My first Wedge was more of an accident. A client of mine, who was around 40 years old at the time, showed me a photo of what she described as a “short bob with attitude.” I think we ended up making more of a wedge type of haircut. We didn’t use any terminology, but she envisioned something more architectural. Something with height and structure, that didn’t look done and require a blowout. This was about 15 years ago. I have been refining my approach to this cut ever since.
Wedge cuts are unlike many hairstyles in that they really only work on women over 35. They work with the changes your hair goes through rather than fight against them. For instance, if you’re thinning at the crown, stacked layers create volume exactly where it’s needed. If you’re going gray or silver, the shape of the cut gives the color something to live in. I won’t pretend this cut works for everyone. I will be real about which styles require more effort than they give you. But when the right wedge meets the right person, it just works. I have 25 variations of wedges that I think you’ll find worth your time.
#1: Layered Bob with a Quiet Highlight
This haircut is perfect for someone looking for change, but doesn’t want to make a huge statement. A layered cut will work best for you, as it will just frame your face well without needing a lot of hair taken off. The highlights will also give the hair cut more of a pop. The maintenance on this cut will be easy, a round brush will be perfect for it, but if your hair moves naturally it will really pull the look together with a quick blow dry. If you want to add some movement to the hair, five minutes with round brush would definitely do the trick.
#2 Silver Pixie with Real Texture
I’ll be honest, short silver hair can be designed in such a way that it looks amazing. But usually, it looks like the wearer gave up. The real difference comes down to the cut, and in this case, it looks fantastic. The cut has layers, and they aren’t just rough chopped at the end with thinning shears, but have actual piecing done to give the hair some shape. The side-swept bangs complete the look and add to the relaxed vibe. This is a commitment cut. If you want this hair design to look good, you’ll need to come back to my chair every 4-5 weeks; otherwise it will lose its character. If that sounds like a lot to you, that’s valid and it’s fine.
#3 Soft Wedge with Warmth Running Through It
I love the layering! I see that the hair is not just put in the back and left everywhere else, and I love the intention behind how it moves in reference to the shape of the face. The warm highlights look great, and you did such a great job considering that starting with natural gray is not the easiest thing to work with. The cut gives a great youthful look and a nice bounciness to it without looking like it’s trying to hard. I would want to see you with more volume in the hair though because with fine hair, the layers look sparse after a few weeks of growth.
#4 Airy Wedge with Built-In Volume
Unlike other haircuts, this one addresses the issue of having a lack of volume instead of just covering it up with layers and products. The haircut creates volume without needing to use mousses or other products every day. I appreciate that this haircut will look good while letting your gray hair grow in, or while you keep dyeing it. The shape will maintain itself in either situation. It just takes some drying time to achieve that airy look, about ten minutes, not a big endeavor.
#5 Jaw-Length Wedge Bob with Bangs
This cut length showcases a very specific technique, falling directly at the jawline which draws the focus exactly where you want it. Bangs on a wedge can go either way; they can clash with the back volume, but here they’re texturized enough to integrate with the rest of the cut. The tousled finish is the better way to go, because if you were to try to get this super sleek it would really lose all the personality. I think this is one of those cuts that looks better on day two hair, which is a selling point as far as I’m concerned.
#6 Soft Wedge with Gentle Wave
I think that mostly soft waves and gentle cuts may be overlooked. The overall shape of the wedge is clean enough and the soft waves are interesting enough that they don’t make the style edgy. The working length is short enough to be easy, but long enough so that you don’t feel too exposed. If you have finer hair, you may want a light moisturizing cream to keep the ends from looking dry, but this is as low maintenance as it gets for a styled cut.
#7 Asymmetrical Wedge with Lavender
Wedge cuts are all about mechanics. So, while I’m usually indecisive about which fashion colors work, this is one of those instances where the cut and color are just right. The lavender is muted enough to not distract from the cut and the asymmetry adds some intentionality to it all. I don’t want to mislead you, but this color is a bit of a commitment. It will shift regardless of what you do. Be prepared to tone every few weeks, purple shampoo will become your new best friend, and your hair will likely become brassy regardless. If you get annoyed when a color fades quickly, this probably isn’t the color for you. On the other hand, if you like to mix it up and enjoy a little change this is a really beautiful color!
