Short version: The best short haircuts for women are chosen by length band first: crops and buzz cuts, pixies, bixies, ear- and jaw-length bobs, chin bobs, lobs and short shags. These 40 cuts run in that order, shortest first, each with texture, density, face shapes, minutes and trim weeks. Shorter bands need trims every 2-6 weeks; lobs can go 8-10.
How to Choose a Short Haircut
Pick the length band before the style, because the band sets your trim schedule, how much of your ears and neck show, and how long a change of mind takes to grow out. Then narrow by texture and density: a chin bob that swings on thick straight hair can sit as a triangle on heavy curls.
Texture decides where a cut should end: curly and coily hair shrinks, so its landmark is set dry, while straight hair lands where it is cut. Density decides how weight is handled. Fine hair looks fuller with a solid edge, which is why short hairstyles for thin hair lean on blunt perimeters; thick hair needs weight taken from the inside or it widens.
Daily effort comes last: most short cuts take 5-10 minutes, sleek bobs 10-15, a wash-and-go curly crop under 5. If you know you want the shortest end, our pixie cut gallery breaks that band down by top length and nape.
Very Short Haircuts: Crops and Buzz Cuts
Under about an inch all over, a cut is a crop or buzz, and the head shape and hairline do the styling, with upkeep every 2-4 weeks. Buzz cuts for women and short haircuts for Black women have their own pages.
1. Soft Buzz Cut with a #4 Guard
- Length
- 1/2 in all over (#4 guard)
- Texture
- Any
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, diamond, long
- Daily effort
- 1-2 minutes
- Trim every
- 2-4 weeks
A #4 leaves enough length to soften the scalp line, making it the gentler first buzz. With a flat spot at the back of the crown or a strong whorl, start at a #6.
Ask for: "A #4 buzz all over, natural rounded hairline, soft neckline."
2. Tapered TWA on 4C Coils
- Length
- 1-2 in on top (shrunken), #1-#2 at the sides
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4C
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, round, heart, diamond
- Daily effort
- Under 5 minutes, plus a weekly wash day
- Trim every
- 3-4 weeks for the taper
A TWA (teeny weeny afro) takes its shape from the taper, not layers: the sides drop away so the top reads taller. Water-based leave-in and a light cream keep coils defined.
Ask for: "A tapered TWA shaped dry, an inch and a half of coils on top, faded from a #2 to a #1."
3. Textured Crop on Silver Hair
- Length
- 1 in on top, shorter at the sides and nape
- Texture
- Straight to wavy, including coarse gray
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Oval, square, heart
- Daily effort
- 2-3 minutes
- Trim every
- 3-4 weeks
Wiry gray strands that frizz at four inches tend to stand neatly at one. Matte paste separates the pieces without the shine that flattens silver.
Ask for: "A textured crop, an inch on top, point cut, scissor-tapered sides and nape."
4. Curly Crop with Faded Sides
- Length
- 3-4 in stretched on top (about 2 in dry), faded sides
- Texture
- Curly, 3B-3C
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, square, heart
- Daily effort
- Under 5 minutes, wash-and-go
- Trim every
- 4-6 weeks, fade at 2-3
Skip it if your stylist cuts curls wet: 2 inches stretched can dry at well under one. Cut dry, it is the lowest-effort curly cut here.
Ask for: "A curly crop cut dry, 2 inches of curl on top once dry, sides faded from a #2."
Pixie Cuts
A pixie keeps roughly 1.5-4 inches on top while the sides and nape sit close to the head, usually with the ears out, and needs trims every 4-6 weeks. Fine hair often looks fuller this short; thick hair needs interior weight removed. Very thick, coarse hair has more options in our short haircuts for thick hair.
5. Classic Pixie with the Ears Out
- Length
- 2 in on top, close sides
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes
- Trim every
- 4-5 weeks
Open ears and a mid-forehead fringe put the eyes and cheekbones at the center of the face. At two inches, fine hair is too short to collapse.
