24 Short Hair Pulled Back Ideas: Chic and Easy Styles for Modern Women

Short hair opens up many styling options, especially when it comes to pulled-back looks.

From quick everyday styles to fancy evening updos, short hair can be transformed into beautiful and practical hairstyles. These styles keep hair away from the face while looking polished and put-together.

These pulled-back styles work for all short hair lengths and textures, making them easy to customize for any occasion or personal style. Whether someone wants a sleek professional look or a casual textured style, pulled-back hairstyles offer simple solutions that take just minutes to create.

These versatile options help make the most of shorter cuts while keeping hair manageable and stylish.

Messy Top Knot

The messy top knot creates an effortlessly chic style that works beautifully with short hair, adding height and texture while keeping strands off the face.

Back-combing sections of hair before gathering them into a high ponytail gives extra volume and grip at the crown. Wrapping loose pieces around the base of the bun and pulling gently on sections creates that coveted undone texture perfect for casual days.

Slicked Back Ponytail

A sleek, smoothed-back ponytail creates an effortlessly chic look for short hair, while the polished finish gives an elevated touch to any occasion.

This versatile style works beautifully with a hair pomade or styling gel to tame flyaways and create that desired glossy effect.

Braided Half-Up

Create a chic look by pulling back two small sections of short hair from each side and braiding them into a delicate half-updo crown.

Crown Twist with Undercut Flair

This short hairstyle showcases a subtle undercut with a smooth, crown-level twist, creating a soft pulled-back style that balances edge with elegance—perfect for polished summer looks.

Rolled Bun with Sleek Finish

Short hair is pulled into a sleek rolled bun, with dimensional blonde highlights and a precise undercut that adds edge and contrast to this minimalist, polished style.

High Ponytail with Volume

A voluminous high ponytail lifts and sweeps short hair up to the crown, creating extra height with gentle teasing at the roots and soft texture throughout the style.

Twisted Crown Braid

The twisted crown braid creates an elegant halo effect by wrapping a braid around the head for a polished, feminine style that works beautifully with shorter lengths.

Soft French Knot on Textured Crop

This soft pulled-back look transforms short hair into a French knot-inspired bun, with twisted side sections and ribboned lowlights that add a romantic touch to the nape-hugging shape.

Mini Braids

Short, blunt-cut hair gets a sporty update with twin Dutch braids, tightly woven and finished in loose mini pigtails for an edgy, low-maintenance pulled-back look.

Wrapped Top Bun with Undercut Detail

A voluminous wrapped top bun adds drama to this short haircut, balanced by an undercut bob that keeps the look modern, edgy, and effortlessly pulled back.

Inverted French Side Braid on Stacked Crop

This short pulled-back style uses an inverted French braid that hugs the head from side to nape, blending control and texture in a chic way that suits both everyday wear and elevated occasions.

Voluminous Pompadour with Undercut Fade

This edgy short hair pulled-back idea features a voluminous, slicked-back pompadour with layered blonde highlights and a clean undercut fade that sculpts the shape with striking contrast and lift.

Messy Bun

A loose, tousled bun sits perfectly at the crown for short hair, creating an effortlessly chic style that works for both casual days and dressy events.

The key is gathering short strands into a small, imperfect knot while letting some pieces fall naturally around the face and neckline for a soft, romantic look.

Low Knot with Twisted Sides

This short hair pulled-back idea features soft side twists leading into a low knot, perfectly suited for layered bobs and enhanced by subtle blonde highlights that add light and movement.

Tight Crown Braid on Tapered Bob

A snug crown braid sweeps across this tapered bob, pulling the top layers back while leaving the bob’s shape defined—ideal for adding youthful structure to short pulled-back hairstyles.

Sleek Low Loop Bun on Short Layers

This short hair pulled-back idea features a sleek low loop bun with a smooth crown and seamless blonde-to-brunette blend—perfect for an elevated, refined finish that works for both everyday and formal wear.

Low Ponytail

A sleek low ponytail adds polish to short hair by gathering strands at the nape of the neck with a clear elastic for sophisticated style.

Minimal Knot

This short hair pulled-back idea features a sleek low knot with a smooth finish and subtle highlights, offering a refined, fuss-free style that works effortlessly from office to evening.

Volumized Twist-Back Ponytail

This short hair pulled-back style features softly twisted sections gathered into a voluminous curled ponytail, combining structure with movement for a polished, event-ready finish.

Mini Twist Bun

The Mini Twist Bun creates an elegant, pulled-back style for short hair by twisting a small section from the side and securing it into a tiny, neat bun at the nape of the neck.

Pinned Side Sweep Elegance

A side-swept pinback adds structure to this short hair pulled-back idea, allowing the sharp cut and natural shine of a graduated bob to take center stage in a clean, wearable style.

Pulled Back Curls

Short curly hair pulled into a loose updo creates playful movement while keeping strands off the face for a fresh, flirty style.

Side-Swept Bob with Bow Clip

This short hair pulled-back idea brings a sweet touch with a soft side sweep secured by a blush pink bow, perfect for adding charm and polish to a blunt bob.

Twisted Bun with Gold Clips

This short hair pulled-back idea pairs twisted crown sections with a soft looped bun at the nape, finished with decorative pins that add delicate structure and a romantic, refined touch.