14 Elegant Short Relaxed Hairstyles for Weddings and Events

Formal events do not always call for stiff, heavily sprayed hair. A relaxed short style looks soft and a little undone, which suits a garden ceremony, a beach wedding, or a dinner where you want to dance without worrying about your hair. Short lengths also keep your neck and shoulders clear, so earrings and necklines show.

The 14 looks below range from loose waves to tousled pixies, and each one says who it suits, who might want a different cut, and how much time it takes. Most need a texture spray, a small curling iron, or a couple of clips, and none need an hour in front of the mirror.

If you are going to a wedding in the next few weeks, book your trim about a week ahead. That gives the cut time to settle, and you will know how it behaves before the day.

1. Soft Tousled Pixie

A pixie with longer, loosely textured layers on top looks polished without looking styled to death. It suits fine to medium hair and oval, heart, or long face shapes, and it shows off earrings and a bare neckline. If your hair is very thick and wiry, the top can puff out instead of lying soft.

Work a pea-sized amount of texture paste through dry hair with your fingertips and leave it there. Styling takes about 5 minutes. Plan a trim every 4 to 5 weeks, since a pixie loses its shape quickly.

2. Wavy Chin-Length Bob

A chin-length bob with loose, uneven waves moves nicely in photos and in person. It suits straight to slightly wavy hair, and it flatters round and square faces because the waves add softness at the jaw. It is a weaker choice for very fine hair that will not hold a curl.

Wrap 1-inch sections around a 1.25-inch curling iron, alternating direction, then brush your fingers through the waves. This takes about 15 minutes. A light flexible-hold spray keeps the waves for 5 to 6 hours, and a trim every 6 to 8 weeks keeps the length at the chin.

3. Loose Beachy Waves on a Short Bob

This one fits outdoor and beach weddings, where wind and humidity would flatten anything sleek. It suits wavy and thick straight hair, and it hides a few days of growth without looking messy. It is not ideal for very fine, limp hair, which tends to lose the texture by the time the ceremony starts.

Spray sea salt mist onto damp hair, scrunch, and air-dry or diffuse for about 10 minutes. Refresh with a little more spray before you leave. A trim every 8 weeks is enough.

4. Messy French Bob with Bangs

A French bob sits around the jaw with short, airy bangs, and a bit of mess is part of the look. It suits straight or wavy hair and oval or heart-shaped faces. It does not suit a very low hairline or a strong cowlick at the front, because the bangs will not lie flat.

Rough-dry with your fingers and add a dry texture spray at the roots. It takes about 5 minutes. Trim the bangs every 3 to 4 weeks, and the bob every 6 to 8.

5. Side-Swept Pixie with a Pearl Pin

Sweeping the top of a pixie to one side and anchoring it with a single pearl pin adds a dressed-up detail without much effort. It suits anyone with a pixie at least 2 inches long on top, and works well with a high neckline or statement earrings. It will not hold on hair shorter than that, because the pin has nothing to grip.

Style with a light gel or cream, comb the top to the side, and slide the pin in at an angle. This takes about 5 minutes. Keep a spare pin in your bag, and trim every 4 weeks.

6. Soft Curled Bob with Flower Clips

Rounded curls with a couple of small flower clips fit a spring wedding or a garden party. It suits medium-density straight or wavy hair that is at least chin length. It is less practical on very short bobs, where there is not enough hair to curl and clip at once.

Curl each section away from your face with a 1-inch iron, let it cool, and brush lightly so the curls blend. Allow about 20 minutes. Use 2 to 3 clips and expect the curls to last 5 to 6 hours with a flexible spray.

7. Slicked-Back Short Hair with a Soft Finish

Short hair combed straight back shows off cheekbones and earrings, and leaving a few strands loose near the temples keeps it from looking stiff. It suits strong features and works with a suit or an open-back dress. It is not for you if you dislike having your forehead fully uncovered.

Comb a small amount of light-hold gel through damp hair, then let it dry naturally. Pull a couple of pieces forward at the temples. It takes about 5 minutes and holds all day.

8. Shaggy Short Cut with Face-Framing Layers

A short shag has choppy layers that look best when they are not smoothed out, which makes it one of the easiest cuts to wear to an event. It suits wavy and thick hair, and the face-framing pieces soften a square or round jaw. It is harder on very fine hair, where layers can look sparse.

Scrunch in a texture spray and diffuse for about 8 minutes. Trim every 6 weeks to keep the layers from growing into one heavy shape.

9. Bob Tucked Behind the Ears with a Clip

Tucking a chin-length bob behind one or both ears and adding a barrette keeps hair out of your face during the ceremony. It suits straight to wavy hair, and it shows off earrings. It does not work on bobs shorter than the earlobe, since the hair will fall back out.

Smooth the sides with a little cream, tuck, and secure with a small clip or barrette. It takes about 3 minutes. Check it after hugging a few guests, because tucked hair tends to loosen.

10. Air-Dried Curly Bob

If your hair is naturally curly, a short bob lets the curls do the work. It suits Type 2C to 3B curls and round or oval faces, and it needs almost no heat. It is a poor fit if you want a smooth, sleek finish, since the curls will return as they dry.

Apply a curl cream to damp hair, scrunch, and leave it to air-dry for 1 to 2 hours, or diffuse on low for about 15 minutes. Trim every 8 to 10 weeks, and ask for a dry cut so the shape sits right once the curls spring up.

11. Short Waves with a Satin Ribbon

A thin satin ribbon tied as a headband over short waves adds color and keeps the front off your face. It suits chin to jaw-length hair with a little wave, and it matches a dress or bouquet easily. It does not stay in place on very fine, slippery hair unless you pin it.

Tie the ribbon at the nape or the side and secure it with two bobby pins hidden under the hair. This takes about 5 minutes. Choose a ribbon at least half an inch wide so it does not slide.

12. Bixie with a Soft Fringe

A bixie sits between a pixie and a bob, with short layers around the ears and a longer nape, plus a feathery fringe. It suits straight and wavy hair, and heart or oval faces. If you plan to tie your hair back later in the evening, the nape is too short for that.

Tousle with a dry texture spray and a bit of finger-combing, about 5 minutes. Trim every 5 to 6 weeks to keep the layers around the ears neat.

13. Half-Up Mini Bun on Short Hair

Gathering the top section of a shoulder-grazing bob into a small bun gives you a dressed-up shape and keeps hair off your face. It suits medium-length short hair, around 5 inches or more, and works with most necklines. It does not suit pixie lengths, where the top is too short to gather.

Twist the top section, wrap it into a small bun, and secure it with 2 bobby pins and a small elastic. Pull a few strands loose around your face. This takes about 5 minutes and holds for 8 hours or more.

14. Short Curls with Gold Pins

Short natural curls with two or three small gold pins pushed in at the side look festive with no extra styling. It suits coils and tight curls of Type 3C to 4C, and the pins show clearly against dark hair. It is a weaker choice for very fine curls, which can slide the pins out.

Fluff the curls with a pick or your fingers, then slide in the pins at an angle. This takes about 5 minutes. A light moisturizing spray keeps the curls defined, and a shape-up trim every 6 weeks keeps the outline tidy.