Trust Me—These 27 Short Haircuts Require Barely Any Upkeep

One of the most common misconceptions about short hair is how time-consuming styling and upkeep can be. Turns out it’s a myth as old as time, and we’re here to put an end to it. Just like some long hairstyles can look lifeless when not styled, so too can shorter hair. But opting for a shorter style doesn’t mean you’ll be glued to your stylist’s chair every week. In fact, the right low-maintenance short haircut for you will depend a lot on your texture, the condition of your hair, and your lifestyle. For instance, if you have very curly hair, then opting for a sleek bob will require a lot of heat and therefore way more in-salon treatments to repair and restore your strands.

We asked experts for some intel on how to decide on the best short cut to meet your needs, as well as the best hair gels, masks, and sprays for a salon-worthy finish and extended wear. "Every head of hair is different, so it’s important to have a thorough consultation with your stylist on the easiest upkeep for you," advised London-based hairstylist Adam Reed. "There are many considerations for a low-maintenance look and techniques that your stylist can achieve for any length you desire."

Ahead, keep scrolling for the 27 best low-maintenance short haircuts. You'll be itching to chop your hair off in no time.

The 27 Best Short Haircuts of 2025

Italian Bob

We've been enchanted by Italian bobs ever since Zendaya graced the red carpet wearing it during summer 2024. A modern take on old Hollywood glamor, the bouncy, high volume cut will always add a touch of effortless elegance.

French Bob

What's more timeless than a French bob? Recreate the classic Parisian hair look by making sure any frizz is kept to a minimum and having fun with the placement of your strands (i.e. try tucking a section behind your ears).

Textured Bob

If you have curls, play with the natural texture of your hair to add endless variety to your shorter style.

One-Length Bob

One-length bob for the win. For this style to be low-maintenance, it suits straighter textures.

Chin-Length Bob

A sleek, chin-length bob is always a classic look.

Mid-Length Cut

With this mid-length style, there's no awkward growing-out phase.

Bob With No Layers

With a bob this short, opting out of layers is best to avoid having to hide any tricky regrowth. To achieve sleek and ultra-shiny results, incorporate a smoothing mask like Davine's Love Smoothing Instant Hair Mask ($40) into your haircare routine.

Bob With Hidden Layers

If you have naturally thick hair, then cutting in hidden layers will remove weight from the ends and make your short style look tapered. Chic.

The Shag

We're calling—the shag haircut is still going to be a huge trend in 2023, and a shag bob is the easiest kind to grow out.

Bob With Defined Center Part

A short cut without a defined side part has a laid-back feel.

Shoulder-Skimming Bob

A shoulder-skimming bob will grow out into a great mid-length look if you keep your layers longer.

Blunt Bob

If you need any more convincing that a blunt bob is for you, here you go. It's also so stylish when pulled back into a ponytail with the help of a flexible styling gel like Leonor Greyl Paris' À l'Hibiscus Styling Gel ($34).

Textured Long Bob (Lob)

Here's your sign to finally try wearing a textured long bob (also known as a lob). "Adding in layers is an easy way to keep a look fresh," says Reed. "A bob can be very versatile, as there are so many variations as it grows out, and it is easy to add in texture to the shape to reduce any weight as the look grows."

Textured Pixie Cut

"The laid-back pixie cut is the perfect cut for those who are looking for something different after lockdown. Think soft, air-dried, alluring, effortless, and super cool for this cut," says hairstylist Sam Ashcroft of Brooks and Brooks London.

Center-Parted Bob

If you have finer hair, then keeping the ends of your sleek cut will help your hair look fuller and thicker.

Cut With Face-Framing Strands

Keeping the hair that frames your face slightly longer helps to extend the lifespan of a short cut.

Curly Cut

Who doesn't love a wash-and-go on a curly cut? If you're growing out a TWA—that's a teeny-weeny afro—then there's no awkward in-between stage when your kinks and coils are healthy and hydrated.

Wavy Bob

Embracing your wavy texture will give your short style a laid-back yet luxurious feel.

Short Layers

If in doubt, sleek it out. An easy option for playing with any difficult short layers.

Bob With Deep Side Part

Bob not playing ball? No sweat. Just sweep it over for a relaxed, deep side part. Use a flexible hair spray such as R+Co's Outer Space Flexible Hairspray ($37) to hold it in place.

Layered Long Bob

An easy way to add ample movement and volume to your short strands is by opting for a layered long bob like this one by hairstylist Chad Kenyon that features face-framing strands and big, bouncy curls.

Bob With Pinned-Back Strands

Tuck and pin back the front section of your hair to hide any layers or bobs that are growing out.

Blunt Cut With Wispy Bangs

A blunt cut with a wispy bangs is always a winning combo.

Short Twists

Keep curls hydrated for springy curl definition in this shorter style.

Wavy Pixie Cut

Add intrigue to your waves by cutting it into a cute pixie and adding volume around the crown of the head. Finish the look off with some face-framing strands and a side part.

Clavicut

Clavicuts just have a way of appearing effortless. It's basically a lob cut to your collarbone (aka, your clavicle). It's super low-maintenance and a great choice to embrace your natural hair texture.

Butterfly Bob

Fluttery and chic, the butterfly bob involves face framing, feathered layers and curtain bangs. The style has tons of airy movement, meant to resemble elegant butterfly wings.

Which short haircut should you choose?

Of all the short haircuts to consider, the easiest to maintain is actually a textured long bob—also known as a lob. As the style grows out, the long layers won’t fall awkwardly and will naturally shift into a mid-length look. Want to go for something even shorter? Try a pixie cut. "The laid-back pixie is a sister style of the shag cut; it’s layered and structured, but at the same time, minimal product and styling are used, and it relies entirely on the natural texture. The cut will evolve over time as it grows out, and you should enjoy the different phases that come with it," says Ashcroft.

Are short haircuts low-maintenance?

They sure can be! As we mentioned up top, the right low-maintenance short haircut for you ultimately depends on your hair texture and lifestyle. Sleek bobs tend to require more heat styling, which may not be ideal for those with breakage-prone strands. Lobs and shags tend to have a forgiving grow-out period, while cropped, clean pixie cuts may require more trips to the salon (say, every three to four weeks), which might not work for some schedules and budgets. Before opting for any chop, it's best to chat with your hairstylist about the commitment and maintenance involved.

How do you style short hair?

Product-wise, it's all about keeping hair healthy to ensure your cut stays looking fresh without too much intervention. "My biggest piece of advice in keeping hair looking fresh is to use products as a preventative and to continuously nourish and maintain hair health," says Reed. "I love a deeply hydrating and protecting mask, like the L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Mask ($46), which is packed with quinoa for a boost of protein and protection for damaged hair."

This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.