Short Hair With Fringe: How To Style It And The Best Styles To Bookmark

Anyone with a bob haircut knows just how impactful shorter lengths can be. Whether it's a tousled, lived-in French bob, a blunt bob or a dramatic, choppy pixie, these hairstyles often speak for themselves and require little else aside from regular maintenance of the length.

The experts:

• Imy Chowdhary, Great Lengths Educator at Michael John Salon Belgravia
• Sarah Necia, session hairstylist and wig designer

For an even louder statement, do consider adding bangs to your short hair, be it a full fringe, a micro fringe or somewhere in between. 'I absolutely love a bob with bangs - it adds a fun, flirty vibe,' says Imy Chowdhary, Great Lengths Educator at Michael John Salon Belgravia.

Fellow hair expert Necia, who's worked with Raye and Dolly Parton, agrees, adding: '[Short hair with fringes] don't take as long to style and is super easy to manage. The French bob with bangs is incredibly popular right now which is the kind of Brigitte Bardot/ Sabrina Carpenter bangs but cut into a super short, chic bob with lots of movement. Raye’s hair is styled in a bob and we do a little side bang, she’s a great example of someone who works a short bob perfectly.'

How to find the right short hair with fringe

Do not underestimate the power of reference images as it gives your hairdresser a starting point (plus, what's short to you may not mean the same thing to the one wielding the scissors). It goes without saying, but a thorough consultation about your lifestyle and hair type will also determine what works best.

'I think it’s important to be playful with your hair though – before you make the chop, you can start by pinning your hair back into a bang or bob to see what suits you, your face shape and also your look,' suggests Necia.

We're all about embracing whatever face shape you have (it's completely your own and is what makes you, you, after all), but if you do prefer to add balance to fuller cheeks, Chowdhary recommends cutting the bangs just below that part of your face.

To maintain the cut, most salons offer trims in-between hair appointments but if you must cut your fringe at-home, do make sure you're using professional scissors and take off only a tiny amount of length.

How to style short hair with fringe

During your consultation, don't forget to ask your hairstylist for advice on re-creating the style at home with the tools you already own. 'There’s no point leaving the salon looking incredible and then never being able to recreate the look again yourself,' says Necia, who's never without a Kent round-brush as it 'they’re perfect for creating movement and volume'.

Adds Necia: 'Tools like straighteners and curlers can also be useful, it just depends on what style you are going for and how easily your hair responds to heat and setting products. The weather and humidity can affect your bangs, too.'

To bring extra interest to your short hair and fringe, Necia recommends experimenting with plenty of texture or incorporating hair accessories such as a scarves and barrettes.

'Colour is another brilliant way to mix things up,' suggests Chowdhary. Whether that's an all-over transformation or easing into it with hair extensions such as the ones offered by Great Lengths, it's a sure way to elevate your style for the new season.

The coolest short hair with fringe inspiration to bookmark now