87 Beautiful Short Curly Hairstyles

A short curly hairstyle is a beautiful and flattering choice that will transform your look and make a statement. These modern short haircuts for curly hair are low-maintenance and versatile styles for women who want to maximize volume and movement to stand out.

When looking for a new look, the most stunning hairstyles must complement your face shape and suit your unique curl pattern to create a fashionable finish. Whether you’re learning to embrace your natural curls or just want to experiment with the latest trends, there are many stylish and feminine styles that are worth exploring.

For inspiration, here are some examples of the best short curly hairstyles that will take your look to the next level.

Stunning Short Curly Hairstyles For Women

Cute Short Curly Style

A cute short curly hairstyle is a stylish choice for women who want an effortlessly chic look that can suit any occasion. From a super-short pixie to a slightly longer bob, a cute curly style that works for you will depend on factors like your personality and preferences, your hair texture and type, and even the thickness of your hair. The best way to decide which curly style is right for you is to consult with a stylist you trust.

Edgy Short Curly Hair

An edgy short curly hairstyle is a great place to start when you just want your personality to shine through. Whether you opt for a short faux hawk with shaved sides or even a wild and free look, there’s no shortage of bold, daring options from which to choose.

Layered Short Curly Hair

Layered short curly hair can work well for women who have a thick head of hair that is fine in texture. Despite the curls, finer hair tends to fall flat, but adding a few layers can really amp up the volume and give dull, lifeless locks some serious lift.

Short Thick Curly Hair

There’s nothing more beautiful than short, thick curly hair, and that’s because the styling possibilities are endless. You can opt for a look that is soft and romantic, or you can be audacious and bold. Remember that thicker curls tend to have more volume, so consider this when looking at various style options.

Short Thin Curly Hair

If you are considering short thin curly hair, you might be surprised by the amount of volume that lobbing off your locks can create, especially if yours tends to grow in ringlets. The shorter you go, the bouncier your curls will become! Some great options here include a pixie or even a layered bob.

Short Curly Pixie Cut

A short curly pixie cut is super cute, flirty, and for the most part, easy to maintain. It looks best with a bit of texture, especially if you’re interested in a slightly longer pixie. You can go for a deep side part or a side-swept look, and you can even personalize the fringe to make it your own.

Short Curly Bob

If you’re a big fan of voluminous ‘dos, the short curly bob is a fantastic choice. If you’re going for something chic and classy, opt for a chin-length cut. On the other hand, if you want a look that is slightly more modern and edgy, try an asymmetrical cut with a deep side part.

Messy Curly Short Hair

There are endless ways to rock messy short curly hair. If yours is finer and thinner, adding layers will help boost the volume and provide you with a more tousled look. If you have thick curls, try a closer crop and some volumizing pomade to separate and define in all directions.

Short Curly Afro

A short curly afro can range in appearance from super-short and symmetrical natural curls to slightly longer ringlet curls. Despite popular belief, an afro doesn’t require you to trim your curls to the same length all over. A trendy afro look involves some layering and height.

Short Curly Hair with Middle Part

Short curly hair with a middle part might sound like a recipe for disaster, but it’s one of the biggest trends right now because of the bold and edgy vibe. This look works well with all kinds of curls, including bigger waves and tighter ringlets. A blunt cut will create volume at the ends of the hair, so if you want an all-over bounce, opt for layers.

Chin Length Curly Hair

If you prefer to keep things a bit more traditional and classier, chin-length curly hair is always a solid choice. You can opt for no fringe and a deep side part, thick bangs, side-swept fringe, or even curtain bangs depending on your preferences and personality.

Short Shag For Curly Hair

One of the best cuts for no-nonsense women who want to look trendy without a ton of daily maintenance is the short shag for curly hair. If you love the slightly tousled, bedhead, or messy looks, this is the perfect starting point thanks to its choppy appearance.

Short Curly Hair with Highlights

If you have very light or very dark hair, short curly hair with highlights is ideal. Highlighting your hair gives it some extra definition so that your cut of choice doesn’t end up looking like a solid mass. You can go for a few strategically-placed highlights to frame your face or add some brightness all over for a sun-kissed look.

Short Curly Side Part

Adding a side part to your short curly hair is a great way to add some feminine flair, and this is true whether you have a chin-length bob, or you prefer the look of a messy pixie. Side parts can be just slightly off-center for sophistication, or they can be deep to one side for an edgier look.

Natural Short Curly Hair

If you have natural curls, short curly hair can be your best friend! Try pulling your hair up at the sides and pinning it to the crown of your head for a glamorous faux hawk or twist your curls together and hold them in place with pomade for a beautiful style with natural texture.

Short Curly Hair with Shaved Sides

Sometimes you just need your hair to look as edgy as you feel, and short curly hair with shaved sides is a great solution. Whether you choose a deep center part with just one side shaved, a messy take on a crew cut, or a beautiful undercut that’s only noticeable when you pin your hair up, the options are endless.

Short Tight Curly Hair

Short tight curly hair has a very glamorous and chic vibe, and that’s true whether your curls are natural, or you opt for a perm. You can keep your curls close to your head with a crop, but you can also choose tight ringlets that cascade from a center part.

