What short hairstyle is both cute and easy for girls? I have heard many moms say this and I have interpreted it as, “I need something that survives recess, doesn’t create drama with a detangling brush, and looks nice for school photos.”
I totally understand this request. From my experience cutting hair for kids and teens, the best styles are the ones that look best weeks after leaving the salon. I do a layered bob on a seven year old girl and her mom told me it survived swim camp without looking like a wreck. That gets a huge win from me. All styles are meant to be timeless and versatile.
#1: Classic Soft Brown Bob with Subtle Layers
I can see this haircut being suggested when someone asks for something easy, because it is. It is a chin-length bob with the most subtle layers possible, just enough to give it some swing without adding bulk or weird flipping bits at the ends. If your girl has fine hair this will get looking like there is more there than what is actually there and all you want is a tiny bit of serum on damp hair and you’re good to go. I really feel like every girl should have a bob at least once, and this one is the prettiest, safest place to start.
#2 Transformative Shoulder-Length Cut with Face-Enhancing Layers
This child’s hair has transformed beautifully! The skill of the stylist is evident through the bouncy finish and all the layers. The change from long, shapeless hair to this look is unbelievable, and the child almost looks like a different person! The stylist’s texturing is spot on; with a good amount of medium to thick hair, the right texturing can achieve a non-triangular look, which is always the goal. The waves look great and styling will require little effort! The child has plenty of hair to work with and this style is perfect for those wanting a shorter look, but who are nervous about the change.
#3: Chic Tight Ringlet Natural Afro with Graduated Cut
I’m going to say this until I get through to you, curly hair like this deserves a proper stylist who knows how to work with natural curls, not someone who just uses thinning shears and hopes for the best. This graduated cut is doing just what it should do, shorter in the back to build shape and longer towards the top to let those ringlets really pop. Every curl is in place because the layering was done with purpose and not randomly. If this is your girl’s hair type please invest in a good cream to help with moisture because those ringlets will look good definied only if it properly spaced.
#4: Multi-Tonal Chestnut Waves with Face-Framing Highlights
Face framing highlights create a stunning sun-kissed look at the front. Rich and deep chestnut base color paired with highlights looks amazing. The lighter pieces near the front of the face really draw the eye, making everything more open, and give a more fresh appearance, while also being low maintenance. This style has mid length layers which give more body to the hair without having to thin it out. This is a great choice for medium to thick density hair. You will have to do some color maintenance, but the grow out looks nice and natural since the color was placed with that in mind.
#5: Glossy Black Waves with Face-Framing Layers
I love hair that is long, straight and shiny. It makes me think of hair commercials when I see this. The face framing pieces are subtle enough to compliment the length, but noticeable enough to provide some movement around the cheeks and jaw. The shine of this hair speaks volume. You can tell that this hair is healthy and well-maintained, and that shine is definitely not coming from a camera filter. For those girls that have this much volume and want to maintain their length, layering is a must. Otherwise, all you’re going to have is a heavy curtain of hair. It just sits there looking boring.
#6: Soft Blonde Waves with Precision Lob Cut
I’m loving this lob, it looks like you just woke up and went to the salon. The length is perfect, so you can pull it back if your sporty and don’t like hair on your face. The waves here creates ample volume, and the blonde color is super cute. It’s a great non-striped and subtle blonde, which is very modern and trendy. Just be cautious that light blonde hair is a big commitment to purple shampoo and frequent touch ups. However, the look is very fresh, so if you don’t mind the upkeep, it’s definitely worth it.
#7: Breezy Blonde Graduated Bob with Fringe
The graduated bob hairstyle is phenomenal, especially on this client ! The way stacking is done on the shorter back pieces to longer front pieces creates shape without the 2006 mom haircut feel, and the fringe is not only the element that adds this bonus polish, but also makes it feel intentional. A nice touch with the color is the dark to light root color. It will also make the grow out phase more bearable when it grows out because there will be no harsh lines as it grows out. If your girl has fine to medium hair and is looking for something with character, this is it. Just a heads up that the fringe will need to be trimmed every few weeks or it will start looking a bit crazy, and not in a good way.
#8: Sun-Kissed Textured Shoulder-Length Bob
I got a new haircut and it’s already my favorite. It has so much liveliness and fun to it. It’s a great hairstyle for the summer and will be the same in the winter. It’s really easy to do too. Just some salt spray and a bit of a scrunch, and you’re good. No need to do any curling tricks. Melissa’s balayage is also placed well. The contrasting colors really work in favor of the cut instead of competing with it. For girls with rounder faces, the length of this cut is really good because it provides the illusion of length while being shorter. Just make sure to get regular trims. If you don’t, a bob this textured will end up looking intentionally messy instead of effortlessly cool.
