EVELYSS / Guides / Beauty

Party Hairstyles for Short Hair: Six Easy Looks for Bobs and Pixie Cuts

“Short hair doesn't need to imitate an updo to feel dressed up. One strong line, a sleek tuck or a single glittering clip will do it. With short hair, shape always beats quantity, and it gets you to the party early.”Her take

What do you need before you start?

Keep it simple: a tail comb, 6 to 10 kirby grips in your hair colour, a small clear elastic, dry shampoo, light-hold hairspray, shine serum or balm, and straighteners or a small curling tong if you want movement. Choose one finishing piece, such as a jewelled clip or a slim velvet band.

Clean hair is often too slippery to pin. If you've washed it that day, spray a little dry shampoo or texture spray at the roots and comb it through. Use heat protection before straighteners or tongs, and check that every section has cooled before you pin it.

Side-swept pinned bob

This is the fastest way to look deliberately styled. Make a deep side parting, sweep the fuller side back behind your ear and pin it in place. Crossing two kirby grips in an X holds better than one, particularly on thick or slippery hair.

To make it look finished, tuck a jewelled clip over the crossed grips, or use three parallel grips with a small gap between them as decoration. Lightly curl the ends on the open side so the hair falls forward rather than sticking straight out.

Sleek tucked bob

A sleek tuck suits an earring-led outfit and works especially well for chin-length hair. Apply a little serum or styling cream to damp hair, blow-dry with a brush, then make a clean centre or side parting. Smooth the front back and tuck it behind both ears.

Secure the tuck with a hidden grip behind each ear and mist hairspray on a comb to smooth flyaways. Keep the ends sleek and turned slightly under. Add bold earrings and a strong lip, and you'll need nothing else.

Half-up twist or mini top knot

If your hair reaches past your jaw, take a section from temple to temple across the crown. Twist each side back towards the middle, then pin the twists together with crossed grips. Gently tease the twists with your fingertips to give them more body before spraying.

For a mini top knot, gather the same section into a tiny ponytail with a clear elastic, twist it round itself and pin it. Leave a few face-framing pieces free if you've got a fringe or layers.

Soft waves with straighteners

Divide your hair into sections roughly 3cm wide. Clamp near the roots, turn the straighteners half a turn away from your face and glide down slowly, stopping before the last 2cm so the ends stay straight. Alternate direction with every section to avoid uniform curls.

Let the waves cool completely, then shake them out with your fingers. For fine hair, mist each section with a light-hold spray once it has cooled, so the waves have more staying power.

Party hair for pixie cuts and very short hair

Choose between texture and polish. For texture, rub a pea-sized amount of matte paste between your palms and pinch the top into soft, slightly raised pieces. For polish, comb a side parting and smooth the hair with balm, leaving a shiny, sculpted finish at the temples.

Sparkle still works here. A pair of small jewelled clips placed just above one ear looks intentional and doesn't require length. Pair it with one good earring and leave the rest of the hair alone.

Questions people ask

The takeaway

Add texture, choose one strong shape, cross your grips, let heat-styled sections cool, and add one sparkling detail rather than several.

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