Ask for: "A classic pixie, 2 inches on top, short feathered fringe, ears out, tapered back."
6. Pixie with a Long Diagonal Fringe
- Length
- 3 in on top, fringe to the cheekbone
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Medium
- Face shapes
- Round, square, oval
- Daily effort
- 5-8 minutes
- Trim every
- 4-6 weeks, fringe at 3-5
The fringe crosses the face on a slant, breaking up the width of a round or square face. Close sides keep volume off the cheeks.
Ask for: "A pixie, 3 inches on top, side fringe to my cheekbone checked dry, close sides."
7. Stacked Pixie for a Flat Crown
- Length
- 2.5 in at the crown, 1 in at the nape
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Fine
- Face shapes
- Round, oval, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-8 minutes
- Trim every
- 4-5 weeks
Graduation (short layers angled so each rests on the one below) builds a shelf that props the crown up, often replacing a morning blow-dry for lift.
Ask for: "A graduated pixie built up at the back, 2.5 inches at the crown, no texturizing shears."
8. Undercut Pixie for Thick Straight Hair
- Length
- 4 in on top, #2 underneath
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Thick, coarse
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 5-6 weeks, undercut cleanup at 2-4
Coarse hair at pixie length stands out sideways over the ears. Clippering a hidden band beneath the top removes that bulk; the cut looks soft until the top is lifted.
Ask for: "An undercut pixie: a #2 underneath to the top of the ear, 4 inches on top to cover it."
9. Curly Pixie Shaped Dry
- Length
- 4 in stretched on top (about 2.5 in dry)
- Texture
- Curly, 3A-3B
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart, square
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, wash-and-go
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
Cut curl by curl, the top follows where each ringlet falls rather than a ruler. Curls gain volume before they lose shape, which buys extra weeks between trims.
Ask for: "A curly pixie cut dry: 4 inches stretched on top, about 2.5 dry, tapered sides."
10. Tapered Coily Pixie with Finger Coils
- Length
- 2-3 in on top (shrunken), tapered to #1-#2
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4B
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, round, heart, long
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes; finger coils 20-30 on wash day
- Trim every
- 4-5 weeks for the taper
Finger coils set on wash day can last most of the week under a satin scarf. The extra top length over a TWA is enough to coil, twist or pick out.
Ask for: "A tapered cut, 2 to 3 inches of coils on top shaped dry, soft line at the temples."
11. Long Wavy Pixie with Glasses
- Length
- 4-5 in on top, short above the ears
- Texture
- Wavy, 2A-2B
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Oval, square, round, long
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 5-6 weeks
With glasses, trim the sides above the frame arms so hair lies flat instead of ridging. The longer top lets fine waves form, which they can't under about 3 inches.
Ask for: "A long pixie, 4.5 inches on top, point-cut ends, sides short above my glasses."
Bixie Cuts
A bixie sits between a pixie and a bob: longer layered sides that cover some or all of the ear, over a short back. It gives more cover than a pixie and needs a trim every 5-7 weeks. Its boundaries and scripts are in our complete bixie haircut gallery.
12. Soft Layered Bixie
- Length
- Front to the cheekbone, ears covered, short nape
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 5-7 weeks
Readers coming down from a bob often start here: the ears stay covered while the back gets a pixie's lift. Dry the sides forward so they don't flip.
Ask for: "A soft bixie: front at my cheekbone dry, ears covered, short scissor-tapered nape."
13. Shaggy Bixie with a Micro Fringe
- Length
- Fringe 1-1.5 in, sides over the ears, short nape
- Texture
- Wavy
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, air-dry
- Trim every
- 5-6 weeks, fringe at 3
A micro fringe ends well above the brows and loses its shape in about three weeks. Wave hides that growth; a front cowlick makes it close to unwearable.
Ask for: "A shaggy bixie, choppy over the ears, an inch-long micro fringe checked dry."
