The best short hairstyles combine style with practicality. And although going shorter might sound intimidating, rest assured that the right hairstylist will be able to find a look that works for you — and with manageable styling requirements, no less. "Short hairstyles are super chic and all the rage for summer," says celebrity stylist Andrew Fitzsimons. "Short hair is great for virtually any face shape," he adds. "It can highlight your facial features and create depth and dimension on thicker hair types." Ahead, we spoke with both Fitzsimons, as well as other hairstylists in NYC and LA to inspire your next salon appointment.
The Cutest Short Haircuts for Black Women
Keep scrolling for the 20 best short hairstyles for women.
01of 20
Voluminous Lob
Fitzsimons styled Khloe Kardashian's birthday lob à la '90s-inspired voluminous blowout. "There is nothing better than your hair looking flawless while also not bothering you in the heat," he explains.
The 30 Best Long Bob Haircuts, According to Celebrity Stylists
02of 20
Natural Pixie
Looking for a changeup? Go for a big chop, says Larry Sims, hairstylist, and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union. "This is the perfect look for women who want to opt out of heat styling tools in general. It accentuates your natural textures."
With a natural pixie, like Gabrielle Union's, you may want to have your stylist incorporate clipper cuts and shavings to add some individual expression, comments Sims.
03of 20
Voluminous Crop
Don't be afraid to go high with your hair — a short style can have architecture. This platinum look by Gibson is perfect for a night out and highlighting your natural texture.
04of 20
Wixie
Kristen Stewart's winged pixie is sure to turn heads. "This haircut has extreme versatility and can be styled to fit any mood," says hairstylist April Peele of Salon SCK in New York City. "It can be a bit punk or a bit passive, depending on the vibe you want. The back of it is always fun, though," says Peele.
14 Androgynous Haircuts You'll Want to Take Straight to Your Stylist
05of 20
Fade
Samira Wiley's red fade cut is low-maintenance and edgy. "This look embodies urban confidence, and as it grows out, it morphs into other styles that all look amazing," Peele says. She recommends Kerastase's Gelee Curl Contour Gel-Cream, Curl Manifesto Hairspray, and Huile Sublime Repair Hair Oil, to help you maintain this style at all stages.
What to Know Before Getting a Tapered Haircut
06of 20
Face-Framing Curls
To find the most flattering short cut for you, factor in your face shape. "You want to have fringe that starts shorter and ends long to create an oval shape to the face," shares celebrity stylist Anthony Cole. It's all about finding balance.
These 10 Celebrity Haircuts Will Make You Want Short Hair with Bangs
07of 20
Pink Pixie
Follow Helen Mirren's lead and don't be afraid to go shorter — or play with color, says Jackson Simmonds, stylist and colorist at Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa. To keep your cut and color looking fresh, he recommends Julien Farel's Hydrate Restore. "It's a non-foaming shampoo treatment (color and keratin safe) that cleanses and hydrates in one step."
Helen Mirren's Beauty Evolution From 1969 to Now
08of 20
The Shullet
Today's soft mullet, or shullet, is more wearable than its predecessor and is a popular trending style. "It allows for the manageability and the angular nature of the short pixie front, but still has the movement and texture of the long back," Cole tells us.
To style, he recommends mixing Sebastian Professional's Craft Clay and Dark Oil. "The Craft Clay creates texture and the Dark Oil gives the hair a nice light shine while also protecting from humidity," he says.
09of 20
Long Pixie
A great hair color can enhance a short style, says Tamika Gibson, founder of The Hair Diagram. "Hair color makes the short hair look even more radiant and can give a more sultry, sexy ... appearance."
VIDEO: The Best Hot Oil Treatments You Didn't Know Your Natural Hair Needed
10of 20
Natural Bob With Bangs
"This style is for anyone with carefree curls who wants their hair off their neck this summer," says stylist Devin Toth of Salon SCK. To get hydrated, defined curls, he uses Righteous Roots RX.
11of 20
Fauxhawk
Not ready for the big chop? Consider Danai Gurira's fauxhawk, which gives the allure of a cropped look. For best results, keep hair moisturized using 4C Only's Leave-In Conditioner and Styling Cream.
12of 20
Textured Blunt Bob
"Hair can be used to balance a face shape," reveals Janine Jarman, hairstylist, owner of Hairroin Salon and founder of Curl Cult. "If you are heart-shaped — wider to narrow — you'll want to add width and volume to where you are most narrow," she explains. This textured blunt bob just above chin length is an excellent look for this face shape.
13of 20
Pompadour
Tilda Swinton's pompadour gives short locks an elevated twist. By keeping some length on top, there are more options to style this cut.
14of 20
Shoulder-Length With Flipped-Out Ends
If you don't want to lose too much length, flipping out ends will create the illusion of a shorter cut — plus create width. "If you have an oval face, straight bobs or choppy layers work wonders for your face and your hair," shares Fitzsimons.
30 Sleek and Stylish Flip Hairstyles for Inspiration
15of 20
Buzzcut
What's all the buzz about? This buzzcut on Adwoa Aboah, of course. It exudes confidence.
16of 20
Two-Toned Asymmetrical Pixie
Halle Berry switched up her signature natural pixie cut with this asymmetrical two-toned look that seemed to have been inspired by her former X-Men character, Storm.
Clint Wilson, co-founder and hairstylist at Salon SCK in New York City, encourages a pop of color in the front of your short style via hair extensions or hair chalk.
17of 20
Classic Pixie
"This classic haircut has been around forever. It's so popular, flattering, and easy to wear because it fits your head shape completely," says hairstylist Rene Fris. She recommends using her eponymous Styling Matte Paste to lend texture and structure to this look.
18of 20
Tucked Bixie
A cross between a bob and pixie, the bixie is having a moment. For a refined finish, opt for a sleek tucked style like Zendaya's.
19of 20
Side-Swept Crop
If you've got thin or fine tresses, go with a side part to add instant lift and volume to your crop. Applying a little Color Wow Raise the Root Thicken and Lift Spray doesn't hurt either.
20of 20
Platinum Pixie
Talk about short and Saweetie. The recording artist's platinum pixie is simple, yet statement-making. Be sure to condition this style to keep it hydrated and healthy. LLHOMD Beauty's Hair Nourishing Mask with Monoi Oil and Leave In Cream with Castor Oil will do the trick.