Short Hair Is Having a *Moment*—Here Are 8 of Our Favorite Timeless Cuts to Try

Fall is the perfect time to usher in a new vibe, be it a bold (or subtle) new hair color or a shorter haircut. The latter may seem a bit scary (especially if you stick to slight dustings or occasional trims).  But the good news? There are tons of low-maintenance short haircuts—from over-the-shoulder bobs to ’90s-inspired pixies—and many different ways to rock them. Celebrities are also taking note, with notable names like Quinta Brunson, Lady Gaga, Hailey Bieber, and more all sporting cropped looks.

While cutting off your length can feel intimidating, it can also be an exciting opportunity to get rid of any split ends and—at the very least—is a chance to refresh your look. Going for a shorter haircut is also a great option if you’re dealing with thinning hair, Cory Aaron Scott, a celebrity hairstylist based in Los Angeles says. “Keeping hair length at the shoulder or above can give a fuller appearance,” says Scott. “Too much length can weigh the hair down, taking away valuable volume.” If your ends feel thin or wispy, consider taking off some length to help your style look fuller and more dense.

Need inspo before booking your next haircut appointment? Find some of our favorite short haircuts, ahead.

8 short haircuts to try this year

1. French bob

2. Big chop curls

If you’ve been hanging onto unwanted damage or length, a curly pixie cut is a stylish and functional choice: short, springy curls are gorgeous and might save you some styling time. However, don’t mistake this low-maintenance cut for no maintenance: experimenting with curling gels, butters, and leave-in creams will be helpful as you style your shorter curls. 

3. Rolled bob

4. ’90s pixie

A good ’90s-inspired pixie cut is always in style. Celebrity stylist ambassador Alexander Armand says if you’re going for this extra short look, make sure to ask your hairstylist for a face framing style (so that might be longer in the front, center, or sides, depending on your face and the look you’re going for).

5. Long bob (aka Lob)

If it’s your first time trying out a short haircut, the lob is for you. It’s typically shoulder length or longer, so you’ll be able to see what your hair looks like short without going all the way. “Rock that look for a week or two before deciding if you want to go shorter,” says celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins. This will give you just enough time to decide if you’re ready to take the plunge into losing more length.

6. Blunt triangular bob

7. Shag

“If your hair is slightly wavy or straight, shags are it,” says Hawkins. You can achieve this ’70s-inspired look by asking your stylist to frame your face, focus on how your waves form, and cut the length to right above the shoulder. It’s meant to be messy, so it doesn’t require the sort of heavy hot tool use that a more refined look demands.

8. Long pixie

We love an extended pixie cut for something a bit bolder that works on all hair types (curly, straight, wavy, etc.). This cut is cropped on the sides and longer on the top, which means you can play around with different looks: you can wear the top part straight and wispy, in natural coils, or in a more structured Old-Hollywood type of curl, like actress Nathalie Emmanuel did, here.