• 08/01/2023

How to Style Short Hair to Make Heads Turn

A woman facing away from the camera runs a hand through her short, shoulder-length blonde hair.

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Styling your hair is a fun and creative endeavor. You don’t have to feel limited just because you have short hair. There are plenty of ways to feel more beautiful and suit any occasion. Learn how to style short hair and explore some trendy styles.

Pixie Cut

Think of Audrey Hepburn, Emma Watson and Halle Berry when picturing this style on you. This hairdo is usually described as hair cropped in layers, making a slightly messy effect. It’s a combination of elegance and edge. You can texturize spray onto your hair to style a pixie cut. Use your fingers to scrounge and tousle to create that effortless look.

Don’t forget to accessorize! You can add headbands or barrettes to make your pixie cut more colorful and playful. Choose something that will match your outfit or add a pop of color. Another styling option is to use a flat iron to create spikes on your pixie cut. Make sure to use a heat protectant spray to avoid damaging your hair. You can finish with a drizzle of hairspray to hold.

Bob With Bangs

This cut is a chin-length bob that’s paired with bangs. It creates a youthful and modern look as it beautifully frames your face. To achieve this look, start by blow-drying your hair. You can use a round brush to smoothen out the bangs while letting the airflow from the dryer. For a more romantic look, curl the ends in small sections.

Another style you can try is a retro-inspired look with a small round brush and hairspray. Wrap the bangs around the brush and then blow dry it as you pull it downward. For inspiration, you can check out Lucy Hale, Lily Collins and Rihanna.

Beach Waves

Having short hair doesn’t exempt you from having the hottest style of the season. Beach waves reflect a relaxed and carefree vibe, adding movement and volume to your hair. To achieve this look, start with damp hair. Wring any extra water out of your hair with your hands and apply sea salt spray. This helps with the formation of natural-looking waves.

You can also grab a curling iron that has a medium-sized barrel. Then, wrap some small sections of your hair around the wand. Hold it for a few seconds and leave the ends of your hair out for a more undone look. Once you’ve curled all sections, you can gently tousle the waves with your fingers to break them up.

Balayage Bob

Balayage is usually considered for people with long hair, but this style works well for those with short hair, too. You can take Margot Robbie and Lily James as an example. If you go to the salon with this style, you’ll first add volume to the crown. Apply a volume-boosting mousse from the roots and work it in your fingers. The next step is adding a blowout cream to protect your hair from heat damage. 

The next step is to grab a 1-inch curling iron and create loose curls. You can start from mid-length and then wrap small sections of hair around the iron. Hold for a few seconds then release. After curling, use a wide-tooth comb to loosen the curls for a more natural beach look. You can add dry texturizing for more volume.

Sleek and Straight

This style is timeless and it goes with fashion style, making it a true classic. Sleek and straight short hair works whether you’re going to a formal or casual occasion. To achieve this style, apply a heat protection spray first. That’s the number one rule when you use any heating tool. 

Next, glide a flat iron in each section from roots to ends. Once everything is straightened, you can apply a small amount of serum or anti-frizz. Put them on your palms and slowly run them through your hair. Focus on putting it on your mid-lengths and ends.

Parting your hair down the middle is one way to make this look classy. But remember, the vital thing is you feel confident with your look regardless of where you part your hair. You can finish off by applying a lightweight hairspray.

Half Updo

A half updo involves collecting the top section of your hair by using a time and then securing it. You can leave the rest of your hair down. Adding volume to the crown area is easy. You must use a fine-tooth comb and backcomb the roots in small sections. This method will help lift the half updo. 

If you want to make a more romantic look, leave loose hair to frame your face and add effortless charm. You can curl these strands for more dimension and texture. Apply a texturizing spray onto the ends and lengths. Use your fingers to separate the hair and give you a bohemian vibe. 

Hair Care Tips

Short hair can be low-maintenance, but finding the right balance between style and simplicity is essential. If you love styling your hair, you need to know how to avoid damage, split ends, hair fall and brittleness:

  1. Put moisturizer: Short hair can still be prone to dryness and breakage, so it’s vital to keep it moisturized. You can use a hydrating conditioner and shampoo that’s formulated according to your hair type, whether you have oily or dry hair. You can also put leave-in conditioner at the ends of your hair to avoid frizziness. 
  2. Apply heat protectant spray: Styling your hair means using a blow dryer, curling iron, flat iron or other styling tools. Before you use those tools, make sure to put in some protectant spray to avoid further damage. It will also help to keep the heat setting moderate.
  3. Trim regularly: Short hair also needs regular trims to avoid split ends. It’s best to trim your hair every six to eight months. 
  4. Put oil onto your scalp: Oiling and massaging improve your scalp’s blood circulation, relaxes the muscles, nourishes the hair and boosts shine. It can also restore moisture, enable hair growth and repair split ends. You can put almond, coconut, olive, and castor oil.

The Best Hairstyle For You

There are several ways to style your hair, such as messy beach waves, balayage bob, or simply straight and sleek. Find the kind of style that resonates with you the most and is suitable for your face. But don’t forget to do some hair care as well. This will keep your hair strong and protected in the long run.

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