46 Haircuts Made For Wavy Hair

Naturally wavy hair truly can be a beast to style — or not, if you happen to be among the blessed few who step out of the shower with perfectly beachy waves every time. The rest of us are intimately familiar with the perils of styling wavy hair: Frizz, breakage, and uncooperative curls are just the beginning. Because wavy strands tend to be more porous than straighter hair types, dryness is a common nuisance. And don't even get us started on finding products that tame frizz without making hair look like an oil slick.

Thankfully, there are more than a few tricks to living with and loving your wavy hair. And at the top of that list is choosing the right haircut and style that will both accentuate your unique mane and minimize (or even eliminate) the frustrations of styling it. If you're concerned that limiting yourself to only wave-friendly cuts will leave you without options, never fear! While there are certainly a few basic cuts that will always be safe options, there are plenty of variations to suit even the edgiest tastes. Get inspired by 46 cuts and styles (including celeb inspiration) that were absolutely made for wavy hair.

Believe it or not, France does not have a monopoly on chic, perfectly-coiffed hair — they're just very, very good at it. The French bob generally involves a slightly shorter length (think just short of the chin) paired with blunt bangs. The addition of a wavy hair texture gives this look an effortless vibe that just begs to be taken to a leisurely Sunday brunch.

Embrace your inner '70s rock 'n' roll goddess and do your hair a favor at the same time! Very few cuts are as universally flattering to wavy hair as the shag — with feathery layers cranked to the max, hair appears fuller around the crown and gradually thins to edgy fringe at the ends. It reduces weight, pumps volume, and looks effortlessly cool. What's not to love?

This playful, youthful look is just as versatile as it is cute. Seriously, the classic pairing of bangs with bouncy layers works just as well on medium and short hair as it does on long hair. The varied lengths scattered throughout the hair adds interest and movement and make for some adorable updo options.

Pixie cuts are adorable enough on their own, but the added texture of wavy hair types can take this style to another level altogether. Your average stylist will achieve a traditional pixie cut by cropping the hair in layers, leaving a tousled appearance that can be as subtle or as bold as you prefer depending on the length left on the top of the hair.

Styling wavy hair is all about showcasing that gorgeous texture, so why not use your next trip to the salon to do just that? A cut featuring prominent choppy layers, and lots of them, is a great way to add texture without overloading your hair with products that promise to do the same thing but usually just end up weighing hair down with excess oil.

When it comes to celebrity hair inspo, no self-respecting list can leave off T-Swift. Her ever-changing sense of hair style never fails to serve, no matter the era. This particular look — worn while performing at Madison Square Garden in December 2019 — features her trademark fringe with plenty of layers styled into tousled beach-inspired waves.

There really is no single right way to style wavy hair, but more often than not, it comes down to achieving those effortless, jumped-out-of-the-shower-this-way vibes; which, by the way, takes a lot of effort! But having a cut like Vanessa Hudgens' balanced layers paired with a classic middle part makes the job, if not completely effortless, then easy enough to achieve when time is limited.

Kim Kardashian can always be counted on for some seriously stunning hair inspiration, and her look from the November 2022 LACMA Art + Film Gala in Los Angeles is no exception. Subtle layers accentuate her soft beach waves, while the bold contrast of her roots lends the look a certain unexpected edginess.

While layers are certainly one of the most popular cuts out there at the moment, they're not essential for a stunning style. For proof, look no further than Zendaya's single-length cut, featuring little to no layering, but a ton of volume to accentuate those big, round waves. The side part and subsequent face-framing swoop are just the cherry on top.

Blake Lively's super-volumized 'do is a study on how to style wavy hair that's leaning on outright curly. The look embraces texture with open arms and even accentuates it with subtle layers. Lively's asymmetric part dials down the style's sense of structure, instead adding an appealing touch of effortlessness to a look that doubtless took some effort to execute.

Jessica Alba showcased just how powerful a single-length cut can be at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in March 2023. Featuring next to no layering, Alba's hair is sleek and perfectly coiffed into subtle, round waves. The chic style is also on-trend with its deep side part, which helps to frame Alba's face without the aid of layers.

If there's one thing we can always count on Queen Bey delivering — besides spectacular performances — it's a stunning look. Her hair was especially on-point during the 65th Grammy Awards in February 2023: The sleek waves paired with a clean center part were a perfect complement to the Best Dance/Electronic Music Album award that she took home that evening.

There's nothing quite like the silky soft, glossy waves of a fresh blowout. Salma Hayek dresses the look up further with subtle layers and side part, featuring just the right amount of face-framing without making the style seem cluttered or drastically different from your basic blowout.

Chrissy Teigen's casual cut is yet another example of an adorable, versatile style just as trendy in the colder months as it is going into summer. The style features a bit of face-framing, but the boldest feature is her graduated layers, flowing in a variety of distinct lengths in subtle beachy waves. Teigen's cut is a perfect option for connoisseurs of long hair who want to flirt with different lengths.

Really, what's not to love about medium-length cuts? Short enough to frame the face but long enough to retain the option of a quick ponytail or intricate updo, mid-length hair is truly underrated. Reese Witherspoon's look is a perfect example of the style's versatility, showcasing subtle layers with a casual center part.

Does Sofia Vergara ever have a bad hair day? If so, we've never seen it. And the Modern Family alum's long, layered look isn't likely to fail her anytime soon. The cut's long fringe flows seamlessly into the rest of her layers and provides the perfect opportunity for the actor to show off just how healthy and shiny her signature mane really is.

Contrary to popular belief, beach waves — otherwise known as the unofficial hairstyle of summer — aren't just for long hair! Elizabeth Debicki's bob-length strands manage to look just as beach-ready without the complication of excess length. Her subtle side part and face-framing long bangs round out the adorable look.

For anyone looking to change up their look without doing anything drastic that they would regret later, bangs offer an attractive choice, and for good reason. Classic bangs are a universally flattering style that, depending on their execution, can change up a look as little or as much as you want. Alexa Chung's bangs paired with her barely-there waves make for a perfectly valid reason to consider asking for bangs at your next salon visit.

When it comes to single-length haircuts, you might be tempted to assume you have two style choices: long or classic bob. Medium-length and even long bob haircuts walk the line between these two typical single-length choices, offering the lightness of a bob with the simple elegance of a long single-length cut. For celebrity proof you should be considering such a cut for yourself, look no further than Natalie Portman.

What's the point of having that amazing, tousled texture without showing it off on occasion? That's precisely what Miley Cyrus is doing with her heavily textured beach waves. The cut features a center part, face-framing strands, and a sprinkle of layers for movement — all of which work to showcase the hair's texture, though Cyrus' eye-catching contrast does its part as well.

Not everyone with a wavy hair type is looking to get perfect beach waves. Sometimes, like Shakira, you crave something a little more structured. Her cut features multi-length layers throughout the style, with long, side-swept bangs and round, carefully-manicured waves. Though overall smooth, Shakira's look doesn't entirely miss out on texture, thanks in part to her golden-brown lowlights.

Scarlett Johansson's swooped pixie really does demonstrate the creative potential of the overall cut. Clipped shorter on the sides and longer on top (as with any true pixie cut), ScarJo's look makes good use of smooth, flowy waves and windswept texture. The addition of highlights and a few layers give the cut a perfect balance of lightness and dimension.

Another example of the simple elegance of a layered hairstyle, Laverne Cox ups her hair's ante with ample volume, most of it concentrated around her roots. From there, her cut flows in graduated layers, with a few face-framing pieces left free to do their work. The low-maintenance look is a go-to for anyone who needs to do a messy bun in the morning and a red carpet look in the evening.