How to Care for Short Hair

Co-authored by Nick Arrojo and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: March 25, 2022 References

Cutting your hair short can be liberating. It takes less time to wash, dry, and style, and it can free you of the weight of long hair. However, short hair of any texture still requires some upkeep. Luckily, you can rock that short 'do with just a little routine maintenance.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Styling Your Hair

1
Style your hair quickly with a damp comb or a spray bottle. If you want a quick way to combat bed head, hold your comb under running water or lightly mist your hair with a spray bottle. Once your hair is slightly damp, comb it into your favorite style.
- Another benefit of short hair is that you can use your fingers to create a cool hair style! Just tousle your damp hair, then let it air dry.
2
Use less product. Don't forget that shorter hair doesn't need as much product. A little gel or hairspray goes a long way when it comes to taming your short hair. Too much product can build up and cause your hair to look dull. Start with a dime-sized amount of the product you're using and work from there.^{[1]
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3
Use a spray designed to protect your hair if you heat style it. If a flat iron or a curling wand is an integral part of your short hairstyle, make sure you protect your hair by spraying it with a special product designed to react to heat. These products seal themselves around the cuticle when heat is applied to the hair, protecting it from breakage.^{[2]
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- If you do use a flat iron, you may want to invest in a smaller one with .5 inches (1.3 cm)plates. Many flat irons are designed to efficiently smooth long hair. If you have short hair, you might need to purchase a narrower flat iron to make sure it can grab all of your hair.^{[3]
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4
Try roller setting your hair instead of heat styling it. Protect your hair from heat damage by using rollers. Wrap your damp hair around soft rollers, then allow it to air dry for several hours or overnight (or sit under a hooded dryer). You may need to use a smaller roller in your hair if your hair is very short.^{[4]
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- Special styling tools called end papers can help you grip the end of short hair to wrap sections evenly around rollers.
- If you have to go out while you have rollers in your hair, wrap a pretty scarf around your head.
5
Use a light hair oil if you have dry or coarse hair. Keep your hair looking smooth and shiny with a lightweight hair serum made from a natural oil. The best serums for coarse hair contain fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins, like those made from Argan oil or coconut oil.^{[5]
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6
Wrap your hair at night in a silk scarf. A pillowcase can absorb moisture from your hair, and friction as you move your head across your pillow can cause your hair to break. Protect your hair by wrapping it in a silk scarf before you go to sleep. This will also help your hairstyle last longer.^{[6]
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- If you don't have a silk scarf, try buying a silk pillowcase.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Your Hair

1
Wash your hair with a moisturizing shampoo. You should wash your hair whenever it starts to look oily, but depending on your hair's texture, you might not need to condition your short hair every day. Fine, thin hair can look weighed down by product buildup. Instead, use a moisturizing shampoo every day and conditioner once or twice a week.^{[7]
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2
Try co-washing if you have dry hair. Co-washing, or conditioner-only washing, involves using only conditioner to wash your hair.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.} The idea is that the conditioner removes dirt and oil from your hair as you rinse, but doesn't use any of the harsh cleansers found in traditional shampoo. You can use a regular conditioner or a special conditioning cleanser.^{[9]
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3
Use a leave-in moisturizer if you have coarse or curly hair. Curly hair is the driest of all hair types, so it needs extra hydration. Choose a leave-in moisturizer made from olive oil, shea butter, or cocoa butter to keep your hair naturally healthy. You should deep condition at least once a week.^{[10]
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4
Let your hair air-dry. Since your hair is shorter, it will show damage faster, so you should try to limit the amount of heat you use to style your hair. If you do need to blowdry your hair, stop when your hair is about halfway dry. Style your hair while it's damp, then let it finish air drying.^{[11]
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Expert Source

Nick Arrojo
Master Hair Stylist
Expert Interview. 9 September 2021.}
5
Use a net wrap if you want to keep your edges from lifting during a shower. Hot temperatures and high humidity from the shower can affect your hairstyle even if you don't get your hair wet. If you have a hairstyle that involves smoothing down your edges, use a net wrap to hold your hair in place while you're showering and dressing, then carefully remove it and touch up your style before you head out the door.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Cut and Color

1
Get trims every 4-6 weeks. Short hair needs to be trimmed more often in order to maintain it. Styles with sharp edges might need to be touched up every 4 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows, although you might be able to wait up to 6 weeks for some styles.^{[13]
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2
Stay on top of your root touch-ups if you color your hair. Whether you color your hair bright blue or platinum blonde, you're going to need to touch up your roots more often if your hair is short. Having ¹⁄₄ inch (0.64 cm) of your roots showing might not seem like much if you have long, beachy waves, but it will seem really obvious on a pixie cut. Touch up your roots whenever you go in for a trim.^{[14]
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3
Choose a layered style with highlights to cut down on salon time. Sharp lines and bold color are more obvious when they start to grow out. If you don't want to go to the salon as often, opt for a softer, layered cut and highlights, which won't seem as obvious when your roots start to grow.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

How do I make my hair grow faster?

Yan Kandkhorov
Hair Stylist
Yan Kandkhorov is a Hair Stylist and Owner of K&S Salon, a hair salon based in New York City's Meatpacking District. Yan has over 20 years of experience in the hair industry, is best known for paving the way for iconic hair trends in the industry, and has operated his salon since 2017. His hair salon has been voted one of the Best Hair Salons in New York City in 2019 by Expertise. Yan and K&S Salon has collaborated with leading fashion magazines and celebrities such as Marie Clair USA, Lucy Magazine, and Resident Magazine.

Yan Kandkhorov

Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

There are a bunch of vitamins that might help promote hair growth. You could give those a shot. Biotin and vitamin B are not usually enough to help stimulate hair growth.
Question

How often are you supposed to cut your hair?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

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Short haircuts will need to be trimmed every 4-6 weeks to maintain the shape. Longer haircuts can sometimes go 2-3 months between trims.
Question

Is short hair good for a round face?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Short hair can be very flattering for a round face if it's the right cut. Long bangs and asymmetry are both smart choices for flattering a round face.