Quick answer: Long curly hairstyles for men are cuts where curls hang to the chin, the shoulders or beyond. The most worn are shoulder-length layers, a curly shag, a half-up bun and long curls with a tapered neckline. They need a curl-aware cut every 8 to 12 weeks, sulfate-free washing and a leave-in or curl cream.
Long Curly Hairstyles for Men Styles at a Glance
Every style on this page with its clipper guard, top length and trim interval. Tap a name to jump to that card.
Long curly hairstyles for men work when the cut follows the curl instead of fighting it. Below are 30 styles grouped by length, parting, up-styles, curl type, faded edges and beards, each with the trim schedule, the products that suit it and the words to use in the chair. Read the sections on curl type and grow-out first if your curls are still short.
What Counts as Long Curly Hair for Men?
Long curly hair is any cut where the curls, once dry, reach at least the chin. Because curls shrink as they dry, the stretched length is often two to four inches longer than what you see in the mirror, and coily hair can look half its real length. Stylists usually group long curly cuts into three bands: chin length, shoulder length and past the shoulders. Each band behaves differently. Chin-length curls hold their shape with little product, shoulder-length curls start to pull straighter from their own weight, and longer curls need layers to keep volume at the top instead of only at the ends.
The curl pattern matters as much as the length. Hair typing runs from 2A loose waves to 4C tight coils, and most men sit somewhere between 2C and 3C. If you are not sure where you fall, the curly hairstyles for men guide shows how each pattern looks at shorter lengths, which helps you predict how it will hang once it grows.
How Does Long Curly Hair Differ from Medium Curls or Long Straight Hair?
The main differences are weight, shrinkage and how the hair is cut. Medium curls of three to six inches spring up and out, so the shape is mostly round. Once curls pass the chin, gravity stretches the top and the volume moves to the ends, which can create a triangle shape if the cut has no layers. Long straight hair can be cut wet with a comb and a tension line, but curls cut that way often spring up unevenly, so many stylists cut long curls dry, one curl at a time.
The table below sums up what changes as you go from medium to long curls, and how long curly hair compares with the straight styles on our long hairstyles for men page. The biggest practical shift is the trim schedule: medium curls on faded sides need a barber every few weeks, while long curls only need their ends dusted every two to three months. Product needs change too, since long curls need more moisture to reach the ends.
How Does Long Curly Hair Differ from Medium Curls or Long Straight Hair?
Feature
Medium curly hair
Long curly hair
Long straight hair
Typical dry length
3 to 6 inches
Chin to past shoulders
Chin to past shoulders
Where volume sits
All over, rounded
Lower half unless layered
Flat at the root
Usual cutting method
Dry or wet with guards on the sides
Dry, curl by curl
Wet with a comb
Trim schedule
Every 4 to 8 weeks
Every 8 to 12 weeks
Every 8 to 12 weeks
Main product
Curl cream or clay
Leave-in plus curl cream or gel
Light oil or styling cream
Who Suits Long Curly Hair?
Oval and long faces suit long curls well, because width at the sides balances the length of the face. Square faces gain from layers that soften the jaw. Round faces can wear long curls too, but should keep the volume above the cheekbones with a middle part or a half-up style, since heavy curls at jaw level add width where the face is already widest. Heart-shaped faces do well with fuller ends near the chin to balance a wider forehead.
Hair density decides more than face shape. Thick, medium and coarse curls give the fullest long shapes. Fine curls can go long, but they look thin at the ends unless the cut keeps a heavier perimeter. Long curls also suit men with flexible dress codes and the patience for a grow-out phase of a year or more. If you work in a conservative office, the half-up and low bun cards below keep the length tidy during work hours.
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Long Curly Hairstyles by Length and Shape
These six cuts move from chin length to past the shoulders and from blunt to heavily layered. Pick by how much shrinkage your curls have and how much volume you want at the crown.
Trim:Every 8–12 weeks. Ends split first once curls touch the collar.
Best For:Oval, long faces + 2C to 3B medium or thick curls.
