5 Short Hairstyling and Hair Care Tips to Get You Ready for a New Haircut

Deciding to chop your hair is rarely an easy decision. No matter how many times you flip a coin or pull off flower petals, trying to let fate pick your hair style, it’s normal to waiver back and forth on whether or not you’re ready for more than a trim. But, we’re here to give you a gentle nudge in the right direction. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a change, ready to say goodbye to split ends, or hoping for a less high maintenance hair care routine—getting short hair could be right for you.

Still not convinced? Just remember, hair grows back. If your bravery ends up being short (ha!) lived, it’ll only be a matter of months before you’re gaining back length. Comforting, right? But thankfully, we have a feeling you’ll love your new look, whether that’s a bob or a pixie cut—you can’t go wrong with a short hairstyle. Once you’re committed to making the cut, you’ll want to sharpen your short hair care and styling skills, with our best tips below.

Short Hair Tip #1: Consider Your Face Shape

The hairstyle that suits your favorite celebrity may not be the best match for you, no matter how much you wish it were. The facts may not be what you want to hear, but the truth is, not everyone can pull off every single hairstyle. The style that’s going to look the best on you depends on your face shape. For example, a round face can really rock a hairstyle with lots of height on top, while someone with an oval face shape will be better suited to a cut that’s closely cropped on top and longer on the sides. To find a cut that’s a good pick for you, look to celebrities who share your face shape, or head on over to our article on the best haircuts for every face shape.

Short Hair Tip #2: Think About Updating Your Color, Too

There’s no reason you have to stick with just one change at a time. If you want a whole new look, pair your short haircut with a new hair color. If you’re wondering whether you’d look beautiful with blonde hair or red hair, now’s your chance find out. After hitting the salon for your cut, you can even update your hair hue at home with the help of an at-home hair color kit, like the L’Oréal Paris Féria, L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference, or L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme. And just in case that sounds like too much newness for you, you can always switch up your shade with a temporary hair color spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Colorista 1-Day Spray, instead.

Short Hair Tip #3: Make Headbands Your BFF

If there’s one thing that can make super-short tresses less tempting, it’s having to give up the ability to pull your hair into a ponytail. This much-loved style just doesn’t work with shorter hair. Of course, that’s not enough to stop us. Rather, when you’re looking to get your hair off of your face, you’ll simply need to find another solution. Instead of keeping your wrist wrapped with hair ties, have a headband on hand to sweep your hair out of the way. Find a few stylish ones and you’ll be sure to have a new favorite accessory!

Short Hair Tip #4: Tousle for Texture

Truly, there’s no hair length that couldn’t stand for some added texture. But short hairstyles especially look their best when they’re tousled and texturized. For a messy, piece-y effect, try a hair pomade, like the L’Oréal Paris Out of Bed Texturizer. If you’d rather emphasize the natural shape of your hair, use a hair mousse.

Short Hair Tip #5: Book Follow-Up Haircuts

Going in for a trim once or twice a year just won’t do if you want to keep sporting a shorter mane. You’ll need to make trips to the salon a regular thing to avoid an awkward growing-out phase. To stay on top of frequent haircuts even when life gets busy, book your appointments further in advance and lock them into your planner before you’re otherwise obligated.

Still need some help selecting your perfect short style? Here you go: Short Hairstyles That Will Inspire You to Chop Your Locks This Winter.