Short Hairstyles for Black Women: 61 Looks

The best way to feel brand new? A striking haircut, of course—indeed, they don’t say ‘new hair, new you’ for no reason. And what better way to make a statement than to go short; it won’t go unnoticed, and you’ll have an entirely new look to play with. Of course, Black women’s hair demands a slightly different approach to Caucasian hair: that glorious thickness and texture can be both a blessing and a curse. But, if you pick the right short, relaxed hairstyle, your hair will be your loyal ally.

Okay, so what are the best short black hairstyles?

From sleek bobs to spiky styles to faded cuts, the world is your oyster. Plus it goes without saying, short hair absolutely oozes attitude. And, gone are the days when short hair was considered less than feminine (have you seen Amber Rose?)—au contraire, nothing says you own your femininity than a short hairstyle. Plus, it gives everyone a clear-as-day view of your glittering earrings, so there’s that.

While ultra-short black ladies’ haircuts demand a little more maintenance, as long as you’ve got time to pop in for a trim every few weeks, you’re golden. On the other hand, short cuts on the longer side (yes that’s a thing), can be left to fend for themselves a little longer. Natural afro hair fares beautifully on the shorter side, while if you’ve chemically straightened your locks, you can easily rock an elegant bob a la 90s Kelly Rowland (still so in, FYI).

So, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to the best short hairstyles for Black women, so you can maximize that resplendent texture and volume, and make it work for you.

Pixie cuts for Black women

Layered pixie cut

Woman with a burgundy-brown layered pixie and a long fringe, looking down — The fringe sweeps down over one eye while the crown stays full.

Woman with a short layered pixie and a golden fringe, eyes closed — Highlights sit only on the fringe, so the sides stay dark.

Layers stack up on the crown and a longer fringe falls across one eye. On the burgundy-brown photo the color picks out every layer, and on the other the fringe carries golden highlights. Style it with a light cream and your fingers, and let the fringe do its own thing.

What to ask for Three inches on top in stacked layers, an inch at the nape, a side fringe long enough to reach the cheekbone.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @styles_by_juwan (right) Pin this

Tousled pixie with layered bangs

Woman with a black tousled pixie and short piecey bangs, chin resting on her hand — The bangs are chopped into points just above the brow.

Woman with a black pixie, a long layered bang swept across her forehead — A longer version of the same idea, with the bang reaching the cheek.

The bangs are broken up into pieces rather than cut blunt, and the whole thing looks a little undone on purpose. It’s a forgiving cut for a busy morning: tousle, spray, go.

What to ask for Choppy layers all over, two inches on top, piecey bangs cut to the brow and texturized.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @pekelariley (right) Pin this

Razor cut pixie for Black women

Smiling woman with a short razor-cut pixie, hand on her shoulder — Feathered ends fall toward the brow instead of ending in a line.

Woman with a sleek black razor-cut pixie, looking down to the side — The top is swept forward in one smooth, feathered piece.

A razor instead of scissors leaves the ends soft and feathered, and that’s where this pixie gets its movement. The sides sit close and the top falls forward in wisps. It’s a good one for relaxed hair that wants to look light.

What to ask for Razor-cut pixie, close at the sides and nape, two to three inches on top, feathered ends falling forward.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @smittee4hair (right) Pin this

Side-parted pixie

Close sides, a deep side part and a sleek finish make a polished pixie. It keeps everything off your face, so your brows and cheekbones get the spotlight.

What to ask for Deep side part, about an inch and a half on top, tapered sides, smoothed flat with a shine finish.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @londonnbridges (right) Pin this

Chocolate brown pixie cut

Woman with a chocolate brown pixie, a wave swept across her forehead, in a grey turtleneck — The front section curves down over the brow in one wave.

Woman with a dark brown layered pixie and hoop earrings, seen from the side — Soft layers on top, with the length kept short behind the ear.

Chocolate brown warms up a pixie without going light. The front is swept into a wave across the forehead, and the sides are laid flat around the ear.

What to ask for Chocolate brown all over, the front left longer and set in a side-swept wave, sides laid close.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @quintessential_hair (right) Pin this

Tapered pixie with layered top

Woman with a tapered black pixie, a shaved line above the ear and a curly layered top — The taper shows a shaved line; the top falls in soft curls.

