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The 70 Best Short Haircut and Hairstyle Ideas

women

Getty Images / Design by Bailey Mariner

If the question "Should I cut my hair short?" regularly pops into your head, then you've come to the right place. Short haircuts are fun, flattering, fashionable, and not to mention, incredibly versatile; you can play with texture, partings, accessories, and even add in braids to mix up your style. Basically, there is a dreamy short hairstyle for everyone.

To help you decide which is best for you, we’ve rounded up our favorite short-haired A-lister looks and called on expert stylists for their industry insight. Once you've deciphered which short haircut you love and which is likely to suit your face shape and hair texture, you can take a picture to your hairdresser so you don't end up in a Friends Dudley/Demi Moore situation. In the hair world, the old adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" is spot-on.

Meet the Expert

  • Gretchen Friese is a BosleyMD stylist and certified trichologist. She has over 20 years of beauty industry experience and is based in Denver.
  • Miles Jeffries is a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles. His A-list clients include Mariah Carey, Tinashe, Angela Bassett, and Sierra Capri, to name a few.

Click through the gallery below for the ultimate A-list short haircut inspiration.

Classic Ear-Length

Emilia Clarke
@emilia_clarke

It shocked fans everywhere when Emilia Clarke went for an almighty chop, and we love it. She revealed her inspiration was Gwyneth Paltrow's infamous '90s cut, as she wrote on her Instagram, "Me: I'm thinking when Gwyneth and Brad had the same haircut. @jennychohair: I got 'chu."

Natural Bob

Yara Shahidi natural curly bob
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images 

Yara Shahidi's face-framing curls look incredible with this triangular bob. Timeless and carefree, Friese recommends applying an oil and smoothing product to wet hair to create control and separation. "Once the hair has air dried using a chopstick or pick the shape can be created by lifting the hair into place," she adds.

Natural Lob

short hairstyles: halle berry with curly hair
Getty

Oh hello, shiny bob. Those with natural texture and volume will be able to get the most out of this cut and style, comments Friese, adding, "It is a great look for a number of face shapes including anyone with wide eyes and a strong angular face as well as those with round faces."

Wet-Look Bob

short hairstyles: Irina Shayk at the Dsquared2 Show Milan Fashion Week SS19
Getty/Daniele Venturelli/Contributor

Irina Shayk stepped out with a seriously daring new choppy bob-and-fringe combo at the Dsquared2 Milan spring 2019 fashion show. We love this daring look on her. What do you think? Do you think it's real or just a very good wig?

Center-Parted Round Bob

short hairstyles: Jenna Dewan at Billboard Music Awards 2018
Getty/ Frazer Harrison /Staff

Jenna Dewan has had short hair for a while, but at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, she revealed an even shorter, sleeker bob complete with a center part. Oh, and we love her yellow eyeshadow, too. To achieve this look, Friese instructs, "Using a large/extra large round brush, blow-dry the hair smooth on each side concentrating the heat down the hair shaft to reduce frizz and create shine."

Byrdie Tip

If starting with fine straight hair using a root lifting product along with a volumizing product on the ends will help the style have longevity.

Side-Parted Lob

short hairstyles: Dua Lip Debuts Bob At Billboard Music Awards 2018
Getty/ Matt Winkelmeyer /Staff

If you struggle with clipping or tying your hair back, Dua Lipa's slicked-back bob is a perfect choice. "Straighter or straightened hair textures are key to creating polish and shine," notes Jeffries. "Maintaining this look sharp means staying on top of the haircut with appointments every five to six weeks," he adds

Textured Pixie

short hairstyles: Kate Hudson with short blonde hair
Getty/ Michael Kovac /Contributor

Kate Hudson makes growing out a buzz cut look effortless with this textured crop adorned with a simple black headband at the 2018 Golden Globes. 

