The dress is hanging in the closet, the shoes are ready – and then a look in the mirror: What to do with the curls? First of all, the good news: You don’t have to spend hours straightening your natural hair or dragging it to the hairdresser to look festive. Hairstyles for natural curls look even more festive than any straight ironed mane, because the structure itself provides volume and movement. Six variations, from the loose wave to the tight 4C curl, can be created on your own head in under 20 minutes – with a few simple steps that are tailored precisely to your type of curl.
Pro tips for preparation
- Slightly moist instead of dry: Apply the styling product to towel-dried, not soaking wet hair – this way it will be distributed evenly and the curl will be more defined.
- Serum in lengths: Only knead one or two drops of anti-frizz serum into the lengths and ends, never at the roots – otherwise the top hair will appear stringy and flat.
- Diffuser instead of brush: To dry, use the diffuser on a low setting and do not comb out the curls so that the structure holds together.
- Everything at hand: Have bobby pins, two small clamps and the hair accessories ready before the first step – no one likes to look for pins with a half-finished hairstyle.
High bun with volume for natural curls
The high bun is the classic for big appearances because it opens the face and shows the curl structure on the crown and neck. Here’s how to build it:
- Tie the top hair into a high ponytail and leave the bottom third open.
- Loosely twist the loose hair and pin it up around the ponytail base.
- Place the ponytail curls individually around the roots and secure them with bobby pins until a full bun is created.
Finally, to create visible volume, pull out a few loose curls around the face and neck – tight curls can stand out lushly. A pearl comb on the side of the bun makes the look festive. If you would like to practice the updo technique first, you will find easy updos to restyle here.
French twist at the neck
The French twist looks strict and elegant, but is surprisingly uncomplicated. Tie a low ponytail, but only pull it halfway through with the last fold, leaving a loop. Fold the length inwards and twist the resulting strand tightly upwards into a narrow, vertical roll. Bobby pins, placed crosswise along the seam, hold everything in place.
A small amount of styling cream helps against protruding frizz hairs on the temples: rub it into the palms of your hands and gently stroke it over the surface. A pearl barrette at the top of the roll provides the festive finale.
Half-open hairstyle with pearl pins
The half-open hairstyle is the fastest of the bunch and forgives even inexperienced hands. Bring the front sections of both temples back, bring them together over the back of the head and pin them crosswise with two beading pins. Everything else remains open and is allowed to fall in its natural structure.
This look is particularly beautiful on medium-length hair – you can find further ideas for this in our festive hairstyles for medium-length hair. A curling trick saves time: just define individual strands with the curling iron – this emphasizes the contour, protects the natural structure and is much faster than the entire length.
Loose curls away from the face
Sometimes the most beautiful party hairstyle is simply loose hair, just twisted away from the face. This variant hardly requires any tools:
- Separate a 2-3 cm wide strand at each temple.
- Twist the strand backwards and secure it behind your ear with a small clip.
- Repeat this in a mirror image on the other side – the rest of the curls remain completely open.
The volume depends on your structure: For tight curls (type 3C-4C), work on the top of the head with a curl comb to create height; for loose waves, light backcombing directly at the roots is sufficient. This keeps the head round at the top without losing definition.
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Elegant low ponytail
The low ponytail proves that elegant doesn’t have to mean complicated. Tie your hair low at the nape of your neck. The decisive trick against tangled curls: Place a small claw clip directly under the hair tie in the top hair – it absorbs some of the weight so that the ponytail does not sag downwards and the ringlets do not wedge into each other.
Twist the top hair slightly at the crown for some height and place a few loose strands over the elastic to make it disappear. The result looks tidy, but never austere – ideal for a festive dinner where you want to keep your head clear.
Classic low bun
The deep bun at the nape of the neck is the most formal of the six variants and wears tight curls particularly beautifully. It is in three steps:
- Tie the hair into a braid low at the nape of the neck.
- Divide the braid into two strands and wrap them loosely around each other.
- Twist both into a compact bun, fold the ends inwards and hide them under the bun; secure everything with bobby pins.
Solo, the low bun appears simple – and that is exactly its strength. A flower clip or a pearl barrette on the side transforms it into a festive eye-catcher in seconds.
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Which hairstyle for natural curls suits which occasion?
Six hairstyles, three occasions – which one suits when? The following overview assigns each variant to the event in which it works best and reveals how long it lasts. Still undecided? Then, in addition to the table, it’s also worth taking a look at the most beautiful prom hairstyles for fresh ideas.
| hairstyle | Particularly suitable | durability |
|---|---|---|
| High bun with volume | Prom, gala | Very good – lasts all evening |
| French twist at the neck | Wedding guest, gala | Very good – even when dancing |
| Half-open hairstyle | Prom, wedding guest | Medium – try again briefly in the afternoon |
| Loose curls away from the face | Wedding guest, summer party | Medium to good – airy and light |
| Elegant low ponytail | Festive dinner, prom | Good – uncomplicatedly elegant |
| Classic low bun | Gala, wedding guest | Very good – especially formal |
In the end, it’s less the occasion than your curl structure that determines which of the six variants ends up on your head – the tighter the curl, the more festive a simple low bun looks. Get your bobby pins, a pearl barrette and the serum ready the night before and you’ll have your hairstyle done in just a few minutes on the big day. And if you feel like trying it out, we have more hairstyle ideas for curls that you can restyle.
Frequently asked questions
How do festive hairstyles on natural curls last all evening?
The order decides. Apply fine hairspray to the dry roots before pinning – this will help the bobby pins grip better. Only after the finished finish is a second, fine layer applied over the whole thing. Always insert the needles crosswise (two pins in opposite directions) so that even heavy curly hair does not slip.
Which product is suitable for curls before pinning?
Choose by curl texture: Defined, tight curls (3C-4C) maintain shape and shine with a light gel. Loose waves prefer a soft mousse because gel quickly sticks them together and weighs them down. A small amount of both is enough, distributed evenly into damp hair.
Can I style these hairstyles with freshly washed curls?
Better not dewy. Day-old curls are easier to grip, hold needles more reliably and slip less than freshly washed curls, which are often too soft and straight. If the roots look flat the day after, a little dry shampoo will bring back grip and volume.