Moms don't always have to opt for above-the-shoulders styles. Reese Witherspoon's medium-length hairstyle is simple and youthful, says Williams. The trick is to ask your stylist for long layers — which create movement around the face — to keep the cut from looking boring. Bonus: Styling this type of cut is easier than you think. "Blow dry your hair with a large round brush and if you have time, touch up the ends with a flatiron," says Williams.
Image via Mike Marsland/WireImage/Getty
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Worst: Meredith Baxter
There is a reason the mullet is considered one of the worst hairstyles in history. Unless a style has bangs, short in the front and long in the back seldom looks good. "Meredith's cut allows her face to be seen, but the pieces need to be tucked into place just to give it shape," says Riggio. For a similar style that's better, ask your stylist for face-framing layers that are also in balance with the rest of your hair.
Image via Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage/Getty
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Best: Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes' cut proves that taking off a few inches can be a sexy update. "This is a really cute, sassy look for moms," says Williams. Thick bangs give the chin-length cut a dramatic frame and won't require daily fussing. Love the bob but not sold on the bangs? Williams suggests trying clip-on fringe to get the style without the commitment.
Image via Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty
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Worst: Katherine Heigl
A stiff, voluminous cut can sometimes have a granny vibe. To wit: Katherine Heigl's latest look, which requires heavy curling to give her heavy hair movement. This is why knowing your hair type is crucial when asking for a short hairstyle. Thick hair that is cut into heavy layers can require a lot of curling to add texture and movement, says Riggio. For medium to thick hair types, stick with styles that are chin-length and below.
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Best: Jessica Alba
Long, short, braided — Jessica Alba's hair always looks gorgeous. The mom-of-two's latest cut is especially chic and can work with a slew of hair textures and types. For mothers wanting to embrace their natural waves, Williams says this cut is perfect. "Ask your stylist for long, playful layers — nothing too blunt or blocky." In the morning apply a sea-salt spray to ends, scrunch, and then air-dry.
Image via Allen Berezovsky/WireImage/Getty
It almost seems like a rite of passage: become a mom; get a bad "mom cut." You know the one — the short hairstyle that's way too short and not flattering for your face shape. The one you got on an "I need a change!" whim.
Hey, we get it. You're suddenly busier than you've ever been, which means zero time to create polished, bombshell waves. So what do you do? You tell your stylist to chop it all off and give you a short cut that's a cinch to wash and go.
The problem is that "wash and wear" short hair can be really tough to pull off, says James Williams, head stylist at Canale Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif. The secret is getting a short hairstyle that works with your hair's natural texture. Guy Riggio, a Los Angeles-based Sally Hershberger stylist agrees, adding it's also important to get a cut that really works with your face shape.
"Shorter cuts are easier to manage if you find the perfect style for your face shape," says Riggio. "And that can take a lot of trial and error."
Skip ahead to see the 12 best and worst mom haircuts.
Maybe that's the excuse for Kate Gosselin's reverse mullet, Sharon Osbourne's feathered mess, or Katherine Heigl's granny bob?
Thankfully, some moms have sailed through new mommyhood without getting the prerequisite awful short haircut. Just look at Michelle Williams' youthful pixie, Reese Witherspoon's effortless layers, and Michelle Obama's chic bob. Short hairstyles don't get much better than these.
So, to celebrate Mother's day, we decided to take a fun look back at some of the most famous triumphs and cringe-worthy mishaps in mom-haircut history. Plus, we chatted with Riggio and Williams about each look, so when you fit in a visit to the salon in between play dates and nap time, you will know exactly what to ask for — and what to tell your stylist to never do to you.
