10 Easy Hairstyles for Kids With Curly Hair

Styling curly hair on kids presents a completely different challenge than managing straight strands. Those gorgeous curls can tangle quickly, frizz up at the slightest humidity, and turn a simple morning into a frustration if you’re fighting against the hair’s natural texture rather than working with it. The good news? When you use techniques that embrace curl patterns instead of trying to flatten or straighten them, styling becomes significantly easier—and honestly more fun for kids, who love seeing their curls celebrated rather than seen as something to fix.

The hairstyles that work best for curly-haired children are ones that keep the curls intact, reduce manipulation that causes breakage, and actually look better when the curls are left undisturbed. You don’t need heat tools, endless products, or complicated multi-step routines. What you need are styles that work with your child’s curl pattern—whether they have tight coils, springy ringlets, loose waves, or something in between—and that can be created in under 10 minutes on a regular morning.

The styles in this list are specifically chosen because they work beautifully on curly hair, they minimize daily styling stress, they hold throughout the day without constant re-adjusting, and they actually look more polished the curlier and more textured your child’s hair is. Many of these styles can be created while your kid watches a show or eats breakfast, and several can even be partially done the night before. Whether you’re dealing with a toddler’s wild curls or a school-age child who’s ready to help style their own hair, these 10 options give you reliable, beautiful choices for every day and every occasion.

1. Simple Two-Strand Twist Buns

Close-up of a child with two-strand twist buns at the crown on curly hair

Two-strand twists are one of the most protective and elegant styles for curly hair, and when you coil them into little buns at the crown, you get something that looks intentional and beautifully polished while requiring almost no skill. This style works on every single curl type—from loose waves to tight coils—and the twists actually enhance the curl pattern rather than fighting against it.

Why This Works So Well for Curly Hair

Two-strand twists follow the natural spiral of each curl, which means you’re essentially amplifying what’s already there instead of trying to create something artificial. The twists stay intact throughout the day because they’re working with the hair’s structure, not against it. Unlike braids that can look messy when they start to loosen, twists on curly hair actually look intentionally textured and charming as the day goes on. Because you’re twisting the entire length of the hair from root to tip, you’re also creating a protective style that shields the hair from friction and keeps moisture locked in.

How to Create the Look Step by Step

Start with freshly moisturized hair—slightly damp is ideal, as this helps the twists hold better and allows the curls to re-curl as they dry. Section the hair into 4-6 sections, depending on your child’s hair density and the look you want (more sections create more, smaller buns; fewer sections create bigger, chunkier buns). Take one section and divide it cleanly into two equal subsections. Twist these two strands around each other, working from the scalp all the way down to the ends, making sure to keep consistent tension—not too tight, but not loose either.

As you reach the end of the twist, you can either secure it with a small elastic and then wrap the secured tail around the base to form a bun, or coil the entire twist loosely on itself at the crown and pin it in place with bobby pins. Repeat with each section until your child has a crown of little twisted buns.

What You’ll Need and Quick Tips

A spray bottle of water or a curl refresher spray to dampen the hair
Small elastics in a color that matches your child’s hair
6-8 bobby pins, ideally the same color as the hair
A wide-tooth comb to gently detangle before starting
A light leave-in conditioner to add slip and reduce frizz while you work

Pro tip: If your child has very tightly coiled hair, slightly damp hair holds better. If they have looser waves, you can work with hair that’s completely dry, and the twists will look slightly more defined.

2. High Puff or Top Knot

Front view of a child with a high puff at the crown secured by a scrunchie

The high puff—a knot of curly hair gathered at the very crown and secured with a scrunchie or hair tie—is possibly the fastest, easiest curly-hair style there is, and it looks genuinely cute, intentional, and effortless. There’s a reason this style has stayed popular for so long: it works, it’s fast, and it makes any curl pattern look beautiful because you’re literally just gathering the curls upward and letting them do their thing.

Why Kids Love This Style

This style takes about 90 seconds to create, which matters enormously on busy mornings or when you have multiple kids to get ready. Your child can help create it once they’re old enough to understand “gather your hair up,” which builds confidence and independence. The high puff keeps hair completely off the face and neck, making it perfect for active kids, sports, or outdoor play. Because you’re not manipulating the curls at all—just gathering them up—the curls stay intact and actually look fuller and bouncier throughout the day as they continue to set and define.

The Basic Technique

Comb or finger-comb the hair to remove tangles, working gently from the ends upward. Gather all the hair together at the crown—literally the highest point on top of the head—using your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to smooth everything back. You want a clean, smooth base with no flyaways or loose pieces, but you’re not pulling so hard that it’s uncomfortable. Secure the gathered hair with a scrunchie, hair tie, or silk elastic, making sure it’s tight enough to hold throughout the day but not so tight that it’s pulling on the scalp and causing discomfort.

