Thinking about going very short can mean many things. Some people say it’s because they want a low-maintenance or edgy haircut. Others say it’s to avoid the struggle of long hair. Something to keep in mind is that super short haircuts aren’t suited for all hair densities and growth patterns. If you have a flat crown area or a forward hairline, you will need a cut that works with those. I tell clients it is about a balanced look as the hair grows out, not just the chop. A good short haircut should let you style your hair to frame your face, accentuate all your features and show off your hair’s texture rather than holding it back. All the styles I have picked are functional and practical, not just soft and feminine or bold and edgy. Have a look and pick the one that resonates with you the most.
Though it may be true that cutting long hair in general is a tough decision for most people, I would like to share my observations over the years regarding this. One of the main problems with drastic haircuts is that the haircut, much more so than the person’s face, will become the main focus of people’s attention. This lack of subtlety can be scary for women, but is also part of the reason it is attractive. One of my clients took three full years to prepare for the wedding, and the week after she got married she came in and said “take it all off.” I assumed it was some sort of crazy spurt, but she had actually been mentally preparing to get a pixie cut since before college. We cut it to two inches all around, and while she sat there for the cut, she was actually very happy and relieved. For the past six years, she has kept it that short, and it made me notice that most people wanting to cut their hair actually just need some confidence that it will turn out well.
I have compiled a selection of haircuts that I feel are valuable not only for their appearance but for cuts that last a full week of everyday usage, grow out with a bit of grace, and fit different textures and face shapes in an appropriate way. There are some haircuts that I would love to do, and there are others that are a bit more specific and I will note which ones are which.
#1: Icy Platinum Crop with Real Texture, Not Just Product
Let’s talk about how amazing this platinum is! Pulling off such an icy colour is incredible! It changes the whole vibe of this cut! Because instead of looking at hair, you look at light reflecting off this bright, white canvas. The choppy layers add to the brightness with amazing texture and give the illusion of more hair. That’s exactly what you want when your hair is on the finer side. And I tell every single client this before they go platinum, but you are signing up for purple shampoo and toning appointments every couple of weeks, because it will get brassy. No exceptions!
#2: Soft Lavender Asymmetrical Undercut That Actually Has Range
For this specific cut, color does all the talking. The sides are taken down tightly while the top is left long enough to do a decent amount of styling. The soft lavender tone through the longer sections is unexpected but in the best way! I love how it manages to come across as edgy yet dreamy at the same time. However the truth of the matter of living with an undercut is you’re gonna be in my chair more times than you’d guesse. Every 3-4 weeks. When that bottom starts growing in, it quickly loses the clean line. But for someone who loves the salon visit ritual, this cut is really rewarding to maintain!
#3 Dark Rooted Pixie with Texture That Moves
I love how the roots are dark and the rest of the cut is airy and piecey. It gives you that depth without work in the morning. The front layers fall differently, and I mean that in the best way, depending on how you slept on it. For me, that’s the sign of a great short cut. If your hair has any natural wave or bend it, this will be super easy. Just dampen your hair and put a bit of texturizing paste, and let it do its thing.
#4: Deep Red Asymmetrical Cut with Some Attitude
That red is stunning, whether seen in photos or in real life. Up close, under good light, it would be spellbinding. A cut this sharp paired with that color allows the two to compete for the most attention. Not every asymmetrical cut can pull this off but that intentional, looking from every angle silhouette is something I particularly like. Just a heads up regarding maintenance, reds like this can be very demanding as they bleed out quicker than other shades. If you’re not ready for that commitment, you might want to try a demi-permanent first.
#5: Warm Layered Asymmetrical Bob, Shorter Than You Think
In layers, the skill is in the subtleties, and here we see a great example of knowing how to balance layering to create movement without thinning the hair out. The color is warm brown which is rich and has nice subtleness to it with highlights and brown mid-lengths. The color is a good example of not going overboard with highlights to the point that it washes out the whole style, especially with a short cut. A cut like this is a great step to take if you’re planning on going shorter. It gives you that ear-length bob that you can go will go shorter without having the full pixie.
#6: Side-Swept Short Cut with Highlights That Actually Do Something
What stands out to me first is the sideswept look. Having hair fall sideswept gives a nice diagonal over the forehead. That really elevates this from a basic short cut to a more personalized look. This is because hair falling over the face really changes the entire look of your features. The highlights also look nice! They are placed not too heavy and stripey, and just the right amount to break up the color. This is key at this length since there isn’t enough hair to create a bit of dimension and depth. You would keep the top around 2 to 3 inches and come in for a cleanup about every 5 weeks, and I noticed that it grows out nicely between visits, and that is something I always look for.
#7: Magenta Curly Bob That Owns the Room
I really love bright colors on curly hair! The vivid colors break and bounce off the curls, and each individual curl is going to catch the light a little differently, creating a really unique look! You just wouldn’t get that effect on straight hair, even with the same color dye. My favorite part about this look is the magenta color that is rich and very saturated! The shade works well for the style because the curls are really well defined. I think whoever styled this did a good job with a curl defining cream and probably used a diffuser to get a good result. I also want to be honest and say that keeping a vivid color like this looking fresh on curly hair is a lot of work. You are washing less often, which helps keep the color bright, but you’re going to have to deep condition to deal with the dryness from the lightening process.
