Hairstyles for curly and coily hair

Curly hair is done differently: damp, in sections, and with a gentle hand at her hairline. Every guide here says where the method changes.

Choose Curly or Coily in the free app and every style shows the steps for her hair.

Brushing curly or coily hair dry hurts, and dry hair breaks more easily. Water and a little leave-in conditioner are what make it painless. The three techniques below are worth reading before any style.

Start with these three techniques

• Detangling curly and coily hairWater and leave-in, not a dry brush.
• The two-strand twistTwo strands to keep track of, not three.
• Gentle tension and protecting her edgesIf it hurts, it's too tight.

Free styles, with the curly and coily steps

Ponytails, pigtails and the everyday styles, in full. Where a step changes for curly and coily hair, the guide gives that version underneath, with its own picture.

• Tangle-Free Brushing2 minutes
• Classic Ponytail3 minutes
• High Ponytail4 minutes
• Two Even Pigtails6 minutes
• Half-Up, Half-Down4 minutes
• Clip-Back for Baby Wisps1 minute

More styles, in Beyond the Ponytail

Puffs are written only for curly and coily hair. Twisted pigtails and criss-cross bands suit it well too, so they come first. Each page shows the finished look, the time and what you need; the full steps are in the app, in an optional one-time pack.

• Puffs5 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Twisted Pigtails10 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Criss-Cross Bands15 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Three-Strand Braid5 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Braided Pigtails12 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Top Knot6 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• French Braid10 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Dutch Braid12 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Sports Bun8 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Bubble Ponytail5 minutesBeyond the Ponytail
• Pull-Through Braid10 minutesBeyond the Ponytail

What helps

• Fine-mist water bottleLightly dampening dry hair before styling. Wavy and thick hair holds a shape better when slightly damp. It becomes more pliable and the surface lies flatter under an elastic.
• Leave-in conditionerMakes curly and coily hair soft enough to detangle and style without pulling.
• Wide-tooth combDetangling wet or dry hair from the ends up to the roots without snapping it. The starting point before any style.
• Soft scrunchies or fabric bandsHold puffs and pigtails without snagging or creasing curls.
• Satin bonnet or pillowcaseLess friction overnight means fewer knots in the morning.

When it hurts, or it is knotted

• She's crying or says it hurts
• Her hair is badly knotted