Short Curly Hair with Bangs

If you like a uniform, classic style, short curly hair with bangs won’t disappoint. For example, you might want to add curtain bangs to your favorite chin-length bob, side-swept fringe to a curly pixie, or go for a choppy look by pairing them with a classic shag.

Short Shoulder Length Curly Hair

Short shoulder-length curly hair has been popularized by movie stars and musicians for decades because it’s super sexy, glamorous, and feminine. You can go for a blunt cut if you want major volume, a choppy look if you’re feeling daring, or a traditional layered cut for flirty romance.

Short Semi Curly Hair

Short semi-curly hair looks are perfect for women who have larger curls or whose curls are only apparent at a certain length. The most common cuts include straight or slightly wavy fringe paired with curlier hair at the sides and in the back. These cuts are especially well-suited for formal and glamorous styles.

Easy Short Curly Hair

If you’re looking for easy short curly hair, the messy pixie is your best friend. You will need to visit your stylist every few weeks to keep things trimmed up, but because you don’t have to spend much time styling in the morning, most women find that it’s worth it.

Short Curly Updo

There are some limitations when it comes to the short curly updo, but the longer your hair is, the more options you’ll have. If your hair is shoulder-length, you might be able to slick it back into a sharp bun. Ladies with shorter hair find that pinning up the sides with combs can create a chic and sexy look.

Short Curly Hair with Curtain Bangs

Short curly hair with curtain bangs is perfect for women who like their hair to have a romantic or even bohemian vibe. It adds a certain flow to the hair that is difficult to achieve in other ways, so if you find many looks to be too structured, you might like this one best.

Naturally Short Curly Hair

Naturally short curly hair is a beautiful look for black women who want to avoid chemically-treating their locks. As a blessing in disguise, choose a naturally gorgeous style that will make the most out of the volume you’ve been given.

Short Curly Cropped Style

Women who like a simple, no-nonsense look that requires very little time and attention for styling will love short curly cropped hair. There are two current trends: the first involves cutting the hair very close to the scalp for a unique texture and the second is a slightly longer, messier look.

Short Ringlet Curls

Short ringlet curls are viewed as playful, cute, and fun, and there are several ways to cut or style them to suit your personality. You might opt for a stacked bob, a voluminous shag with thick ringlet bangs, or an asymmetrical bob with a deep side part that creates insane volume.

Short Curly Hair Braids

If you want to add some romance to your curls, try creating thick French braids in strips along the sides and top. It’s a youthful look that has some half-up, half-down vibes, and it adds quite a bit of volume at the very crown of the head. You can also opt for shorter, thinner braids for a more intricate and complex design.

Low-Maintenance Short Curly Hair

A low-maintenance short curly hairstyle can be an effortlessly chic and fun look that will have you feeling confident and looking fabulous within minutes. Always stylish and easy, the short shag or curly pixie cuts are at the top of the list since they only require a spritz of water, maybe a bit of mousse, and a quick scrunch.

Side Swept Layered Curls

Side swept layered curly hair is a fun look, so it’s perfect for a first date or a night out on the town. If your hair is shorter than shoulder-length, remember that bigger curls will give you a romantic and flirtatious look while tighter curls tend to look more playful and youthful.

Short Curly Black Hair

There are thousands of short curly black hairstyles out there, so choose the one that best suits your personality and sense of style. These beautiful looks involve some definition, so be sure to invest in some quality shine spray or see your stylist for some strategic caramel highlights.

Short Curly Blonde Hair

Short curly blonde hair can be a beautiful and youthful look that complements your skin tone and natural style. Versatile and charming, you can choose a shaggy look with obvious texture or ask your stylist for some brilliant highlights and lowlights to make your curls pop. If you opt for a pixie or a close-cropped look, color won’t be quite as important.

Short Curly Brown Hair

If you have short curly brown hair, there’s a good chance that you have some natural highlights and lowlights thanks to the sun. If you don’t, ask your stylist for seasonal colors. Mahogany, auburn, and even hues of brown with violet undertones are all incredibly popular.

Curly Hair High Updo

A curly high updo can be an easy style that allows you to look classy for a formal event or chic lounging around the house. Start by piling your hair on top of your head, secure it with a claw clip, pin, or scrunchie, and then gently pull tendrils free for sophisticated flair.

Gray Curly Hair

If you haven’t heard, gray curly hair is back in a big way, and women of all ages are rocking this gloriously sophisticated ‘do. Show off your silver with a blunt bob that features a deep side part and big, wavy curls to make an impression.

High Volume Short Curly Style

Curls and massive volume are peas in a pod, so rather than fighting to tame your hair, try working with it, instead. You can get this high volume short curly style look by twisting or braiding one side of your hair up to the crown of your head and styling your locks in huge spiral curls.

Highlighted Curly Hair with Side Swept Bangs

If you have dark curly hair, highlighted curly hair with side swept bangs can add definition and interest. Try pairing caramel highlights with huge spiral curls and a deep side part for this red-carpet-ready look that is sure to turn heads.

