How to Choose a Men’s Haircut for Curly Hair
Choose a curly haircut around your natural texture, preferred length and routine. Compare crops, tapered sides and longer shapes with City Barbers.
By City Barbers3 min read5 sections
In this article
The short answer
The right haircut for curly hair starts with the shape your curls make naturally. A style can look balanced when the hair is stretched or wet and sit very differently once it dries. Before choosing a length, think about how much curl you want to keep and how you wear it day to day.
At your appointment, show your barber your usual texture and explain your routine. If you normally air-dry, say so. If you use a diffuser and styling product, that matters too.
Decide where you want volume
Curls create visible shape. Keeping length through the sides can give a rounded outline, while taking the sides shorter shifts attention to the top. Neither approach is automatically better; they create different proportions.
Look at your reference photos for the placement of volume rather than just the curl pattern. Do you like fullness around the temples? Do you want the ears exposed? Should the fringe sit on the forehead or lift away from it? Those details guide the cut.
Consider a short curly crop
A curly crop keeps the overall length manageable while allowing texture through the top. It can suit someone who wants a defined outline without styling the hair into a smooth shape every morning.
At the chair
Discuss the fringe carefully. Removing a small amount of stretched length can make a larger visual difference when the curl returns. Ask to agree on where the front should sit in its normal finished state, and avoid choosing the shortest possible version before you know how your hair behaves.
Compare a taper with tighter sides
A taper can tidy the sideburns and neckline while retaining more curl through the sides. A fade removes more of that fullness and creates a stronger contrast. The higher the short section goes, the more it changes the silhouette.
If your current haircut becomes wide as it grows, point out the specific area. The answer may involve adjusting weight or the connection to the top, rather than taking every side section shorter.
Keep length with a deliberate outline
Longer curls need a shape that allows them to sit together. Ask your barber how the perimeter and internal weight should be managed as the hair grows. Taking too much from the top while leaving the sides full can move the shape away from your reference.
Bring a photo of your own hair on a day you liked it. That shows what your curls can already do and gives the conversation a more realistic starting point than a reference with a completely different texture.
Related guideHaircuts for Wavy Hair That Work With the BendRead the guide
Make the finish repeatable
Before leaving, ask how the haircut was styled and how much product was used. A routine you can repeat is more valuable than a finish that only works with tools you do not own. If the method feels too involved, say so and discuss a simpler approach.
City Barbers’ Master Senior Instructor Haircut welcomes all hair types and lengths. Contact the shop if you need help choosing a service for your curls, then book your Salt Lake City appointment with a clear goal for shape and maintenance.
Related service
Men’s Haircuts
A full 55 minutes in the chair: your cut, a straight-razor finish, hot and cold towels, a deep tissue massage and a relaxing hair wash.
241 E 300 S, downtown Salt Lake City · Tuesday to Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM · (801) 243-6915