#8: Clean Undercut with Length on Top Where It Counts
This haircut doesn’t suit everyone“;” rather, it can be suited to more people and also dressed with casual outfits from one day to the next. The best part is that it requires zero extra styling. An example of such a haircut is an undercut, where the top of your hair is long enough to be swept to one side and styled. For this, however, you don’t need to have any advanced styling skills. If you have an angular face with pronounced cheekbones and a bold jaw, you would especially rock this hairstyle. The combination of longer hair contrasting with your face draws more attention and pretty much, that’s the main goal of a short haircut.
#9: Curly Crop with a Tight Undercut for Contrast
What I like about this combo is that it has an interesting variety of different textures. The top curls look really soft and natural. The undercut has a really clean and precise fade. The combination of these two elements creates a nice contrast, and I think it makes the overall look more modern. I think this is a great reference picture to bring in if you have natural curls and you want to go short. It shows that it is totally possible to keep your curl pattern, even at shorter lengths. You just need to make sure to go to someone who knows how to cut curly hair instead of just cutting straight hair. Having this hair is definitely not low maintenance, especially with the combination both the curls and the fade. You are definitely going to need curl refresher spray to keep the curls looking good, and the sides are going to need to be trimmed every three to four weeks.
#10: Asymmetrical Bowl Cut with Dark to Light Contrast
I know this isn’t for everyone, but for some, this is a showstopper. Bowls are trending. This editorial look is modern, clean and precise without being overly. What stands out about bowl cuts is the line is **PERFECT.** With such a geometric shape, anything uneven is very apparent. This is why it is important to have someone maintain the clean perimeter. This shape will likely hold for longer for straight hair, but if your hair is wavy or curly, you’ll probably find yourself using a mini flat iron more than you’d like.
#11: Soft Pixie with a Fringe That Does the Work for You
This is where the fringe does a lot of work and I believe that a good fringe on a pixie is an incredibly face flattering option. The subtle texturizing on the top helps avoid the bulkiness and helmet look that is so common with shorter pixies if the layers aren’t done right. I think this would be a fantastic cut for you considering the texture of your hair. The shorter length will make fine hair look deliberate rather than lifeless. It will just keep getting better as time goes on, and days 2 and 3 will have even better texture.
#12: Short Crop with a Fringe That Softens Everything
The bangs soften the overall look and integrate the style into the person’s face rather than sitting across the forehead and that small detail makes such a difference in the overall practicality and approachability versus how severe the style could feel. Personally, I think this length with the top and fringe left a bit longer, sitting just above the nape, is the most flattering for this type of cut and it is because it doesn’t require a high level of confidence to wear and still makes a very strong statement. The natural, effortless texture that we all want when we put in some product, dampen the hair, and run out the door is what a lot of my clients actually want to hear.
#13: Layered Short Crop That Grows Out Gracefully
I often think about weeks four, five, or six, when I’m thinking of shortening someone’s hair. A cut that looks “nice” the day you leave the salon is a complete fail, and this cropped layered hairstyle is a prime example of a cut that, with the right technique, styles out nicely because the layers are blended, not blunt. So over time as the layers get longer, they just merge instead of creating unsightly shelves. This is perfect for fine to medium density as it moves through the top effortlessly while the cut is actually super precise. You may want to keep some volumizing mousse handy for the days it feels a little flat, but this is a wash and go type of cut.
#14: Textured Pixie with a Fringe That Frames Your Cheekbones
I appreciate how this pixie cut draws attention to the wearer’s face by emphasizing the cheekbones and the overall facial structure. This is because the bangs fall in a way that draws focus to those cheekbones. The shorter length of the haircut also means that styling it in the morning will require minimal effort, if any at all. A bit of wax or hair paste to separate some of the top layers is all that may be needed. Some natural texture or perhaps just a slight wave will work best here. Straight and slippery hair will make the cut less effective at holding the pieces that you want it to. Then, you will end up using more product than you would probably want to.
#15: Highlighted Pixie with Dimension That Doesn’t Look Overdone
The execution of these highlights gives the hair a sense of brightness and lift with no visible line of demarcation. That’s what I love about having my hair cut this short. When it’s this short, chunky highlights look dated really fast. I can still sense the movement and that tells me that the person who added these layers really knew what they were doing. Ger here is perfect for someone who wants short hair that is soft and feminine instead of sharp and androgynous. Around the six week mark, it grows out to a really cute shaggy stage.
#16: Curly Textured Cut with Ends That Have a Life of Their Own
This hairstyle embraces your natural waves and curls, with layers that help the curls bounce and create an organic sculptural shape that is hard to achieve with a blowout. The length for this is spot on as well, just above the nape of the neck. It has a liberating feeling since it is short, but is still long enough to give you plenty of curl definition, which is a hard balance to hit. The ends have a lovely wispiness, and I think that happens naturally with curly hair that has been razor cut or point cut. It gives the style a nice, unfinished look and I love it. You should not expect to spend a ton of time on your hairstyle, however, since you will just be spraying it to help bring your curls back to life, and you may have to add a bit of light gel on day two.