Wavy Pixie

short hairstyles: Ruth Negga with a short curly haircut
Getty / David M. Benett / Contributor

Ruth Negga's haircut makes for ideal inspiration for anyone with naturally curly hair. 

'90s-Style Pixie

Ciara
Taylor Hill / Getty Images 

Ciara proves a simple baby fringe can make a short haircut look seriously cool.

Wet-Look With Side Part

Short hairstyles: Selena Gomez shows off wet look bob haircut on Instagram
Photo: Hungvanngo

Upgrade that lob with a slicked-back wet look like Selena Gomez. While hair is still damp, part it to one side and comb through it with a gel, and allow to air dry.

Byrdie Tip

Ask your hairdresser for longer layers so you can transform your look from day to night with products.

Bleached Pixie

short hairstyles: Zoe Kravitz with short blonde hair at the 2017 MET Gala
Getty Images

Zoë Kravitz proved how striking a pixie crop can look, especially when it's super blonde. Note the mussed-up texture, which makes it look both effortless and cool.

Nearly-Buzzed

Short Hairstyles: Dilone short hair
Getty

One word: wow. When model Dilone unveiled this look, we saved to our favorites immediately.

Shaved Sides With Length on Top

Short hairstyles: Katy Perry's new short blonde look
Getty Images

The side shave and the quiff are very reminiscent of Miley Cyrus. We love this hue and cut on Katy Perry.

Pixie With Bangs

Short hairstyles: Michelle Williams with a gorgeous platinum blonde at this year's Oscars
Getty Images

Michelle Williams is arguably the queen of the short haircut. Fortunately for us, "Pixies work with most hair textures and are very easy to style," comments Friese. She advises using a volumizing product like the BosleyMD BosVolumize Style+ Blow Dry & Styling Gel for fine hair or a smoothing/straightening product for coarse/curly hair.

Beachy Waved Bob

Short hairstyles: Jourdan Dunn's short haircut suits a diamond-, oval-, heart- and square-shaped face? T
Dave Benett/Getty Images

Got a diamond-, oval-, heart-, or square-shaped face? Try a blunt bob like Jourdan Dunn's. According to Jeffries, "Keeping this style at chin-length to make it suitable for most face shapes as it creates the illusion of an elongated neck—who doesn't love that?"

Upgraded Bowl Cut

Short hairstyles: Zendaya's bowl cut at the Met Gala 2016
Rex Features

The bowl cut isn't a hairstyle that suits everyone, but Zendaya's gorgeous dark eyes really set this off. 

Pixie With Long Bangs

Tyra Banks
 

If there's one thing we know about Tyra Banks, it's that she knows how to work all kinds of hairstyles. We can never forget this short moment. To get something similar, make sure you ask for longer layers in front.

Short With Texture

Short hairstyles: Ruby Rose's slicked-back short haircut
Rex Features

This unconventional cut, as seen on Ruby Rose, is especially easy to pull off when you've got incredible eyebrows. Make sure your brows are looking just as sharp.

Modern Pageboy

Heewon Kan


Kirstin Sinclair / Getty Images

Heewon Kan's fringe is a quirky take on the short hairstyle, which is somewhat like a bowl cut, but with two different lengths — on the ends and on the bangs.

Blunt Bob With Bangs

Short hairstyles: Coco Rocha with a blunt, '90s style fringe and a chin-length bob
Getty Images

Coco Rocha has tried out many a different hairstyle in her time, but we do love this short, sharp bob on her. The '90s-style fringe is definitely something we can get on board with.

Natural Pixie

Short hairstyles: Lupita Nyong'o suits oval- and heart-shaped faces.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Lupita Nyong'o's short haircut suits oval- and heart-shaped faces.

Slight Side Part and Ear-Length

Short hairstyles: Amber Valletta's short hairstyle is with a long fringe and crop, great for square faces
Jon Kopaloff /Getty Images

Actress Amber Valletta proves there's no haircut she can't pull off.

