Whether due to natural aging, health conditions, or previously poor care, the first signs of hair loss or thinning can be alarming. However, with the right short hairstyles for thinning hair, you can conceal or embrace even the wispiest of locks.
With thinning hair, it’s all about removing weight, adding body, and obtaining a dimensional cropped silhouette. All the short hairstyles for thinning hair I’ve rounded up below will help you achieve exactly that.
Styling Ideas for Short Thinning Hair
Light Blowout on Short Thin Hair
For a subtle volume lift in minutes, use a round brush and hair dryer for a salon-worthy blowout. Make sure the heat level is as low as possible and finish off with the coolest setting to hold the hairstyle.
Loose Crown Braids over Problem Spots
If you struggle with thinning or balding only in specific areas, use wrap-around crown braids to mask them. An added benefit is that you’ll create the illusion of thickness. Always remember to style any braid, ponytail, or updo loosely so you don’t risk further breaking your thin hair.
Messy Top Knot for Crown Concealment
A quick and practical hairstyle is the classic messy top knot. If the crown of your head is your main problem area in terms of thinning, a loose bun is perfect for closing it off. Do keep in mind that it won’t work for women with side thinning issues.
Low Formal Updo for Back Thinning Hair
On the other hand, one look that tackles both side and back thinning is this low formal updo. Firstly, it hides the sides by bringing over hair from the front. Secondly, it involves back brushing and teasing the top for crown concealment. Thirdly, the main part of the hairstyles covers the entire secondary part of hair in the back.
Statement Headband Short Hairstyle for Thinning Hair
Accessories are a lifesaver for short hairstyles for thinning hair. A jumbo headband can effectively disguise thinning on the sides or around the hairline. As a result, it’s a useful hairstyle to keep in mind if your thinning concerns include a receding hairline.
Loose Messy Ponytail Hairstyle for Thin Hair
For one of the most visually appealing short hairstyles for thinning hair, tie a low ponytail above the base of your neck. Wrap it loosely and tease the top part for a volume-boosting bouffant effect that also camouflages thinning areas.
Full Head Wrap Hairstyle for Severe Hair Loss
A boho chic solution for severe hair loss or lack of styling time is a full head wrap, turban, or hair scarf. All you have to do is wrap your scarf of choice all around your head, tucking in any loose strands.
Messy Half Up Half Down Hairstyle for Thinning Hair
Half up half down short hairstyles for thinning hair can be tricky. Indeed, you risk revealing some unflattering areas, but it’s all in the way you style it. Keep everything messy and ruffled and you’ll be good to go.
Casual Chignon Hairstyle for Thin Hair
The same goes for chignon hairstyles. Tucking your hair at your nape will create a dimensional look in the back, whereas some loose strands in the front will frame your face. Don’t be afraid to keep things messy.
Elaborate Updo Hairstyle for Thinning Hair
A little effort can go a long way, and this piecey pinned updo proves it. The hair is divided into wider sections to increase fullness, then individually pinned in the back. Here, the overlapping method lifts and contours the hair.
Pixie Short Hairstyles for Thinning Hair
Baby Pixie Forward Brush Short Hairstyle for Thinning Hair
The most potent short hairstyles for thinning hair use a combination of smart cutting and equally smart styling. A mini pixie cut with the hair fully brushed forward towards the hairline is likely to obscure any visible signs of thinning or balding.
Buzz Pixie Cut for Thinning Hair
Go ahead and chop it all off with confidence, knowing that the buzzed pixie cut is totally in right now. To get the beautiful genderless hairstyle, use clippers with a size ¼ inch to ¾ inch cutting guard, depending on how short you want it to be.
Relaxed Finger Waves Pixie for Thinning Natural Hair
Thinning and balding are recurring issues in the natural hair community, but far from unmanageable with the right short hairstyle. A cute baby pixie cut can be styled with vintage finger waves for a flattering feminine touch.
Pompadour Pixie Undercut Hairstyle for Side and Back Thinning
Stock up on pomade, because you’re going to need it for this retro-modern edgy pompadour pixie. It’s particularly recommended for women who deal with back and/or side thinning, due to the undercut. The top is left long and slicked back with volume.
Natural Mini Afro Pixie Big Chop Haircut
The big chop can be a scary step in any woman’s natural hair journey, but the right shape will give you the ultimate confidence. A cute mini afro pixie is the way to go, especially if you dye it in a stunning color, such as platinum blonde.
High and Tight Pixie Crew Cut with Undercut
There are plenty of men’s hairstyles you can draw inspiration from, such as sharp military haircuts. Blending a messy pixie with a tapered undercut adds height, definition, and texture to your hairstyle.
