How to Style a Pixie Cut | Easy, Chic Hairstyles for Every Occasion
To style a pixie cut, start with damp hair, add a small amount of product, shape the top with your fingers and finish with a light hold. This guide walks you through each step, then shows how to adjust the look for your hair type, cut length and face shape. If you are still comparing short styles, a modern shag haircut is worth a look. Either way, a short cut feels easy to wear every day.
Quick Answer | How to Style a Pixie Cut
To style a pixie cut, work a small amount of lightweight product through damp hair, blow dry it into shape, then define the top and fringe with your fingertips. Finish with a light hold spray or paste. The routine takes about five minutes, and the shape holds best when you trim every four to six weeks, according to stylists Joey Scandisk and Jewell Hungarian in Marie Claire.
The 5 minute everyday routine
Start with damp, not soaking, hair. Towel dry until it stops dripping, then comb the top forward and the sides flat so the cut falls in its natural direction. If you want a sleek finish, work a pea sized amount of smoothing cream through the hair. Stylist Hayley Hackman recommends applying it to damp hair before blow drying for a glossy result. Blow dry on medium heat and lift the roots with your fingers as you go, so the top gets height instead of lying flat.
Once the hair is dry, warm a rice sized amount of pomade or paste between your palms and shape the top and fringe with your fingertips. Push the front up and to one side for a quick sweep, or rough it up for a textured look. Smooth the sides and nape with what is left on your hands, then finish with a light spritz of flexible hold spray. Stop there. Short hair shows every clump, so a pixie looks best with less product than you think you need.
What you need tools and products
You need a blow dryer, a small comb and two or three lightweight products. Scandisk advises choosing lightweight formulas, since heavy textures can weigh a pixie down, and Hungarian names lightweight pomades, texture creams and volume powders as the core types. A smoothing cream adds polish on damp hair, a pomade or paste defines the fringe and nape, and a texturizing powder or dry texture spray adds grip and lift at the roots. Davies describes a medium hold, pliable paste as the right pick for polished, brushed back or side parted looks and a forming pomade as one you can rework through the day.
If your hair is fine, Hungarian suggests adding a root lifting spray. If it is curly or coaly, a curl cream on towel dried hair defines the curl and tames flyways before you style. You do not need a flat iron or curling iron for everyday wear, which also keeps heat damage low on hair you style often.
Sources: Marie Claire’s pixie cut styling guide Scandisk, Ingrain, Hackman and Davies pixie cut guide.
How to Style a Pixie Cut Step by Step
To style a pixie cut step by step, prep damp hair, add a small amount of product, shape the top, sides and back separately, then set the finish with a light hold spray. Doing the steps in this order matters, because short hair holds the shape you build while it is drying. Stylist Jewell Ingrain notes in Marie Claire that short hair loses structure quickly, so a clean routine does more for a pixie than extra product.
Prep and dry
Begin with freshly washed or lightly misted hair that is damp, not dripping. Squeeze out extra water with a towel instead of rubbing, which roughs up the surface and adds frizz. Comb the hair in the direction you want it to fall: forward at the front, flat at the sides and down at the nape. This sets the base before any heat touches it.
Blow dry on medium heat and keep the nozzle moving. Lift the roots at the crown with your fingers while you dry, because a pixie that dries flat will stay flat. Stop when the hair is about 90 percent dry, then let the last bit air-dry so you avoid overheating short strands.
Add product
Choose the product for the finish you want. Smoothing cream suits a sleek look and goes on while the hair is still damp. Pomade and paste suit definition and go on dry. A texturizing powder or dry texture spray suits a tousled look and adds grip at the roots. Davies describes tapping a small amount of texturizing dust into dry hair and roughing it up with your fingertips and that is a good rule for all of these to start small and add more only if you need it.
Warm the product between your palms until it disappears into your skin, then apply it from the back to the front. Styling the back first leaves the least product for the front, where heavy hold shows most.
Shape the top, sides and back
Work in three zones. On top, rake your fingers through from front to back, then push the front up and to one side for height. Pinch small sections between your fingertips to create texture. On the sides, press the hair flat toward the ear or tuck it behind the ear for a sharper look. At the back, smooth the nape downward with the palm of your hand so the neckline looks neat.