About This Style
Curls that brush the top of the shoulders when dry make up a frequently requested long curly length. The stretched hair is often eight to ten inches long. A few long layers starting at the chin keep the crown from collapsing, and the perimeter stays fairly heavy so the ends look full. Expect the weight to loosen your curl pattern slightly compared with when it was shorter.
How to Style at Home
Rake leave-in through soaking wet hair from mid-length to ends.
Scrunch a palmful of curl cream upward in sections, starting at the nape.
Diffuse on low heat with the curls cupped in the bowl, then leave alone until fully dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep it at shoulder length when dry, long layers starting at the chin, dry cut curl by curl, and keep the bottom edge heavy so the ends stay full."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Shape is lost quickly at this length.
Best For:Square, oval faces + 2B to 3A curls of any density.
About This Style
Sitting between medium and long, chin-length curls hang just low enough to frame the jaw without resting on the neck. They suit men in the middle of a grow-out who want a shape that looks finished. Around five to seven inches of stretched length is typical. Light layering keeps the sides from puffing out, and the front pieces can fall forward or be pushed behind the ears.
How to Style at Home
Apply a light gel to wet hair and scrunch it in with cupped hands.
Blot excess water with a cotton T-shirt rather than rubbing with a towel.
Air dry, then scrunch the gel cast out gently once the curls are dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Curly cut to chin length when dry, light layers so the sides do not puff out, and leave the front long enough to tuck behind the ears."
Trim:Every 8 weeks. The blunt perimeter needs regular reshaping.
Best For:Long, heart-shaped faces + thick 3A to 3C curls.
About This Style
A one-length perimeter between the jaw and the shoulders defines this cut, with almost no internal layering. Thick curls give it a full, rounded shape that sits wide at the bottom. That width balances a long or narrow face. Fine curls can look flat in a bob, so this suits dense hair best. Cutting it dry keeps the edge even despite curls shrinking by different amounts.
How to Style at Home
Comb through conditioner in the shower and rinse with cool water.
Smooth curl cream over the surface, then scrunch to lift the ends.
Diffuse the roots first, then the ends, keeping the dryer on low.
Ask Your Barber
"One length between the jaw and shoulders, cut dry so the edge is even, minimal layers inside, and a soft middle part."
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Layers grow out and lose their lift.
Best For:Round, square faces + thick 3A to 3C curls.
About This Style
Several layers cut through hair that falls past the shoulders spread the volume from the crown down to the ends. Without them, long curls hang heavy and flat on top. The shortest layer usually lands around the cheekbones. This is the cut to ask for when your long curls look triangular, and it works on both loose ringlets and tighter spirals that have a lot of bulk.
How to Style at Home
Section damp hair into four parts and work curl cream into each one.
Clip the crown roots upward with small clips while the hair dries.
Remove the clips once dry and shake the roots gently with your fingertips.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep the length past my shoulders but add long layers, shortest around the cheekbones, cut dry so the volume moves up toward the crown."
Trim:Every 8 weeks. Short crown layers lose shape first.
Best For:Oval, heart-shaped faces + 2C to 3B wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Choppy, short layers at the crown sit over a long, thinned perimeter in this 1970s-inspired shape. The top looks tousled and full while the back reaches the shoulders. Wavy and loose curly hair suit it best because the layers spring apart into separate pieces. Very tight coils can turn the short crown layers into a puff, so ask for longer layers if your curl is small.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt spray into damp roots for grip and lift.
Scrunch a small amount of curl cream through the mid-lengths and ends.
Air dry with your head tipped forward for a few minutes to raise the crown.
Ask Your Barber
"Long curly shag with short choppy layers at the crown, the back left at shoulder length, ends thinned slightly, and a curtain fringe at the front."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Side layers and fringe grow out quickly.
Best For:Long, oval faces + 2B to 3A wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
Mixing a shag and a mullet, the wolf cut keeps a heavy, textured top, shorter layered sides and a long back that falls past the collar. On curly hair it reads as wild and full rather than flat. A short curly fringe often finishes the front. Keep the sides layered with scissors, not clipped, so the shape stays connected from the fringe to the back.
