Wavy hair cut wet can dry noticeably shorter than planned, which is why every cut here is done dry, right where the wave actually sits. Short wavy haircuts suit 2A to 2C texture that air-dries with curl cream or mousse, and a trim every five to eight weeks keeps the shape from puffing into a triangle.
1. Wavy Bob Cut at the Chin
I cut a wavy chin-length bob dry, setting the base at the chin and adding a few invisible layers so the waves land evenly instead of building into a triangle. The baseline is point cut. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carries it, on oval, round or square faces. Curl cream, scrunch, air-dry. Of the short wavy haircuts in this list, this one is on my chair more than any other. Trim every 8 weeks.
2. French Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy French bob dry so the wave sits where I want, with a blunt line at the jaw and short bangs at the brow. Once the wave kicks in, the bob rides slightly above the jaw. Hair from 2A to 2B of fine to medium density carries it, on oval or long faces. Light mousse, scrunch, air-dry. The bangs grow quickly, so trim every 6 weeks.
3. Pixie With Wave
I cut a wavy pixie with three inches left on top so the wave shows, tapering the sides scissor-over-comb. The top is cut dry and point cut so the waves pull apart. Hair from 2B to 2C of medium to thick density carries it, on oval or heart faces. Curl cream, air-dry, and push the top back with your fingers. Trim every 5 weeks.
4. Shag Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy shaggy bob dry, razoring from the cheekbone down so the layers feather while the wave takes care of the rest, with the base at the chin. Hair from 2B to 2C of medium to thick density carries it, on oval or long faces. Sea salt spray and scrunch, or diffuse. Wavy short haircuts carrying this much texture hold up on second-day hair. Trim every 8 weeks.
5. Collarbone-Length Wavy Lob
I cut a wavy lob at the collarbone dry, with a few invisible layers so the waves fall in even clumps; it is the longest a short wavy cut goes. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carries it, on oval, round or square faces. Curl cream, scrunch and air-dry, or run a one-inch iron through and leave the ends out. Trim every 8 weeks.
6. Wavy Bob Plus Curtain Bangs
I cut a wavy bob with curtain bangs dry, base at the chin, and leave the bangs a touch long because the wave will lift them to the brow. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carries it, on oval, heart or square faces. Mousse, air-dry, and twist the bangs away from the face while they are damp. Trim every 8 weeks; bangs every 5.
7. Wavy Bob Plus Side Bangs
I cut a wavy bob with side bangs with the base at the chin and a long wavy fringe swept across the forehead. The fringe is cut dry so it ends up where I want after the wave lifts it. Hair from 2A to 2C of fine to medium density carries it, on round or square faces. Light mousse, air-dry, and push the fringe to the side. Trim every 6 weeks.
8. Blunt-Line Wavy Bob
I cut a wavy blunt bob dry with scissors, one straight line at the jaw and no layers, so the waves sit heavy at the ends, and I check the line from both sides. Hair from 2A to 2B of fine to medium density carries it, on oval or long faces. Light cream, air-dry, and scrunch the ends only. Trim every 6 weeks to keep the line crisp.
9. Stacked Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy stacked bob dry so the wave stacks rather than puffs, building graduated layers at the nape so the back rounds out, with the front at the chin. Hair from 2B to 2C of medium density carries it, on round or square faces. Mousse, diffuse, and lift the stacked section with your fingers. Graduation grows out fast, so trim every 6 weeks.
10. Asymmetric Wavy Bob
I cut a wavy asymmetrical bob dry so the wave does not throw the lengths off, taking one side to the chin and the other to the jaw, and point cutting only the ends. Hair from 2A to 2C of fine to medium density carries it, on round or square faces. Mousse, air-dry, and keep the longer side forward. Trim every 6 weeks or the asymmetry softens.
11. Ear-Length Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy ear-length bob dry with a blunt line at the bottom of the ear and slight graduation at the nape. In places the wave carries it up to the cheekbone. Hair from 2A to 2B of fine to medium density carries it, on oval or heart faces. Light cream, air-dry, and tuck one side behind the ear. Trim every 5 weeks.
12. Bixie With Wave
I cut a wavy bixie as a halfway point between a bob and a pixie, with a short layered back and the front at the cheekbone. Razoring the layers dry lets the wave feather. Hair from 2B to 2C of medium to thick density carries it, on oval or round faces. Texture spray and scrunch, or diffuse on low. Given time it grows into a wavy bob. Trim every 6 weeks.
