There is something amazingly freeing about a short hairdo. There is much less effort involved in styling, and drying time is almost cut in half, not to mention it makes you look like a total baddie. However, if you are new to the short-hair lifestyle, you may be completely clueless about how to style short hair. Luckily, we have you covered. Here are 15 fabulous short hairstyles to inspire you, whether you have freshly cut locks or you’ve been rocking short hair for a while and just need some fresh ideas!
How to Style Short Hair
1. Low Pony With Side Twists
This super easy hairstyle requires little effort and is simply adorable! You can achieve this with virtually any short haircut, as long as it’s long enough to pull back into a ponytail. Take a section of hair in the front of your head and twist it back on each side, securing it with a clip once you get to the back. Once you have both sides twisted, remove the clips and hold each twist section down firmly. Secure them with a bobby pin, and bring the remainder of your hair down into a low pony. If you want some added volume, spray some volumizing spray on your roots in the back and gently tease to create a fuller look in the back. Check out this video for a more detailed tutorial!
2. Easy Half Top Knot
Half top knots are super trendy and are perfect for when you want to look cute with minimal effort. It is seriously the queen of lazy girl hairstyles. Simply use a curling wand with a 1-inch barrel on your hair to give it some texture, then add the top knot by sectioning off the top layers of your hair on both sides and bringing them together at the crown. Then, use an elastic tie to secure it into a ponytail. Split the ponytail into two sections and gently tease them at the base. Next, wrap each section around each other, then secure it with a bobby pin. Easy peasy. See how to master this look here!
Related: 19 Hottest hairstyles for wet hair you’ll want to try ASAP
3. Classic Straight Blowout
If you are looking for a hairstyle for your short hair that doesn’t require much, this classic straight blowout is perfect! It is super easy to style and will compliment almost any face shape. The most significant part of styling this look is emphasizing volume and smoothness. We recommend this blow-dry perfecting cream that also doubles as a heat protectant. Simply take a 2 – 21/2 inch round brush and brush your hair under, holding the blow dryer and the ends a few seconds longer. You can also use this titanium brush dryer to make styling a breeze! Check out this video for a full tutorial!
4. French Braids
If you thought French braids were out of the question for the short-haired girls club, think again! This hairstyle may seem tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will be your new go-to for your casual coffee date or brunch with your gal pals. This easy braid is also called a pull-through braid, meaning you are not braiding traditionally but separating sections of your hair with elastics and incorporating each into the next.
Here is a quick video tutorial to walk you through each step! Pro tip: Use dry shampoo! It adds texture so your hair isn’t too slick, makes it easier to work with, and allows the elastics to hold on to your hair better.
5. Wavy
If you want to know how to style short hair for a date night, this is it! It is super romantic and flirty. You only need a curling iron with a 1” barrel, a hair pick, and texturizing spray.
It’s best to start with slightly dirty hair for this style, but if you are dealing with clean locks, don’t fret! You can spray some dry shampoo on your hair for the same effect. Now, curl your hair with a curling iron toward your face, going in sections. Once that is done, use your pick to go through and separate the curls to give the wavy effect. Finally, use your fingers to pick up sections of your hair at the roots and spray the texturizing spray. Give your hair a little tease to add volume, and you are done! If you want to see a more detailed tutorial, watch the video here!
6. Pin Straight
This short hairstyle is sleek and stylish! The key to this hairstyle is having the correct cut. Just ask for a blunt edge lob in the length of your choice. You can style this hairdo in minutes with just a straightening iron! We recommend using a thermal protection spray on your damp hair, then a shine serum on your strands after straightening for an ultra-sleek look. Here is a video tutorial on how to get pin-straight hair!
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7. Messy Bottom Bun
Low buns are always a go-to. They are easy to put together and always look super cute! However, you may think you can’t possibly do a low bun with short hair! Girl, we’ve got you!
