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You can spend a lot of time and money with styling products and conditioners for your thick, frizzy and curly hair, or you can go lower-maintenance with a short haircut. Of course, short haircuts demand a different type of maintenance, as curly hair thickens quickly and fuzzes out a defined hairstyle. For this reason, pick a style that showcases your curls and gives them license to thicken and lengthen between trims.
Close Cut
A super-close cut limits your flexibility in terms of styling, but frees up your time. You can make your short locks look edgier but using mousse to push them outward and upward while they are still damp. This styling tool manipulates your hair and pumps up the volume on top. This type of style is ideal for women who want to color their hair, as they can skip the double-processing of perming or relaxing their curls and then dyeing it. Instead, keep your curls short and natural and their frizz under control while doing a single process of color.
Modified Bob
Curly girls have long abandoned the single-length bob that grows out into a fuzzy pyramid shape. A modified bob, however, works wonders for thick, frizzy and curly hair. Create a short layer on top to release the underlying hair from being weighed down. Use thinning shears rather than scissors or a razor to trim the bulk away from the sides while keeping your hair's overall shape and flow. Narrow the cut so it tapers at your jawline.
Fro-hawk
Give a nod to punky, funky looks with this mohawk made for frizzy hair. Shear the sides of your head short, or employ styling gel to slick your hair down and bobby pins to hold it in place. Keep the hair at the top of your head long enough to form spikes, waves or dreads with your curly hair. Shape your hair upward by using a thick styling tool, such as hair mud. For added punk panache, paint just the tips of your spikes purple.
Style Maintenance
Rocking curls with a minimum of frizz demands some dedication. Skip the harsh maintenance techniques that cause your delicate hair to break and frizz. For example, most shampoos contain soaps that drain your curls of moisture. Better to use a lotion-style conditioner or a non-sulfate shampoo. Rinse it out well and squeeze out excess water before using your fingers to comb thick conditioner through your hair. This is the only combing that thick, curly hair needs. Keep your curly haircut looking sharp by trimming away split ends monthly.
