SBThin curly hair on men looks fullest with short, tapered sides and enough length on top for the curl to form, usually one and a half to three inches. Curls stack on each other and hide the scalp far better than straight hair, but only if they are long enough to curl and light enough not to collapse.
Below are ten cuts for thin wavy, curly and coily hair, what changes when curly hair starts thinning, and a simple routine that keeps fine curls defined instead of frizzy or flat.
Men with thin curly hair usually do one of two things: shave it all off, or grow it out hoping for volume and end up with a triangle. Neither shows what their curl can do.
Short sides, curl on top, and a light gel instead of a heavy cream is the combination that works for almost all of them.
SBHair can be fine, with narrow strands, or thin, with fewer of them, and curly hair can be either. Fine curls are light, so heavy products flatten them and they frizz easily. Thin curls have gaps between them that show more when the curl is loose.
The good news is that curl is the best disguise thin hair has. A curl takes up far more space than a straight strand of the same length, and curls sit on top of each other rather than lying side by side. That is why men with curly hair often notice thinning later than men with straight hair.
The catch is that curl needs length to form and weight balance to hold. Too short and it is just frizz. Too long, with full sides, and the curls pull straight at the top and bulk out at the sides.
Wavy hair has an S-shape rather than a full curl. On thin hair the wave is easily brushed or weighed out, so these cuts keep the top short enough to wave on its own.
The waves fall forward in their own shape and the choppy ends give them somewhere to separate. The low taper keeps the sides neat without leaving bare skin next to the top.
Scrunch in a little sea salt spray on damp hair and let it air-dry. Brushing it dry breaks the wave into frizz.
A little longer, swept across with the fingers so the waves stay broken up. A loose part hides scalp; a combed one shows a stripe of it.
Scissor-cut sides keep a soft outline that suits waves better than a clipper fade.
Three inches is about the limit for thin wavy hair before the weight pulls the wave straight at the roots. Pushed back loosely, it reads as full and deliberate.
If it starts to lie flat by midday, go back to two inches.
Defined curls, from loose spirals to tight ringlets. These need a little more length on top than wavy hair, so the curl can complete its turn.
The most reliable cut for thin curly hair. Two inches lets each curl form fully, and the low taper keeps the outline tidy while the sides still have some hair.
Ask for the curls to be cut dry, curl by curl. Cut wet, curly hair shrinks unpredictably and ends up shorter and uneven.
Curls pushed forward over the forehead. It covers a high or slightly receding hairline well, because the curl sits in front of it rather than showing it.
Keep the fringe curls a little longer than the rest so they reach the forehead once they spring up.
A burst taper curves around the ear and leaves length at the back, which suits curls because it keeps a rounded shape instead of a flat line.
Our guide to fade haircuts for thin hair explains why the fade should stay low when the top is thin.
Shorter than most curly cuts, at about an inch and a half. The curls are tighter at this length, which makes them look denser.
It is the easiest version to look after: wash, a little gel, and leave it.
Coily and kinky hair is often fine-stranded and fragile even when it looks dense. Shrinkage works in its favor, because coils pack closely and cover the scalp well at short lengths.
Half an inch to an inch of coils, with a low taper at the edges. At this length coils sit close together and the scalp barely shows.
Avoid a sharp line-up if the hairline is fine or thinning at the temples. It traces the thin corners instead of blending them.
Short twists made with a curl sponge group the hair into small coils, which covers more scalp than loose, uneven hair. They also add definition that fine coils lack.
Rub gently and keep the sponge work light. Heavy daily friction breaks fine strands along the hairline.
When curly hair is thinning at the crown or temples, a buzz is often the cleanest answer. Even at a number 3, curly hair keeps a little texture that reads fuller than straight hair at the same length.
Our guide to the buzz cut for thinning hair explains which guard to use.
Thinning curly hair shows first at the crown and temples, the same as straight hair, but later. The curl hides it until the gaps get large enough that the curls themselves separate.
The adjustments are simple. Take the top shorter, down to one and a half or two inches, so the curls are tighter and closer together. Keep the sides short so there is no full frame around the thinner top. And stop growing the top long in the hope it will cover: long curls pull straight at the root and part around the thin spot.
For cuts matched to each stage of thinning, see haircuts for men with thinning hair.
Wash two or three times a week, not daily. Use a gentle shampoo and a light conditioner on the lengths only. Daily washing strips fine curls and makes them frizz.
Style soaking wet. Rake a light gel or curl mousse through the top while the hair is still dripping, then leave it. Gel is the better choice for fine curls than a cream, because it holds shape without weight. Our gel picks for fine hair list light ones.
Air-dry or diffuse, and do not touch it until it is dry. Then scrunch gently to break the gel's cast. A diffuser on low heat adds root lift that air-drying does not.
On day two, mist with water and scrunch rather than brushing. A brush through dry curly hair turns it into a cloud of frizz.
Heavy creams, butters and oils. They define thick curls but weigh fine ones flat against the head. Brushing dry. It separates each curl into strands. Thinning shears. They cut short hairs into the curls that frizz outward, and thin hair has no bulk to spare.
Grown-out sides. Curly sides widen as they grow and make the top look narrow and sparse by comparison. Keep them short even while the top grows.
Short, tapered sides with about two inches of curl on top. The length lets each curl form fully, and the short sides stop the shape from widening into a triangle. Ask for the curls to be cut dry, curl by curl. A low taper or a burst taper keeps the outline tidy without bare skin next to the top.
Usually not very long. Past about three inches, the weight of the hair pulls the curls straight at the roots, and they part and show scalp at the crown. Most men with thin curly hair look fullest with one and a half to three inches on top and short sides.
Yes, better than straight hair. A curl takes up more space than a straight strand of the same length, and curls stack on top of each other, so gaps show much later. That is also why thinning in curly-haired men is often noticed late, when the curls themselves have started to separate.
A light gel or curl mousse, applied to soaking wet hair. Both hold the curl shape without the weight of a cream or butter, which flattens fine curls. Scrunch out the gel's stiffness once the hair is fully dry. Avoid oils and heavy leave-ins on the top.
Two or three times a week suits most men. Curly hair is drier than straight hair, and daily shampooing strips it and makes it frizz. On the other days, rinse with water or mist and scrunch. Use a light conditioner on the lengths only, not the scalp.
Go shorter on top, to about one and a half or two inches, so the curls are tighter, and keep the sides short. Do not grow the top longer to cover the thin area. If the thinning is progressing, a dermatologist can confirm the cause and discuss treatment, which works best when started early.
SBEleven years behind the chair, specializing in short shapes and fine-hair texture. Simone believes the best haircut is the one you can style yourself in ten minutes.
More from Simone →Results vary with hair type, curl pattern, density, and growth patterns. Hairstyling guidance is not a substitute for an in-person consultation with a licensed barber or stylist.
This article is not medical advice. If your hair loss is sudden, patchy, or accompanied by an itchy, sore or scaly scalp, see a board-certified dermatologist.
Hairstyle images in this guide are AI-generated illustrations, not photos of real clients or results. See our image policy.
