Short hair lives or dies on the trim schedule: a pixie needs the shears every four to six weeks, while a collarbone lob can stretch to ten. The right layers cut drying time on thick hair and give fine hair lift at the crown that lasts into the afternoon. These are the short layered haircuts I cut most.
1. Layered Shoulder-Length Cut
A layered shoulder-length cut lands right at the shoulders with layers that begin at the chin. I lift each section out at 45 degrees and point cut the ends so the layers run together. This is the base for the short layered haircuts shoulder length clients request most often. Oval, round and heart faces and fine to thick hair suit it. Dry over a round brush and flip the ends. Trim every 8 weeks.
2. The Layered Lob
A layered lob falls somewhere between the chin and collarbone, with long internal layers to take out bulk. The perimeter stays almost blunt so the ends read full. Fine to medium hair and oval, round and square faces suit it. Put waves through the mid-lengths with a 1.25-inch iron and leave the ends straight. Few short layered haircuts are as adaptable. Trim every 8 to 10 weeks.
3. The Layered Bob
A layered bob sits at the jaw with short layers through the crown for lift. I cut the perimeter first and then point cut the layers in so the shape stays rounded. Fine hair that needs volume and oval or heart faces suit it. Dry over a medium round brush and finish with a light texture spray. A trim every 6 weeks holds the shape.
4. Choppy Bob With Layers
A choppy bob with layers is point cut deep into the ends so the pieces pull apart. I cut it at the chin with uneven, textured layers through the top. Medium to thick straight or wavy hair and square or oval faces suit it. Style with a texture paste and a bend from the flat iron. Of the short layered haircuts, this one hides grow-out especially well. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
5. The Stacked Bob
A stacked bob graduates the nape, with short stacked layers in the back that build up toward longer front pieces. The crown gains volume. Fine to medium straight hair and oval or heart faces suit it, and it works well for women over 40. Dry the back over a small round brush. Trim every 5 to 6 weeks to keep the stack tight.
6. Layered Inverted Bob
A layered inverted bob is shorter at the back and angles longer toward the chin. I graduate the back and blend soft layers over the top. Straight hair of medium density and round or oval faces suit it, since the angle leads the eye downward. Dry it smooth with a paddle brush and tuck one side behind the ear. Trim every 6 weeks.
7. The Layered Pixie
A layered pixie keeps the sides and nape short with a longer top, about three to four inches. I razor the top for soft, piecey texture. Oval and heart faces and fine to medium hair suit it. Work a small amount of matte paste through dry hair. Of all the short layered haircuts here, this is the shortest. Trim every 4 to 6 weeks.
8. Side-Bang Long Pixie
A side-bang long pixie leaves the top and fringe long enough to sweep across the forehead. I taper the nape and point cut the bangs on a diagonal. Round and square faces and fine to medium hair suit it. Dry the bangs across with a flat brush and finish with a light pomade. Trim every 5 to 6 weeks.
9. The Pixie Bob
A pixie bob lands between a pixie and a bob, with a short nape and longer pieces around the ears and jaw. I graduate the back and point cut the layers on top. Oval and heart faces and fine to medium hair suit it. Style with a texture spray and a round brush at the crown. Trim every 5 weeks.
10. The Shaggy Bob
A shaggy bob puts razor-cut layers through a chin-length cut, with the most texture at the crown. Curtain bangs or a wispy fringe finish it. Wavy hair of medium density and oval or long faces suit it. Air-dry with a sea salt spray and scrunch. It is one of the short layered haircuts that needs no heat. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
11. The Short Shag
A short shag ends above the jaw, with a heavy fringe and choppy layers at the crown. I razor the top and keep the nape short. Thick, wavy or curly hair and oval or heart faces suit it. Either diffuse with a curl cream or scrunch mousse through it. It takes less styling than a bob. Trim every 6 weeks so the crown layers stay short.
12. Shag at Shoulder Length
A shag at shoulder length adds choppy crown layers and curtain bangs to a cut that skims the shoulders. I razor the top and point cut the perimeter. Wavy and curly hair of medium density suits it. Air-dry with a curl cream or sea salt spray. Among the short layered haircuts shoulder length wearers choose, this is the one for more texture. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
13. The Mini Butterfly Cut
A mini butterfly cut sets short layers at the cheekbones over shoulder-length hair. I pull the hair forward to cut the face-framing layers, then blend them into the back. Medium to thick hair and oval or heart faces suit it. Dry over a large round brush and roll the front pieces away. Trim every 8 weeks so the front layers stay short.
