How to get natural curly hair for guys

Life gets busy and oftentimes the first thing that gets dropped is self-care. We’re talking skipping dinner for a late night meetings, missing your morning workout for an early flight for a business trip or simply letting your grooming and hair routine fall to the wayside. This is especially evidenced during the crazy holiday season when you have to find that perfect gift for your family and friends and tie up last-minute projects before you take your holiday vacation. Today, we’re talking about how to get curly hair for men who are really crunched for time. We’re doing our part to help you stay on track—at least in the hair department.

We’ve created a quick routine that you’ll easily get the hang of, scavenged for the best products for your hair type and compiled our best tips for how to get curly hair for men who simply don’t have the time to fuss over their ‘do. Keep reading for our expert tips on how to get curly hair for men. Trust us, you’ll be a pro in no time:

How to Get Curly Hair for Men Who Don’t Have the Time

How to get natural curly hair for guys
Styling your curly hair doesn’t have to be the most time consuming thing you do this week.

1. Wash + condition your hair.

Curly hair maintenance all starts with clean hair. No matter how busy you are, you can always make time to wash and condition your hair, especially with so many awesome 2-in-1 options out there. Jump in the shower and wash with AXE White Label Night 2-in-1 Shampoo + Conditioner. Using two products at the same time is a classic time-saving move and you’ll immediately be one step closer to clean, defined curls.

How to get natural curly hair for guys

2. Apply your product.

One pump of Dove Style+Care Curls Defining Mousse is all you need to get your curls going. A lightweight product, this mousse will define your curls without giving you that greasy, crunchy look. Another plus to this  mousse is that it has a faintly citrusy smell, a.k.a it won’t distract with the carefully chosen scent of your cologne.

How to get natural curly hair for guys

For Styling

Dove Curls Defining Mousse

Go to product

3. Air-dry.

Save your blowdrying skills for another day and simply let your hair air-dry. Help it along by scrunching your fingers throughout your hair to create some texture. The mousse helps give definition and structure to your curls as they dry. Give a your locks a bit more control with a tiny application of gel, like Dove Men+Care Control Gel, before you hit the road. The holidays are coming and as far as your hairstyle goes, you’re all set.

How to get natural curly hair for guys

For Styling

Dove Men+Care Control Gel

Go to product

Looking for more curly hair inspiration for men? Check out our roundup of 10 hairstyle ideas for curly hair men to try in their 20s.

If you have straight hair, you may be wondering how to get curly hair for men. Fortunately, it’s very possible to make straight hair curly with the right men’s styling products and tools. As long as you don’t have very short hair that won’t curl at all, this tutorial will show you exactly how simple it is to get a wavy or curly hairstyle with thick, straight hair.

Below, check out our step by step guide to perm or curl men’s hair, including the top-rated hair styling products and blow dryers you’ll need to create curls that will last.

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

Contents

  • 1 How To Make Your Hair Curly For Guys
    • 1.1 To Curl Men’s Hair
  • 2 Best Products To Make Straight Hair Curly
    • 2.1 Heat Protection Spray
    • 2.2 Sea Salt Spray
    • 2.3 Best Styling Products For Curly Hair
  • 3 Best Curly Hairstyles For Men
    • 3.1 Curly Fringe
    • 3.2 Curly Hair Fade
    • 3.3 Curly Quiff Haircut
  • 4 How To Get Curly Hair

How To Make Your Hair Curly For Guys

Most guys will be surprised to learn that the process of making hair curly is pretty simple and easy. However, to curl short, medium and long men’s hair, there are a few main products you’ll need: a heat protection spray, sea salt spray, and hair dryer.

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

To Curl Men’s Hair

For the best chance of getting curls that will stay in place all day, follow these steps.

  1. Wash your hair. For starters, you’ll need clean, wet hair. Damp hair is generally easier to style and manage, not to mention sea salt sprays work best on wet locks. Wash your hair with a high-quality, all-natural, rejuvenating shampoo and conditioner. Afterwards, towel dry but leave it slightly damp.
  2. Apply your heat protectant. Using a heat protection spray will not only insulate your hair from heat damage that may dry out or frizz your strands, but it will also allow your hair to dry quicker once you start blow drying it.
  3. Use sea salt spray to get wavy or curly styles with movement. Spritz a good sea salt spray on your head. To evenly distribute, lift your hair from the root and apply. Otherwise, you can work it through with your hands to ensure it gets from roots to ends. The sea salt spray is vital to adding textured, natural-looking waves and curls to your hair.
  4. Blow dry your hair. Once your hair is prepped, it’s time to use a good blow dryer to make the curls. If you have a diffuser attachment, be sure to use it to disperse the heat evenly across your head. This will spread the heat to enhance the curling affect, add volume, and minimize frizz and heat damage. If your hair dryer doesn’t come with a diffuser, just remove the nozzle to create a wider stream of air.
  5. Get your hair curly. To effectively dry your hair to get waves, be sure to dry from the bottom up and place the air directly on the roots, pushing up. While placing the heat on different parts, use your other hand to scrunch the sections that the heat is touching in order to activate the hold of the sea salt spray. As your hair starts to feel dryer, add more salt spray for an even curlier look.
  6. Create individual curls. Guys can try wrapping small strands around their finger and blasting the heat directly on the hair to create a more defined style. If certain sections are not yet wavy, you can spray those areas with sea salt spray again and blow dry as needed.
  7. Finish with a styling product for hold and texture. When your hair is dry, add a pliable pomade or cream to hold your curls in place. At this stage, feel free to finish styling your hair with your fingers to get the exact look you want.