Woman with a glossy black tapered pixie, the top falling forward in one sleek layer — The top is cut in a rounded shape that stops above the brow.

The nape and sides are tapered close, and the top stays long enough to fall in smooth layers over the forehead. You get the neat back of a short cut and the softness of a longer one at the front.

What to ask for Close taper at the nape and around the ears, three to four inches on top in smooth layers falling forward.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @thastylist18 (right) Pin this

Front and forward crop

Smiling woman with a black cropped cut brushed forward over her forehead — The fringe points down toward the brow from a flat crown.

Woman with a short black textured crop, looking down — The top is piecey and pushed forward, the nape taken close.

Everything is combed forward, so the fringe sits right on the forehead and the crown lies flat. It’s quick to wear with some texture: a touch of pomade and a scrunch are enough.

What to ask for Two inches on top brushed forward onto the forehead, close at the sides and nape.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @reesebenjaminhair (right) Pin this

Short haircut with chopped layers

Woman with a short black cut in choppy layers, a fringe swept to one side — The layers stand up in separate pieces on the crown.

Woman with a sleek black short cut, a long fringe falling over one eye — Here the layers are smoothed down and the fringe does the work.

Chopped layers are cut deliberately uneven, which gives the top a piecey, full look. The fringe sweeps to one side and the back stays short.

What to ask for Choppy, uneven layers on top, a side-swept fringe, the back taken short to the neck.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @artistry4gg (right) Pin this

Short hairstyle for summer

Smiling woman with a very short black pixie and a short fringe — The fringe is cut short and choppy, well above the brow.

Woman with a short black pixie and red lipstick, hands crossed at her chest — A slightly longer top, with the fringe swept to the side.

A very short pixie with a short fringe keeps your neck cool and your mornings short. The top is textured rather than slicked, and it doesn’t mind a humid day.

What to ask for About an inch on top, a short textured fringe, close sides.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @micahgianneli (right) Pin this

Modern pixie cut

Woman with a short black modern pixie, in a sequined top and feathers — Volume sits high on the crown, with the sides kept tight.

Woman with a glossy black pixie, the top rounded over a close nape — The back is tapered short under a smooth, full top.

The sides are sleek and close, and the volume sits on the crown instead of the front. It reads polished from the side and soft from the front.

What to ask for Close, sleek sides, about three inches on the crown for lift, fringe swept to one side.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @shear_elements (right) Pin this

Long side-parted pixie with undercut

Woman with a long side-parted pixie swept over the top, seen from the side — The long top covers the undercut when it's worn down.

Woman with a sleek black pixie, a long side-swept top and a short nape — The nape is clipped short under the long, glossy top.

A long, swept pixie on top with the underneath clipped short. Wear the top down and it looks like a longer cut, then tuck it behind the ear and the undercut shows.

What to ask for Four inches or so on top with a deep side part, undercut at the nape and above one ear.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @oluchizelda (right) Pin this

Side-parted pixie with high shine finish

Woman with a glossy black side-parted pixie and a long sweep across her forehead — The sweep comes down to the eye in one shiny piece.

Woman with a glossy dark pixie seen from the side, looking down — The shine runs from the crown to the tapered nape.

This one is about the finish. The hair is pressed flat and glossy with a deep part, and it catches the light like lacquer.

What to ask for Wrapped and pressed smooth, deep side part, a glossing serum for high shine.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @salonsevenofgulfport (right) Pin this

Short raven black haircut

Woman with a jet black pompadour-style short cut and red lipstick — The top rises high off the forehead and the side is shaved close.

Woman with a sleek jet black short cut and a side-swept fringe — A softer take, with the top swept sideways instead of up.

Jet black keeps a short cut graphic. The top is swept up and back, and the sides and nape are tapered close.

What to ask for Jet black all over, about three inches on top swept back with volume, close tapered sides.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @shear_elements (right) Pin this

Short disconnected cut

Woman with a short violet cut in close waves and a shaved part, looking down — The sides are near the scalp, and the waves sit on top.

Woman with a burgundy layered short cut with red tips, looking down — The long top falls over the short sides with a visible step.

A disconnected cut doesn’t blend the top into the sides, and there’s a clear step between the two. Color does the rest: violet waves on one photo, burgundy with red tips on the other.

