This season’s most elegant looks are pared back and minimally styled
Every product on this page was chosen by a Harper's BAZAAR editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Although temperatures seem to be cooling down after several heat waves , it’s not cold quite yet, so it’s great to have a handful of easy hairstyles in your repertoire. If you have a shorter hairstyle, then you’re in luck, because there are endless cropped, polished hairstyles that are also low-maintenance for summer.
From Keira Knightley’s softly undone bob to Zendaya’s micro-bob , this summer has brought chic, shorter styles that prioritize strategic texture.
“The goal is hair that moves naturally, catches the light, and looks effortless, not overworked,” celebrity hairstylist Joe Kelly advises. “Summer hair should have movement, softness, and a lived-in finish, so it’s the time to use nourishing treatments and minimize heat where possible.”
Ahead, discover 10 elegant short hairstyles for this season that work for any and every hair type—plus, the quickest ways to style them day-to-day.
According to Neale Rodger, style director for STIL Salon , the pixie-bob (or bixie ) cut is “incredibly easy to manage and dries in minutes—although you still get movement and softness without keeping lots of hair around your face and neck.” When length is preserved around the fringe and nape, the result is a softer bixie shape, which feels feminine and modern.
“This style looks best when it feels lived-in, rather than perfectly polished,” Rodger explains. Work a small amount of texture cream through damp hair and “let the cut do the work,” he adds.
For those with straight or fine hair , Lily Collins’s sleek micro bob is both sophisticated and practical during the warmer months. Rodger refers to this style as “a jaw-skimming bob with a clean perimeter, minimal layering, and sharp shape.”
The cropped length makes the style lightweight and airy, yet surprisingly versatile for styling. “I suggest tucking one side behind the ear and allowing it to air-dry naturally,” Rodger says. “A little styling cream through the ends is often all that’s needed.”
Various ’90s hairstyles are seeing a revival this summer; take Keira Knightley’s nostalgic blunt shape with flicked-out ends as proof. Rina Teslica, beauty expert at Cult Beauty , notes that a slight side part and glossy finish are easy ways to modernize the style, making it “polished without being fussy.”
Soft, natural texture is essential to the ’90s bob. A lightweight styling mousse or cream will enhance definition and maintain a relaxed look without weighing the hair down.
“With a low, sleek bun, the focus is healthy, glossy hair and a polished finish, rather than the haircut itself,” Rodger explains. “This is one of those styles that feels just as flattering in the office as it does on holiday.”
For those seeking a style that keeps the hair completely off the neck in the most elegant way, Rodger suggests applying a smoothing cream or lightweight gel to damp hair before combing through and securing it into a low bun. Finish with a shine-boosting mist or gloss spray.
The retro “kicktail” bob is defined by flipped-out ends that famously create the illusion of lift in fine or thin hair. “You can leave this length to dry naturally and embrace the hair’s texture,” says Philipp Haug , co-founder of Haug London Haus . “The beauty of this type of bob is that when it’s cut well, it will simply fall into shap…