32 Short Wavy Celebrity Hairstyles to Inspire Your Next Chop

Jourdan Dunn, Margot Robbie, and Dua Lipa with Short Wavy Hairstyles — Getty Images / Byrdie

Having wavy hair means having lots of natural movement and texture. If that's you, then you want a haircut that celebrates your waves, not one that fights them. So take a break from heat styling and let your wavy mane do its thing (with the help of the right products, of course). Not only is this hair type incredibly versatile, but it also looks especially flattering with shorter lengths (think extra bounce). That's exactly why so many wavy-haired people end up going short.

Whether you've got fine, medium, or thick tresses, there is a short, wavy hairstyle that's right for you. To prove it, we reached out to hairstylists Melanie Bolton and Trey Gillen for their industry insight and expert advice. From piecey pixies to tousled bobs, these are best cuts and styles to suit your every wavy hair need.

Keep scrolling for 32 celeb-inspired short haircuts to complement wavy hair.

Meet the Expert

Melanie Bolton is a hairstylist and director of education at Flow.
Trey Gillen is a master hairstylist and color specialist with over 15 years of experience. He is currently the creative director at Sachajuan.

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Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie's simple, choppy waves are as easy on the eyes as they are to style. Whether you embrace your natural wave or use a flat iron to achieve a more defined look, this cut is perfect for those of us who prefer a no-fuss approach to styling.

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Jourdan Dunn

Jourdan Dunn's bob is the high-fashion take on wavy hair. We love how her waves are low-key and disheveled for an "I woke up like this" vibe. To get her fluffy texture, work a small amount of styling mousse into strands.

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Kaia Gerber

If you have wavy fine hair, a sleek bob with strategically piecey layers like Kaia Gerber's is the perfect way to spice up your 'do and add some volume.

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Alexa Chung

Alexa Chung's wavy lob gets a makeover with this slicked-back style. The contrast of texture lets her undulating mids and ends shine. For added gloss and control, Bolton instructs applying a cocktail of JVN Complete Nourishing Hair Oil Shine Drops or any other dry oil and a medium-hold, cream-based texture product—we're fans of Living Proof Amp Instant Texture Volumizer—to loose waves.

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Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monae wavy sculpted bob — Noam Galai / WireImage / Getty Images

Janelle Monáe's sculpted bob is utter perfection. The soft waves in her hair are what keep this style looking dimensional and textured. Cleanse with Devacurl Low-Poo Delight and style by working a small amount of R+Co Turntable Curl Defining Crème through strands to define and shape.

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Lily James

Not ready to take a complete plunge into the short-hair waters? Try Lily James' wavy lob, with lots of face-framing layers and volume.

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Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence made headlines when she chopped off her lengths in 2014. We love the deep side part and feathered texture, too. To replicate her look, try using a smoothing product like Amika The Shield Style Anti-Humidity Spray.

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Winnie Harlow

We like the texture of Winnie Harlow's pixie cut; there's something very '60s about it. You can see her soft waves in her textured bangs. To replicate her piecey separation, style with Oribe Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste.

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Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner's short style with a center part is all about loose waves and shine. If your hair is wavy and fine, a shorter 'do can help to take your locks from limp to lifted. Gillen suggests running Sachajuan's Shine Serum throughout your lengths and ends to achieve a similar gleam.

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Joey King

Joey King's close-cropped pixie cut with short, curly bangs cascading across the forehead in graduated layers looks so flirty and fun.

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Lily Collins

Lily Collins's asymmetric cut is equal parts edgy and refined. We haven't figured out how that's possible, but we're thinking it has something to do with the pairing of the smoky eye and the leather jacket.

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Sevyn Streeter

Sevyn Streeter's layers make her short hair multidimensional. While a blunt cut can make a thick mane feel harsh and heavy, long layers remove hair's weight, lending it body and movement.

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Vanessa Hudgens

A bob doesn't have to be poker straight. This look on Vanessa Hudgens is just as chic and looks even cooler with the strands of balayage throughout her hair. Bolton agrees: "A fresh, just-above-the-shoulder bob is a fabulous choice to rejuvenate and show off curls. Soft layers that frame the face create great movement and texture for curly hair and are easy to style."

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Sienna Miller

If old-Hollywood glam is more your style, then look no further than Sienna Miller for inspiration. While the rest of her hair is smoothed back, she keeps a single loose ringlet out front. We're obsessed (obviously).

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Camila Alves

Depending on the length of your hair, your stylist might opt for fewer or longer layers to prevent the waves from shrinking, but don’t let that steer you away from trying a choppy shag if the rocker look is more your vibe. Camila Alves pulls it off without a hitch.

