30 Short Black Hairstyles and Haircuts for Natural Hair

Cop some cute cropped styles to try this season.

There’s a point in your hair story when a short haircut almost becomes a necessity. Cropped cuts have something undeniably chic and bold about them and if you want to revamp your natural hair, there are plenty of black women’s short haircuts to try. From a side-swept pixie cut or a short style with an undercut, a world of incredible short hairstyles await. Keep scrolling to get inspiration and see some of our favorite looks.

30 Black Women’s Short Haircuts to Try

Few looks fall into all of these categories at once and that’s what makes this look so unique. Read on for some standouts on black women’s short haircuts:

1. Wispy Pixie

wispy pixie
A wispy pixie is a fast and chic way to spice up your short haircut.

Make your thin and wispy hair texture work for you, and cut your hair into a wispy pixie. This cut shines on relaxed hair, so it’s perfect if you’ve been looking for a serious chop while exploring black women’s short haircuts options.

2. Curly Undercut

undercut curls on top
Pair your undercut with a head of curls.

This contrasting look gives you the best of both long hair and shaved sides. Let your curls run wild up on top, and shave the sides of your style for the ultimate contrast. This is an absolute fave when it comes to black women’s short haircuts.

3. Ultra Short

short black hair shaved
Go for the major shave, you won’t regret it! Photo credit: Kim Carpenter

The buzzcut is not for the faint of heart, but once you take the step, it will be an ultra-chic look. This shaved look is bold and a must-try if you want a total makeover. It’s also the most perfect way to give your curls a fresh start.

4. Tousled Curls

cropped hairstyles for black women tousled curls
Wear your curls messy.

Soften your style by wearing your curls tousled and messy. Achieve this style my by giving your curls the moisture they crave. We love Suave Luscious Curls Curl Defining Cream for adding bounce and definition to curls. Plus, its light hold makes it great for achieving tousled curls.

 

5. Swooped Pixie

swooped pixie
Play with texture and length.

Of all short hairstyles for black women, we love a pixie cut for its low-maintenance and chicness. You can also give your pixie some edge and definition by styling the ends with Dove Amplified Textures Define N’ Moisture Styling Gel. A little bit of this product goes a long way and just a touch with defining the ends of your hair without weighing them down.

6. Blonde Pixie

short hairstyles for black women straight blonde pixie
Go light and bright.

Brighten up your short black hair by dyeing it a bright shade of blonde. While bleached hair can be a big haircare responsibility, the color is definitely worth it. You can even bleach your hair at home if you’re up to the task.

7. Red Twists Short Haircut

cropped hairstyles for black women
Make a statement with color and texture.

A list of short black hairstyles wouldn’t be complete without a traditional look: twists! And you can even take your twists to the next level by dyeing the ends with some funky color. For example, red and warm tones are a trend this year, but bolder shades like pink and blue are also en vogue.

8. Add a Headband to Your Short Haircut

short hairstyles for black women red tones natural texture
Who says you can’t wear a headband with short hair?

Wrap a bandana around your short black hair to add some extra visual interest to your style. This accessory is a must for all black women’s short haircuts, as it adds a pop of color and style that is bound to brighten your day.

9. Gelled Curls

short hairstyles for black women red curls gelled
Style your curls with the right hair product and bring them to their full potential.

Run TRESemmé Flawless Curls Defining Cream through your hair when it’s still damp from your shower for perfectly gelled and defined curls. This cream hydrates curls while fighting frizz to give that soft and smooth finish you deserve. No crunchy texture, ever.

10. Mini Afro Short Haircut

cropped hairstyles for black women mini afro
Celebrate your curls.

Show off your curls by wearing them in an all-natural mini afro. Afros of all shapes and sizes are en vogue and going nowhere anytime soon. We love the flirty and playful shorter afro length, and it’s great for gals who can’t commit as much time to care for a longer length.

11. The Hard Part Short Haircut

short hairstyles for black women hard part curls
Borrow a styling trick from the guys.

Take a leaf out of the guys’ hairstyling book and ask your stylist for a hard part. This is one of the chicest black women’s short haircuts; it’s clean and fierce. This style is also perfect for everyday wear.

12. Grown Out Pixie

short black hair growing out pixie
Make your style work as you grow it out.

Don’t worry about the awkwardness that sometimes comes with growing shorter hair out. Make you look intentional with this grown-out pixie. For an extra added effect, slick down the grown-out pixie for a sleek vintage look.

13. Falling Curls

short hairstyles for black women falling red curls
Consider this sexy style.

Let your curls fall down onto your forehead for an easy, sexy look. Curly bangs are trending this season, so it’s the right time to give them a try. We love how the fringe emphasizes the natural texture of your hair, too!

14. Curly Bob

short hairstyles for black women curly bob
Wear your curls in a cute bob.

Wear your curls in a cute bob for a look that’s both chic and sweet. This length has been iconic for a reason, it’s easy to care for and provides so much more volume to your look–what’s not to love?

