Best Deva Cut Hairstyles for Curly and Wavy Natural Hair

Stacey Bradshaw

Updated on April 18, 2021

Hairstyles for curly hair types require a special approach. Why are they so difficult to make, and what needs to be taken into account? Most people with curly or wavy hair have a fear of going to salons to get a new haircut (or rather, they fear the result of such a visit). And, at the same time, they can’t deal alone with many inconveniences curly and wavy hair causes. But be sure that Deva сut will totally help you to get a beautiful, original hairstyle, and will make your curls look more gorgeous than ever before!

What Is a Deva Cut?

Forget everything you knew about the traditional curly cut before! Deva cut is a new era in the lives of thousands of girls. This method was invented over 20 years ago, and since then it has shown excellent results and managed to win the hearts of those who have tried it. Deva cut is a special technique for cutting curly and wavy hair, and its main principle is to work with the unique curl pattern of every person. It was created by Lorraine Massey, the co-owner of Devachan Salon and the author of Curly Girl.

The key feature of this method lies in cutting the hair dry, in its natural form, simply because everybody wears their hair dry not wet. This allows a stylist to see how the different textures naturally fall and to sculpt the necessary shape. With a wet haircut, we absolutely can’t understand and see the end result. The hair becomes heavier, smoother, and longer under the action of water. For those who have straight hair, this may not be so critical, but for girls with frizzy hair, it can be a catastrophe. Their natural curls have a spring factor, which is best seen when the hair is dry. Deva cut is done layer by layer, curl by curl. One more advantage is that you can control the work of your stylist, participating in the whole sculpting process.

There are two main “parent” Devachan salons that have already become signature locations — Devachan SoHo (NYC), and Devachan Upper West Side (NYC). Once you go into either, you understand that your hair is in professional hands now. All stylists in salons performing Deva cut are expertly trained and certified, which gives them the right to call themselves a “Deva Curl Specialist” or a “Master Curl Stylist.” They’ll not only make your hair look amazing, but also will explain how to style its natural texture and maintain well-groomed silky curls at home.

Best Tips Before and After Getting a Deva Cut

Before going to a salon appointment, look through these simple yet important tips in order to get the best result.

Wash your hair using only the conditioner (co-washing).
Carefully dry it without any styling products so that your curls remain naturally soft and resilient.
Don’t make any ponytails, buns, or braids prior to your appointment. Your stylist will need to see your hair detangled, defined, and natural.
Please note that Deva cut only works if you wear your hair naturally curly all the time. If you frequently flatiron your curls, then this technique may not be the best option because the shape of your hairstyle might be uneven.

How to Take Care of Your Hair After Getting a Devacurl Haircut

Before buying special hair-care products, it’s important to determine your curl type. A well-known hair stylist, Andre Walker, invented a curl-typing system that distinguishes four different natural hair types. This system takes into account length, density, consistency, and volume. Each number refers to a certain curl family:

1 – straight hair

2 – wavy hair

3 – curly hair

4 – kinky hair

Let’s consider the main characteristics of each curl type, except for the first one, which is kind of obvious.

Curl Type 2

Girls with wavy hair have a wide range of styling options: from straight to curly hairstyles. They’re lucky because their hair isn’t too oily or dry. It’s quite shiny and elastic despite being most prone to frizz.

Instagram / @katelynraye

Curl Type 3

This curl type is characterized by spiral curls. Curls of this type can have an “s” or “z” pattern, or even some variation in between. Girls who have this hair type are very familiar with such problems as dryness, tangles, frizz, and breakage. Such hair doesn’t reflect shine as well as Type 1 or Type 2 since its surface isn’t as smooth.

Instagram / @sydnieslittleworld

Curl Type 4

Even though kinky or coily hair may seem coarse and robust, it’s actually the most fragile of all hair-curl textures. The curls may have a zigzag pattern and are extremely fragile and dry, requiring constant protection and extra hydration. Curl Type 4 is probably the most common natural hair type among African-American women.