Best Products To Make Straight Hair Curly

With these tips in mind, you’re probably wondering about the best products to help you make straight hair curly for guys. Here are the best styling products you’ll want to buy.

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

Heat Protection Spray

When looking for your heat protection spray, remember that it doesn’t have to be expensive to do the job well. These sprays are meant to act as a barrier between heat and hair, thereby preventing breakage, minimizing frizz, and increasing shine. Look for a water-soluble spray and all-natural ingredients since this will provide maximum protection but still be washed out easily. Here are a few of the best heat protectant products you’ll find on the market.

PreviewProductRatingPrice

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
artnaturals Thermal Hair Protector Spray - (8 Fl Oz / 236ml) - Heat Protectant Spray against Flat...6,751 ReviewsBuy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
HSI PROFESSIONAL Argan Oil Heat Protector | Protect up to 450º F from Flat Irons44,966 ReviewsBuy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
Argan Oil Heat Protectant Spray For Hair - Hair Heat protector Spray Thermal Protectant Spray For...3,432 ReviewsBuy Now

Sea Salt Spray

For the best sea salt sprays, try OGX’s Moroccan Sea Salt Spray for an extremely affordable option that adds just the right amount of salt and creates natural, beachy waves. This spray is infused with sea salt, sea kelp and Argan oil to keep your curls looking naturally tousled and smooth.

Another good sea salt spray product is Tresemme’s Perfectly (Un)Done Sea Salt Spray. This one is also super affordable and offers a professional-quality product for natural-looking textured waves and curls all over. It’s infused with sea kelp extract to help you get soft, tousled hairstyles that won’t feel stiff.

Here are some of the top-rated sea salt sprays for men.

PreviewProductRatingPrice

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Hair-Texturizing Sea Salt Spray, Curl-Defining Leave-In Hair Styling Mist...5,910 Reviews$7.99Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
TRESemmé PERFECTLY (UN)DONE Sea Salt Spray 6.76 oz521 Reviews$23.50Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
John Frieda Beach Blonde Sea Waves Salt Spray, Wave Texturizing Spray, with Natural Sea Salt to...2,589 Reviews$45.00Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
Blind Barber 40 Proof Sea Salt Spray - Volumizing Texture Spray for Off-The-Beach Hair Waves & Matte...664 Reviews$20.95Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
BYRD Texturizing Surf Spray - Volumizing Beachy Spray With Sea Salt and Coconut Water for Texture,...1,151 Reviews$28.98Buy Now

Best Styling Products For Curly Hair

When buying a good pomade, wax, cream or clay for curly hair, it’s vital to look for a flexible styling product that can hold hair in place without weighing down your curls or making your strands feel stiff or greasy. Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Shaping Cream is a great choice for a strong yet flexible cream that creates long-lasting hold with movement.

Another leading pick is American Crew’s Forming Cream. This medium-hold styling cream provides a solid hold with a moderate amount of shine, keeping your hair pliable enough to move and natural-looking.

Here are some of the best styling products for curly hair men.

PreviewProductRatingPrice

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
Men's Hair Forming Cream by American Crew, Like Hair Gel with Medium Hold with Medium Shine, 3 Oz...18,122 Reviews$14.95Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
Tea Tree Shaping Cream, Hair Styling Cream, Long-Lasting Hold, Matte Finish, For All Hair Types, 3.0...6,095 Reviews$13.20Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
Baxter of California Clay Pomade Firm Hold / Matte Finish Hair Pomade for Men and Women, Perfect for...5,025 Reviews$16.79Buy Now
How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys
BOLDIFY Hair Thickening Spray - Stylist Recommended Volumizing Hair Products All Genders - Hair...19,400 Reviews$23.95Buy Now

Best Curly Hairstyles For Men

Guys with curly hair have many options. If you plan to make your hair curly or wavy, here are the best curly hairstyles for men!

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

Curly Fringe

The curly fringe hairstyle has been one of the most popular styles of the year. With short hair on the sides and thick, textured curls on top, a fringe allows for a stylish finish.

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

Curly Hair Fade

The curly hair fade is the perfect “short sides, long top” hairstyle for guys with curls or waves. The fade haircut has many variations, including bald, high, mid, and low fades, and all of them style nicely with curly hair on top. Men can even choose to get a line up to clean up their hairline or go for a curly hair undercut instead.

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

Curly Quiff Haircut

The quiff haircut continues to be an iconic and timeless hairstyle for men around the world. Whether you have short or medium-length hair, the textured modern quiff can be styled beautifully with curls for a unique look that’s sure to stand out.

How to get natural curly hair for guys
How to get natural curly hair for guys

How To Get Curly Hair

Just a quick guide to getting curly hair.

  • Start with clean, slightly damp hair.
  • Apply a heat protectant spray.
  • Use sea salt spray.
  • Blow dry your hair.
  • Form your curls.
  • Keep in place with a styling product.

Making your straight hair curly is very doable if you take the time to buy good hair products and a quality blow dryer, and practice a bit of at-home styling techniques. As long as you have short to medium length hair, having waves or curls is possible if you follow the steps above.

How can I make my hair curly naturally?

Air dry or diffuse wet hair. Encourage your locks to develop a natural wave by air drying about 90% of the way, then blow-drying with a diffuser on the lowest setting while cupping sections of hair in the palm of your hand and scrunching upwards. Use a curling iron on stubbornly straight strands.