14. Curly Bixie with a Cheekbone Front
- Length
- Front 5-6 in stretched, cheekbone dry; short nape
- Texture
- Curly, 3A-3C
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, square, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes
- Trim every
- 7-8 weeks
The front is cut well past the target and springs up to the cheekbone. Gel scrunched into soaking-wet hair and a low diffuser keep the sides from puffing.
Ask for: "A curly bixie cut dry, front curls at my cheekbone once dry, ears covered, soft nape."
15. Coily Bixie with Longer Sides
- Length
- About 3 in (shrunken) on top and sides, tapered nape
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4B
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, plus wash day
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks, nape at 4
Instead of a fade, the sides keep their coils over the ears and only the nape is tapered. Gray coils run drier, so use a richer cream at the temples.
Ask for: "Coils shaped dry, 3 inches on top and over the ears, only the nape tapered."
16. Sleek Bixie on Fine White Hair
- Length
- Front to the cheekbone, ears half covered, close nape
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Fine
- Face shapes
- Round, oval, heart, square
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 5-6 weeks
Fine hair can look sparse over the ears in a pixie; half-covered ears fix that without adding length at the back. A small round brush lifts the part.
Ask for: "A sleek bixie, ears half covered, side-swept front to my cheekbone, close nape."
Ear- and Jaw-Length Bobs
A bob that ends between the earlobe and the jaw is short enough to show the neck and long enough to swing. French, micro and Italian bobs live here, with trims every 6-8 weeks. Our full gallery of bob haircuts and French bob guide go deeper.
17. French Bob with Brow-Length Bangs
- Length
- Earlobe to lip, bangs at the brow
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks, bangs at 3-5
Brow bangs and a short perimeter split a long face into thirds, shortening it. Worn slightly undone, it forgives air-drying better than most bobs.
Ask for: "A French bob between earlobe and lip, softened ends, brow bangs checked dry."
18. Micro Bob at the Earlobe
- Length
- At the earlobe, one length
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart
- Daily effort
- 10-15 minutes
- Trim every
- 5-6 weeks
One length at the earlobe shows every bend, so it suits thick straight hair that dries smooth. On round and square faces it lands at the widest point; go to the jaw instead.
Ask for: "A one-length micro bob at my earlobe, internal weight removed, no bangs."
19. Curly Ear-Length Bob Cut Dry
- Length
- Earlobe dry (often chin or longer stretched)
- Texture
- Curly, 3B-3C
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, wash-and-go
- Trim every
- 8-10 weeks
A one-length curly bob turns into a triangle. Layers cut into the curl pattern let the sides sit closer while the crown stays round.
Ask for: "A curly bob cut dry, curl by curl, at my earlobe once dry, layered so the bottom doesn't widen."
20. Italian Bob at the Jaw
- Length
- At the jaw
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 10-15 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
Heavier than a French bob, it uses thick hair's weight instead of fighting it. The bevel, a slight inward curve at the ends, comes from a round brush or flat-iron bend.
Ask for: "An Italian bob at my jaw, full and rounded, ends cut to bevel under, side part."
21. Rounded Coily Bob
- Length
- Jaw when dry; much longer stretched
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4B
- Density
- Thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart, square
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, plus wash day
- Trim every
- 8-12 weeks
Coily hair can dry far shorter than its stretched length, so a jaw-length shape may hold hair that reaches the shoulders pulled straight. Choose someone who cuts coils routinely.
Ask for: "A rounded coily bob cut dry, jaw length in its natural state, no thinning shears."
22. Wavy Jaw Bob with a Deep Side Part
- Length
- At the jaw
- Texture
- Wavy, 2A-2C
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Round, square, oval
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
A deep side part adds instant root height to fine hair, and the asymmetry breaks up a round face that a center part would split in two.
Ask for: "A jaw bob with a deep side part, point cut so the wave forms, no thinning."
Chin-Length Bobs
The chin bob is the most adaptable short length: long enough to tuck or pin back, short enough to dry in ten minutes, with trims every 6-8 weeks. Gray and fine hair get more space in our short haircuts for women over 60, steeper angles in the gallery of inverted and stacked bobs.
