15 vintage short hair looks loved by celebs and A-listers (2018 update)

Our gallery of vintage short hair looks is here to solve all your mane dilemmas!

While you might be thinking those with long hair get to have all the fun with vintage hairstyles, you’ll be happy to know that vintage short hair styles do exist — and, boy oh boy are they beautiful!

To tempt you to channel your inner retro queen, we’ve looked to the red carpet to find you the best vintage hairstyles for short hair. So, what are you waiting for?

15 vintage short hair styles celebs love (and so will you!)

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of a woman with short hair styled into half-up,, half-down hair with a duck blue jacket, pearls and a throw at Goodwood Festival — What’s not to love? Credit: Verity Jane Smith

1. Pinned back

Turning your bob into a ’40s-ready style is super easy! All you have to do is fashion half of it into a loose swirl and pin it back, like this.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Stella Maxwell with short bronde hair styled into a quiff at the front and a bun updo at the back on the red carpet — This quiff meets bun hybrid is our fave. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

2. Quiff updo with bun

If you’re looking for a chic vintage short hair style that will allow you to wear your go-to bun, this relaxed quiff is seriously destined for you.

With a tousled Elvis-inspired quiff at the front and a high bun at the back, you’ll be retro ready for any occasion.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Vanessa Hudgens with flapper style short bob with a flippy fringe on the red carpet — This fancy flapper bob won’t let you down. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

3. Flapper bob

You can’t talk about vintage hairstyles for short hair without mentioning Louise Brooks’ iconic flapper bob with bangs! And guess what? We spotted Vanessa Hudgens rocking it on the red carpet.

Instead of keeping it sleek, the star has given her throwback bob a modern refresh by getting choppy layers cut in.

Editor’s tip: Styling textured bangs and layers really couldn’t be simpler, just grab your bottle of VO5 Dry Texturising Spray and spritz it over your mane for an effortless, lived-in look.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of a woman with dark short hair styled into a low flapper style bun, with headband and peacock feather at Goodwood festival — Ready to meet Gatsby? Credit: Verity Jane Smith

4. Flapper bun

Styling her lob length hair into a deep side parting and into a low flapper bun, this beauty gives her eye-catching ‘do the perfect retro edge with a peacock and headband accessory.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Demi Lovato with short dark brown hair styled into a finger waved wavy bob on the red carpet — Finger waves are here to stay. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

5. Finger waves

Short vintage hair with fancy finger waves is a red carpet staple. Just look at how Demi Lovato teams them with her cute chin length bob.

Recommended read: See the other 1920s hairstyles we’re loving.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Gwen Stefani with a plaitnum victory rolled updo on the red carpet — Roll your mane into a past era with this ‘do. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

6. Victory roll updo

There’s no doubt you’ll love this short vintage hair look: a twirling half-victory roll styled into an updo! Lucky for you, we’ve got an easy tutorial on how to create victory rolls.

Vintage hairstyles for short hair: Close up shot of a woman with short purple hair styled into a victory rolled updo with a undercut — Who says you can’t be retro and edgy at the same time? Credit: Verity Jane Smith

7. Victory rolls with an undercut

Rockabilly hairstyles, like these victory rolls with a shaved hair design, are great for when you want a short edgy style full of retro flair. Whether you go this colourful with your look is all up to you!

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Tessa Thompson with dark brown relaxed hair styled into a high rolled quiff on the red carpet — Grease Lightning! Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

8. Pompadour

The best thing about short vintage hairstyles? They can be tailored to your hair type.

To give her short relaxed hair a vintage feel, Tessa Thompson fashioned it into a rolled pompadour style. Will you try it out?

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Dita Von Teese with a dark brown long bob styled into Hollywood waves — Silver screen hair, don’t care. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

9. Hollywood waves

Hollywood waves look ultra-glamorous on short to long bob lengths — isn’t that right Dita Von Teese?

Not only will they make the perfect accessory to any evening dress, but they’ll also make you feel like you’ve stepped out of a classic film.

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Shine Spray

Editor’s tip: Creating glitzy waves will require heat. So, you really can’t go wrong with using a heat protectant spray like the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Shine Spray.

This shine-boosting spray will make it easier for you to achieve this hairstyle while also protecting your strands against heat damage.

Vintage short hair: Close up side shot of Amber heard with a strawberry blonde, swept back French twist hairstyle on the red carpet — Yes, you can create a French twist on shorter strands. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

10. French twist

Never got a chance to try French girl hairstyles? The good news is that this fancy French twist is a timeless, vintage short hair style that’ll meet all of your #hairgoals.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Halsey with platinum short blonde hair styled into a loose Marilyn Monroe style curls — Because who wouldn’t want to look like Marilyn Monroe? Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

11. Marilyn Monroe curls

As if we needed any more reasons to love Halsey! Her loosely curled pixie has a cool Marilyn Monroe vibe we can’t get enough of.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Katie Holmes with short chestnut brown hair styled into to smooth beehive — Audrey Hepburn would seriously approve. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

12. Mini beehive

With a little teasing and strategic bobby-pin placement, you too can fashion your flat strands into this lovely, voluminous mini beehive.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Dianna Agron with a short blonde teased ponytail on the red carpet — This is how you make a ponytail look retro-worthy. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

13. Teased ponytail

Now, we’ve already shown you 8 amazing ways you can rock a vintage short hair look in real life, but we’re not done yet!

You can give your daily ponytail a ’60s makeover with some serious teasing action, as Dianna Argon demonstrates.

Editor’s tip: The secret behind short vintage hairstyleslike this one? A volumising spray, of course!

Create the body and fullness this pony needs by misting the TONI&GUY 3D Volumiser Spray on your roots before blow-drying.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Pixie Lott with short bleach blonde hair styled into a bouffant with a headband — To give your bouffant a modern edge, add a hair accessory. Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

14. Bouffant

Bouffants are another one of our favourite short vintage hairstyles, especially when they’re finessed with a simple Alice headband.

Vintage short hair: Close up shot of Andra Day with her short hair wrapped in a scarf, with a fake curly fringe at the front on the red carpet — What hair scarf will you pick? Credit: Rex by Shutterstock

15. Scarf updo + faux fringe

So you’ve fallen in love with hair scarves? Well, lucky for you, they’ve got a starring role in a lot of vintage hairstyles for short hair.

You can exude vintage vibes by wrapping one around your hair, and take it a step further by creating a faux fringe by curling the front of your strands, just like Andra Day.

Discover our vintage hairstyles page