Written by Rakelle Maurici in Hair on the 24th March 2015

Photography by Hannah Cassidy

Harry Styles, Adam Brody and Game of Thrones star Kit Harington have all embraced their curls since day one, so why can’t you? There is no doubt about it that curly and wavy hair is harder to style but for those of you who're gifted with those beautiful locks don't feel hard done by, you can look just as good as those with straight hair with the right care and attention. Firstly, curly and wavy hair are two different things.

Curly is harder to define on men; generally because it’s shorter and some curls may not develop until a few inches into the strands itself, which in some cases may be considered wavy. So ultimately it really depends on how curly your hair is and what works for your hair type.

Loose curls and waves 

If your hair is kept short and the curls don’t manifest until 2 or 3 inches from your scalp the best kind of hairstyle for you would be the side sweep at the front. You want it to look a little messy, but neat at the same time. Use a little hair putty to control the curls into place. Alternatively if you like to have hair sit across the front of your forehead, then keep the hair at a reasonable length for the curls to show and create a ‘mop top’ style with a short fringe; shorter on the sides and longer on the top. You’ll know by your hair type which products work for you, perhaps a serum to stop it frizzing or salt spray to keep your locks tame. If you’re looking for a style for the office, this is generally a smarter look when it comes to waves and curls.

Tighter curls 

Those with tighter curls are probably the ones who find it the hardest and struggle thinking how to style it. Generally the hair will be thicker, which makes it harder to maintain too. However; don’t be put off, let your hair do the talking about your style and embrace it, curls are something women spend hours and money on trying to achieve so be thankful! The best advice is control; keep the curls frizz free with serums and leave in conditioner for longer when washing.

Longer Hair 

We have been hearing from hair experts this year that men are being encouraged to wear their hair longer than recent years. So lucky for the curly haired males amongst us, you are already ahead of the game. The trick is to make this hairstyle look as natural as possible; with a fresh beach vibe. Keep the hair shorter at the sides and the front, for more casual wear it’s fine to style this as relaxed as possible but for more formal occasions, control and define the curls with a small amount of pomade. An important factor to remember when it comes to longer hair is to keep it well-nourished with a good shampoo and condition regime. It may be better to not wash it daily because the shampoo will give it too much volume. Just skip the shampoo and condition it to lock in the moisture and prevent it from matting between washes.

We take a look at wavy hair, long hair and curly hair for this Man's Guide to Curly and Wavy Hair.