The natural hair movement of the 2010s reminded us of how beautiful our natural hair is and inspired many to celebrate their curls and coils (including celebrities). Over the last 14 years, we've seen tons of celebs wear their natural hair more often and get creative with textured styles. With that in mind, we've rounded up 16 stunning examples of celebrities with naturally curly hair, from Kerry Washington to Yara Shahidi.
Meet the Expert
- Edward James is a multi-award-winning hairdresser and salon owner. He is also the co-founder of the online e-commerce site and platform The Hair Consult.
- Yetty Bames is a hairstylist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York.
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Yara Shahidi
When it comes to beauty, Yara Shahidi's curls have been a part of her signature look since day one. "To maintain defined curls [like Yara], I'd recommend using a product like Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector ($30) to repair and strengthen the hair," James says.
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H.E.R.
We love H.E.R.’s voluminous, layered curls. The key to achieving the singer’s look is getting a curly cut specifically tailored to your hair. The award-winning singer works with curl specialist Sabrina Ahmed to keep her curls healthy.
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Tia Mowry
Tia Mowry has experimented with several styles through the years, but she's always remained loyal to her gorgeous curls (she even launched a curl-focused haircare brand in 2023). Here, she shows them off in a high ponytail. For added curl definition, James recommends using Oribe's Curl Gloss ($42). "It hydrates and holds curls without crunchiness," he says.
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Tamera Mowry-Housley
Tamera Mowry-Housley also wears her curls quite often. If you have a similar curl pattern, keep your hair healthy using a hydrating shampoo and conditioner. "Pureology's Hydrate Sheer Shampoo ($37) and Conditioner ($37) are great for keeping curls moisturized and defined," James says.
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Gabrielle Union-Wade
Whenever Gabrielle Union-Wade shows off her gorgeous natural curls, they always look luscious and defined. For type 4 curls, consider styling your hair with Union-Wade's Five Butter Leave-in Conditioner ($11) and Styling Glaze ($9).
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Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington is always showing off her curls. If you have tight ringlets like her, style your hair with a curl-defining gel like Aunt Jackie's Flaxseed Don't Shrink Curling Gel ($8) or Curlsmith's Hydro Style Flexi Jelly ($28).
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Wunmi Mosaku
Wunmi Mosaku always wears her 4c coils in gorgeous styles. To recreate this specific look, section a portion of your hair into a high puff and add a few braids near the front and sides of your head. You can enhance the look further by throwing on a bright scarf.
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Solange
Having been raised by a former hair salon owner, Solange Knowles is no stranger to styling her coils in various ways. The singer—who has type 4 hair–has worn everything from afros to micro braids.
More Beauty
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Issa Rae
Issa Rae beautifully showcased the versatility of natural hair on Insecure and continues to do so off-screen. This slicked-back, curly style is just one prime example.
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Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross has been a curly hair icon since we came to know her via Girlfriends. The actress' passion for natural hair and bringing innovation to the curly hair market led to the launch of her brand, Pattern Beauty, in 2019.
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Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg's hairstyles are ever-changing, but they often show off their beautiful curls. For curls and coils dyed blonde like Stenberg's, it's important to keep the hair conditioned. We suggest using one of the 16 best deep conditioners for natural hair.
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Taraji P. Henson
If Taraji P. Henson hadn't become an actress, she says she would have wanted to be a cosmetologist. So, it's no surprise that she takes great care of her coily hair. She even launched a haircare brand, TPH by Taraji, in 2020.
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Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka's hair features a mix of type 3 curls. For this curl pattern, lightweight curl creams like the Salwa Petersen Chébé Styling Cream ($22) or Curldaze Creamy Curl Styler ($17) can help enhance definition.
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Jordin Sparks
The first time we met Jordin Sparks on American Idol, she was wearing her curly hair. Since then, she's continued to embrace her natural hair and play around with styles. To achieve a similar look, pull your hair into a ponytail and define your curls with a curl cream. For a seamless and sleek look, wrap your hair around the base of your ponytail.
