So, you’ve gone for the chop in an attempt to embody the perfect Gigi Hadid or Saoirse Ronan (or perhaps our very own ELLE editors), but now you’re wondering about the versatility your mere centimetres of hair can achieve. Just how do you style short hair?
We went straight to the pros to find out easy ways to bring extra polish to your short ‘do, whether it’s a pixie crop or a French-girl bob.
Soft and Glossy
While you can cheat parched ends on long hair with an updo, shorter lengths can be a little more unforgiving. The good news is, it's much easier to keep short hair looking healthy since it requires less time, and regular trims mean that split ends are almost non-existent.
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When it comes to maintaining your curly and Afro hairstyles, hydration is so crucial,’ says Florence Johnson, owner of SimplyG Hair Salon. ‘These hair types tend to naturally experience dryness. Dry hair can look lacklustre and does not tend to hold its curls or shape very well.’
She recommends a good leave-in conditioner or curl defining creams to keep the curls soft and defined. ‘You can also use a spray hydrator or water mist to spritz hair daily which can help refresh your curl pattern,’ shares Johnson, who’s also a fan of alcohol-free hair gels which tend to be lighter as to not weigh the hair down.
Sleek Parts
A deep side-parting is an easy way to bring drama into short hair. On damp hair, use a tailcomb to create the parting and finish with a strong-hold hairspray.
Up The Adornment
Johnson is a big fan of dressing up your short hair with accessories, and there are plenty of options to try. ‘Scarves or bandanas are great for curly hair that's short but long enough to gather into a puff or mini bun. Tie a scarf around the base of the puff and knot at the top,’ she tells ELLE. ‘You can also add a few hair slides onto the side of your scarf for an extra bit of styling.’
For the minimalists, try a simple headband for a clean, unfussy finish.
Beachy Texture
Having texture on short hair looks cool, lived-in and leans into your natural hair type.
‘For drying, you don’t need anything but your hands/fingers,’ says Hasan Sahin, hairstylist at Larry King Salon. ‘Whilst drying with the hairdryer use your fingers in a rough way, sweeping from all angles, really work the roots. This will create an amazing texturised look.’
He recommends the Larry King Social Life Cream, applied on bone dry hair to ‘shape and mould’, while thicker locks can use it on damp hair (and add extra once hair is dry).
‘For extra volume, once the hair is dry, use a power grip product on the roots and massage it into your scalp,’ shares Sahin. ‘The key to styling short hair is to be okay with the idea of an imperfect finish, as I think it has more of a modern feel.’
Colour Block
Any hairstylist will tell you that having short hair is the best time to experiment with colour, as it takes less time to achieve your desired colour and there’s less hair to risk damaging.
Try a shot of all-over, statement-making neon; a real mood-booster for the upcoming winter or go with an on-trend black cherry hue.
ELLE Edit: Short Hair Essentials
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Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.
