Introduction
Short haircuts are having a major moment, but when you add a little messiness to the mix, the result is pure magic. Messy short hairstyles have become the go-to look for those who want something stylish, easy to maintain, and full of personality. Whether you’re drawn to a tousled bob, a pixie with some volume, or curls with carefree texture, there’s a messy short haircut out there for you. These styles offer endless versatility, and they’re ideal for anyone who wants a chic, no-fuss look.
In this article, we’ll explore 21 Messy Short Hairstyles You’ll Want to Try Now. These styles cater to different hair types and face shapes, giving you plenty of options to experiment with. You’ll learn how to create these looks, the best styling products to use, and why they’re perfect for your busy lifestyle. Let’s dive into these effortless, modern styles that are sure to turn heads.
Table of Contents
What Are Messy Short Hairstyles?
Messy short hairstyles are all about embracing your hair’s natural texture, adding volume, and celebrating movement. These cuts are intentionally imperfect, allowing for a carefree, undone look that still feels chic. The beauty of messy short haircuts lies in their simplicity—they’re low-maintenance yet incredibly stylish.
Rather than focusing on sleek, perfectly styled hair, messy short haircuts use layers, texture, and volume to create a more natural, “just-woke-up” vibe. From tousled waves to spiky curls, messy short hairstyles allow your hair to have its moment while still looking put-together.
Why Choose Messy Short Hairstyles?
If you’re debating whether a messy short style is right for you, here are a few reasons why you should give it a go:
- Effortless Style: Messy short hairstyles are perfect for those who want to look chic without spending hours styling their hair.
- Versatility: Whether you’re going for edgy, boho, or romantic, there’s a messy short style for everyone.
- Volume and Texture: Messy styles naturally create volume, giving your hair a fuller appearance without having to use excessive product.
- Low Maintenance: These styles are easy to maintain—just a quick tousle and you’re good to go.
Ready to discover the perfect messy look for your short hair? Check out these 21 messy styles below!
Short Messy Hair with Face-Framing Fringe
This chic style combines a short messy cut with a face-framing fringe to create softness around your features. The layers around the face can help balance and highlight your face shape, making this cut perfect for round, heart-shaped, and oval faces.
How to Style It:
- Apply a light texturizing mousse or spray for volume.
- Let your hair air dry or blow-dry with a round brush for extra lift at the roots.
- Add a little pomade to the ends for definition and texture.
Why You’ll Love It: This style is the perfect mix of soft and edgy. It adds a lot of dimension without being too high-maintenance.
Edgy Short Messy Hair with Undone Style
If you’re looking for something bold and rebellious, this edgy, undone short hairstyle is the perfect option. The key to this style is the “lived-in” texture, where your hair is left to look natural and a little messy, but still polished.
How to Style It:
- Apply a texturizing spray and rough dry with your fingers for a more lived-in look.
- Work in some lightweight pomade to define ends and create separation.
- For extra volume, add a dry shampoo to the roots for lift.
Why You’ll Love It: This edgy, undone look is perfect for those who want to embrace a cool, carefree vibe that’s perfect for any casual or semi-formal occasion.
Shaggy Pixie Messy Cut with Tousled Curls
The shaggy pixie with tousled curls is ideal for those with natural curls or waves. This messy short style is all about volume and bounce, with layers that add movement to your curls and make them pop.
How to Style It:
- Apply curl cream or mousse to damp hair to enhance natural texture.
- Let your hair air dry or diffuse it for added volume and bounce.
- Scrunch your curls lightly with your fingers for a more natural, tousled finish.
Why You’ll Love It: This cut embraces natural texture, giving your curls a fun, bouncy feel that’s low-maintenance but full of style.
Straight and Tousled Short Messy Haircut
Straight hair can sometimes lack body, but with a tousled short cut, you can add volume and texture without losing that sleek, sophisticated edge. This style works well for those with straight hair who want to create the appearance of more body and movement.
How to Style It:
- Use a texturizing spray or sea salt spray for that tousled, beachy look.
- Rough dry your hair or let it air dry to keep the texture light and airy.
- For added volume, apply a small amount of mousse to the roots.
Why You’ll Love It: It’s the perfect mix of sleek and textured, making it ideal for anyone who loves straight hair but wants a bit of extra volume.
Short Messy Bob with Voluminous Crown
A short messy bob with a voluminous crown is a timeless look. The added volume at the crown gives the bob more dimension and makes it look fuller, while the tousled layers keep it fun and casual.
How to Style It:
- Blow dry your hair upside down to add volume at the roots.
- Use a round brush to lift the crown as you dry.
- Add a sea salt spray or texturizing cream for a soft, beachy wave.
Why You’ll Love It: The volume at the crown gives your bob a fuller, more youthful look, while the messy texture keeps it casual and trendy.
