12 Easy Baby Curly Hairstyles for Short Hair

Loose Curls need no tie and use every curl already down. A little water can lift curls pressed down during sleep.

1. 1.Wet your hands and shake away the extra water.
2. 2.Lift each pressed curl gently away from the head.
3. 3.Move any eye-covering curl away with 1 wet finger.
4. 4.Stop after every pressed curl lifts away from the head.

One side may remain flatter, and both sides need not match. Do not add water only for matching sides. Stop when your child pulls away or curls become fuzzy.

Loose Curls work when every hair tie would pull short hair. No tie, clip, or band is needed after lifting the curls.

Try a middle part when top curls already fall left and right. The center line can remain soft, short, or uneven.

Use 1 wet finger to make a soft center line. Move nearby curls left and right without pressing them flat. Both sides can remain down with every curl showing.

Return to Loose Curls if you must comb the line again. The center line may fade after the hair dries.

Side-Part Curls work when most top curls fall toward 1 side. Find the line where nearby hair goes in 2 directions.

• •Move nearby curls toward the side holding more hair.
• •Keep each curl round instead of pressing the hair flat.
• •Check that no curl covers either eye after moving.

Skip gel and clips because 1 wet finger can make the part. Return to Loose Curls when the hair needs repeated pushing.

A Fountain Ponytail uses 1 small hair part at the top. Every side and back curl remains down. Try the style when only top hair is long enough for 1 tie.

1. 1.Hold a small top part with slightly wet fingers.
2. 2.Keep every side and back curl outside the tie.
3. 3.Add 1 covered tie without lifting nearby skin.
4. 4.Let the short curls rise above the hair tie.

The small ponytail should point upward and show each short curl. Skin below the tie must remain flat after tying.

Remove the tie when skin lifts or your child becomes upset. Use Side-Part Curls when side hair must move upward.

A Mini Side Ponytail uses 1 small part near the forehead. Pick the left or right side with enough hair.

Wet your fingers and bring that small part together. Add 1 covered tie while every other curl remains down.

The small ponytail should rest near the left or right temple. The temple is the flat area beside the eye.

Remove the tie if nearby skin lifts after tying. Use Side-Part Curls when the front hair remains too short.

A Half-Up Ponytail uses top hair and hair above both ears. Every curl below the ears remains down. The style needs more hair than a Fountain Ponytail.

Find the hair to use

Place your fingers above both ears and move toward the back. Hold only the hair above your fingers. Keep every curl below your fingers outside the tie.

Make the ponytail

1. 1.Bring the top hair toward the back of the head.
2. 2.Stop if skin above either ear starts lifting.
3. 3.Add 1 covered tie while short back curls remain down.
4. 4.Check the finished ponytail from the side and back.

One ponytail should rest above the loose curls at the back. Keep any hair falling out above 1 ear down. Try a Fountain Ponytail when side hair remains too short.

Do not keep combing only to make both sides even. Stop after 1 clear line, even when both sides differ.

Half-Up Pigtails use 2 covered ties near the top. Every back curl below the ears remains down.

Hold a small hair part above the left ear. Hold another small part above the right ear. Add 1 covered tie on each side.

Two small tails should rest above the loose back curls. Different sizes and heights are fine for short curly hair.

Remove both ties if skin above either ear lifts. Use 1 Half-Up Ponytail when both sides come together easily. Try a Fountain Ponytail when only top hair is long enough.

High Curly Pigtails use most hair from the top and sides. Short curls near the neck can remain down.

1. 1.Make a left hair part and a right hair part.
2. 2.Keep the shortest back curls down near the neck.
3. 3.Add 1 covered tie near the top of each side.
4. 4.Check that skin remains flat around both hair ties.

The 2 curly tails should rest near the top of the head. Different tail sizes are fine when every curl remains loose. The front hair should not move backward after tying.

Check the back for skin lifting before finishing the style. Try Half-Up Pigtails when back hair needs pulling upward.

Low Curly Pigtails use 2 covered ties low on each side. Use only back and side hair for both ties. Keep every short top and front curl down.

Make a left hair part and a right hair part. Place 1 tie low on each side, near the back. Do not move front hair backward only for matching lines.

Both curly tails should hang below the ears when viewed from the back. Remove either tie if skin near the forehead or neck lifts.

Loose Curls work when back hair remains too short. Half-Up Pigtails use less back hair and place both ties higher.

A Curly Puff spreads curls around 1 covered hair tie. A ponytail hangs one way, while a puff spreads around the tie. The method below needs no gel, braids, or twists.

1. 1.Hold only hair that comes together without pulling skin.
2. 2.Keep short curls near the forehead and neck down.
3. 3.Add 1 covered tie without moving front hair backward.
4. 4.Stop if skin rises around the base of the tie.

Use your fingers to spread curls around the hair tie. Do not comb curl ends after adding the tie. For coily or 4C hair, keep every short curl outside the tie.

Place the puff where hair comes together without skin movement. Try a Half-Up Ponytail when front hair would pull nearby skin.

Double Curly Puffs use 2 ties and make 2 round puffs. Loose curls should spread around each hair tie.

Make a center line with 1 slightly wet finger. Bring left hair together without moving nearby skin. Repeat on the right and add 1 covered tie per side.

Keep extra hair down if matching both sizes would pull skin. Remove a tie if skin near the forehead or neck lifts. Half-Up Pigtails work when back hair remains too short.

Half-Up Space Buns need enough top hair for 2 small loops. Use only 2 covered hair ties and no hair pins. Half-Up Pigtails work when the top hair remains too short.

1. 1.Make 2 small ponytails using only the top hair.
2. 2.Leave every curl below both ears completely loose.
3. 3.Wrap each tie until only 1 last turn remains.
4. 4.Pass only half of each ponytail through the last turn.
5. 5.Each folded ponytail should form 1 small loop.

Remove both ties if either loop lifts nearby skin. Short curls can fall out and remain loose. Never add pins or another tie to hold either loop. Use Half-Up Pigtails when either loop keeps opening.