IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

15 easy updos for short hair to try now

Style your short hair with one of these chic updos!
Short hair updos
Take a cue from these celebrities with short hair and try an updo!Getty Images

When it comes to styling short hair, the options can sometimes come up a bit ... short.

Updos for long hair may seem easier, but TODAY Style is here to show you that short hair can be just as versatile.

From playful braids to polished buns, here are 15 celebrity inspiration photos for your next updo.

Braided updos

  • Lucy Hale
NYLON And BCBGeneration's Annual Young Hollywood May Issue Event - Arrivals
JB Lacroix / WireImage

Lucy Hale's whimsical updo is a great way to style short hair for a more formal occasion.

  • Miranda Kerr
"Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala - Arrivals
Taylor Hill / FilmMagic

Miniature braids are simple enough to wear every day, yet stylish enough to dress up.

  • Sienna Miller
"Carol" Premiere - The 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival
Dominique Charriau / WireImage

Think french braids aren't possible with short hair? Think again. To get Sienna Miller's look, start at the top center of your head and braid very close to the scalp near the hairline. Don't forget to continuously tuck shorter pieces underneath to prevent pesky flyaways.

Low buns

  • Millie Bobby Brown
Getty Images

Add some gold embellishment to a sleek and polished low bun to achieve Millie Bobby Brown's glam look.

  • Rachel McAdams
88th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals
Steve Granitz / WireImage

Rachel McAdams's mid-height bun is dressed up with a subtle twist underneath.

  • Tessa Thompson
2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter - Arrivals
Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic

The key to this style is teasing hair on top of the head before pulling it into a bun.

Low ponytail

  • Sarah Paulson
69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Arrivals
Steve Granitz / WireImage

Who knew a short, low pony could look so elegant?

  • Diane Kruger
Getty Images

Don't worry if the front of your hair isn't long enough to fit into a ponytail. Instead, take a cue from Diane Kruger and purposely leave it out with a deep side part.

Half up

  • Emilia Clarke
Los Angeles Premiere Of "Terminator Genisys" - Arrivals
Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic

Emilia Clarke's playful half-up, half-down look is perfect when you want just the front pieces out of your face. Add some volume at the crown to nail her retro style.

  • Emma Stone
USA - "Birdman" Premiere - 52nd New York Film Festival
Lars Niki / Getty Images

Emma Stone proves that half-up 'dos work just as well with shorter hair.

Headbands

  • Lupita Nyong'o
Premiere Of Disney's "The Jungle Book" - Arrivals
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

A headband is the perfect tool for extremely short hair since you can get a similar pulled back look that you would with a ponytail on long hair

  • Dianna Agron
42nd Annual American Music Awards - Arrivals
C Flanigan / Getty Images

This look is best done on slightly dirty hair. Use dry shampoo or salt spray to copy Dianna Agron's texture and use a few thin headbands to mix it up a bit.

Pinned back

  • Emma Watson
"This Is The End" - Los Angeles Premiere
Jeffrey Mayer / WireImage

For a more upscale, polished finish, copy Emma Watson's pinned-back style. Use a blow dryer and a round brush to flip the ends under and smooth all flyaways at the end.

  • Julianne Hough
"PUNK: Chaos To Couture" Costume Institute Gala
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

The theme of the 2013 Met Gala was punk and Julianne Hough's hairstyle perfectly fit in. Simply pin pieces of hair back with bobby pins that contrast with your hair's color. In the front, create a deep side part and twist all the hair to one side for a voluminous bump.

  • Kate Mara
72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Jeff Vespa / WireImage

This style is perfect if you don't have quite enough hair for a ponytail. Simply pull the longest pieces back and crisscross them over each other at the nape of the neck and pin, leaving the shorter pieces to fan out below.

This story was originally published Feb. 11, 2019.