Curly Half Up Half Down Hairstyles: 35 Curls, Braids and Twists

Curly half up half down hairstyles let you lift the crown while keeping plenty of texture loose. These 35 looks range from high curly ponytails and small front braids to soft twists, floral details and more polished occasion styles.

High Half-Up Curly Ponytail

Dark shoulder-to-waist-length curls gathered high at the crown with loose ringlets and front tendrils — Photo Via @deecurlthusiast

A high, curly section lifts the crown while dark ringlets fall freely down the back. A few curls near the face soften the raised shape without hiding the length.

Style note: Leave a small curl loose at the front if you prefer a softer outline around your face.

Burgundy Half-Up Curly Volume

Long burgundy curls with a raised upper section and smooth styled baby hairs — Photo Via @alluringgbeauty

Deep burgundy curls frame the face, with the upper portion pulled slightly higher for extra height. The contrast between the neat hairline and loose texture gives this look its shape.

Cornrow Topknot and Braids

Tight front cornrows gathered into a tall braided topknot with long hanging box braids — Photo Via @superbeauty_

Narrow cornrows curve toward a tall braided knot, while long individual braids fall over the shoulders. This is a braided alternative to a loose curly half-up style, with the detail concentrated at the crown.

Ask your stylist: Use this image as a reference for the direction of the front braid pattern.

Textured High Curly Pony

Two angled views of a high black curly ponytail with styled edges — Photo Via @leelee.moehair

The paired views show springy black curls gathered high above a smooth, defined hairline. Keeping the ponytail full lets the curl pattern become the main feature from both angles.

Sleek Crown and Crimped Lengths

Long black tightly waved hair with a smooth pulled-back crown and sculpted baby hairs — Photo Via @glitz.__

A sleek upper section leads into a long curtain of narrow black waves. The polished hairline contrasts with the textured lengths, giving the style a defined, side-swept finish.

Formal Half-Up Curl Variations

Six-image collage of wedding and formal half-up hairstyles with curls, twists and floral accents — Photo Via @mazelstar

This collage shows several ways to lift or twist the top while leaving curled lengths loose. Compare the flower details, crown volume and face-framing pieces to decide how decorative you want the finish.

Recommended: Save the individual look you like from this collage before explaining it to your stylist.

Full Curly Half-Up Ponytail

Long dark curls gathered high above the forehead with a neat center part at the crown — Photo Via @cwcbeautystudio

A high gathered section creates lift above a mass of long, dark ringlets. The defined parting and styled edges keep the front controlled while the curls remain full below.

Soft Twists Above Brown Curls

Back view of brown half-up hair with side twists meeting over long curled layers — Photo Via @hairbyzainax

Loose side sections sweep toward the middle and meet above thick brown curls. The gently raised crown adds shape without covering the bouncy length underneath.

Pro tip: Gently loosen the twisted sections after securing them if you want a softer finish.

Side Braid With Loose Curls

Side-view formal hairstyle with one narrow crown braid over glossy brown curled ends — Photo Via @harsandhu_beauty_salon

A slim braid follows one side of the head before disappearing into softly curled lengths. It adds a clear detail near the crown while leaving the rest of the hair open.

Slicked-Back Half-Up Curls

Long black wavy curls with a sleek pulled-back top and smooth hairline — Photo Via @kaishairdiary

The crown is drawn smoothly back while thick black curls spread across both shoulders. This contrast works when you want a cleaner front without losing volume in the lower lengths.

Raised Black Curly Ponytail

Front view of black long curls with a lifted high ponytail section and soft fringe curls — Photo Via @officialhairbyaudi

A lifted top section sits above long black curls, with shorter curled pieces around the forehead. The rounded volume at the crown gives the style height while keeping the face open.

Style note: Keep the front curl pieces shorter than the longest lengths if you want the top section to stand out.

Airy Half-Up Curly Puff

Full black curls lifted at the crown with long textured ends and a pink flower background — Photo Via @___looksbybrii

The top curls rise into a rounded puff, while looser ringlets hang down around the shoulders. The airy texture gives this half-up style plenty of width as well as height.

Sculpted Curly Crown

Black curly half-up look with a high rounded top and carefully shaped hairline curls — Photo Via @janiya_mone

A full curly section sits high on the head with neatly arranged curls along the hairline. The longer curls around the shoulders balance the elevated crown.

Smooth High Curly Ponytail

Photo Via @g.hairloungee

Smooth sides sweep into a high gathered ponytail filled with defined black curls. The side profile makes the contrast between the sleek base and textured tail especially clear.

Pro tip: Check the ponytail height from the side before securing it for the silhouette you prefer.

Floral Crown Over Dark Curls

Back view of long black formal curls with a band of tiny white flowers across the crown — Photo Via @ayshia.khn

A narrow band of tiny white flowers traces the back of the crown above glossy black curls. This floral detail adds occasion styling without concealing the loose curled lengths.

Style note: Use smaller floral accents if you want the dark curls to remain the focus.

Shorter Curly Half-Up Pony

Side view of shoulder-length black curly ponytail gathered high with smooth sides — Photo Via @beautifiedbyaerii

A raised curly ponytail creates a rounded shape that ends close to the shoulders. The smooth sides give this shorter variation a neat outline while the ends stay textured.

Voluminous Brown Curled Layers

Back view of softly curled brown shoulder-length hair with a lifted crown and rounded ends — Photo Via @slaymyhair

These glossy brown curls build body through the middle and ends, with gentle lift near the crown. The visible focus is the curled shape rather than a clearly defined half-up fastening.