This messy low bun has all the volume and is perfect for almost any face shape. Start by teasing your hair at the crown with a teasing brush. Work Your way around your head, grabbing sections of your hair and teasing at the roots. Pull your hair back into a low bun, leaving strands out. Tuck the loose strands into the top of the elastic and play with it until you get it how you want it. You can watch the full tutorial here!
8. Twisty Half Pony
We love the uniqueness and simplicity of this super cute half-updo. You can achieve this look in minutes, and it works for almost any short hair length, as long as you can pull it back! Simply pull back the two front sections of your hair with your fingers and secure it with a clear elastic into a pony. Simply pull the pony up and over the elastic, then pull it down to create a twist. Repeat this as many times as you need until you are satisfied with the twist. Here is a quick tutorial showing you how to create this look!
9. Milk Maid Dutch Braids
These milkmaid/dutch braids are just adorable! This is the perfect hairstyle for any occasion, from running errands to a casual date night. The main difference between French braids and Dutch braids is that with French braids, you cross the sections of hair over, and with Dutch braids, you cross them under. Start clipping the hair back on one side of your head, focusing on the opposite side. Now, take three small sections at the front of your head and begin dutch braiding them backward, keeping the braids tight to your head. Secure at the end with an elastic tie and pull tight to secure. Check out the full video tutorial here!
10. Flower Claw Clip Up-Do
This hairstyle is super trendy right now, and we just adore these flower claw clips! If you want to know how to style short hair in seconds, this is for you! Just pull your hair back as if you were going to make a low ponytail. Now, twist your hair up and secure it with the clip. It’s that simple! Here is a super quick video tutorial you can follow!
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11. Dutch Braided Half-Up Space Buns
If you have been wondering if you could pull off space buns, the answer is yes! Everyone can rock this super cute hairstyle, and it doesn’t require much effort once you get the hang of it! Begin by sectioning off your hair using a rat tail comb. We recommend splitting it off into four sections. Two at the top will be your Dutch braids, and two underneath to make the top sections easier to braid. Begin at the front of your hair, making a Dutch braid on each side, and secure with an elastic at your crown. You should have two half-ponies on top of your head. Next, tease the ponies with a teasing comb and twirl your hair sections around themselves, creating a bun. If you want to see how to style your hair like this, check out this video!
12. Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are trendy right now, and they can take any haircut to the next level! If your hair isn’t already cut with curtain bangs, you will need to make sure you do this first! Believe it or not, curtain bangs are not hard to style, and you can have them ready to rock in just a few minutes. The key to perfect curtain bangs is to curl them up! Check out this quick video on how to style curtain bangs!
13. Messy Half-Pony
We love this hairstyle because it is so easy, especially for short-haired gals, and it works for practically any face shape and hair texture! To get this look, separate about an inch of hair to frame your face, then gather the rest of the top section of your hair up and secure it with an elastic band. Voila! You can also check out this video for a complete how-to!
14. Half Messy Bun
We love messy buns, and half-up messy buns are super trendy right now! This is another style that is almost effortless to put together and is so versatile. Start by straightening your hair with a flat iron, then gently tease the hair at your crown for texture. Then, using an elastic, pull the top section of your hair back and make a pony, tucking the bottom under to create a little bump. Tug on your bump a little to create some volume. Now, take a bobby pin and secure pieces of the bun to your head until your bun has a messy effect. Here is a video that will walk you through the whole process!
15. Double Bubble Braids
Bubble braids have been all the rage this year and for good reason! They are a sporty take on traditional French or Dutch braids, and you can put them together in minutes! For this hairstyle, you will need tons of clear elastics, so stock up! To begin, section off the side of your hair you are not working with. Then, take a small section of your hair at the front of your head and create a little ponytail. Take another section of hair behind the first section, pull the first pony with it, and make another ponytail. Keep going until you reach your neck, then secure it with one more plastic elastic. Repeat this process on the other side. Now, begin pulling the sections between the elastics apart with your fingers to create the “bubble effect.” Here is a quick video showing how to style short hair with bubble braids!