How to Style at Home
Rake a light gel through wet hair and scrunch the fringe forward.
Diffuse the crown and sides on low heat until about 80 percent dry.
Finish by air drying and breaking up any stiff clumps with your fingers.
Ask Your Barber
"Curly wolf cut, layered sides cut with scissors not clippers, long back past the collar, and a short curly fringe that hits the eyebrows."
Recommended Products
Light Gel
Sea Salt Spray
Long Curly Hair with Parts, Fringe and Slick Backs
Where you part long curls changes the face shape more than the length does. These five styles cover middle and side parts, fringe options and a slicked style for formal days.
Trim:Every 10–12 weeks. Even sides only need a light dusting.
Best For:Oval, round faces + 2C to 3B medium-density curls.
About This Style
Splitting the curls down the center lets them fall evenly on both sides of the face, which keeps volume above the cheekbones and adds vertical lines. That helps round faces look longer. Set the part while the hair is wet with a wide-tooth comb, then avoid touching it as it dries. A zigzag part can hide a visible scalp line if your curls are less dense at the crown.
How to Style at Home
Draw the center part with a wide-tooth comb while hair is soaking wet.
Smooth leave-in down each side, then scrunch curl cream from below.
Let it dry without touching the part so the curls set in place.
Ask Your Barber
"Long curls with a center part, even length on both sides, light layers near the front so the curls frame the face rather than sitting flat."
Trim:Every 10–12 weeks. A deep part hides uneven growth well.
Best For:Square, long faces + 3A to 3C thick curls.
About This Style
A deep side part sweeps most of the curls to one side, creating height on top and an angle across the forehead. It softens a strong jawline and can cover a cowlick or a thinner patch near the temple. The heavy side tends to fall forward, so a little gel at the root keeps it lifted. Swapping the part to the other side every few weeks stops the roots from flattening.
How to Style at Home
Part damp hair above the outer corner of one eyebrow.
Apply light gel at the roots on the heavy side to keep lift.
Scrunch curl cream through the ends and air dry without moving the part.
Ask Your Barber
"Long curls with a deep side part, slightly more length left on the heavy side, layers around the face, and the back kept at shoulder length."
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. Curly bangs shrink into the eyes quickly.
Best For:Long faces, high foreheads + 2C to 3B curls.
About This Style
Short curly bangs that land at the eyebrows sit over hair that falls to the shoulders. The fringe shortens a long face and covers a high forehead or a receding temple. Curly bangs shrink a lot, so they must be cut dry and left longer than you expect. Between full trims, a quick bang-only trim every month keeps them out of your eyes.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to the bangs first while they are soaking wet.
Twist each bang curl around a finger to set its shape.
Diffuse the fringe on low heat before the rest of the hair.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep the length at my shoulders and cut curly bangs dry so they land at my eyebrows once they shrink, blending into longer face-framing layers."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Curtain pieces need reshaping to stay split.
Best For:Square, heart-shaped faces + 2A to 2C wavy curls.
About This Style
Front pieces cut to cheekbone length part in the middle and curve away from the face like open curtains, while the rest of the hair stays long. Loose wavy curls hold this shape best, because tight curls tend to spring up into a fringe instead of sweeping aside. The effect is softer than a full bang and grows out easily into the face-framing layers.
How to Style at Home
Part the front in the center while the hair is wet.
Rough dry the curtain pieces with a diffuser, pushing them outward.
Scrunch sea salt spray into the lengths for loose, piecey texture.
Ask Your Barber
"Curly curtain bangs cut to the cheekbones, parted in the middle, blended into long layers, with the rest kept past the chin."
Best For:Oval, square faces + 2C to 3B curls of any thickness.
About This Style
Combed straight back from the forehead, the roots lie flat and glossy while the ends are left to curl freely at the nape and behind the ears. It suits weddings, interviews and other days when loose curls feel too casual. Hair needs to be at least chin length so the ends reach past the ears. Gel or pomade on the first few inches does the work.