What to ask for Sides taken very short, top left longer with no blending between them, violet or burgundy color.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @urbanchic_76 (right) Pin this

Neat sleek cut with highlighted top

Woman with a sleek short cut, caramel curls on top and statement earrings — The highlights stop where the close sides begin.

Woman with a sculpted short cut in blonde and brown, seen from the side — The top is swept back in layers of blonde over a darker base.

The sides stay dark and the top goes caramel or blonde, putting the color exactly where the movement is. It’s a clean way to try highlights on a short cut.

What to ask for Sleek short cut, close sides, a longer top swept to one side, highlights on the top section only.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @thastylist18 (right) Pin this

Short natural hairstyles: TWAs and tapered cuts

Taper faded with natural curls

Woman with ash blonde natural curls on top and tapered sides, looking down — Curls stand tall on the crown above a short taper.

Woman with blonde twisted curls on top and a close taper at the side — The taper runs almost to the skin behind the ear.

The sides are tapered short and the curls on top are left full for lift. Both photos go ash or champagne blonde, and the color lets every coil show.

What to ask for Taper at the sides and nape, natural curls left two to three inches long on top, ash blonde color.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @contactevie (right) Pin this

Cropped cut for natural curls

The coils keep the same length from the crown to the nape.

Woman with a dark cropped cut of defined coils, tapered at the neck — The coils are a touch longer on top and short at the nape.

An even, rounded crop of coils, about the same length all over. It’s the TWA grown into a shape.

What to ask for A rounded crop of natural coils, about two inches all over, shaped to follow the head.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @deecarrington (right) Pin this

Tapered crochet pixie cut

Woman with a curly tapered pixie and a shaved line at the side — The curls sit high on top of a clean, lined taper.

Woman with a tapered cut and short tight curls on top, seen from behind and to the side — The taper runs up to the curls with no hard line.

Crochet curls on top give you the look of a curly pixie without committing your own hair to the cut. The sides are tapered, and the curls sit up and forward.

What to ask for Tapered sides and nape, crochet curls about three inches long installed on top, falling forward.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @ritchiez_hair_n_beauty (right) Pin this

Tapered pixie with long springy curls

Smiling woman with violet springy curls on top and tapered sides — The curls stack up on the crown above a close nape.

Woman with bright copper springy curls and a short taper, seen from the side — The copper curls reach well above the head.

Long springy coils on top give this taper real height. Color turns it up: deep violet on one photo, bright copper on the other.

What to ask for Close taper at the sides and nape, three to four inches of springy curls on top, plus the color you want.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @artistry4gg (right) Pin this

Tapered pixie with defined curly top

Smiling woman with teal defined curls on top and a tapered side — Each curl is separate and springy, tapered short at the side.

Woman with dark defined curls on top, lit in blue, looking down — The curls fall forward over the forehead.

The curls on top are defined one by one, which keeps the shape crisp rather than fluffy. The sides are tapered to show off the ears, and one photo goes bold teal.

What to ask for Tapered pixie, defined curls about two inches long on top, close sides, curl definer to finish.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @gilliangarciaartistry (right) Pin this

TWA with tapered sides and shaved part

The shaved line runs from the temple toward the crown.

Smiling woman with a short tapered TWA and shaved lines at the side — Two lines are shaved in above the ear.

A teeny weeny afro with the sides tapered down and a line shaved in where a part would sit. It’s a TWA with an edge, and it takes seconds to style.

What to ask for About an inch on top, tapered close at the sides and nape, a shaved part line on one side.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @krewkutz (right) Pin this

Short curly hairstyle with caramel highlights

Woman with a round crop of dark curls with caramel highlights, looking down — The caramel sits on the ends of the curls.

Round head of dark coils with caramel highlights, seen from above — The highlights are spread evenly through every coil.

Caramel threads through dark coils and lights the curls from inside. The shape stays round and full, a little longer on top.

What to ask for Rounded natural curls, about three inches on top, caramel highlights through the curls.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @hitexturehair (right) Pin this

Short blonde curls for Black women

Smiling woman with short blonde curls and a pendant necklace — The curls are set loose and sit higher at the front.

Woman with honey blonde curls on top and hoop earrings, in a black turtleneck — Tight honey coils on top, tapered close at the side.