#9: Brunette Textured Bob with Soft Balayage Highlights
I have suggested this haircut before, but I’ll keep doing it because it looks so good on everyone! The base color brown with soft balayage pieces is awesome for school pictures, especially because it looks good in bad school lighting (the real test). The cut has a lived in look that a lot of people have to really try to get and I think this looks great! The highlights will get brassy after a while so they will need to be toned, but besides that, this style is super low maintenance!
#10: Effortless Chestnut Shag with Wispy Bangs
I have to mention this shag because it is giving me such strong 70s cool-girl vibes, which I am absolutely living for on a younger person. The layers fall perfectly all the way down without being choppy, which is a balance a lot of people fail to hit, and those wispy bangs are doing just the right amount of work to frame the face without being too much. The chestnut color is so rich here that it almost seems unnecessary to add highlights; you can see the dimensionality coming from the layers being hit by light at varying angles. A dry texture spray will be essential for keeping those layers from looking bunched up and clumpy, and looking more airy and layer-y. And yes, I know I keep saying this but the bangs need to be trimmed regularly, and I keep saying it because people seem to be surprised by it and I don’t want that to be you.
#11: Dynamic Brunette Bob with Subtle Highlights
This bob is what I would call quietly cool. It doesn’t scream for attention but somehow manages to grab everyone’s attention. The highlights are super subtle, and that length that sits just above the shoulders is universally flattering no matter if you are 8 or 18. The soft gentle layering at the ends helps soften the shape without making it look too disconnected overall, something I notice a lot with bobs that have too many layers. If your girl likes to keep things simple, and just wants a cut that looks good without having to overthink it, this is what I would put her in, no hesitation.
#12: Youthful Bob with Soft Front Bangs
The girl with the bob and bangs is adorable to an insane degree and the way her hair curls under is so cute, she really pulls off the style even though her hair isnt super thick! Probably due to the weightlessness of the hair. The bangs will most likely be rounded and soft. She will definitely surpass the amateur level in the bangs cut. The ends are super light which makes it so blunt and helmety. I guess you are probably right in saying she will get a bit sweaty at recess and the bangs will be annoying. That is a fair thought before getting the bangs cut.
#13: Soft Brunette Wave with Side-Swept Bangs
Side swept bangs make a nice diagonal line across the forehead and give a more matured look to younger faces compared to straight bangs. The color chestnut with highlights adds flow to the waves, creating a low-maintenance hairstyle with some dimension. Out of all the different hairstyles, this one requires the most styling and the bangs will need to be brushed and directed to one side otherwise they’ll just do their own thing. Overall, this is a round brush style and you want the heat to be concentrated on the bangs.
#14: Playful-Casual Long Layers with Wispy Bangs
This haircut design is my favorite. It shows the most creativity and effort. It shows the right amount of playfulness and sophistication with fun long layers that will keep thick hair under control and wispy bangs that add personality without the full commitment to blunt bangs. It also grows out nicely, less frequent trips to the salon, and less guilt pushing that trim appointment back another two weeks like we all do. The only thing that could ruin this look is humidity. Wispy bangs and humidity do not get along, but a little bit of anti-humidity cream should do the trick.
#15: Effortlessly-Voluminous Layered Cut with Soft Waves
Seeing both the mom and her daughter say “oh wow” at the same time is so satisfying. Hearing comments like that really puts the cherry on top for me. The layers look so good and really natural, It’s really nice when the layers are not too sculpted so the hair can look nice when it is air dried as well. For medium to thick hair, it really is ideal because it gives great volume where needed and it won’t just flatten and weigh down the hair. To get this look, all that it needs is some light mousse and a bit of scrunching while it’s damp. What I appreciate about that is the great styling instructions.
#16: Beachy Golden Layered Waves
There is a clear sense of fun coming from this hair, which works really well for the kind of look. Highlights look naturally blended, and the layers look really effortless and are probably just from good movement of the hair. The waves are also really nice as they look natural, and if someone literally spent 45 minutes trying to achieve that look they would most likely feel like they should be seen and you can always tell. The layers in the hair deal with the thickness quite nicely, taking enough weight out so there isn’t that blanket feeling. This style also wears really well with time and that is pretty much the best compliment I can give a style.
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