Style Hair 35 Best Short Hairstyles To Flatter Brown Hair By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 27, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: @ashley901_ To chop or not to chop? This is the critical question that motivates hours of Pinterest perusing (and probably triggers cold sweats in the process). Add to that all the calculus involved in choosing a style—face shape, hair color, natural texture—and it's no wonder some of us never move beyond the inspiration stage. But what if we told you there's a cut that's so endlessly adaptable it can work for basically everyone? It's time you meet the many iterations of the bob. This short style (and its even shorter sibling, the crop) might just be the perfect cut for brunettes, since it lifts weight from your locks, while bringing enough drama to complement dark hair. Whether you commit to that fierce pixie look you've been eyeing for months or finally accent your signature bob with those perfectly wispy bangs, a short brunette cut can deliver exactly the oomph you're after. Find all the inspiration you need in these 35 can't-fail cuts. 01 of 35 Rounded Chin Bob @natalieannehair Sleek and shiny is always flattering for dark hair. A deep side part balances the subtle asymmetry of this trendy bob, while the under-the-chin flip keeps the look feminine. 02 of 35 Wispy Curtain Bangs @riawna Can we observe a moment of silence for these perfectly wispy bangs? Add them to any lob or bob to achieve the sort of effortless style that would make Brigitte Bardot proud. 03 of 35 Retro Curly Bangs @salsalhair We're convinced pursed lips are a necessary accessory for this bold shag. Since it's a shorter cut, the curly bangs blend right in, while still framing strong brows or chiseled cheekbones. 04 of 35 Tousled Crop @mila_kryshchykhina You'll never call crops "boyish" again after you try this ultra-feminine take. The flowy layers leave a little length up front for styling versatility, while the short back lends true crop cred. 05 of 35 Sleek Shoulder Cut @chrisjones_hair Sharp, sleek, shoulder-grazing-length—what's not to envy about this edgy cut by stylist Chris Jones? To score a similar style, request a shoulder-grazing bob with minimal layering. 06 of 35 Curly Shoulder Shag @natalieannehair / Instagram Curls demand lots of layers for maximum movement—and this shoulder-length cut doesn't disappoint. Tousled fringe helps break up the bounce. 07 of 35 Angled Shoulder Cut @natalieannehair Prepare for lift-off! Take the weight off your lob—and gain instant volume—by adding an angle toward the front. Request an A-line cut to avoid the layering of a stacked bob. 08 of 35 Textured Chin Bob @salsalhair Break up your bob with layers and long curtain bangs for loads of texture. This striking cut is an easy way to add dimension to dark hair without highlights. 09 of 35 Blunt Chin Bob @lucyhale Can we be blunt? This no-frills chop is hard to beat. Wear it straight for a sharp, low-demand look or with a slight bend wave for a touch of the undone. 10 of 35 Angled Balayage Bob @summerevansstudio Rock your dark roots and embrace the lighter side with blonde balayage. The color contrast in this look by stylist Summer Evans pairs perfectly with a flattering angled bob. 11 of 35 Retro Curly Shag @veronica_nunez Shags will never lead you astray, especially if you're sporting natural curls. It's the coolest way to play up your texture. Trust us. 12 of 35 Side-Swept Short Bob @styled_by_carolynn Nothing freshens up a spunky short haircut like fringe. Side-swept bangs bring volume and movement, ensuring your bob never veers into helmet-hair territory. 13 of 35 Balayaged A-Line Bob @styled_by_carolynn Playing with length isn't the only way to dramatically switch things up. To update your classic dark brown cut, add a slight A-line angle and incorporate fuchsia balayage highlights toward the front. You'll love the fun, face-framing effect. 14 of 35 Grown-Out Crop Or as we like to call it, a "transitional" crop. Consider this a super grown-out pixie that could become a bob in no time if you miss the longer look. Something tells us you'll become a cropped-hair convert once you try this spunky style. 15 of 35 Wavy Baby Bob @salsalhair You'll look too cool for school with this fringed bob. It's a perfect halfway point if you're growing out a pixie—or an edgy way to transition from lob to bob. Our favorite part: You can let your natural texture shine with this unfussy style. 