20 Vintage Hairstyles for Curly Hair You’ll Be Wearing on Repeat

You'll fall in love with these romantic, beautiful vintage hairstyles for curly hair.

We adore looking at hairstyles through the ages. While new styles come and go, some vintage classics always find their way to the present, with an updated twist and cool new iteration. And we just love vintage hairstyles for curly hair that can show off your awesome texture, while being perfectly coiffed into a very different style that you would normally be wearing: From pompadours to the Gibson tuck, we’ve got you covered in our recap of some of our favorite vintage hairstyles for curly hair that you’ve got to try:

20 Vintage Hairstyles For Curly Hair To Wear Right Now

vintage hairstyles for curly hair pompadour
The flexible pompadour.

1. Vintage Hairstyles For Curly Hair Wavy Pompadour

We love classic pomps, especially on wavy and curly hair types. The added curl makes pompadours so much more voluminous and interesting. To get vintage hairstyles for curly hair with a pomp on top, you’ll need to start your style on wet hair. Use a curly hair gel like TRESemmé Flawless Curls Defining Gel to set your natural curls. Then, dry your hair using the diffuser attachment. When you get to drying the front section of your hair, focus on drying the roots forward towards your forehead.

Once your hair is dry, style the front section forwards to slightly cover your forehead. If your hair is super long, you can style it more at an angle and pin it into place. We love the pompadour because it works so well added to different styles! Try it with a ponytail for a funky ’60s look, or with a topknot for something more modern.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair finger waves
Vintage look, easy to wear. Photo credit: indigitalimages.com

2. Curly Low Ponytail

Finger waves scream vintage hair. We love how romantic these little swooping styles look. To create finger waves, you’ll need to work with a strong hold hair gel. We like Nexxus New York Salon Care Exxtra Hold Sculpting Gel. Actually creating the finger waves is relatively painless. For step-by-step instructions on styling finger waves, check out this vintage hair tutorial. Then just take the rest of your hair and style into a low ponytail to complete the look.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair chignon
Sepia colored flowers make this look.

3. Vintage Hairstyles for Curly Hair Chignon

This simple chignon screams vintage hairstyles for curly hair, right? We love how elegant this looks, and how well it shows off natural curls. Oh, and this style is super easy, too! all you need to do is create a little volume at the roots (depending on how voluminous your hair is). When you have all the volume you can handle, style the rest of your hair into a low chignon. Vintage flowers are totally optional.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair gibson tuck
Headband and gloves optional.

4. Mini Bouffant Gibson Tuck

If you have hair on the longer side, you can totally do this super sweet Gibson tuck. Start by creating volume at the back of your head, almost like a bouffant. But, not quite as big because you don’t want it to overtake the tuck! With your hair teased, pull it all into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck. To create a Gibson tuck, you separate the root of your hair near the ponytail holder, almost all the way through. Leave a little bit of hair at the bottom of the ponytail unseparated. Then, just fold the rest of the tail into the space you created. It’s a quirky style that has all the vintage flair.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair afro
This vintage style will always be popular.

5. Old School ‘Fro

For gals with natural curly hair, you can’t go wrong with the afro! This is one of the most enduring vintage hairstyles for curly hair. We’re big fans of the ’70s style afro that is on the long, halo-shaped side. Afro hairstyles will be popular forever, and we’re definitely glad that curly hair products have evolved over the years!

vintage hairstyles for curly hair beach curls
Learn how to create these curls in five minutes or less.

6. Beach Curls

Create a modern version of a classic vintage curly hairstyle by opting for beach curls instead. Use your hair straightener to create beachy waves and wear them with a side part for a vintage twist.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair brunette curls
Beautiful and dramatic vintage curls.

7. Deep Side Part Vintage Hairstyles for Curly Hair

That deep side part we mentioned will transform any look into a vintage hairstyle. Pair a side part with large loose curls for the ultimate vintage look.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair center part
Learn the power of a center part.

8. Center Part

Alternatively, learn how to make a center part work for you! By pairing your curls with a more dramatic center part, you’ll pull off an edgy vintage look with ease.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair hollywood glam
We can’t get enough of these old Hollywood curls.

9. Classic Hollywood Curls

Check out our easy and quick tutorial for classic Hollywood curls and learn how to make this look a regular part of your hairstyle lineup.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair loose curls
A classic and a favorite.

10. Loose Curls

Consider a modern day approach to a classic vintage curly style by opting for loose curls.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair natural updo
Pull your natural curls back into a simple updo.

11. Natural Updo

Pull your natural curls back into a simple updo and let them shine. Keep all the volume up on top for a vintage look you can rock with ease.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair bob curls
Keep your curls short and bouncy.

12. Bouncy Curls

Don’t weigh your curls down with length and extra weight. Instead, consider cutting them into a cropped curly bob that will allow your curls to bounce and shine.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair pinned curls blonde
Pin your curls back into a vintage style.

13. Styled Curls

Wear that deep side part we mentioned above and pin the heavier side back for a classic and understated vintage style.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair pinned updo
Pin your vintage curls into an updo.

14. Pinned Updo

Do you have a formal event coming up? Pin your curls up into a styled updo to maintain their shape while keeping them up and off your neck.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair platinum bob
Opt for a vintage platinum bob.

15. Platinum Bob

Wear your curls in a bold and edgy style by cutting them short and dyeing them platinum blonde.

vintage hairstyles for curly hair red curly hair
Natural curls are always a yes in our book.

16. Classic Curls

Classic curls never go out of style. And for good reason! Amp them up and define them by combing a golf ball-sized dollop of Dove Style+Care Curls Defining Mousse through damp hair.

 

vintage hairstyles for curly hair red messy curls
Messy curls are at timeless style.

17. Messy Curls

This chic and messy style is as easy as embracing your natural texture, which is in and of itself a timeless styling routine.

vintage rolled curls
Roll ’em back.

18. Rolled Curls

Roll your curls back into a classic vintage style. A little stuck on how to create this style? Check out our tutorial for how to create victory rolls.

big teased curls
The 80s count as vintage, right?

19. ’80s Curls

Tease your curls to include some major ’80s vibes into your style.

long twisted ringlets
This old school style is a no-brainer.

20. Twisted Ringlets

Use a curling iron to create classic ringlets and twist the very front pieces of your hair back to give your hair a little extra volume.

Need more vintage hairstyles for curly hair? Check out these 440s hairstyles.

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