If you are looking for winter hairstyles for curly hair, you already know the problem: winter is hard on curls. Cold air dries them out, hats flatten them, and dry indoor heating turns defined curls into frizz. The good news is that these hairstyles work with the cold, not against it — they protect your curls, they hold their shape under a hat, and they look better as the day goes on, not worse.
Curls need moisture in winter more than at any other time of year. Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, and every time you go from a heated room to the cold outside, your hair loses water. That is why winter curls go dry, frizzy, and undefined — and why the hairstyles that work best in winter are the ones that lock moisture in and keep the curls protected, rather than the ones that show them off loose and open to the air.
This guide shares 15 winter hairstyles for curly hair, from the pineapple, perfected, to curly buns that do not flatten, half-up styles, and curls that survive a beanie. You will learn the winter curly rules, the beanie trick, and the party curls that shine on winter nights. Save the beanie trick — it saves every winter curly hairstyle.
The Winter Curly Rules: Moisture, Protection, Less Heat
Three rules govern curly hair in winter, and they are simpler than most curl routines make them sound. First, moisture: winter curls need more of it, not less. Use a leave-in conditioner every time you wash, add a curl cream while the hair is still damp, and seal it all in with a drop of oil on the ends. A weekly deep-conditioning mask, left on for twenty minutes, makes a visible difference in a fortnight.
Second, protection: keep the curls covered when you are outside. A satin-lined beanie, a silk scarf, or a hood lined with satin protects the curls from cold air and from friction against wool, which is what causes frizz and breakage. If your hat is not satin-lined, wear a silk scarf underneath it — it takes ten seconds, and your curls will thank you. Third, less heat: winter is the season to put the diffuser away more often, and to let curls dry naturally whenever you can. Heat plus cold air is a drying combination, and your curls will hold their definition better with less of it.
One more rule, and it is the one most women forget: do not brush curly hair when it is dry. Brushing breaks up the curl pattern and turns defined curls into a cloud of frizz. Detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while the hair is wet and conditioned, and leave it alone after that. The less you touch your curls in winter, the better they look.
15 Winter Hairstyles for Curly Hair
These fifteen looks cover every winter day: lazy mornings, work, snowy walks, and evenings out. Start with the pineapple, then try a bun, a half-up style, or a braid that protects your curls from the cold.
1. The Pineapple, Perfected
The pineapple is the curly girl’s classic: gather the curls into a high, loose ponytail at the very top of the head, so the curls cascade forward like a pineapple top. In winter, the pineapple is more than a sleep style — it is a day style, too, because it keeps the curls off the neck, out of the scarf, and protected from the cold.
Use a soft scrunchie or a silk hair tie, not a tight elastic, and keep the ponytail loose, so the curls are not pulled flat. The pineapple works best on second- or third-day curls, when they have a little more texture, and it is the perfect style for a day when you do not want to wash your hair but still want it to look good.
2. The Curly High Bun
A high curly bun is the most practical winter hairstyle for curly hair: it keeps every curl off your neck, out of your coat collar, and protected from the cold. Gather the curls high, twist them loosely, and pin them into a bun that is soft and full, not tight and neat. The curls themselves give the bun its shape, so it looks voluminous even without any backcombing.
Keep the bun a little messy on purpose — a perfectly neat bun fights the nature of curly hair, while a soft, loose bun works with it. Use U-shaped pins rather than bobby pins, because they hold curly hair better, and leave a few curls out at the front to frame the face.
3. The Curly Low Bun
A low curly bun is the elegant sister of the high bun: worn at the nape, it suits work, smart dinners, and any moment when a high bun would feel too much. It also sits beautifully under a coat collar and a scarf, which is exactly what you want in January. Gather the curls low, twist them loosely, and pin them into a soft bun.
The low bun is also the most hat-friendly bun, because it sits below the hat band. If you wear a beanie, a low bun slides neatly underneath it, and when you take the hat off, the bun is still there. A velvet bow or a gold pin at the bun turns this everyday style into an evening look.
4. The Curly Half-Up
The curly half-up is the answer when you want your curls down but out of your face. Take the top half of the curls, gather them at the crown, and secure them with a scrunchie or a claw clip, letting the rest fall loose over your shoulders. It is soft, pretty, and it works on almost every curl length, from a bob to waist-length curls.
Keep the half-up section loose, so the curls are not pulled flat, and let a few curls fall around the face. A velvet bow or a pearl pin where the half-up section ends finishes the look, and the loose curls underneath keep your neck warm. This is a wonderful choice for a winter brunch or a day working from home.
