Experts Say *This* Is the Best Short Haircut For Your Hair Type

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Experts Say *This* Is the Best Short Haircut For Your Hair Type

Yes, yours!

yara shahidi in back of car with short hairyara shahidi in back of car with short hair

@yarashahidi/Instagram

Short hair is having a moment, and while it may look amazing on others, it can be tough deciding whether you should go for the chop or not. The good news is that pretty much anyone can rock short hair; it’s just about getting the right cut. Maybe you’ve already started scrolling Instagram for inspiration and have a celebrity’s style in mind that you’d like to copy. That’s a great place to begin, but there are a few things to consider first. Particularly: Will that cut look good on you?

As you’re contemplating your chop, take the following into account: your hair’s texture, your face shape, and your lifestyle. It’s all fun and games when you’re lusting after a pin-straight pixie crop until you realize you’d have to straighten your corkscrew curls daily in order to achieve the look. To put things in perspective and help you narrow down which short cuts are right for you and your hair type, we tapped professional hairstylists Clariss Rubenstein and Jamie Stevens. Read on for their expert insight on the many different short styles available to you.

Meet the Experts

  • Clariss Rubenstein is a celebrity hairstylist.
  • Jamie Stevens is a professional hairstylist based in London.
01of 22

Fine Hair: Fluffy Pixie

short hairstyles: Ruth Negga with a short curly haircutshort hairstyles: Ruth Negga with a short curly haircut

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Ruth Negga proves that even short hair can have a little flair. Here, her hair is kept super-short but slightly layered. Add shine spray to complete the look.

02of 22

Fine Hair: Short and Sleek

Blunt Bobs Short Kaia GerberBlunt Bobs Short Kaia Gerber

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For those with fine hair, layers and piece-y waves like Kaia Gerber’s add some volume and movement to a sleek bob. To get Gerber’s waves, use a curling iron or wand and smooth Sachajuan’s Shine Serum throughout your lengths to achieve silky shine.

03of 22

Fine Hair: Pixie with Bangs

Ginnifer GoodwinGinnifer Goodwin

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Though a pixie is relatively low maintenance when it comes to daily styling (if your hair is on the straighter side, at least), you may need to visit the salon more regularly to keep your locks at the right length. This is especially true if you give the style some edge with bangs, as Ginnifer Goodwin does here.

04of 22

Fine Hair: Tousled Lob

Hailey Bieber in a tousled and textured bobHailey Bieber in a tousled and textured bob

@haileybieber/Instagram

We love the length of this cut, which goes just past the jawline but not quite to the shoulders. The slenderness of Hailey Bieber’s oval face allows this length to hug her bone structure just right. And as she demonstrates, an air-dry and a quick spritz of texture spray can work wonders.

05of 22

Fine Hair: Cropped Pixie

Kristen Stewart pixie cut and grunge eyemakeupKristen Stewart pixie cut and grunge eyemakeup

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Worried about your fine hair looking sparse? Opt for a classic pixie crop, says Stevens. “As a rule, the shorter fine hair is taken, the thicker it will look,” he explains. “Ask your stylist for a cut that’s blunt with no texturizing or thinning out.”

Many facial types can rock a pixie, but be sure you’re comfortable with your face being on full display. “Remember that your facial features will be more exposed with this cut,” warns Stevens. “If you have strong features, the shorter the haircut, the more prominent they’ll appear,” he adds. Kristen Stewart’s bone structure suits a cropped pixie style well.

06of 22

Wavy Hair: Textured Bob

Viola Davis wavy bobViola Davis wavy bob

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The best part about short, wavy hair, adds Stevens, is that it’s incredibly low maintenance. Regrowth won’t be as much of a problem, and leaving it to dry naturally will create some fabulous texture. Just “make sure you’ve got the right products to tame any fluff and frizz.”

Rubenstein says that investing in a solid wash day routine will come in handy, too. “The right shampoo and conditioner is so important and has such an impact on how the hair behaves, especially for those who do less blow-drying and styling,” Rubenstein says. “I’m loving R+Co BLEU De Luxe Reparative Shampoo and Conditioner for thicker hair. It’s so nourishing and moisturizing, not a hint of frizz.”

07of 22

Wavy Hair: Lengthy Lob

Gabrielle UnionGabrielle Union

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Not sure how your waves will behave? Aim for the longer end of the short hair spectrum, advises Stevens. “Most short haircuts will suit wavy hair, but I would normally say that the shorter the haircut the more the waves will look like Marcel waves [i.e. finger waves], which can be incredibly aging,” he explains. “Lean toward something slightly longer—around four to five inches all over—to avoid adding years on.”

08of 22

Wavy Hair: Wet Look

Easy Natural Hairstyles Wet Look RihannaEasy Natural Hairstyles Wet Look Rihanna

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Rihanna embraces her natural hair, which sits just above her shoulders, by rocking the wet look. An easy to achieve style, we recommend applying Color Wow Dream Coat For Curly Hair to damp hair then blow-dry with a diffuser attachment.

09of 22

Curly/Afro Hair: Tight Curls

Naomi Campbell short curly natural hair with highlightsNaomi Campbell short curly natural hair with highlights

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While most lengths will work on hair with tight curls, Stevens warns that it’s key to work with an expert who understands the impact of shrinkage on your lengths. “Make sure your hairdresser is on the same page regarding the natural spring in the hair, as the end results in length won’t be the same as the length of the cut,” he explains. “My personal recommendation is to keep the hair on the slightly longer side of what you want—it’ll naturally spring up a few inches shorter when dry.”