How to Style at Home
Comb light gel through the front three inches of damp hair.
Brush the roots straight back and let the ends curl as they dry.
Seal any flyaways with a drop of argan oil on your palms.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep the length at least to the chin, slightly shorter at the front so it sits back easily, and leave the ends heavy so they curl at the nape."
Recommended Products
Light Gel
Argan Oil
Long Curly Hair Tied Up: Buns, Ponytails and Half Up
Tying long curls back is the fastest way to tidy them for work, the gym or a hot day. These five styles keep the curls intact without tight elastics that snap the hair.
Trim:Every 10–12 weeks. Tied hair hides growth between trims.
Best For:Round, oval faces + 2C to 3C curls past the chin.
About This Style
Only the top section, from the temples back to the crown, gets gathered into a small knot or tie, and the lower half stays down. It clears curls from the face while keeping the length on show. Round faces benefit because the lift on top adds height. Use a spiral coil tie or a fabric scrunchie, since tight rubber bands leave dents and break curls.
How to Style at Home
Gather the top section from temple to temple with your fingers.
Twist it once and secure loosely with a coil tie or scrunchie.
Scrunch a little curl cream into the loose lower half.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep it long with layers so the top section is long enough to tie back, about chin length at the shortest layer, and the rest past the shoulders."
Trim:Every 12 weeks. Only the ends need attention.
Best For:Oval, long faces + any curl type past the shoulders.
About This Style
All the hair is gathered at the nape into a loose, rounded knot. This is the low-effort option for formal dress codes, kitchens and gyms, and it protects the ends from friction against collars. Let curls dry before tying them so they keep their shape. Wrapping the bun loosely and changing its position slightly each day prevents breakage at the same spot.
How to Style at Home
Brush curls back with your fingers, not a brush, once they are dry.
Twist the length into a loose coil at the nape and wrap it around itself.
Fix with a fabric scrunchie and smooth the hairline with a little gel.
Ask Your Barber
"Just a dusting of the ends, keep the length past my shoulders and the layers long so everything reaches a low bun at the nape."
Trim:Every 10–12 weeks. Ponytail ends need dusting for split ends.
Best For:Oval, square faces + 3A to 4A curls past the shoulders.
About This Style
Pulled back at the crown or mid-head, the ponytail leaves a long tail of curls hanging behind. A slightly higher placement shows off curl definition, while a low one looks quieter for work. Coily hair makes a full, rounded puff at the tie. Keep the front loose rather than pulled tight, since daily tension along the hairline can lead to traction thinning over time.
How to Style at Home
Smooth a small amount of light gel along the hairline with an edge brush.
Gather the hair at mid-head and secure with a coil tie.
Spray detangling spray on the tail and scrunch it back into curls.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep it long and fairly one length so it all reaches a ponytail, just trim split ends and tidy the neckline."
Trim:Every 10–12 weeks. The headband hides an overgrown fringe.
Best For:Long, heart-shaped faces + 2C to 3C thick curls.
About This Style
A thin elastic or fabric headband pushes the front curls back while the rest falls freely. Athletes and surfers wear it to keep hair out of the eyes without tying it up. It also hides an awkward fringe during a grow-out. Place the band just behind the hairline so the curls in front of it lift slightly and add height.
How to Style at Home
Style the curls as usual and let them dry fully first.
Slide the headband from the nape up to just behind the hairline.
Pull a few curls forward over the band to soften the line.
Ask Your Barber
"Long layered curls, the front left long enough to push back under a headband, back past the collar, and a tidy neckline."
Trim:Every 12 weeks. Bunned hair hides most growth.
Best For:Round, square faces + 3B to 4A thick curls.
About This Style
High on the crown, a large curly bun adds height and shows off a full head of curls. It is also the way many curly men sleep, a method called pineapping, which keeps curls from being crushed overnight. Thick, tight curls give a rounded bun with lots of texture. Hair that falls at least to the shoulders reaches the crown easily.
