How to Style Short Hair: Tips for Different Hair Types

Short hairstyles require frequent washing and cutting to prevent oil buildup. Unlike long hair, which needs less regular washing, short hairstyles tend to become greasy faster since the ends of the hair are near the scalp. While it depends on your hair type, it’s advisable to wash short hair every two days to maintain the volume and prevent greasiness. Trim your hair every four to six weeks to avoid split ends and preserve the shape of your cut.

Use less product when styling short layered haircuts, especially if you have fine hair. Applying too much cream or oil can weigh down thin hair and make thick hair look greasy. Instead, stylists recommend applying a dime-sized amount of mousse or cream and running it through the bottom of your hair. For bob haircuts, spray a texturizing mist or apply dry shampoo to add volume and texture; volumizing products keep short layered bobs from falling flat around your face.

Short cuts, like bob hairstyles, can be a low-maintenance choice since it takes less time to blow dry, curl, or straighten. Hairdressers recommend short layers or highlights to add dimension and enhance the look of short haircuts. Try these styling products and hair care tips based on your hair type:

• Coily: A type of curly hair known for tight curls, coily locks tend to dry out faster than other hair textures. To keep your locks moisturized and prevent breakage, style short coily hair with a lightweight oil. Gently massage the product into the ends of dry or damp hair, scrunching upward to increase volume. Some popular hair looks for coily hair include a short pixie cut or long bob to show off your curls. Display your coils by styling your hair down, or try a half-up look with different hair accessories, such as a claw clip or silk headband.
• Curly: Those with curly hair types have ringlets that loosely spiral. Brushing short curls makes the strands frizzy, so use a wide-tooth comb to untangle wet hair. To prevent breakage and hydrate curly hair, apply a leave-in conditioner and let your natural curls air-dry. You can also apply a lightweight styling cream down the strands to prevent frizz and define your curls. When applying curl cream, scrunch the products into individual sections of your hair to create bouncy curls.
  
• Layered: In a layered haircut, the top layer of hair is shorter than the bottom. This look creates volume and shape by framing the face and adding height to the top of the hair. Before styling layered hair, prep your locks with a volumizing product like a hair mist. For straight layered hair, blow-dry your hair using a round brush to enhance and distinguish the long layers when you wear your hair down. For curly layered hair, apply a styling cream throughout the strands, using scrunching motions to define and separate the curls. Make a deep side part and add pomade to a layered pixie to add definition to the choppy layers, or if you have a layered bob cut, pull some of the hair back into a half-updo.
• Straight: When styling straight hair, apply volumizing hair products, such as a texturizing spray or mousse. You can opt for a blowout or use a flat iron to de-frizz your hair. Short layered hairstyles, such as a stacked bob or blunt bob, work well with straight hair and create a modern look. Straight hair types can also pull off an undercut bob, loose braids, and dramatic side bangs or wispy, long bangs.
• Wavy: In between curly and straight hair, wavy hair features loose curls. Hairstylists use short layers and hair color variations, such as a balayage or ombré effect, to enhance the look of wavy haircuts. To create tousled beach waves, apply a spritz of sea salt spray to your hair and set the look with a light hair spray. You can also use a curling iron to touch up individual waves along your face, pinning them back with bobby pins or other hair clips. This styling technique complements round faces or a square face shape. Short hairdos that suit wavy hair include sideswept bangs, a shag, or a wavy bob.

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