13 Hairstyles On Short Hair That Are Actually Easy to DIY

13 Hairstyles On Short Hair That Are Actually Easy to DIY

Short hair gets a bad reputation when it comes to styling options. People assume once you chop it off, you’re stuck with the same look every single day until it grows back out. That’s just not true anymore. With a few bobby pins, some texturizing spray, and maybe ten extra minutes in front of the mirror, short hair can go from “just woke up” to “did you just leave the salon?” in no time.

The trick is knowing which techniques actually work on shorter lengths. Not every updo or braid translates well when you’re working with less hair to grab onto. So I pulled together thirteen styles that look impressive but don’t require a cosmetology degree to pull off. Grab your hair ties and let’s get into it.

Braided Bun

This one’s a classic for a reason. You section your hair, braid it loosely, then twist the braid into a little knot at the base of your neck or up higher near your crown. It works surprisingly well on shorter hair because the braid adds bulk, so even if your ponytail feels thin, the finished bun looks full and intentional. Pin down any flyaways with a bit of texturizing spray first so they don’t poke out mid-braid.

French Braid

A french braid on short hair can be tricky, but a small braid tucked close to your hairline is doable even with layers or a bob. Start the braid right at your part and keep adding small sections as you go, pinning the tail once you run out of length to work with. It’s a great option when you want your hair off your face without doing a full updo, and it looks especially cute paired with curtain bangs left out to frame your face.

Unstructured Messy Chignon

This is the “I have five minutes and zero patience” hairstyle, and honestly, it’s one of my favorites. Gather your hair low, twist it loosely, and secure with a couple of pins, leaving some pieces out around your ears and neck. The messier it looks, the better it works. Fine or medium hair does especially well here since the slight looseness gives the illusion of more volume than you actually have.

Romantic Braided Crown Updo

Think of this as a half-up braid that wraps around like a little crown. You take two small sections near your part, braid each one back toward the opposite ear, and pin them so they meet in the middle. It reads as romantic and a little bit vintage without looking like you tried too hard. Wavy or textured hair holds the braid shape better, so a quick pass with a wand beforehand helps it stay put longer.

Wrapped Bun Low Updo

This is a slightly more polished cousin of the messy chignon. Instead of leaving things loose, you smooth your hair back, gather it low, and wrap a small section around the base of the bun to hide the elastic. It gives a sleek, almost editorial finish that works great for interviews, dinners, or any time you want to look a little more put together without spending forty minutes on it. A bit of gel at the hairline keeps baby hairs from escaping.

Soft Low Knot with Long Bangs

If you’ve got longer bangs or face-framing pieces, this style lets them do all the work. You twist the back into a soft, low knot and leave your bangs swept to the side or brushed forward for movement. It’s an easy everyday option that still feels styled rather than thrown together. Curl the bangs slightly with a small barrel iron for extra softness around your face.

Pinned-Up Twirl

This one’s less of a full updo and more of a styling trick — you take a section from each side, twist it back, and pin it at the crown so it stays out of your face. It’s ridiculously quick, which makes it perfect for gym days, errands, or humid weather when you just need your hair contained. Add a little dry shampoo at the roots beforehand for texture the pins can actually grip onto.

Balayage Hair Ideas

Color can completely change how a short cut reads, and balayage is one of the most forgiving techniques out there because it grows out softly instead of leaving a harsh line. On shorter lengths, the lighter pieces tend to show up more since there’s less hair to blend them into, which actually makes movement and texture stand out more. Ask your colorist for finer, more delicate placement if you want something subtle, or go bolder around the face for a look with more dimension.

Hairstyles for Short Hair

Beyond the specific techniques in this list, short hair in general opens up a lot of room to play with texture. A tousled, undone finish tends to look more current than anything too sleek or overworked, and it’s honestly less effort too. Sea salt spray, a diffuser if you’ve got natural wave or curl, or just scrunching in some mousse can take a basic short cut from flat to full pretty fast. The shorter the length, the more the cut itself does the heavy lifting, so a good trim every six to eight weeks matters more than usual.

Flowing Waves with Sunlit Balayage Blonde and Brown

Even on shorter lengths, soft waves paired with warm, sun-kissed color can look incredibly lived-in and natural. This combo works especially well on lobs or longer bobs where there’s just enough length for the waves to have movement. A loose curl with a one-inch wand, brushed out with your fingers rather than a brush, keeps things looking effortless instead of overly curled. The blonde and brown blend adds depth so the waves catch the light instead of looking like one flat color.

Top Knot

The top knot is proof that you don’t need much length to pull off a bun. Gather your hair as high as it’ll go, twist, and wrap it around itself until it sits in a little knot on top of your head. Shorter pieces will probably escape, and that’s fine — leave them, they add texture instead of looking messy. It’s an especially good option on second or third day hair when texture is already working in your favor.

Sleek Braided Low Bun

This is the more formal, put-together version of the braided bun mentioned earlier. Smooth everything back first, braid a low ponytail, then coil it into a tight bun at the nape of your neck. It’s a solid choice for weddings, work events, or anywhere you want a polished look that won’t budge for hours. A strong-hold gel or pomade at the hairline keeps the sleekness intact even on hair that’s a little too short to fully cooperate.

Classic Loose Bun on Brunette Hair

Sometimes simple really is best. A loose, low bun with a few pieces pulled out around the face reads effortless without looking careless, and it happens to look especially rich on brunette hair where the shadows and dimension in the bun itself become part of the style. Twist your hair low, secure it, then gently pull the bun apart with your fingers to loosen it up. It’s a five-minute style that somehow always looks like more effort went into it than actually did.

Short hair honestly has more range than most people give it credit for. Once you get comfortable with a couple of these techniques — a low bun here, a tiny braid there — you’ll start mixing and matching depending on your mood or how much time you’ve got that morning. None of these require fancy tools or a ton of product, just a little practice and maybe a few extra bobby pins in your bag for backup.