#17: Faded Sides with a Textured Top in Cool Tones
This hairstyle uses a lot of layered cutting techniques. Particularly with the fade, it blends seamlessly with the textured top so it looks like one complete shape instead of two separate pieces on the same head. I think adding a cool toned color here, ashy or even leaning silver would be really striking, and if your hair is already on the lighter side you could get there without too much damage which is always my preference. The top texture is styled up and forward making volume at the crown, and it’s that type of hairstyle you can get done in about two minutes using a matte clay and your fingers, no blow drying required.
#18: Cropped and Clean with Layers That Whisper
I refer to this type of haircut as a “quiet cut” and there’s a reason for that. These cuts are clean and polished to make you look fabulous, yet no one will know why. The layers on these cuts are extremely subtle, and may be seen as nonexistent, yet hold enough weight to keep the cut looking interesting and not dull. The nape of the neck is cut to give the appearance of a longer, more elegant neck. This is an overall detail that many people overlook, yet is extremely important. If you are going for a first time, I would recommend this cut as it is very classy and safe in all the right spots. It might not be an incredibly shocking haircut, but it will make you the most sophisticated version of yourself.
#19: Ash Blonde Crop with a Fringe That Knows What It’s Doing
Your bangs are cut perfectly to sit just above your eyes, and the way it blends with the longer layers on top gives a lovely modern shape to the cut that looks effortless. The ashy blonde color is a smart choice for the hair, as it is a classy color that is not as high maintenance as platinum and works with the natural base of the hair instead of against it. This is one of those haircuts that can look quite different depending on how it is styled; polished and intentional looks amazing, but if it is left too natural it can look a little too flat. I would suggest keeping some dry texture spray in your bag.
#20: Wavy Crop That Looks Better on Day Two
I liked this wavy crop cut the most. I liked a lot of these hair cuts because I think they look best on day two or three. I like hair cuts when they look a little dirty and have some natural oil in them because that creates the perfect messy look. This cut looked really good on my second or third day of washing my hair. I also think that it can be hard to get a cut so it looks like the stylist intended. I also like that bangs can suit so many different face shapes. I think the hair cut does a great job at hiding strong jaw lines so I think it will work well for me. I like that the hair cut is forgiving because I like to stretch my touches to every six weeks. I think it is casual and soft enough to leave the hair cut alone.
#21: Short Layered Cut That Breathes
It feels very light. Here, mostly, the cut. The layers are cut in a way that they are all separate enough from each other so that air can flow through each layer and not get weighed down. The length right at the nape is the sweet spot where you can feel a nice breeze on your bare neck which, if you’ve worn your hair long for a while, you’ll appreciate it the most. This will be great on fine to medium hair as it will move naturally without you having to use a round brush to force it into place, it just does its thing.
#22: Pink-Kissed Textured Cut with Personality
I love how the pink highlights add to the personality of this haircut, and the randomness of placement, and how it looks more organic. Fine haired people will enjoy this hairstyle as it helps create more hair illusion and also gives helps with the overall volume as well. The haircut is a short, texturized crop with slight layers, but because of the coloring, it makes the look so much better.
#23: Blush-Toned Textured Cut with an Edge
I like the color here, which is dusty blush instead of gold, pink, or rose gold. The hue is contemporary and unexpected. With this short and textured cut, the movement will show different nuances of the color. I think most short haircuts can be elevated by a soft unconventional color, and this shape is pretty standard while the color makes it editorial. I would suggest this and I recommend that you talk to your colorist about a color depositing conditioner to maintain the color in between appointments, as these dusty tones fade (gradually) and having something to boost them is a real difference.
#24: Platinum Highlighted Crop with a Modern Silhouette
The back of the cut is done extremely uniquely. The shape of the head is visible through the crop. The longer top pieces balance the contrast between playful and precise. Giving it a modern feel, as opposed to just being a short crop. The bold platinum highlights grab attention, emphasizing a good amount of the detail in this cut. Brightness at eye level makes it appear as though the head is elongated and elevated. Confidence is definitely a requirement for this cut. There are no hiding spots. No frontal fringe to cover the face, no lengths behind the ears to fall, just you and the cut. If you are ready for that, it is incredibly freeing.
#25: Burgundy Pixie with Warmth and Depth
I adore short burgundy hairstyles, especially with a warm tone because of its richness and lush coloring. Warm tones around the face are much better than cool tones, especially if you feel washed out by light platinum and ashy colors. The burgundy color will look great with the textured pixie as well, especially once the cut has nice polished edges around the neck. The top layers will add volume, so it doesn’t look flat. After visiting the salon, I’d recommend purchasing a color-safe shampoo so you can keep your burgundy hair vibrant and colorful for longer between salon appointments.
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