I cut short choppy haircuts on dry hair, with the ends point cut so no two pieces finish at the same length, which is why they still look piecey on a rushed work morning. A little matte paste or texture spray usually does the styling. The trade-off is upkeep, with trims every four to eight weeks.
1. Choppy Pixie Cut With Point-Cut Top
I cut the choppy pixie shorter than any other short choppy haircut, and it is the one that takes the least styling. Graduation goes through the sides and back, and on dry hair I point cut the top layers so no two pieces end at the same length. Fine to medium density and oval or heart shaped faces carry it well. Push the top forward with a matte paste on dry hair. Book a trim every four weeks, since the shape loses definition quickly.
2. Choppy Jaw-Line Bob
I start a jaw length choppy bob as a blunt cut and break it up afterward. With the hair dry, the line goes in at the jaw and I point cut through the last inch so the ends split apart instead of forming one solid edge. Medium density on an oval, square or heart shaped face wears it well. Rough-dry with a texture spray, then twist a few pieces with a small amount of wax. A trim every six weeks keeps it sharp.
3. Choppy Shag, Short Version
I layer the short choppy shag from top to bottom and leave no blunt line anywhere. The crown goes short on dry hair, each layer is point cut down toward the neck, and the fringe is razored so it feathers out. Medium to thick density on oval and long faces suits it. Scrunch it with a sea salt spray and air-dry, or diffuse when you want extra lift at the crown. Keep it trimmed every six to eight weeks or the layers collapse.
4. Razored Choppy Crop
I reach for a razor on this crop because the blade tapers each end to a point, which gives the choppiest edge there is. The back and sides stay tight, cut dry, and the top pieces are razored at angles so they splay apart. Medium density on oval and heart shaped faces suits it; coarse hair that frizzes does not. Dry it roughly with a dry texture spray and leave it alone. Trim every four to five weeks.
5. Short Choppy Cut on Fine Hair
I give fine hair a choppy cut because the uneven ends stop it from lying flat, so it reads fuller. The bob sits at the chin, cut dry, with ends point cut sheer and two short interior layers for lift. Low density on oval and heart shaped faces suits it. Dry it upside down with a mousse, then rough the ends up with a little paste. Trim every six weeks.
6. Short Choppy Cut on Thick Hair
I take the weight out of thick hair from the inside before any choppy ends go in; skip that step and the cut puffs out. Internal layers remove bulk through the back and sides on dry hair, the perimeter is point cut at the jaw, and the top is slide cut. Thick density on any face shape suits it. Dry with a paddle brush and finish with a smoothing cream. Trim every six weeks and thin it out every second visit.
7. Full-Fringe Choppy Bob
I cut the choppy bob and its full fringe as two sections that join at the temple. The bob goes in at the chin on dry hair with point cut ends, and the fringe is cut at the brow and point cut so it breaks apart. Medium density on oval and long faces suits it. Dry the fringe flat with a small brush and rough-dry the rest of the hair. The fringe needs a trim every four weeks, the bob every seven.
8. Short Choppy Layers and Curtain Bangs
I add curtain bangs to short choppy layers to soften the cut where it meets the face. The layered shape reaches the jaw, cut dry and point cut all the way through, and the bangs are cut at the cheekbone from a center part. Medium density on round and square faces suits it. Dry the bangs on a round brush, rolling away from the center, and rough-dry the layers with a texture spray. Trim the bangs every five weeks and the layers every seven.
9. Pixie Bob With Choppy Ends
I cut the pixie bob to sit halfway between the two shapes: short through the nape and longer toward the front. The nape is graduated short on dry hair, the front is left to fall at the chin, and the full perimeter is point cut. Fine to medium density on oval and heart shaped faces suits it. Dry with a flat brush, pushing the front forward, and finish with a light wax. Trim every five weeks.
10. Short Choppy Cut on a Round Face
I give a round face a choppy cut with height at the crown and length through the front. Short crown layers go in on dry hair, the front pieces stay at the chin, and I point cut all of it so there is no line sitting at the cheek. Medium density suits it. Dry upside down for lift and push the front pieces forward with paste. Trim every six weeks to hold the crown short.
11. Short Choppy Cut for the Over-50s
I cut short choppy haircuts for women over 50 soft at the ends and full at the crown. The short layered shape is point cut on dry hair rather than razored, so the ends look textured without looking thin. Fine to medium density on oval and round faces suits it. Dry with a small round brush for lift and finish with a light cream. Trim every five weeks and gloss every eight.
12. Collarbone-Length Choppy Lob
I cut the choppy lob, the longest of these, at the collarbone with deep point cutting. The perimeter goes in on dry hair, then I point cut two inches up into the ends so they fall in separate pieces. Medium to thick density on any face shape suits it. Rough-dry with a sea salt spray and bend the ends with a flat iron. Growth hides in the uneven line, so a trim every eight weeks is enough.
