Long hair may seem like it gets the most attention, but don’t forget about short hair. Yes, you might have less length to work with, but that just means you have less weight to pull down all that beautiful volume at your fingertips. There are so many ways to style above-the-shoulder hair, from bobs and lobs to pixies, bixies, and everything in between.
But don’t just listen to us. Both hairstylists and celebrities with very short hair have shown that short hair can do a lot of things. The pictures below are proof. If you want new ways to style your short hair, keep scrolling. You’ll find some ideas based on famous hairstyles. Also, we asked celebrity hairstylists Nate Rosenkranz and Ryan Richman for their best advice and product recommendations. Check out these 38 beautiful ways to style short hair.
Meet the Professionals
Nate Rosenkranz is a well-known hair stylist who works in New York City. Julia Stiles, Hailey Bieber, and Jessica Wynn are some of his clients.
Ryan Richman is a famous hairstylist who works in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York City. He has worked with Sadie Sink, Sarah Hyland, Lili Reinhart, and others.
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Swirl of Copper
Keke Palmer with her short hair that has been highlighted.
@keke on Instagram
A simple way to change your very short hair? Put in some highlights! These copper strands look great in Keke Palmer’s short hair.
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Ringlets in the Present
Elsa Hosk has curly hair.
@elsahosk on Instagram
Elsa Hosk’s full curls are a modern, bouncy version of old-fashioned pin curls. For this one, you’ll need a lot of mousse, texturising spray, and a curling iron.
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Bob Margot Tenenbaum
Hailey Baldwin with short hair inside
@haileybieber on Instagram
Hailey Bieber chose a blunt, layer-free bob like Margot Tenenbaum when she wanted a new haircut. The Rhode founder put her own spin on the look from The Royal Tenenbaums by adding shiny waves and a coppery colour.
Use a microfibre towel to keep your natural texture without frizz. The fabric is much gentler on your hair cuticle. After you wash it, it will soak up extra water. After that, use your fingers to work a leave-in mousse, balm, or cream into your hair and let it dry naturally.
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Exact Pixie
Jourdan Dunn is outside in a halter top with a plain background.
@jourdandunn on Instagram
Jourdan Dunn looks great with an ash blonde pixie cut. Even though it’s short, you can style it in many ways, from finger waves to a simple side part.
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Bob the Mushroom
Carey Mulligan has a blunt mushroom bob that brushes against her jawline.
INSTAGRAM: @brycescarlett
Bobs are pretty popular right now, as you may have already noticed. And one of these new styles is called the mushroom bob. Carey Mulligan shows off the style perfectly, with ends that are rounded and face inward.
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Bob from France
NEW YORK, NEW YORK—Emily Ratajkowski arrives at the Marc Jacobs Runway Show 2023 at the Park Avenue Armoury on February 02, 2023. Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images took this picture.
Getty Images
French bobs can be a little scary because they are one of the shorter bob lengths and are usually worn pin-straight. Emily Ratajkowski’s messier version is a lot easier to get to. To recreate, either boost your own lived-in, air-dried texture or use a curling wand to make curls that go in different directions. Then, mess them up for a more casual look.
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Layers that are not done
Gracie Abrams shows off her bob with layers.
@gracieabrams on Instagram
Gracie Abrams is a big name in the short hair movement, and she just cut her hair even shorter. This messy bob lets her waves do whatever they want, which shows that you don’t have to be super-stylized to go short.
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Textured Pixie
On May 5, 2025, Emma Chamberlain goes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the 2025 Met Gala, which celebrates “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
Images from Getty
Pixie cuts are always stylish, but this Emma Chamberlain look gives them a new twist. Follow Richman’s advice to get it.
