#1 Pixie Cut
A pixie haircut tends to be short and cropped close to the head on the sides and back. The top section can be slightly longer to add extra volume and activate finger waves. Bangs are typically short, but can be adjusted to a style that accentuates your facial features. Short pixie cuts have been trendy for a while now because they provide a flattering, easy-to-style frame for almost all face shapes.
If you have thin hair, a pixie cut is a good option because of its volume on top. This cut doesn’t require much maintenance or upkeep and looks amazing with bright balayage highlights.
#2 Side-swept bangs
It’s generally agreed that side-facing bangs (also known as bangs) flatter any face shape. This is perhaps why this look is worn by both young black girls and more mature black women. Cut at an angle to add shape to the face and draw the eye to your best features, side-swept bangs are reminiscent of silver screen Hollywood glam. They work on all hair lengths, but especially for short cuts, they are a great way to add shape and definition. If you really want to take your side-swept bangs to the next level, consider curtain bangs, which look especially great on curly hair. Just make sure to cut your bangs long enough to allow room for shrinkage.
#3 Bob hairstyles
The short bob is probably what comes to mind when you think of short hairstyles, and there’s a reason for that. Thanks to its classic lines and tailored shape, it is one of the most iconic and versatile options for short haircuts. Most often, bobs fall to around the jaw, but they can be as long as the shoulders. If you like a short hairstyle that’s not too short, try a lob (a portmanteau of “long” and “bob”). Like the pixie cut, a bob cut is low maintenance and versatile.
#4 Cornrows
Cornrows date back thousands of years and are an important part of many cultures in Africa and the Caribbean. Throughout American history, cornrows have been used to indicate one’s position and ideologies in the African-American community—from faith and wealth to marital status and age—and they remain an iconic style to this day. As the name suggests, cornrows are typically styled in straight lines, with braids close to the scalp, and they can be embellished or accessorized with beads and cuffs. If you want to explore different cornrow options and styles, organic or geometric lines are (equally) fun alternatives. You need a few inches of hair to create cornrows, but otherwise you can style them as long or as short as you like. Cornrows are relatively low maintenance and can last two to eight weeks with basic care.
#5 Short curls
If you’ve been growing out your curly hair or ringlets for a while, you’ve probably noticed that they’ve lost some of their bounce. As curly or thick hair gets heavier, it can become weighed down and may no longer have the movement or shape it once had. This is where a short, curly hairstyle like a curly bob comes into play. Even the smallest haircut for curly hair increases lightness and bounce and improves hair texture and volume. A proper cut will remove tangles and excess weight, giving your natural hairstyle a healthy shine. Style your natural curls into a curly pixie, shag or afro for a look that reflects your personal style.
#6 Box braids
Box braids are an enduring part of African culture. They have been a tool for communication and preservation of ancestral rituals through colonialism. In the United States, box braids played a role in the Black Power movement of the 60s and 70s and 90s R&B music.
A protective hairstyle that can be worn for a long time with limited maintenance, box braids – as the name suggests – have a box-like design created by dividing the hair into quadrants. Box braids are not as close to the scalp as cornrows because they are braided from the scalp (where cornrows are braided against the scalp). Think of this as the difference between French braids and a standard braid. The former starts at the crown and is braided firmly to the scalp until all hair is incorporated into the braid. The latter starts just at the scalp, typically from a ponytail, and flows loosely away from the scalp.
This gives more versatility and options when it comes to styling your box braids in updos, braided crowns and ponytails. Box braids look playful and elegant at any length, and you can style them short with side parts or style them as a bob for a more personal look.
#7 Undercut
Do you love bold, cutting-edge styles but hate the weight of long hair? Then the undercut is the short hairstyle for you. This big, tapered haircut owes its name to short, buzzed sides and longer top hair. In many cases, you only flip the bottom layer of hair so you can hide the shortness until you put your hair in a bun or updo.
Undercuts, which have a long and controversial history, are currently making a comeback. For confident women who want to flaunt it, the undercut is a unique, high-fashion style guaranteed to make you stand out.
#8 Ombre or Balayage
If you want to take your short hairstyle to the next level and experiment with platinum blonde hair, consider adding ombre or balayage highlights to your natural hair color. Both are unique and beautiful ways to enhance a short style. Balayage blonde highlights tend to look a little more organic because they are hand painted and their movements sweep in a more vertical direction than ombre highlights. Ombre coloring moves from dark to light, typically from the roots to the ends, for an added sense of movement. While shades of blonde are a common option for both ombre and balayage designs, you can choose any color you like.
