50 Short Hairstyles to Inspire Your Next Chop

Change your hair, change your life. Lopping lengths in favor of a short hairstyle may seem like a daunting prospect, but it's more like a nourishing celebration. A good trim or full cut revives tired ends, brings movement or enhanced texture to lengths, and can seriously shake up your look (and so, your life). It makes sense that big shifts like exiting a toxic relationship, making a big move, or switching careers are often accompanied by a dramatic chop: the power of a short haircut lies in its ability to make us feel brand new again, and ready to take on the world.

The current guard of short haircuts offer ample inspiration, even for those experiencing an especially steady life period. Bobs worn blunt or mussed, the enduring resurgence of shags and reimagined mullets, buzz cuts, and pixies, are all on the menu, infusing social feeds and red carpet events with a welcome levity. In short (sorry), it's enough to tempt even those with the longest of lengths to hack it all off.

In terms of things to think about before giving your hairdresser the green light, Melanie Pellegrini, senior stylist at John Frieda Salons, says you should “consider your day-to-day life and routine, to make sure you’re able to style it yourself, rather than it just looking good in salon.” She also recommends stocking up on products that give body and texture, like Living Proof’s Texture Mist. For a sleek finish, Color Wow’s Pop & Lock offers the smoothness and shine that your polished cut requires.

Here, a selection short, statement-making celebrity hairstyles to inspire your new look.