To start, he says to “Use a blow dryer with the concentrator nozzle attached and a flat mixed bristle brush. Direct the hair where you want it to lie with your brush and follow close behind with your blow dryer.” Then, he says to find a good texturising product and work it into your hair with your hands. “Use your fingers to make a messy texture.“
He also says, ‘If your pixie has fringe, use a medium-sized round brush on top of the fringe section to pull the fringe forward as you dry them while rolling the brush back towards your forehead’. “Pull the hair back toward the crown of the head to let it go from the brush. This will give you the perfect side-swept bang.” Finally, use a little bit of moulding paste or wax to style.
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Bob the Breeze
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: Kaia Gerber goes to the “High Fidelity” New York Premiere at The Metrograph on February 13, 2020. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hulu)
Getty Images
Bobs are classic, but Kaia Gerber’s version is also really cool. Rosenkranz says to start by putting on a smoothing serum and then blow-drying your hair with a round brush.
He says, “You want your hair to be smooth, but don’t worry too much about making it perfectly straight.” “After it’s dry, divide it into medium-sized pieces and use a flat iron or curling iron to bend the ends slightly, both toward and away from the face. Alternate sections to make it look natural.“
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Wavy Lob
Gemma Chan has a wavy lob.
Getty Images
A lob can be just as flattering as a bob, but it lets you keep some length, like Gemma Chan does here. “Put mousse on your hair from the roots to the ends and blow-dry it with a round brush,” Rosenkranz says. “As you let go of each section, untangle the hair and pull down on it a little while it’s still warm to make the wave longer. Hold it for a few seconds as it cools and sets.”
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Bob with texture
Rihanna with a bob that has texture
Getty Images
Rihanna shows that a bob with texture can make thin hair look fuller. To make your hair look wet, spray on some gloss. Don’t be afraid to give your fringe short layers. They make you look cool and can be swept to the side, parted in the middle or styled like Rihanna’s fringe.
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Pixie Curls
Ruth Negga with a wavy pixie cut up close.
Getty Images
Not all pixie cuts have to be piece-y. Ruth Negga’s short hair has smooth, full curls and a side part.
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Bob from Old Hollywood
Zendaya goes to the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on January 5, 2025. Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage took this picture.
Getty Images
With this bouncy bob, Zendaya looks like she came from Old Hollywood. The glamorous look is all about volume, body, and shine.
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Sleek Chignon
A model has her hair up in a short bun.
Imaxtree
People with short hair shouldn’t feel like they have to wear it down. Buns are one of the most flexible updos, and the chignon is the most elegant version of them. This stylish, easy-to-care-for chignon with a middle part is both simple and elegant.
After you get your hair ready, just pull it back into a low ponytail and split it into two parts. Make a bun out of one part, then wrap the other part around it. All you need to do is use some bobby pins to hold it in place.
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Bob the Brave
Ciara goes to the amfAR Gala Cannes 2025 at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes, France, on May 22, 2025. (Thanks to Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images)
Images from Getty
A bob that skims the jaw with blunt fringe is very stylish. The haircut’s full-coverage fringe and length are perfect for Ciara’s diamond-shaped face.
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Curly Shag
Mica Arganaraz with a shaggy curl
Getty Images
Mica Arganaraz, who is a model for Prada, is one of our favourite poster girls for a shag cut. She gets a look that is both casual and cool by working with the texture of her hair and embracing her curls. Richman says, “Shags are all about volume and texture.” “If your hair naturally waves, use a diffuser nozzle on your blow dryer to dry it and embrace your natural texture.” “For straighter hair, rough dry your hair upside down while moving your fingers back and forth through it to add volume and texture.“
He says, “If you need to, use a round brush when the hair is mostly dry to smooth the ends. To get the wave you want, use a flat iron or curling iron and curl the hair in different directions to get a messy, undone look.“
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Curly Bob in Nature
A model with short, curly hair
Imaxtree
Let your curly hair run free and love how it feels. You can get this natural curly bob look with just the right product. This style is freeing and easy to care for, and it has a lot of volume and shine.
