Photos: Getty Images Save Story Save this story Save Story Save this story Gray hair has officially shed its old, undeserved reputation. Instead of something to cover with color, it's something to savor. More and more people are growing out and leaning into their shimmering silver, and the only thing cooler than embracing the color is figuring out the haircut that makes the most of it in a way that’s very you . And it just so happens that gray hair looks stunning in a variety of short styles.
Whether your particular version of gray hair is bright white, a steely salt-and-pepper, or somewhere stunningly in-between, certain cuts bring out the dimension of your shade and the best of your texture. “For women embracing their natural hair color and allowing the gray to shine, always consider a few things: the time you want to spend in the morning, whether you’re going for a more polished or lived-in look, and if your texture can support the style you’re looking for,” says Sophie Rose Gutterman , a hairstylist based in Los Angeles. “Embracing the gray is all about an easier lifestyle, and focusing on the cut will require less time in the mornings.”
That doesn't mean you're limited to one or two conventional crops, though. Some of the trendiest hairstyles —we’re talking tousled pixies , timeless bobs , and modern shags, to name a few—look especially incredible with gray hair. Ahead, we've rounded up the best short haircuts for gray hair, along with expert tips on who each shape suits best and why these particular styles make the most of silver.
Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images There are few haircuts more simultaneously classic and contemporary than the bob, a blunt style that typically falls somewhere between the cheekbones and the shoulders. “Gray hair has beautiful dimension, and a bob showcases those variations beautifully,” says Marcos Diaz , a Los Angeles-based hairstylist. “Whether the hair is straight, wavy, or curly, the shape creates structure while allowing the natural color to take center stage.”
Katherine Brown , a hairstylist at Boston’s East West Salon , has noticed that as many of her clients get more gray, they also lose some of their density, which makes a bob a particularly appealing style. “Bobs can be a great way to help with this because keeping it one length can make the ends feel thicker and fuller overall,” she says. However, she notes that one-length styles mean more maintenance and routine trims.
Diaz recommends keeping the finish soft and touchable rather than overly polished. “A lightweight leave-in like DevaCurl Mist of Wonders Leave-In adds hydration and shine without weighing the hair down,” he says. If you prefer a sleeker look, however, Brown suggests blow-drying with a round brush, then adding a texture spray like Color Wow Style on Steroids to bring back any volume lost during the blow-dry.
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Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images Photo: Getty Images “A pixie is great for gray hair because [the texture] can be a little more coarse, and that’s great for volume,” says Brown. And because it’s so cropped, that means less is more when it comes to styling—less time and less product. All you need is styling cream or texture paste.