How to Get Curly Hair (Men)

Co-authored by Angela Justice

Last Updated: February 21, 2023 References

Naturally curly hair is stylish and lively, making it quite desirable for the straight-haired among us. While you may never be able to get a full-on afro without a professional perm, getting some body, waviness, and curl into straight hair is possible with a little effort, the right strategy, and the right products.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Products

1
Use hair gels. If you want to use hair products to get your hair curly, the best way to do it is with hair gel. Regardless of how your hair is styled, using a pea-sized amount of gel and running it through clean hair can help you curl it up however you want. Take the time to make individual curls, or run your hands through it quickly for a messy look.^{[1]
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How to Use Hair Gels
After rinsing your hair, squeeze a small amount of gel into your hands and run your fingers through your hair, from the forehead to the back.
Let it start to set up for a minute, then take a pencil and wrap little curls of hair around the pencil.
Count to 30.
Keep working your hair into tiny curls until you like the look.
If you have less time: try just running your hair through your hands quickly and getting your hair to stick in a lively, curly-looking position.
If you don't like that crunchy hair gel style, try using a softening gel like IC Fantasia, which can help to keep your hair extremely soft, as well as train it into curls.
2
Treat your hair with argan oil. One common way of training your hair naturally is by using a natural hair oil that will help to moisturize and keep your hair strong, making it more likely to take on natural curl and body. Once or twice a week, use a
pea-sized amount of hair oil
on a plastic comb and comb through your hair after rinsing to treat your hair and keep it strong.^{[2]
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- It's also common to combine this treatment and cover your hair with a tight-fitting bald-cap or do-rag, to keep your hair kinked up and keep the oil close to the scalp overnight. When you remove the cap, your hair should be able to take on curl more easily.^{[3]
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- Olive oil and coconut oil are also versatile food-based products that are commonly used in the hair to help keep moisturized and curly. Treating your hair with these products can help to keep them light and silky, making them more amenable to taking on curl.
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3
Try to use a natural texturizer. Texturizing spray is typically marketed to women, but it's perfectly fine to use for men to use in their hair to increase the natural curl. If your hair has curl in it, you'll be able to emphasize it with texturizer, and if your hair isn't, it can help to create it. These products are
sprayed directly onto the hair
and can be used to loosen the follicles and increase the natural curl.^{[4]
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4
Try out curl-enhancing shampoo. While the claims of many curl-enhancers are somewhat dubious, there are a number of products on the market that claim to curl up naturally straight hair with washing. These shampoos should be used in conjunction with other methods of curling, but it's worth trying out.^{[5]
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Shampoo Ingredients to Look For and Avoid
Look for shampoos with: natural ingredients like oils (including argan, tea tree, jojoba, almond, coconut, avocado, and camellia seed), olive oil, aloe vera juice, biotin, herbs (mint, rosemary, watercress), rooibos leaf, fruits, rice powder, cocoa powder
Avoid shampoos with: petrolatum, parabens, sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), DEA (diethanolamine) and DEA compounds, sodium chloride (which is essentially salt), polyethylene glycol (PEG), alcohol, coal-tar dyes (byproduct of petroleum — often identified on labels as FD&C or D&C)^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Training Curls With Washing

