the sides clean.
6. Long Curly Hair, Curtain Bangs Added
I cut curtain bangs on long curly hair dry, one curl at a time, from the cheekbone down to the jaw, and keep the length at mid back with long layers from the collarbone. The bangs frame without hiding the face. Medium density, type 2C to 3A curls, and an oval or long face suit them. Leave-in on, twist the bangs away from the face while wet, then diffuse. Bangs every six weeks, length every ten.
7. Shoulder Length Curls Layered From the Chin
I cut these dry, set the shortest layer at the chin, and point cut the perimeter at the shoulder. Shoulder length curls with layers from the chin are the safest of the layered curly haircuts for someone getting layers for the first time. Medium density, type 3A curls, and a round or square face suit them. Work gel through wet hair, scrunch, diffuse, break the cast. Trim every eight weeks.
8. Curly Wolf Cut for Curls
I cut the crown short on dry hair, razor the layers down to the jaw, and keep the back at the collarbone. The curly wolf cut is a shag carrying more length behind. Medium to thick density, type 2C to 3B curls, and an oval or round face suit it. Scrunch sea salt spray into damp hair and air-dry, or diffuse for lift at the crown. Trim every eight weeks.
9. Round Layered 3C Cut
I cut this dry, shorter at the crown and longer at the nape, with the sides graduating between the two. On 3C curls, a round layered cut builds up a circle shape. Medium to thick density, type 3C curls, and an oval or long face suit it. Leave-in and gel go onto soaking wet hair, then scrunch section by section and diffuse on low. Trim every ten weeks; deep condition every two.
10. Curly Bob Cut With Bangs
I cut the bob at the chin, point cut the ends, and cut the bangs one curl at a time at the brow, all on dry hair so the bangs never spring up short. Medium density, type 2C to 3A curls, and an oval or long face suit a curly bob with bangs. Curl cream on wet hair, scrunch, air-dry. Bangs every five weeks, bob every eight.
11. Layered Curls on Fine Curly Hair
I cut this dry with long layers from the chin and hold the perimeter at the shoulder, point cutting the layers rather than razoring so the ends keep their fullness. Fine curly hair needs that restraint. Fine density with type 2C to 3A curls suits it, on most face shapes. Light mousse on wet hair, scrunch, and diffuse upside down for lift. Trim every eight weeks and leave heavy creams alone.
12. Curly Shag Framed by a Curtain Fringe
I cut the crown short on dry hair, point cut the layers down to the jaw, and cut the fringe at the jaw with a center part. A curly shag with a curtain fringe builds height and frames the face at once. Medium density, type 2C to 3A curls, and a round or oval face suit it. Scrunch mousse into wet hair, diffuse, then twist the fringe back. Trim every seven weeks.
13. Long Layered Curls With Blended Gray
I cut this dry with long layers from the collarbone and the perimeter at mid back, then weave fine highlights and lowlights through the curls. Gray blending on long layered curls disguises the grow-out. Medium density with type 3A curls suits it, on most face shapes. Leave-in and gel on, scrunch, diffuse. Trim every ten weeks and redo the blending every twelve.
14. Pixie Bob for Curls
I cut the nape with graduation on dry hair and cut the front and top one curl at a time. A curly pixie bob holds the nape short and brings the front to the cheekbone. Medium density, type 3B curls, and a round or square face suit it. Curl cream on wet hair, scrunch, and air-dry while pushing the front forward. Trim every six weeks, gloss every eight.
15. Layered Curly Cut for Thick Curls
I cut this dry with long layers from the chin and slide internal layers through the back so the shape lies flatter. Thick curly hair has to have its weight taken out from inside. Thick density, type 3A to 3C curls, and an oval or round face suit it. Gel on soaking wet hair, scrunch section by section, diffuse on low. Trim every eight weeks; deep condition every two.