14. The Short Wolf Cut
A short wolf cut pairs shaggy crown volume with a tapered, wispy nape. I razor the top short and leave the back a little longer. Thick, wavy hair and oval faces suit it. Scrunch in texture spray and diffuse, or let it air-dry. Heavy oils flatten the crown, so leave them out. It is one of the short layered haircuts that grows into a shag. Trim every 6 weeks to hold the shape.
15. Curtain-Bang Layered Bob
A curtain-bang layered bob pairs a jaw-length cut with a fringe that opens at the cheekbones. I cut soft layers through the crown and blend the bangs down into them. Oval, long and square faces and fine to medium hair suit it. Dry the bangs over a small round brush. Trim the bob every 6 weeks and the bangs every 4 weeks.
16. Curtain-Bang Layered Lob
A curtain-bang layered lob sits at the collarbone, with the fringe blended into the first layer at the cheekbone. Long internal layers take out bulk. Medium to thick hair and oval or oblong faces suit it. Wave the length and dry the bangs away from the face. These short layered haircuts shoulder length or a little below want a trim every 8 weeks.
17. Wispy-Bang Shoulder-Length Layers
Wispy-bang shoulder-length layers combine a thinned, see-through fringe with layers from the chin down. I point cut deep into the bangs so the forehead shows. Fine to medium hair and oval or long faces suit it. Dry the bangs flat and the length over a round brush. A touch of dry shampoo keeps the bangs separated. Trim the bangs every 3 to 4 weeks.
18. Blunt-Bang Layered Bob
A blunt-bang layered bob pairs a heavy brow-length fringe with soft layers through the back. The bangs stay thick and the layers stay light. Oval and oblong faces and straight hair of medium to thick density suit it. Dry the bangs down with a flat brush while they are still damp. Trim the bangs every 3 weeks and the bob every 6 weeks.
19. Shoulder-Length Feathered Layers
Shoulder-length feathered layers angle back and away from the face in the 1970s way. I razor the front sections so the ends feather. Straight to wavy hair of medium density and oval or heart faces suit it. Dry each section back over a round brush and set with hairspray. Of the short layered haircuts, this one takes a big blowout best. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
20. Layered Razor-Cut Bob
A layered razor-cut bob has soft, tapered ends with more movement than a scissor cut. I run the razor through each section from mid-length to the ends. Medium to thick straight or wavy hair suits it, but frizz-prone curls do not. Use a smoothing serum, then blow-dry or air-dry. Ask for a new blade at every cut. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
21. The Textured Lob
A textured lob is point cut through the ends and mid-lengths so the hair separates into pieces. I hold the length at the collarbone and keep the layers light. Fine to medium hair that goes flat when blunt suits it. Give small sections a twist with the flat iron, then finish with dry texture spray. It is one of the short layered haircuts shoulder length clients wear with very little styling. Trim every 8 weeks.
22. Flipped 90s Layered Bob
A flipped 90s layered bob turns the ends out at the jaw. The perimeter stays a little blunt, with layers on top so the flip holds. Straight hair of medium density and round or oval faces suit it. Roll the ends outward over a round brush as you dry and set with hairspray. Trim every 6 weeks to keep the flip crisp.
23. Fine-Hair Layered Bob
A fine-hair layered bob holds a blunt perimeter for density and adds only a few short crown layers for lift. I point cut lightly rather than razoring. Oval and heart faces suit it. Dry with volumizing mousse at the roots and a medium round brush. For thin ends, it is one of the safest short layered haircuts. Trim every 6 weeks.
24. Thick-Hair Short Layers
Short layers in thick hair take out weight so the cut stops puffing at the sides. I slide cut and use texturizing shears through the interior, with the perimeter at the shoulders. Oval and square faces suit it. Dry with a smoothing cream. On thick hair, these short layered haircuts shoulder length halve the drying time. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
25. Curly Layered Bob
A curly layered bob is cut dry, one curl at a time, so the shape stays rounded rather than turning into a triangle. I cut it at the chin with the curls dry. 3A to 3C curls of medium to thick density suit it. Work curl cream and gel into soaking-wet hair and diffuse. On day two, refresh with water. Trim every 8 to 10 weeks.
Short hair lives or dies on the trim schedule — a pixie needs the shears every four to six weeks — and the layers are what keep it from going round. FYI, point-cut ends buy you an extra week. The oval face haircuts guide breaks down the rest of the shapes.