How to Style at Home
Flip your head forward and gather all hair at the crown.
Wrap a satin scrunchie around it loosely, letting the curls spill over.
Smooth the sides with a damp palm and a touch of curl cream.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep the length at or past my shoulders with long layers, so everything reaches the crown for a top bun, and keep the nape tidy."
Recommended Products
Curl Cream
Edge Brush
Long Curly Hairstyles by Curl Type and Thickness
Loose waves, ringlets and coils each grow and hang differently at length. Match your curl type and density below; the biracial curly hair guide covers mixed textures in more depth.
Best For:Oval, square faces + 2B to 2C wavy or loose curly hair.
About This Style
S-shaped waves that turn into soft, open curls near the ends describe this texture at length. It is easy to weigh down, so lightweight products matter. A cut with long layers and a slightly thinned perimeter keeps the curl pattern from dropping straight. Many men with this hair find a sea salt spray gives more shape than creams, which can flatten the top.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt spray onto damp hair from roots to ends.
Scrunch upward in small handfuls and avoid combing after.
Air dry, then twist any limp pieces around a finger.
Ask Your Barber
"Long layers for loose curls, keep the perimeter slightly thinned so the ends do not drag the curl straight, and keep the length past my chin."
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Defined ringlets show frayed ends.
Best For:Oval, long faces + 3A to 3B springy curls.
About This Style
Ringlets are uniform, corkscrew-like spirals roughly as wide as a marker. At shoulder length they hang in clear, separate coils that catch the light. Definition depends on moisture and clumping, so they respond well to the method of applying product to soaking wet hair. A dry cut that follows each ringlet keeps the spirals intact and the shape round.
How to Style at Home
Apply leave-in and gel in the shower while hair is dripping wet.
Rake through with your fingers to group curls into clumps.
Diffuse on low without touching until the cast has set hard.
Ask Your Barber
"Dry cut curl by curl to keep the ringlets intact, round layered shape, length at the shoulders, and remove only split ends."
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Tight curls tangle and knot at the ends.
Best For:Square, long faces + 3C to 4A dense, tight curls.
About This Style
Corkscrews about the width of a pencil grow out more than down, so tight curls at length build width before they gain visible length. Shrinkage can hide six inches or more. These curls dry out fast, so a cream-based routine with weekly deep conditioning keeps them soft. Wearing them long creates a large rounded shape that needs shaping with an afro pick.
How to Style at Home
Section wet hair and apply leave-in, then curl cream, to each part.
Shingle the cream down each section with your fingers.
Lift the roots with an afro pick once dry, avoiding the ends.
Ask Your Barber
"Round shape for tight curls, cut dry with the curls stretched only slightly, keep as much length as possible and shape the sides lower than the top."
Trim:Every 8–12 weeks. Single-strand knots form at the ends.
Best For:Oval, long faces + 4A to 4C coily or kinky hair.
About This Style
Tight coils in the 4A to 4C range can shrink to a fraction of their length, so long coily hair often looks like a medium afro until stretched. Many men wear it in twist-outs, braid-outs or banded styles to show length. Moisture is the main job: water, then leave-in, then an oil or butter to seal. Detangling in sections keeps breakage down.
How to Style at Home
Detangle in four sections with conditioner and your fingers.
Twist each section loosely after applying leave-in and curl cream.
Unravel the next day and fluff the roots with an afro pick.
Ask Your Barber
"Shape the length into a rounded outline, trim single-strand knots at the ends, and keep as much length as you can on top."
Trim:Every 8 weeks. Bulk builds up and widens the shape fast.
Best For:Long, oval faces + dense 3A to 3C curls.
About This Style
Dense curls at length can feel heavy and hot, and they often grow into a wide triangle. The fix is internal weight removal: a stylist cuts out curl clumps from underneath so the outer layer sits closer to the head. Thinning shears are usually avoided on curls because they cause frizz. Expect drying time to stretch past an hour, so a diffuser helps.
How to Style at Home
Detangle in the shower with conditioner and a wide-tooth comb.