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Beyoncé
Beyoncé switches up her look a lot, but she also has naturally curly hair. With her haircare brand on the horizon, we're betting we'll see more glimpses of her curls soon.
30 Hairstyles for Curly Hair That Are Simple and Chic
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise. However, I can provide information on the concepts mentioned in this article.
Natural Hair Movement:
The natural hair movement refers to a cultural and social movement that encourages individuals, particularly those with African ancestry, to embrace and celebrate their natural hair texture, including curls, coils, and kinks. It promotes self-acceptance, challenges Eurocentric beauty standards, and encourages the use of natural hair care products and styling techniques.
Curls and Coils:
Curls and coils refer to the natural hair textures characterized by spiral or spring-like patterns. These textures are common among individuals with African ancestry, but they can also be found in people of other ethnic backgrounds. Curls and coils can vary in size, shape, and tightness, ranging from loose waves to tight coils.
Celebrities with Naturally Curly Hair:
The article mentions several celebrities who embrace their natural curls and coils. Here are some key points about each celebrity mentioned:
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Yara Shahidi: Yara Shahidi is known for her signature curls. To maintain defined curls like hers, using products like Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector is recommended.
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H.E.R.: H.E.R. rocks voluminous, layered curls. Getting a curly cut tailored to your hair type is key to achieving a similar look.
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Tia Mowry: Tia Mowry has always remained loyal to her gorgeous curls. For added curl definition, using products like Oribe's Curl Gloss is recommended .
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Tamera Mowry-Housley: Tamera Mowry-Housley also embraces her curls. Using hydrating shampoo and conditioner, such as Pureology's Hydrate Sheer range, can help keep curls moisturized and defined.
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Gabrielle Union-Wade: Gabrielle Union-Wade's natural curls always look luscious and defined. For type 4 curls, styling with her own Five Butter Leave-in Conditioner and Styling Glaze is recommended.
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Kerry Washington: Kerry Washington often shows off her curls. For tight ringlets like hers, using curl-defining gels like Aunt Jackie's Flaxseed Don't Shrink Curling Gel or Curlsmith's Hydro Style Flexi Jelly is suggested.
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Wunmi Mosaku: Wunmi Mosaku rocks her 4c coils in gorgeous styles. To recreate a specific look, sectioning the hair into a high puff and adding braids can enhance the style. Adding a bright scarf can further enhance the look.
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Solange Knowles: Solange Knowles, who has type 4 hair, has worn various styles, including afros and micro braids.
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Issa Rae: Issa Rae beautifully showcases the versatility of natural hair on and off-screen. Slicked-back curly styles are one example of her looks.
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Tracee Ellis Ross: Tracee Ellis Ross is a curly hair icon and the founder of Pattern Beauty, a brand dedicated to curly hair care.
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Alicia Keys: Alicia Keys, known for her braided styles, also embraces her natural curls. Using lightweight curl gels like Pattern Beauty's Curl Gel or Bread's Hair-Gel can help maintain definition and limit frizz.
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Amandla Stenberg: Amandla Stenberg's hairstyles often showcase their beautiful curls. For dyed blonde curls and coils, it's important to keep the hair conditioned with deep conditioners.
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Taraji P. Henson: Taraji P. Henson takes great care of her coily hair and even launched her own haircare brand, TPH by Taraji, in 2020.
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Naomi Osaka: Naomi Osaka's hair features a mix of type 3 curls. Lightweight curl creams like Salwa Petersen Chébé Styling Cream or Curldaze Creamy Curl Styler can help enhance definition.
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Jordin Sparks: Jordin Sparks has embraced her natural hair since her time on American Idol. Pulling the hair into a ponytail and defining the curls with a curl cream can achieve a similar look.
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Beyoncé: Beyoncé, known for switching up her look, also has naturally curly hair. With her haircare brand, we may see more glimpses of her curls in the future.
Please note that the information provided is based on the snippets from the search results and this article.