Okay can we just talk about thick wavy hair for a second. It has natural volume, it has movement, it has texture, it basically does things that other hair types are paying good money to try to fake.
The trick is finding the right cut for it, because thick wavy hair with the wrong cut is a whole different story. But thick wavy hair with the right cut, I mean nothing beats it. I put together some looks ideas that I think are absolutely gorgeous right now, ranging from long glamour waves to curly shags and everything in between – so let’s explore.
Long Dark Curls, Full Volume
Okay this hair is just absolutely insane in the best way. It’s a deep espresso brown and the curls go all the way past her chest. I love how the layers are cut so the curls open up at the ends instead of clumping together. That is actually the whole secret to why it looks so full. If your thick curly hair always goes flat from the weight, this cut is what you need to ask for.
Dark Wavy Shag with Fringe
The fringe on this one is so cute, it sits right above the brows and just frames everything really well. I recommend wavy shags on thick hair probably more than any other cut. This color is a near-black dark brown and the waves underneath are loose and kind of ringlet-y. The whole thing has this effortless cool girl energy that I really can’t get enough of. It works with the texture instead of fighting it and that makes all the difference.
Dark Root to Honey Balayage Waves
Dark roots going into warm honey and golden blonde ends, yes please. This is such a classic combo and it looks so good on thick hair with long layers. The waves are loose and romantic and they’re mostly at the ends which really lets the color show through. I always tell clients if you want to go lighter without doing full highlights, this is the way to do it. So pretty.
Chocolate Curly Shag, Natural Finish
This is giving total “I didn’t try at all but I look amazing” and I love it. The color is a deep chocolate brown and the curls are just fully let loose with a center part. Layers in this cut are doing a really important job, they take out the bulk without taking out the length. Thick curly hair goes all pyramid-shaped if you don’t cut it right and this avoids that completely. It also gets better on day two, which I think is a huge bonus.
Glossy Brown Glamour Waves
This one is just so polished and lush and glamorous. Rich medium-dark chocolate brown with long S-waves that go way past the bust. I notice the subtle dimension in the color that keeps it from looking flat even though it’s a darker shade. The side-swept styling adds so much width and drama. This is the look for when you want to lean all the way into having gorgeous thick hair and just let it be the whole vibe.
Auburn Lob with Full Fringe
Deep copper-auburn with a full blunt fringe, I mean come on. The waves are soft and even at shoulder length and the fringe sits right at the brow line. It gives this really cool vintage editorial look that I think is so underrated. Auburn hair with retro-style waves is such a good combination. The great thing about thick hair here is that the weight actually helps the fringe lay flat and look neat.
Beachy Champagne Blonde Waves
Dark roots into champagne and sandy blonde, this is what I think of when someone says beach hair. The waves are loose and easy looking on really long thick hair. I like how the darker root creates a natural shadow that makes the whole thing feel less high-maintenance. You can grow this out for a while before it starts looking messy and that’s a huge win. So summery and effortless.
Dark Brown Caramel Balayage, Sleek Waves
This color does something really cool where it looks different depending on the light. Deep brown roots with a warm caramel balayage that gets brighter toward the ends. The waves are sleek at the root and open up as they go down, which gives it this really polished look. I think this is perfect for someone who wants color dimension but still wants everything to look refined. Really pretty and really wearable.
Warm Chestnut Honey Layers
Warm chestnut base with honey golden balayage is genuinely one of my favorite color combinations. The medium-long layered cut gives the waves so much bounce and movement. I like the slight side part and the tousled wave pattern because it feels very modern without looking overdone. Thick hair with this kind of layering gets to keep all its natural volume. The waves stay bouncy instead of getting weighed down and that’s the goal.
Near-Black Structured Curls
Near-black hair with a really defined glossy curl pattern is just so striking. The curls hit just below the shoulder and they have this beautiful even S-wave shape. Everything about this looks polished and intentional and very elegant. I think this is the classic sophisticated option for thick dark hair. If someone came into my salon with this picture I would be so excited to recreate it.
Warm Blonde Voluminous Blowout Layers
This is giving full 70s superstar energy and I am obsessed with it. Warm champagne-to-golden blonde with really long heavily layered lengths blown out to maximum volume. The ends flip outward and the face-framing pieces at the front add so much drama. I think thick hair was basically made for this blowout style because the volume is already there. This takes everything you’ve got and turns it all the way up.
Deep Brown with Blonde Highlights Waves
Long deep chocolate brown hair with sandy blonde money pieces framing the face, I love this combination so much. The contrast between the dark base and the lighter pieces right around the face draws attention exactly where you want it. Waves carry that color story beautifully all the way down the length. Thick hair holds waves like this really well which is why it looks so effortless. It’s a romantic and really pretty look.
Warm Brown Wavy Shag Cut
This is honestly the cut I recommend most to my clients with thick hair. Medium-length wavy shag in warm medium brown with soft caramel highlights and a wispy curtain fringe. The layers are choppy and textured and the natural wave pattern just does its own thing. It hits around collarbone length which I think is a really sweet spot for thick hair. Short enough to feel manageable but long enough to have real movement.