Spiky Faux Hawk Pixie with Full Tapered Undercut
Alternatively, you can take the same approach and tweak it in the top region. Keep the full tapered undercut and opt for a longer piecey faux hawk top instead. You still get loads of texture while maintaining some length for styling.
Androgynous Skin Fade Pixie Haircut
Shaving the areas you’re worried about is always a choice to count on. Eliminate thinning in the back and sides altogether with an androgynous skin fade cut, complete with a pixie crew cut top.
Messy Textured Pixie Cut
Although heavy layering is a big no-no for thinning hair, wisely incorporated texture is always welcome. Without feathering the layers too much, create a textured top and back by snipping away excess ends.
Spiky Tousled Textured Pixie Wig
For some women, wigs, weaves, toppers, or extensions are the best – if not only – option for their hair situation. However, to get the most natural-looking hairstyle possible, make sure your pick uses fine or even thick real hair that you can style with ease.
Bob Short Hairstyles for Thinning Hair
Short Wavy Angled Bob with Shadow Roots
There are three secrets for nailing a voluminous bob – angled cutting, wavy styling, and clever color play. An angled bob haircut adds shape to the back, while loose curls or waves add depth to your overall hairstyle. Shadow roots cover the scalp, whereas highlights bring texture.
Low Layered Medium Bob Haircut
The sacred trio of short hairstyles for thinning hair – depth, density, dimension – is doable with the help of low layers. Here, the key is to remembers that low is the critical features, as excessive step layers will only result in further thinning.
Swirled Curls Medium Bob Hairstyle for Thin Hair
Dynamic textures can play a major role in the appearance of a full body of hair. Even if you have a prominent receding hairline or side thinning, a set of soft curls throughout your hairstyle will give you a much needed hair lift.
Short Concave Bob Haircut
As far as bob hairstyles for thinning hair are concerned, concave cutting and styling will remove weight and push volume from all angles. Your hair will never fall flat, owing to the arched contour.
Crochet Braids Curly Medium Bob for Thinning Hair
Women with afro-textured hair can rely on short protective hairstyles for combatting hair loss or thinning. Crochet braids won’t even come across as extensions, thanks to the way they naturally imitate kinky curly hair.
Stacked Bob with Bangs Haircut
The charm of graduated bobs is that they involve overlapping layers that add height and shape to any thinning hair. You’ll enjoy a lot of volume in the back, as well as an eye-pleasing angle that complements back brushing.
Shaggy Piecey Feathered Bob Haircut
A short piecey bob is just what you need for integrating texture into your hairstyle. Yes, it implies layering, and yes, layering can be dangerous territory. Nevertheless, if you cut the layers in larger pieces and spread them out through feathered styling, you’ll be alright.
Swept Back Chin-length Hairstyle for Mature Hair
When you sweep or casually slick your hair back, you’ll lower the chances of your tresses coming off as flat. To get that flow-like impact, it helps if your hair is cut short all around, without any back or side tapering.
Wavy Medium Asymmetrical Bob for Thin Hair
In order to achieve a more dynamic hairstyle, go for some subtle asymmetry in your bob haircut. Even more, you’ll pull attention towards your facial features instead of your scalp. After that, to make your locks seem thicker, style them in loose beachy waves.
A-line Short Messy Bob for Thinning Hair
Angles are everything when it comes to short hairstyles for thinning hair. There’s no better angle than that you can get with an inverted A-line bob. Whether short or medium, a messy A-line bob is the dimensional shape you need for fullness and volume.
Fringe Haircuts for Short Thinning Hair
You may also be interested in 50+ Alluring Short Hairstyles with Bangs
Full Side Fringe Textured Pixie
If you’re also battling a receding hairline, long, wide, frontal bangs can help you hide it. The texture provided by layering will aid you in equal strand distribution all over your scalp. You can cut the bangs about half an inch above your brows for comfort and gently push them to the side for styling convenience.
Wispy Front Bangs Hairstyle with Medium Bob Cut
Instead of working against your thin locks, work with them as part of a wispy bangs hairstyle. Scattering your bangs across your forehead will mirror the rest of your texture, thereby resulting in a natural and effortless look.
Asymmetrical Side Bangs Pixie Cut
Parting your hair deeply to the side will lift your locks from the roots onwards. Moreover, asymmetrical bangs that get shorter towards your part will create showy angles in your hairstyle. A platinum dye job will bring your hair color closer to that of your scalp, reducing the contrast that forms against thin or bald spots.
Taper Shave Side with Curly Angular Fringe
For curly girls with thinning hair problems, a heavy angular fringe will make your ringlets appear to be dense and rich. If you’re facing side or back thinning, take your whole look to a new edgy level with a taper shaven side.
