Hairstyles for short hair: 20 bobs, pixies and ways to style them
20 hairstyles for short hair, from French and Italian bobs to pixies and bixies, with upkeep and trim times for each, and how to pick the right cut.
The short answer
20 hairstyles for short hair, from sleek and French bobs to pixies, bixies and shaggy bobs. Choose by texture and upkeep: a textured pixie takes a minute, an Italian bob needs a round-brush blowout. Fine hair suits blunt bobs and pixies; thick hair needs internal layers.
- Short cuts need trims every 4 to 8 weeks to hold their shape.
- Unsure? Start with a collarbone lob and go shorter next time.
Short hair is not one cut, it is about a dozen, and the right one depends less on your face shape than on your hair's texture and how much time you will spend on it each morning. A sleek bob needs a flat iron; a textured pixie needs ten seconds and a little paste. Below are 20 hairstyles for short hair, from chin-length bobs to pixies, with who each suits, how much maintenance it needs, and ways to style short hair so it does not look the same every day.
Short haircuts compared
| Cut | Length | Best hair type | Daily styling | Trim every |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pixie | 1 to 3 inches | Fine to medium, straight or wavy | 1 to 2 min with paste | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Bixie (pixie-bob) | Ear to chin | Fine to thick | 2 to 5 min | 6 weeks |
| French bob | Jaw, with bangs | Straight or wavy | 5 min | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Chin-length bob | Chin | Straight and wavy | 5 to 10 min | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Italian bob | Jaw to chin, thick, rounded | Medium to thick | 10 min, round-brush | 8 weeks |
| Shaggy bob | Chin to collarbone, layered | Wavy and curly | 2 to 5 min | 8 weeks |
| Curly bob | Chin to shoulder, shaped dry | Curly and coily | 5 min product | 8 to 10 weeks |
| Lob (long bob) | Collarbone | All types | 5 to 10 min | 8 to 10 weeks |
Shorter cuts need more frequent trims to keep their shape.
20 hairstyles for short hair
Bobs
- Sleek chin-length bob with a center part.
- French bob with soft bangs, a little undone.
- Italian bob: thick, rounded and bouncy, blown out with a round brush.
- Blunt bob tucked behind one ear.
- Asymmetric bob, slightly longer at the front.
- Curly bob shaped on dry hair to suit the curl pattern.
- Shaggy bob with choppy layers and curtain bangs.
Pixies and very short cuts
- Textured pixie with paste pushed forward.
- Slicked-back pixie with gel for evening.
- Bixie: a pixie-bob hybrid with longer pieces around the ears.
- Pixie with long side-swept bangs.
- Platinum or icy blonde cropped cut.
Ways to style short hair
- Tucked behind the ears with gold huggies.
- Half-up with a small claw clip.
- Sleek wet look with gel combed back.
- Bent waves with a flat iron, ends left straight.
- Two mini claw clips at the temples.
- A headband or silk scarf as a band.
- Side part flipped over with volume at the root.
- Tiny braids at the front, rest down.
How do you choose the right short haircut?
- Fine hair: a blunt bob or pixie makes it look thicker. Avoid heavy layering.
- Thick hair: ask for internal layers or an Italian bob so it does not puff into a triangle.
- Curly hair: go to a stylist who cuts curls dry so the shape matches how it actually falls.
- Unsure about going short? Start with a lob at the collarbone; you can go shorter at the next appointment.
- Over 50? See our hairstyles for women over 50 for cuts that work with thinner or greying hair.
Not sure of your texture? Our hair type chart explains how to tell. For longer looks, see hairstyles for long hair and shag haircuts.
Read next: Braid Hairstyles: 20 Ideas and How to Braid · Layered Haircuts: Medium and Long Layers Guide
Questions people ask about this
What is the best short haircut for fine hair?
A blunt bob or a pixie. Blunt ends make fine hair look thicker, while heavy layering can make it look thinner.
What is the difference between a pixie and a bixie?
A pixie is very short all over, usually 1 to 3 inches. A bixie keeps longer pieces around the ears and nape, sitting between a pixie and a bob.
How do you style short hair quickly?
Tuck it behind your ears, use a little paste for texture, add a mini claw clip at the temples, or bend a few pieces with a flat iron.
How often should short hair be trimmed?
Pixies every 4 to 6 weeks, bobs every 6 to 8 weeks, and lobs every 8 to 10 weeks to keep the shape.
Is short hair good for thick hair?
Yes, if the stylist removes bulk with internal layers or cuts an Italian bob. Without that, thick short hair can puff out into a triangle shape.
