52 Cute Short Hair Back Views for Women

Clients often don’t think about how short hair looks from the back. However, they may see a picture of themselves later and won’t be able to stop thinking about the back of their head. After all, people take pictures at restaurants and other venues and are often just used to viewing themselves from from the front. I have received a compliment of the highest degree when a client found me when she spotted the back of a head at a store.

I love hair views because they display the hair’s architecture. Anyone can make the front of a haircut good, but good haircuts make the back of the hair great. It’s the layering, the blending, and the framing of their neck. I had a woman who visited me three times in two weeks because she wanted her neck to look cleaner, and I respected that. When people ask me what looks are inspirational, these are the looks I save.

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#1: That Clean Bob That Makes Your Neck Look Amazing

The back of the head is the star of this cut! The roundness creates a nice architectural shape at the nape and the structural edges provide a crispness that I find very satisfying to cut. If your hair is fine to medium, this is your perfect cut, as the held precision does not require excessive product use. With just a touch of smoothing serum, you’re all set! I’ve executed this cut many times and the most common client surprise is the minimal effort needed for touch ups.

#2 A-Line Bob That Looks Like You Tried Harder Than You Did

If you want some coverage in the front, but want to keep the back nice and clean, an A-line bob is the way to go! With straight cuts, the goal is to avoid anything too sharp, and this bob nails it. It’s perfect for medium to thick hair, as it will self-weight in all the right places. To be honest, it may be a little high maintenance in regard to how often you will need to get it trimmed, but I promise it’s worth the six week commitment!!

#3 The Pixie That Doesn’t Look Like You’re Trying to Be 22

I like the pixie with soft layering. It demonstrates confidence in a non aggressive manner and I appreciate a clean tapered nape. Most people don’t notice this detail, but a messy nape can make the best haircut look very grown out. This style works great on fine to medium hair, and is very low maintenance. You may need some texturizing paste, but we aren’t talking about a big production, just thirty seconds.

#4 Blunt Bob with Highlights That Actually Look Natural

When it comes to blunt bobs, they tend to either be the most amazing haircut you’ve ever gotten, or the most awful — a huge gap. Fortunately, this bob falls on the great side. The bob is cut to that perfect, magic length that sits just above the shoulder and moves when you walk. The highlights are done just right to add just the right amount of dimension without looking streaky or chunky. If you have fine hair, a bob with a blunt line is your best friend because it makes your hair look a lot fuller. Just beware that you’re going to need a flat iron to help it look good.

#5 Rounded Bob That Basically Styles Itself

I would call this a ‘wash and go’ bob and I’m sure you see why I would only call a bob like this a ‘wash and go’ bob because most cuts that are said to be wash and go are extremely untrue. These soft layers provide movement to give it a put together look which is a dream. The hair coming to just above the nape is really flattering and gives that lifted feeling without being too short. To keep that boxy look from forming, you will need to get trims every five to six weeks, but the effort everyday is basically nothing.

#6 Feathered Layers That Give Fine Hair a Reason to Live

If you have fine hair, everything looks flat by noon and I have no reason to not be dramatic. This cut gives you movement so you don’t need to use a bunch of products to create volume. The back taper is beautiful and really helps show off the neck and keeps it balanced. I would suggest a volumizing spray at the roots then blow dry, and then just leave it. Fine hair often behaves best when it’s left alone and that’s a lesson I learned with my clients over many years.

#7 Curly Bob That’s All Personality

One of my favorite things about doing curly bobs is how every single one is different. Each time is a new experience because you’re working with the natural fall of the curls instead of having to fight them. This one has some soft layering which allows each individual curl to shine. It’s the kind of ‘undone’ look that many straight haired people want to achieve with an hour of curling. If you’re lucky enough to have natural waves on your hair, then this cut is very forgiving! It can be styled or just left, and a good curl cream is all you need!

#8 Soft Layers That Keep Things Interesting Without Being Complicated

If you want a fast and simple option, this is a good haircut option. The layers are light enough to add some liveliness without the bulk. The framing around the neck looks good too. I’ve cut hair like this for clients who were nervous about going really short for the first time, and all of them left the salon happy! I think that speaks for how flattering the haircut is.

