How to Make Your Hair Look Short

Co-authored by Sarah Kosakowski

Last Updated: November 16, 2024 References

If you want to make your hair look shorter without actually cutting it off, there are a few methods that don’t require scissors or razors. With just a few household items that you probably already own, such as bobby pins and hair clips, you can go from long to short in no time.You can even style your long hair in a short faux-bob that will leave your friends wondering if you chopped all your hair off. “Did she or didn’t she,” they’ll be wondering.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Styling Long Hair to Look Short

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1
Put your hair up in a ponytail or bun. Let the shorter layers of your hair hang loose, creating a "short" look, while the bulk of your longer hair is pulled back and out of the way. From the front, it will look like you have a shorter cut. The ponytail can either be left as it is or rolled up and pinned against the back of your head.^{[1]
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- Putting your hair in a bun is also a great way to disguise length. If all your hair is wrapped up, nobody will know how long it is.^{[2]
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- You can also just tie long hair into a half-bun, leaving some strands hanging loose. Sweep the extra loose hair onto your shoulders and out of the way.^{[3]
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- This usually looks best if you have a layered cut to begin with. Talk to your stylist about a layered cut if necessary.^{[4]
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Braid your hair. If you braid the hair tightly, it will appear shorter than if it was just hanging down your back. There are a variety of styles of braids such as the regular three-strand braid, fish braid and French braid. If you're going for a looser look but want it to still seem shorter, leave some pieces out in the front near your face.^{[5]
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- If you have protective braids, like micro braids, you can make your hair appear even shorter by styling these braids in ponytails, buns, and more.
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Place a headband around your head with the back of the band pushed down near the top of your neck. Starting just behind the ear, roll your hair under and tuck your hair into the band. Secure it with a few bobby pins. Keep tucking until you reach the other ear. Use hairspray to hold it in place.^{[6]
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Curl your hair. Try curling your hair with foam rollers, bobby pins, fabric, or whatever tools you want to use. Do it while the hair is wet and use conditioner, setting lotion, hair spray or any other hair products that set and hold curls. If you can, let your curls set in rollers overnight so your hair completely dries without the use of your hair dryer.^{[7]
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- If you want really short, bouncy curls, let your hair dry naturally. When you let your hair air dry, it dries at a slower rate and your finished hairstyle turns out with much more defined curls that have a tighter hold, which makes your hair look shorter.
5
Pin your hair under with bobby pins. Part your hair from ear to ear in a headband shape. Keep the parts about 1 centimeter (0.4 in) wide. Use an elastic band to keep each part out the way.
- Split the rest of your hair into four or five sections. Bring the first section up so that it drapes over your face. Bobby pin it, then flip it back over to your shoulders and bobby pin it.^{[8]
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- Repeat with the rest of the sections. Part the "headband" you started with, then pin it back over your head over the bobby pins. Try to hide them and bobby pin the cover piece in place.
If you have layered hair, clip the bottom of your hair like as in the "bobby pin method." Roll the longest layers, then clip them at the base of your neck so that they appear shorter. Then let the top layers of hair cascade over the bottom. It will appear as if your top layers are your longest layers.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling a Faux-Bob

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1
Curl your hair. Curling your hair will give your hair texture, which will be very helpful in making your hair look shorter. Curling your hair also will make the bob appear more realistic because people will be less able to tell it's a faux-bob. Curl your hair however you like.^{[9]
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- Use a curling iron.
- Sleep in rollers or use steam rollers.
- Or, use a setting lotion spray and set the hair on rollers. Then, let it dry naturally overnight for a deeper hold.^{[10]
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You want to create a top layer and an underlayer. Wrap the top layer (the hair above your ears) into a ponytail while you work on the underlayer. Leave the underlayer out to shorten into faux-bob.^{[11]
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They don't have to be perfect or even, but you want a section of hair from the left side of your head and some from the right. Leave some hair in between the right and left sections on the back of your head. Separate the three sections with a clip.
Teasing your hair will give it extra texture and lift,making it easier for you to pull off this faux bob style. Grab one of the three sections of your hair and tease it. Place the comb a few inches away from the scalp and start back combing the hair by pushing it up toward the roots. This will bunch the hair up at the scalp. (It will look messy kind of like a bird’s nest.)Then do the same for the other two sections.
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Braid each section. For this step you will need hair-ties. Braid each individual section of hair with a regular three-strand braid. Do not start braiding your hair from the scalp, but braid your hair about an inch or two down from the scalp. When you're done braiding, secure each braid with a hair tie.
- Lightly pull the strands of your braid to get ready to pin them in place.
Grab the bottom part of one of your braids and bobby pin it up under to the base of your head. Make sure the bobby pin is secure, then do the same to the other two braids.
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Let the top layer of your hair out. The top layer should be shorter than the rest. Make sure the bottom layer is completely hidden by the top then curl or straighten the hair as desired.
- Be careful not to way down the top layer with too much product or your hair will look flat and greasy. Lift up the roots by teasing them slightly for added volume at the crown, which is a common look with a bob.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Hair Accessories and Other Hair Tricks

