Curly hair is beautiful in its natural form, but can sometimes lack definition and appear frizzy. Finding the right hair color for your curl type can really help to enhance and bring out the best in your waves and ringlets. The key is choosing a shade that complements your skin tone and doesn’t clash with your natural hair color. Here’s an overview of how different hair colors can accentuate curls for stunning results.
Blonde
Going blonde is a great way to make curly hair pop. It adds shine and vibrancy that makes curls appear more defined. Lighter blonde shades like platinum or baby blonde can brighten up dark curly locks, while warm golden or honey blonde hues complement tan or olive complexions. Be sure to still condition well if opting for a dramatic blonde color change to avoid dryness.
Adding Highlights
Adding highlights is a subtler way to illuminate curls without fully committing to blonde. Face-framing highlights around the hairline and scattered strands throughout the interior hair can give curly manes dimension. Warm caramel and buttery blonde tones tend to look most natural and vibrant against dark brown or black curls. Vibrant copper and auburn highlights also bring out the bounce and shine of curly hair.
Rich Browns
Rich chocolate and espresso brown shades make curly hair look ultra lush. The depth of darker browns plays up the texture and fullness of curls. Brown also happens to be an easy shade to maintain with curly hair’s tendency to fade faster than straight styles. Darker brunette colors counteract brassiness so curls stay fresh and vibrant looking between salon visits.
Chestnut Brown
For those with tan or olive skin, chestnut brown is a great choice for complementing your complexion while making curls pop. The warm, reddish undertones of chestnut brown complement and accentuate the natural highlights in curly hair. This shade also provides subtle dimension for defining curls without being too bold of a change.
Black
Jet black hair provides a striking contrast, allowing even the tightest of curls to stand out. Solid black hair color minimizes the appearance of frizz andflyaways for sleek definition. Be sure to use a conditioning hair dye or gloss treatment to prevent black from drying out naturally voluminous curls.
Dark Chocolate Brown
For a rich brown shade that flatters a wide range of skin tones, go for a dark chocolate brown. This deep, slightly cool-toned brown adds lushness to curly strands. Keep your natural roots to play up the dimension of dark chocolate waves and curls. The color also minimizes visible scalp between the curls, making it an ideal option for curly hair.
Caramel
Warm caramel brown tones breathe life into curly hair while downplaying frizz. The buttery shade brightens up dark curls and complements brown eyes and warm complexions. Ask your colorist to incorporate golden highlights and lowlights for multidimensional color with lots of depth.
Red
From vibrant copper to deeper auburn, red is a lively color choice that makes curls pop. Crimson and burgundy shades also give curly hair an ultra-luxe effect. Boost moisture to prevent red from drying out curls. Enhance vibrancy by using a color-protecting shampoo and glossing treatments.
Ombre
Give curly hair a modern look with ombre, where the ends are several shades lighter than the roots. The blended color effect looks natural and beautifully accentuates the shape of curls. For fine or thin curls, ask your colorist to hand-paint the highlights to avoid a stark demarcation line.
Sombre
Similar to ombre, sombre (short for “subtle ombre”) is a very gently graduated effect from roots to ends. The subtle color shift creates dimension while keeping an overall natural appearance. Sombre works especially well on curly hair since the blended colors enhance the spirals rather than compete with them.
Gloss Treatments
For refreshing curly color between salon visits, use a gloss treatment once a week. Gloss deposits semi-permanent color to boost shine and vibrancy. Opt for a shade that matches or slightly differs from your current color to amp up the multidimensionality. Using the right at-home gloss in between professional coloring services helps curly hair color stay vivid.
Enhancing Dark Roots
Embracing naturally dark curly roots while the lengths and ends are lightened is an on-trend look. The contrast shows off the amazing texture and volume of curls. Ask your colorist for a shadow root technique where the regrowth subtly blends for 10-20% of the hair length before lightening up. This makes the transition from dark to light look natural.
Balayage Highlights
For natural-looking dimension, balayage is ideal. The colorist hand-paints freehand highlights in thin ribbons throughout the hair. Balayage makes curly hair look sun-kissed, with lighter pieces framing the face and scattered throughout. The seamless blend of shades enhances waves and curls.
Babylights
For a touch of contrast that flatters curly hair, ask your colorist for babylights. These are very fine, subtle highlights woven throughout the hair. The micro highlights catch and reflect the light. On curly hair, babylights add the perfect dose of dimension without lightening too drastically or competing with the natural curl pattern.
Gloss
Got natural curls you want to enhance with subtle color? Try a clear gloss treatment. The clear semi-permanent formula adds shine and conditioning benefits. A curl-friendly gloss can help combat frizz and define the curls without permanently altering your hair color.