Inverted Black Curly Bob

The inverted black curly bob is a chic hairstyle that is perfect for date night or a company meeting. The asymmetry adds some fun, yet professional interest, but be sure to use a product that adds shine to define your black curls and prevent them from looking like a solid mass from afar.

Layered Short Curly Hair with Bangs

Layered short curly hair with bangs is ideal for women who have little desire for long locks. Strategic layering helps to create volume, and the bangs help to balance out the roundness of the overall style. It’s a classic messy look that you can style in a matter of minutes.

Light Brown Curly Bob

Brunette hair often has natural highlights that add definition to curls but adding in some honey and caramel tones can take things to the next level. This light brown curly bob is a gorgeous example that features some face-framing layers to provide additional lift for women who have finer hair.

Long Curly Bangs with Short Tapered Sides

If you want to rock your inner wild child, but you don’t want to go too over the top, you can try long curly bangs with short, tapered sides. The sides and back are cropped close to the head, the top is slightly longer, and the bangs – the longest section of the hair – are styled into ringlet curls.

Naturally Curly Hair with Bangs and Layers

This year is all about embracing natural curls in any and every way possible, and this beautiful style shows why. The curls are expertly trimmed into a face-flattering shape with the addition of barely-there layers, and the addition of some subtle highlights brings the look together.

Neck Length Curly Style

If you want your look to reflect your personality, a neck-length curly hairstyle can be the ideal option for bubbly, outgoing and fashion-forward women who consider themselves trendsetters. It’s big and voluminous, but it isn’t too over the top, and the stunning caramel highlights give it flair.

Pink Short Curly Hair

Pink hair has been a big trend for the last several years, and it isn’t going anywhere any time soon – especially pale, pastel pinks and roses. If you’re interested in pink short curly hair, this messy and choppy style is somehow vintage and modern at the same time with its rounded shape and short bangs.

Shaggy Short Black Hair

Curly black hair can often look like one big mass, especially from a distance, so women are finding novel ways to add some definition to their styles. This shaggy short black hair makes use of layers, bangs, and a few messy elements to ensure that each curl is noticeable and beautiful.

Short Curly Hairstyle for Round Face

If you have a round face, finding a short hairstyle for your curly hair can be difficult. This side-parted jaw-length bob is the perfect option, especially with its strategic golden highlights that frame and elongate the face. It works especially well for natural curls, but you can also use hot rollers or even a curling wand to recreate the look yourself.

Short Curly Updo

One of the best parts about having curly hair is that even when it’s short, you can create voluminous updos that create the illusion of long tresses. To do it, just pull your curls up on top of your head and secure them with pins. If your hair is long enough, you can start with a loose bun and pull some tendrils free.

Short Inverted Curly Bob

Another awesome look for ladies who have some silver in their hair, this short inverted curly bob is chic and playful at the same time. The salt-and-pepper color adds some serious definition, and if you have fine or thinning hair, this style can help you create the illusion of extra volume.

Soft Curls with Bangs

Short and soft curls with bangs can truly play up your facial features, especially your eyes. The idea is to use your hair to frame the top half of your face in a way that immediately draws attention to your eyes. This style is also ideal for ladies who might have thinning or fine hair since the addition of bangs and layers adds some extra buoyancy to the curls.

Short Middle Part with Blonde Hair

A stylish short middle part with blonde hair is a modern style that embraces big, beautiful curls for a stunning vibe. The well-defined ringlets flow from a center part, and the height speaks for itself. This style is trendy and looks great on virtually everyone.

Trendy Curly Hair

Trendy curly hair comes in all shapes, colors, and styles, but the deep side part is by far the most popular right now. Beautiful blonde, caramel, and auburn highlights set in deep, dark brown curls provide striking contrast from one ringlet to the next.

Voluminous Short Curly Hair

If you haven’t noticed, voluminous short curly hair is the big trend right now, especially when it is cut in layers and styled in beautiful, bouncy spirals. This slightly messy, yet perfectly-coiffed look features lots of layers in various lengths, curly bangs, and curl-defining products for extra hold and lift.

How To Style Short Curly Hair

The best way to style short curly hair will depend on your hair type and texture, and it will also depend on whether your curls are natural, permed, or created at home with a styling wand. If your curls are natural, it’s important to keep your hair hydrated and healthy to avoid the dreaded frizz. Use a quality shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment, and style your natural curls with a low-hold mousse for volume and lift.

Women who have permed hair will need to be especially careful about haircare since chemically treated hair tends to be more brittle and damage-prone. Talk to your stylist about the best products for your needs. Otherwise, styling permed hair is very much like styling natural curls. If you want a natural look, use a volumizing mousse, but if you want a more glamorous look, opt for a high-hold spray gel made specifically for curly hair.

Finally, if you’re creating your curls at home with a styling wand, it’s important to let your curls cool completely before using your fingers to separate them. Your best bet for long-lasting hold is a quality hairspray that blocks humidity and nourishes your hair throughout the day. Mousses, pomades, and gels will only weigh your hair down and cause curls to deflate prematurely.