22 Short Messy Hair Ideas To Try in 2024

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Short messy hair ideas for ladies
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Cindy Marcus
Cindy Marcus Hairstylist, Editor-in-Chief

Who knew bedhead could be a hot look this year? If you’re looking for a short cut that’s quick and easy to style, then keep scrolling. I’ll even teach you how to get messy hair at home.

I’ve put together a collection of my favorite short messy hairstyles and haircuts for women this year. When going for a look like that, you’ll want to add lots of layers to create gorgeous texture. If you combine all that new texture with a pomade or wax for styling, you’ll create the perfect messy look. I hope you get inspired by one of these cute messy hairstyles for short hair. Enjoy!

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Short Messy Hair That is Best for Thick Hair
Instagram @pinsalondallas

#1: Best for Messy Thick Hair

This is a modern shag pixie that works best if you have messy thick hair. It was cut with a razor wet and then rough-dried. Then, it was slide cut through it to give it more layering and texture. Use some sea salt spray and a medium hold wax to bring out the texture and give it that messy definition.

It’s a fun messy style that’s very easy to style. You can either blow dry or let it air dry and just use a little product to tousle and go. Styling it is as easy as 5-10 minutes. It’s great for thick hair as the layering takes out a lot of weight.  A perfect cut if you love that bedhead style.

#2: Tousled Short Bob Haircut with Blonde Balayage

You’ll love the effortless shape of a tousled short bob haircut with blonde balayage. You can achieve this style easily with a shoulder-length cut with minimal layers. The best way to create the tousled finish is to blowout with a metal barrel round brush. Don’t forget to touch up the top layer quickly with an iron. The blonde balayage is an asset to this shape, giving it a beautiful dimension.

#3: The Messy Long Pixie with Choppy Face-Framing Layers

A messy long pixie with choppy face-framing layers is perfect for older ladies. If you’re looking for an edgy and sassy style, ask your stylist for an extra textured long pixie. You will want to visit the salon every 4-7 weeks to maintain this style. To achieve texture and volume, try Hairstory’s Wax and Powder.

Cute Short Curly and Messy Hair
Instagram @maayara_hair

#4: Cute Curly Mess

This curly mess is effortless, modern, and feminine. The cut is a basic square shape on top, styled asymmetrically, with a shorter length throughout the sides and back considered undercut. This messy hairstyle is noticeable and will turn heads! People will deem you’re having a good hair day even when you may feel the contrary. You can just wash and go! For women with short, curly fine hair, use a lightweight mouse, and if you have thicker hair use a curl-defining creme. Try using spray wax instead of hairspray to lock in the style, as it’s great for all hair textures.

Short Messy Fluffy Hairstyle
Instagram @soubecas

#5: Short Messy Fluffy Hairstyle

Boost your appearance with a short messy and fluffy hairstyle. If you want lots of volume, try putting more layering in your cut. Layers will give you the height you’re looking for. To create even more fullness, try drying your hair upside down. If you have rounder features, style your hair forward and this may help balance out your face shape.

disheveled neck-length cut
Instagram @nikcabral

#6: Disheveled Neck-Length Cut

This is an adorable cut if you’re craving for length yet wanting easy upkeep and a fresh hairstyle. The subtle brunette balayage with a dark root and choppy layers starting from the cheeks all work together in making this short messy hair suitable for any face shape.

messy razor cut
Instagram @shmoakin_hair

#7: Messy Razor Cut

This messy short haircut is an excellent to choice when you want to add texture to your straight hair. It’s sassy, easy to style, and can accentuate your best facial features beautifully.

#8: Short Feminine Quiff

Get a little wild with this cool faux hawk style that complements anyone with the confidence to wear it! Complete the messy short hair with a fresh fade if you wanna get wilder.

messy chunky layers
Instagram @sacaumut

#9: Messy Chunky Layers

Going with waves is the easiest way to switch up your hairstyle without much effort. This bob is a perfectly tossed style that ladies who don’t want a high-maintenance look would love!

messy hair layered everywhere
Instagram @davidwbullen

#10: Messy Hair Layered Everywhere

Short messy haircuts like this one shows simplicity and edginess at the same time with how easy-going and effortless it looks like. Going a little past the chin is enough to show much texture that can enhance any haircut.

messy short textured cut shag
Instagram @afelipesoares

#11: Must-Try Short Textured Cut Shag

The choppy yet soft ends, a center part, and a simple layering make this messy shag cut easy and cute. It’s a low upkeep modern lived-in short shag haircut that you can wear in any season.

#12: Wild Wavy Hair

You’ll get the best of both worlds with this short yet full-of-bounce messy haircut that looks voluminous even with less hair. The cute pastel pink hue makes it even more dimensional and stunning.

#13: Choppy Fringe

These textured ends and bangs work perfectly together in providing texture and interest to a simple blonde cut. It’s ideal for women who don’t want to spend much time thinking how to style their hair, as a simple straightening is already enough to make this look fabulous. See more short hairstyles with fringe.

#14: Tousled Pixie

This scruffy hair is a textured pixie that’s bold, yet also feminine. It’s great for all different hair textures, and it’s a low-maintenance style for women who don’t like to spend too much time on their hair.

Embrace your natural texture for a fun messy look and also incorporate dry shampoo into your routine to enhance volume and avoid limp hair. This messy cut also shows off the facial structure, so if you think your face is “too round” opt for another messy hairstyle.