23. Blunt Chin Bob for Fine Hair
- Length
- At the chin, one length
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Fine
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
Layers would remove weight fine hair can't spare, so the blunt version usually looks thickest: every strand ends together in a solid edge.
Ask for: "A blunt bob at my chin, one length, clean line, no texturizing at the ends."
24. A-Line Bob with a Gentle Angle
- Length
- Front just below the chin, back about 1 in shorter
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Round, square, oval
- Daily effort
- 10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
An A-line bob is longer at the front than the back. A gentle one-inch angle holds its shape between trims without a daily flat iron.
Ask for: "An A-line bob, front just below my chin, back an inch shorter, no stacking."
25. Stacked Bob on Fine Gray Hair
- Length
- Chin at the front, graduated short at the nape
- Texture
- Straight to slightly wavy
- Density
- Fine
- Face shapes
- Round, oval, heart, long
- Daily effort
- 10 minutes
- Trim every
- 5-7 weeks
The stacked back gives fine gray hair a rounded crown without teasing. On thick hair the same graduation can bulge at the back of the head.
Ask for: "A stacked bob, graduated at the back for crown volume, front at the chin, soft nape."
26. Layered Chin Bob on Thick Waves
- Length
- At the chin, internal layers
- Texture
- Wavy, 2B-2C
- Density
- Thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, square, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, air-dry
- Trim every
- 7-8 weeks
Thick waves cut to one length go wide at the hem. Layers hidden inside the shape take out bulk while the perimeter stays full.
Ask for: "A chin bob with internal layers for bulk, full perimeter, checked dry."
27. Silk-Pressed Chin Bob on Coily Hair
- Length
- At the chin when pressed
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4C, heat-straightened
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes; press every 1-2 weeks
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
Cut while pressed, the perimeter is exact, but worn natural it springs far shorter. Humidity reverts a press quickly; a silk scarf and heat protectant matter more than any styling product.
Ask for: "A blunt chin bob on my silk press, and tell me where it will sit worn natural."
28. Chin Bob with Curtain Bangs
- Length
- Chin, curtain bangs to the cheekbone
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Medium
- Face shapes
- Long, heart, square, oval
- Daily effort
- 10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks, bangs at 4-5
Curtain bangs are the easiest bangs to grow out, since they already part and sweep aside. Their curve softens a broad forehead and square jaw.
Ask for: "A chin bob with center-parted curtain bangs hitting my cheekbones dry."
Lobs: Long Bobs from Jaw to Collarbone
A lob ends between the jaw and the collarbone, the most gradual way to go short and the easiest to tie back, with trims every 8-10 weeks. The trade-off is a flip where the ends meet the shoulders. Blunt, layered and shaggy versions fill our long bob haircuts gallery.
29. Blunt Lob at the Collarbone
- Length
- At the collarbone, one length
- Texture
- Straight
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Round, square, oval, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 8-10 weeks
Collarbone length clears the shoulders on most necks, so the ends don't flip. The long line below the jaw draws the eye down, the opposite of a chin-length edge.
Ask for: "A blunt lob to my collarbone, clearing my shoulders, weight removed inside."
30. Layered Lob with Face-Framing Pieces
- Length
- Just above the shoulders, front layers from the cheekbone
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Fine to medium
- Face shapes
- Square, round, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 10 minutes
- Trim every
- 8-10 weeks
Fine hair keeps its density because only the front is layered. Those front pieces soften a square jaw and give a round face vertical lines.
Ask for: "A lob above my shoulders, face-framing from the cheekbone only, back one length."
31. Shaggy Lob on 2B Waves
- Length
- Collarbone, layers from the cheekbone down
- Texture
- Wavy
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, square, heart
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, air-dry
- Trim every
- 8-10 weeks
The longest shag here, and the easiest to grow out. A few spritzes of texture spray on damp waves, then hands off.
Ask for: "A shaggy collarbone lob, choppy layers from the cheekbone, wispy curtain fringe, checked dry."