5. The Curly Ponytail
A curly ponytail is simple, practical, and beautiful in winter: gather the curls at the crown or the nape, secure them with a soft scrunchie, and let the curls cascade. The ponytail keeps the curls off the neck and out of the scarf, and it shows off the curl pattern at its best, because the curls are gathered and defined.
Use a silk scrunchie, which causes less friction and less breakage than a tight elastic, and keep the ponytail a little loose at the front, so the curls frame the face. If your curls are very long, a low ponytail is more comfortable than a high one, because the weight is shared. For more curly routine ideas, see our guide to the winter curly routine for wavy hair.
6. The Curly Braid
A loose braid is one of the most protective winter hairstyles for curly hair, because it keeps the curls contained, stops them from tangling under a scarf, and protects the ends from cold air. Braid the curls loosely — a tight braid pulls the curls flat and causes breakage — and secure the end with a soft fabric elastic. The braid will look full and textured, because the curls give it volume.
Take the braid out the next day, and you will have beautiful, wavy curls — a bonus hairstyle for free. In winter, braid damp hair with a little leave-in conditioner in it, so the curls are moisturised while they are protected. For more protective ideas, see our guide to winter hair care routine for dry, damaged hair.
7. The Curly Top Knot
A curly top knot is the high bun’s chic cousin: gather the curls at the very top of the head, twist them into a knot, and pin it in place. It is quick, it keeps the curls completely out of the way, and it looks polished enough for work, especially with a pair of statement earrings.
Keep the top knot soft and full, not tight and small — the curls themselves give it volume, so let them do the work. Pull a few curls out at the front to frame the face, and use U-shaped pins to hold the knot in place. This is the style to choose on a day when your curls are on their third day and need a little help.
8. The Curly Bob
A curly bob is the winter cut that makes curly hair easy: it sits at the jaw or the chin, it dries quickly, and it never gets caught in a scarf. Ask your stylist to cut it dry, curl by curl, and to leave it longer than you think, because curls spring up as they dry. A curly bob that sits at the collarbone when wet will sit at the jaw when dry.
Style a curly bob with a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream, scrunched in with your hands, and let it dry naturally. Do not brush it out — brushing turns curls into frizz. In winter, a little extra leave-in keeps the curls soft in dry, heated rooms.
9. Curly Hair With a Headband
A headband is the simplest winter accessory for curly hair: it keeps the curls off the face, it keeps the ears warm, and it adds a little polish to a style that is otherwise completely natural. Choose a wide, velvet or knitted headband in a rich winter colour, and wear it over the curls, not pressed flat against the head.
Headbands are also the best way to refresh second-day curls: put the headband on, pull a few curls out at the front, and the style looks intentional in seconds. A satin-lined headband is kindest to curls, because it causes less friction and less frizz than a rough, woollen one.
10. The Curly Space Buns
Space buns are playful, practical, and perfect for curly hair in winter. Part the curls down the middle, make a small bun on each side, and keep them soft and full. The style keeps the curls off the neck, it stays put under a beanie, and it looks adorable peeking out from under a hood.
Keep the buns a little messy on purpose, and pull a few curls out at the front to frame the face. Space buns are the most hat-proof curly style in this guide, because the buns sit below the hat band on both sides, and they are a wonderful choice for a snowy walk or a weekend at home.
11. The Curly Twist-Out
A twist-out is a styling technique as much as a hairstyle: twist damp curls into sections, let them dry, then unravel them for defined, stretched curls with extra length. In winter, a twist-out is wonderful, because the twists protect the curls while they dry, and the finished style holds its definition for days, even under a hat.
Work with damp hair and a little curl cream, twist each section firmly, and let the twists dry completely before you unravel them — unravelling damp twists causes frizz. The twist-out is also a great way to refresh curls that have gone flat: twist the front sections overnight, and they will be defined again in the morning.
12. The Curly Wash-and-Go
The wash-and-go is the simplest curly style there is: wash, condition, add leave-in and curl cream, and let the curls dry naturally. In winter, the wash-and-go needs a little more protection — a leave-in conditioner, a curl cream, and a drop of oil on the ends, plus a satin scarf or a hood when you go outside, so the curls are not exposed to cold air while they are still damp.
Do not go outside with wet curls in very cold weather: wet hair freezes, and frozen curls break. Dry the curls at least mostly before you leave the house, with a diffuser on a low heat if you are in a hurry, or let them dry naturally if you have time. The wash-and-go is the best style for showing off your natural curl pattern, and winter is the season to protect it.
