3 Ways To Get Curly Hair (Men) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Get Curly Hair (Men) PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Angela Justice

Last Updated: October 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Using Products
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  • Training Curls With Washing
    • |
  • Getting Creative
    • |
  • Video
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  • Q&A
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  • Tips
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This article was co-authored by Angela Justice. Angela Justice is a Master Hair Stylist and the Owner of Payton Place Salon based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. With over 33 years of experience, she specializes in styling and cutting hair, coloring hair, providing hair repair and strengthening services, and installing tape-in hair extensions. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,481,081 times.

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.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Using Products

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  1. Step 1 Use hair gels.... 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]

    How to Use Hair GelsAfter 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. Step 2 Treat your hair... 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]
    • 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]
    • 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. Step 3 Try to use a natural texturizer. 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]
  4. Step 4 Try out curl-enhancing shampoo. 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]

    Shampoo Ingredients to Look For and AvoidLook 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.[6] 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).[7]

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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Training Curls With Washing

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  1. Step 1 Brush your hair... 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.[8]
  2. Step 2 Rinse your hair regularly. 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.[9]
  3. Step 3 Wash your hair less. 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.[10] 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. Step 4 Let your hair air dry. 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.[11]
    • 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.
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Getting Creative

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  1. Step 1 Try a heat curler or roller curlers. 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. Step 2 Get the right... 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.[12] 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.[13]
  3. Step 3 Train your hair... 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.[14]

    How to Get 360 WavesCut 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. Step 4 Consider getting a... 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.[15]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question What's the difference between washing and rinsing my hair? Community Answer Community Answer Washing is when you use shampoo and conditioner. Rinsing is just running water through your hair without including any product. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 40 Helpful 201
  • Question What shampoo or oil should I use to get curls if I have straight hair? Community Answer Community Answer Argan oil is great to use, it replenishes the natural oils of your hair, making it stronger and helping it grow nicely. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 43 Helpful 109
  • Question How can I get curly hair overnight? Community Answer 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 46 Helpful 124
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Video

Tips

  • Try touching your hair less throughout the day. The less you touch it, the longer your curls will last.[16] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Talk to your stylist about professional products and options that you might be able to use to get your hair curly. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 4
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.hairromance.com/style-curly-hair-gel/
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYJb2CJp-SQ
  3. ↑ https://www.thebarbr.com/how-to-get-wavy-hair-men/
  4. ↑ https://www.beautycon.com/article/what-happens-when-you-use-a-texturizer-si
  5. ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/best-curly-hair-products
  6. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/beauty/features/choose-right-shampoo
  7. ↑ https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals-avoid/
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZUZhQtjXMMo
  9. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/24/fashion/how-often-should-you-really-wash-your-hair.html
More References (7)
  1. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-dirty-truth-about-washing-your-hair
  2. ↑ https://www.self.com/story/blow-dry-mistakes
  3. ↑ Angela Justice. Master Hair Stylist. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://manofmany.com/style/hairstyles-grooming/pompadour-haircut-hairstyles-men
  5. ↑ https://www.menshairstylestoday.com/how-to-get-360-waves/
  6. ↑ https://www.allthingshair.com/en-us/mens-hairstyles/curly-hairstyles-for-men/man-perm/
  7. ↑ Angela Justice. Master Hair Stylist. Expert Interview

About This Article

Angela Justice Co-authored by: Angela Justice Master Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Angela Justice. Angela Justice is a Master Hair Stylist and the Owner of Payton Place Salon based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. With over 33 years of experience, she specializes in styling and cutting hair, coloring hair, providing hair repair and strengthening services, and installing tape-in hair extensions. This article has been viewed 2,481,081 times. 74 votes - 56% Co-authors: 28 Updated: October 14, 2025 Views: 2,481,081 Categories: Curling Hair Article SummaryX

To get curly hair, rub a pea-sized amount of gel into your hair, and run your hands through it to create a messy look. For a more natural approach, rinse your hair regularly with water but only use shampoo once a week, since this will help your hair retain natural oils that make it curl more. After you take a shower, let your hair dry on its own, because towel drying will flatten it out. You could also try combing a pea-sized amount of hair oil into your hair twice a week, which will make your hair stronger and more likely to curl naturally. If you have medium-length or long hair, try using heat curlers, which you can put in your hair while it dries after a shower. For tips on how to get a haircut to enhance your curls, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Jun 17, 2016

    "Getting curling shampoo helped along with showering every night instead if the morning. Also, brushing and using..." more
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Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Angela Justice Co-authored by: Angela Justice Master Hair Stylist 74 votes - 56% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 28 Updated: October 14, 2025 Views: 2,481,081 Anonymous

Anonymous

Jun 17, 2016

"Getting curling shampoo helped along with showering every night instead if the morning. Also, brushing and using..." more David Conner

David Conner

Jan 6, 2020

"It really helped. I just wanted curly hair. I read this, and bam--within one and a half weeks, curls!" Nelvine O.

Nelvine O.

Nov 4, 2023

"You have really helped me. Thank you." Karabo Kennedy Sebego

Karabo Kennedy Sebego

Jun 18, 2016

"Washing hair into curls is amazing." Bernard Daika

Bernard Daika

Oct 31, 2016

"The fastest curl I have ever seen." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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