Honey-blonde coils on a short, tapered shape. The color brightens the face and makes the curl pattern easy to read from across the room.

What to ask for Short tapered cut, two to three inches of curls on top, honey blonde all over.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @mrs_tahirah2 (right) Pin this

Short curly and wavy pixies

Waves and curls on a Black pixie cut

Smiling woman with a short black pixie in loose curls, yellow top — The curls pile up at the front and sweep to one side.

Woman with a short black pixie of glossy curls, off-the-shoulder top — The curls sit close to the head with no gaps.

Loose curls are set into a short pixie, and the texture is doing the styling. Both photos keep the curls glossy and piled toward the front.

What to ask for Two to three inches on top, close at the nape, the top set in loose curls pushed forward.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @artistry4gg (right) Pin this

Curly pixie haircut

Woman with a black curly pixie, hand on her face — Soft curls cover the crown and fall toward the brow.

Woman with a black curly pixie and hoop earrings, seen from behind — Tight curls from the crown down to a short nape.

Soft black curls all over on a shape that stays short around the ears and the back. It’s a playful cut with a neat outline.

What to ask for About two inches on top, short at the sides and nape, set in soft curls.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @friendssalonnola (right) Pin this

Curly pixie with long feathery bangs

Woman with a curly pixie and a long bang swept across her face, hand at her temple — The bang crosses the forehead and ends at the cheek.

Woman with a black curly pixie, curls falling onto her forehead — The curls are longer at the front and short at the side.

Curls on the crown and a long feathered bang that sweeps across the brow give you two textures in one cut. The bang frames the eyes.

What to ask for Short curly pixie with a long side bang, feathered at the ends, falling to the cheekbone.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @hairhabitssalon (right) Pin this

Haircut with shapely waves

Woman with a short black cut set in full waves — The waves build height on the crown.

Woman with a short black cut in loose waves and small earrings, looking down — Waves run from the crown down to a short back.

Sculpted waves run across the top, with the length kept short at the nape. It reads vintage up close and modern from across the room.

What to ask for Around three inches on top set in sculpted waves, nape taken close.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @salonshavon (right) Pin this

Haircut with spikes and curls

Woman with a black pixie of curls lifted into spikes, hoop earrings — The curls are twisted up and point out from the crown.

Woman with a blue-black spiky curled pixie, looking down — The spikes follow the curl and fan out to the side.

The curls are pulled up and out into spikes, giving the pixie height and attitude. Keep the sides short so the top gets all the attention.

What to ask for Curly pixie, three inches on top, short at the sides, curls lifted into spikes.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @thebigchopsalon (right) Pin this

Short curled hairstyle with copper highlights

Woman with copper and brown curls piled high, in a pale blue top — The copper shows on the ends of each curl.

Woman with short dark curls with golden highlights, leopard print top — Gold runs through the front curls only.

Tight curls with copper and gold through the ends, piled up on the crown. The color follows the curl, and the whole head looks textured.

What to ask for Two to three inches on top with height on the crown, copper highlights on the curl ends.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @teasedstylingstudio (right) Pin this

Rosewood ombre hairstyle

Woman with short red curls set around her face, seen from the side — Red curls set in rows from the crown to the ear.

Woman with short rose-brown waves and hoop earrings — The color fades from a dark root to a warm red-brown.

Rosewood sits between red and brown, and as an ombre it goes deeper at the root. On a head of short curls it looks rich rather than loud.

What to ask for Short curled cut, rosewood red-brown ombre, darker at the root and brighter through the curls.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @kbbsalon (right) Pin this

Short bobs for Black women

Modern bob with a side part

Woman with a straight black angled bob and a side part — The front falls to the jaw and angles shorter at the back.

Smiling woman with a sleek black bob, hand at her chin — The ends are blunt and turned in slightly at the jaw.

A sleek, straight bob that stops at the jaw, with a deep side part. Chemically straightened hair suits a bob like this.

What to ask for Chin-length bob, deep side part, blunt ends, pressed straight and smooth.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @noorface (right) Pin this

Naturally curly bob

Woman with a full curly bob and bangs, dark lipstick — The curls frame the face down to the jaw.

Smiling woman with a brown curly bob swept to one side — The curls are longer on one side, falling to the shoulder.