#15: Stylish Messy Thin Hair for Over 50

This is a messy textured pixie with a longer fringe. The greatest thing about this cut is its versatility. This type of cut can be styled in so many different ways to achieve a messy look that can be very conservative/professional to edgy/editorial!

This scuffy hair isn’t for a woman who has a round face with a short forehead, or a woman who has a prominent jawline, as this type of cut can highlight those features and create an unbalanced visual. This messy hairstyle for women who have fine and or thin hair and who want more body or volume.

To style and enhance the pixie cut, towel dry the hair and blast dry the hair using Aveda Pure Abundance Style-Prep spray, which is a thermal protectant and volumizing spray. When the hair is about 80% dry, add Aveda Phomollient Styling Foam, a lightweight mousse, to give the root it’s most lift and complete the blow dry.

To detail and finish the styling process use Aveda Control Paste to accentuate texture and define pieces to create a more piecey vibe, especially through the fringe. To set it all in place, spray with Aveda Control Force hairspray to give the cut an all-day hold, especially since it can be kind of humid and windy here in South Texas.

This type of style is perfect for ladies who like a quick morning routine and don’t mind the maintenance of getting a haircut every 4-6 weeks to keep the style.

Modern and shaggy short messy hair
Instagram @renzizgheib

#16: Modern and Shaggy

A modern and shaggy haircut makes an over-the-top style that frames the face well. The shoulder-grazing length is perfect, making the hair fuller and versatile. It looks great with a good deal of texture. So, a salt spray will be the best friend of any lady who wears it.

#17: Bold Undercut Messy Haircut

This cut is lived-in and edgy, but still professional. It’s a very modern twist on a short bob with an undercut and messy texture.

An undercut can help create a better shape and make it easier to style. Many women want to try out really short hairstyles but are too afraid – this gives you the best of both worlds!

This cut works best for women with a lot of hair, coarse or fine, that is very customizable for face shapes and hair density. It’s great for on-the-go women because you have half the hairstyle!

Use a flat iron to create some loose curls or wear it straight (it’s super cute either way), then finish with a texture spray or rough it up with a pomade to give it that messy hair look.

The Cutest Pixie Cut with Messy Top
Instagram @cokocut

#18: The Cutest Pixie Cut with Messy Top

This is a pixie cut with a messy top. The entire underneath is undercut close to the head with some length on top to play around with!

This tousled haircut is so versatile that it can be adjusted to work with any face shape or hair type! It’s perfect for a messy hair woman who’s looking for a lower maintenance cut, but doesn’t want to sacrifice their style for it!

Products are so important for any style and work best when they’re customized for your individual hair type! One key product for this style would be some kind of pomade, balm, or cream at the very end to add definition to the hair strands for a finished, flawless mess.

#19: Edgy Messy Bob

This edgy messy bob is perfect for women with rounder faces.

The back of the neck is an undercut. This was done because of the thick hair, which made it easier to taper layers in and give it this heightened feature in the back which added more volume for the heavy hair. Then some feathering is done with a razor blade around the edges!

#20: Choppy Tomboy Cut

This is a sassy, effortless, textured pixie! Great for minimal effort and perfect for women who want to wake up and go. Short to long layers give chic and stylish bangs that you can wear in multiple ways. This haircut has tons of texture which adds volume and allows the hair to move in any direction! Great for that messy hair style.

When choosing the perfect pixie you must always consider the face shape. Angles, even in hair can be slimming. Thickness and texture can play a huge role in how long or short a cut should be! When showing a picture to your hairdresser look at how thick or thin, coarse or fine, the hair in the picture is. Does it relate to your hair? What do you like about it and what would you change?

Most messy short hair cuts like this pixie are blown dry using tools as simple as your hands! Styling is quick and easy. Holding the hair dryer blow dry everything on the top and sides towards the face. Using your hands to smooth the hair following the head shape. Everything below blow-dry down.

Products to use to finish messy hair styles are IGK Broken Dreams texture paste. Take a pea size amount starting out and rub in your palms and fingertips. This paste has a dry feeling to the touch but actually has argon oil which helps to condition the hair. But, also it is oil absorbing and can make a style last longer! Start by applying to the root with a scalp rubbing motion to create volume and lift. Then apply to mid-lengths and ends to set the intended style.

#21: Jaw-Length Shag

This modernized channel with light layers (Urban Cut) is much requested in salons nowadays. Short hair is a trend no more, but a movement! This styling is finished with hand drying and a slight touch of the Babyliss at the tips. For straight hair or natural waves, this cut emphasizes the vertical lines of the cut for a more elongated shape. Try before and after drying the Perfect Me by Wella which gives a soft fixing and a touch of amazing shine to the hair. It’s versatile and the best product for easy styling.

Perfectly Messy For Fine Hair
Instagram @illusion_r

#22: Perfectly Messy for Fine Hair

This is a fun and sassy a short haircut. A lot of women think that short hair could be boring, but the possibilities are endless!

Ask for a slight undercut to remove the unnecessary bulk in the back without having a “stacked” style. It really does posh this haircut.

If you’re wondering how to style messy hair, first get some styling products. Think texture. Try Kevin Murphy: Body.Builder and Bedroom.Hair.

As for the face, any woman can have short hair, but there are a few things to consider. If you’re wider on the cheekbone or jawbone area, try to keep the length past the chin with now face-framing layers. It elongates the face creating that perfect oval shape everyone wants.