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10 Low-Maintenance Short Haircuts That Won’t Eat Up Your Mornings

low-maintenance-short-haircuts-universal: a collage of three female celebrities
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Some women are experts at wielding a blow dryer. Others can braid with lightning speed and skill. We are not those women (though we’ve certainly tried over the years). Thankfully, with the right haircut you can get by with minimal effort and still look put-together.

And good news for those of you with short hair: You’re already a step ahead of the game. From shoulder-grazing lobs to chin-hugging bobs, shorter styles have been trending for years now and showing no signs of stopping. For anyone who’s considering a fresh chop, here are the 10 best low-maintenance haircuts for short hair that get the stamp of approval from our team of experts.

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Meet the Experts:

  • Michelle Cleveland is a celebrity hairstylist, extension artist and educator at the Hair Addict salon in New Jersey. Michelle has studied and trained in advanced cuts and color in London, Miami, and New York and has multi-certifications with Vidal Sassoon, Toni & Guy and Wella.
  • Glenn Ellis is a hairstylist at Andy LeCompte Salon in Los Angeles, who is known for his ability to work across different hair types and textures. He has earned accolades within the hairstyling community for his work featured in CR Fashion Book, Vogue and Nylon Magazine, and he has worked with celebrities including Olivia Wilde, Sara Paulson, Meg Ryan and Jane Fonda.
  • Marisa Sneider is a hairstylist at the Hawthorne location of Tricoci Salon in Chicago. She specializes in haircuts, special occasion hairstyles, keratin treatments and more.
  • Sarah Koseck is an extension and cutting specialist at Tricoci Salon in Chicago.
  • Sharonicka Hicks is a senior hair artist and educator at Tricoci Salon in Chicago.
low maintenance short haircuts textured lob jenna ortega
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1. Textured Lob

“When it comes to shorter hair, I’m obsessed with the textured lob right now. Celebs like Jenna Ortega have rocked this look because it’s super low maintenance and requires nothing more than a bit of texturizing spray to show off the layers,” shares Cleveland.

low maintenance short haircuts pixie cut anne hathaway
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2. Pixie Cut

“When I think of pixie cuts, I immediately think of Anne Hathaway circa 2012. This cut is a great option for many people because it is so versatile. I personally like pixies that are layered and piecey, so it grows out nicely and looks good between salon appointments,” says Ellis. He adds: “My favorite way to style it is with a texturizing paste just through the ends and getting regular trims every six or so weeks to keep the shape.”

low maintenance short haircuts modern bowl cut maggie rodgers
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3. Modern Bowl Cut

Another current favorite for Ellis is this shorter style a la Maggie Rogers. “When consulting with a stylist about this cut, bring in photos and ask for a short heavily layered cut with a fringe,” he says. “Another pro is that this cut wears well day to day with minimal styling and looks amazing with just a little texture spray to piece out the ends.”

low maintenance short haircuts angled bob rose byrne
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4. Angled Bob

“I love a subtle, angled bob,” shares Sneider. “The layers keep the cut lightened up, so it doesn’t feel heavy as it grows longer, and the soft angle gives it a nice shape overall. And you can either use a round brush and blow dryer to give it a sleeker look or you could add some beach waves, too,” she adds.

low maintenance short haircuts rounded bob eva chen
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5. Rounded Bob

Ask your stylist for a center-parted blunt bob that sits just beneath your chin. Let them know that you want to be able to wear your bob straight with a voluminous bend toward the bottom.

low maintenance short haircuts asymmetrical bob rihanna
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6. Asymmetrical Bob

“Rihanna’s sexy short haircut with fringe is a popular starting point for women who want to cut their hair shorter,” says Hicks. Not only does it make a statement, as Rihanna demonstrates to great effect, but the sharp cut gives your hair a structured line creating bluntness, making the ends look thicker and fuller. “These types of silhouettes are low maintenance because having such a strong shape as your base makes the daily styling process so much easier!” adds Hicks.

low maintenance short haircuts disconnected shags barbie ferreira
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7. Disconnected Shags

A go-to for Koseck? “A shag in disconnected shapes with pieces that are shorter underneath and keeping a bit more length on top. This type of cut creates a lot of movement and texture in the hair, and since the hair is shorter underneath, you get more,” she says. Plus, for people with thick hair that tends to look puffy, this cut helps maintain its shape as it grows out.

low-maintenance-short-haircuts-layered curls: a photo of actress Tracee Ellis Ross
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8. Layered Curls

Got a head full of ringlets? Let them shine with a fresh cut. As Hicks shares, curly hair is actually easier to style when you remove some of the weight from the ends. Consider clearing the shoulders and adding some layers throughout to yield maximum spring.

low maintenance short haircuts mixie
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9. Mixie

Looking for something that's a bit bolder and edgier? Try a mixie. The key to getting this cut right is to be extremely specific when you're talking to your stylist. Do you want shaved sections? Length variations throughout? Choppy layers—and if so, how long do you want them? Together, you and your stylist can create a mixie that will require the least amount of effort to style at home, using some variation of a paste or texture spray before air drying or blow drying with a vented brush.

low-maintenance-short-haircuts-buzz-cut: a photo of actress Florence Pugh
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10. Buzz Cut

Last but not least, the easiest cut to style of all: a buzz cut. Yes, you will need to stay on top of regular trims to keep things clean and cropped, but on the day-to-day, the buzz cut is as hands off as it gets. And, as stylist Erin Courtney previously told PureWow, "[this] cut is great for thin hair because any thinning or balding spots will not be as obvious as they may be in a longer haircut."


Jenny Jin Headshot Vertical 2023

Beauty Director

  • Oversees all beauty content at PureWow
  • Has over a decade of experience in writing and editing, both in print and digital media
  • Produces 'Youngish' newsletter, a guide to beauty in your 30s and beyond