Loosely Wavy Bob

Short hairstyles: Nicole Richie with a chin-length bob, great for round and oval faces
Jason LaVeris /Getty Images

Not content with simply having super-short hair, Nicole Richie has also gone for that super-platinum blonde we love too. 

Side Part and Tousled

Short hairstyles: Kate Mara's is perfect for oval-, heart-, square- and diamond-shaped faces.
Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Kate Mara's short hairstyle is perfect for oval-, heart-, square-, and diamond-shaped faces.

Mini Curls

Amandla Stenberg


Jesse Grant / Getty Images

We love Amandla Stenberg's honey-hued cropped cut and mini curls. 

Ombré Lob With Texture

Short hairstyles: Jessica Alba's is one of our favourites and also not too dramatic
Jon Kopaloff /Getty Images

When Jessica Alba chopped off her long hair into a bob, we were shocked. But immediately after, we went and did the same thanks to the fact it looked so good on her. 

Bouncy Bob With Bangs

Short hairstyles: Taylor Swift's bob is great for square-, diamond-, oval- and heart-shaped faces.
Sammy Smith/Getty Images

Taylor Swift's bob hairstyle is great for square-, diamond-, oval-, and heart-shaped faces.

Blunt Bob With Center Part

Short hairstyles: Rihanna's bob hairstyle suits round-, oval-, square-, heart- and diamond-shaped faces.
Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Rihanna's bob hairstyle suits round-, oval-, square-, heart-, and diamond-shaped faces.

Short With Volume on Top

Short hairstyles: Taraji P. Henson short curly cut
Getty

Taraji P. Henson does volume right with her chic curly cut. 

Short With Waves

Short hairstyles: Charlize Theron's short, side-swept cut suits heart-, diamond- and oval-shaped faces.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Charlize Theron's short, side-swept cut suits heart-, diamond-, and oval-shaped faces.

Asymmetric Bob

Short hairstyles: Kylie Jenner's sleek bob will suit round-, oval-, square- and diamond-shaped faces.
Vivien Killilea/Getty Images

Kylie Jenner's sleek bob will suit round-, oval-, square-, and diamond-shaped faces.

Natural Bob With Baby Bangs

Short hairstyles: Solange Knowles's short hairstyle will suit diamond-, oval- and square-shaped faces.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

From its mega volume to its light and airy texture, Solange Knowles's natural bob is hallucinating. The best part—apart from those baby bangs, of course—"It's also sustainable as it will continue to look good even when it's grown out," comments Jeffries.

Swooped Back and Short

Short hairstyles: Miley Cyrus's chic short hairstyle is ideal for oval- and heart-shaped faces.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

Miley Cyrus's chic, short hairstyle is ideal for oval- and heart-shaped faces.

Accessorized Pixie

Janelle Monae short hair
Getty Images

Even a super-short haircut like Janelle Monae's can take an accessory. A gilded headband like Monae's or decorative comb is an easy way to elevate your look.

Mini Afro

Short hairstyles: Viola Davis
Getty

Viola Davis's rounded afro pairs perfectly with her wash-and-go hairstyle (and looks so elegant with her off-the-shoulder dress). 

Short with Volume and Side Part

Short hairstyles: Scarlett Johansson's short hairstyle will suit oval- and heart-shaped faces.
Lars Niki/Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson's short hairstyle will suit oval- and heart-shaped faces.

Sexy Bob With Bangs

Alanna Arrington inspires us with her model-off-duty, perfectly tousled curls every day

@alannaaarrington

Alanna Arrington inspires us with her model-off-duty, perfectly tousled curls every day. 

Bantu Knots

Zazie Beetz bantu knots

@lacyredway / Instagram

To get these modern yet traditional textured crowns, "Start by blow-drying hair with a paddle brush and then twisting hair into coils similar to Bantu knots at night. In the morning, it's up to you to either leave it or brush it out," instructs Jeffries.