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Put your hair in a ponytail at the base of your neck, then loop the ends of your hair around each other to form a bun. Tuck your hair under a stylish summer hat, or a knitted cap in the wintertime. You'll need to smooth out the hair to make it even across the entire neckline. Grab any stray hairs and tuck them up and under as well.
2
Get a layered haircut. Ask your hairdresser if he or she can do something with your haircut to make your hair look shorter, without actually cutting the longest layers. Layers can be very effective in styling your hair to look shorter, even if it's long.
- If none of these styles suit you, consider just letting your hairdresser cut your hair. Even if you're nervous about a short cut, the great thing about hair is that it always grows back.^{[12]
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Wear a short wig. If you love your natural hair, it's easy to find a wig in a short style that suits your face and matches your hair color. Make sure to get a high-quality wig made of human hair. Synthetic wigs burn easily when you style them with hot tools, and they don’t last as long. A poor quality wig will often look tacky, unkempt or fake, and it can cause minor skin problems on people with sensitive skin. Synthetic wigs are usually harder to care for and groom.
- Each wig should come with instructions on how to wear them and ensure they stay in place. Some require glue to secure them, while others have clips that clip on to your hair at the roots. In any case, ensure that your natural hair is pinned securely and flat on your head. Wear a wig cap if necessary.^{[13]
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- Don't forget that some wigs are not waterproof. Check the label for care instructions. Overall remember to have fun with your hair and all the different styles you can wear it.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you do a fishtail braid in your hair?

Sarah Kosakowski
Professional Hair Stylist
Sarah Kosakowski is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Alba Salon and Spa based in Cincinnati, Ohio. With a decade of experience, she specializes in bridal and formal hair, blondes, fine hair, and men’s cuts. Sarah received her training at The Aveda Frederic’s Institute and is proud to be a Kevin Murphy Session stylist amongst other accomplishments.

Sarah Kosakowski

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Take the hair you want to braid and split it into two equal sections. Starting with the right section, take a small amount of hair from the outermost part of the section, move it over the top of the section, and add it to the left section. Repeat the same process on the left section, moving a small outermost piece of hair over the top of the section, and adding it to the right section. Repeat this process until you get to the end of the braid and then secure with a hair tie.

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Question

Can you walk me through how you do a reverse french braid?

Sarah Kosakowski
Professional Hair Stylist
Sarah Kosakowski is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Owner of Alba Salon and Spa based in Cincinnati, Ohio. With a decade of experience, she specializes in bridal and formal hair, blondes, fine hair, and men’s cuts. Sarah received her training at The Aveda Frederic’s Institute and is proud to be a Kevin Murphy Session stylist amongst other accomplishments.

Sarah Kosakowski

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Take the section of hair that you want to braid and split it into three parts. Then take the leftmost section of those three parts and move it under the middle section so that it’s between the two other sections of hair. Then take the rightmost section of hair and move it under the middle section so that it’s between the two other sections of hair. Continue this process down the rest of the hair until you get to the end, then fasten with a hair tie.

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Question

What are the recommended ways to make hair look short for long, thick, wavy hair? Anything I do doesn't seem to work.

Community Answer

What I like to do is take my hair and twist about half of it and clip or pin it up against my head. That way it looks like a high ponytail, making my elbow-length hair appear to be about shoulder-length.

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Tips

If you want to know what looks best on you, you could try a makeover site, where you can upload a photo and change your hair to the style you want.

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Wear a wig to try out shorter hairstyles. Use them for an everyday look or wear one to a formal affair to change your look for the night.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Bobby pin the ends of your hair level with your ears under your hair so that your hair is half as short as before but no one can see the bobby pins.
One quick option is to just stuff your hair into the back of your shirt and push it up on the sides so it looks shorter.
Try teasing your hair and using hairspray to keep it at the shorter length you want.

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