Once it’s secured, you can fluff out the puff by gently pulling on sections of the gathered curls to make it look fuller and more voluminous. Some curl patterns naturally create a perfect sphere; others are more of a cloud. Both look beautiful.

Variations That Keep It Fresh

A side puff moved to one side of the head gives a different silhouette and works particularly well for kids with looser curl patterns. A two-puff look with matching sections on either side of the head is playful and fun, especially for younger children. A puff with a braid (gather some hair into a high puff, then braid the remaining hair underneath) adds complexity without actually taking much longer. A puff wrapped with a scarf or ribbon threaded through the base transforms it from casual to special-occasion-ready.

Quick fact: Puffs actually last longer on curly hair because the curl pattern holds everything in place naturally. Once that elastic is secure, you’re pretty much done for the day.

3. Half-Up Curly Pigtails

Child's half-up curly pigtails with the rest of the curls down

Half-up pigtails—where you gather the top section of hair into two ponytails while leaving the bottom section down—are the sweet spot between “easy” and “styled.” This style looks intentional and cute without requiring any braiding, twisting, or complicated technique. The half-up style also keeps hair partially back from the face, which kids appreciate, while still showing off all those beautiful curls down the length of the hair.

Why This Style Works on Curly Hair

Half-up pigtails look exponentially better on curly hair than on straight hair because the curls fill in the sides of the face naturally in a way that looks soft and flattering. Where the style might look a bit bare or thin on straight hair, on curly hair it looks intentionally voluminous and textured. You’re also using the hair’s natural fullness to create shape, which means you don’t have to blow-dry, tease, or artificially puff anything up.

Creating the Look

Start with hair that’s either freshly washed and curled, or refresh-sprayed and re-curled from a previous wash day. Section the top portion of the hair—from the temples up to the crown—by imagining a horizontal line from ear to ear across the back of the head. Everything above that line is your top section; everything below stays down. Divide this top section into two equal parts, one on each side of the head, using a clean vertical line from the forehead straight back.

Gather one side into a ponytail at the side of the crown and secure with a small elastic. Repeat on the other side, making sure both ponytails are the same height and tension. Gently fluff out each ponytail and the curls around the face to create a soft, voluminous look. You can leave it here for a simple version, or continue to the next step for something a bit more polished.

Making It Extra Special

Wrap a small piece of hair around the base of each elastic to hide it—take a thin strand from inside each ponytail, wrap it around the base where the elastic sits, and pin the wrapped piece underneath. This gives a more finished, polished appearance. Add ribbons, bows, or hair clips threaded through the ponytails. Braid each ponytail loosely from the base down the length of the hair for a more intricate look. Spiral each ponytail loosely around your finger and secure with a bobby pin to create little buns at the crown while keeping the rest of the hair down.

Real talk: This style genuinely looks better and lasts longer when you leave the bottom section of hair down in its natural curls. Trying to add waves or curls to the bottom section usually backfires and creates frizz. Just let those curls be, and you’re done.

4. Braided Crowns

Curly-haired child wearing a crown braid around the head

A braided crown—a single braid or double braids woven across the head from one side to the other—looks absolutely lovely on curly-haired kids and actually becomes easier to create as the hair gets curlier. The texture of curly hair naturally fills in the braid and makes it look fuller and more intricate than it actually is, which means you don’t have to be a braid expert to pull this off.

How Curly Hair Makes Braiding Easier

Here’s something most people don’t realize: braiding curly hair is often easier and more forgiving than braiding straight hair. The curl pattern gives you natural grip and texture, which means the braid stays put without you having to pull super tight. Loose strands and flyaways that would look messy in a straight braid actually look intentionally textured and charming in curly hair. If your sections aren’t perfectly even or your braid isn’t perfectly tight, the curls will fill in the gaps and make the whole thing look intentionally thick and beautiful.

Creating a Crown Braid

Comb or finger-detangle the hair gently, then decide whether you want a single braid or double braids. For a single crown, start on one side at the temple area. Section off a piece of hair about the width of three fingers and divide it into three equal subsections. Begin a standard three-strand braid, working across the head from one temple to the other. As you braid, you can either do a French braid (adding hair from the crown as you go) or a simple braid (keeping the three strands the same and not adding hair). A simple braid is faster; a French braid that picks up hair as it goes looks more intricate.

Once the braid reaches the other side of the head, secure the end with a small elastic, then gently pull on the braid sections to make it look fuller and more textured. Pin the secured end underneath on the other side for a seamless look.

The Double-Braid Crown

For a double-braid crown, part the hair down the center from forehead to nape. Create a separate braid on each side of the head, starting from one temple and working back to the same side. Once both braids are complete and secured, bring them up and across the back of the head, pinning each end down on the opposite side to create a woven crown effect.

