I have clients say to me, “I really don’t want to think about this in the morning,” while sending me a picture of someone whose hair took 45 minutes (and a round brush) to do. I get it though. They’re not being unreasonable. I think under 40, having a relationship with your hair is more aspirational. I think hair like that is practical.
These are the haircuts I like to recommend to people. These are haircuts that I have done myself and I have seen get messy in the car on the way to work and messy again at dinner. I have thoughts on haircuts that are so self-sufficient that you barely have to do anything and I have thoughts on haircuts that are a little high maintenance and people should know that before they get the haircut. These styles are designed to take only 1 or 2 minutes.
#1: Polished Short Bob with Soft Internal Layers
This is a cut that looks good in photos and feels great, which is not always the case. The layers are internal, so there’s not a lot of visible layering, but just enough movement so the hair doesn’t sit flat to the head. The length is just above the shoulders, which tends to behave itself without much coaxing. If your hair is naturally wavy, this cut will enhance that wave. If your hair is on the finer side, expect to check in for a trim every six weeks or so because the shape will start to drift when the ends thin out.
#2 Warm-Toned Textured Bob
I compliment you when I say the color does a lot of the work. The warm highlights look great and give dimension to the style, which you’d usually need more layers to achieve. The length is medium, around the collarbone, and the texture is loose enough for you to air dry it and look polished. For medium to fine density, this is ideal as it provides the illusion of fullness without the heaviness at the bottom. A little texturizing spray on damp hair will finish the look.
#3 Shoulder-Length Soft Wave
Last spring, I did my version of this on a client who said she hadn’t blow dried her hair in 2 years, and when she left, it looked exactly like this. And that’s the whole point. The layering is soft, nothing is too harsh, and the wave goes and doesn’t need to be told to do so. It’s the kind of cut where the less you do the better it looks, I know it sounds like something every stylist says, but this is the case where it’s really true. It goes with most face shapes, and it grows really well in the most beautiful way in between appointments.
#4 Shoulder-Length Beach Texture
The texture at the ends makes it even more casual and unfinished, but it prevents the look of fullness from being too pronounced. The subtle layers keep it from being heavy although from a distance it does appear as a single length. For hair that has a modest amount of natural bend, this looks best because if your hair is pin straight, getting those waves will be a time commitment and it won’t be a one minute job anymore. For the appropriate hair type, just a little lightweight mousse scrunched through when it’s damp and you’re good to go.
#5 Textured Pixie with Soft Highlights
There’s something about pixie cuts that get me every time. This one is so cute! The precision on this cut is amazing. It is clean and not overdone. The highlights are also perfectly done so that they do not fall flat. Pixie cuts tend to make people look younger and while I wouldn’t say this look is for everyone, I think it is really nice. If you have fine and limp hair you may struggle to achieve the texture you want without a lot of styling products. It’ll also require regular trims, every four to five weeks, in order to keep it looking fresh because once it grows out it can look really messy.
#6 Curly Bob with Layered Framing
This is a great idea for styling natural curls. With this cut, the length sits above the shoulders, which allows the curls to spring instead of shortening the style to an undesired shortness. Additionally, the framing layers around the cheekbones help to create an even more flattering shape. Normally one wouldn’t say a hairstyle looks better the more days it’s gone without washing, but I think this cut looks better after every wash. This is another cut that will help a lot during one of the humid months. With some good anti-frizz product, daily changes will help create the most different shapes your hair will take, so it’s best to learn to embrace it.
#7 Blunt Bob with Warm Dimension
This bob haircut is fresh and simple. The line is blunt with just enough internal layering so that it doesn’t look like a helmet cut, and the warm highlights create the illusion of movement. I usually suggest this style to clients who want something more polished, but don’t want to put effort into styling it, because the blunt perimeter does a lot of the architectural work for you. It’s ideal on fine to medium density hair so that you end up fighting bulk at the ends. When it comes to this look, regular trims are more important than product.
#8 Short Auburn-Toned Textured Bob
This hairstyle shows off warm auburn tones that reflect light. This gives the illusion of more texture without needing a lot of layers. The hairstyle also hits at the cheekbone length which is flattering for everyone and is easy to style. If you want a piecy finish the day, you can keep a small amount of styling paste on your hair for the day. Otherwise, you should be able to just shake your hair and be done.
#9 Shoulder-Length Textured Bob with Soft Wave
This cut is very versatile. The soft and relaxed waves paired with the shoulder length create a style that looks great whether you tuck it behind your ears, pull it back, or leave it down. I’ve done this cut on many clients, and I consistently receive feedback that it looks great no matter how you choose to style it. The only thing is that you have to keep the layers to ensure the shape retains that effortless movement. Otherwise it may lose that clean look and become muddy.
#10 Layered Lob with Face-Framing Brightness
The highlights framed around the face compliment the style beautifully and help elevate the look beyond the average lob by creating more dimension in the style. The layering is also kept to a nice moderate amount, so that the ends won’t end up looking thick and blunt, but there won’t be so many layers that the look becomes overly mess. This is a great cut for in between stages when growing out your hair after having it cut shorter, or for in case you are considering getting it cut shorter, but you are not quite ready to make that jump yet. If your hair is fine, you may wish to use a volumizing product at the roots, but other than that, this style will be relatively low maintenance.
#11 Long Layers with Wispy Bangs
I’ll admit I am a little more hesitant to recommend bangs to my clients than most stylists are. The maintenance is serious, and not everyone is ready for it. That said, wispy bangs do fit, and on an angular face make everything look softer. These bangs are low commitment. They are thin enough to blend with the layers when they grow out, so you won’t be stuck. The rest of the haircut is long with soft layers, so you have a lot of options in how you wear it.
