Yes, it stays curly and if you don't keep up with brushing it or getting him clipped every 5 to 6 weeks he'll start look shabby. This dog was just bathed and blown dry, it looks nice for the first week but then it starts to curl up. I'd love to say my dogs looked that way all the time but they don't. And if a person doesn't like a certain clip on their poodle then it's an easy fix. That's the great thing/worst thing about poodles and their coats, it grows back. They don't care what they look like.
Even most poodle in show clips get shaved down after they are done their show career.