Super-Straight Bob

Short hairstyles: Nina Dobrev debuts shorter hairstyle at Oscars After Party
Getty Images

If there's one style that never goes out of style, it's an asymmetric bob. Nina Dobrev took hers even shorter and gave us all a lesson in how to work a side fringe. Re-create this at home by parting that center fringe slightly to the left. 

Mini Shag

Edie Campbell short hair
Getty Images

Here, Edie Campbell shows off a modern Joan Jett shag, a nod to the music icon's piece-y chop that helped define '70s punk rock beauty. 

Buzzed With a Bright Hue

Roxxxan Conway

Want to go short and add a different color? Look to Roxxxan Conway for some hair inspo.

Retro Waved Bob

Lily Collins
Getty Images

Lily Collins knows how versatile a bob is. Wear it sleek like Swift, textured like Williams, or style it with retro Marcel-esque waves for a party.

Braided Bob

Carey Mulligan short hair
Getty Images

Think you can't embrace braids with short hair? Think again. Here, Mulligan has used a small fishtail braid to pull the hair off her face. Clever.

Mini Mullet

Rowan Blanchard

Frazer Harrison / Staff / Getty Images

Rowan Blanchard stunned us with this beautiful, smoldering look at the premiere of HBO's Euphoria.

Waved Bob With Headband

Julia Garner


Rachel Luna / Getty Images

With 90 and 2000s hair making a comeback, the style icons of the time are too—and whose short hair is more iconic than Winona Ryder? From loose, ear-length curls to this slicked-back look from the premiere of Eyes Wide Shut, she's done it all.

Textured, Grown-Out Pixie

Aliet Sarah
 

Model Aliet Sarah is known for rocking this super-sheared cut.

Pinned-Back Wavy Lob

Kiernan Shipka at Coachella
Michael Kovac/Contributor/Getty

Kiernan Shipka's honey-blonde hair from Coachella 2019 accents her eyes, and the mid-neck length frames her face perfectly.

Sporty and Styled Pixie

Natalie Portman at TRL in 2006
Evan Agostini/Staff/Getty

She stays with a more mature look nowadays, but Natalie Portman once rocked a rebellious-looking sporty pixie.

Finger Waved Pixie

Tati Gabrielle at CFDA awards
 Jamie McCarthy/Staff/Getty

Tati Gabrielle's short hair and perfect finger waves took this look from the 2019 CFDA Awards red carpet from great to stunning.

Blow-Dryed Lob With Waves

Lana Condor short voluminous hair with side part

Presley Ann / Getty Images

To All the Boys I've Loved Before's Lana Condor wears her hair in a perfectly-textured bob with a side part.

Slicked Side and Asymmetric

Gabrielle Union
Pascal Le Segretain/Staff/Getty

Gabrielle Union's fully-pulled-to-the-side 'do isn't for the faint of heart, but it's just as soft as it is edgy.

Blown-Out Bangs

Erika Vendette
 

Asymmetry is a great way to add visual interest to a short cut. Here, stylist Erika Vendette has a bit of length and swooped bangs on one side, while the other side is shaved close to the scalp.

Long Pixie With a Blowout

Jada Pinkett Smith
 

Jada Pinkett Smith's pompadour is extremely cool and fress. To land this look, "[c]oncentrating on volume and lift at the top and sleek smooth sides are key," says Friese. Use a root lifting product at the crown like Design.Me Puff.Me for volume and hold.

Slicked-Back and Dyed

Irene Kim
Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images

Irene Kim's hair here is slicked back for an on-trend wet look. We love the blunt edges of her barely shoulder-grazing bob, as well as the eye-popping royal purple color.

Center Part With Texture

Jennifer Lawrence
Steve Granitz/Contributor/Getty

It was shocking when Jennifer Lawrence cut off her long locks; it was also part of a transition to a more adult sense of style for the actress. This wavy haircut will suit oval-, diamond-, or heart-shaped faces.

