Hairstyles for short hair that’ll inspire you to chop off your locks

As the saying goes, when a woman cuts her hair, she’s about to change her life. And whether that applies to you or not, cutting all your hair off can be life-changing. Hairstyles for short hair can completely change the way you look (and feel for that matter).

A few of us have been scarred by visits to the hair salon, which can make taking the plunge that much more difficult. But, with the right stylist and inspiration, you’ll walk out with a smile on your face.

‘If you feel nervous about going for a dramatic change, you’re not alone’, says celebrity hair stylist Orlando Pita. ‘I had been trying to get Karlie Kloss to cut her hair for ages and when she finally did do it, she loved it!’

So why is it so hard for us to choose between short hairstyles and find the right one? ‘I think sometimes women can’t picture themselves with a short hair cut if they have had long hair for a long time’, says Orlando. ‘It’s good for people to cut their hair. I get bored with long hair and I like showing alternative styles.’

The good news? Any face shape can pull off a shorter hairstyle. ‘Face shape isn’t key for this style but by creating layering, you ultimately affect the shape, says Sam Burnett, owner of Hare and Bone and KMS Style Council member. ‘For example, round faces should opt for square layers and vice versa for square face shapes.’

Finding the idea of an extreme cut even more alluring? You can take these incredible short celebrity hairstyles straight to your hairdresser’s.

Hairstyles for short hair on round faces

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Blunt-edged, square bobs really suit a round face, as they give spherical face shapes more structure. ‘If a bob is your choice of style, go a few inches longer than a traditional bob to balance the roundness of the face,’ advises Sam. But if you want to go shorter, pick choppier straight layers to complement your face structure.

Need more inspiration? Check out our guide to the best hairstyles for round faces to help you pick a style.

Celebrity inspiration: Michelle Williams and Jennifer Lawrence

Hairstyles for short hair on oval faces

Luckily for you, this is the most versatile face shape, so the world is your oyster when it comes to hairstyles for oval faces. ‘The most important consideration to take into account is the individuals’ natural texture,’ advises Sam. ‘This will determine the style, shape and length.’ Your stylist can advise you on the best style for your hair’s texture but, generally speaking, frizzier or curly hair

Celebrity inspiration: Gina Rodriguez and Gemma Arterton

Hairstyles for short hair on square faces

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The angular jawline that characterises square faces is softened with a rounder short hairstyle – whether a full 60s cut like Jennifer Hudson, above, or a pixie crop with feathered layering. Meanwhile longer bobs with graduated round layers below the jawline also soften your angles. For more tips and tricks on hairstyles for square faces, see our round up of the best.

Celebrity inspiraton: Jennifer Hudson and Evan Rachel Wood

Hairstyles for short thin hair

A layered bob or crop helps to add the appearance of volume to finer short hairstyles – actresses like Jennifer Lawrence and Gemma Arterton have both had layers added to the tops of their hairstyles for a fuller look.

Celebrity inspiration: Gemma Arterton and Jennifer Lawrence

Hairstyles for short layered hair

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Both a bob with longer, chin length layers or sweeping feathered layers à la Jennifer Lawrence add lift to the hair. As Sam points out, the shape of the layering depends on your face shape; round faces look best with square layers, and vice-versa.

Celebrity inspiraton: Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Hudson

Hairstyles for short curly hair

Naturally curly hair looks great in a bob or lob, as does wavy hair that’s heat styled for added texture. Square faces can be softened by using the tucked behind one ear trick, while round faces are defined with blunt edged curls cut just underneath the chin. See our round up of the best curly hairstyles for more hair-spiration.

Celebrity inspiraton: Sienna Miller and Gina Rodriguez

Hairstyles for short hair with bangs

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No doubt about it, fringes are back with a, err, bang. The short, fringed style of the moment is feathered full bangs with a crop; less harsh than a full fringe but with a similar overall effect.

Celebrity inspiration: Jennifer Hudson, Gemma Arterton and Jennifer Lawrence

Scroll through our round up as we chart some of the best A-list hairstyles for short hair below.