The Clavi Cut Is the Cool-Girl Haircut Taylor Swift and Hailey Bieber Both Love

How to style the clavi cut

Bobs have been having the longest moment ever, but I have a proposition for anyone who doesn’t want to go quite that short: Try a clavi cut. It lives right between “just a trim” and “give me a bob,” and frankly, it might just be the Goldilocks of haircuts. Landing right around the collarbone (aka the clavicle, hence the name), the short haircut gives you enough of a chop to make your before-and-after pics worthwhile without taking away your ability to wear buns, ponytails, and other updos. “It’s slightly longer than a traditional lob and gives you the freshness of a shorter cut while still having enough length to pull back or style in different ways,” says hairstylist Sierra Kener Mehl, who notes that this makes it “very wearable and low commitment.” As we leave summer behind and welcome fall, it feels like the perfect time for a seasonal hair reset, and “cutting the hair to the collarbone is a great way to remove dry or damaged ends while creating a fuller, healthier shape,” she says.

And if you’re currently growing out a bob? Congratulations—you may already have a clavi cut. It’s the “perfect” in-between length because it feels “intentional, rather than like an awkward grow-out stage,” says Mehl. So, let’s recap: Clavi cuts are easy to wear and style, low commitment, and not too short or too long. Oh, and BTW, celebs like Hailey Bieber and Taylor Swift are rocking this style right now. Sold? I know I am (I got one last year and fell in love immediately). Ahead, all the clavi cut inspo you need, plus styling tips from Mehl.

Stylists have called out the clavi cut as one of the top fall haircut trends to pay attention to, so expect to see more of it this year. It is incredibly versatile, as it boasts endless styling options, including wearing a bouncy blowout, throwing it into a claw clip, adding curls and volume, or even just letting it air dry. Plus, Mehl notes that it works well across many different hair textures.

One of Mehl’s favorite ways to wear a clavi cut is with soft, undone bends. “They show off the movement and make the hair feel effortless,” she says. “I’ll usually alternate the direction of the waves and leave the ends a little straighter for a more modern finish.” If you opt for this look, Mehl’s biggest tip is to avoid over-curling. “The length already creates such a beautiful shape, so you want the styling to feel loose and touchable,” she says. “A lightweight texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots adds volume without weighing it down.”

For alternative styling ideas, “It also looks beautiful sleek and straight, flipped out at the ends, or with a soft, bouncy blowout,” Mehl explains. Now that you know how to get the clavi cut look of your dreams, check out some celeb photos below for inspiration.

Clavi cut inspo photos

David Eulitt//Getty Images

@brycescarlett

Stefania D'Alessandro//Getty Images

Marc Piasecki//Getty Images

Aeon//Getty Images

@ninapark

Taylor Hill//Getty Images

Stefanie Keenan//Getty Images

@serenapagee

Chad Salvador//Getty Images

@brycescarlett

Meet the expert

• Sierra Kener Mehl is a hairstylist and co-owner of ESKÉ Salon in Los Angeles.

Why trust Cosmopolitan?

Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmo. She’s covered all things skincare, makeup, hair, and more, including trending haircuts and hair colors you have to try.

Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things skin, makeup, hair, and more.

Catharine MalzahnContributing beauty writer

Catharine Malzahn is a contributing beauty writer at Cosmopolitan and was previously the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, and Prevention.

Jasmine Hyman

Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.