Popular Short Hair Questions, Answered by Experienced Hairstylists

Short hair does need conditioner. Conditioner helps to seal the cuticle layer of the hair shaft to protect it from external damage. Since shampoo lifts the cuticle to cleanse, closing that cuticle is important. For fine hair or very short hair try using a light conditioner or volume conditioner.

If you want to know if short hair would work for you, take into consideration which features you want to accentuate or diminish, styling time, hair density, and texture. Consider making this a process where you gradually go shorter to see what lengths you like best.

Short hair looks thicker because it is usually healthier. Short hair, especially when it has been freshly cut, means it has not been with you as long and it hasn’t gone through as much day-to-day damage. The ends of the strand tend to be blunter as opposed to split.

Short hair usually requires more maintenance compared to longer hair. Short hair often needs more frequent maintenance appointments to keep its shape, as well as daily styling. Certain short styles can be easier to maintain than others. For example, a pixie would require more styling and maintenance than a bob.

Short hair can be permed, as long as your hairstylist can get it wrapped around a perm rod properly. Almost any length can be permed as long as the hair is in good enough condition. Curly hair is great for people with little to no styling time at any length, just add some product and you’re good to go.

Yes, you can balayage short hair. In fact, sometimes a balayage looks more natural on short hair and helps to give it a soft, sun-kissed look. Balayage will give you a more blended color whereas most types of foil highlighting will give you a streakier look.

Short hair tends to make older women look younger. Shorter hair draws the eye upward and gives a more youthful appearance. Also, wearing earrings is more fun because they are more visible!

Short hair can suit round faces as long as you stay away from haircuts where the length is at chin level. Short hair is usually complementary to almost all face shapes but make sure you ask your hairstylist what they think will work best for you.

Yes, short hair suits oval faces. An oval face can pull off any hairstyle, especially short hair. Ask your stylist if they have any ideas for what length would work best for your oval face shape.

Sometimes cutting hair short helps with hair loss. When the hair becomes damaged you must cut the split ends off so that the damage doesn’t continue to travel up the hair shaft. If you fail to do this you could end up with a good amount of breakage which would make the hair appear thinner and unhealthy.

Cutting hair short can make hair healthier because it removes old or damaged hair. Hair that is closer to the root tends to be healthier, because it’s newer, and hasn’t been exposed to as much heat, sun, or chemicals, thus making it stronger. When going shorter make sure to keep up with regular maintenance trims and use heat protection to keep the integrity of your hair.

Short hair will not prevent dandruff. Dandruff is a scalp issue and must be addressed accordingly with medicated shampoos. If dandruff persists after a few weeks of using a medicated shampoo, it is important to see a dermatologist, who can prescribe a stronger shampoo or a topical treatment.

Short hair greatly complements long faces. A short haircut such as a pixie or bob with a fringe shortens a long face by breaking up the forehead. Be sure to avoid adding volume to the top of the head, and instead keep the sides fuller to give the face shape more width.

Curly hair can look amazing cut in a short style. The key to short curly hair is lots of layers, which will allow your curls to move freely and avoid a boxy look. Always remember to moisturize your curls with a leave-in conditioner or nourishing mask.

Try using the 2.25-inch rule to figure out if short hair will suit you. This method was discovered by John Frieda, which simply uses a pencil horizontally positioned under your chin, then places a ruler vertically under your ear. If the measurement of the intersection of the pencil and ruler is less than 2.25 inches, then short hair would be an amazing choice, but if the measurement is more than 2.25 inches, short hair may not be the best option. This is simply a guideline discovered by studying the angles on the face. If you decide not to follow it, go for the short hairstyle and embrace it!