Short haircuts for women come in many shapes and forms. A popular hair trend that never goes out of style, short haircuts are often favoured over their longer counterparts where a big makeover is

concerned. A carefully crafted short haircut will transform your look, with some hairstylists using its face-framing benefits to enhance your features. And if you have finally decided to take the plunge into the world of short haircuts, we are here to help out! But first, make sure you have considered the pros and cons of going short.

Short haircuts Pros and Cons

Now that you have the facts laid out, here are the trendy short haircuts you can take a pick from. Psst...we’ve also included tips for whom these styles are best suited for!

 

1. Short shag haircut

Short shag haircut

Image courtesy: @ursulolita

What is it: At its core, a shag haircut is a lob (long bob) with bangs. The modern version of this classic look is a more textured cut and draws inspiration from the mullet - which makes it an experimental cut for anyone planning to go short. However, it is much more in vogue because of its tricky styling and uber edgy look.

Who should try it: Being a heavily layered haircut, the modern shag can add texture to any hair length and type - especially thin or fine hair. It is a good option if your goal is a 'wilder' hairdo that also maintains the integrity of the natural hair by avoiding unnecessary teases or snips.

 

2. Chin-length bob haircut

Chin-length bob haircut

Image courtesy: @joeyking

What is it: A chin-length bob is a version of the classic bob haircut that ends near the chin (sometimes near the mid-neck). This cut gained popularity with Gen Z celebs for being low maintenance and flattering on almost all face shapes.

Who should try it: The uniform length of these bobs looks totally stunning on narrow face shapes. It widens the appearance of your jawline and balances out the chin with the rest of the face.

 

3. Pixie haircut

Pixie haircut

Image courtesy: @sophialillis

What is it: A feminine version of the crop, the pixie cut is usually short at the back and sides, with slightly longer lengths at the front. Even though the haircut was popularised by 60s Hollywood starlets, it still remains a major hair trend to this day. Contemporary pixie cuts can add short, baby bangs in the front to frame the face better.

Who should try it: If you are looking for a dramatic makeover, but want it to remain low maintenance, you can opt for a pixie cut. There is a style of pixie cut that suits individual face shapes. The same goes for hair types - curly pixies or pin-straight pixies, a trained hairstylist will be able to give you one!

 

4. French bob haircut

French bob haircut

Image courtesy: @fercstorres

What is it: The French bob haircut is a distinctive style which ends between the ear and just above the shoulders. When paired with blunt bangs, it works as an excellent face-framing haircut for anyone looking for an OTT yet chic look.

Who should try it: French bobs look stunning on round faces and wispy hair textures. The haircut is also a good way to camouflage large foreheads and add balance to your look.

 

5. Wedge haircut

Wedge haircut

Image courtesy: @mila_kryshchykhina

What is it: The retro wedge haircut is a voluminous dream for anyone looking to add more body into their mane. Cut in the form of a short, layered bob, the wedge consists of gradually stacked layers and a tapered back.

Who should try it: The wedge haircut is most suited for fine and straight hair. If you have such a natural texture and are looking to seamlessly boost the density of your mane without weighing it down, the wedge is the way to go.

 

6. Short layered cut

Short layered cut

Image courtesy: @solhairlounge

What is it: Short layered cuts are achieved by going chop-chop in varying lengths to create the illusion of dense texture, depth and dimension in your hair. It is basically the shorter version of longer layers, which has always been a popular haircut.

Who should try it: The short layered cut suits all face shapes and hair textures. They also happen to be one of the easiest haircuts for hair stylists to create. So if you are looking for a cut that has fewer chances of going wrong, this is your best bet.

 

7. Choppy bob haircut

Choppy bob haircut

Image courtesy: @anhcotran

What is it: The choppy bob haircut is a contemporary style achieved with multiple short layers. It is versatile in the sense that hair stylists can experiment with angled, graduated, inverted, asymmetrical and many other styles of the choppy bob.

Who should try it: The choppy look of this haircut is achieved by using standard or razor shears and cutting short sections in your mane. Getting these layers will create a textured look that boasts of added movement and definition for both thin and thick hair.

 

8. Sliced bowl cut

Sliced bowl cut

Image courtesy: @rubyrose

What is it: Traditional bowl cuts, or ‘mushroom’ cuts, look like they’ve been cut by placing a bowl on the head then trimmed around the brim into a shorter one. However, the modern version is much fancier, with the fringe sliced into sections to make it NOT look like a meme!

Who should try it: If you are looking for an edgy look that pushes the boundaries of androgyny, the bowl cut is the way to go. The voluminous roundness of this haircut works great in balancing out long or oval face shapes. Slicing into the fringes also helps soften angular features for a feminine look.

 

9. Buzzcut

Buzzcut

Image courtesy: @gabriellarosie

What is it: A haircut that was strictly limited to men, the buzz cut has gotten popular with women recently - especially with risque fashion girls like Kristen Stewart and Cara Delevingne. A pair of clippers to give you a ‘buzzed’ head is all you need to nail the look.

Who should try it: This one is not for the weak at heart - the buzz cut is a bold and edgy fashion statement. So make sure you are fully committed to following through because it will take a LONG time to grow back!

 

10. Thin razor cut

Thin razor cut

Image courtesy: @sidali_merzouk

What is it: A razor haircut focuses more on the technique than the actual style of the cut. It is achieved by adding an additional step to the scissor cut, a straight razor used to slice into the ends of your hair to make them lighter.

Who should try it: Razor cutting is best suited for hair that is straight and less prone to frizziness. So, if you are looking for hair ends that are soft, wispy and fall in an effortlessly cool way, this is the cut to go for.

 

11. Short undercut

Short undercut

Image courtesy: @mariaclarac0sta

What is it: Another haircut that focuses more on the technique, is the undercut. This edgy look is achieved by shaving the hair around the back and sides of your head and leaving it longer on top. Traditionally sported by men, this haircut was popularised by the androgynous fashion trend.

Who should try it: You can get a short undercut with any kind of style at the top. The haircut is versatile and suits all kinds of face shapes and hair textures. However, undercuts require frequent trims so if you are willing to commit to that, then go for it!

 

FAQs about short haircuts

FAQs about short haircuts

Q. What are the short haircuts that make you look younger?

A. Some of the short haircuts that can give you a youthful look are wavy bobs with soft bangs, pixie cuts, textured lobs, fringed chin-length cuts and messy shags.

Q. How can I test if a short haircut will suit me?

A. Use this simple hack to see if a short bob will suit you: stand in front of a mirror with a pencil and a ruler. Looking straight into the mirror, place the pencil horizontally under your chin. Then, take the ruler and place it under your ear vertically and measure the distance between the tip of your ear to the pencil. Lesser than 2.25 inches and short hair should look great on you, otherwise, stick to longer haircuts.

Q. Do tall people look good with short hair?

A. If you are tall with a slender figure, it is usually recommended to stick to longer haircuts. This is because a cut shorter than your chin will look unbalanced. If you do wish to try a short haircut, go for a length that at the least, skims your shoulders.

Main images courtesy: @kaiagerber, @angelinajoseoph