Apply curl cream in four sections so every curl gets coated.
Diffuse on medium heat for ten minutes, then air dry the rest.
Ask Your Barber
"Remove weight from underneath curl by curl, no thinning shears, keep the outer layer long at the shoulders so the shape sits closer to my head."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Fine ends split and thin quickly.
Best For:Oval, heart-shaped faces + fine 2C to 3A curls.
About This Style
Fine curls have thin individual strands, so long lengths tend to look wispy at the bottom. Keeping the cut closer to the chin or shoulders, with a blunt edge rather than lots of layers, holds the ends together. Heavy creams pull fine curls flat, so a light gel or mousse-style hold works better. Washing more often keeps the roots lifted.
How to Style at Home
Use a small amount of light gel on soaking wet hair only.
Clip the roots at the crown while drying to add lift.
Scrunch out the cast once dry and avoid adding oil.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep it shoulder length or slightly shorter with a blunt edge so the ends look full, few layers, and dust off split ends only."
Recommended Products
Light Gel
Thickening Spray
Long Curly Hair with Tapered or Shaved Edges
Short edges under long curls keep the neckline clean and remove heat and bulk. These four pair long curls with a taper, low fade, nape undercut or side shave; the taper fade guide explains the blend.
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. The taper needs upkeep; the curls can wait longer.
Best For:Oval, square faces + 3A to 4A curls of any density.
About This Style
The sideburns and the nape are the only parts clipped short, blending from a #1 to a #3, while the curls on top and at the back stay long and fall over the taper. The neckline looks tidy even when the curls cover it. This is the lightest way to add a barber finish to long hair, and it grows back unnoticed if you stop booking it.
How to Style at Home
Style the curls with curl cream and let them dry.
Brush the tapered sideburns flat with an edge brush.
Tuck curls behind the ears to show the taper or let them fall.
Ask Your Barber
"Low taper at the sideburns and nape only, from a #1 up to a #3, leave everything else long and do not touch the curl length on top."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. The shaved band regrows; curls need trims less often.
Best For:Square, round faces + very thick 3B to 4A curls.
About This Style
Underneath the long curls, a band at the back of the head from the nape to about the occipital bone is clipped to a #1 or #2. It is invisible when the hair is down but shows when tied in a bun. The main benefit is removing bulk and heat from very thick curls. It also lets a bun sit flatter against the head.
How to Style at Home
Tie the top curls up and out of the way before styling.
Apply scalp oil to the undercut area if it feels dry.
Let the curls down or tie a low bun to show the shaved band.
Ask Your Barber
"Nape undercut on a #1 from the neckline up to the occipital bone, leave all the curls on top long so they cover it when worn down."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The fade blurs fast while the top keeps growing.
Best For:Oval, long faces + 3B to 4B tight curls.
About This Style
A low fade starts just above the ear and wraps around the back, taking the sides from skin or a #0 up to a #2 before the long curls take over. It sits under curls that reach the chin or lower. The contrast is sharper than a taper and works best when the curls are tight enough to stay off the faded sides.
How to Style at Home
Shape the curls with leave-in and curl cream while wet.
Pin curls away from the sides while diffusing so the fade shows.
Rub a little scalp oil on the faded area to stop flaking.
Ask Your Barber
"Low fade starting just above the ear, skin to a #2, blended into long curls on top that I keep at chin length or longer."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The shaved side shows regrowth fast.
Best For:Oval, heart-shaped faces + 2C to 3C curls.
About This Style
One side of the head, above and behind one ear, is taken down to a #1 or #0, and the long curls are swept over to the other side. It gives an asymmetrical shape that looks very different with the hair pushed over or parted to cover it. A line or simple design can be added to the shaved area. Growing it out takes several awkward months.
How to Style at Home
Part the curls deeply on the side opposite the shave.
Sweep the long curls over with a light gel at the roots.
Diffuse with the curls held in place so they keep the swept angle.