#9 Burgundy Pixie That Commits to the Moment

In my situation, when someone comes into my chair and tells me they want a color that has a story, I try to steer them towards a deep burgundy. It’s a powerful color but not too much or too classy. Personally, I think the asymmetrical layers in the cut add a lot of personality, and the cut is beautifully designed for finer hair because that texture helps the hair look more intentional and thicker. I won’t sugarcoat it, but the color does need upkeep, although a good color-depositing shampoo helps a lot in between visits. It’s one of those looks where you catch your reflection and feel something.

#10 Caramel Bob with Layers That Move

These highlights create warmth and dimension without that typical “I just got my hair done” look that grows out weird in a week or two. The layers help everything blend and move naturally, which is especially nice if your hair has a tendency to sit flat. This layering technique will remove weight from the right spots and work in your favour if you have thicker hair. When clients want a change but aren’t ready for something too drastic, I recommend this type of cut a lot.

#11 Short Curly Cut That Doesn’t Fight Your Texture

There are right and wrong ways to do this cut. Wrong way would be for someone trying to get curly hair to behave straight. Right way is for someone who clearly gets it. The length above the nape allows the curls to really pop without being weighted down, and the layers give volume in all the right places. I will say this cut will need a bit more work in the morning than some of the others, so some product and a diffuse will be required, but I promise those extra minutes will be worth it.

#12 Textured Short Cut with a Hint of Balayage

The coloring really ties this look together, in my opinion. The balayage is very understated, evoking the image of someone who has spent a lot of time outdoors over the summer. To me, that is the biggest compliment I can give to a colorist. I also appreciate the layered texture. The shape is balanced and perfect, and the volume is just right to look styled without looking overly done. For that crown volume, you’ll need to spend a round brush, but I think it’s a case of putting in the time for the right result, rather than an entire blow dry sort of deal.

#13 Silver Textured Cut That Actually Looks Intentional

Many of my clients turning silver want it to look like a choice instead of something’s that just happened to them, and this cut does the job ideally. The nape is slightly pointed which adds just the right amount of edge to what could be a very conservative style, and the layered back and modern textured gives it nice shape and movement. The silver will require some maintenance and I suggest purple shampoo to keep the brassy tones at bay. That said, this color is gorgeous when it is fresh. Very few styles tend to cater to a broad age and face shape range.

#14 Golden Bob That Looks Like Sunlight

A cut and color can create a warm feeling like this one. The golden tones pull everything together and the way the layered cut shape is designed. The shape of the layered cut really makes the color pop and reflect light at different angles. Light reflction at different angles transforms the entire look. The layers give finer hair the illusion of fullness without feeling choppy. For someone who asks, “I want to look like I just got back from somewhere beautiful” this is the cut I would go for. I appreciate the creative brief.

#15 Copper Bob with Waves That Don’t Quit

If you seek something different you can’t go wrong with copper hair color as it compliments a wide range of skin tones. This brings me to the gorgeous layered bob hairstyle in the picture with gentle copper waves. I adore the delicate layering that is cut just above the shoulders because it is short enough to feel different but long enough that you do not feel the urge to panic. It is perfect for those with fine to medium density hair as it creates the illusion of fullness in the layered. This style is perfect for a great photo shoot as well. On an occasion when your hair may be too compliant, you may want to use sea salt spray to help create more volume to your hair.

#16 Spiky Textured Cut for When You Want Edge

This cut is definitely not for a person looking to fit in, and I mean that in the best way possible. The tapered nape and spiked texture are a bit of fun that I think is massively underappreciated in short cuts. So many people are trying for a more sophisticated look when sometimes you just want to have fun! Expect to style this every day if you want to keep the spiky look — a good wax through the top layers works wonders. The color variation adds depth and makes the whole thing look more dimensional than it would be in one solid color.

#17 Curly Bob with Warm Highlights That Actually Complement the Curls

A lot of highlight jobs on curly hair tend to look out of place with the curl pattern, like the colorist forgot the hair would be springing up. This one has a great blend. The warm tones along the curl pattern add depth without disrupting the texture, which I always appreciate because it takes real artistry. The length right above the nape keeps things manageable, which matters with curly hair because the longer it gets, the more complicated the relationship becomes. A good curl cream is a must here.