13. Short Wavy Cut for Fine Hair
I cut a short wavy haircut for fine hair dry with scissors, blunt at the chin with no layers, so every wave adds to the ends, and point cut only the baseline. Hair from 2A to 2B of fine density carries it, on oval or heart faces. Light mousse on wet hair, scrunch, air-dry, then flip the roots. Trim every 6 weeks.
14. Short Wavy Cut for Thick Hair
I cut a short wavy haircut for thick hair by razoring internal layers dry to take bulk out from the inside, holding the outside at the chin so the waves cannot puff into a triangle. Hair from 2B to 2C of thick density carries it, on oval, round or square faces. Curl cream, diffuse, scrunch. Trim every 8 weeks and have the inside thinned every visit.
15. Short Wavy Cut for Round Faces
I cut a short wavy haircut for round faces dry, with the base just below the chin, height at the crown and a deep side part so the face reads longer, and I keep the sides from flaring. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carries it. Mousse, diffuse, and clip the crown for lift. Trim every 6 weeks.
16. Short Wavy Cut for Square Faces
I cut a short wavy haircut for square faces just below the jaw, point cutting soft front pieces dry so the waves cover the corners of the jaw. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carries it. Curl cream, air-dry, and scrunch the front pieces toward the face. Trim every 6 weeks, and if it is colored, cover the roots every 5 weeks.
17. Short Wavy Cut for Oval Faces
I cut a short wavy haircut for oval faces to the wave pattern, since anything from pixie to lob works: loose 2A waves get a blunt bob, tighter 2C waves get soft layers. The cut is always dry so the wave lands where I expect. Any density carries it. Mousse and air-dry, or diffuse, and twist the front pieces back. Trim every 6 to 8 weeks.
18. Short Wavy Cut for Heart Faces
I cut a short wavy haircut for heart faces dry, with wavy curtain bangs to balance a wide forehead and a bob that flips out at the chin to add width there. Hair from 2A to 2C of fine to medium density carries it. Mousse, air-dry, and twist the ends outward while damp. Trim every 6 weeks; bangs every 5.
19. Short Wavy Cut for Women Over 50
I cut a short wavy haircut for women over 50 dry with scissors, base at the jaw, a few invisible layers and a soft side fringe that covers forehead lines. Hair from 2A to 2C of fine to medium density carries it, on oval, round or square faces. Light cream, scrunch, air-dry. Trim every 6 weeks, gloss every 8 weeks.
20. Short Wavy Cut for Women Over 60
I cut a short wavy haircut for women over 60 dry at the chin with a few invisible layers, so the waves fall evenly and no iron is ever needed, and I leave the crown slightly shorter for lift. Hair from 2A to 2C of fine to medium density carries it, on oval or round faces. Curl cream on wet hair, scrunch, air-dry. Trim every 8 weeks, gloss every 8 weeks.
21. Blonde Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy blonde bob once the color is done, so I can see where the light pieces fall in the waves, with the base at the chin and invisible layers. Blonde ends are fragile, so it is point cut only. Hair from 2A to 2C of fine to medium density carries it, on oval or heart faces. Heat protectant and mousse, air-dry. Trim every 6 weeks; tone every 6 weeks.
22. Brunette Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy brunette bob dry with a blunt line at the jaw, since dark hair hides layers and the wave brings the movement on its own. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium to thick density carries it, on oval, square or long faces. Curl cream, air-dry, and finish with a shine spray. Trim every 6 weeks; cover the roots every 5.
23. Copper Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy copper bob dry at the chin so the waves show the warm copper in pieces. Fair to medium skin and hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carry it. Curl cream and a shine serum, air-dry. Because copper fades fast, a gloss every 4 weeks is non-negotiable. Trim every 6 weeks; touch up the roots every 5.
24. Balayage Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy bob with balayage dry at the chin before the color, then the colorist paints the lightest shade onto each outer wave so the movement shows. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium to thick density carries it, on most face shapes. Mousse, scrunch, air-dry. Trim every 8 weeks, gloss every 8 weeks.
25. Money-Piece Bob With Wave
I cut a wavy bob with money pieces after foiling and toning the front inch on each side, cutting the bob dry at the chin so the bright pieces fall into the front waves, one on each side of the face. Hair from 2A to 2C of medium density carries it, on most face shapes. Mousse, air-dry, and twist the front pieces apart. Tone every 6 weeks. Trim every 6 weeks.
Worth a look next: trendy haircuts for long hair and long curly haircuts.
Short wavy haircuts need to be cut dry, because wavy hair shrinks as it dries and ends up shorter than planned if you cut it wet. FYI, the wavy bob with money pieces looks best after foiling and toning the front inch on each side. That step keeps the cut from going flat against the face.
