How To Style Short Straight Hair

• Hairstylist Bill Angst explains how to style short, straight hair in this student consultation.
• She recommends a pixie with a long fringe, which can be styled in the front, on the side or off the face.
• Want a consultation about your hair? Read more here.

Q: Hi Bill, I don’t know what to do with my short hair. I’ve had cuts that I’ve loved in the past, but I’ve been uninspired for a while and I’m feeling blah about my hair.

My hair is straight, thin and fine. Unless it’s cut very short, we like to blow well on the right side, but flip it to the left. When it is long, it tends to be clumpy, stringy and tangled. Having said that, it’s quite healthy—it’s not pigmented, and I rarely dry it out.

I don’t have time for a complicated style, so I keep it simple. My method: wash, towel dry and comb or finger comb. Then, I blow it out or spray it as it air dries on a low volume. The last time I was short, I used a texture cream for many days.

I have to admit that when I want to kick it up a notch, I don’t know what to do and it takes forever. How can I make my hair look amazing with minimal effort?

I prefer short hair in general, so for now, I’d like to stick with short. I’m willing to learn new skills, try new products, and try a different color, but my time is still limited early in the morning. So I’m very concerned about getting an amazing cut. Thank you so much for your advice! — Adrienne

A: Adrienne, thank you for your request about a short haircut that will be easy and very cool. As with all design, it’s all in the details, and they make the finished product.

With short hair, there are few rules of detail. The most important thing, since there is not much hair to play with, is that there should be a major feature that stands out. This can be a long fringe, a long crown, a long nape, or a few of these variations combined.

Let’s start by making the fringe a little longer than the rest of the hair:

To go with this cut option, I would suggest coloring the tips of your hair to add depth to your color. Always remember that the tips are cut quickly, and not on the scalp for those with sensitive skin.

Then we have a short back option with a long fringe:

Combing your hair forward is the way to go with this style. I would recommend using a gel or gel-cream to keep it in place. Be careful not to use too much. If you’re styling short hair, it’s best to “set” it in place while it’s wet with gel, then let it air dry. Remove your hands until they are completely dry.

At this point, you may want to define the ends or add more texture and volume. Molding paste should do the trick here. Rub the product into your hands well before applying, and use what’s on your fingertips. Then run your fingers through your hair to separate it.

Here are some styling options with this cut that I’d like you to play with:

Now comes a long crown option that may have an even longer, side-swept fringe in your future:

Seeing a little hair behind your ear will also be lovely:

You are on your way to great heights….

As for the color of your hair, please don’t limit yourself, because you can add a lot of character to a short cut. It’s also easy to pull off if you keep it short.

A permanent gloss can be a great way to experiment with driving a deeper shade.

Product Selection

Aveda Confixor Liquid Gel

Aveda Confixor Liquid Gel adds moderate hold, definition and lightweight hydration to fine to medium hair strands.

Odele Flex Hair Gel

Odele Flex Hair Gel is a lightweight gel with a flexible medium hold, leaving your hair with frizz-free definition and shine.

Paul Mitchell Fast Form Cream Gel

Paul Mitchell Fast Form Cream Gel is a lightweight cream-gel formula that provides a soft, smooth, long-lasting hold while reducing drying time.

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