Ask Your Barber
"Shave one side above and behind the left ear with a #1, leave the curls long elsewhere and sweep them to the right with a deep part."
Recommended Products
Light Gel
Curl Cream
Long Curly Hair with Beards and Gray Curls
A beard changes how long curls frame the face, and gray curls need different products from dark ones. These four cover a common pairings for adult and older men.
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Shape the beard itself every 2–3 weeks.
Best For:Round, oval faces + 3A to 4A curls and a thick beard.
About This Style
Shoulder-length curls pair with a full beard kept at one to two inches, with the cheek line tidied and the neckline set about a finger's width above the Adam's apple. Shaping the beard narrower at the jaw than the curls keeps the head from looking too wide. A soft taper at the sideburns helps the hair and beard connect without a hard step.
How to Style at Home
Wash the beard with the same sulfate-free shampoo as your hair.
Massage beard oil through the beard, then shape it with a beard brush.
Scrunch curl cream into the hair separately so the beard stays soft.
Ask Your Barber
"Long curls kept at the shoulders, taper the sideburns into the beard, trim the beard to about one inch on the cheeks with a clean neckline."
Trim:Every 10–12 weeks. Trim the stubble yourself every few days.
Best For:Square, long faces + 2C to 3B curls.
About This Style
Three to five days of stubble, around 3 to 5 mm, keeps the face sharp while long curls handle the volume. It suits men whose jaw is already defined and who do not want the curls and a beard competing for width. A trimmer with a guard keeps it even. Lining the cheek and neck every few days stops stubble from looking unkempt.
How to Style at Home
Run a beard trimmer at 3 mm over the stubble every three days.
Clean the neckline to about a finger above the Adam's apple.
Style the curls with sea salt spray for a loose, lived-in finish.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep my curls long, just remove split ends and add a few long layers. Clean the sideburns so they blend into short stubble."
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Tidy the goatee edges at home weekly.
Best For:Round, oval faces + 3A to 3C medium-density curls.
About This Style
A goatee or circle beard adds a vertical point at the chin, which lengthens a round face that long curls might otherwise widen. The cheeks are shaved clean so the curls frame the face with clear space between hair and beard. Keep the goatee shorter than half an inch so it reads as a detail rather than competing with the hair.
How to Style at Home
Shave the cheeks and neck, leaving the goatee shape intact.
Comb a little beard balm through the goatee to hold the edges.
Leave the curls down with a middle part to balance the chin.
Ask Your Barber
"Long curls with a middle part, layers starting at the chin, and trim my goatee short with clean cheeks so the shapes stay separate."
Trim:Every 8 weeks. Gray ends turn coarse and frizzy faster.
Best For:Oval, long faces + gray or salt and pepper 2C to 3B curls.
About This Style
Gray hair is often drier and wirier than pigmented hair, and the curl pattern can loosen or turn coarse as it changes. A purple shampoo once a week counters yellowing. Richer leave-in conditioners and a little argan oil help the curls clump instead of frizzing. Shoulder-length layers keep gray curls looking full rather than thin at the ends.
How to Style at Home
Wash with a purple shampoo once a week to keep the gray bright.
Apply leave-in and a drop of argan oil to the ends.
Scrunch in curl cream and air dry away from direct sun.
Ask Your Barber
"Gray curls kept at shoulder length with long layers for fullness, trim dry ends, and keep the back tidy so it does not look overgrown."
Recommended Products
Leave-In
Argan Oil
Curl Cream
How Do You Ask Your Stylist for a Long Curly Cut?
Arrive with your hair dry and styled the way you normally wear it, with no product buildup and no tight bun marks. A curl-trained stylist needs to see where each curl falls before cutting. Say how much length you want to keep in inches, where you want the shortest layer to land (cheekbone, chin or jaw), and if you part in the middle or on the side. Ask for a dry cut or a curl-by-curl cut rather than a wet cut with a comb.
Mention your routine too. A wash-and-go wearer needs more shape built into the cut than someone who always ties it back. If you want faded or tapered edges, say how high they go and whether the barber or the stylist does them. The guide on how to talk to your barber covers phrasing that avoids losing length you meant to keep.