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Lob Blunt
Laura Harrier with short hair styled neatly and looking over her shoulder
@lauraharrier on Instagram
We’ve talked a lot about sliced lobs, but blunt-cut ends work just as well on strands that are the same length as lobs. The blunt ends make hair look thicker, even if it is pin-straight. To get Laura Harrier’s look, make sure to use smoothing products and a serum that adds shine.
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Pixie with Feathers
Xuan Xu, who has a pixie cut with feathers, goes to the “Horizon: An American Saga” Red Carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.
Images from Getty
Feathering makes things look denser right away by adding a lot of air pockets to make them look bigger. The effect is even stronger on pixie-length hair because the lighter weight makes it easier for the hair to reach heights that defy gravity. A great, layered haircut does most of the work, but blow-drying with a round brush will help set the look even more.
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Bump-It Today
Kris Jenner sitting inside and smiling
@krisjenner on Instagram
Do you remember those hair pieces called “Bump It”? The pouffe on Kris Jenner’s head makes us think of the accessory. Putting more volume on the crown of your head, like she has, makes your bob look more interesting.
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Bob the Flipper
Halle Berry goes to the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California on March 02, 2025. Photo by Stefanie Keenan/VF25/WireImage for Vanity Fair
Getty Images
The flippy bob is one of the most popular retro hairstyles right now. Celebrities like Halle Berry make a strong case for bringing back the old hairstyle.
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Long Pixie
Sonoya Mizuno with a long pixie haircut
Images from Getty
The sleek pixie cut that Sonoya Mizuno has is easy to do and very classy. You can wear this look all day and all night, whether your hair is freshly cut or you’re growing out your pixie. To make your hair shine, put a dime-sized amount of hair oil on it and work it through with a wide-toothed comb. Then, sweep it to one side for a polished look.
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Curls with a Wand
NEW YORK, NY—November 06: Jennifer Hudson is in New York City on November 06, 2023. Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images took this picture.
Getty Images
There are a few ways to style your hair to get defined curls like Jennifer Hudson’s. Use flexi rods or a curling wand to make these bouncy curls.
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Sculpted Back
Claire Foy goes to the EE British Academy Film Awards at Royal Albert Hall in London, England on February 10, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Getty Images
We don’t always want our hair in our face. As Claire Foy did here, pull your hair back for a smooth, sculpted look. Choose a subtle side part to finish off your look.
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Slicked Back When Wet
Pixie cut with slicked back hair
Getty Images
When we have greasy roots, we cover them up with a conditioning treatment that also works as a style. Just put on a heavy-duty hair mask or nourishing oil, slick it back, and go.
Rosenkranz says, “To get this great look, start by blow-drying the sides and back of the head close to the root in the direction you want the hair to lie.” “Next, go to the top and use a round brush to direct your blow dryer forward to add volume to the front. Use a cream-gel to hold the style in place.”
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Wavy Lob with Money Pieces
Maya Rudolph at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on September 15, 2024. (Variety via Getty Images photo by Gilbert Flores)
Getty Images
With warm, coppery highlights, Maya Rudolph’s wavy lob looks amazing. A wide-barrel curling iron will give you the same look for those romantic curls.
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Big Curls
On October 29, 2024, in Los Angeles, California, Yara Shahidi poses as Sézane and Laura Brown celebrate the launch of “French Enough” Act 2 with a small dinner. This picture is by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Sézane.
Getty Images
This style really shows off Yara Shahidi’s natural curls. A loose bun with curls that frame the face is a fashionable hairstyle that works for any event.
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Slicked-Back Messy
Rowan Blanchard has hair that is messy and slicked back.
Images from Getty
Slicked-back hair is everywhere, and for good reason, but it doesn’t always have to be so neat. Rowan Blanchard shows a more messy version of the look here. “To hold it in place, use a cream gel all over your hair,” says Rosenkranz. “Use some dry shampoo to fluff up your roots, run your fingers through your hair in the opposite direction, and finish the look with a lot of flexible hair spray.“
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Bang Bob
Rose Bertram has a curly bob with fringe.
