35 Short Haircuts & Hairstyle Ideas for Black Women: Best African American Ladies Styling Options & Trends

Black hair isn’t usually the easier to handle since it can be a blessing and a pain to style.

This is even more apparent on short locks. However, worry not, as there are plenty of short hairstyles for black women, and we’ll show you the best.

Discover the cutest and coolest black women’s short haircuts, especially those that can naturally enhance your natural curls.

Short hairstyles for black women come in many varieties.

Some require very little maintenance, and others are complex to maintain but show off your personality the most.

Whatever hairstyle you choose, ensure that you are happy with your choice and that it shows you in the best light.

For instance, a pixie cut is best for black women with natural hair.

Style it with short or long bangs, or add some cool designs.

On the other hand, women who have curly or loose hair do well with fun hairstyles like the afro.

Pin the afro to the side, twist it, or sweep it and you are good to go.

You can even wear it with a tight comb or fix it to create a fauxhawk effect.

Another way to wear short hairstyles is by incorporating a bit of color.

 Black hair with highlights, for instance, is one of the best ways to wear short locks.

Blonde and silver tones also work well if you want a hairstyle that matches your bold personality.

From pixie cuts, bobs, buzz cuts and everything in between take a look at some of the best short haircuts for black women and find the inspiration for your next look.

35 Most Popular Short Haircuts for Black Women

There was a time when women used to hide their natural manes. Times have changed; black women now embrace their textured natural curls and proudly experiment with different hairstyles.

Many black women choose to cut their hair short, and the result is nothing but breathtaking. If you want to change your look, consider getting a short haircut.

Here are the 35 most popular short haircuts for black women to inspire you:

Copper Pixie Bob Cut

If you have naturally curly hair, why not consider rocking the copper pixie bob cut? The haircut is easy to maintain and is an excellent choice for black women with bold personalities.

Short Maroon Tresses

Suppose you are looking for a spunky hairstyle that will set you apart, opt for short maroon tresses. Short-tapered hairstyles are popular among black women, especially those with thick hair.

Shiny Black Undercut Pixie

While there are many crochet hairstyles to try if you don’t want to keep styling your hair daily, pixie hairstyles are the go-to cuts for black women who want to rock their natural short hair.

The best thing about pixie hairstyles for black women is that there are so many of them to choose from. The tousled pixie with a sharp undercut is one of the best. The haircut helps add an angle to an already daring hairstyle resulting in a sleek appearance.

Modern Buzz Cut

Women, just like men, can rock a stunning buzz cut. It’s a great hairstyle for pretty much any hair texture. It also works well for women with receding hairlines. On top of that, it leaves room for trying hair color trends with low commitment.

If you’ve always wanted to dye your hair, try the bleach-free hair-lightening option of apple cider vinegar and distilled white vinegar. The best thing about buzz cuts is that you can always cut your hair and start over if you don’t like the outcome.

Fiery Pixie With Voluminous Angled Top

Have a little fun with your short locks by going bold with a bright red-orange hair color. You should also experiment with other electric shades. Rainbow colors help showcase your style and, most importantly, your personality.

They are ideal for women who want bold haircuts with heads turning wherever they go.

Chopped Layers and Side Swept Bangs

This short haircut is an excellent alternative to the classic pixie haircut. It features exciting elements like chopped layers and side-swept bangs that help emphasize your facial features while creating more coverage around the face.

Front and Forward Crop

If you are looking for a haircut that will help you show off your assertive side, you can’t do better than with this sassy cut. Have your hairstylist relax your hair, and then opt for a short weave. This results in a short yet not too curly look that will enhance your confidence.

Tousled Pixie With Layered Bangs

The tousled pixie with layered bangs is a unique and stylish look every black woman should try at some point. It features a shaved line at the temple. It is a practical hairstyle that’s easy to style at home and suits any outfit. The haircut helps frame the face thanks to the long bangs.

Brushed Up

If you want to add height to your hair, brush it into a gravity-defying style. Use extra-hold hairspray to hold the style in place. Many cropped hairstyles for black women call for such a product since it has a lot of hold but not so much that it leaves your hair crunchy.

Short Black Hairstyle With Volume on Top

You can never go wrong with short hair in an afro. Like most short haircuts for black women, the short black hairstyle with the volume on top is a fun, youthful, and unique hairstyle.

Black Stacked Bob With Flicked Layers

Consider the stacked bob with flicked layers if you are a black woman with straight, thick hair. The hairstyle creates an elegant vibe that’s hard to replicate with other styles.

Curly Pixie Mohawk

For black women, a short haircut is a great way to show off their personality. If you are looking for an edgy hairstyle but one that still looks feminine, a mohawk paired with luscious curls will do.

Rather than shaving the sides, slick the hair down to create gorgeous finger waves for a more retro vibe.

Voluminous Long Pixie With Layers and Highlights

If you are looking for a haircut that will make you look youthful, try the voluminous long pixie with highlights and layers. Go for warm blonde highlights and a light chocolate base.

The layers get shorter towards the neck, creating more volume, making the pixie bob a real catch among black women with thin hair.

Delicate Short Black Cut

There are a few ways you can style your short black locks. One such way is by getting a textured pixie with bangs. You should consider this haircut since it helps define your facial features and gives off an impressive glow.

Short Gold Pixie With a Surgical Line

If you have short, thick hair, go for the short gold pixie with a straight line. Apart from requiring regular moisturizing and weekly conditioning, it’s an excellent style for black women who want a minimalistic look.

Blonde Cropped Cut With a Shaved Line

If you like rocking a pixie cut but want to change it up, opt for a tapered cropped cut with a shaved line. A tapered cut usually gets shorter towards the nape of the neck. It’s one of the easiest to care for hairstyles.

Feathered Side-Swept Pixie

If you like bangs but find them too ordinary, try to spruce yours up with feathered layers. This side-swept pixie is a timeless choice if you want a new signature hairstyle to help you stand out.

Daring Faux Hawk Hairstyle With Undercut

If you want to enhance your appearance, try the faux hawk hairstyle. The cut looks great on women with natural curls. The hairstyle is enough proof that it is so much you can do with your short hair rather than just opting for traditional hairstyles.

Simple Short Weave Bowl Cut

If you are looking for a simple, everyday look that’s easy to style and wear, try the short weave bowl cut. It is an ideal hairstyle for black women with straight hair.

Varied Lengths for Short Hair

While black hairstyles are versatile, sometimes they can be too cliché. So, why not try something a little more sophisticated and modern? Adding curls helps soften your overall look without the hassle of a long, high-maintenance style.

Faded Glory Haircut

Nothing screams stylish and edgy like short haircuts and arched brows. Jazz up this cute fauxhawk by adding undercuts and color.
Doing so not only works wonders to complement your black hair but your skin tone as well.

Textured Pixie Cut

This short-textured hairstyle involves keeping your hair natural, long, and brushed to the side. You can keep the hair straight or add a few curls.

Side-Parted Caramel and Burgundy Pixie

Experimenting with different hair colors is always fun, especially if you have short hair that you can always cut and start afresh if anything goes wrong.

If you want a unique hairstyle, create a unique ombre look by mixing caramel and burgundy. The hairstyle is unique and easy to wear since the short tresses aren’t overpowering.

Short Stacked Choppy Bob

Short hairstyles can still look bold and make a statement even when you don’t have a lot of length to work with. One such hairstyle is a high-contrast stacked bob with blonde and black locks. The clean, angled line adds more edge and definition to this short hairdo.

Afro Mohawk With Designs

The afro mohawk with designs is meant for women who want to step out of their comfort zones to try bold hairstyles. Go bold with a bright purple hue or any electric shade that suits your preference. It’s a great way to showcase your style and personality.

Short Dramatic Look

Beautiful hair doesn’t always have to be sweet and orderly; there is nothing wrong with adding a bit of edge to your short hairstyle by incorporating actual edges.

The haircut features a long, pointy tip at the nape of the neck, choppy layers on top, and curved edges at the ear line.

Choppy Pixie With Jagged Ends

Black women who don’t mind going extra short should try the choppy pixie. The hairstyle is not only cute in silhouette and texture, but it’s one of those hairstyles that don’t require any styling to look good.

Women who opt for short haircuts do so because little maintenance is needed and minimal styling. It’s no different from rocking wick dreads for short hair.

Naturally Full Curly Bob

Allow your locks to go wild with a natural short bob hairstyle. Use the right products to show off your hair’s natural texture and volume.

Curly Pixie With Long Feathery Bangs

If you are searching for trendy curly haircuts, consider the curly pixie with long feathery bangs. A basic traditional curly pixie will always look playful if you add a couple of longer ringlets in the front. Finish off the look with minimalistic accessories.