A bob cut into curly hair, and the curls do the shaping. It’s full at the sides with plenty of volume on top.

What to ask for Curly bob cut dry, curl by curl, landing at the jaw when set, soft layers for volume.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @haircolorkilla (right) Pin this

Ear-length straight hair with side-swept bangs

Woman with a light brown ear-length cut and a long side bang — The bang sweeps across the forehead to the ear.

Woman with a black ear-length cut and a long bang, looking down — The bang covers one eye and the ends curve in.

A straight cut that sits around the ears, with a long bang swept across the forehead. It’s short enough to be easy and long enough to tuck.

What to ask for Straight, ear-length cut with a long side-swept bang falling past the brow.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @olayhair (right) Pin this

Cute curly bob with bangs

Woman with a dark curly bob and bangs, red lipstick — The fringe is all curls and falls to the brow.

Smiling woman with a round curly bob and curly bangs — The coils make a full round shape around the face.

A curly bob with a curly fringe, and the curls frame the whole face. It’s a full, playful shape.

What to ask for Curly bob at the jaw, curly bangs cut to the brow, layered to keep the shape round.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @damnthatschev (right) Pin this

Copper pixie bob cut

Woman with a bright copper pixie cut and a side sweep — The copper top sweeps across the forehead.

Woman with a copper bob with dark roots, looking down — The layers flick out at the ends.

Shorter at the back, longer at the front, and dyed a bright copper. The color makes the layers look like brushstrokes.

What to ask for Pixie bob, short at the nape and to the jaw at the front, layered ends, bright copper color.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @salon_empyre (right) Pin this

Side-parted pixie bob

A pixie at the back and a bob at the front: the length drops from the nape to the jaw. A side part and a sleek finish keep it neat.

What to ask for Side part, close at the nape, angled longer toward the jaw at the front, smoothed straight.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @gilliangarciaartistry (right) Pin this

Black stacked bob with flicked layers

The back is stacked short, and the front sweeps down past the cheek.

Woman with a glossy black layered bob seen from the side — The ends flick out at the neck.

The nape is stacked short and the bob curves in at the back, with the ends flicked for movement. It’s a shape with a lot of swing.

What to ask for Stacked bob, graduated short at the nape, longer toward the chin at the front, flicked layered ends.

Photos: @hairanointing (left), @chantelthehairartist (right) Pin this

Short stacked choppy bob

Woman with a short black choppy bob and a fringe — The ends around the face are cut in points.

Woman with a black layered bob, looking down to one side — The layers are stacked from the nape up.

A stacked back with choppy ends at the front. The texture keeps a short bob from looking too serious.

What to ask for Graduated nape, stacked back, choppy point-cut ends around the face.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @gilliangarciaartistry (right) Pin this

Short purple balayage hair

Woman with a short purple balayage bob, seen from the side — Purple and magenta run through the lengths.

Woman with a short purple bob and hoop earrings — The purple is painted through the top layer.

Purple is painted through a short bob, and the color moves as the hair does. It’s a way to play with color without committing all over.

What to ask for Short bob, purple balayage painted through the lengths, natural root.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @t.techniques (right) Pin this

Fades, undercuts and shaved designs

Short afro mohawk

The fade climbs high on the side under a tall curly strip.

Woman with a black curly mohawk and a tapered side, statement earring — The curls sit forward over a short side.

Curls stay full down the middle and the sides are faded short. It’s a mohawk with a soft top.

What to ask for Curls two to three inches long down the center strip, sides faded short.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @sweetstyles_naturals (right) Pin this

Fade with curly mohawk

Woman with a curly mohawk turning gold at the ends and a close fade — The fade is close to the skin, and the curls lean to one side.

Woman with a black curly mohawk and a faded side, looking over her shoulder — The fade starts just above the ear.

A strip of curls over a close fade, with the curls falling to one side. One photo pushes the color toward gold at the ends.

What to ask for Close fade at the sides and nape, curly strip about three inches on top, falling to one side.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @fernandonewdread (right) Pin this

Edgy undercut with a shaved design

Woman with a curly top and a shaved line design on the side, hoop earrings — The lines are shaved into the undercut above the ear.

Woman with red curls and a flower design shaved into the side — A full flower pattern fills the undercut.

