25 Flattering Short Hairstyles for Fine Hair

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Updated October 22, 2020
Credit: @natalieannehair

When you have fine hair, the biggest enemy isn’t necessarily frizz or dullness. It’s more along the lines of a major lack of volume, with a proclivity for getting greasy faster than our coarser counterparts. The many, many small strands each have their own follicle that produces oil, making it that much harder for the volume-deficient hair type to stay lifted and hold styling. Now, bulk up your defenses with the perfect haircut? You’ll be headed in the right direction, which for fine-haired women, means up! A short haircut is always going to help you get rid of the weight that’s pulling those limp strands down—fast

If you have thin hair, a blunt cut will feign thickness; and a pixie cut makes those strands feather-light and much more pliable for styling. For thick hair, well-placed long layers give dimension and volume to your bobs and lobs. (Fine hair doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have a lot of hair; it’s just referring to the diameter of the strand.) There are even some bangs that look the opposite of glued down to your forehead—we're talking the coolest wispy curtain bangs ever.

This hair type might be a fickle thing, but these flattering short hairstyles for fine hair will help you master it in a few snips.

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Transition Shag

Credit: @mrchrismcmillan

Not quite a shag, not quite a classic bob—this cut is easy, breezy, and everything a fine-haired gal needs to live her best life this year. Curtain bangs are the most low maintenance of fringe to enhance any short look. 

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Asymmetrical Pixie

Credit: Pinterest/Anh Co Tran

Play up texture and layers with an asymmetrical pixie, a short cut that usually features a deep part with long side-swept fringe and an ultra-short side or undercut near the temple. You’ll be able to give plenty of lift and volume to the hairstyle without going completely simple and straight.

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Blunt Bob

Credit: @anhcotran

For fine hair that lacks body, a bob is a versatile style to choose for its classic and flattering finish. A blunt bob will make ends look thick and full, while the short length will make sure the hair isn’t too weighed down or flat. 

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Curtained Shoulder Cut

Credit: Instagram/@salsalhair

We're convinced the answer to all of our problems is a trip to the salon and a fiery set of new bangs. For fine hair, wispy curtain bangs are easy and flattering. 

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Textured Chin Bob

Credit: @styledby_carolynn

Texture is a fine-haired girl's best friend. The key to mastering the look lies in minimal layers that lend lots of styling potential and subtle volume that won't fall flat. 

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Angled Long Bob

Credit: @summerevansstudio

Feign extra body and enhance your natural texture with an angled lob that seriously pumps up the volume at the back. 

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Textured Pixie

Credit: Getty Images

A super short pixie looks great on fine hair, and you can play with your texture to get some volume out of it. This style works if the hair up top is a little longer than the sides, and you’ll benefit from using some pomade or texture spray to help with hold. 

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Sharp Shoulder Cut

Credit: @natalieannehair

Fake it until you make it with a blunt cut that instantly makes fine hair look much thicker—and rakes in serious compliments. 

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Layered Curly Lob

Credit: @misahara5

Curly girls can deal with fine hair that goes flat from time to time, too. The answer? Layers to give your natural curls enough bounce and lift to combat any deflated ringlets.

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A-Line or Graduated Bob

Credit: Instagram/@riawna

An a-line bob looks slightly angled and is shorter in the back, but doesn’t have stacked layers; while a graduated bob features some stacked layers towards the back. Either style will look great with fine hair because they both let you amp up the volume on the backside. 

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Wispy Bangs

Credit: @marissa.marino

Embrace your fine texture with wispy bangs that’ll add a light and airy finishing touch to your blunt bob. The sparse style won’t have the flimsy, flat look that full bangs on fine hair sometimes gives.

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Choppy Pixie

Credit: @zinoveva_elena

We'll take this sassy crop cut and then some. Leaving it longer on top lends so much more styling opportunity to make your pixie feel anything but boring. 

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Chin-Hugging Sharp Bob

Credit: @riawna

Luckily when you have thinner fine hair, you can totally rock a sharp-as-glass cut—and we're banking on this cropped bob that cups the face in the most flattering way.

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Blunt Lob-Length

Credit: Instagram/@salsalhair

Blunt ends will make fine hair—whether your head of hair is thinner or thicker overall—look super lush. The blunt lob is as close as any haircut gets to universally flattering or one-size-fits-all. We’d be hard-pressed to find someone it wouldn’t look good on.

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Straight Pixie

Credit: Getty Images

We’re talking Mia Farrow-esque pixies that crop it extra short. With super short sides and ever-so-slightly longer top and fringe, it’s feminine and classy—and shows off that bone structure! You’ll love the low maintenance styling of this elegant ‘do.

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Sleek Mid-Length Cut

Credit: @chrisgreenehair

Start inching your way up to your short cut dreams with a style that skims just below your collarbone with just a few key layers around the face that will become your new besties.

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Collarbone Cut

Credit: @hairby_chrissy

You don't have to go super short to turn your fine strands into their most lifted potential—and this cut says it all with layers, texture, and angles that we're taking straight to the salon as inspo. 

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Curly Pixie Cut

Credit: @t.techniques

When in doubt, combat flat roots with a modern cropped haircut that you can style up and away from the face. Presto—instant body. 

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Tendril Bangs

Credit: @peterluxhair

You can have bangs without really having to have bangs, you know? These loose and long tendrils are basically like shortened-up layers around the face that are oh-so flattering. 

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Layerless Long Bob

Credit: @hairbyolya

Keep layers minimal if your main goal is to enhance the look of thickness. With a straightening iron, add flips and texture to the ends to make the most of this subtle style. 

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Long Layers

Credit: Instagram/@ramireztransalon

If you’re going with a lob-length or medium-length hairstyle, long layers will help give movement and fullness to fine hair. Too many layers, or super short layers, can make the hair look thinner or piecier, which isn’t always the goal for those with fine hair.

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Side Part Crop

Credit: Getty Images

Deep side parts are seriously trending this year already, and this look angles the side part more towards the front for a subtle asymmetrical feel. It works great for sleek and smooth looks like this, but can work just as well for a wavy bob or straight lob. 

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Curly Shag

Credit: @salsalhair

When snipped without overdoing the layers, a shaggy short style can really give new life to fine or thin hair. Bonus points if you add a set of fun fringe.  

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Chin-Grazing Bob

Credit: @salsalhair

If you’re interested in keeping things sleek and stylish, a short chin-grazing bob might be your best look yet. The fashion-forward length lets you accentuate your bone structure, while keeping styling to a minimum. This trendy cut also looks great with a deep side part.

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Face-Framing Fringe

Credit: Getty Images

These curtain bangs let you avoid major flatness (that often comes with straight-across bangs) by layering each side for dimension and volume. Especially with a good blow-dry and some volumizing product, these fringe bangs will make a less-than-flat statement on fine hair. 

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By Kaitlyn Yarborough