1
Brush your hair out before showering. It's possible to give your hair body and lightness by brushing it out before you wet it for the shower. Whether you're going to shampoo or not, running a brush through your hair will
keep your hair from matting and clumping,
giving it body and lightness for afterward. Brushing alone can't give you curls, but it's a helpful first step in the process.^{[7]
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2
Rinse your hair regularly. If you want naturally curly hair, rinse your hair regularly to keep it clean and fresh, but
don't use shampoo more than once or twice a week if you have naturally straight hair.
This is because shampoo will dry out your hair and strip it of its natural oils, which help to give hair body, bounce, and curl. If you want curlier hair, rinse it, don't wash it.^{[8]
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3
Wash your hair less. If you want to help train your hair to curl naturally, stop washing it so much. Regular rinsing helps to keep your hair lighter, keeping the dirt and build-up out of your hair, but it also allows the natural oils in your hair to keep your hair silky and light, giving it body and curl in the right conditions.
Shampoo dries your hair out
and weighs it down over time, making it less likely that it'll be able to curl. Washing your hair will straighten, rinsing your hair will curl.
- Different people will need to wash their hair more or less, accordingly. If you have particularly greasy hair, you might need to wash it every other day at least. If you have dry hair, try washing it only once a week or less and rinse every day.
4
Let your hair air dry. If you want curly hair, you can't use a blow dryer or towel-dry your hair to death. The best way to get hair to curl naturally is to
let it dry on its own, preferably overnight.
Sleeping on your hair might make it look kinked up and messy, but it may also help to give it the kind of curl you're looking for, depending on your type of hair.^{[9]
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- In general, if you want curlier hair, it's better to bathe at night, as opposed to in the morning. If you're in the habit of showering every morning before school or work, switch up your routine to rinse your hair at night instead.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Getting Creative

1
Try a heat curler or roller curlers. Again, commonly marketed for women, but if you have medium or long hair, using a curler is another easy and quick way to get your hair curled up. Use small-gauge curlers in your hair overnight to get tight ringlets, or try drying your hair with a hair curler after you bathe for the best effects.
2
Get the right hair cut. If you want curly hair, it's a good idea to get a haircut that emphasizes the kind of curl you want. For guys, that can be tricky, but you want to
start out with short-medium hair
to get the most bounce out of the curls you have. Talk to your stylist about appropriate haircuts if you want to make your hair look more curly than it is.
- Try out a pompadour style cut do for something that'll help to give your hair a bit of body. Keep the sides short and let it grow out on top, giving yourself a mop that you can train up and out into a pompadour.^{[10]
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3
Train your hair into 360 waves. Training your hair into "waves" can help give you the appearance of curly hair, even if it's not strictly-speaking curly. While this practice takes time and some dedication, with daily combing sessions and a bit of pomade, you can get your hair to grow in rounded waves that extend all the way around your head. It's a cool look.^{[11]
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How to Get 360 Waves
Cut your hair very short, buzzed all the way around.
After bathing, comb your hair with pomade and brush it hard, from the crown of your head down toward your forehead, your ears, and the back of your head, for at least an hour each day.
Afterward, wear a skull-cap or a do-rag to sleep, keeping your hair moist.
If you keep up a strict brushing routine for several weeks, your hair will start to take on a wave-like appearance as it grows out. This was popularized in the mid-2000s by rappers like Nelly. Done correctly, it can help make your hair look curly and awesome.
4
Consider getting a perm. Getting a permanent or a "perm" from a hair stylist is the easiest way to get your hair curled up. While some people don't like to pay for perms and treat their hair with "frying" chemicals, permanents are the surest and easiest way to instantly curl up your hair. While they're more common and popular with women, perms are commonly given to men. Don't be embarrassed to ask for a perm.^{[12]
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Community Q&A

Question

What's the difference between washing and rinsing my hair?

Community Answer

Washing is when you use shampoo and conditioner. Rinsing is just running water through your hair without including any product.
Question

What shampoo or oil should I use to get curls if I have straight hair?

Community Answer

Argan oil is great to use, it replenishes the natural oils of your hair, making it stronger and helping it grow nicely.
Question

How can I get curly hair overnight?

Community Answer

This really only works for people with hair that's at least 6 inches long, but here's how I do it. Take a shower before bed and follow your normal routine. Slightly dry your hair and then divide it into at least 6 sections. Twist each lock of slightly damp hair until it's a small nub/bun on the top of your head, then secure it with a bobby pin. Repeat this for all sections. Now, just go to sleep and remove the pins in the morning. Rub your hands through your hair and maybe brush it out a bit with a wide tooth comb.