Silver-Pinned Dark Half-Up Curls

Two views of dark curled hair with small silver floral pins securing the upper section — Photo Via @hairstylist_mauritius.dk

Small silver floral pins sit across the upper section of glossy dark curls. The side-by-side views show how the accessories sparkle above the long, loose lengths.

Recommended: Place decorative pins where the twisted hair meets so they look integrated rather than scattered.

Face-Framing Braids and Curls

Curly half-up style with small front braids and long black ringlets around the face — Photo Via @_hairbybaijourthesalon

Small braids shape the front of this high curly style while long black ringlets frame the cheeks. Keeping the braid detail close to the hairline lets the rest of the curls remain prominent.

Simple High Half-Up Curls

Casual half-up ponytail with dark shoulder-length curls and a small raised top section — Photo Via @bougiesbeautybar__

A small top section gathers the curls away from the forehead while the rest fall around the shoulders. This restrained lift is an option when you prefer the curl texture over elaborate accessories.

Blonde Twisted Half-Up Crown

Back view of long blonde hair with loose side twists and polished curled ends — Photo Via @mariawilliamshmua

Soft blonde sections cross and twist at the back of the head above long curls. The open, airy shape keeps the style gentle and lets the lighter pieces show through.

Style note: Keep a little movement in the side sections instead of flattening them against the head.

Golden Half-Up Twisted Knot

Back view of honey-gold hair gathered into a small central twist over voluminous curls — Photo Via @hairandmakeupbydnee

A small twisted knot anchors the half-up section above loose golden curls. The textured sides flow into the fastening, giving the back view a softly gathered shape.

Delicate Braid Over Ringlets

Back view of light-brown tightly curled lengths beneath a slim half-up braided detail — Photo Via @madisondidmyhair

A narrow braided band sits above a full fall of small light-brown ringlets. The curls carry most of the volume, so the braid reads as a subtle finishing detail.

Pro tip: Keep the braided section narrow when the curls underneath already have a lot of fullness.

Minimal Twist and Dark Waves

Back view of dark brunette half-up hair with a small twist and soft long waves — Photo Via @hairbykristina.rose

A simple tucked twist draws the upper dark sections together while long waves fall below. This understated arrangement leaves the smooth, face-framing sections to do most of the work.

Curved Cornrows With Curls

Close-up of curved front cornrow braids flowing into thick black curly lengths — Photo Via @blessed_hands_by_jazaih

Curved cornrows add geometric detail across the front, giving way to full black curls at the sides. The braid pattern creates structure without gathering all the hair into an updo.

Ask your stylist: Show the curved braid layout from the photo if you want the sections to follow the same direction.

Low Blonde Half-Up Twist

Back view of long highlighted blonde waves secured by a small central rolled twist — Photo Via @bridalhair_by_nataliejane

A small rolled twist sits low on the crown above cascading blonde waves. The lighter sections help reveal the overlapping strands without needing a large accessory.

Copper Braided Curly Crown

Back view of copper hair braided in a wide half-up crown above springy curls — Photo Via @fransantacruz.bridal

Several copper braids meet across the back of the head, leaving long narrow curls underneath. The woven upper section gives this curly style more detail than a simple clip or tie.

Recommended: Show the entire back view to your stylist so the braid placement and loose curls are both clear.

Topknot With Dark Ringlets

Dark long curly hair with straight forehead fringe and a small high topknot — Photo Via @cherrystyles___

A small topknot lifts the upper hair while long dark ringlets fall on either side. The straight fringe changes the look from a typical pulled-back curly half-up style.

Rounded Curly Half-Up Pony

Medium-length dark curls gathered into a rounded high ponytail with loose shoulder curls — Photo Via @moniesponyparlor

The upper curls form a rounded puff while the shorter ends spread around the shoulders. A clean forehead and open face keep the lifted shape easy to see.

Golden-Brown Curly Half-Up

Full caramel-brown curls framing a center-parted smooth top with an elevated half-up section — Photo Via @dolledbyro

A smooth center part meets thick golden-brown curls that fan out widely on both sides. The raised top gives definition to a particularly voluminous curly look.

Braided Crown Over Copper Ringlets

Back view of dark brown braided half-up hair with light copper tightly curled ends — Photo Via @susy_reyes_ny_makeup

Dark upper sections weave together above a dense fall of copper-toned ringlets. The contrast in texture and colour makes the braid easy to distinguish from the curls below.

Style note: Keep the braid visible from the back instead of letting it disappear under the curls.

Front Cornrows and Long Curls

Small front cornrows with sleek center sections and long black loosely textured curly lengths — Photo Via @sm.hairdesigns

Several slim cornrows run back from the forehead into a high, curled style. The patterned front adds a sharp contrast to the long black textured lengths.

Loose Half-Up Brown Spirals

Back and side view of a relaxed brunette half-up twist with long brown spiral curls — Photo Via @rachelfrippbridal

The top brunette sections gather loosely into a tucked half-up shape. Long spiral curls cascade from beneath, while a few shorter pieces soften the side profile.

Braided Half-Up Crown Curls

Long dark brown curled hair with an intricate braided crown across the back — Photo Via @divine_beauty_essence

Braided strands cross the back of the head like a narrow crown above long brown curls. The arrangement keeps the decorative work at the top, with the length left flowing.

Pro tip: Ask for the braids to follow the natural curve of your head if you prefer a softer outline.

Soft Twists and Glossy Curls

Back view of medium-length dark brown curls with soft twisted half-up sections — Photo Via @alexisbrittanyhair

Soft, overlapping twists gather the dark upper layers before opening into glossy, defined curls. The rounded ends create fullness below the half-up detail without a visible accessory.