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17 Haircuts to Try If You’re Growing Out Your Lengths

 

If you’re growing out your hair, we hate to be the bearers of bad news, but patience truly is a virtue. Unless you pop in extensions, your hair isn’t going to magically grow overnight. So sit tight and trust the process!

Finding the best haircuts for growing out hair might seem like a pretty daunting task, but you can rest easy because we tapped two pro hairstylists who shared the absolute best styles to choose when you’re on your hair growth journey. 

“The growing-out stage can be extremely challenging and frustrating, but the right haircut can be life-changing,” Leigh Hardges, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, tells us. “Especially as the hair starts to grow over the ears and down the neck, it can look unkempt and shaggy. Use layers to create a new shape and look great in the interim.”

Fun fact, ”Hair grows about 1/2 inch per month, so depending on the desired length, it can take years to grow out,” according to Melissa Holinsworth, a cutting specialist and hairstylist based out of Newport Beach, California. She goes on to tell us, “Although it may seem counterintuitive, getting regular trims can be extremely important. If the hair is very short, trimming the back can help prevent the mullet look and give the front hair a chance to catch up. Trimming can also prevent split ends and breakage from stunting your growth. It's important, though, that your hairstylist doesn’t take too much off; otherwise, you're never going to make progress.”

Ready to tackle the grow-out phase head-first? Continue below to see 17 of the best haircuts for growing out hair.

Pixie

If your hair is on the extremely short side, starting out with a classic pixie, like this one sported by Zoë Kravitz, is a great way to begin your growing-out journey. "Because it is a highly layered haircut, it grows out well when done right,” shares Hardges. “The layers add adaptability and movement to the cut." And while the ends closer to the nape are shorter than the lengths on top, you’ll need to go in for regular trims to keep things looking nice and clean, avoiding any awkward in-between stages.

French Bob

Taylor LaShae’s French bob is honestly too good—we can’t stop thinking about it! Not only is it très chic, but this transitional cut is also a great idea for those who want to grow out their shorter style. Holinsworth agrees, saying, “The soft layering grows in proportion with the hair, so it tends to do well even in the awkward shoulder phase. Traditionally, French bobs sit around the cheekbone or jawline, which can be an easy way to even out a grown-out haircut that is shorter in the front and longer in the back."

Shoulder-Length

For hair around Saffron Hocking’s shoulder-length cut, we think it’s a fab idea to turn to her look for some much-needed hair inspo. "It’s a great growing-out length because it’s long enough to pull it back,” says Hardges. “It’s not overly time-consuming when it comes to styling.” For this cut, you can go all in with layers or stick with more of a blunt cut, but remember that the latter will allow for easier grow-out.

Italian Bob

The Italian bob is the cut of the summer, and if you love how Laura Harrier’s hair looks here, we think it’s time you book a trip to the salon. With textured ends, loose layers, and a soft feel, this makes for one of the best haircuts for growing out hair. "The soft texture at the bottom gives the hair a more lived-in feel, which allows for easy styling,” Holinsworth tells InStyle. “A cut like this works well with air-dried and loosely tousled styling that doesn’t require heat. The idea is that not using too much heat on the hair can help prevent damage and dryness that hinders hair growth."

Top-Heavy Pixie

If you’re down to play around with shorter styles before officially diving into your hair’s grow-out journey, switch things up and go for a top-heavy pixie. "The elongated front allows for versatile styling,” says Hardges. “Who doesn’t want options when stuck in a limbo grow-out stage!" Taylor Hill rocks the cut perfectly, and it makes for a great style when you’re trying to grow out your hair.

Shag

Down to spend a bit more time on your hair? The shag might be for you, and it’s anything but boring thanks to its layered movement and texture galore, as seen on Sandra Oh. “If someone is growing out their hair from a short style, a shag can be a great option to blend out the residual layering,” shares Holinsworth. “These types of cuts often require what I call a ‘grow and chop’ meaning the length has to continue to be chopped while the layers are lightly dusted so that the distance between the two becomes less and less until they finally meet."

