Don't Mind Me—Just Trying All of These 3a Hairstyles *Immediately* (2024)

The best part about braids? Literally any hair type can wear them, whether you're working with 3a curls or stick-straight, 1a hair. Just twist and pin a silk scarf to the top of your head, then braid the scarf into your French braids, tying your hair and scarf off at the base of your neck into a bun.

The difference between the messy high bun you sleep in, vs. the ~messy~ high bun you take a selfie in? A hint of sleek roots, as seen on Jasmine Sanders. Scoop your 3a hair into a high bun, mist your roots with hairspray, then lightly comb your hair back before tying it off into a bun. Leave the ends free for a faux-bang effect.

The thicker the hair, the bigger the (double) bun. But if your 3a hair is on the finer side—hi, same—and you wanna amp up your bun volume, try blasting the ends of your hair with texturizing spray and/or dry shampoo before wrapping and pinning them into buns. Yup, it's a v sticky, textured, lethal combo, but it works.

Julia Garner's curly French twist is a thing of my 3a hair dreams. The magic is all in its softness, which requires you to haphazardly scoop and lightly twist your curls into something that resembles a French twist, before securing it to the back of your head. Then, to create the light, airy volume, gingerly rake and pin any loose curls back and in place, misting all over with a shine-enhancing hairspray to finish.

Double buns on curly hair? Yes, pls. If you want your 3a hair to look as sleek and shiny as these knots, work a dollop of curly hair gel through your roots and hairline before brushing each side of your hair up and into your buns.

The trick to making this curly updo feel like an actual screenshot-worthy updo is to pull out a few strategic curls around the face and at the base of your neck while pinning your hair up. Then, re-add definition by winding the loose pieces around a hot curling wand for just a few seconds.

Can't braid? Behold: Jasmine Brown's bubble braids, a hairstyle that works on all straight and curly hair types, including your 3a hair. You'll need some tiny hair elastics, a bit of patience, and her easy-to-follow bubble-braids tutorial, but the results are worth it, especially on humid days.

Mmmkay, not to pull the curly trump card, but...*pulls card.* When you have 3a hair, you've automatically got that whole just-ran-through-a-field-after-my-lover vibe that straighter hair types naturally don't. Which means a loose three-strand braid and a few gold hair accessories = a whole lewk, not a chaotic mess.

Listen, '00s and '90s hair is back (did they ever really leave tho), which means it's basically a requirement now to have at least one face-framing curly tendril paired with your topknot. Hey, I don't make the rules—I just follow them.

I, personally, am very glad claw clips have made a triumphant return, because they're so freakin' versatile while still making you look cute. Can't be bothered to deal with your 3a curls for a day? Claw clip. Want a quick updo that feels more put together than a bun? Claw clip. And stock up, because you know it's only a matter of time before the teeth snaps off of your clip (love).

You know those days when your 3a curls are just looking...blah? (See: me, most days of the week.) My go-to trick is to either braid them down or cover them in a ton of hair barrettes, because the end result still looks polished, even if you feel anything but.

FYI: A diffuser will be your BFF for this swept-back low ponytail. Play up the curl definition, let some layers hang loose, then gently secure it below the nape of your neck with a ponytail cuff.

Welcome to another hairstyle that works on most hair types, but looks especially good with looser, 3a curls. To make your half-up hairstyle look a lil bit more polished, take a section of hair from your ponytail and wrap it around the hair elastic, pinning it in place to hide it.

Have you caught the theme yet? That '90s hairstyles are still having their major moment and will probably never stop? And that's a good thing for your 3a hair (or, honestly, any curl type in general), because the texture of your curls makes this style look less "kindergarten playground" and more, "Um, OKAY."

Okay, can we just talk about this gorgeous curl pattern for a second? A million years on the Curly Girl Method, and I still could never. To really play up your texture, juxtapose it by slicking down your hairline and securing each side with some statement hair barrettes.

Uh, when you have curl definition like this, does it even matter what hairstyle you do? Still, whether you're working with looser or tighter curls, you can always play with some fun hair colors with temporary hair dyes (though, FYI, blonde hair will definitely have the most versatility when it comes to lighter shades and pastels).

Consider this your classic half-up curly hairstyle dialed up to 100 in the ~smooth~ department. Truly, every hair accounted for. An edge brush (or clean toothbrush) and a moisturizing hair gel are nonnegotiable for the sleekest finish, so get your tools ready before trying this style for the first time.

Oh, look—the very definition of romantic hair, all in one photo. Pineappling is basically the number-one MVP on the holy list of curly hair commands, and for good reason: It preserves your curls while getting them off your neck, and it also leaves you looking like a true ethereal dream.

If you weren't naturally ~blessed~ with curly roots (again, me), then you already know the struggle that is half-up, half-down hairstyles. But one simple trick to add some texture and volume? Twists. Instead of raking the top half of your hair back all at once, twist and pin sections of your hair to the crown of your head to create a half-up style that doesn't fall flat.

As the saying goes, all you need is love claw clips. More or less. Grab yourself a pack of claw clips (they don't need to be fancy), and swap your usual ponytail elastic for a claw clip next time you're raking your hair back.