Curly Afro Haircut Guide: How to Get It and Keep It Looking Good
Learn what a curly afro is, who it looks best on, how to ask your barber for one, and how to take care of it at home.
The curly afro is a classic hair style that never goes out of style. It lets your natural hair show off its coils and volume. It looks round, soft, and full of life.
Cutting or shaping an afro can feel scary if you have never done it before. Here is everything you need to know before you sit in the barber chair.
What Is a Curly Afro?
A curly afro is shaped hair that grows out in a round cloud around your head. Instead of picking it out straight, you keep your natural curl pattern showing.
Some people like it short and neat. Other people like it big and wide. You can also get faded sides or a taper near your ears and neck to make the shape pop.
Who Does It Look Best On?
This cut works for anyone with tight curls, coils, or kinky hair.
It looks great on many face shapes:
Square faces: The soft, round shape of the hair balances a sharp jawline. Oval faces: Almost any size afro looks balanced on an oval face. Round faces: Ask the barber for more height on top and shorter sides. This makes your face look longer. Long faces: Keep the top a bit lower and let the sides grow wider to balance your face.
How to Talk to Your Barber
Never just say, "Give me an afro." That can mean many different things to different barbers.
Tell your barber the exact shape you want. Do you want a perfect round ball, or do you want it square on top? Tell them if you want a taper fade on your temples and neck, or if you want the hair full all the way down.
Always ask your barber to cut your hair while it is dry. Curly hair shrinks a lot when it dries. If they cut it wet, it might end up much shorter than you wanted.
How to Take Care of It at Home
Afros need moisture to look their best. Dry curls get frizzy and can break off easily.
Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo once a week. Use a good conditioner every time you get it wet. Put in a leave-in cream while your hair is damp to lock in water. At night, sleep on a satin pillowcase or wear a silk bonnet so your pillow does not suck the moisture out of your curls.
If you want to see how a curly afro looks on your own head, use HairMatch AI. You can scan your face shape for free, and then buy a photo pack starting at $0.99 to test out the look on your own face before you visit the barber.