Short Messy Bob Choppy Layers for Thick Hair
For thick hair, a short messy bob with choppy layers is a game changer. The layers help reduce bulk while maintaining volume and texture, giving your hair a fun, tousled appearance that looks stylish without being too heavy.
How to Style It:
- Use a lightweight mousse or volume-boosting spray.
- Blow-dry your hair using a round brush for extra lift at the roots.
- Add a bit of texture paste to the ends for a separated, messy finish.
Why You’ll Love It: The choppy layers make thick hair more manageable while adding dimension and movement to the style.
Short Messy Hairstyles with Root Lift
If you have fine or flat hair, adding a root lift to a messy short hairstyle can make a huge difference. This style creates volume at the roots, which adds fullness to the hair while keeping the ends textured and messy.
How to Style It:
- Apply a root-lifting mousse to damp hair.
- Blow-dry with your head upside down for maximum volume at the roots.
- Finish with a light spray of texturizing spray for that tousled finish.
Why You’ll Love It: It gives you the perfect lift at the crown, making fine hair look fuller and more voluminous.
Short Messy Haircut with Tousled Layers for Thick Hair
For thick hair that tends to fall flat, a short messy haircut with tousled layers will create a more dynamic, voluminous look. The layers prevent your hair from looking too bulky while keeping things textured and full of movement.
How to Style It:
- Apply a texturizing spray to damp hair for volume and movement.
- Use a diffuser when blow-drying to add texture without frizz.
- Finish with a lightweight styling cream to define the layers.
Why You’ll Love It: This style enhances natural volume and texture without weighing your thick hair down, giving you a bouncy, carefree look.
Short Spiky Haircut with Messy Crown Volume
If you’re after a bold, statement-making style, the short spiky haircut with messy crown volume is a great choice. This edgy look emphasizes volume at the crown, while the spikes add an energetic, youthful vibe.
How to Style It:
- Apply a strong-hold gel or wax to damp hair.
- Use your fingers to create spikes on the top while lifting the crown for volume.
- Finish with a light hairspray to hold the spikes in place throughout the day.
Why You’ll Love It: Perfect for those who love a punk-inspired look, this hairstyle adds a bit of flair and attitude to your messy short hair.
Short Choppy Haircut with Tapered Neckline
A short choppy haircut with a tapered neckline is all about creating texture and structure. The choppy layers on top contrast with the sleek, tapered neckline, giving the style a fresh, modern twist.
How to Style It:
- Apply texturizing spray to damp hair for that choppy, lived-in look.
- Blow-dry with a round brush for volume, focusing on the layers at the crown.
- Use a smoothing cream on the neckline to keep the tapered area sleek and defined.
Why You’ll Love It: This style adds movement and edge while keeping the shape and definition near the neck, giving you a sharp yet messy appearance.
Messy Bun for Short Hair with Face-Framing Pieces
The messy bun is not just for long hair! You can achieve a cute, effortless look with short hair by creating a messy bun with soft, face-framing pieces. This hairstyle is perfect for casual days or even more polished occasions when you need a chic, easy updo.
How to Style It:
- Gather your hair into a loose bun at the top or side of your head.
- Leave some face-framing strands out to add softness.
- Use a texturizing spray to give your bun volume and texture.
Why You’ll Love It: This is a quick and versatile updo that works for both workdays and weekend outings. It’s perfect for those who like to keep their hair out of the way while maintaining a cute, relaxed look.
Choppy Messy Bob Hairstyle with Windblown Texture
A choppy messy bob with windblown texture is ideal for those who love the carefree look of hair that’s been tousled by the breeze. The uneven layers and textured ends give it a spontaneous, yet chic vibe.
How to Style It:
- Use a salt spray or light mousse to add volume and texture to your hair.
- Rough-dry with a blow dryer to maintain that tousled look.
- Finish with a lightweight hairspray to hold the texture without weighing it down.
Why You’ll Love It: This messy bob looks like you’ve spent a day at the beach, adding a free-spirited, windblown texture that works well for both casual and more polished looks.
Short Layered Messy Haircut with Feathery Ends
If you want a short, textured style with a soft and airy feel, the short layered messy haircut with feathery ends is the way to go. This style combines light, airy layers with textured ends for a soft, voluminous look that’s both chic and effortless.
How to Style It:
- Apply a texturizing spray to damp hair for volume and separation.
- Blow-dry using a diffuser to enhance natural texture and avoid frizz.
- Use a lightweight styling cream or pomade to define the feathery ends.
Why You’ll Love It: This hairstyle gives you a modern, fresh look that adds softness around your face, making it perfect for those who prefer a feminine yet messy style.
Shaggy Messy Bob with Airy Texture
The shaggy messy bob with airy texture is all about volume and movement. This haircut works well for a variety of hair types, creating a carefree, edgy vibe that doesn’t require too much effort.
How to Style It:
- Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair to give it body.