32. Curly Lob with Rounded Layers
- Length
- Collarbone dry (2-3 in longer stretched)
- Texture
- Curly, 3A-3B
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart, square
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 10-12 weeks
Rounded layers lift the volume to the crown, so the shape reads oval rather than triangular. Overgrown curls mostly look longer, so trims can stretch to 12 weeks.
Ask for: "A curly lob cut dry, collarbone length dry, rounded layers for crown volume."
33. Coily Lob in a Twist-Out
- Length
- Jaw to collarbone in a twist-out; longer stretched
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4B
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, round, long, heart
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes; twists set overnight once or twice a week
- Trim every
- 10-12 weeks
A twist-out stretches coils partway, so the cut is shaped for the style worn most. Wear that set to the appointment.
Ask for: "A coily lob shape cut on my twist-out, jaw to collarbone, rounded layers."
Short Shags and Layered Cuts
A short shag is a layering pattern rather than a length: short crown layers and a broken-up perimeter, laid over a pixie, bob or lob. Shags hide growth and suit wavy and curly hair most naturally. Our galleries of short shag haircuts and of the short wolf cut go further.
34. Short Shag with Curtain Bangs
- Length
- Jaw at the perimeter, short crown layers
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, square, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
On straight hair the shag depends on product: dry texture spray at the roots and a flat-iron twist at the ends. Without it, the layers read as an uneven bob.
Ask for: "A short shag to my jaw, short crown layers, broken-up edge, curtain bangs."
35. Mixie with a Longer Nape
- Length
- 2-3 in on top, ears partly out, 3-4 in at the nape
- Texture
- Wavy to curly
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, heart, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
A mixie is a pixie-mullet hybrid, short on top and at the sides with length at the back. Lightened hair suits it, since damaged ends get cut away quickly.
Ask for: "A mixie: choppy layers on top and around the ears, nape left 3 to 4 inches."
36. Curly Shag with Crown Layers
- Length
- Chin dry, short crown layers, curly fringe
- Texture
- Curly, 3A-3C
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, square, diamond
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, wash-and-go
- Trim every
- 8-10 weeks
Shag layering does for curls what a blow-dryer does for straight hair: it puts height at the crown. The curly fringe shrinks most, so it is cut longest.
Ask for: "A curly shag cut dry, chin length, crown layers, fringe landing at my brows once dry."
37. Short Wolf Cut on Thick Hair
- Length
- Crown layers 3-4 in, back to the base of the neck
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
Fine hair should skip it, since a wolf cut removes so much from the top. On thick hair the same heavy layers turn bulk into shape.
Ask for: "A short wolf cut: heavy crown layers, curtain fringe, wispy back to the base of my neck."
38. Short Butterfly Layers at the Jaw
- Length
- Cheekbone face-framing, perimeter just below the jaw
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Round, square, long, diamond
- Daily effort
- 10-15 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks
Butterfly layers only show when blow-dried away from the face; air-dried, they look like a plain layered bob. Plan on a round brush most mornings.
Ask for: "Short butterfly layers from my cheekbones, perimeter below the jaw, cut to curve back."
39. Tapered Coily Shag
- Length
- 3-4 in of coils at the crown (shrunken), tapered sides
- Texture
- Coily, 4A-4B
- Density
- Medium to thick
- Face shapes
- Oval, long, heart, square
- Daily effort
- 5 minutes, plus wash day
- Trim every
- 6-8 weeks, taper at 4
Tapered sides under layered coils give the shag outline without a blow-dryer. The fringe is cut on dry coils so it lands at the brow.
Ask for: "A tapered shag cut dry, layered coils with crown height, coily fringe to my brows."
40. Soft Layered Cut on Fine Gray Hair
- Length
- Just above the chin, wispy side fringe
- Texture
- Straight to wavy
- Density
- Fine
- Face shapes
- Round, oval, square, heart
- Daily effort
- 5-10 minutes
- Trim every
- 6-7 weeks
Light crown layers lift fine hair without the heavy texturizing that makes ends see-through. Mousse at the roots and a quick rough-dry is the whole routine.
Ask for: "Soft layers just above my chin, light crown layering, wispy side fringe, solid ends."
Short Haircuts for Women by Length Band
Each length band is a trade between coverage and upkeep: the shorter the band, the more often it needs cutting and the less it needs styling. The table is the overview; low-maintenance short haircuts are sorted by effort on their own page.
| Band | Where it ends | Trim every | Daily styling | Usually suits | Think twice if |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop or buzz | Under about 1 in all over | 2-4 weeks | 1-5 min | Coily and curly hair, wash-and-go routines | A strong crown whorl or a flat spot at the back of the head |
| Pixie | About 1.5-4 in on top; sides and nape close, ears usually out | 4-6 weeks | 5-10 min | Fine hair, oval and heart faces, glasses wearers | You need to tie hair back or can't book every 4-6 weeks |
| Bixie | Sides over the ears, front between cheekbone and jaw, short back | 5-7 weeks | 5-10 min | Fine hair wanting cover, coming down from a bob | Thick straight hair cut without weight removal |
| Ear or jaw bob | Earlobe to jaw, with a weight line at the perimeter | 6-8 weeks | 5-15 min | Long and heart faces, smooth straight hair, curls cut dry | A round face and an edge at the widest point |
| Chin bob | At the chin | 6-8 weeks | 5-15 min | Most textures and faces; fine hair in a blunt version | Heavy curls cut to one length (triangle shape) |
| Lob | Jaw to collarbone | 8-10 weeks (curls 10-12) | 5-10 min | First short cuts, round and square faces, tying hair back | You want the lift that only a shorter back gives |
| Short shag | Any of the above, with crown layers and a broken-up edge | 6-8 weeks | 5-10 min | Wavy and curly hair, thick hair, slow grow-outs | Fine straight hair, which can look thin through the layers |
Curly and coily hair moves every row up the face, sitting a band or two shorter dry than wet. Name the landmark dry and let the stylist work out the stretched length.
Salon note: Thick straight hair has one difficult band, the stretch from earlobe to jaw. Too long to lie close like a pixie and too short for its weight to pull it down, it needs the most interior weight removal of any length, or a jump to a crop or lob.
Matching Short Hairstyles to Your Face Shape
A short cut draws a line wherever it ends, and the face reads wider at that line. Two rules do most of the work: end the cut above or below the widest part of the face, never on it, and put volume where the face needs height or width. Fringes shorten a face; crown height lengthens it; diagonals break up width.
To find your shape, pull your hair back and compare forehead, cheekbones and jaw, then length against width. Most faces mix two shapes, so treat the table as a starting point. Full, rounded faces have their own gallery of short haircuts for round faces.
| Face shape | How to recognize it | Aim for | Short cuts that help | Usually skip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oval | Longer than wide; jaw a little narrower than cheekbones | Anything; pick by texture and upkeep | Any band, including crops and micro bobs | Nothing in particular |
| Round | Length and width close; soft jaw; widest at the cheeks | Height and vertical lines | Pixie with crown height and a diagonal fringe, A-line bob below the chin, lob | Edges at the cheek or earlobe, full round fringes, side width |
| Square | Strong, angular jaw about as wide as the forehead | Soft edges and curves | Wispy pixie, layered bob just below the jaw, curtain bangs, side parts | A blunt edge exactly at the jaw, heavy straight fringes |
| Long | Noticeably longer than wide; forehead, cheeks and jaw similar | Width and a shorter visual length | Chin or ear bobs, French bob with bangs, fuller sides | Tall crown height, long sleek center parts |
| Heart | Wider forehead and temples, narrow chin | Width at the jaw, softness at the temples | Chin bob, bixie with a lip-to-jaw front, side or curtain fringe | Volume at the temples, very short sides with a tall top |
| Diamond | Widest at the cheekbones; narrow forehead and chin | Fullness at the forehead and jaw | Fringed pixie, chin bob, jaw-length shag | Pieces ending at the cheekbone, slicked-back sides |
Curly and coily cuts follow the same rules, except that volume grows outward as well as up. On round and square faces, keep width above the cheekbones with tapered or layered sides, and judge the edge where it sits dry.
What to Ask Your Stylist, by Length Band
Describe a short cut by landmarks and inches, not by name, because "pixie", "bob" and "shag" mean different lengths to different stylists. Bring photos of the cut on hair like yours, including a side view, and one of what you don't want.
- Crop or buzz: guard number or inches on top, hairline shape, neckline.
- Pixie: top length in inches, fringe landmark, ears out, nape finish.
- Bixie: front landmark dry, how much ear is covered, nape length.
- Ear, jaw or chin bob: the landmark, blunt or layered, any angle in inches.
- Lob: collarbone or above, clear of the shoulders, where face-framing starts.
- Short shag: perimeter landmark, crown layer length, fringe, checked dry.
Add three facts to any script: your texture and whether to cut it dry, any cowlick or whorl, and any plan to grow it out within the year. For curls and coils, our short curly hair guide covers shrinkage in full.
Salon note: Going from long to short in one sitting is easier in two cuts: first to the longest band you would accept, then shorter at the next visit once you have lived with your neck and ears showing. Tell the stylist the plan so the first cut sets up the second.
Short Hair Maintenance and Grow-Out
Short hair saves minutes in the morning and adds appointments to the calendar. Hair grows about half an inch a month on average, varying by person, sex and scalp area, as a study of growth across 24 ethnic groups found. At pixie length that half inch changes the shape; at a lob it barely shows.
| Band | Between-cut upkeep | To grow to the next band | Awkward point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crop or buzz | Neckline tidy at 2-3 weeks | 3-5 months to a short pixie | Sides puff before the top has length |
| Pixie | Nape cleanup at 2-4 weeks if clippered | 8-12 months to a chin bob | Months 3-5: nape and over the ears |
| Bixie | Nape at 4-5 weeks | 4-6 months to an ear or chin bob | Months 2-3: width behind the ears |
| Ear or jaw bob | Bangs at 3-5 weeks | 2-4 months to a chin bob | Ends tuck or flick at the jaw |
| Chin bob | Bangs at 3-5 weeks | 6-8 months to a collarbone lob | The flip when ends reach the shoulders |
| Lob | Little | 4-6 months past the shoulders | Shoulder flip, uneven layers |
Grow-outs go smoothest when trims shape the back and sides while the top catches up; the month-by-month route is in our guide to growing out a pixie. Shrinkage hides new growth on curly and coily hair, so it looks short for longer. Daily products by finish and hold are in our guide to styling short hair.
Watch out: If your part is widening or your crown has thinned quickly, see a board-certified dermatologist before choosing a short cut. A widening part can signal female pattern hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, which can progress without treatment.
When a Short Haircut Is Not the Right Choice
Short hair is slow to undo, and in a few situations a given band is the wrong one. Most have a better short alternative.
- You are cutting to mark a hard moment. Growing back can take most of a year. Go to a lob and decide again in two months.
- You need your hair tied back. Crops, pixies and bixies won't gather; a lob ties and a chin bob pins.
- You can't get to a salon every 4-8 weeks. A lob or curly cut can stretch to 10-12 weeks.
- Your hair is thick and straight and the stylist won't remove weight. Ear-to-jaw cuts widen into a helmet; ask for an undercut or stay at lob length.
- Your curls or coils would be cut wet to a straight-hair length. They land far shorter than planned; book a stylist who cuts curls dry.
- Your hair is straight and you never want to style it. Most straight short cuts need a few minutes every morning; a blunt lob asks for least.
The best of these short haircuts for women is the one whose upkeep you can live with, cut for your texture and ended away from the widest part of your face. Shortlist two looks shown on hair like yours, take their scripts to the appointment, and if you are torn between two bands, start with the longer one.