Knotless Braids

"Protective styles like knotless braids allow the hair to rest with little to no manipulation,” Hardges tells us. “During those grow-out stages, resting the hair is going to give optimal results and allow for easy-access scalp care." If you didn’t know, scalp health plays a major role in your hair’s health, which is why we love the idea of turning to knotless braids during your growout journey.

Wolf Cut

If your hair is growing out from a pixie length, a wolf cut is going to be one of the best haircuts for growing out hair. "Styles like a pixie naturally grow longer in the back and shorter in the front like a wolf haircut,” shares Holinsworth. “Plus, the extreme amount of layering will also mimic the natural layering that a pixie haircut grows out with." Jenna Ortega’s wolf cut is one of our favorite takes on the style, and we love how it’s a bit untraditional.

Bixie

In between a pixie and a bob? Go for Florence Pugh’s bixie, which is the perfect combination of the two styles! "Because the hair is layered, it’s easy to tuck behind the ears, which is a go-to during the grow-out phase of any haircut,” Hardges says. “Without the bulk of one length, the style remains sleek.”

Curly Crop

The curlier the hair, the shorter it looks, so be prepared to wait a while before you notice length coming back to life! If you’re on the hunt for a cute cut to get you through the process, we suggest taking a look at the curly crop. "The curly crop often features shorter sides and length with a bit of longer hair on top,” shares Holinsworth. “This can allow for an easier grow out since the top would not have to grow much to reach the length."

Extensions

Beyoncé has been rocking long and voluminous hair for as long as we can remember, and she’s able to achieve the supermodel look with the help of hair extensions! If you’re in the process of growing out your hair but simply don’t want to wait, extensions are a great way to go. Hardges likes this idea, too, telling us that you can even add in clip-ins (like RPZL’s Clip-In Extensions) if you don’t necessarily want length every single day. This is even better than tape-ins because “putting heavy extensions into thin sections of hair is bound to cause damage,” according to Hardges.

Classic Bob

The classic bob, as seen on Hailey Bieber, is one of the best haircuts for growing out hair because it’s long enough to throw into a bun or ponytail and doesn’t take too long to style. "Although the bob may hit the shoulders and begin to flip, it’s a fairly easy cut to grow out,” says Holinsworth. “For dry, damaged, or split hair, giving the hair a good chop can be just what it needs in order to grow back out healthy."

Short Afro

Sasheer Zamata’s short Afro is truly stunning, not only because it perfectly frames her face but also because it makes the grow-out process so easy. "For shrinkage on curly/oily hair types, the hair will always appear shorter than it is,” says Hardges. This makes life a dream for growing out a haircut. However, regular trims are still necessary as it grows out."

Blunt Lob

On the hunt for a cut that’s super low commitment and won’t take much to manage? Turn to the blunt bob, as seen on Selena Gomez. "Since the lob is already a bit past the shoulders, you don’t have to worry about the flipping that starts to happen when the hair touches the shoulders,” shares Holinsworth. “Plus, being blunt allows the hair to grow out evenly."

Modern Shag

Zendaya’s modern shag is all about embracing layers, which is actually a good thing when you’re trying to grow out your hair “because it looks intentional,” according to Hardges. She goes on to tell us, “They allow for movement, dimension, and texture which are all elements of a great haircut.”

Boho Bob

If you love the look of a bob but want to find a way to incorporate braids as a protective style, a boho bob is definitely the way to go. "Braids are known for being a great hair-preserving style,” explains Holinsworth. “A boho bob can give the hair a chance to grow, plus extra hair can be braided in to give the hair immediate length."

The Mixie

Over your pixie and want to grow it out? Go for Miley Cyrus’s edgy mixie cut, which is essentially a mullet and a pixie hybrid. “This is a great option for growing out a pixie cut,” Hardges says. “Especially since the length in the back tends to grow exceptionally faster than the rest of the hair. Maintain the layers when getting trims as it grows.”