Celebrity hairstyles
The Most-Copied Celebrity Hairstyles and How to Ask for Them
The cuts people screenshot most, translated into plain stylist language, with tips for making them work on your own hair.
The most-copied celebrity hairstyles are the long bob, the pixie, face-framing layers, curtain bangs, beachy waves, the blunt lob, the shag and the sleek center-part. To get one, bring photos and tell your stylist the length, the layers and the finish you want. This guide gives you the words for each.
Celebrity hair looks effortless because a team built it that way. The good news is that the cut underneath is usually simple. The rest is styling, and you can learn that at home. Below are the styles people ask for most, how to describe them, and what to expect on your own hair.
Before you bring in a photo
Pick photos of people with a hair texture close to yours. A pin-straight cut will behave differently on tight curls, and your stylist will tell you so. Choose a few angles, and flag the one feature you care about most. If you are unsure how to find a stylist you trust, read our guide to choosing a hair salon.
Classic cuts everyone still asks for
The long bob (the "lob")
A cut that lands between the chin and the collarbone, often seen on stars like Emma Stone and Kerry Washington. It suits almost every texture and grows out gracefully. Leave it blunt for a sharp look, or add soft ends for movement.
How to ask your stylist: "A collarbone-length lob, a blunt edge with soft ends, and a few long layers so it moves."
The pixie
Halle Berry's pixie is the style many people point to. It is short on the sides and back, longer on top, and it puts the focus on your cheekbones and eyes. It works best when you are ready for regular trims.
How to ask your stylist: "A pixie with tapered sides and back, about two inches left on top, with texture so I can push it off my face."
"The Rachel" layers
Jennifer Aniston's choppy, face-framing layers from the 1990s still come up in salons. The look is round layers that bounce at shoulder length. Today's version is softer and less stacked.
How to ask your stylist: "Shoulder-length layers that start around the cheekbone, blended so they curve inward at the ends, not too short on top."
Curtain bangs
Parted in the middle and swept to each side, curtain bangs are forgiving and grow out without an awkward stage. Brigitte Bardot's fringe is the usual reference.
How to ask your stylist: "Long curtain bangs, parted in the center, that blend into my layers around the cheekbones."
Beachy waves
Loose, lived-in waves worn by many red carpet regulars. The cut matters less here than the layers, which let waves stack naturally. Add a few long layers and the waves do the rest.
How to ask your stylist: "Long, uneven layers that help hold a loose wave, and no heavy blunt line at the bottom."
The shag
Think Stevie Nicks-era layers back in a modern shape. Lots of short layers around the crown, longer lengths at the back, and a lot of texture. It is good for fine hair that needs volume.
How to ask your stylist: "A modern shag with short layers at the crown, a wispy fringe and length through the back. Please thin it only a little."
The sleek center-part
Poker-straight hair with a sharp middle part, seen on Zendaya and many models. It needs healthy ends more than any special cut. A blunt trim keeps it looking dense.
How to ask your stylist: "A one-length cut with a clean, blunt bottom edge. Skip the layers; I want it to look thick and glossy."
Bollywood-inspired hairstyles
Bollywood hair is known for volume, shine and movement. A few looks come up often in salons, and they are worth knowing by name.
Long layers with a big blowout
Deepika Padukone is often cited for long, glossy layers with a bouncy finish. The key is lift at the crown and swing at the ends.
How to ask your stylist: "Long layers starting below the chin, with a round blowout finish and lots of volume at the roots."
Soft waves with a side part
Aishwarya Rai's polished, soft waves are a standard for weddings and events. A deep side part and brushed-out curls give a red-carpet finish.
How to ask your stylist: "Soft, brushed-out waves with a deep side part, and long layers so the curls fall into place."
The sleek high pony or half-up
Many Bollywood stars wear a polished high ponytail or a half-up style with a smooth top. It needs very little cutting, only healthy, shiny hair and a good smoothing step.
