Short Haircuts for Women: 15 Styles and Celebrity Inspo

Short hair is easier to live with than most people expect, and the range runs from a barely-there pixie to a chin-grazing bob. Here are 15 short cuts, who each tends to suit, and a few celebrities who have worn them.

Take a photo to your stylist. "Short" means different things to different people, and a picture saves a lot of guessing.

Short Haircut Styles

Salt and Pepper Short Cut

A mix of black, gray and white, cut short. It's a good way to wear natural gray with polish rather than hide it. A sleek cut keeps it looking deliberate. Ask your stylist about a gloss or toner if the gray looks yellow.

Classic Lob

The "long bob" falls between the chin and the collarbone, so it's the easiest step if you're nervous about going short. It still pulls back into a ponytail, and it suits most face shapes and hair types. Easy to style every day.

Rounded Bob

A bob with a soft, curved shape instead of sharp lines, often with a long fringe. It's polished without much effort. It looks best on straight to slightly wavy hair, and it needs a trim every six to eight weeks to hold its shape.

90s Crop

A cropped bob with a relaxed, slightly shorter cut, a throwback to 1990s styles. It's easy to wear and works with a center or side part. Good if you want a bob that looks casual rather than formal.

Side Swoop

Short or medium hair swept to one side across the forehead. It frames the face, shows off natural texture and works for casual days and dressy ones. You'll see it on the red carpet with waves, curls or a pulled-back ponytail.

French Bob

A short, blunt bob that sits at or just above the chin, usually with a fringe. It's a favorite of stylists and celebrities and looks best on fine to medium straight hair. Wavy hair can work too, with a little styling.

Classic Pixie

A very short cut, cropped close at the back and sides with a little length on top. It dries fast and takes almost no styling, and it works on many ages and hair colors. It's also a bold look, so give it a few weeks to get used to.

Shaggy Bob

A bob with choppy, uneven layers and often a fringe. It looks tousled and works well on wavy or thick hair, since the layers remove bulk. It's meant to look undone, so skip heavy product.

Tight Crop

Very short on the sides, with a short length on top and sometimes a faded edge. It's sharp, easy and low on upkeep, though it needs a trim every few weeks to stay clean. Good if you want something striking that isn't fussy.

Braided Bob

A short bob made with braids, which is practical in hot weather and gives your hair a break from heat styling. Braids can last for weeks, depending on the style, and they work for many textures.

Short Coils

Natural coils, cut short and defined. A touch of color on the ends or tips adds contrast. Short coils are low maintenance, and with a good moisturizer they stay soft and bouncy.

Feathered Gray Pixie

A pixie with soft, feathered layers and a gray or silver tone, often with a cool-toned balayage. A little lift at the root shows the color best. A solid choice if you want a clear change without losing softness.

Short Curly Haircut

An inverted bob (shorter at the back) or soft layers work well for curls. The best shape depends on your face and curl pattern, so ask a stylist who knows curly hair. Light layering stops the shape from going triangular and lets curls move.

Modern Graduated Bob

A bob that's stacked and shorter at the back, longer toward the front. The layering at the nape adds volume and an edgy shape. Good for fine hair that needs lift.

Short Feminine Bob

A short bob with soft layers and a gentle, rounded finish. It looks best on straight hair, where the layers show. The soft ends keep it from looking severe.

Celebrities With Short Hair

Celebrities help spread a trend. A new cut on a famous head can send everyone to the salon. Here are some who have worn short styles.

Kim Kardashian

Known for changing her hair constantly, from long brown to blonde to black. She has worn a bob and a short cut, including in a Skims campaign.

Zendaya

Zendaya has worn a short bob and a cropped cut in blonde. A lighter shade works well with a short cut because it adds brightness.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson has worn short hair at several points, including a layered style and an undercut-style look. Short cuts suit her face and she's known for them.

Gigi Hadid

Gigi Hadid wore a classic bob in a 2017 campaign. A bob is easy to style and shows off a strong jawline and neckline.

Kris Jenner

Kris Jenner is known for her pixie, which she wore for years. She has since shown a longer bob with bangs on Instagram.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez has worn a classic short bob again, which helped bring the cut back into conversation.

Why Go Short

• Low upkeep. Less hair means less washing, drying and styling time.
• Faster to style. Many short cuts work with a quick shake and a bit of product.
• Healthier ends. Regular trims remove split ends, so hair often looks fuller and healthier.
• Easy to change. You can try bold color without committing to a lot of hair.

The downside is that short cuts need regular trims to keep their shape, usually every six to eight weeks.

Before You Cut

If you're unsure, start with a lob and go shorter next time. Hair grows back, and it typically takes several months to regain a few inches. Talk to a stylist about your face shape, your hair texture and how much time you want to spend each morning.