Updos that compliment curly hair

[DarkCurls]

Hi!

I've done few searches on this subject on the forum but couldn't find any recent thread, so I figured why not launch a new one rather than bump that interesting one from back in 2009... :D I found a couple threads on how to make updos look sleek for curlies, but that's not what I'm interested in. I actually like the casual look curly hair can give a fancy updo. I wanted to know which styles you prefer to actually flatter your curls -- as in, working with them as opposed to flattening them.
I used to have face-framing layers and just let out few strands around my face to show off the curls, which worked well, but I'm growing them out and the shortest are now shoulder-length, so they get pulled back into the updo.
I love braided updos, but they don't show off my curl pattern (obviously) and they also stretch it out when I take them out. I know quite a few updos, but only a couple that actually respect my curls. That means that:
- a) the updo actually shows off the curls
- b) as an added bonus, hair when let down still has regular, hardly-stretched out curl pattern.
I'm mostly interested in a), though. The only styles I've found that work are the peacock twist (lovely, but my hair is starting to get a bit long and it feels like a ponytail), a jaw clip to hold it back, and a "messy bun" => a bun that's done differently every time but involves no twisting, more piling on top of head, leaves a few curly ends out and is bunned loosely so you can see the curls. Actually, a variation can be done with any bun, letting the ends of the hair dangle instead of being tucked under the bun. This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb0Od6y0oXo) also works nicely.
So does a curly out there have a tried-and-true updo that looks great with curly hair? Or straighties/wavies, do you have an idea?
I'm looking for updos mostly, because half-ups show off curly, kinky, straight and wavy hair all very nicely in my opinion, but if you have a gorgeous half-up to share, please do. :D

[longcurlygirl<3]

Hello DarkCurls, and I have 3a/3b curls so i understand of wanting to show off the curls :) but all I've ever been able to do is gather the hair twisting it a bit and secure with a jaw clips. Looks like a pony but not really? I'll post a pic here soon to show.

[DarkCurls]

Thanks longcurlygirl!

Yeeouch just noticed glaring mistake in title. Please pretend not to notice. :D

[Pierre]

My usual updo is a pair of braided buns. It doesn't actually show off the curls, but the braids match them in approximate wavelength. So here's an idea:
1. Braid both sides of your hair.
2. Put them up for the night in a Buff, Flexis, or whatever.
3. In the morning, undo the braids partway and put the rest up in the buns.

[Nightshade]

This Ficcare updo might look pretty with curly hair :)

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/vbjournal.php?do=article&articleid=187

[CurlyCap]

I have some in my albums of updos done with long hair. When I get home I'll see if I have more normal work day updo photos.

Also (from my "Omg Spin Pins!" thread):
http://i49.tinypic.com/5aklub.jpghttp://i50.tinypic.com/35jh3x0.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/9to5zs.jpghttp://i47.tinypic.com/nvqw6b.jpg
(Six spin pins instead of bobby pins, but same basic idea.)

From the wurly and curly thread:
[/IMG]http://i46.tinypic.com/344359f.jpghttp://i49.tinypic.com/f39cfs.jpghttp://i50.tinypic.com/2jg2cr5.jpg
(Super easy. 5 minutes tops. Just roll you hair around your head like the laziest crown braid and secure with bobby pins as needed. Decorate)

Long hair gives you more options since you can always hide some hair in a bun and cover the rest with curls and manipulate how much curl you want to show or how long you want your hair to look. The downside is that you may have to make updos in phases. Or make multiple areas (ie, area one is lose curls while another is a bun with curls spilling out.)

Once my hair was past shoulder, I was able to do updos again, so you don't need a lot of hair for updos since it's curly and can grip itself. Also, while you have less hair, you don't have the bend or twist the hair that much or have to hide any of the hair. So you get as much volume with very little work.

