How can I protect my head with a shaved haircut?

Always remember to nurture your scalp when you have a shaved haircut. Wearing a hat or sunblock when outside can help to prevent the scalp from getting sunburned, which can easily happen if the hair is closely shaved to the scalp. Leivsgard recommends using Balmain Hair Sun Protection ($19) in your hair just as often as you use sunscreen on your skin.

How often should I get a trim with a shaved hairstyle?

Rivera says that she typically recommends getting a shave every two to three weeks if you want to keep the same length or close to it. "If you don't mind a more grown out look, I would recommend every four to six weeks," she says, "It's important with a shaved look to keep your neck line trimmed and neat at all times, so visit with a stylist who is trained with a straight razor."

These 26 Shaved Hairstyles May Convince You to Get a Cool Clipped Cut

Adwoa Aboah and Scarlett Johansson with Shaved Hairstyles — Getty Images / @sanaalathan Instagram / Byrdie

Long hair doesn't have to be the only standard for femininity—simply put, all hair, no matter the length, is beautiful. And although shaved heads may have a history of being categorized as nonconformist, the narrative has changed in recent years from one of rebellion to strength. Interested in rebranding your identity on your own terms? A close-crop cut could be the perfect way.

"There are different varieties of shaved looks that virtually anyone with any hair type can wear. Clients can ask for undercuts, buzz cuts, mohawks with shaved sides, high and tight, and shaved looks with designs. You can be as creative as you please," says hair artist and salon founder Gina Rivera. "These cuts are becoming more mainstream for anyone any age and they're not leaving us anytime soon."

Plenty of celebs—Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway—have shaved their head for film roles, and some just because they wanted a change. And instead of digging deep as to why they drastically switched up their hairstyle, instead, we look to them for inspiration. To learn about all of the different types of shaved hairstyles, we asked Rivera and Ann Leivsgard, an International Educator from Balmain Hair.

Meet the Expert

Gian Rivera is a hair artist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites.
Ann Leivsgard is an International Educator from Balmain Hair.

01 of 26

Ginger Buzz

British model Adwoa Aboah took a stand against hair insecurity when she made the choice to lob off her locks as an antithesis to always trying to fit in. Her ginger buzz has become her go-to look for the last several years.

02 of 26

Shaved Sides

Alicia Keys with a side shave an mohawk — Theo Wargo/Child2014/WireImage

Alicia Keys took a clipper to both sides of her head, leaving just enough hair down the center for this beautifully braided mohawk she wore to the Grammys.

03 of 26

Clipped Buzz

We almost didn't recognize this child star without her signature pigtails and bangs when she took the stage during Missy Elliot's performance at the MTV Video Music Awards. Alyson Stoner's clipped buzz cut (which sees a little more length than a regular buzz) is further proof that she's still making noteworthy moves.

04 of 26

Platinum Shave

Before Cara Delevigne took on her role as Isabelle, who finds out she has cancer in the film Life in a Year, she chose to buzz her hair to better identify with what it feels like to struggle through radiation treatments that result in hair loss. Her platinum shave grew out into a pixie, which she rocked for a while before going back to her signature long blonde locks.

05 of 26

Faded Sides

Cassie with faded side and updo — Venturelli/WireImage

"Don't Play It Safe" singer Cassie is living what she's preaching with this super sleek bun between her freshly faded sides. Leaving hair atop this style allows for more versatility when it comes to styling.

06 of 26

Sculpted Undercut

While she now keeps a much shorter shave after revealing an alopecia diagnosis, there was a time when Jada Pinkett Smith rocked an undercut. Her sculpted undercut with shaved, bleached blonde is a drastic contrast to her pompadour-style ponytail.

07 of 26

Designed Waves

Halle Berry designed wave — Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Halle Berry follows a path all her own with these uniquely designed waves shaved into her undercut. Ask your stylist to take the buzzer down two to three settings from your shortest length to extend the life of your design before it grows back in.

Byrdie Tip

Think outside the box when it comes to hair art. "We see a lot of different hair designs like flowers, line work and 3D patterns. We also see a lot of really short hair that is styled as a wet look with details in the edges," says Leivsgard.

08 of 26

Long Crop

Halsey pink crop — Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Halsey is a hair chameleon. We've seen them change their cut and color more times than we can count, and this pastel pink crop is one of our favorites. Keeping strands a little longer, as Halsey does here, can give your style a more edgy look without sacrificing all your length.

09 of 26

Short Crop

Kate Hudson brunette crop — Jun Sato/WireImage

Kate Hudson was always known for her long, curly blonde mane until one day she fearlessly buzzed it all away for her role in Music. As if that weren't statement-making on its own, she decided to keep her natural brown color.

10 of 26

Cropped Pixie with Micro-fringe

Katy Perry cropped blonde pixie — Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

This cropped blonde pixie on Katy Perry maintains enviable choppy texture proving even the shortest of strands can still have great movement. "A short haircut will always look more edgy if there’s a disconnect in the lengths," says Leivsgard. If you don't want to cut baby bangs into the look like Perry has here, simply ask for longer length at the front, so you can style as you please.

11 of 26

Violet Buzz

Keke Palmer lilac buzz — George Pimentel/Getty Images

Keke Palmer swung for the fences and hit a style homerun when she buzzed and colored her dark locks. We love that she matched her hair and lipstick, gifting us this faded violet monochrome moment.