13. Choppy Bixie
I cut the bixie as short as a bob can go before it turns into a pixie. The back and sides are graduated to the ear on dry hair, the top is left long enough to tuck, and every layer gets point cut. Medium density on oval and heart shaped faces suits it. Dry with your fingers and a texture spray, then tuck one side back. Trim every five weeks.
14. Undercut Short Choppy Cut
I use an undercut to pull the bulk out of a choppy cut on thick hair. The nape is clippered short on dry hair, and a chin length bob is point cut over it so the weight rests on top. Thick density on oval and square faces suits it. Dry with a paddle brush, tuck one side back to reveal the undercut, and finish with a smoothing cream. The undercut needs a trim every three weeks, the bob every seven.
15. Asymmetric Choppy Bob
I cut the asymmetrical choppy bob an inch or two longer on one side than the other. The short side sits at the jaw and the long side at the chin, cut dry, and both are point cut so the difference looks like texture, not a step. Medium density on oval and square faces suits it. Dry smooth with a flat brush and break the ends up with a little wax. Trim every six weeks.
16. Short-Bang Textured Choppy Crop
I cut the short bangs on this choppy crop above the brow and point cut them so they fray. The crop has short sides and a longer top, cut dry, with the bangs taken at mid forehead and point cut deep. Medium density on oval and long faces suits it. Dry the bangs flat and rough the top up with paste. The bangs need a trim every three weeks, the crop every five.
17. Short Choppy Cut on Wavy Hair
I cut a choppy shape on wavy hair because the wave makes it look lived in with no effort. The jaw length bob is cut dry, and I point cut following the wave pattern so every piece lands where it is going to sit. Medium density on oval and round faces suits it. Scrunch in a curl cream and air-dry, then break the ends up with a dry texture spray. Trim every seven weeks.
18. Short Choppy Cut on Curly Hair
I cut curly hair dry and one curl at a time so the choppy shape stays put once the hair springs back. The shape is short and rounded with layers above the chin, and individual curls at the crown are point cut shorter for lift. Medium to thick density on oval and heart shaped faces suits it. Use a leave-in and gel, diffuse, and shake it out. Trim every eight weeks.
19. Money-Piece Choppy Bob
I add a money piece to a choppy bob to brighten the front pieces that the point cutting already pulls apart. The bob is cut at the chin on dry hair with deep point cutting, and the first two sections at the face are lifted two shades. Medium density on any face shape suits it. Dry smooth and twist the front pieces forward. Trim every six weeks and refresh the color every twelve to sixteen.
20. Balayage Short Choppy Cut
I place balayage on a choppy cut so the lightest pieces land at the ends, where it reads best. The jaw length layered bob is cut dry with point cut ends, and the lighter tone is hand painted through the last two inches. Medium to thick density on any face shape suits it. Rough-dry with a texture spray so the painted pieces split apart. Trim every seven weeks and refresh the balayage every sixteen.
21. Over-60 Choppy Pixie
I cut the choppy pixie for women over 60 soft and full rather than spiky. The sides and back go short with scissor over comb on dry hair, and the top is point cut for texture while holding onto its density. Fine to medium density on oval and round faces suits it. Lift the top with a vent brush while drying and finish with a light cream. Trim every four weeks and gloss every eight.
22. Side-Swept-Bang Short Choppy Cut
I cut side swept bangs on a short choppy cut to cross the brow as one piece. The chin length layered bob is cut dry with point cut ends, and the bangs run from the brow on the short side down to the cheekbone on the long side. Medium density on round and square faces suits it. Dry the bangs across with a flat brush and rough-dry everything else. Trim every five weeks.
23. French Bob, Choppy Version
I cut the French bob short at the chin with a fringe, and in the choppy version I break up both of those lines. The perimeter goes in at the chin on dry hair with point cut ends, and the full fringe is cut at the brow and point cut as well. Medium density on oval and heart shaped faces suits it. Air-dry with a cream and tuck one side behind the ear. Trim every six weeks.
24. Short Choppy Cut on Straight Hair
I point cut deep on straight hair because it shows every cut line. The jaw length bob is cut dry, and I point cut two inches into the ends so the line reads as texture and not a blunt edge. Medium to thick density on oval and square faces suits it. Dry flat with a paddle brush and piece the ends out with wax. Trim every six weeks.
25. Short Choppy Mullet
I keep the choppy mullet short through the front and sides and longer at the back. The fringe and sides are cut short on dry hair with point cutting, and the back is left in choppy layers down to the nape. Medium to thick density on oval and long faces suits it. Rough-dry with a sea salt spray and push the front forward with paste. The front needs a trim every four weeks, the back every eight.
Pair this with older women braided hairstyles and pixie hairstyles for older women over 60.
Short choppy haircuts need the ends point cut so no two pieces finish at the same length, which is why I always cut them dry. FYI, the choppy mullet stays short through the front and sides and longer at the back. That unevenness is the whole texture of the style.
