Thinking about going short? A good short haircut can be easier to style than long hair and instantly makes a look feel modern. The trick is choosing a cut that suits your hair texture and face shape.
Here are 20 short hairstyles and haircuts for women, inspired by celebrities who wear them best, with tips on what to ask your stylist for.
1. Halle Berry’s Messy Pixie with Undercut
SaveHalle Berry’s pixie proves an undercut isn’t just for men. The sides are kept close to the head while the top is left longer and tousled for height.
Ask for: a short pixie with a subtle undercut at the sides and nape, and extra length on top. Style with a little texture paste and scrunch the top for volume. More ideas: undercut pixie haircuts.
2. Úrsula Corberó’s Choppy Crop
SaveThe Money Heist star’s choppy crop pairs short, piece-y layers with soft, feathered bangs that brush the forehead.
Ask for: short layers all over with a wispy, feathered fringe. It’s a great cut for fine hair because the choppiness adds movement.
3. Miley Cyrus’s Bleached Brush-Up Crop
SaveMiley Cyrus’s platinum brush-up crop is short at the sides with a longer top swept up and back.
Ask for: tight sides with length on top. Blow-dry the top upward with a round brush and finish with a light-hold wax. Bleached hair needs regular toning and deep conditioning.
4. Zendaya’s Sleek Bob with Bangs
SaveZendaya’s sleek, glossy bob with full bangs has a polished, retro feel.
Ask for: a chin-length blunt bob with heavy, straight bangs. Smooth it with a flat iron and a drop of shine serum for that mirror-like finish.
5. Ginnifer Goodwin’s Angular Pixie
SaveGinnifer Goodwin’s angular pixie is sharper and more modern than a soft, rounded one.
Ask for: a short pixie with angled, asymmetric lines around the face and a longer sweep at the front. It suits heart-shaped and oval faces especially well.
6. Rihanna’s Caesar Crop
SaveRihanna has shown that the classic Caesar cut, a men’s staple, looks just as striking on women.
Ask for: hair cut to one short, even length with short, straight-across bangs. It’s almost zero-maintenance day to day but needs a trim every three to four weeks.
7. Katherine Heigl’s Timeless Bob
SaveKatherine Heigl’s classic bob shows how versatile the cut is.
Wear it with soft curls for a vintage Hollywood look, or straighten it for something more modern. Ask for: a jaw-length bob with light layering so it can be styled both ways.
8. Ciara’s Blonde Bob with Dark Roots
SaveCiara’s blonde bob leans into darker roots instead of hiding them.
Leaving a few centimeters of natural color at the root (a “shadow root”) makes blonde look more modern and cuts down on salon visits. A sharp middle part keeps it sleek.
9. Sharon Stone’s Short Scissor Cut
SaveSharon Stone’s short crop is cut with scissors rather than clippers, which leaves more softness and shape.
Ask for: a scissor-cut crop with soft layering on top. Scissors give more texture and volume than clippers, so it’s ideal if you want short hair that doesn’t look severe. See more pixie haircuts for older women.
10. Michelle Williams’ Short Pixie
SaveMichelle Williams’ pixie is short, soft and gamine.
A deep side part adds polish and lets the front sweep across the forehead. Ask for: a classic pixie with longer pieces at the front.
11. Voluminous Pixie with Deep Side Part
SaveThis pixie mixes lengths for maximum lift.
Ask for: short sides with enough length on top to play with. Blow-dry the top with a round brush toward your part and add volumizing mousse at the roots.
12. Layered Crop with Angular Fringe
SaveA layered crop with a longer, angled fringe is softer than a classic pixie.
Let the bangs grow longer than usual and cut them on an angle. Face-framing highlights through the fringe draw attention to your eyes.
13. Rita Ora’s Blowout Bob
SaveRita Ora’s bouncy blowout bob is the perfect choice if you’re not sure about cutting your hair short.
If you have longer hair, you can fake it: blow-dry with a large round brush and tuck the ends under and pin them for a faux bob before committing to the chop.
14. Kaley Cuoco’s Textured Short Crop
SaveKaley Cuoco’s short, feathery crop shows off her face and keeps her signature blonde fresh.
Ask for: a short crop with lots of texture on top. Style with a natural part and a little sea salt spray for fullness.
15. Blonde Bob with Dark Ends
SaveThis bob flips the usual ombré, with lighter roots fading into darker ends.
It’s an eye-catching way to play with color, and a reverse ombré grows out more gracefully than a solid blonde. See our short graduated bob ideas for more bob shapes.
16. Natalie Portman’s Short Scissor Crop
SaveNatalie Portman’s short, soft crop is a classic starter cut if you’re going short for the first time.
It’s an easy base to grow into a pixie or a bob later. Ask for: a scissor-cut crop with soft, even layers.
17. Lily Collins’ Retro Glam Bob
SaveFor special occasions, Lily Collins’ retro bob combines sleek roots with big, glossy curls.
It has a 1920s-style glamour that suits weddings and evening events. Set the lengths with a large curling iron, then brush through the curls for soft waves. Love the era? Try these finger waves hairstyles.
18. Kristen Stewart’s Blonde Buzz Cut
SaveIf a pixie isn’t short enough, there’s the buzz cut. Kristen Stewart wore hers bleached platinum.
A buzz cut is as short as you can go without shaving. It’s very low-maintenance to style, but bleaching it needs a professional colorist and regular toning.
19. Carey Mulligan’s Curly Caesar Crop
SaveCarey Mulligan shows a short crop works with natural texture too.
If your hair has a natural wave or curl, a short crop lets the texture do the styling. Scrunch in a little curl cream and let it air-dry.
20. Marion Cotillard’s Bob with Side-Swept Bangs
SaveMarion Cotillard’s elegant bob with long, side-swept bangs frames the face beautifully.
Tuck one side behind your ear for a fresh, easy look. It’s an especially flattering cut for round and square faces.
How to Choose a Short Haircut
- Round faces: Go for height on top or long, side-swept bangs to add length.
- Oval and heart-shaped faces: Almost any pixie or bob works, including very short crops.
- Square faces: Soft layers and side parts soften a strong jaw.
- Fine hair: Choppy layers and blunt bobs make hair look thicker.
- Thick or curly hair: Ask for weight to be removed so the cut doesn’t puff out.
FAQs
How often do short haircuts need a trim?
Very short cuts like pixies and crops need a trim every three to six weeks to keep their shape. Bobs can usually go six to eight weeks.
What is the difference between a pixie cut and a crop?
A pixie usually has shorter back and sides with longer, softer pieces at the front. A crop is generally more even all over and often has short, straight bangs.
Final Thoughts
From sleek bobs to bold buzz cuts, there’s a short haircut for every face and lifestyle. Take a photo of your favorite to your stylist, and see our Italian bob haircuts for more ideas.