Clipper Guards Used in Long Curly Hairstyles for Men Styles
A clipper guard is the plastic comb that clips onto the blade and sets how much hair is left: a #1 leaves 3 mm (1/8 inch), each step up adds about 3 mm. The right column lists the cards on this page that call for each guard. See the full clipper guard numbers guide for the complete chart.
Clipper guard sizes for long curly hairstyles for men styles
Most long curly routines follow the same order. Wash with a sulfate-free shampoo once or twice a week and condition every time, combing through with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while the conditioner is in. Leave the hair soaking wet, rake in a leave-in, then a curl cream or light gel, and scrunch upward. Blot with a cotton T-shirt rather than a towel, which roughs up the curl surface and causes frizz.
Let it air dry or use a diffuser on low heat; our diffuser guide explains the hover and cup methods. Once fully dry, scrunch out the cast that gel leaves behind. On second and third days, mist with water, add a little more cream to the ends and reshape. Sleep on a satin pillowcase or tie the hair loosely on top of your head to protect the curls overnight.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid with Long Curly Hair?
The most common mistake is skipping trims while growing out. Split ends travel up the shaft and turn long curls ragged, so a light dusting every 8 to 12 weeks saves length overall. The second is brushing dry curls, which breaks the curl clumps into a frizzy halo. Detangle only when the hair is wet and coated in conditioner. The third is tight elastics in the same spot every day, which can snap hair and, over years, pull at the hairline.
Heavy oils and silicone-rich products can also build up on long curls and weigh them flat. If your curls feel limp or waxy, use a clarifying wash once a month, as the product buildup guide explains. In humid weather, a gel cast holds better than cream alone; see humidity and frizz control for more fixes. Finally, avoid daily heat from a blow dryer without a diffuser, which dries out the ends and loosens the curl pattern over time.
Which Long Curly Hairstyles for Men Is Right for You?
Pick your hair type and how much upkeep you will put in. The matches below come from the Best For and Maintenance notes on each card. Upkeep follows the Maintenance badge: low means a cut every 3 to 6 weeks and almost no daily styling, high means weekly line-ups or daily product.
Long Curly Hairstyles for Men by hair type and upkeep
Q1: How long does it take to grow long curly hair?+
Hair grows about half an inch a month, so going from a short cut to shoulder-length curls usually takes 18 months to two years. Curls look shorter than they are because of shrinkage, so the first year can feel slow. Trims every 8 to 12 weeks keep the ends healthy without losing much of that growth.
Q2: Should long curly hair be cut wet or dry?+
Most curl-trained stylists cut long curly hair dry, because each curl springs up by a different amount once it dries. Cutting dry lets them see the real shape and avoid short gaps. Some cut damp and check dry at the end. A wet cut with tension and a comb is the method most likely to leave uneven curls.
Q3: How often should men wash long curly hair?+
Once or twice a week with a sulfate-free shampoo suits most men with long curls. Condition every time, and rinse with water only between wash days if you sweat. Coily and very dry curls can go a week or longer between shampoos, while fine, oily scalps may need a gentle wash every three days.
Q4: What product is best for long curly hair on men?+
Start with a leave-in conditioner on soaking wet hair, then add curl cream for soft definition or a light gel for longer hold. Thick or coily hair often needs both. Fine curls do better with a light gel alone, since heavy creams can pull long, fine curls flat by midday.
Q5: Can you have long curly hair with a fade?+
Yes, but most long curly styles use a taper at the nape and sideburns or a hidden nape undercut rather than a full fade. A high fade under long curls tends to look disconnected once the top hangs down. A low taper keeps the neckline tidy while letting the curls fall over it.
Q6: How do you stop long curly hair from looking triangular?+
A triangle shape comes from weight sitting at the ends while the top lies flat. Ask for long layers that start around the cheekbone or chin, which move volume up toward the crown. Clipping the roots up while drying and using a diffuser also lifts the top so the shape stays more oval.