12 of 26

Long Buzz

Kristen Stewart long platinum buzz cut — Mike Pont/WireImage

Kristen Stewart's spontaneous platinum buzz cut done by celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager scratched K. Stew's longstanding itch to shave her head. The cut is longer than a buzz, which allows for more volume throughout and fits the actress perfectly.

13 of 26

Lavender Clipper Cut

Kelly Osbourne lilac clipper cut with bun — Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Kelly Osbourne's lavender hair and shaved head has become her signature look. She's been effortlessly wearing this style for nearly a decade. Here, she opts for a long hanging piece on the right side while her left is shaved. The rest of her hair is swept up into a ballerina bun.

According to Rivera, the one-side shaved look is great especially if your hair is fine. "This style gives you the ability to keep length on one side that can make the hair appear fuller especially if the longer lengths are cut blunt," she says.

14 of 26

Messy Pompadour

Rihanna's pompadour reclaims the feminine roots of the style named after the mistress of King Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour (who ironically wore her hair pulled back rather than lifted up). RiRi's sky high caramel hair is a nice contrast to her darker brown shaved sides.

15 of 26

Spiked Buzz

Miley Cyrus spiked blonde buzz — Jason Merritt/WireImage

"When we have short hair or no hair, we will see the whole face as it is. It will highlight your cheekbones, face shape and jawline," says Leivsgard. Miley Cyrus' platinum cut does just that, especially drawing attention to her blue eyes. She left a bit of length along the center, adding texture and movement to an otherwise short chop.

16 of 26

Gold-flecked Buzz

Danai Gurira's look at the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever European premiere was regal as can be. The addition of gold flakes in her natural buzzed hair was otherworldly and shows that shaved hairstyles can be accessorized, too.

17 of 26

Half-Up Half-Down Grow Out

Rosamund Pike half-up half-down pixie — David Livingston/Getty Images

Rivera says that "undercuts are a great way to remove weight when your hair is thick, making it easier to style and less hair to manage." It looks like Rosamund Pike is in the midst of a grow out and we love the way she styles it into a sleek bun as her bottom buzz grows out.

Byrdie Tip

"Take into consideration how you normally have your hair, both when the hair is up and when you wear it down. I would always recommend, when you do an undercut in thick hair, that the undercut goes from short to long, so everything blends in perfectly," says Leivsgard.

18 of 26

Angled Undercut

Rosario Dawson — George Pimentel/WireImage

"The sidecuts we see in really thick hair right now are softer, the section is more rounded, so it follows the head more instead of a big square that’s cut off," says Leivsgard. This softened, angularly cut side part adds grit to counterbalance the long strands Rosario Dawson decidedly kept.

19 of 26

Natural Buzz with Deep Part

Solange's stylist kept a guard on the clipper for this look but brought things pretty close nonetheless. We especially love the way she buzzed a deeper part on one side to add interest.

20 of 26

A-Line

We're used to hearing the descriptive "A-line" when talking about a good bobbed haircut, but Fantasia brings an inverted asymmetry to the front with a long, pointed bang to highlight her buzz cut. It features a simple two-line design right along her temples.

21 of 26

One-sided Shave

Natalie Dormer — Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

If you have longer hair, a one-sided shave can give you a super interesting asymmetrical look and you still get to play around with different hairstyles. Here, a side braid creates a clear split between Natalie Dormer's shaved side and her cascading waves. We're loving her ombré color, too.

22 of 26

Bleached Buzz

According to Rivera, shaved looks draw the eye to the face, which puts the focus on your bone structure and other facial features. While we're focused on Jessie J's icy bleach and toned buzz, it's her matching cobalt blue eyeliner and dress that draws us in.

23 of 26

Shaved Pixie with Afro

lupita nyong'o with shaved sides and afro pixie — Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards

Lupita Nyong'o's natural hair is on full display here, with shaved sides and a sculptured afro.

24 of 26

Textured Pixie

Scarlett Johansson traded in her long blonde locks for this textured pixie cut, fully buzzed about halfway down her head.

25 of 26

Faux Shave

Sanaa Lathan wears a short Afro hairstyle with red bobby pins on side — @sanaalathan

While Sanaa Lathan shaved her entire head for a role in 2020, she goes for more of a faux-shaved look, here, instead. It's easily achievable by pinning down natural hair with bobby pins and is a great trick if you're not sure about committing to a shaved hairstyle just yet.

"A short pixie with shaved sides gives you the versatility to wear natural or straight and looks amazing on anyone at any age," says Rivera.

26 of 26

Curly Pixie

Logan Browning's naturally curly pixie is made more prominent by her slicked back sides, which let her curls shine.

FAQ

How can I protect my head with a shaved haircut?

Always remember to nurture your scalp when you have a shaved haircut. Wearing a hat or sunblock when outside can help to prevent the scalp from getting sunburned, which can easily happen if the hair is closely shaved to the scalp. Leivsgard recommends using Balmain Hair Sun Protection ($19) in your hair just as often as you use sunscreen on your skin.
How often should I get a trim with a shaved hairstyle?

Rivera says that she typically recommends getting a shave every two to three weeks if you want to keep the same length or close to it. "If you don't mind a more grown out look, I would recommend every four to six weeks," she says, "It's important with a shaved look to keep your neck line trimmed and neat at all times, so visit with a stylist who is trained with a straight razor."