Some folks love to spend an hour styling their hair every day, and others just don’t have the time (or effort) to attend to their locks for that long. If you’re part of the latter group, you might want to consider a short hairstyle that doesn’t require a lot of styling or maintenance.
The easiest way to avoid styling, whether your hair is long or short, is to embrace your natural texture. “The natural makeup and natural hair color trend is everywhere in the beauty industry right now, and embracing your natural texture is the easiest way to put in minimal styling effort,” explains Sassy Medchill, Covet & Mane Educator and owner of Goldie & Co Salon in Dallas, Texas.
Below, we’ve rounded up the best short hairstyles that don’t require much styling, so you can look your best with minimal effort.
- Sassy Medchill, Covet & Mane Educator and owner of Goldie & Co Salon in Dallas, Texas
- Paul Cucinello, a New York City-based celebrity stylist and founder of Cucinello Beauty
- Dimitris Giannetos, a celebrity hairstylist
- Siobhan Quinlan, a colorist at AM Salon in West Hollywood, California
01of 18
Buzz Cut
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2076223038-f5bb5bffbf42414aa21d589d3b22b67b.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (1)")
The buzz cut is back—and better than ever. "Not only is is super low maintenance, but it's also a great way to reset damaged strands," says Siobhan Quinlan, a colorist at AM Salon in West Hollywood, California. Buzz your hair every few weeks yourself (or enlist a stylist) and keep your scalp healthy with hydrating treatments, like Biotera Intensive 2:1 Cool + Hydrate Balm Conditioner ($12.50; amazon.com).
10 Easy Hacks for Maintaining Natural Hair at Home, According to Hairstylists
02of 18
Small and Strong Afro
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2148342998-68c5ebd146b248c99934cf182b98b836.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (2)")
Lupita Nyong'o is a hair queen, often switching up her style. Here, she embodies ease and elegance with a wash and go style that shows off her features.
03of 18
Super Short Pixie
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-902343734-7c31238ec5fa4d03abacb81254d383b3.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (3)")
A super short pixie cut is a great cut for someone who doesn’t want to style their hair at all. “It offers the perfect, effortless bedhead look and requires no effort to style,” explains Sassy Medchill, Covet & Mane Educator and owner of Goldie & Co Salon in Dallas, Texas. The super short pixie cut is the ultimate jump-out-of-bed-and-go haircut.
The 6 Best Pixie Cuts, According to Hairstylists
04of 18
Short Pixie
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1470332533-036ade1c34bf4bd6b1dc822bac53a2cb.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (4)")
“A short pixie cut is perfect for anyone that wants a drastic change with minimal styling pressure,” says Dimitris Giannetos, a celebrity hairstylist. “It’s great for always highlighting the bone structure of a person, especially if you have a wider face."
05of 18
The Basic Pixie
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-88078477-76287e52438e4fef8c0337813ec908b2.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (5)")
“The basic pixie cut is basically the easiest of all as far as styling goes because all the hair is cut to about the same 1-2” length and styled in the direction of hair growth,” explains Paul Cucinello, a New York City-based celebrity stylist and founder of Cucinello Beauty. “You can simply wash and put a dollop of styling cream or pomade in it and go—no need for a hair dryer.”
06of 18
Textured Pixie Cut
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-695056510-785e677d9a354b59817a3cf3d3e6ba29.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (6)")
According to Medchill, embracing your natural texture with a curly or wavy, textured pixie cut is a great haircut that requires little to no styling. You can wear it slicked back or apply volumizing product and blast with a blow dryer for added height.
07of 18
The Surfer Crop/Undercut
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-645684824-1558c26a5203416ca4e2865ec0e4a289.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (7)")
Dressed up or au naturale, the undercut is essentially a very short haircut (sometimes buzzed!) on the sides and back with a few inches of length on top. “The result is edgy, sexy, and super confident,” says Cuciello. “You can simply comb it to the side and let it air dry."