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Halle Berry

Halle Berry's bob-bangs combo just works. "This is also a great look for subtle balayage highlights as this technique gives a natural-looking, strategically placed boost to curls around the face," adds Bolton. Not to mention the caramel color also serves to brighten Berry's complexion. To carve out separation, spray a bit of Joico Beach Shake Texturizing Finisher, which works especially well on medium to thick hair.

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Rihanna

Bangs don't always have to sit on the forehead. Rihanna's wet-look bob features strategic shorter pieces that sit at the apples of her cheeks, adding dimension to a single-length cut.

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Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez keeps it classic with a refined cut that ends in piecey waves. The shoulder-hovering length also beautifully frames her face. To achieve that texture and separation, we would swipe a little of Ouai's Matte Pomade through the ends of hair.

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Ashley Benson

Ashley Benson's middle part gives the illusion of curtain bangs framing either side of her face. C'est très Française, non? Opt for ombré to highlight the texture and movement of your waves.

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Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham sports her signature dark sunglasses complete with loose, textured waves that we love. This chin-length bob is as classic as it is cool. For added texture, style with Ouai Air Dry Foam.

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Zoë Kravitz

Zoe Kravitz blonde pixie — Mike Pont / WireImage / Getty Images

Bold, beautiful, and blonde, Zoë Kravitz's pixie seems to have it all. While wavy strands can at times grow frizzy and unruly with a close crop, waves remain soft and textured. Just keep in mind that while pixies are typically low maintenance, platinum is not. We recommend using Olaplex to restore and reverse hair damage from bleaching.

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Dua Lipa

What better way to embrace your hair's natural texture than with a visually effortless look? Beach waves with shattered ends "is a great easy, lived-in style, where the wilder the better," says Gillen. For the perfect beach hair, spritz some Balmain Paris Texturizing Salt Spray throughout strands.

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Christina Hendricks

Is it just us or can Christina Hendricks do no wrong with her gorgeous red mane? This time she goes retro with brushed out S-waves that barely graze her shoulders. By pinning bangs to the side, she shows us just how easy and elegant styling a fringe can be.

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Taraji P. Henson

Classic, timeless, and easy to maintain, a tapered lob is a great styling option that allows you to show off your waves. "Curly hair springs up with less weight on it, so trimming those extra inches off puts a spring in your curl," explains Gillen.

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Rose Byrne

Rose Byrne shows us how ombré is done with short, wavy tresses. Even though her hair is cut above the shoulders, the undulating color makes it look full and lush. If you're looking to color hair and want a low-maintenance cut, this look is for you.

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Serayah McNeill

Empire actress Serayah McNeill wears her waves loose à la lob. "Use your curling iron or flat iron to create the waves and collapse the bulk ones of thick hair. Sachajuan’s Intensive Hair Oil will give shine and moisture to keep this style healthy and gorgeous," says Gillen.

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Alison Brie

Rounded bob or a modern version of a mullet? Whatever you call it, Alison Brie's wavy cut, complete with over-the-eye bangs, is so sultry.

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Mindy Kaling

The loveable Mindy Kaling rocks a wavy bob with a side part that complements a round face shape. To keep strands hydrated, Bolton recommends "applying leave-in conditioner on wet hair to enhance curls and avoid frizz." After air-drying, she instructs adding a touch of hair serum throughout waves to take them to the next level.

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Meagan Good

Meagan Good shows off her gorgeous face and hairstyle with this ultra-elegant pixie cut. The shorter sides and the length on top showcase texture via thick blonde waves. Tailor this look using our picks for the best pixie styling products.

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Laura Harrier

Flippy and blunt aren't two terms you usually hear paired together when describing a haircut. But Laura Harrier's stunning, signature one-length wavy bent bob can be described as just that.

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Gracie Abrams

Choppy, shaggy, and oh-so youthful, we adore Gracie Abrams' middle-parted 'do. To get this style, use a curl-holding mousse like Ouai's Air Dry Foam before going in with a diffuser or allowing your hair to air dry.

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Ruth Negga

Definition is the name of the game with Ruth Negga's pixie cut. Use a curl-defining pomade like Briogeo's Style + Treat Hair Styling Sculpting Cream to get shiny, controlled waves as seen above.

FAQ

What's the best way to naturally dry wavy hair?

The key to air-drying your hair is to pat, rather than rub, with a towel. Then, comb through the hair before adding a light oil to your ends. Let dry and voilá!
What products are needed to style short, wavy hair?

You should invest in a high-quality texture spray (to play up your natural texture), as well as a shine spray and a flexible-hold hairspray.
How often should those with short, wavy hair get a haircut or trim?

That depends on how short your hair is. If it's ear-length or above, 3-4 weeks is necessary so hair doesn't look overgrown. But if it's shoulder-length or a little longer, you can go up to 8 weeks between trims.