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Good things come in small packages, and this is never more true than with petite ladies. Even so, women who don't have much height have to be careful with how they cut their hair so they don't look even tinier. Shoulder-length cuts almost always work for shorter gals, but you still need to take your face shape and hair type into consideration when you pick the exact style.
The Rule
Generally speaking, shoulder-length hair will flatter just about any lady no matter if she's short, tall, thin or with more to love. A shoulder length cut works if you're petite because it provides enough elongation to keep your head from seeming bigger. It can also balance your facial features. At the same time, stopping the cut at the shoulders keeps the gaze from continuing down and robbing you of the height you do have. If you're petite and want a longer cut, shoulder-length is the longest you should go.
Face Shape
Experts usually categorize faces into four main categories: round, square, heart and oval. Hair length makes a difference in how any of these shapes balance. For instance, if your face is round, keeping your hair a little long can make the roundness less obvious. Similarly, a little length can disguise the smallness of the chin in a heart shape, or pull attention away from the sharp lines of a square jaw. Those with oval faces generally can wear any style and length. These general guidelines remain true regardless of your frame.
Soft Curl Option
Your hair type also impacts the length of cut you should have. For instance, curly hair adds width and thus makes it more likely that your head will look large as a petite. The Hairfinder website cautions petite gals against super-curly or very wavy styles. It also points out that too many curls can make a petite woman look juvenile. This site recommends those women put their hair in soft waves.
Other Options
If you happen to have curly hair, and you don't want to use chemicals or time-consuming styling to get it straight, you could still wear a shoulder-length cut. The cut could keep your hair from frizzing and puffing out the way it can at shorter lengths. You'll also have some control over its width. If you're petite with fine hair, the shoulder-length cut may be an improvement over a long style. Fine hair creates a straight line, gets weighed down and breaks easily at long lengths. Most petite women with fine hair find it's easier to look good in, and manage a style, around a shoulder length cut.