Buttery Blonde Long Waves
Warm sandy blonde with buttery highlights and the softest most even open waves, this look is so pretty. The center part and even wave pattern create this really symmetrical look that still feels relaxed and not stiff. I think this color suits so many different skin tones because the warmth is really balanced. Thick hair with a blowout wave like this is just a match made in heaven. It’s giving total effortless California and I love it.
Sandy Root to Platinum Beach Waves
Seen from the back this color transition is just stunning, ashy sandy roots going into bright icy platinum ends. The waves are open and natural-looking and not tight or stiff at all. I think the contrast between the dark root and the platinum is so beautiful on long thick hair. If you’re thinking about going platinum, asking for a root shadow like this is the smart move. It also makes the grow-out so much more graceful.
Brunette to Blonde Balayage, Curtain Bangs
Rich dark chocolate roots with caramel and blonde balayage getting lighter toward the ends, plus curtain bangs, this look has so much going on in the best way. The waves are long and voluminous with a beautiful curl at the ends that really shows off the color transition. I love that the curtain fringe here is face-framing without being too heavy. On thick hair like this it falls and swoops exactly the way curtain bangs are supposed to. Just gorgeous.
Espresso Brown Windswept Waves
Deep espresso brown with this windswept voluminous wave that honestly looks like she just walked off a beach somewhere. The cut is long and layered with texture concentrated around the face and crown. I really love when thick wavy hair gets this kind of lived-in tousled finish. It’s natural and slightly undone and it works because the cut is right. This is what happens when you stop fighting your texture and just let it do its thing.
Dark Root Honey Blonde Shag with Fringe
Dark root to honey blonde balayage in a long textured shag with curtain fringe, this might be my favorite in the whole post. The layers are cut throughout so the wave and volume are distributed evenly. I think the bangs really take it to the next level, there’s something about a curtain fringe on a shag that just looks so cool. If your thick wavy hair gets heavy and flat at the crown, this cut will honestly change your life. Totally transformative.
Deep Plum Brown Vintage Waves
This deep plum-tinted dark brown has such a beautiful quality to it, it shifts between warm and cool depending on the light. The waves are smooth and glossy with that classic vintage set look swept away from the face. I love the side-swept part here because it adds to the old-Hollywood feel. Thick hair is really ideal for this kind of styling because the weight helps the wave hold its shape. It stays smooth instead of frizzing out and that’s everything.
Black Long Curly Layers
Jet black hair with a tight natural ringlet curl pattern and long layers is just so beautiful to me. The curls spring up rather than weigh down because the layering removes bulk from underneath without touching the visible curl shape. I like the center part because it splits the curls evenly and creates this really nice symmetry. This works best on thick hair with a defined natural curl pattern. It’s all about working with what the hair wants to do naturally.
Dark Brunette Layered Cut with Curtain Bangs
Long dark espresso-brunette hair with a layered shag cut and sweeping curtain bangs, plus a warm caramel balayage coming through the lengths. The layers add so much movement and they solve that classic thick-hair problem where the bottom half just looks like a solid wall of hair. I really like how the bangs are a little wispy and a little undone. It reads as intentional and cool even though it’s actually pretty low-maintenance. Really lovely everyday look.
Mocha Curly Shag Cut, Natural Volume
Deep mocha brown and super long and naturally curly and full of the most incredible volume. The layers are placed to encourage the curl pattern rather than fight it. I can see wispy curtain bangs peeking through the volume at the top which is such a charming touch. The ringlets form this kind of spectacular halo shape and it’s just breathtaking. If your thick curly hair has always felt like too much, this cut is here to change your mind about that.
Near-Black Mahogany Wavy Lob
Near-black base with a warm mahogany-to-auburn ombre through the ends cut into a wavy lob. The waves have this slightly undone choppy quality that makes it feel casual without being sloppy. I think the color shift adds just enough warmth to keep all that darkness from feeling heavy. This is such a good option for someone with thick hair who’s been wanting to go shorter. Shorter cuts handle thickness really well and this proves it.
Dark Brown Curly Shag, Tousled Fringe
Medium-length dark brown curly shag with tousled curtain bangs that fall right into the curls. The bangs don’t sit separately from the curls, they just kind of become part of the whole texture, and I think that’s what makes this so special. I always say air-drying is a completely valid styling choice for this cut. The shag layering removes weight so the curls can actually bounce around the way they want to. Such a great option for people who don’t want to spend forever styling every morning.
Dark Root Golden Balayage Wavy Shag
Dark roots with warm golden and caramel balayage melting through long heavily layered hair, and those wispy curtain bangs are giving this such a sweet cool energy. The waves are tousled and textured rather than polished or set. I think this color and cut combination is one of the most universally flattering things for thick wavy hair. The layers handle the volume and the color does all the visual work. Really can’t go wrong with this one.