#8 Copper Wedge with Warm Dimension
The warmth in this copper color is going to bounce light in a way that flat colors won’t, and the different layers in the haircut will allow this color to show through with multiple tones. The cut and color are equally stunning here, and changing either would be a loss. The length is perfect, and the volume comes from the cut. You won’t have to battle with your hair every morning to get it that way. If you want some more definition on some days, a light texturizing spray is a great idea, but it doesn’t have to be used if you don’t want to.
#9 Wavy Wedge with Natural Movement
The example I’m using for a wedge that’s not trying too hard has nice waves, which really steal the show. It has volume without the height and movement without the chaos. This looks best on hair that is a bit wavy or curly, because if you have straight hair, you’ll likely need to do a lot of work with a curling iron. With the right texture, very little will need to be done, but the effort will definitely be worth it.
#10 Wispy Layered Wedge Just Above the Shoulders
The light layers are why this style feels of the moment compared to some dated looks. With heavier layers, this cut could look very 1980s, but the light layers keep it feeling modern. The length is also above the shoulders, which is a length that many women overlook as it sort of sits in that indecisive zone between ‘short’ and ‘medium’, but it is really the sweet spot with the right cut. A bit of styling is needed for the tousled look on this one – a flat iron to flick the ends out is probably the best way to achieve it, and once you get the technique down it’s pretty quick.
#11 Warm-Toned Short Wedge with Soft Layers
With the Warm tone, it adds a lot of richness to the cut and gives it so much depth and character. The same shape in a neutral tone wouldn’t create that effect. The layers have been built up enough to add some body, but not so much that it makes fine hair look thinner at the ends which is an easy balance to get wrong. I wouldn’t overthink the styling too much, a little product is all you need. The cut is designed to look a little shabby, but on the contrary, the cut is very clean and precise.
#12 Silver Wedge with Natural Fullness
If you are thinking about growing out your gray hairs then this style has a good argument for it. Here, the gray color looks intentional because the structure is neat. The layers give volume at the top and then level off, which is flattering for almost everybody, especially women who have started having thinner hair at the top. It is a common misconception that gray hair will make you look older, however, a good haircut completely removes that assumption. This style is good because it is simple to maintain between appointments as long as you are willing to use a sea salt spray to enhance the texture.
#13 Layered Wedge with Face-Framing Bangs
These bangs are soft. They are not a full fringe, which is enough to soften the hairline and pull the focus to the eyes. With the layered wedge shape, there’s a lot going on in this length of style. The chocolate colour also rich without being flat, and that is more important than people think. A single dimensional brown on this cut would make it look a lot heavier than it is. This is a good cut for someone who wants to look effortless and not spend a lot of time in front of the mirror. Regular trims every six weeks or so will keep it looking sharp.
#14 Short Blonde Wedge with Polished Volume
I appreciate the uniqueness of this hairstyle. The placement of the volume is perfect, the layers are well blended, and the shade of blonde is cool enough to look fresh without washing anyone out. With this type of layering done on fine hair, you can look like you have almost double the volume. That’s impressive. I believe that lighter shades of blonde tend to require more maintenance than people expect because the color and haircut need to be maintained fairly often. That said, if you align your salon appointments to fit the schedule that’s suggested, this hairstyle really does look clean and great.
#15 Short Wedge with Silver Highlights and Crown Volume
The first thing I notice is the volume at the crown, which is doing just what is needed; lifting the whole face and creating an appearance of energy. The silver highlights integrate with the natural base in a way that looks grown in rather than added, which is harder to do than one would think. Your colorist has to really know where your gray is coming in to work with it, not against it. The cut itself sits just above the shoulders, a nice length that doesn’t need constant upkeep. The color, though, that is where your commitment is.
#16 Curly Wedge with Balayage Depth
I like wedges on curly hair because the shape helps create curls that would otherwise be lost if the hair was all one length. The balayage done here creates depth without disrupting the curl pattern, which tells me the stylist was mindful of that. This is a cut that gets better as your curls do their thing throughout the day. Instead of getting worse, with a little bit of frizz and volume, it gets better. You’ll want a good curl defining cream to keep things cohesive, but the cut is doing most of the work for you.
