Short Hairstyles for Teens

Function

Teens are at the perfect age to take risks with their looks. In a few years, they will enter the adult world and may not be able to get away with the more outlandish or unconventional styles favored by the young and young at heart. Adults tend to wear hair short for easy maintenance, resulting in the stereotype of so-called "soccer mom" haircuts rather than for any sort of attention-grabbing style. Teens with short hair, on the other hand, wear it to try something new, to be elegant and sophisticated, and to be as wild as possible.

Short hair for teen girls and boys is not too radically different. Many of the same styles are worn by both genders, simply tweaked to suit the individual's features and personal style. Much of this comes from the popularity of certain hairstyles among teen and music subcultures, such as hair derived from punk, emo, skater and gothic trends. In recent years, some short hairstyles have also derived from a resurgence of retro style. Some of the most popular short hairstyles among teenagers are the bob, the pixie, the shag, the mohawk, the bowl cut, the wedge, the tapper and the skater cut.

Most short hairstyles fall under the categories of pixie, bob and shag. The pixie cut is a fine, close crop that flatters girls with soft facial features. Pixie hairstyles are usually slightly shaggy, while bowl cuts are the more dramatic, blunt-shaped version that require a bit more maintenance to keep looking chic. The bob is a versatile short cut that is not as daringly short as the pixie but can vary in length. Bobs are often worn to frame the face. Shag and razor cuts, perhaps the most popular among teens, can be any length and consist of uneven layers that are easily restyled for different looks.

All styles of short hair can be tweaked to incorporate bangs, asymmetry and plenty of bold color. Boys often opt for long sideburns or a cut that blends into a selected facial hairstyle. Girls may add asymmetrical or blunt bangs, sweeping asymmetrical length lines and flipped or curled ends. Both genders enjoy spiked hair, such as that shown in the popular mohawk with bald sides, or the "fauxhawk" with short sides and enough length on top to spike. Shags and other short, layered cuts can also be spiked with the addition of enough hair product. Cuts that have been razored usually work best for spiking and creating twisted peaks.

For those not daring enough or with features that do not lend themselves well to short hair, the look of short hair can also be mimicked by some medium hairstyles. Shags are easy to adapt to medium-length hair, and can create a very soft frame for the face. Dramatic bangs on longer hair are another way to experiment with short hair without actually having short hair. Many teen celebrities opt for blunt or asymmetrical razored bangs to add interest to their long, styled hair.