08of 18
Curly Coif
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1915765713-a99bdfa8bc104449bcafa0fa3423fbf7.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (8)")
Who says curly-haired people can't rock shorter crops? Case in point: actress Julia Garner, the ideal short curly-haired inspo. Work a curl cream through wet hair and air-dry or diffuse for a piece-y, tousled texture that's effortless and cool, says Quinlan.
I Tried the Curly Girl Method on My Wavy Hair, and I'm Never Going Back
09of 18
Bob
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1471310287-770e317aecf740efac230d84e0be98a8.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (9)")
This is an easy style for someone with super straight hair. “I love adding a row of Covet & Mane hand-tied extensions to my clients who have bobs to make their ends extra blunt and add additional volume and fullness around the front of the face,” explains Medchill. “Hand-tied extensions are great for effortless styling because they hold and maintain a style longer than natural hair typically does.”
10of 18
Blunt Bob
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1131079828-05de7c0f867c4d8291f65d1d173b897e.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (10)")
This one requires simply getting it dry and then choosing if you want to quickly flat iron or just let it be wavy. “Either look is very chic and very now,” explains Cucinello.
11of 18
French Bob
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-14618698991-1bf9718095e04f07820fde226cb0e07d.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (11)")
Straight, wavy, curly, anything works! “This blunt cut with a short, flirty fringe of bangs is so popular because it’s short enough to air dry but quick enough to heat style with an iron or waving wand,” says Cucinello.
12of 18
Short Bob
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1473153506-a8888941b76e4a20a07bf54f1744fe16.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (12)")
A short bob is always timeless and doesn't take much styling at all. “This look is great for the spring/summer if you want a hairstyle that will stay out of your face and is easy to manage in the heat,” explains Giannetos.
13of 18
Bubble Bob
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1503056353-2f957cb6c4104df8aff4bd70d3ee2148.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (13)")
If a blunt look isn't quite your thing, checkout this softer version that model Jourdan Dunn is rocking. Complete the chin length, rounded look with a center part and lots of volume. "A round brush and some tension will be your secret weapon to achieve this bubble-like bounce," says Siobhan Quinlan, a stylist at AM Salon in West Hollywood.
14of 18
Boy Bob
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-2074894158-4ba557981ce64202bbd9c56861181731.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (14)")
She might just be the hottest haircut of 2024—meet the boy bob. Seen on America Ferrara (here) to Gigi Hadid and Julianne Hough, this bob hits around the jawline and is all about minimal styling, explains Quinlan. The whole point is to look undone so put down your flat iron and air-dry your way to cool girl boy bob.
15of 18
Shoulder-Length Cut
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1189822567-820fd8700b674f2c8bf44f7d52a79c14.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (15)")
Shoulder-length hair is another look that doesn’t require much styling, and it’s easy to wear straight or wavy. You can add a defrizzing product to the hair to smooth out flyaways, and can add layers to a shoulder-length cut for more of an undone, beachy look.
16of 18
The Mixie
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-510726586-04d9d7cdfcbe42cfa52f522da12c1d1b.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (16)")
A cross between the Pixie and the Mullet, the Mixie is having a moment right now because of its easy-to-ignore, bedhead vibe. “It’s super choppy on the top with some length toward the back,” explains Cucinello. “So again, a little product is all you need to coax it into shape.”
17of 18
The Short Shag
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1455630847-15b14c3b51d64b3880d622ac72d0d6f2.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (17)")
According to Cucinello, the shag became synonymous with lived-in rock and roll hair because it’s so carefree and sexy. “Blast it dry with a little smoothing cream then enhance the texture on the ends with a little more product and rock on,” he says.
18of 18
Sleek Bun
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-505435616-8100bdece1dc4808a06d14b2d528e1b3.jpg "18 Cute Short Hairstyles That Don't Require Much Styling (18)")
A simple, sleek bun is an easy, chic look for someone with shoulder-length hair that requires almost no time to style. “Designer handkerchiefs will be huge this summer, especially to cover your hair and keep it safe from the sun, and they’re great for adding a pop of style and color with very minimal effort,” suggests Medchill.