- Rough dry your hair or use a blow dryer with a diffuser to keep the texture light.
- Use a texturizing paste on the ends to separate and define the shaggy layers.
Why You’ll Love It: It’s a relaxed, fun style that feels breezy and fresh. The airy texture adds volume without needing heavy product, making it perfect for the no-fuss individual.
Flippy Short Messy Layers with Tousled Bangs
Flippy short messy layers with tousled bangs combine retro charm with modern texture. This playful style is great for adding a bit of personality to your short hair, especially if you love a fun, flirty vibe.
How to Style It:
- Add a texturizing mousse to damp hair and blow-dry upside down for added volume.
- Use a flat iron to create subtle flips at the ends.
- Style your bangs by tousling them with your fingers or using a round brush for a light curl.
Why You’ll Love It: This style combines the chic look of bangs with the carefree texture of messy layers, making it an excellent choice for anyone who loves a bit of playfulness in their hairstyle.
Short Messy Hair with Subtle Undercut
A short messy haircut with a subtle undercut combines edginess with a more refined, controlled look. The undercut provides contrast to the messy top layers, creating a modern and bold appearance.
How to Style It:
- Apply a texturizing mousse to create volume and lift at the roots.
- Blow-dry using a round brush to add body to the top layers.
- Use a small amount of pomade or wax to define the messy layers.
Why You’ll Love It: This style adds an edgy touch while still being versatile enough for everyday wear. The undercut adds a unique element that sets the look apart from traditional messy short haircuts.
Messy Pixie Haircut with Lifted Back
The messy pixie haircut with a lifted back is perfect for those who want a pixie cut with a bit more volume. This style adds lift at the back, making it perfect for creating a flattering silhouette while maintaining the playful, messy vibe.
How to Style It:
- Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair.
- Blow-dry using a round brush, lifting the back sections of your hair for extra volume.
- Scrunch your hair with your fingers and finish with a light texturizing spray.
Why You’ll Love It: This pixie style is full of volume, making it flattering for all face shapes, especially those who want a lifted look in the back.
Razor Cut Messy Bob with Disconnected Ends
A razor cut messy bob with disconnected ends adds structure and movement to your short hair. The razor cutting technique creates sharp, choppy layers that give the style its signature edgy, textured look.
How to Style It:
- Apply a texturizing cream or sea salt spray to damp hair.
- Blow-dry your hair using your fingers to scrunch and separate the layers.
- Finish with a light hairspray to lock in texture.
Why You’ll Love It: This bob is bold and modern with disconnected layers that give it an effortlessly messy look. It’s perfect for those who want a sharp, chic hairstyle with a bit of edge.
Fluffed Messy Hairstyle
A fluffed messy hairstyle brings volume and height to your short hair, making it look fuller and more dynamic. This style is great for those with naturally straight or slightly wavy hair who want to add some dimension.
How to Style It:
- Use a root-boosting spray or mousse to create volume at the roots.
- Blow-dry your hair upside down to maximize lift.
- Finish with a light texturizing spray to add separation and fullness.
Why You’ll Love It: The fluffiness adds a fun, voluminous vibe to your hair without being overly styled, making it ideal for everyday wear.
Tanglepix Messy Cut
The Tanglepix messy cut is all about embracing wild, natural texture. The layers are intentionally uneven, creating a chaotic, fun look that exudes confidence and style.
How to Style It:
- Apply a lightweight texturizing spray to damp hair.
- Rough-dry with a blow dryer, scrunching your hair to enhance texture.
- Use a small amount of pomade to define certain pieces.
Why You’ll Love It: This style is perfect for anyone who wants to embrace their hair’s natural texture while looking effortlessly chic and stylish.
Side-Swept Messy Bob for Long Faces
A side-swept messy bob is perfect for those with long faces, as it adds width and balance to the face shape. This bob uses messy layers and a deep side part to create a flattering and stylish silhouette.
How to Style It:
- Apply a texturizing spray to damp hair.
- Blow-dry with a round brush, sweeping the hair to one side for a voluminous, side-swept look.
- Add some light waves using a curling iron for added texture.
Why You’ll Love It: This hairstyle softens the angles of a long face, creating a balanced, flattering appearance while still maintaining a playful, messy texture.
Conclusion: Embrace the Messy Chic Look
Messy short hairstyles are here to stay, offering a range of fun and versatile looks that can fit any personality or occasion. Whether you’re looking for a pixie cut, a voluminous bob, or beachy curls, there’s a messy style that will complement your hair type and lifestyle. The best part? These styles are incredibly easy to maintain, giving you a chic look without a lot of effort.
So, why not give one of these 21 messy short hairstyles a try? Embrace your natural texture, add some volume, and create a carefree yet polished style that suits your vibe. Experiment with different cuts and products to find the perfect look that makes you feel confident and beautiful.