Instagram / @itsbethanydani

Now, when you’ve determined your curl type, you can easily choose the right hair-care and styling products. Your washing routine should consist of three steps:

a cleanser
a hydrating conditioner
a styling gel (for scrunching)

After that, you can let your hair air dry or use a special hair dryer like the DevaFuser to save time. It’s essential to use natural products without aggressive sulfates, silicones, and parabens. Your hair-care products should contain useful ingredients such as oils, vitamins, and natural extracts to help your curls stay shiny, strong, and healthy.

Read this post to learn how to take care of your hair with the Curly Girl method!

Best Deva Cut Hairstyles

Now that you are 100 percent familiar with the whole idea of the Devacurl haircut, let’s look through the best hairstyles for curly hair. These amazing curly hairstyles will make your jaw drop because they’re just so simple and yet perfect and definitely worth trying!

1. Shoulder-Length Deva Cut

Transforming long flat hair into a stylish shoulder-length haircut can give you a totally new, fresh look. Your curls will become more alive and healthy looking, the cut will add some volume to your hair, and your hair will perfectly frame your face.

Instagram / @curlyhairdaze

2. Chic Devascarf Hairstyle

Feel free to experiment with various accessories in your hairstyle. Make a pineapple/high ponytail and wrap a scarf around your head. You can leave some curls out so that they fall on your face and add some twist to your look, or gather all the hair up. Note this hack for the cold season to protect your hair from damage.

Instagram / @curlzmatic

3. Deva Cut with Bangs

Ask your stylist to cut a couple of curls a bit shorter near the face, and then you’ll be able to change your hairstyle every day — from one with bangs to another without any by sweeping your hair as you wish. Bangs will help you make a whole range of new hairstyles you’ve always wanted to try. Besides, they can help correct your face shape and balance out its lower and upper parts if needed.

Instagram / @kimdollxo

4. To Dye or Not to Dye

We’d say dye — without any hesitation! Because what’s the last word in the world of hair styling? Candy-colored hair! It’s a bold and stylish way to demonstrate your individuality, to enhance any outfit with bright colors, and to attract attention. Actually, girls have been dyeing strands in different colors of the rainbow since the 1970s. Now the trend of such a bright transformation still remains, taking new forms—there are various techniques for coloring hair in juicy or pastel shades. And anyone can experiment with the colors — brunettes, brown-haired, blondes, reds — in short, all those who yearn for changes. But if you aren’t sure about permanent coloring for your natural hair, you can try some temporary products, such as hair mascaras, chalks, color sprays, or semi- and demi-permanent dyes. Be yourself and be different!

Instagram / @happyhealthycurlsandkinks

5. Tapered Short Deva Cut

You still think that short hair is boring and leaves no room for experiments? Well, not really. With the tapered, short Deva cut, you’ll change your mind and see the advantages it provides. Such a hairstyle looks really sexy and sassy, it’s appropriate for girls and women of any age, and you can do many different hairstyles with the longer hair on top. You can color the whole head or only the top hair to make some fresh changes. If you want to achieve a grungier look, make locs, a side cut, or a geometric pattern.

Instagram / @iam.tiffany.renee

6. Cute Double Buns: Space Buns

This hairstyle trend from the 90s is still relevant and popular. Space buns are fun and adorable, and very easy to do. This is exactly the kind of hairstyle you’ll need only about five minutes to create to complete your look. Besides, double buns have so many variations, so you’ll never get sick of them. Try out this cool throwback!

Instagram / @janae.shai

7. Deva Cut and Pintura Highlights

Once you get a perfect layered curly cut, why not enhance it with coloring? The pintura highlighting technique was created to visually add more dimension to the curl texture. Your stylist will highlight the curls that naturally catch the light the best, and you can ask for lowlights to add some depth to your hair color.