Taylor Lashae with short brown hair

19 Trending Short Brown Hairstyles and Haircuts

We can’t get enough of short brown hair right now. Whether you’re a natural or switching over to brown strands and going for the cut, we can assure you it’s totally on trend.

It’s time to take inspo from brown hair beauties like Bella Hadid to Lucy Hale, who have made the cropped hair look oh-so-chic on the red carpet.

Ready to try it for yourself? Here are the short brown hairstyles we’re predicting will be huge this year, from French-girl bobs to bold bangs…

Blunt Bob

Woman with straight blunt bob short brown hair wearing dark micro cat eye sunglasses

Be blunt with this bob haircut. Credit: Instagram.com/revelandrow

Short blunt bobs are in. Wear yours straight and sleek for a head-turning finish or with waves for a softer summer-ready look.

Split Bangs

Woman with a chestnut brown bob with retro split bangs
Try the split bangs trend now. Credit: Instagram.com/sophia_rosemary

If you’ve been wanting to try a fringe but aren’t ready to fully commit, the split bangs trend is for you. This blogger-approved fringe adds a retro flair to any short cut and matches perfectly with wavy styles.

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo Front Bottle View

Editor’s Tip: The secret to shiny and hydrated strands? SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoowith Mafura Oil, which is rich in fatty acids that help detangle and soften your cuticles.

Slicked Back

Brunette woman with slicked back bob length hair
Slick back your hair with gel for a glam evening look. Credit: Verity Jane Smith

We love the slicked back hair trend on everyone but it has to be said, it works especially well on short dark hair (think Dua Lipa vibes). Adding a stylish edge to your evening get up, it makes dark hair shine and looks undeniably glam.

TRESemmé Freeze Hold Hairspray Front

Editor’s tip: No sleek style is complete without gel and for ultimate hold, we love TRESemmé Freeze Hold Hairspray. This gives you 24-hour hold.

Side-swept Lob

Woman with a long bob haircut with chocolate brown and caramel highlights

Highlights are great for adding dimension to shorter styles. Credit: Instagram.com/petermenezes

Craving all the volume? Side-swept styles are a surefire way to add body and bounce to your short brown hairstyles. Flipping your hair to the side with a side parting instantly gives the illusion of longer locks and more lift at the roots.

Shag Haircut

Woman with dark brown hair with a layered shag cut
It’s the season of the shag cut. Credit: Instagram.com/salsalhair

Looking for a total style overhaul? With stars like Anne Hathaway and Julianne Hough having opted for shaggy, layered cuts in the past, the ’70s shag haircut is all you need to transform your look.

Pinned Back Pony

Woman with short brown hairstyle in low ponytail with hair slides
Stay sleek and elegant with this hairstyle. Credit: Instagram.com/karenwazenb

Here’s how to do an pinned back pony – simply tie your hair in a low ponytail and secure any loose strands with statement slides or snap clips. Simple!

Curly Shag

Woman with short brown curly hair with a fringe
Embrace natural curls to sport this short style. Credit: Instagram.com/larilala

We’ve seen the likes of Rochelle Humes and Sandra Oh embrace their natural curls and what better way to show them off than this chic curly crop? It’s the definition of cool.

French Girl Bob with Bangs

Woman with a brunette French girl inspired bob with bangs
This French girl fave is everywhere right now. Credit: Instagram.com/maggie_emerick

Hello, French girl bob. What exactly is it? A Parisian-style, chin-length hair cut complete with bangs. Top off your look with a beret to ensure you get all the double-taps. 

 

Long Pixie

Woman with short brown highlighted hair in long pixie cut with sweeping side fringe
You can’t go wrong with a classic long pixie. Credit: Instagram.com/blushwithme_parmita

Long pixie cuts will forever be a staple for short hair – and when it looks this good, we can see why! Oh and it’s super practical in the summer, allowing you to keep cool in the heat.

Half-up Bun

Olivia Culpo with a brunette half-up, half-down bun

Join in with all the hair fun with this half-up bun. Credit: Instagram.com/oliviaculpo

Don’t let long-haired girls have all the updo fun. Join the hair gang by rocking this half-up, half-down pony.

Believe us, shorter tresses can easily create this picture-perfect look, so channel your inner Ariana Grande for your next daytime look.

Wavy Bob

Woman with a dark brunette blunt cut bob
Finish your blunt cut with wonderful waves. Credit: Instagram.com/peachiehair

For the perfect everyday look, show off your glossy brown hue with soft waves for an undone but polished wob (that’s wavy bob, btw).

Style tip: Create lots of movement by curling your locks towards and away from your face with your curling wand. This will help to make your hair appear fuller and showcase any highlights or balayage tones.

Wet Look

Woman with short dark brown hair in a side-parting with bobby pins
Bold accessories can give short hair a high fashion feel. Credit: Instagram.com/brittsully

Wet look styles always consume the runway and they’ve got the red carpet seal of approval from celebrities such as Kim Kardashian-West and Margot Robbie.

So if you’re ready to try it out, start with damp hair and sweep your hair back (or style with a side-parting) with gel, applying it all over your strands. Got short strands? Live your best wet-look life by adding bobby pins to hold your hair in place or go OTT with some funky hairpins.

Angled Bob

Brunette woman with a sleek angled bob
That’s one angled bob. Credit: Instagram.com/inmadelope

A sharp, angled bob is the perfect way to show off your sleek, styled strands. There to accentuate your face shape, we say it’s super flattering for everyone.

TRESemmé Defence Spray Front

Editor’s tip: If you’re using straighteners to perfect your look, always remember to use a heat protecting spray for your strands. The TRESemmé Heat Defence Spray is perfect for this look as not only does it protect hair up to 230 degrees, but it’s also formulated with keratin and marula oil to fight frizz and keep flyaways at bay.

Textured Choppy Bob

Woman with a dark brunette choppy bob haircut
The more texture here, the better. Credit: Instagram.com/gkamaral

Those with flat, fine hair will love the body-building benefits of this textured, choppy bob. Plus, you’ll never have to worry about it weighing down your look.

Short Pixie Cut

Woman with a very short brunette pixie haircut
Short hair, don’t care! Credit: Instagram.com/lalhou

However you choose to style your pixie cut, the ultra-short look can really bring out your beautiful eyes. We love it!

Curly Pixie Cut

Brunette woman with a short curly pixie cut
Pixie cuts don’t just suit straight hair. Credit: Instagram.com/inmadelope

Yes, a pixie cut can be curly. So embrace those curls, whether they’re natural or tonged, with an adorable cut like this. You’ll wonder why you didn’t jump on the trend sooner…

Cornrows

Woman with short brown hair in cornrows
Braids for days. Credit: Instagram.com/songsofstyle

When it comes to short brown hairstyles, cornrows are one of the most practical and stylish ways to keep short strands at bay. What a look!

Retro Bob

Woman with short dark brown shoulder-length hair with flicked out layers
This retro bob is back, and better than ever. Credit: Instagram.com/delaphine_and_co

All we can say is, wow. The sleek finish and flicked-out ends of this ’60-inspired hairstyle ticks all the retro hair boxes. Add some cat eye sunglasses and you’re good to go.

Half-up Braids

Woman with a short brunette wavy bob in a half-up braided bun
It’s time to show off your braiding skills. Credit: Verity Jane Smith

If you love braids but don’t have enough length for a full braid, this half-up Dutch braid is the perfect antidote. We love how the end of the braid has been wrapped to create a cute bun, too!

Sign up to our newsletter and get exclusive hair care tips and tricks from the experts at All Things Hair.

Subscribe