The Names of Different Women's Hairstyles and Cuts

Explaining the haircut or style you want to your stylist can be difficult if you don’t know its name. For instance, there is a big difference between a bob and a pixie cut, even though both are short haircuts. You may also need to know the name of a particular style if you are going to get your hair done for a wedding or party.

The Bob Haircut

The bob haircut is a classic style from the 1920s that has been made popular again in the 21st century by stars such as Katie Holmes. The traditional bob is cut short, usually just above the chin, and features short bangs in the front. Later takes on the bob include angling the cut, as Holmes’ hair was styled in 2008, so that the front is slightly longer than the back. The bangs also do not have to be super short. They can reach past the eyebrows and be swept across the face. The bob cut can also be layered, so that the front is a bit shorter than the back. A longer bob style can reach past the chin almost to the shoulders.

Layers for All

Hair cut to the same length looks a bit boring and can be hard to style. No matter what type of hair you have (thick, thin, curly or straight), you can get a layered cut and have it flatter your face. Long layers work well for those with curly hair, since the length of the layers gives shape to the curls. Long curly hair also looks great if it can flow down and away from the face. If you have thin hair, getting a short layered cut can help add volume. You can also add volume to your layered look by blow-drying your hair upside down and then flipping your head upward to make the hair puff out.

Wear Your Hair Short, Short

A super short hairstyle such as the pixie cut or the cropped cut may not be for everyone. A pixie cut with bangs flatters women with round faces while a cropped haircut looks good on women with oval shaped faces. A cropped style is cut close to the scalp, above the ears. Trimming the excess hair with a razor gives the crop a smoother and softer look while trimming it with a pair of scissors creates a chunky style.

The pixie cut can be cropped super close to the scalp or the front can be left long so that you can brush the bangs over your eyes or to the side of your face or spike them upward for an interesting look.