16. Mullet for Curly Hair
I cut the top and sides short on dry hair, point cut the fringe down to the brow, and leave the back sitting at the shoulder. A curly mullet runs short in front and long behind. Medium to thick density, type 2C to 3B curls, and an oval or long face suit it. Scrunch sea salt spray into damp hair and air-dry. Trim every six weeks to keep the front short.
17. Face Framing Layers for 2C Waves
I cut these dry with the shears angled downward and hold the perimeter at the collarbone with point cut ends. Face framing layers on 2C waves begin at the cheekbone and fall to the collarbone. Medium density, type 2C waves, and a round or square face suit them. Mousse on wet hair, scrunch, air-dry. Frame every six weeks, length every ten.
18. Curly Lob, Blunt Outside, Layered Inside
I cut the perimeter blunt at the collarbone on dry hair, then slide shorter layers through the interior and nowhere else. Pairing a blunt perimeter with interior layers leaves the outside of a curly lob full. Thick density, type 3A curls, and an oval or heart face suit it. Leave-in and gel on, scrunch, diffuse, and break the cast with oil. Trim every eight weeks.
19. Short Curly Crop, Nape Tapered
I cut the nape and sides scissor over comb on dry hair and cut the top one curl at a time to two inches. A short curly crop with a tapered nape sits close at the back and stays curly on top. Medium density, type 3C to 4A curls, and an oval or heart face suit it. Curl cream in, then finger coil the top. Trim every five weeks.
20. Long Layers Cut Into 4A Curls
I blow-dry the curls straight, cut long layers from the collarbone, and then let the hair revert. Long layers on 4A curls are cut on stretched, blown-out hair so the lengths line up. Medium to thick density with type 4A curls suits it, on most face shapes. Leave-in and cream on damp hair, twist in sections, and diffuse. Trim every ten weeks; deep condition weekly.
21. Curly Bob Worn With a Side Part
I cut the bob at the chin on dry hair, point cut the ends, and leave the heavy side a touch longer. A side part on a curly bob pushes the volume to one side. Medium density, type 3A to 3B curls, and a round or square face suit it. Work gel through wet hair, part to one side, scrunch, and diffuse. Trim every eight weeks, gloss every eight.
22. Layered Curly Hair, Baby Bangs
I cut baby bangs on layered curly hair dry, one curl at a time, above the brow, and keep long layers from the chin with the perimeter at the shoulder. Medium density, type 3A to 3B curls, and an oval or long face suit them. Curl cream on wet hair, scrunch, diffuse, and smooth the bangs down with one drop of gel. Bangs every four weeks, length every eight.
23. Over-50 Curly Shag
I cut this dry, point cut the crown layers short, and keep the sides and back at the jaw. A curly shag for women over 50 holds the crown short and the sides at the jaw. Fine to medium density, type 2C to 3A curls, and a round or oval face suit it. Scrunch mousse into wet hair and diffuse upside down. Trim every seven weeks, and if the hair is gray, violet shampoo weekly.
24. Deva-Style Layered Curly Cut
I cut this dry, one curl at a time, shaping the entire head before any section gets wet. That is the Deva style layered cut, with long layers from the chin and the perimeter at the collarbone. Medium density with type 3A to 3C curls suits it, on most face shapes. Gel on soaking wet hair, scrunch, and diffuse without touching it. Trim every ten weeks.
25. Curly Lob Lifted at the Crown
I cut this dry with the perimeter at the collarbone, long layers from the chin, and two shorter layers at the crown. Crown lift on a curly lob comes from those shorter layers sitting at the occipital bone. Fine to medium density, type 2C to 3A curls, and a round or square face suit it. Mousse in, scrunch, diffuse upside down. Trim every eight weeks.
For more, browse best bob haircuts for fine hair and wolf cut with curtain bangs.
Layered curly haircuts have to be cut dry, because wet curls spring up inches shorter than they sit and ruin the shape. FYI, a collarbone perimeter with long layers from the chin and two shorter crown layers keeps the curl from flattening at the top. That dry technique is what lets the layers fall where they should.