16 of 35 Money Piece Lob @styled_by_carolynn Inject personality into this simple collarbone cut with warm caramel "money piece" highlights. These hand-painted, face-framing streaks are less of a commitment than a full head of highlights, but they don't skimp on visual impact. 17 of 35 Thick Side Lob @chrisjones_hair Nothing flaunts naturally thick hair like a deep side part. An everyday lob can go from basic to va-va-voom with a single swoop. 18 of 35 Sideswept Crop @anhcotran This style is short but far from sweet. The sharp layers and bursts of caramel balayage make it the epitome of adventurous. 19 of 35 Balayaged Shoulder Cut @chrisjones_hair If shoulder-length feels blah to you, drop in a few well-placed streaks of caramel and golden blonde for a dose of daring. Effortless waves keep the look just soft enough. 20 of 35 Curly Crop @ashleyantoinebeauty Feeling wild and free starts with your head—literally. Give your curls a little autonomy with this layered, ultra-short cut, which lets your locks play as they please. Don't be shocked if you notice an extra spring in your step. 21 of 35 French Girl Bob @anhcotran We're not saying this is the prettiest bob we've seen this year. But we're not not saying it. It's so delicately feminine that only a pinkish-red lip will do. 22 of 35 Angled Lob @nicoleoharehair Let's give the A-line cut the attention it deserves. This underrated (but oh-so-stylish) lob is versatile, totally manageable, and subtler than stacked cuts. Make this your secret weapon for highlighting beautiful bone structure. 23 of 35 Collarbone Lob @salsalhair One of the bonuses of dark hair is often a bold brow. Don't let that enviable feature go to waste—frame your face with a long bob, like this one by stylist Sal Salcedo. 24 of 35 Volume-Packed Curly Crop @salsalhair Because whoever tries to tame curls needs to think again. Bring on all the curly volume, please. 25 of 35 Thick Blunt Lob @chrisjones_hair Listen, nothing can pull off a blunt bob or lob like a thick head of hair. That's just the truth. Maintaining a little length gives your strands enough pull to keep things tame. 26 of 35 Relaxed Lob @ashley901_ All the low-maintenance gals out there can sit pretty with a no-frills lob like this one by stylist Ashley Ruiz. This look is slightly tousled but still sleek. 27 of 35 Classic Pixie Cut @veronica_nunez/Instagram This cropped cut by hairstylist Veronica Nunez is a beautiful example of a classic pixie. A bit of wispy texture around the bangs adds movement to this head-hugging style. 28 of 35 Curly Crop @veronica_nunez/Instagram With curly volume on top and a straight, close crop on the bottom, this cut by Nunez is absolutely alluring. She used a styling iron and dry texture foam to achieve all that gorgeous texture. 29 of 35 Tousled Short Cut @ninezeroone/@jill901/Instagram A layered short chop can be loaded with personality and pizzazz. With this look, a bit of texturizing spray adds instant movement for a laidback style. 30 of 35 Curly Shag @salsalhair It's time to embrace your natural texture. A short shag cut (and all of its glorious layers) helps let those curls run wild instead of looking weighed down. 31 of 35 Curly Chin Bob @salsalhair This face-framing bob has got some personality. Cut those curls to a chin-grazing length and add some wispy bangs, like this cheeky cut by Nova Arts Salon owner Sal Salcedo. 32 of 35 Sleek Bob @salsalhair This bob looks like it has Miranda Priestley on speed dial. Salcedo dubbed it his "Sci-Fi" bob, but to us that translates to "urban chic." 33 of 35 Graduated Curly Bob @anhcotran This bob walks the line between wild and refined. The graduated layers really amp up the volume and movement, giving wavy locks room to shine, courtesy stylist Anh Co Tran. 34 of 35 Fringed Chin Bob @chrisjones_hair If you're already rocking a bob haircut, you can make it feel brand-new with a cool pair of fringy bangs. Eyebrow-grazing bangs will look flattering on most faces. 35 of 35 Textured Chin Bob @riawna This cut may finally convince you to bring that bob up a few inches and angle it toward the face. Lots of texture softens this A-line bob in a way that we love. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit