I WANT THEM ALL.
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I used to be of the silly, silly belief that short curly hair was kinda limiting (I know). But after I went on an Instagram spiral in search of the prettiest short and curly hairstyles, I realized the limit truly does not exist—there are so many ways to style shorter curls, as long as you know what products to use.
So whether you’re in the mood to finally make the big chop and cut off all your curls (do it! DO IT!) or you’re just in a major hair rut and need some inspo for your current short-hair life, you should prepare to feel moved by these 20 hairstyles, below. Seriously, get ready to screenshot all of these and make that hair appointment immediately.
1
This Curly Pixie Haircut
Beware: This Instagram will make you want to run and get a curly pixie ASAP. To give your new look some more volume, run a texturizing product through your hair for some lift.
My fave: Amika Haute Mess Texture Gloss, $25 SHOP NOW
2
These Short Curly Bangs
Curly bangs are so pretty, but they can be a little tough to style. Use a curl cream on your bangs for definition that lasts.
My fave: OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream, $8 SHOP NOW
3
This Curly Faux-Hawk Hairstyle
This curly faux hawk is a cool way to try out a mohawk without actually having to shave your head. Before you pull out your hot tools to create this look, be sure to use a heat protectant spray to prevent long-term damage on your curls.
My fave: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Detangling Heat Spray, $24 SHOP NOW
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4
This Curly Braided Puff
The perfect accessory to your curly puffs? A cute, simple braid. Before you throw your hair up, use a hydrating cream to make sure your puffs stay moisturized.
My fave: SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie, $7 SHOP NOW
5
These Short Curly Double-Puffs
A cute way to style your short curls? These double-puffs. Use a rat-tail comb and edge control to lay your hair, and then secure each puff with a rubberband.
My fave: Cantu Extra Hold Stay Gel, $4 SHOP NOW
6
This Short Curly Wash and Go
Sometimes, less is more. The next time you don’t feel like using a billion products in your hair, try out this simple wash and go. Make sure to use a sulfate-free shampoo to keep your curls bouncy and hydrated.
My fave: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo, $9 SHOP NOW
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7
These Pulled-Forward Short Curls
8
These Pinned and Embellished Short Curls
You don’t need a music festival as an excuse to put flowers in your hair—throw some hair clips and flowers in your short curls to level up your look.
My fave: Warmfits Pearl Hair Clips, $8 SHOP NOW
9
These Clipped-Back Short Curls
Want to keep your hair out of your face? Just clip it back with some bobby pins and smooth a leave-in cream over your curls for soft definition.
My fave: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Crème, $20 SHOP NOW
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10
This Blunt Curly Bob
You don’t need stick-straight hair to rock a blunt bob. To smooth flyaways and enhance your waves, grab a dollop of defining cream and finger-comb it through your curls.
My fave: Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, $34 SHOP NOW
11
This Short Curly Shag
Into this curly shag? Spritz your short hair with a refreshing curl spray—it’ll add shine, definition, and hydration to your curls to get that I-woke-up-like-this vibe.
My fave: Miss Jessie’s Curls So Fresh Refreshing Curls, $14 SHOP NOW
12
These Short Side-Parted Curls
Switching your part is an easy way to change up your short hair—take a break from your middle part and try out these side-parted curls instead.
My fave: Qhemet Biologics Olive & Honey Hydrating Balm, $16 SHOP NOW
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13
This Short Curly Bun
The best part about this short hairstyle (other than the fact that it looks really freaking cute) is that it won’t take hours and hours to re-create. Just slick your hair up into a bun and bring a few of the shorter pieces toward the front for some wispy (faux) bangs.
My fave: Eco Style Professional Styling Gel with Argan Oil, $3 SHOP NOW
14
These Piled-and-Spilled Curls
Try out this look to give your short curls some dimension and height. Mist a detangling spray throughout the day to keep your curls looking 100 (read: shiny and flyaway-free).
My fave: DevaCurl No-Comb Detangling Spray, $20 SHOP NOW
15
These Tight-Cropped Curls
If you want to go extra short, this tightly cropped look is a cute way to style your curls. To get extra volume, use your fingers to rake a generous puff of curl mousse through your hair.
My fave: Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse, $4 SHOP NOW
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16
This Curly Bob Hairstyle
Show off your short curls in this super-cute bob. You’ll want to use a defining cream to make sure every single ringlet is perfectly coiled.
My fave: Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining Cream, $8 SHOP NOW
17
These Short Halo Curls
18
These Short, Choppy Curls
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19
These Finger Curls
How fire are these finger curls? Make sure you use an edge-control gel to get a hold that lasts and won’t flake.
My fave: Hicks Total Transformations Edges Styling Gel, $12 SHOP NOW
20
This Half-Up Curly Bun
Add a half-up, half-down bun into your style rotation this summer. Use a styling cream on the bottom half of your curls to make sure they stay soft and hydrated.
My fave: DevaCurl Styling Cream, $28 SHOP NOW
Ama Kwarteng
Ama Kwarteng was previously the associate beauty editor at Cosmopolitan.