15. Curly Blonde

short hairstyles for black women
Wear your blonde curls closely cropped.

Wear your curls just long enough to show them off and highlight them even more with a bright shade of blonde hair color. When sporting blonde hair, it’s best to use a purple shampoo to help avoid your color from becoming brassy. We love SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength & Color Care Shampoo and SheaMoisture Purple Rice Water Strength & Color Care Conditioner.

16. Chic Curls

short hairstyles for black women cropped curls
Ultra short is ultra-chic.

Sometimes the chicest option is to cut your strands ultra short. The hint of curls gives off major high-fashion vibes; it brings all the attention right to your face and can create the illusion of a slimmer, more elongated shape.

17. High Contrast

short hairstyles for black women contrast
Create a high-contrast look with different textures and lengths.

Create a look that includes lots of contrast by incorporating different textures and lengths. Black women’s haircuts don’t mean it all has to be the same length! Have fun with some layers and contrast.

18. Classic Afro

short hairstyles for black women classic afro
Why mess with a classic?

This classic afro shows off your natural curls in a beautiful way. Creating the perfect, big afro only takes 4 easy steps; why not give it a try? We love how this style shows off the natural volume of your strands.

19. Brushed Up

short hairstyles for black women brushed up
Add some height to your hair.

Brush your hair up into a gravity-defying style and hold it in place with a spritz of Dove Style+Care Extra Hold Hairspray. This is a great product for cropped hairstyles for Black women because it has a lot of holds but doesn’t leave your hair crunchy.

20. Big Curls on Top

short black hair big curls
Go for a style that’s very top-heavy with the curls. Photo credit: Caique Silva

We love a curly, top-heavy cut. Focus on the length and volume at the top of your style for a focus on your beautiful curls. You can also style it to make some curly bangs that are super on trend right now.

21. Shaved Sides on a Cropped Pixie Cut

girl with pixie cut and shaved sides
Try a pixie cut with shaved side. Photo by Shingi Rice

To get a look that’s more on the dramatic side and makes a statement, opt for a pixie cut that’s slightly shaved on the sides. Keeping the sides extra short will emphasize your texture on top.

22. Soft Curly Pixie

soft curly pixie
A soft curly pixie is the perfect mix of comfy and chic.

When experimenting with short black hairstyles, why not try a soft curly pixie? This trendy look never goes out of fashion and works wonders from the office to the after-hours. If you want more definition to your look, use a curl cream like Nexxus Curl Define Leave-In Moisturizer.  to help enhance the curl.

23. Accessorize with a Hat

girl with cropped natural hair wearing a red hat
Add a hat!

Don’t feel like styling your hair? Accessorize your look with a hat! This can do wonders for your overall style. Plus, it helps elevate an outfit when matched with the colors and vibe of your outfit.

24. Tapered Cropped Cut

girl with tapered pixie haircut
Go for an ultra-short pixie cut.

If you want a pixie cut but want to change it up a bit, opt for a tapered style. A tapered pixie cut will gradually get shorter towards the nape of your neck. Plus, it’s very easy to care for!

25. Add Flower Accessories

girl with accessorized afro hair
Add flowers to accessorize your afro.

Whether you choose flowers, hair clips, or pins, adding accessories to your afro can take it to a whole new level. This look works especially well for formal occasions like weddings and cocktail parties!

26. Triangle Haircut

girl with natural hair triangle haircut
Opt for a cropped triangle haircut.

Want a sleek look? Ask your stylist for a triangle haircut that stops at jaw level. This cut is also a perfect option if you’re wanting a distinct, signature hairstyle, or if you want to try curtain bangs on afro hair.

27. Brushed Back Cropped Curls

girl with brushed back cropped natural hair
Brush your hair back and let your face shine.

Brush your curls back for a look that keeps your hair out of your face while showing off your features. On top of showing off your curly afro hair texture you’ll look put together with no effort.

28. Light Honey Blonde Hair

girl with light honey blonde pixie cut
Try a new light honey blonde hair color.

Sometimes all you need to do is to switch up the color. We love how this light honey-blonde color compliments a variety of skin tones including deep complexions.

29. Perm Rod Curls

perm roller curls on natural hair
Use perm rollers to create a different type of curl on natural hair.

Using a perm rod to create a different type of curl rather than opting for your natural curl is an exciting way to change up your style. For this, you can keep your hair short but don’t need to worry about any drastic haircut changes.

30. Subtle Finger Waves Short Haircut

Subtle Finger Waves Short Haircut
This natural look is so easy to achieve.

Spice up your short black hair with some subtle finger waves. This retro-inspired hairstyle is chic and low maintenance, to look good all day long.

There are so many cropped hairstyles for Black women to try. These cuts are all about saying ‘bye-bye’ to the long length and embracing your features with a super short cut. We know you’re going to rock it!

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

Subscribe

All Things Hair on Instagram