Enhancing Gray Curls
If you have gorgeous natural gray curls, enhance them with subtle lowlights or a demi-permanent toner. The goal is to counteract any yellow tones in gray hair for fresher, brighter silver curls. Avoid permanent gray coverage, which deposits pigment that can make hair look flat. Embrace and enhance those beautiful natural gray curls!
Choosing a Hair Color for Your Curls
When deciding which shade will make your curls look their best, consider the following factors:
- Skin tone – Cooler complexions look great with ash brown and platinum curls, while warm golden highlights flatter warmer skin.
- Natural hair color – Staying close to your natural shade typically looks most seamless. Going 2-3 shades lighter or darker can make a statement.
- Eye color – Warm brown, hazel and amber eyes pop against caramel tones. Blue and green eyes look stunning with copper. Darker shades like black and espresso intensify all eye colors.
- Coverage goals – Highlights and lowlights give dimension. An overall shade change boosts vibrancy.
- Damage control – Over-processing can dry and damage curly hair. Ask your colorist to incorporate bond-building Olaplex or similar treatments.
Tips for Coloring Curly Hair
It’s important to take special care when coloring curly hair to maintain the integrity of the curls. Here are some top tips:
- Use a conditioning permanent dye formula to minimize drying of the hair shaft.
- Opt for highlights rather than overall color to limit chemical processing.
- Ask your colorist to weave and paint on highlights to blend with curls.
- Use a professional bonding treatment like Olaplex or Smartbond to repair bonds broken during lightening.
- Shampoo less frequently, using a cleansing conditioner or co-wash between regular shampooing.
- Deep condition weekly and use a hair mask or oil treatment as needed.
- Let hair air dry or gently diffuse to preserve the curl pattern.
- Use products designed for curly, colored hair when styling.
Caring for Colored Curls
It’s important to use the right maintenance products for colored curly hair to retain vibrancy and moisture between salon visits:
| Product | How it Helps |
|---|---|
| Sulfate-free shampoo | Prevents stripping of color; gentle for curls |
| Color-depositing conditioner | Refreshes color; hydrates hair |
| Weekly deep conditioner | Intense moisture prevents color fading |
| Anti-fade toning gloss | Boosts shine; tones brassiness |
| Bond-building treatments | Repair damage from lightening |
| Microfiber towel | Gently dries to maintain curl pattern |
| Leave-in conditioner | Hydrates and detangles for color protection |
| Heat protectant | Shields from styling damage |
Hair Color and Curl Type
Certain hair colors tend to complement different curl types and textures:
| Curl Type | Ideal Hair Colors |
|---|---|
| Type 2A Light Waves | Buttery blondes, ash browns, shades close to natural |
| Type 2B Flowy Waves | Warm blondes, chestnut browns, rich auburns |
| Type 2C Ringlet Curls | Coppery and ginger shades, black, vivid red |
| Type 3A Loose Corkscrews | Golden browns, warm auburn, dark chocolate |
| Type 3B Classic Coils | Caramel blondes, espresso browns, bold reds |
| Type 3C Tight Coils | Black, rich brown, cinnamon red |
| Type 4A Zigzag Curls | Black, dark brown, vibrant red |
| Type 4B Fragile Z-Shaped | Jet black, burgundy, plum |
| Type 4C Extremely Tight Coils | Black, brown-black, frosty platinum |
Choosing a Stylist
To get beautiful results coloring curly hair, it’s important to choose an experienced stylist who understands the unique needs of curls. Here are tips for finding the right pro:
- Look for “curly hair specialist” in their description
- View social media and salon site photos for curl coloring technique
- Ask if they use curl-friendly balayage, babylights, etc.
- Ask about their experience with specific curl types like 3B, 4C, etc.
- Look for salons that use bonding treatments like Olaplex
- Read curly hair client reviews mentioning color
- Set up a consultation to discuss your hair goals
When meeting with a potential stylist, show pictures of curly hair colors you love, and discuss your hair type, concerns, and expectations. Book a trial coloring session first to ensure the stylist properly enhances your curls before committing to an overall color.
Color Application Tips
It takes specialty techniques to color curly hair while maintaining the integrity of the curls. Here are pro application tips for maximizing results:
- Separate curls into sections using clips instead of braids
- Use a color-protecting balm or conditioner as a base
- Paint highlights on vs. using foils which can damage curls
- Use a tinting brush to paint babylights near the roots
- Finish with a conditioning gloss or toner to perfect tones
Let your colorist know your styling routine and concerns to determine application techniques. Air drying after coloring seals the cuticle for enhanced color retention. Sleep in a silk cap following coloring services to minimize friction.
Conclusion
The right hair color can take curly hair from casual to stunning. Warm caramel and golden tones illuminate brunette curls, while platinum and vivid reds make coils and coils stand out. Stay close to your natural shade or go bold – as long as you maintain moisture and condition, any color can enhance and accentuate your beautiful natural texture. Consult with a skilled curly hair colorist and enjoy hair that perfectly complements your complexion and style!