Warm Copper Auburn Retro Waves with Bangs
Warm copper-auburn with a full straight fringe and long polished retro-style waves, this is such a statement look. The color is a bright true copper-auburn that honestly photographs so beautifully. I love the blunt fringe paired with those structured waves because it creates this very intentional 60s-inspired look. Thick hair makes a blunt fringe like this actually possible because the weight holds it in place. It’s one of the underrated benefits of having a lot of hair.
Warm Brown Medium Curls, Center Part
Warm medium brown with subtle caramel highlights and big voluminous curls with a center part, this is so pretty and also very doable. The curls are bouncy and kind of uniform and the volume at the roots is something thick hair just naturally provides. I think this reads as glamorous but also approachable which is honestly the sweet spot. A barrel curl set on thick wavy hair is one of the fastest ways to get a polished look. Really love this one.
Dark Brunette Long Curly Volume
Deep dark brown with a really full naturally curly texture and curtain bangs that blend right into the curl pattern. The length is long enough that the curls have room to spiral and elongate properly. I think the overall effect is just this incredible halo of texture that you really can’t recreate on fine hair. People who tell you thick curly hair is too much are simply wrong. This look is proof of that.
Near-Black Wavy Lob, Glossy Finish
A near-black deep espresso wavy lob just above the collarbone and it’s so chic. The soft waves add width and movement without adding length and that works really well for almost every face shape. I love the glossy finish on that dark color because it looks really healthy and well-maintained. A lob at this length is a great sweet spot for thick hair. Enough wave and movement, but not so much length that the weight becomes a problem.
Dark Root Sandy Blonde Waves
Dark roots into warm sandy blonde balayage through a medium-long shag with curtain bangs and a tousled wave finish. The layers in the shag distribute the volume and keep the wave pattern from going flat. I think the curtain bangs swept in that undone way look really relaxed and effortless. For thick wavy hair that tends to lose its shape, a shag cut is seriously a game-changer. I recommend this kind of cut all the time and people always love the result.
Black to Caramel Ombre Beach Waves
Jet black roots shifting into warm caramel and golden honey through long tousled beach waves, seen from the back this color transition is just stunning. The waves are open and casual and thick wavy hair naturally falls into this kind of texture with barely any effort. I think this ombre approach is such a beautiful way to introduce warmth and brightness into very dark hair. It never looks harsh or overdone and it grows out really gracefully. Love it so much.
Dark Ash to Sandy Blonde Side-Swept Waves
Dark ash brown root with a warm sandy blonde balayage and polished side-swept waves, this one is really refined and classic. The waves are smooth with a gentle curl at the ends and the side part gives it this timeless quality. I think this is the perfect look for someone who wants something polished enough for work but still shows off their natural texture. The whole thing just looks really put-together. Classic never goes out of style and this is proof.
Medium Brown Caramel Balayage S-Waves
Long medium brown hair with warm caramel balayage highlights and really lovely flowing S-waves from the midpoint down. The center part draws your eye right down the wave pattern so you can see both the layering and the color at the same time. I think this is so clean and pretty and it’s the kind of look that photographs really well. Thick hair holds this wave pattern really well because there’s enough density to give each wave actual shape. Just a really beautiful result.
Jet Black Beach Waves, Center Part
Glossy jet black hair with a clean center part and long open beach waves, sometimes simple is just the best. There’s no color work here, just really healthy natural black with a relaxed wave pattern. I love when the hair itself gets to be the whole statement. Thick dark hair with minimal styling lets the shine and health of the hair really show through. This is one of those looks where doing less is absolutely the right call.
Dark to Mushroom Bronde Long Waves
Dark espresso brown roots going into a cool ashy mushroom-toned blonde through long flowing waves, this color is so sophisticated. The cool tones keep it from going warm or brassy which I think is really important with this kind of blonde. I love how the contrast between the very dark root and the muted blonde looks so elegant and intentional. On thick wavy hair the color catches the light differently in each wave. It makes the whole look feel incredibly multidimensional.
Espresso Brown Natural Windswept Waves
Deep espresso-dark brown hair with this beautifully windswept natural wave that has so much movement and life in it. The long layers allow the wave to form and fall freely without being held down by too much weight. I really love the slightly tousled wind-blown finish because it’s effortless in a way that’s impossible to fake on thinner hair. The key with a look like this is honestly to do less, not more. Less product, less heat, just trust the texture.
Ice Platinum Wavy Lob
An icy near-white platinum wavy lob with a choppy textured finish and I am so into this. Every wave catches the light in a different way and it’s just so striking. I think the tousled wave pattern keeps the lob from feeling too stiff or polished. Thick hair makes platinum so much more achievable because you don’t run into the same damage and breakage issues that finer hair does with bleach. Bold and cool and really beautiful.
Dark Brunette Natural Curly Shag
Dark near-black brunette hair in a shoulder-length curly shag with tight springy curls and a curtain fringe that just merges right into the curl pattern. The shorter shag length is actually ideal for thick curly hair because removing that extra length takes away the weight that pulls the curl flat. I see this transformation all the time in the salon where someone comes in wanting to tame their hair and leaves completely in love with it. The cut is doing so much good work here. It’s really one of my favorites to do.