Short Haircut With Chopped Layers

This is one of the most convenient to wear short haircuts for black women. The hair is brushed back and then cut close. One thing you will love about this haircut is how easy getting ready in the morning will be.

Tapered Scarlet Pixie With Layered Top

Short hairstyles for black women are the best opportunity to experiment with hair color. A pixie cut is one of the sexiest short hairstyles for black women, but adding color amplifies the effect.

For this hairstyle, go bold with a color like red. When contrasted against the dark roots, it makes the fiery red color pop even more.

Extra-Short Bleached Hairstyle

When thinking about short hairstyles for black women, don’t rule out classic bleached styles, especially if your goal is to draw attention to your hair.

Cut your hair extra short and then bleach it. The vivid and unusual dyeing helps add texture to the cut and flawlessly completes your appearance.

Pixie With Long Swoopy Layers

Side-swept bangs and layers on top make it easy to revive and add volume and life to naturally straight hair. Keeping the bangs long allows you to balance the face shape and soften your overall look.

Adding a caramel blonde on top is the best way to finish the look. You only need to ensure that you visit your hair colorist regularly to touch up the roots.

Finger Waves

This is a soft and magnificent look inspired by Great Gatsby’s parties. To achieve the look, slick your close-cropped cut with glossy hair gel.

Short Vintage Haircut for Black Women

Pixie cuts are great for black women since they can look edgy and classy, depending on how you style them. The short haircut veers more towards elegance due to its sleek and vintage-inspired styling.

It is ideal for women who like drawing inspiration from hairstyles that dominated past decades and bringing that to life in the modern era.

How to Style and Maintain Black Women’s Hairstyles

If you are considering rocking one of the mentioned short hairstyles for black women, you need to know how to choose a style and maintain it and what products to invest in. Keep reading to find out more.

Step 1 – Choose the right one

When choosing a short haircut, consider your personality and the message you are trying to pass. If you like simple and conservative haircuts, then try the pixie hairstyles. If you want something bolder and daring, you can add elements like an undercut or hair color.

However, the most important thing to consider is the maintenance that goes into a specific haircut. If you prefer to avoid styling your hair every day, there are many short haircuts you can choose from.

Step 2 – Crucial styling tips

The most important thing is to ensure you have the right tools and products. The truth is, there are many ways to style short haircuts for black women, but what they have in common is ensuring the style works for your everyday look.

It’s always best to go to a professional stylist when you want a short hairstyle.

Step 3 – Maintain your chosen style

Short haircuts are usually popular among black women since they don’t require much maintenance. Ensure you keep your short hairdo looking great by trimming the edges regularly and using the right products.

If you are rocking dyed hair, ensure you visit your colorists every few weeks for touch-ups.

Step 4 – Best products to use

Depending on your chosen hairstyles, you will require strong-hold hair gel and hairspray to keep your locks moisturized and in place all day. For cleaning, invest in quality shampoo and deep conditioner.

We always recommend going for natural or organic products in such a case. If you’re going to dye your hair, you will need to get salon-grade hair dye. You may also need coconut oil which is great for dry, damaged, or color-treated hair.

However, one thing to remember is that coconut oil is not for everyone since repeated use can lead to hair stiffness, especially for those who already have coarse hair texture.

FAQ

How often should black women trim their short hair?

Experts recommend trimming your hair every three months. Doing so will help retain the length and reduce breakage. Once you start trimming your hair every three months, you will note that your strands will be healthier; over time, you will need to cut them less.

How will you know if a short haircut will suit you?

Not all women will look good in short hairstyles. To know if a short haircut will suit you, consider the length between your chin and the tip of your earlobe. Any short hairstyle will look good on you if that distance is less than 2.25 inches.

How long do short haircuts for black women last?

Short haircuts will last about two to three months before requiring touch-ups. Of course, this is different if you dye your hair, in which case most hair dyes last about three weeks.

What are the benefits of having short hair for black women?

The greatest benefit of having short hair for black women is that it is easy to style and maintain. Short haircuts are also versatile since there are many ways to style them.

Which famous black women are known for their short hair?

Lupita Nyong’o, Rihanna, Halle Berry, Toni Braxton, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gabrielle Union, Meagan Good, Nia Long, Angela Bassett, Mary J. Blige, Brandy Norwood, Jennifer Hudson, Keri Hilson and Janelle Monáe are some of the famous black women who like rocking short hairstyles.