Big Blowout Concave Bob with Side Bangs
When you have side bangs, a proper blowout will bump your strands up and supply immeasurable shape and volume. To enjoy even more faux density, work with individual sections of hair when drying and use hair spray for all-day maintenance.
Short Textured Pixie Cut with Baby Bangs
Sometimes, an element as simple as progressive baby bangs can take your pixie cut to new heights. The bangs should mainly be around an inch over your natural hairline. However, the secret is to make them longer as they spread towards the opposing side of your part.
Curtain Bangs Updo Hairstyle for Thinning Hair
Rocking wispy bangs opens up a broad range of styling alternatives. In addition to a full frontal fringe, you can also rock wispy strands in a parted curtain fashion. When you get bored, you can also sweep them to the side for a change of look.
Choppy Bangs Messy Edgy Bob Hairstyle
It’s easy to see why messy is a femme favorite among short hairstyles for thinning hair. You get texture, shape, and attitude, especially when you throw some choppy bangs in the mix too. To reduce styling damage, lightly tousle your hair with your fingers.
Gradual Face Framing Bangs with Shoulder-length Haircut
Adding layers around your face will create both depth and texture, all while distracting from any thinness. To frame the face in the most flattering way, cut the forward-most strands in gradual steps. You can pair them with wispy curtain bangs for full frontal glam.
Long Side Bangs Short Bob Thin Hairstyle
The deeper the side part and longer the side bangs, the better you’ll reduce scalp visibility. In addition, you will shift body towards your face, accentuating features in the process. As a final touch, lightly curl your tips for extra movement.
Shoulder-length Hairstyles for Short Thinning Hair
Blunt Shoulder-length Haircut for Straight Thin Hair
For a bit more length and apparent thickness, cut your hair in a blunt line just over your shoulders. With this look, it helps if you either have naturally straight hair or you straighten your locks with minimum damage. Always count on a cool setting blowout, even if you want sleek instead of voluminous.
Curly Back Brushed Shoulder-length Hairstyle
Repeat after me – curls are conducive to texture and, therefore, fullness. If you have even a bit of natural curl to your locks, use it to your advantage and fluff up the curls for a dynamic shoulder-length hairstyle.
Side-shaved Shoulder-length Hairstyle for Alopecia
Women with alopecia often have to resort for shaving to cope with the spot baldness condition. But cute short hairstyles for thinning hair are at arm’s reach with a rebellious, full side shaved hairstyle. Approach the balding area with a razor and toss the rest of your hair to the side.
Gently Teased Shoulder-length Hairstyle for Thinning Hair
No styling tools, products, or any other potentially damaging elements needed. After your shoulder-length haircut is in place, just use your very own fingers to gently ruffle your locks all around for instant volume. If required, ever so slightly backcomb your hair using a wide tooth comb.
Half Up Shoulder-length Hairstyle for Back Crown Bald Patches
For bald patches on the back of the crown of your head, a jumbo scrunchie will help with concealment. Not only will the half up hairstyle itself cover up the thinning section but so will the extra large hair accessory.
Ghost Layers Wavy Shoulder-length Haircut
The deal with ghost layers is this – you can’t see them, but they’re providing a ton of volume behind the scenes. Essentially, the layers are concealed underneath the top section of hair. Therefore, they push volume from the back and bottom up.
Piecey Lowlights above Shoulder Hairstyle
Coloring techniques also continue to support short thinning hairstyles. Even though some women prefer classic highlights, ombre, or balayage, some well-executed lowlights will get the job done with class. They’re ideal for short piecey haircuts.
Feathered Low Layers Medium Haircut
In some cases, feathered layers can be the ace up your sleeve, as long as they’re not ubiquitous throughout your hair. Concentrating them on the lower area near your tips will do. Mix that with a blowout and you can look fresh out of the salon on a daily basis.
Two Tone Grey Blending Shoulder-length Hairstyle
If you’ve reached a mature stage in life, you should consider grey blending with your natural aging hair. To spice up the hairstyle, add a dark layer underneath that defines and lifts the top coat of hair.
Contourage Baby Lights with Shadow Roots on Thinning Hair
Last but not least, you can mix the old with the new and get a contemporary, on-trend hairstyle that still supports your thinning hair challenge. One way to go about it is combining shadow roots with contourage baby lights, which frame the face and bring out your best features.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, short hairstyles for thinning hair are just the first step. Once you have your foundation figured out, your main focus should be adequate hair care and additional hair loss prevention.
Some quick tips are heat reduction, mild wash and styling products, and a protein-rich diet. Doctors also recommend massaging shampoo into your scalp instead of scrubbing it all over the hair.
Although various factors might make you prone to hair thinning, you can always add some extra steps to your hair care routine for healthy maintenance. That is, of course, after you’ve taken the leap of faith that comes with opening up to a possibly life changing short haircut makeover.