How to ask your stylist: "A trim to even out my ends, plus a smoothing blow-dry I can learn to repeat at home."
Thick, long hair with a trim
Many people copy long, glossy hair with a simple trim. The trick is dust-only trims to keep length while clearing split ends. Ask for a small cleanup rather than a big cut.
How to ask your stylist: "Just a dusting: take off the least you can while removing the damaged ends."
Styling at home
Most of these looks come down to three things: a heat protectant, a way to add volume, and a way to curl or smooth. A volumizing brush handles the blowout looks. A 1-inch curling iron makes waves. A light oil adds shine at the end. Keep the heat as low as works, and ask a dermatologist if you have scalp or shedding concerns.
Best value blowout
Revlon One-Step Volumizer PLUS 2.0
A dryer-and-brush in one with a 2.4 inch oval head and low, medium, high and cool settings. Revlon claims it cuts blowout time; owners often mention how quickly it adds smooth volume at the crown.
- Dries and smooths in one pass
- Cool setting helps set the shape
- Heavier than a plain brush
- Best on shoulder-length or shorter hair
Budget curls and waves
Conair Double Ceramic 1-Inch Curling Iron
A 1-inch barrel with adjustable heat settings, a cool tip and auto shutoff. The brand says its ceramic content spreads heat evenly. A common pick for loose waves on medium and long hair.
- Easy to find and low cost
- Cool tip and auto shutoff
- Button placement bothers some owners
Shine and heat protection
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil
A lightweight styling oil. Retailers list heat protection up to 450F/230C when used with hot tools, plus shine and frizz control on dry ends.
- Lightweight finish
- Works on damp or dry hair
- A little goes a long way, so too much looks greasy
Matching a style to your hair type
Fine, straight hair does well with a blunt lob or a pixie, because a blunt edge makes hair look thicker. Thick hair loves layers and the shag, since removing weight lets it move. Wavy hair suits beachy layers and curtain bangs, which work with your natural bend. Curly hair can wear most of these styles, but ask for a stylist who cuts curls dry or knows how curls shrink, so the length lands where you expect.
Your lifestyle counts too. If you only have five minutes in the morning, pick a cut that looks good air-dried. If you enjoy styling, a layered cut with a bit more shape rewards the effort. Be honest with your stylist about how much time you will spend. A great cut that needs 40 minutes a day will not feel great for long.
Color and finish
Many celebrity looks owe as much to color as to cut. A soft face-framing highlight, a rich brunette gloss or a clean all-over shade changes how a cut reads in photos. If you love a look but your color is different, ask whether a gloss or a few lighter pieces would get you close without a big change. For help matching shades to skin tone, see our makeup for your hair color guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Copying a cut that needs a texture you do not have. Ask your stylist what to change.
- Skipping the styling step. Most celebrity looks need a blow-dry or curl to look right.
- Taking only one photo. Different angles prevent surprises at the back and sides.
- Ignoring upkeep. Short styles need frequent trims, and long layers need shaping.
Looking for other cuts? See celebrity hairstyles for medium and long hair or haircuts for square faces.
Questions people ask
How do I show my stylist a celebrity hairstyle?
Bring two or three photos, ideally showing the front, side and back. Then tell your stylist what you like about it (the length, the fringe, the movement) and what you do not. A photo shows the result, but your stylist needs to know how it was built.
Will a celebrity haircut look the same on me?
Not exactly, and that is fine. Hair texture, density, growth patterns and face shape change the result. A good stylist adapts the cut to your hair and keeps the shape that made you love the photo.
How often do I need to trim these styles?
Short cuts like a pixie or bob usually need a trim every 4 to 6 weeks to keep their shape. Long layers can go 8 to 12 weeks.
Is a heat tool needed for these looks?
For most of them, a little heat helps. A volumizing brush or curling iron plus a heat protectant gets you close to the finished look in minutes.