The undercut becomes a canvas: one photo has lines, the other a full flower. The curls on top stay long enough to cover it when you want to.

What to ask for Undercut at the side and nape with a shaved design, curls left full on top.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @barbeirodiegojordan (right) Pin this

Messy pompadour undercut

Woman with a golden pompadour and shaved sides, fluffy white collar — The top is swept up and back from the forehead.

Smiling woman with a pink bowl-shaped top over a shaved side with a design — The shaved side carries a curved line under the pink top.

On one photo the top is swept up into a pompadour. On the other it drops into a pink bowl over a shaved side with a design. It’s a strong silhouette and it takes a little styling.

What to ask for Three to four inches on top swept up and back, sides shaved close.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @salon_empyre (right) Pin this

Modern buzz cut for ladies

Woman with a close light brown buzz cut, looking straight ahead — The buzz follows the shape of the head with an even length.

Woman with a platinum buzz cut holding her sunglasses — Platinum color on a very short cut.

Clipped close all over, a buzz puts your head shape, your skin and your features up front. A color, like the platinum on one photo, gives it a finish.

What to ask for Close buzz all over, about a quarter of an inch, clean hairline, color if you want it.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @stepthebarber (right) Pin this

Short gold pixie with a surgical line

Woman with a short gold pixie and a shaved part line — The line is shaved where a part would sit.

Woman with a short golden curly pixie, blue glasses and yellow tassel earrings — Golden curls sit high on top of a short taper.

A crisp shaved line at the part gives a short cut a sharp edge, and gold color keeps it warm. The second photo lets the gold curls grow out a little, with no line.

What to ask for Short tapered cut, a shaved part line on one side, gold color on top.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @korluhairartist (right) Pin this

Blonde, red, purple and silver short hair

Blonde pixie cut

Woman with a golden blonde pixie in a black turtleneck, looking over her shoulder — The blonde top is swept across and back.

Woman with a blonde pixie and a long fringe, hoop earrings — The fringe falls in pieces across the forehead.

Platinum-to-gold on a short pixie with a side sweep. Blonde on a pixie reads as sunshine.

What to ask for Short pixie, side-swept top, gold-platinum blonde all over.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @derickus (right) Pin this

Pixie haircut with blond highlights

Woman with a pixie with honey highlights and a long fringe — Most of the highlights are in the fringe.

Woman with a honey blonde rounded pixie seen from the side — The top is cut round and sits over a short dark nape.

Honey highlights over a dark base, with a long fringe that carries most of the color. It’s a softer way into blonde.

What to ask for Long fringe, about three inches on top, honey blonde highlights through the fringe and top.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @msklarie (right) Pin this

Short blonde hair

Smiling woman with a short platinum blonde crop — The top is pushed up at the front.

Woman with short pale blonde hair, eyes closed — Platinum close to the head, a little longer at the front.

Platinum, cropped close and styled up at the front. The shape is short and the color does the talking.

What to ask for Platinum blonde crop, about an inch on top, styled up and forward.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @joes_the_barber (right) Pin this

Tapered platinum cut with feathered crown

Woman with a feathered platinum pixie seen from the side, hoop earrings — The crown is cut in soft, feathered points.

Woman with a silvery platinum pixie seen from the side — The taper is close around the ear.

A silvery platinum with the crown feathered into soft points, and a close taper at the sides. It’s light, bright and very textured.

What to ask for Tapered sides, a feathered, layered crown about two inches long, silvery platinum.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @b_andrew_hair (right) Pin this

Red pixie with voluminous angled top

Woman with a red pixie and a long angled fringe, purple lipstick — The fringe angles down to the cheek.

Woman with a bright red pixie, the fringe covering one eye — The red top sweeps down over one side of the face.

A red pixie with a long angled fringe sweeping down across the face. The volume sits on top, and the red makes sure you notice.

What to ask for Close sides, a long angled fringe swept across the face, volume on top, bright red.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @lori_theexclusivestylist (right) Pin this

Red hair for darker skin tones

Woman with a short red TWA, hand at her face — The red covers the coils from root to tip.

Woman with short cherry red coils in a black turtleneck — The coils are a little longer on top.

A red TWA: short natural coils in a bold cherry red. Red on darker skin looks rich and warm.