#18 Short Textured Cut with Color That Does the Work For You

The mixed color tones really help give the cut some dimension. Because of this even if you don’t style it, it will look cool. Softer airier layers are nice for finer hair. Since heavy layers look sad on fine hair, it is nice these layers are airier. I believe the above the nape flattering length will be very nice. For a lot of my clients, I think the low maintenance nature of the cut will be the biggest plus.

#19 Copper Textured Cut with Movement Built In

The warm copper color on this cut allows the texture to really stand out. A neutral color would not give this cut the recognition it deserves. I think it’s worth mentioning that color and cut work hand in hand, even though we tend to talk about them separately. With this color, the cut really shines through. Good cuts let the hair fall naturally into place and this cut does just that. Most styling you’ll need to do is probably just a bit of touching up with a straightener or curling iron to get the ends to lay just how you want them. I think this is great for fine to medium hair because it allows that fullness to be achieved without it feeling heavy or looking overdone.

#20 Classic Bob in Blonde That Just Works

I often ask clients for references on certain styles, and almost always, they mean something like this. A soft, texturized bob in a flattering blonde that reflects light and looks good from every angle. The subtle layers allow it to not look too flat or too structured, and land right in that sweet spot of polished but not stiff. This is definitely the type of cut that will make getting ready in the morning feel less like a chore and honestly, at this point in my career, that’s probably the best thing I can say about a haircut.

#21 Rounded Bob with a Tapered Back That Photographs Beautifully

I filmed a version of this on a client last month, and she sent me a photo of someone who took one of her from behind at a wedding, and said, “I’ve never liked the back of my head before” and honestly that’s the whole job right there. The slight taper gives it a modern feels without going too extreme and the rounded shape is universally flattering, so it’s a cut that I can recommend to almost anyone who sits in my chair. Medium density hair does really well with this bc the shape holds without needing a lot of product or effort.

#22 A-Line Bob with Highlights That Add Depth Without Drama

What makes the highlights on this A-line special is that they add color and define the style of the cut, and that is a detail that many tend to overlook. The length that grazes above the shoulders provides the structured elegance that A-lines are renowned for, and works particularly great on straight to wavy hair because you can really see the defined angle. If your hair is of medium to high density, the A-line shape is going to naturally thin things out toward the front, creating a very beautiful graduated look. Because A-lines get unruly first at the nape, be sure to get regular trims in this area.

#23 Short Textured Cut That Lifts Everything

The tapered nape seems to do a lot of the work (pun intended). It elongates the look of the neck and is one of the classic tricks that never fails. The textured layers on top create enough volume so you won’t be chasing it with products all day. The subtle color variation adds richness and dimension that a solid color won’t provide. If you have been considering going shorter, but want to keep some softness, this would be an ideal choice especially if you have a heart or oval face shape.

#24 Textured Bob with Volume at the Crown

I appreciate that the volume is placed at the most critical point, the crown, which is also the area where most people lose it first and notice it the most. The layers handle the structural aspects of the cut to create form and body, meaning you don’t have to rely on a blowout to give it a nice finish. The highlights offer just the right amount of contrast to keep things playful without clashing with the cut. If you have fine to medium hair, this shape is going to be very flattering on you, and in case you have thick hair, you might have to instruct your stylist to remove some internal weight so it doesn’t get too poofy.

#25 Short Cut with Volume That Stays Put

The crown volume here will be cut based rather than product, which is what you want, as I find product based volume tends to have a shelf life of about four hours. The tapered nape finishes it off neatly and the texturing will give a very flattering silhouette to fine straight hair. This is one of those cuts I recommend to clients who say to me they are over hair just hanging there doing nothing because the shape literally makes it have some personality whether it wants to or not.

#26 Tapered Nape Cut That Keeps Things Clean and Modern

An expertly tapered neckline is the detail that makes a good short haircut stand out, and this is a great example of that. The layers on top add movement and soften the look, while back is kept neat and intentional. This is a balance that is harder to achieve than it looks. On fine hair, this style works really well as the layering adds volume without needing too much length. You’ll want to book trims every four to five weeks to keep that nape sharp, but the rest of the cut is pretty forgiving as it grows, which is the ideal situation in my opinion.