13. The Curly Side Part
A deep side part changes curly hair completely: it adds volume at the crown, it frames the face asymmetrically, and it makes the curls fall in a way that elongates the face. Part the curls while they are wet, at the arch of the eyebrow, and let them dry in that direction from the start.
A side part is also the easiest way to refresh second-day curls: flip the part to the other side, and the curls at the roots lift again, as if you had just washed them. It is a small trick with a big effect, and it costs nothing.
14. Curly Hair With a Scarf
A silk or satin scarf is the curly girl’s best winter friend. Wear it as a headband, to keep the curls off the face, or wrap it around a bun or a ponytail, to protect the curls from the cold and from friction against wool. A scarf in a rich winter colour — burgundy, forest green, or cream — adds colour to a winter outfit and protects the hair at the same time.
Choose silk or satin, not cotton, because cotton absorbs moisture from the curls and causes frizz. For more scarf ideas, see our guide to silk scarf hairstyles for winter women, which covers the best ways to wear a scarf with winter hair.
15. The Party Curls
Party curls are your everyday curls, turned all the way up: defined, shiny, and voluminous, with a little extra volume at the crown and a shine spray over the top. Start with a wash-and-go or a twist-out, add a little extra curl cream at the roots for lift, and finish with a shine spray so the curls catch the light in photographs.
Add a velvet bow or a pearl pin at one side, and the curls become a party look with almost no extra effort. The key is definition: defined curls photograph beautifully, while frizzy curls do not, so spend an extra five minutes on the definition before you leave, and the photographs will be worth it.
Curly Hair Under a Beanie: The Trick
The beanie trick is simple, and it saves every winter curly hairstyle. The mistake most people make is putting a beanie on over loose curls and crushing them flat. Instead, gather the curls into a pineapple or a low bun before you put the hat on, so the hat sits above the curls rather than on top of them. A low bun or a pineapple slides neatly under a beanie, and when you take the hat off, the curls are still there.
The second part of the trick is the hat itself. Choose a beanie with a satin lining, or wear a silk scarf underneath a wool beanie, so the curls are protected from friction. Wool against curls causes frizz and breakage; satin against curls does not. Before you put the hat on, smooth a little oil over the curls to fight static, and when you take it off, flip your head upside down and shake the roots gently to bring the volume back. For more hat-friendly styles, see our guide to winter hat hairstyles for long hair.
Space buns and double braids are the most hat-proof curly styles of all, because they sit below the hat band. If you wear a beret, try a side part with loose curls on one side — the beret sits neatly on the opposite side, and the asymmetry looks deliberate and chic. Whatever hat you choose, the rule is the same: curls below the hat line, satin against the curls, and a quick shake when the hat comes off.
Party Curls for Winter Nights
Party curls are about definition, shine, and volume — in that order. Start with a wash-and-go or a twist-out, and spend an extra five minutes on definition: add a little curl cream to any curls that have gone frizzy, and define them with your fingers, curl by curl. Then add shine: a shine spray over the finished curls, or a drop of oil smoothed over the surface, so the curls catch the light.
Volume comes last, and it is the easiest part: flip your head upside down, shake the roots gently, and add a little volumising powder at the crown. Add one accessory — a velvet bow, a pearl pin, or a pair of statement earrings — and the curls become a party look. Because curly hair holds its shape so well, you can dance all evening without checking a mirror — the curls will still be there at midnight, and they will look even better, softened, by then.
Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Hairstyles for Curly Hair
How do I stop my curls from going frizzy in winter? Moisture, protection, and less touching. Use a leave-in conditioner and a curl cream, protect the curls with a satin-lined hat or a silk scarf, and do not brush them when they are dry. A drop of oil on the ends also helps, especially when you come in from the cold into a heated room.
Can I wear a beanie with curly hair? Yes — if you know the trick. Gather the curls into a pineapple or a low bun before you put the hat on, choose a satin-lined beanie or wear a silk scarf underneath, and shake the roots out when the hat comes off. The curls will survive, and they will look even better for the volume the hat gave them.
Should I wash my curly hair less in winter? A little less, yes. Winter curls dry out faster, and every wash removes moisture. Try washing every three or four days instead of every two, and refresh the curls in between with a little water and leave-in conditioner, rather than a full wash. A satin bonnet at night also helps the curls last longer between washes.
Save this for later: pin the image below to your winter hair board, so the beanie trick is waiting for you on the next cold morning.
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Winter is hard on curls — but these hairstyles work with the cold, not against it. Save the beanie trick — it saves every winter curly hairstyle — and follow Nova Fashion on Pinterest for more winter hair ideas, every day.