10of 22

Curly/Afro Hair: Asymmetric Bob

Taraji P. Henson wears a wavy, asymmetrical side part bobTaraji P. Henson wears a wavy, asymmetrical side part bob

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We love Taraji P. Henson’s asymmetric bob, which sees more volume on one side. Cutting one side slightly shorter adds an avant-garde feel that flatters those with thicker hair.

11of 22

Curly/Afro Hair: Buzz Cut

buzz-cut-women: Lupita N'Yongo with a buzz cutbuzz-cut-women: Lupita N'Yongo with a buzz cut

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Keep your curls nice and short by opting for a buzz cut, as seen on Lupita Nyong’o. Bonus points if you like to have fun with bold makeup choices. Although beyond easy to style, we do caution that this is a high-maintenance cut if you intend to keep it at a cropped length.

12of 22

Curly/Afro Hair: Fringed Bob

Short Hairstyles for Black Hair Curly Fringed Bob Yara ShahidiShort Hairstyles for Black Hair Curly Fringed Bob Yara Shahidi

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If you’ve got a collection of stunning coils like Yara Shahidi, show them off with a fringe bob. To keep her curls moisturized, Shahidi swears by Mielle Mint Almond Oil, which promotes healthy hair and soothes a dry scalp, thanks to the cooling sensation of (you guessed it!) peppermint.

13of 22

Thick Hair: Classic Hollywood Bob

Tessa Thompson short, soft finger wavesTessa Thompson short, soft finger waves

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According to Stevens, you’re winning already if you have thick hair: “If I’m honest, thick hair is really the best hair type to suit all short haircuts,” he says. “The reason being, it’s a lot easier for stylists to make thick hair thinner, rather than the reverse.”

Before you get carried away, however, bear in mind that your chop might come with a lot of upkeep—especially if your thick hair is prone to waves or unruly behavior. Use a smoothing oil like Ouai Hair Oil to keep it sleek, especially if you’re after Tessa Thompson’s perfectly coiffed Hollywood waves.

14of 22

Thick Hair: Tousled and Textured

bob haircuts: Beyonce with a bobbob haircuts: Beyonce with a bob

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A textured bob is perfect for those with naturally thick hair. Beyoncé’s layers remove the bulk that comes with thick hair and makes the style more manageable with movement and volume. “Thick hair will need to be thinned out more regularly, as it will get noticeably bigger and thicker with regrowth,” notes Stevens. So, get friendly with your stylist and consider setting up a standing appointment.

15of 22

Thick Hair: Pompadour

PompadourPompadour
Janet Jackson’s short pompadour hairstyle might look complicated, but it couldn’t be easier to pull off. “This cut has versatility and is low maintenance,” Petrut tells us. “It’s ideal for straight hair, and it can be styled slicked back or blow-dried forward with a low part and sweeping bangs.”.

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If you’ve got it, flaunt it. That’s the idea behind the pompadour, which sees a lot of height concentrated on top of the head. It’s a great way to show off volume and thickness, even with a short cut.

16of 22

Thick Hair: Blown-out Lob

Lady GagaLady Gaga

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Use thick hair to your advantage and bring the drama with a blown-out lob like Lady Gaga. While Gaga’s length rests comfortably on her shoulders, a round brush, some smoothing serum, and a heat protectant—we love Bumble & bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat and UV Protective Primer—are all you need.

17of 22

Thick Hair: ’90s Bob

Zendaya with a 90s bobZendaya with a 90s bob

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Zendaya’s thick hair looks great in this sexy style. Here, hair is kept full and voluminous, with a wide-barrel curling iron adding serious bounce to the ends.

18of 22

Straight Hair: Box Bob

Cara DelevigneCara Delevigne

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Pin-straight locks? Beware of going too short, says Stevens. “Medium-short cuts work best on hair that’s naturally very straight, as the extra length and weight will help it sit better,” he explains. “If poker-straight hair is cut too short it will stick out everywhere. Short box bobs with a fringe are best.”

While you’ll get to enjoy a relatively low-maintenance life with your cut, Stevens notes that it’s vital you visit a quality salon—it’ll be easy to spot a cut that hasn’t been well-executed on your hair type.

19of 22

Straight Hair: Off-centered Part

margot robbie off center partmargot robbie off center part

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If you tend to lack volume, focus on lifting from the root, using a lift-enhancing product. “Thickening shampoo is ideal for hair that needs volume—with or without a blow dryer it gives thin hair some great lift,” Rubenstein says. We like Sachajuan Ocean Mist Volume Shampoo for creating texture and body on fine strands. Moving your part slightly off-center also helps with volume.

20of 22

Straight Hair: Blunt Lob

Jamie Chung straight, blunt lobJamie Chung straight, blunt lob

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A blunt blob, or in Jamie Chung’s case, a blunt lob, can be a flattering look on everyone—especially if it just ever so slightly skims the shoulders. We like the ghd Platinum+ Professional Performance Styler for its ability to straighten short hair in just a few minutes.

21of 22

Straight Hair: One-Length Bob

Wet Look BobWet Look Bob
Kourtney Kardashian’s sleek bob is proof that the wet hair look is here to stay. To recreate at home, you need to follow this simple formula: wet hair, gel, cream, and a glossing spray like the Amika Top Gloss Hair Shine Spray ($29).

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As Kourtney Kardashian demonstrates, a bob can go in many directions. Here, it’s kept blunt at the ends, but with a little texture (and wet look styling), it veers modern.

22of 22

Straight Hair: Razored Pixie

Zoe Kravitz wears a pixie cut with baby bangs and oversized stud earringsZoe Kravitz wears a pixie cut with baby bangs and oversized stud earrings

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Rather than keeping your pixie all one length, ask your stylist to razor the edges. Using a blade gives the effect of layers and adds a little edge and texture.

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Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/best-short-haircuts-for-every-hair-type-11827540


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