I’m calling it— 2023 is officially the *the* year of the short hair summer. And I’ve got the evidence to back it up. Every single hairstylist I speak to says that they are seeing more and more clients in the salon chair who are looking to hack off their lengths and go for one of the many, many varieties of the bob haircut—it’s one of the most requested hairstyles doing the rounds right now. From the voluminous Italian bob sported by Zendaya to Hailey Bieber’s sleek box bob, there is a bob hairstyle to suit just about everyone. But it’s not the only hairstyle we’re hacking off our lengths for. Short hairstyles are big news in every form. Even Lupita Nyong’o and Florence Pugh have recently debuted short buzz cuts, and we’re seeing the ’70s-inspired mullet and the shag haircut still doing the rounds too. If it’s shoulder-length or shorter, you’ll no doubt be seeing these 2023 hair trends on your social feeds this summer.
Of course, short hair lends itself well to the summer heat too, when long lengths can be harder to maintain or feel too cloying when the temperatures rise. Not to mention the humidity can wreak havoc with all the effort put into styling. For this reason, summer hairstyles for short hair need to be simple and look chic—stat. Whether you’re spending the season in the city and need some easy summer hairstyle inspiration, or jetting off on holiday and need some ideas on how to take your poolside hairstyle from beach to the bar, you’ll want to have plenty of simple hairstyles to take you through the season.
Hailey Bieber tucked her short and slick bob behind her ears for Coachella this year.
The experts have a couple of tips for making the most of your short hair in the summer heat, too. “The ultimate protection is to keep your hair out of the sun and covered, but the next easy thing is to use a UV protecting mist and wearing protective styles,” says celebrity hairstylist, Sam McKnight. “Whether you summer in the city or at the beach, sun and humidity protection is key. Fight flyaways with Happy Endings (£36), a hybrid nourishing balm with defines, de-frizzes and de-fluffs while sealing split ends. Layer it up into wet or dry hair, braid or twist for the day, and go from beach to bar or desk to date by shaking it out and misting Sundaze Sea Spray (£26), a UV protecting mist to give you sea kissed texture like the ultimate Ibizan Cool Girl.”
And curls can benefit from some extra TLC in the summer too, says Afro Hair Specialist and BaByliss Pro Ambassador, Michelle Sultan. “Humidity is the biggest cause of flyaways, followed by humidity freeze which is caused by using too much or too little products, and over-manipulating the hair,” she says. “Some of my clients will towel dry their hair before using styling products, and this causes curls and coils to freeze and even break the curl pattern. It can also be caused by the water pressure on your shower head being too harsh [and]if water is too hot, so turn down the water and avoid over-washing your hair.”
So, if you’re after some summer hairstyles for your short hair, we’ve rounded up the sleekest we’ve found, as well as the newest styling products to help you tap into your short hair summer.
If your hair is just about long enough to tie back, a mini ponytail or bun is a speedy way to tie your hair up.
These braided tendrils are giving festival vibes—and gives maximum impact with minimum effort.
A bandana or scarf instantly elevates your look in a matter of moments.
I’m saving Charithras’ beachy waves, which look great on her shoulder-length bob.
These soft S-waves were made for summer hair.
Short braids are a winner for the summer months—try experimenting with a side parting.
These sleek curled-under layers are the ideal way to switch up your bob in minutes during the summer months.
Hailey Bieber gives her short hairstyle a throwback school twist with these baby plaits with bows.
A low, sleek bun is an effortless summer hairstyle for shorter hair that is long enough to be tied back.
In case you needed anymore convincing to go for cornrows this summer, take this as your sign.
Whether worn high in a bun, low at the nape of the neck or in two sections as shown here, a puff style is a winner (and bonus points for the Y2K butterfly hair accessories).
Whatever your curl type or pattern, we’re all for embracing your natural hair texture year-round.
Ghanam’s bob perfectly frames her face thanks to those tousled bends in the hair.
If you’re blessed with natural curls (or choosing to add them with heated styling tools) then a long bob showcases them beautifully.
Protective styles like braids look chic at any length, but we particularly love this chin-grazing style for summer.
Bantu knots work great on shorter hair.
HoYeon Jung’s curled under bob has a retro feeling with the addition of a micro fringe.
Sometimes a hairstyle doesn’t need to be complicated. If you usually wear your bob in a middle parting, why not flip it over to a side parting for an extra dose of volume a la Lily James?
Summer goes hand in hand with beachy texture, and I love how effortless this tousled bob looks on Milly Alcock.
Parting your hair to the side and tucking your bob behind your ears is a great way to speedily switch up your everyday bob, and showcase any ear piercings too.
This wet-look pixie cut on Charithra Chandran lives rent-free in my mind.
Speaking of pixie haircuts, we need to talk about Pixie Lott’s new cut. I love how she’s styled this short hairstyle with a headband—a chic way to keep layers up and away from your face.
Tendrils are big news this summer, so if you’re wearing your hair up, let a couple of strands free for instant cool-girl hair.
Just look at the volume in this haircut on Selenda Gomez. We can expect the shag haircut to remain popular this summer, too.
Using a French pin instantly adds interest to any bun hairstyle.
The mullet is another seventies style that looks chic styled with flicks layers.
The classic haircut looks chic with volume and tousled layers.
A claw clip is a must for quickly pinning back hair.
Price shown is member price. Adds shine and fights humidity? We’ll take two please.
When it’s too hot to blow-dry your hair, you can count on this air-dry cream to leave your hair hydrated and allow your natural texture to shine through.
If your short hairstyle is on the longer side, then a French pin will become your go-to for chic updos.