Blunt Lob With Fringe

Amalie Gassmann
 Kirsten Sinclair / Getty Images

Model Amalie Gassmann is utterly on trend, and her red bob with super short bangs is rocker-chic done right.

Air-Dried Lob With Layers

Morena Baccarin
Amanda Edwards/Contributor/Getty Images

Morena Baccarin showed off a wonderful way to wear curls when she cut her hair short to her chin—it's manageable, but doesn't reject the natural texture of her hair.

Sophisticated Pixie

Maria Borges at Cannes
Pascal Le Segretain/Staff/Getty

When Chopard had Maria Borges come to their dinner during 2019's Cannes Film Festival, the only thing more beautiful than the diamonds was her look. We love the cropped cut with tapered sides.

Pixie With Length on Top

Anne Hathaway
Ethan Miller/Staff/Getty

Anne Hathaway has proven over the course of her fame that she can rock pretty much any cut. But remember the brief period of time she sported a pixie? We do. And although her hair is gorgeous now, we do miss this look.

Lob With Tousled Texture

Margot Robbie at the SAG awards
 JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/Contributor/Getty

With her stunning blonde hair, Margot Robbie has created for herself one of the most recognizable images in show business right now.

Dyed With Eye-Sweeping Bangs

Liuxi Liu
 

Liuxi Liu's uber short cut is mostly bangs, with a royal blue color adding a hefty dose of trendiness to a timeless look.

Pixie With Natural Length

Ellie Delphine
Kirstin Sinclair / Getty Images

Influencer Ellie Delphine shows off a street style-ready coiled crop. If you have curly hair, you can absolutely go short—just be sure you're seeing a stylist who specializes in your hair texture.

Ombré Natural Pixie

Tia Taylor
 

Playing with color can change the entire vibe of your cut. Gray hair with exposed roots makes for an edgy style.

Slicked and Center-Parted Lob

Shailene Woodley
Vera Anderson/Contributor/Getty

Although she may have started out on The Secret Life of the American Teenager, now Shailene Woodley is a heavy-hitter, acting in Big Little Lies alongside the likes of Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep. She cut off all her hair for an installment in the Divergent series, and while we love her with long hair, it was a fantastic look for her.

Feathered Lob

Demi Lovato
 Kevin Mazur/Contributor/Getty

Demi Lovato's short hair is inspiration for everyone, everywhere, to put down their straighteners and pick up some texturizing spray.

Lob With Curled Ends

Alexa Chung
 Karwai Tang / Contributor/Getty

Alexa Chung has worn this wavy bob for so many years, it might as well be named after her.

Air-Dried Lob

Lucy Hale
Kevin Mazur/Contributor/Getty

Lucy Hale's hair is always on point thanks to stylist Kristin Ess, and we can't help but love every new look.

Long Pixie With Natural Curls

Logan Browning natural curly pixie

Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic / Getty Images

Logan Browning's natural curls make her pixie look almost waterfall-esque.

Asymmetric With a Side Part

Marion Cotillard
Dominique Charriau/Contributor/Getty

French actress Marion Cotillard is a vision in this slicked back, styled look.

Natural Lob

Naomi Campbell
Edward Berthelot/Contributor/Getty

We would be remiss not to put Naomi, queen of the hair switch-up, on this list.

FAQ
  • How often does short hair need to be washed?

    Provided your hair isn't very greasy, you should be able to get away with washing it every 2-3 days. Remember that you can always use a dry shampoo in between washes, to sop up any excess oil.

  • What products do I need to invest in if I have short hair?

    A high-quality shampoo and conditioner are imperative for any length of hair. Otherwise, a texturizing product and a shine spray will get you far.

  • How often should I get my short hair cut?

    That depends on exactly how short it is. A buzz will need to be maintained with a trim every couple weeks, but a bob or lob can go longer (even 6-8 weeks).

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