Tips for Success

Slightly damp hair braids more smoothly and holds better throughout the day than completely dry hair. If you’re using a French braid technique, add hair in small pieces as you braid rather than large chunks—this keeps the braid looking neat and intentional. For very young children who won’t sit still, a simple three-strand braid takes about 5 minutes per side, while a French braid might take 7-8 minutes. It’s worth spending the extra time if your child can be patient, because the result is genuinely stunning.

Worth knowing: Braided crowns hold beautifully overnight, which means you can often redo them with just a few bobby pins the next morning rather than re-braiding completely. This is a major time-saver.

5. Side Sweep with an Accessory

Side-swept curly hairstyle secured with a decorative clip

A side sweep—sweeping the hair to one side and securing it with a hair clip, barrette, or bow—is almost absurdly simple, yet it looks put-together and intentional. This style takes about a minute to create, which makes it perfect for days when you’re running late, and it looks equally good on toddlers and elementary-school-age kids. The beauty of this style on curly hair is that you’re not trying to make it smooth or sleek; you’re just gathering the voluminous curls to one side and letting them cascade down the shoulder.

Why a Side Sweep Works

This style completely changes how a child’s face looks by moving all the hair away from one side, which is flattering and practical. It keeps hair off the face without requiring any braiding or twisting. For curly hair, a side sweep showcases the curl pattern beautifully because you’re moving the bulk of the hair to one side while the other side of the face stays clear and visible. The style works on every curl type and every hair length.

The One-Minute Technique

Comb the hair gently, then use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to sweep the hair to one side of the head—typically toward the back of the shoulder. Secure it with a clip, barrette, bow, or elastic. That’s genuinely it. You can make it look slightly more polished by tucking the secured hair under slightly and making sure no pieces are falling into the face, but you’re not trying to create anything elaborate or perfect-looking.

Making It a Statement

Choose a clip or accessory that matches an outfit or adds a pop of color. Use a silk or satin scrunchie instead of a regular elastic to reduce friction and frizz. Secure the side sweep lower, closer to the nape of the neck, for a more sophisticated look, or higher, closer to the crown, for a more playful, youthful appearance. Twist or braid the swept section loosely before securing it for added visual interest. Add multiple clips or a combination of clips and bows if your child likes a more decorated, whimsical look.

Pro tip: This style works beautifully on second-day hair (hair that’s a day old and has already set into its curl pattern). In fact, side sweeps often look better on day-two curls than on freshly washed curls, because the curls have more definition and hold.

6. Woven Basket Weave Braid

Center braid with woven sections creating a basket weave on curly hair

A basket weave braid—where you create one main braid down the center of the head while weaving in additional sections of hair to create a textured, interwoven pattern—looks absolutely stunning and surprisingly professional. On curly hair, the texture makes the weave look fuller and more intricate than it actually is, which means you can create a genuinely impressive-looking style without needing professional braiding skills.

Understanding the Technique

A basket weave braid starts with a basic braid down the center of the head (a straight braid from crown to nape), then you weave additional sections of hair through this center braid from both sides, creating a woven appearance. The curly texture of your child’s hair fills in the weaving and makes the whole thing look intentionally textured and beautiful. Because you’re working with curls, imperfect weaving actually looks more charming—it looks purposefully organic rather than sloppy.

Creating the Style Step by Step

Start with hair that’s been gently detangled. Create a center part from the forehead to the nape, dividing the hair into two equal halves. Begin with a three-strand braid down the center of the head, starting from the crown and working straight down the back. Secure the end with a small elastic.

Now, take a thin section of hair from the left side of the head, weave it over the left outer strand of the center braid, then under the right outer strand, creating an interwoven pattern. Secure this section with a bobby pin. Repeat on the right side, weaving hair over the right outer strand and under the left outer strand. Continue alternating sides as you work your way down the braid, adding woven sections about an inch apart.

Gently pull on the braid and the woven sections to make everything look fuller and more textured.

Simplified Version for Busy Mornings

If the full basket weave feels too complicated for a regular school morning, you can simplify by just creating the basic center braid and weaving in 3-4 sections on each side (rather than the full length). This still creates the basket weave effect and looks beautiful, but takes significantly less time. You can also ask your child’s school if they have a hairstylist on staff or a parent volunteer who’s comfortable doing this style—many schools love having kids come in with special, intricate braids for photos or events.

Quick fact: Basket weave braids actually look better on day-two or day-three curls because the curls have more definition and hold the weaving pattern more securely throughout the day.

7. Space Buns

Close-up of a child’s curly hair styled into two space buns on the crown

Space buns—two small buns positioned on either side of the crown—are a playful, fun style that kids absolutely love, and they’re particularly striking on curly hair because the buns are puffier and more voluminous than on straight hair. This style is perfect for younger kids or for any day when you want something fun and a little bit whimsical. The technique is incredibly simple, and you can create the buns using braids, twists, or just plain gathered curls.