Haircuts aren’t just transformative on the outside – they can make you feel like a whole new person on the inside as well.

When women cut their hair, they sometimes get flack from people who want to know why they’ve cut off their beautiful locks. But the truth is, it’s none of anyone’s business – and it doesn’t matter if other people like it.

Long hair has long been valorized as “more beautiful” and feminine, but these ladies show that rocking a short, bold cut can be oh-so empowering – not to mention super stylish!

And, of course, they’re all beautiful both before and after.

1. Ditch the dead weight

Sometimes we grow out our hair to the point where it’s just not doing much for us anymore.

You know, that length where you don’t bother too much with it because you can always throw it into a bun?

Well not anymore! This is a haircut that you have to style every morning – and it’s worth it for how fierce it looks!

2.Blunt blonde

We want to give this woman a high five for all the time she’s going to save now that she doesn’t have to maintain the color on an extra foot of hair.

Chin-length bobs are the newest craze among fashionistas and that waterfall of bangs still gives her hair to flip around if she needs something to run her finger through.

This one is a slam dunk!

3. Brunette bombshell

Anyone with ringlets knows just how hard they are to style. It’s a little easier when hair is short, but no curly-haired girl is ever going to be able to embrace the “wash-and-go” lifestyle.

This cut adds so much volume on top and must feel so much lighter than her old hair (which was also gorg!).

Doesn’t she look 10x sassier with a short, new ‘do?

4. Rad red cut

Look at how much this haircut lifted her whole face – her cheekbones look higher, her eyes look brighter. It’s such a great style – and she looks a few years younger to boot (although that wasn’t necessary).

It’s a brave act to stop hiding behind your hair (and with makeup like this, people should be able to see those features!).

5. Love this lob!

Yes, girl! Chop it off!

We tend to think long hair makes us look more youthful, but after a while, it can become the centerpiece and make some of our more youthful features fade into the background.

This young woman got a big cut and a little color and looks absolutely fabulous.

The one-length lob has been on-trend for a few years now and shows no signs of letting up.

6. Making moves

Stunning both before and after, you can just feel through the photo how much movement that bouncy new cut has!

And her hair looks so thick now too.

This cut gave her major volume – something that’s often hard to achieve with long locks.

7. Voluminous vixen

Her beachy waves were beautiful too, but this sleek, professional, shoulder-length bob is the perfect look.

She still has enough hair to play around with, she can wear it wavy or straight, and she can even still pull it back into a ponytail.

It’s the perfect upgrade!

8. Total transformation

She looks like a whole new woman! And look at the size of her smile after this makeover.

It’s incredible what a bob and some bangs can do to transform a face.

Now we can see her beautiful neckline and she’s totally on-trend.

9. Short and sassy

We just love how this woman comes alive after her big chop.

She has all the perfect features to pull off this pixie with long bangs and she looks like she knows it!

Bravo!

10. Perfect pixie

Getting a pixie takes some moxie, but it was a great decision for this bold brunette.

Not only are her lovely features on display but that cut is to die for!

11. Slammin’ shag

That’s a lot of hair to lose, but there’s so much to gain by getting a bold new cut.

These bangs are perfection and look how much curl she got back once she got rid of some length!

12. Red and ready for anything

This woman already has a stunning natural hair color.

How fun is it to be able to go from long and curly to short and straight too?! It’s such a fab cut that we wouldn’t be surprised if she was looking in the mirror a few extra times a day just to admire it.

Now she can use the time she would have spent blowdrying all that hair to straighten and add volume to her new bob.

13. Neat and natural

Black hair is a whole different challenge, but this woman certainly found the right stylist to take it on.

This long pixie is stunning and those front-swept bangs bring lots of attention to her lovely fave and chiseled cheekbones.

14. Bouncy bob

The great thing about a bob is that it lets you remember just how healthy and bouncy your hair can really be.

And this woman has the perfect shape for it, whether she lets it curl under or flatirons it into a blunt bob.

15. Buzz off

Women who get buzz cuts are subjected to SO MANY unsolicited opinions.

But, hey, if you have the balls to buzz your head then you probably don’t care what anyone has to say about it.

From regrowing damaged hair to just needing a badass look for a while, there are plenty of reasons to take the leap.

And this is one example of a truly gorgeous close cut.

16. Lop it off and lighten up

This is such a phenomenal transformation that we can’t stop staring.

The color certainly plays a role here too, but this cut is just so charming that it brightens up her whole face.

17. To hell with the traditional!

People were all too happy to weigh in and say she looked better before.

Whatever – this is what society expects women to look like. We admire her ability to ignore all that and go for something bold and brave.

And she looks phenomenal with that short, light hair!

18. Go for the glam

Very long hair has been the trend for the under-20 crowd for a few years now.

But just look at how much more life her hair has when it’s not just hanging around.

We’re so on board with this drastic cut!

19. Charming chop

This big chop shows just how much you can change your look by losing some inches.

Her long hair was beautiful, but with features like this, there’s no reason to hide behind a flowing mane.

20. Blunt bob

The haircut of the moment is the blunt bob. All one length, super straight at the bottom – it’s the first real hair trend of the 21st century.

This is the cut you want if you’re about to take the plunge!

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We love a little hair inspo!

If you’re thinking about a big chop, now’s the time!

Drop that dead weight – after all, it’s just hair. It’ll grow back!

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