#12 Chin-Length Bob with Soft Bangs
This style is a classic for good reason. The chin-length line is clean, and the bangs are gentle enough to not overpower the face. Instead, they sit softly and frame the face. I’ve seen this cut work on an impressively broad range of hair types and face shapes, which is rare. Even with minimal styling, there is a polished and effortless look, which is really the selling point of the style. Your bangs will need a trim about every 3 weeks, but the rest of the style is pretty low maintenance.
#13 Mid-Length Shag with Face-Framing Layers
In the last two years, I have probably done more shag cuts than in the last ten combined. This is because a good shag is perfect for the person who doesn’t want to have to come back to the salon often. They look good growing out, they look good messy, they look good unwashed, they look good if you haven’t done your hair in two days, etc. This particular version has a good amount of face framing so it flatters you without feeling like you’re in costume. The layers are good for achieving that natural volume at the crown, and the warm highlights do make a difference. My only note is that if you want to achieve the ultimate tousled look, you’ll have to stop fighting your natural texture and just let it do its thing.
#14 Shoulder-Length Layers with Light Warmth
The layering here adds movement through the mid-lengths and ends without making it too thin. The warm highlights look subtle and give the hair a sun-kissed look rather than a freshly done salon look which is perfect for this type of haircut. A texturizing spray is the best way to enhance the waving pattern, and that’s all. This is a simple and dependable haircut that does the job.
#15 A-Line Bob with Warm Reddish Tones
Indeed, an overly exaggerated A-line shape could feel out of date, but here, the subtlety causes it to come across more like a bob with a bit more length in front. The reddish tones warm up the whole look and keep it from feeling flat and one-dimensional. If you want something structured that still has movement, this is a good option. It’s designed to attract attention to the eyes and face, and the layering at the front helps with that. You’ll only need to do a trim every 6-7 weeks to keep the line looking good and it will not require daily styling.
#16 Chin-Length Textured Bob with Soft Bangs
Chin-length bobs with bangs — albeit a little vague — are often able to make someone look a little more interesting. In this case, the bangs are left light and a little wispy so that they do not make the overall look too heavy or too harsh. This is a cut that looks good with finer hair, as you don’t want to make a good cut based on how much hair you have, but how good the shape is, and this cut has a lot of good shape. For those with hair that goes flat, by all means grab a volumizing product, but this is not a daily reach sort of product.
#17 Tousled Shoulder-Length Layers with Sun-Kissed Color
It may look simple and effortless, and for medium to thick hair, it totally can be. The layers are falling as they should, and the highlights are placed to reflect, not create contrast, so it feels organic all over. Perfect for somebody who doesn’t want their haircut to be the main character, but still wants to look like they have good hair. Particularly good for oval and heart shapes faces. The only thing I will say is that if your hair is finer, achieving that much casual texture without looking limp may take more work than you think.
#18 Textured Pixie with Playful Movement
This one is a little more relaxed than the last pixie style I recommended, as the hair here gets a little longer at the top and sides, making it a little softer and less sculpted. I suggest this particular pixie cut if you are a little apprehensive about going really short as it leaves you hair to play with, while still giving you the advantage of not having hair to deal with in the mornings. The strands that frame your face also do a really nice job of softening things. You’ll probably need to do more upkeep than you think, getting trims every four weeks. Once a pixie cut starts growing out, it goes from intentional to neglected really quickly.
#19 Layered Bob with Quiet Highlights
The highlights in this cut are doing something very specific, they’re adding just enough contrast to the base color to create the perception of depth without making the color itself a statement. It’s the kind of color work that most people won’t consciously notice but that makes the haircut look more expensive than it is. The bob sits just above the shoulders with enough layering to create movement, and the overall feel is polished but not stiff. On darker base colors this approach to highlighting is particularly effective.
#20 Chin-Length Bob with Natural Body
This bob cut is meant to be worn with a textured finish. Slightly below the chin is good for oval and round face shapes as it gives a gentle framing effect to the jawline without cutting them in half. We have also added a few sun-kissed highlights, just enough to create some extra dimension to the hair without being too dramatic in terms of upkeep. No one wants to be sitting in the salon every six weeks for a color touch up. Some fine hair may need some added help with a little root lift, but other than that, this is pretty much as close to a wash and go bob cut that you’re going to get.
#21 Playful Short Bob with Light Dimension
This haircut is just over the shoulders and is the perfect length between a bob and a lob. There are just enough layers to keep the haircut looking more organic and lived-in instead of stiff and overly polished. The highlights blend in with the base color and add overall depth to the hairstyle rather than draw attention to the color. I think this haircut would work best for someone who has only had their hair one length and wants a bit more movement without going too crazy. With this haircut, you may need to apply a bit more styling product to achieve that messy, tousled look. But don’t worry, it shouldn’t take more than thirty seconds, so you won’t have to spend a ton of time each day on it.
#22 Textured Short Cut with Warm Soft Layers
This haircut is above the shoulder and has layers and movement. It is movement that comes from the cut, not heat styled. I like when the natural waves are left to do their thing because it means the cut is working with the hair. The warm highlights brighten the hair without changing the overall tone too much. It’s low maintenance, which is what you want from a cut like this. With trims every six weeks it will always look sharp.
#23 Versatile Textured Bob with Gentle Layers
This is a great, dependable bob, and I mean that in the best way possible. The layers create enough movement, but not so much that the cut looks over-styled, and the length offers versatility for how you wear it. It’s the sort of style that is designed to look good whether you put two minutes of effort into it, or twenty, and that is honestly the best thing I can say about any haircut. This shape, if your hair is on the fine to medium side, will give the illusion of more hair, and frequent trims will keep the ends looking fresh and the shape intact.
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