17 Short Natural Hairstyles That Are Anything But Boring

Some say short natural hairstyles are boring. Others say that the options for looks are limited. Those statements are simply untrue. Don’t be fooled by length. Short curls and coils are versatile enough to be braided, twisted, and wrapped into plenty of double tap-worthy styles.

Whether you’ve just gotten the big chop or short hair has been your signature for a while, there’s no shortage of looks to try out. You could take a page from Doja Cat’s book and get a blonde buzzcut. Experiment with intricate twists like Issa Rae. Try finger waves, tapered afros, and mohawk pixies. Looking for inspiration? Ahead, you’ll find different ways to style your short natural hair, courtesy of Hollywood’s most stylish curly-haired celebrities.

Mini Afro

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Keep it short and sweet with a mini afro — an easy-to-style haircut that makes a bold statement. Solange’s platinum blonde hair color adds an ethereal spin to this look.

Tapered Afro

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Add shape to your afro with a tapered cut, which allows your curls to fall perfectly in place. Actor Logan Browning’s high, round tapered cut with curly bangs frames and accentuates her almond-shaped face.

Box Braid Bob

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Love box braids but don’t want to commit to lengthy extensions? Try a stylish bob with box braids. Amandla Stenberg’s copper box braid bob is made even more eye-catching with its silver streaks.

Fauxhawk Pixie

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This spiky faux-hawk pixie cut adds spunk to Halle Berry’s signature short hair. “Mohawks are great for those with short hair looking for an edgier look,” says hairstylist Annagjid Kee Taylor. She also loves how low maintenance the look is (once your hair is cut in a mohawk shape, styling is a breeze).

Buzzcut

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Doja Cat’s blonde buzzcut is one of her most striking hair looks of all time. If you’ve just gotten a dramatic haircut, dying your hair platinum blonde is one way to make it even more daring.

Afro Bangs

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These afro bangs on Danai Gurira prove that short, kinky hair never has to be boring. The cropped bangs add an animated flare to her curly ‘fro, while the gold twine embellishment makes her look like a goddess.

Micro Locs Bob

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Lupita Nyong’o’s micro locs era produced a handful of screenshot-worthy looks including this elegant side-part bob. Camille Friend — the actor’s hairstylist — previously told Allure that Nyong’o began a sister locs (a form of micro locs) journey while filming Black Panther. This ultimately influenced her character’s hair looks in the movie. Tiny locs like these take a long time to create, but if you’re looking for an easy-to-maintain hairstyle, this is for you.

Finger Waves

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Finger waves are timeless, having made their way from the 1920s (when it was commonly worn by flappers) to 2023 red carpets. Case in point: Saweetie’s take on the hairstyle. “The look usually involves combing the curls away from the face and creating defined waves with a comb and your fingers so that they become little soft ridges in the hair,” says New York City-based hairstylist and NTRL By Sabs founder Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth. “Smoothing your curls with pomades, mousses — which are my preference — and gels will help keep them in place as you style.”

Side Part Finger Coils

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You can’t go wrong with a side part on short, naturally curly hair. “The neat part to the side brings out your face shape,” says Holdsworth. “The curls act as a frame for your face and add volume to your look.” The simplicity of this style also makes it easy to maintain, and ideal for those who want to show off their natural curls without spending too much time styling each day.

High Puff

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It doesn’t get more classic than a high puff when it comes to short natural hair. Slick your curls back using some gel and secure the puff atop your head using a wide elastic band. The look is cute, easy-to-style, and doesn’t require too much re-styling the next day. Just pick out your puff, slick down any flyaways with more gel, and you’re good to go.

Flat twists are usually just a means to achieve a twist-out, but when done right, they can be a style all on their own — just ask Issa Rae. The star wore this updo to an Insecure season premiere and the details in the hairstyle are stunning. The honey-blonde highlights add a pop of color and dimension to the twists, while the circular rows that lead up to the cascade of curls create the prettiest pattern.

Baby Braids

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These ‘90s-inspired baby braids are easy both to create and maintain. Lori Harvey adds her It Girl flare to the look with slicked baby hairs and a deep side part.

Mini Twists Pixie

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 25: Lupita Nyong’o poses at the Opening Night of “Angels In America” on Broadway at The Neil Simon Theatre on March 25, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/Bruce Glikas/WireImage)Bruce Glika

Nyong’o, the queen of short natural hairstyles, makes a strong case for mini twists in this deeply-part pixie. This look is the perfect example of how natural hair can be easily styled into the trendiest hairstyles without stretching the hair or manipulating the curl pattern.

Bantu Knots

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Bantu knots are a great way to embrace short, naturally curly hair. “These little knots can provide endless styling options and give you lots of texture that looks gorgeous,” says Holdsworth. Tinashe put her cool-girl twist on the style, opting for triangle parts and minimal baby hair.

Twist-outs are a tried-and-true style for naturalistas with short hair because they help stretch out shrinkage. After doing two-strand twists all over your hair and leaving them overnight, you’re left with beautifully defined curls that you can style in many ways including this gathered-up puff style.

Braided Finger Waves

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Amandla Stenberg is no stranger to braided hairstyles but this may just be her most creative. This take on finger waves made of cornrows is a testament to how versatile short hair can be.

Discover more natural hairstyles:

• Gabrielle Union’s Half-Up Spring Twists Make for Her Cutest Hairstyle Yet
•   Invisible Locs Are the Latest Protective Style Trending on TikTok
• 57 Gorgeous Black Braided Hairstyles That Will Inspire Your Next Look

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