Short hair is a great idea for almost anyone. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people out there who are afraid to chop off their long hair because they aren’t sure what they would do with short hair if they had it (or they are afraid they’d look ugly, which is valid, I suppose). That’s where these tips come in.

Short hair isn’t just the hair style for the few, the funky (although it can be funky if you want it to be). In fact, for most people it’s actually a better look than long hair- not because they don’t have beautiful long hair, but because a) short hair is quicker and easier to do, so they style it more often, and b) the natural oils in your hair make it all the way to the ends with short hair, so it stays healthier without a lot of time and effort for various treatments.

First, you should consider your face shape when you get your hair cut. If your face is round, you probably don’t want to go with a pixie cut or something super-sleek. Instead, try something with choppy layers around your cheekbones and length that falls a little below your chin. Add a little volume at the top and some side-swept bangs and you instantly elongate the appearance your face. On the other hand, if your face is long, you may want to add lots of long bangs and cut your hair chin-length to shorten the appearance of your face. Square faces will want to go with softer layers instead of blunt cuts, while heart-shaped faces look great with styles that flip out and balance the thinness of their face at the jaw.

Once you’ve determined what hair styles will best compliment your face, talk to a good hairstylist about your lifestyle and what you want out of your hair. If you don’t spend much time on your hair, go for something lower maintenance. If you’re willing to spend a little more time, you might go with something that will take a little more time. Realize that any short hair style will take less time to style, but may need to BE styled every day, especially if you cut it too short to put in a ponytail. (That’s why they invented hats, though, so don’t despair.)

For pixie cuts, the easiest way to do them is to dry them most of the way and then add a little gel. Use the gel to pull the hair in any direction you want, and don’t worry about getting it smooth or perfect. Go for fun and a little messy.

For straight, short hair, make sure you’re using products that will keep your hair smooth and sleek, then dry it straight and finishing the straightening with smoothing products if you need them. You can also add a little pomade and pull your layers out a little to make a messy, choppy look.

If your hair is curly, use a diffuser to create controlled curls, and use products that dry soft and bouncy. No one wants their hair to be crunchy, especially when it’s all up around your face and needs to be swinging and fun.

Don’t be afraid of short hair. It’s stylish, easy to do and healthy for your hair. Better a bob that looks good every day than long, flowing hair that you only let out of its ponytail for special occasions.

Short hair styles are the trend among Hollywood’s most glamorous celebrities, who are constantly showing off their latest short dos on the red carpet. A short style is defined as one in which the hair falls above the shoulder; short hair can actually look great on every woman if it is tailored to her particular facial shape, with the idea being to accentuate the positive features of her face while de-emphasizing the negatives.

For example, if you have a long face, your short hairdo should make your face look fuller; this can be done with a chin-length bob cut with side-swept bangs and curled or softly layered on the sides. Celebrities with this shape of face include Liv Tyler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Giselle Bundchen.

On the other hand, with a round face, the style should make the face look longer; this can be done with a longer bob whose length is just below the chin with layers or waves starting below the top part of the hair to add height. Round-faced celebrities include Kirsten Dunst, Kate Bosworth and Michelle Williams.

If you have an oval-shaped face, you are fortunate, since you can wear virtually any style or cut; the best short hair styles for you, however, are those which emphasize your best features.  If you have great bone structure, you can emphasize it with an angular bob, while side-swept bangs could help show off those great eyes. Kate Hudson and Jessica Alba are among the celebrities who share your face shape.

A short hairdo for a woman with a triangular or heart-shaped face needs to emphasize her cheekbones and eyes; to do this she can use a brow-grazing fringe or long bangs swept to one side. Celebrities with heart-shaped faces include Ziyi Zhang, Jennifer Lopez, Katie Holmes and Reese Witherspoon.

Women with a square face need to de-emphasize their strong jaw lines; use short hair styles that are very spiky and avoid bobs and bangs that will make your face look squarer. You share this face shape with Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Demi Moore.

Once you’ve got your short hair, although it needs less maintenance than long hair styles, you’ll need to know how to take care of it. Here are some tips on maintaining short hair styles.

Maintain your short do by trimming it every three to four weeks to keep it from growing out and prevent split ends. Keep your hair healthy by using a natural conditioner such as warmed coconut or almond oil at least once a week; after massaging it into your hair, wrap a towel dipped in hot water around it for twenty minutes, and then wash it with a mild shampoo to nourish it and prevent dandruff. Comb your hair only after it dries naturally and then use a wide-tooth wooden comb to smooth out tangles; then follow up with a fine-tooth comb. When swimming, use a bathing cap and make sure your hair is not over-exposed to the sun.

Practice healthy habits such as regular exercise, proper diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink eight glasses of water a day.