My only advice is to work WITH your hair. We can't tell our curls to go in a certain direction because they won't want to. So if your curls are all cascading to the left today, make the updo shape something where all structure is on the left. Maybe balance with a hairtoy on the right. If the curls on the bottom are great that day but the top is sorta flat, fold the hair over the top so that the canopy is hidden.

It can take a lot of pins and such to adequately restrain you hair. The good thing is that curls grab onto each other, so pins and such are more holding the structure together than trying to make the impossible happen.

[JamiG]

CurlyCap, I love the first updo. Can you tell me how you did it?

[kitschy]

I do a loose twist and stick in a fake-carre (that is a cheepo knock-off). It is really messy. Of course you can make yours as messy as you would like. Like this...
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=8905&pictureid=123362

[DarkCurls]

I do a loose twist and stick in a fake-carre (that is a cheepo knock-off). It is really messy. Of course you can make yours as messy as you would like. Like this...

I think messy is good for curls. :p




My only advice is to work WITH your hair. We can't tell our curls to go in a certain direction because they won't want to. So if your curls are all cascading to the left today, make the updo shape something where all structure is on the left. Maybe balance with a hairtoy on the right. If the curls on the bottom are great that day but the top is sorta flat, fold the hair over the top so that the canopy is hidden.
.
Makes sense to me. Thank you.

Thanks everyone for their ideas. :)

[Cinnamonagouti]

I thougt I'd bring this thread up again, since I've been thinking about this myself. Anyone has other suggestions pf curly updos?

I found this one, which I think is pretty. In the video she uses a curling iron, but it should work just as well with natural curls.
https://youtu.be/fTgZevP0JFo

The curls are kinda just piled on top to make bun, as already mentioned in this thread. But I love braided updos (and braids in general) and thought the lace crown braid aeded a nice touch to it.

[lapushka]

Hairromance (AU curly gal, about 3a) on YT lastly had a video about updo styles; maybe look her up? :)

[AmaryllisRed]

Following because my daughter is a curly and I just discovered last night I can do an adorable peacock twist on her and I'd love to do more.

[Cinnamonagouti]

Hairromance (AU curly gal, about 3a) on YT lastly had a video about updo styles; maybe look her up? :)

Thanks for the suggestion, lapushka! My hair looks thicker than it is when I wear it down, because of it's texture. So it always feels a bit thin, when I do neat buns or braids and it compacts so much; that's why I like updos with a little more volume, but I haven't found so many more than the classic messy bun :o

[Cinnamonagouti]

Following because my daughter is a curly and I just discovered last night I can do an adorable peacock twist on her and I'd love to do more.

I love peacock twists! :crush: But didn't discover them before my hair was too long to do it... Oh well. My little sister has both thicker and curlier hair than me, and she won't let me style it too often (I'm still trying to convince her to not brush her curls out too much) but I love it when I get to. But it's only shoulder length and since it's so thick, updos are a challenge.

Edit: maybe this one for your daughter?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52DNBdaDyGM

[AmaryllisRed]

I love peacock twists! :crush: But didn't discover them before my hair was too long to do it... Oh well. My little sister has both thicker and curlier hair than me, and she won't let me style it too often (I'm still trying to convince her to not brush her curls out too much) but I love it when I get to. But it's only shoulder length and since it's so thick, updos are a challenge.

Edit: maybe this one for your daughter?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52DNBdaDyGM

That's cute! I don't think her hair is quite long enough yet, though. It's maybe to her shoulder blades, stretched, only just to her shirt collar unstretched. It seems to be growing fast, though-- she is 2 1/2 and was nearly bald for so long!

[Cinnamonagouti]

That's cute! I don't think her hair is quite long enough yet, though. It's maybe to her shoulder blades, stretched, only just to her shirt collar unstretched. It seems to be growing fast, though-- she is 2 1/2 and was nearly bald for so long!

Haha! I was practically bald (super fine and super short, almost transparent hair) for my whole first year. And look at me now :lol: