50 Totally Gorgeous Short Hairstyles for Women
Gorgeous short hair inspo for thin hair, thick hair, and beyond.
There are some who opt to go with a bold pixie, like Zoe Kravitz, and there are others who choose an elegant lob, like Julianne Hough. Short hair works on all hair types, from pin-straight to coily curls. And don't worry about versatility, because there are so many options when it comes to styling short hair: You can still try out trending styles, like incorporating hair accessories and playing with texture.
These easy-to-manage, celebrity-inspired looks are exactly what you need to amp up your cropped cut and try something new. Whether you want beachy waves, sleek and straight strands, or a more formal updo, you won't be missing long hair with these options. Kerry Washington, Clare Foy, and Jamie Lee Curtis are just a few of the many stars who are showing us exactly how to rock these more adventurous short hairstyles.
Whether you want to channel your favorite star exactly or try your own spin on a cropped cut, we have plenty of inspiration for you to sift through:
Choppy Pixie
Talk about effortless cool. This choppy crop can elevate anyone's look — plus, it's super easy to style. Zoe Kravitz proves that a pixie is still ultra-feminine.
Platinum Buzz
Cynthia Erivo knows how to add the perfect amount of drama to any hairstyle. By bleaching her closely cropped cut, she gives her hair dimension.
Side Swept Crop
This style can be worn for any occasion. The slight swoop adds a bit of volume. Take a leaf out of Charlize Theron's book and pair this style with your favorite face mask.
Slicked Down Side Part
You can make this boyish cut playful with bright blonde and a wet look. Slick down your hair with gel like Kristen Wiig to make yourself look elegant.
Casual Curly Pompadour
This two-toned hairstyle has just the right amount of height. Keep it all one color, or lighten the top like Jada Pinkett Smith. This is a great style to let your natural curls shine.
Slicked Back Bob
If you want an ultra-sleek style, look no further. Slick down your hair with gel for a wet look, but flip out the ends to make it interesting. Zoey Deutsch shows how wearable this style can be.
Sleek Ombré Bob
There's nothing more chic than a classic, chin-grazing bob. Sarah Paulson keeps it fresh with subtle ombré highlights.
Wavy Middle Part Bob
January Jones amps up a classic bob with subtle, barely-there waves. A middle part keeps this style sleek.
Asymmetrical Parted Lob
Lobs look good on any face shape, and they're also super easy to maintain. Pair it with an asymmetrical part and a subtle ombré, like Julianne Hough, and you've reached peak effortless chic.
Straight and Sleek Bob
No one does elegance like Lucy Liu. To emanate her style, try a pin-straight, one-length bob. Tuck it behind your ears and pair with fun, dangly earrings for even more impact.
Short Natural Curls
Let your natural texture shine. Jenifer Lewis embraces her beautiful coils with this short, face-framing style.
Deep Side Part
We typically see her with longer hair, but Maggie Grace's platinum blonde pixie is a fresh update to her usual look. With those longer ends on top, it's chic, fun, and flirty.
Side Swoops
Kerry Washington is giving us more inspiration for your everyday pixie. For more dimension, ask your stylist for longer side-swept bangs and lock them in with a hint of gel.
The Classic Ear Tuck
If you look closely, you can see a small clip that's keeping Rachel Bloom's hair out of her face on one side. The ear tuck and hair accessories are so on-trend these days, so why not just combine the two?
Blunt Bangs
For a more retro way to style your short hair, copy Winnie Harlow and ask for those blunt, straight-across bangs. We're also loving how her blow dry made sure all of her ends were flipped up.
Shaved Sides
Samira Wiley typically keeps her hair short, but this is her most severe cut yet. To emphasize her longer ends, she has the closest shave on both sides.
Slicked-Down Pixie
Pixie cuts are surprisingly versatile. In this case, Clare Foy is wearing hers deeply parted and slicked all to one side for a more formal look. Try a gel to keep your hair in place without stiffness.
Pushed Back Side Swoop
A brushed-out wave, created with a curling iron, adds retro drama to a deep side part. Pair it with long earrings, like Kate Hudson, for added drama.
Half Bun
Shorter cuts keep it from looking over-the-top, as seen on Mandy Moore. Bonus: If you have thinner hair, adding waviness to this style gives the illusion of more hair.
Voluminous Loose Curls
Hitting just below the ears, the side-parted style seen on Viola Davis is an incredibly flattering option for anyone growing out super-short hair to a bob or lob. Use a curling wand to this regal look.
Katie Berohn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red nail polish, Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
Blake Bakkila has been writing about everything from pop culture to lifestyle products for more than eight years. Her work has appeared on GoodHousekeeping.com, WhattoExpect.com, Health.com, and in the print and digital versions of Real Simple and People.
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