What to ask for TWA, about an inch all over, bright cherry red.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @stepthebarber (right) Pin this

Purple curly pixie for Black American women

Woman with a short violet cut and a shaved part, seen from the side — Violet color on a close cut with a part line.

The coils stand up on the crown above a clean taper.

Violet coils on top and tapered sides. Purple on short natural hair is playful and still easy to wear.

What to ask for Tapered pixie, one to two inches of coils on top, close sides and nape, violet color.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @adrianfanus (right) Pin this

Short and silver hairstyle

Woman with short silver curls and layered necklaces, looking down — Silver curls fall forward over the forehead.

Woman with a short silver TWA seen from behind, drop earrings — Tight silver coils cover the whole head.

Silver coils cut short, and the texture and color do everything. It works whether the silver is dyed or your own.

What to ask for Short crop of natural coils, about an inch on top, tapered sides, silver.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @ritchiez_hair_n_beauty (right) Pin this

Silver pixie cut for older women

Smiling woman with a short gray pixie crop and oversized glasses — The gray is cropped short and swept up at the front.

Woman with a short silver curled pixie and a lace collar — Silver sits on the curled top and the sides stay dark.

A cropped gray pixie on one photo, silver-tipped curls on the other. Gray hair looks deliberate when the cut is this clean.

What to ask for Short gray pixie crop, swept up at the front, the natural gray kept and brightened.

Photos: @helensofierce (left), @khimandi (right) Pin this

Short braids, locs and weaves

Bob haircut with box braids

Woman with black and blonde box braids at bob length, seen over her shoulder — The braids fall to just below the jaw.

Woman with burgundy box braids in a bob, looking to the side — The braids are cut blunt at the jaw.

Box braids finished at bob length, just past the jaw. You get the protective style with the swing of a short cut.

What to ask for Medium box braids finished just below the jaw.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @espacopretx (right) Pin this

Faux locs bob crochet

Woman with faux locs in a bob, in a white top — The locs end at the jaw with soft, textured ends.

Woman with thin faux locs to the shoulder and a center part — The locs are finer and fall straight from a center part.

Faux locs installed with the crochet method at bob length. It’s a quicker way into locs, and the bob keeps them light. For the braid side of protective styling, our knotless braids guide has the full rundown.

What to ask for Crochet faux locs at bob length, just below the jaw, with a natural, slightly textured finish.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @theeyeoftheaquarian (right) Pin this

Short weave bowl cut

Woman with a blonde and brown bowl cut and a fringe at the brow — The bowl is cut level all around.

Woman with a black bowl cut and a large earring, seen from the side — The fringe sits just above the eyes.

A weave cut into a bowl shape, with the fringe sitting right on the brow. It’s a sharp graphic cut you can try without cutting your own hair.

What to ask for Weave cut into a bowl, fringe at the brow, short at the nape.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @garvin27 (right) Pin this

Short maroon tresses

Woman with maroon box braids in a bob, looking down — The braids are parted in squares and end at the jaw.

Woman with a reddish-brown layered pixie and a long fringe, looking down — The long fringe falls over one eye.

Maroon is deep enough to pass for dark and bright enough to glow in the sun. Here it’s on a braided bob in one photo and a layered pixie in the other.

What to ask for Maroon color on either a braided bob to the jaw or a layered pixie with a long fringe.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @najahliketheriver (right) Pin this

Finger waves and pin curls

Short finger waves with weave

Woman with black finger waves set close to her head, looking over her shoulder — The waves sit in rows across the side of the head.

Woman with a short black waved pixie, looking down — The waves are looser here and swept to one side.

Finger waves set close to the head with the help of a weave. It’s a 1920s look that sits flat and neat.

What to ask for Short weave set in finger waves close to the head, side part.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @ic_scissorhand (right) Pin this

Pin curl Black hairstyle

Woman with black pin curls all over, looking down — Each curl is set in a flat round coil.

Woman with grey-black pin curls, seen from the side — The pin curls run down to the nape.

Pin curls set all over turn the whole head into a pattern of round curls. They’re a set rather than a cut, and they hold until wash day.

What to ask for About two inches all over, set in pin curls.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @gilliangarciaartistry (right) Pin this

Short vintage haircut for Black women

Woman with sleek black sculpted finger waves — The waves are glossy and set close to the head.