@rosebertram on Instagram
A short cut can give thin hair volume and fullness, no matter what type of hair you have. What do you need to do to pull off a curly fringe? Don’t use heavy-duty styling products because they can make hair heavy.
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Bob with a wet texture
Saoirse Ronan with hair that is wet
Getty Images
The world has gone crazy for wet-look hairstyles. Saoirse Ronan nails the look with a texturised bob here. Her deep side part lets her hair fall naturally in front of her face instead of pulling it back. Richman says, “An oil-based product is best for making a wet look.” Put it in your hair to get the look you want.
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Waves on the Beach
Kelly Ripa with a beach wave bob
Getty Images
Beachy waves are the most sexy thing ever. Kelly Ripa gives us beachy vibes on the red carpet here. It can be hard to figure out what size barrel to use on your curling iron. If your hair is straight or fine, use a 0.75-inch barrel. If your hair is curly, use a 1.25-inch barrel. If you’re not sure what kind of hair you have, use a 1-inch barrel.
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Pixie with Pieces
A pixie cut on Zoe Kravitz
Getty Images
The piece-y pixie cut that Zoë Kravitz has is practical, expressive, and, thankfully, easy to get. To get a messy, textured look, just work a texturizer into your hair and style it with your hands. This cut, which has closely cut sides and a little more hair on top, can look good on people with round or square faces.
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Lob with a Messy Look
Millie Bobby Brown with a messy lob and caramel highlights
Instagram: @milliebobbybrown
Millie Bobby Brown’s messy hair looks easy and a little bit fun. Invisible layers add texture and movement to this cut while taking away any weight that might make it look heavy.
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S-Wave Lobe
Ella Mai with a crinkled lob goes to the World Premiere of “Bad Boys for Life.”
Images from Getty
If you want a more grungy look for your retro hair, try an S-wave. Use a flatiron or crimper to make bends in your hair to get this crinkled look.
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Textured Lob with Bangs Like Curtains
Alexa Chung’s lob with fringe
Getty Images
Alexa Chung can do no wrong when it comes to cool-girl hair. Her textured lob is very French, even though she is British. Her middle part curtain fringe look great on her face and give off a relaxed vibe.
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Cornrows
A model with short cornrows
Imaxtree
A braided look is a great way to keep your hair out of your face while you run errands, go to brunch, and then run errands again. Cornrows are pretty, and they also protect natural hair. And you’ll never get tired of wearing this braided style because it’s so flexible.
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Made fun of Bob
Cleo Wade wore a teased, brushed-out curly bob to the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala.
Images from Getty
This style looks best on hair that is two, three, or four days old. To make pockets of air, brush out the curls and tease the hair until it looks like it’s going to fall out. This style works well on thin hair because teasing adds volume.
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Bob with Braids
Blunt Bob with Braids on Marsai Martin
Images from Getty
We really want Marsai Martins’s lob-length braids. The best part? It might take a few hours to get this look, but once you do, it’s not too hard to keep it up. Wear a bonnet at night and put a little mousse on your hair to keep your sleek braids looking good.
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Waves that touch your shoulders
At the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Jenna Ortega had a messy lob and a feathery fringe.
Images from Getty
Jenna Ortega’s messy mermaid waves are a new look for people who love cub cuts and shags. The star of Wednesday had textured bends in her chestnut brown hair that brushed the tops of her shoulders. We’ve been trying to copy it ever since.
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French Fringe
Megan Fox with fringe and a bob
@meganfox on Instagram
UK Ends Retirement at 67 Historic Shakeup Changes Pension Age and Sparks Nationwide Debate
Megan Fox showed off a beige-blonde lob with Birkin fringe in early 2023. The fringe style, which is named after a famous French fashionista, has straight-across fringe and a soft, wispy look.