#17 Classic Short Wedge with Highlighted Dimension
This is a good simple wedge haircut, and that’s sometimes exactly what you need. The highlights add brightness, but they don’t look like a salon color job, more like the sun just hit your hair. The layers are great and the shape is dependable, and I always take into account how a cut will grow out and this one will grow out nicely. Not every haircut ages well between appointments, this is one of them. For straight fine hair, this is the haircut. For something that just works everyday without a lot of styling, this is it.
#18 Playful Short Wedge with Wave and Color
There is a fun element to this style with the use of bright color and soft waves. The side taper is also necessary for avoiding a too round appearance, especially with wider faces. I think this works best on hair with some natural body, as you’d be relying on a curling iron to create the wave every day and that gets old super quick. But, if your hair doesn’t cooperate, this is a really great cut that looks good in photos and is super easy to wear.
#19 Curled Short Wedge with Soft Framing
The curls here create a soft look. Not tight ringlet curls, but the loose bend you might wake up with after sleeping in a braid. They provide fullness without any bulk which is what a wedge is meant to do on finer hair. The face framing layers might be subtle, but they really help to open things up and keep the cut from looking like a helmet. With straight hair, I won’t lie, this version of the wedge will be more of a daily commitment to recreate than it seems. When it comes down to wavy hair, this is wash-and-go hair.
#20 Short Curly Wedge with Lift
In the kindest way possible, this haircut showcases so much personality in relation to the hair volume. Due to the way the cut is styled, the use of curls will add a lot of volume, and will always look great because the wedge shape will keep the hair under control and from looking messy. This specific cut will particularly suit heart shapes. It will be balanced with the narrower chin cut. This look will require extra lightweight mousse to give the curls something to hold on to in order to create fine hair texture. This haircut is a poor choice if you want versatility because you will not be able to do lot of different looks with it. However, if you like curls and want a fun hairstyle to wear then this will be a great cut for you.
#21 Caramel-Highlighted Wedge with Warm Layers
The caramel that runs through this cut is warm and adds a nice touch to the entire look. The contrast of those highlights and rich brown base gives the illusion of thicker, more dimensional hair. The length has been kept fresh without the overall look becoming too drastic. The layers are soft enough to look stiff yet structured enough to hold their shape. I think the only thing to watch with a cut like this is to ensure the highlights are toned correctly as they grow out. This is because caramel shades can drift into a brassy territory if they’re not maintained.
#22 Effortless Wedge with Side-Swept Fringe
A side-swept bang is a wedge that works. It breaks the structure the right way and keeps things from looking so uniform. The volume here is created naturally, which means you won’t have to load up on product every morning to achieve what the cut does for you. I would agree that this is a solid all-rounder. It doesn’t sit too trendy or too conservative, it just sits in that nice spot where you always feel like yourself. If you want to take it further, highlights would be a nice addition, but it looks good as a single process color too.
#23 Textured Pixie Wedge with Tousled Finish
Its location is right in the middle of both the pixie and wedge cuts which is a good part about it. It is short enough to be daring but long enough to not look too extreme. Plus, a tousled finish gives it that modern edge a sleeker version wouldn’t have. That said, it’s not for everyone. A round face or strong jaw for example, can create that length and deemphasize the imbalance. I’d want to discuss that before the scissors come out. But for the right bone structure, I have to say, I’ve seen little to rival it in terms of flattering short cuts.
#24 Soft Wedge with a Wave at the Ends
This style is suitable for all hair types and is also very easy to take care of. The hair is cut to the neck and the ends have some layers and a slight flip to add some fun to the style. If you don’t choose to style it, it will still look good. This style is also good for fine hair because it gives the look of added volume. It is fairly low maintenance aside from the fact that you will need to get trims regularly to keep the shape of the cut.
#25 Bright Blonde Wedge with Layered Dimension
The blonde color here is light and bright, and the layers help stop the hair from looking flat, which is a common problem with lighter shades on finer hair. There is enough texture in the cut for it to move and not just sit there. I think this is an excellent style for day to day, or you can easily dress it up for an occasion without having to do a lot of changing. You may only need to put on some smoothing serum to tame it. If you’re blonde and looking for a haircut to make your color look more expensive, this shape will do just that.
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