Woman with blonde pin curls and dark roots, looking down — The blonde curls are set in rings on top.

Sculpted waves and curls in the 1920s shape, sitting close to the head. One photo is sleek black, the other blonde curls with dark roots.

What to ask for Short vintage set, sculpted waves at the sides, curls on top, finished with shine.

Photos: Luxe Digital (left), @sidditytrue (right) Pin this

What counts as a short hairstyle, and how to choose one

A short hairstyle is anything from a close buzz to a bob that stops at the jaw. That’s a wide range, and the two ends need very different amounts of salon time: a buzz, a TWA or a tight pixie has you back every few weeks, while a bob can wait. For short cuts across every hair type, see our short haircuts for women.

So start with your texture, then your calendar. Natural hair can go in any direction above, from a TWA to a curly mohawk. If you’ve chemically straightened your hair, a sleek pixie or a bob gives you the shine without the bulk. And if you’d rather not cut at all, braids, faux locs and a weave can all be worn at bob length.

Which short cut suits your hair?

Start with your hair’s natural texture. Tight coils suit a TWA or a tapered cut, and they’ll hold a shaved line or a design cleanly. Looser curls suit a curly pixie or a curly bob, where they have room to fall.

Relaxed and pressed hair is the one for sleek work: side parts, stacked bobs, high-shine pixies and finger waves.

Then decide what you want on show. A pixie with a long fringe keeps some coverage at the front. A taper or an undercut shows off your ears, your neck and your earrings.

What to ask your stylist for

Bring both photos of the look, and say what you like about each. Then give your stylist numbers, because “short” means something different in every chair:

Length on top, in inches.
How short the sides and back go, and whether you want a taper (gradual) or an undercut (a clean drop).
Where the part sits, if there is one, and whether you want a shaved line in it.
The finish: sleek, piecey, curly or waved.
The color, if there is one, and whether it goes all over or just on top.

The “What to ask for” line under each look puts all of that in one sentence you can read out.

How much upkeep does short hair take?

Ultra-short cuts need a trim every few weeks, and a bob can go noticeably longer between salon visits. Hair grows about half an inch a month, so a crop that’s only an inch or two long loses its shape fast.

Day to day, short is quick. A TWA or a tapered cut needs moisture and a curl product, a sleek pixie needs a wrap or a flat iron, and a shaved line or design needs a touch-up at the barber when it softens.

Which short hairstyle suits natural hair?

Natural hair suits short cuts well, and the TWA is where the big chop leaves you. TWA stands for teeny weeny afro, a short natural afro about two inches long or less. It’s usually what’s left after the big chop, when you cut off all the relaxed or heat-damaged hair to start again from your natural texture.

From there, a taper or a fade shapes the sides, a mohawk keeps height in the middle, and a cropped cut keeps it even all over. Color works well on natural hair too, as the red, blonde and violet TWAs above show.

Which short hairstyles are low maintenance?

The longer end of short is the low-maintenance end. A bob, or a pixie with some length on top, can go longer between appointments. The closer the cut, the more often you’ll be back in the chair: a buzz, a fade or a crisp shaved line needs regular trims to stay sharp.

A TWA is quick to style, but it still needs regular shaping to keep its outline.

What short hairstyle works on relaxed hair?

Relaxed hair suits the sleek end of short: a side-parted pixie, a stacked bob, finger waves, or a chin-length bob pressed straight. The straightened texture gives you the shine and the clean lines.

Go easy on tension, though. Relaxed hair is weaker, and tight styling on relaxed hair is the riskiest mix for traction alopecia, the hair loss that tight styles cause at the hairline.

Can you wear braids, a weave or crochet short?

Yes. Box braids and faux locs can both be cut or installed at bob length, a weave can give you a bowl cut or finger waves without touching your own hair, and crochet curls can sit on top of a tapered cut.

Keep them comfortable. Tight braids, weaves and styles pulled under tension can cause traction alopecia. Pain after styling is an early sign, and the damage can be reversed if the pulling stops early, so ask your stylist to loosen anything that hurts.

For more ideas, our guides to hairstyles for Black girls, braid types, loc styles and Black hair with highlights pick up where short leaves off.

Whichever look you land on, take both photos and that line with you. Your stylist gets a clear brief, and you get the cut you pictured.

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