Keep the top the focus. Tommy Buckets, a lead stylist at Marie Robinson Salon, warns in Pure Wow against flat, round hair on a pixie and advises adding volume and height on top. If the top looks flat, lift it again with your fingertips at the roots.
Finish and set
Check the cut in a mirror from the front, side and back, then fix any stray pieces with a dab of pomade. Set the look with a light hold or flexible hold spray, held about a foot from your head. Heavy spray makes short hair stiff and shows white residue, so use one or two quick passes.
If you plan to wear the style all day, keep a small amount of paste or powder with you. Pixies can flatten by afternoon and a quick lift at the roots refreshes the shape in under a minute.
Sources: Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Jewell Ingrain, Pure Wows pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Buckets and Davies pixie cut guide.
Pixie Cut Styling Ideas
The easiest pixie cut styling ideas are a textured and choppy finish, a messy tousle, a sleek polish, a fringe styled forward or swept to the side, and an undercut with a shorter nape. Each one uses the same short cut with different products and a different direction of hair. Stylist Jewell Hungarian tells Marie Claire that pixies work on all textures and densities, so you can pick the idea that fits your mood and adjust it to your hair.
Textured and choppy pixie
A textured, choppy pixie has visible separation, with pieces that stand apart instead of lying together. Start on dry hair, tap a small amount of texturizing powder or dry texture spray into the roots, then twist and pinch small sections with your fingertips. Hungarian recommends a dry texture spray for a tousled, pieced look. Keep the ends loose rather than slick and leave the sides closer to the head so the contrast shows off the texture on top. This idea works especially well on fine or straight hair, which tends to fall flat without help.
Messy pixie
A messy pixie looks undone on purpose. Rough dry the hair with your fingers instead of a brush, let it fall in different directions and add a light dab of pomade only where you want a piece to stay. Skip the comb entirely. The goal is movement, so avoid smoothing the top flat. A messy pixie is forgiving on bad hair days and on cuts that have grown a little, which makes it a good choice between salon visits.
Sleek pixie
A sleek pixie is polished, smooth and brushed into place. Apply a small amount of smoothing serum to damp hair, blow dry it in the direction you want, then finish with a medium hold, pliable paste on your palms. Davies describes a medium hold paste as the right pick for polished, brushed back or side parted looks. Brush the top straight back or into a clean side part and smooth the sides and nape. Use only a little serum, because too much makes short hair look greasy instead of glossy.
Pixie with bangs and side-swept bangs
A fringe changes how a pixie frames your face. For short bangs, push the hair forward and lightly separate the ends with pomade so they look defined instead of heavy. For side swept bangs, blow dry the front across your forehead, then set the sweep with a bit of paste. Stylist Joey Scandisk says a softer fringe can balance strong or angular features, so a longer, side swept front suits a sharper jaw or cheekbones. If you like a longer, parted front, learn how to style curtain bangs too. If your bangs grow too long between trims, Hair.com suggests spiking them up with pomade or sweeping them to the side.
Undercut pixie
An undercut pixie keeps the hair at the nape or sides much shorter than the top, which gives the style a clean, graphic edge. Style the longer top with paste or pomade for lift or a side sweep and leave the shorter sections alone so the contrast stays visible. Because the sides are short, they need fewer products and dry in seconds. Davies suggests telling your stylist whether you want a tapered nape or an undercut and bringing photos of looks you like and dislike, so the cut matches the style you plan to wear.
Sources: Marie Claire pixie cut styling guide Jewell Hungarian, Joey Scandisk, Davies pixie cut guide and Hair. coms guide to growing out a pixie.
How to Style a Pixie Cut by Hair Type
To style a pixie cut by hair type, match the product weight and the finish to your texture lift and light products for fine hair, definition without weight for thick hair, moisture and curl cream for curls, a light cream for waves and grip and texture for straight hair. Stylist Jewell Hungarian tells Marie Claire that pixies work on all textures and densities, so the cut itself is rarely the problem. The styling is what changes.
Fine or thin hair
Fine hair does well in a pixie because the short length can make hair look fuller, according to Ingrain. The challenge is keeping the top from lying flat. Use a root lifting spray on damp hair, blow dry with your fingers lifting at the crown, then add a small amount of texturizing powder for grip. Stylist Joey Scandisk advises lightweight products and that matters most here, since heavy creams and waxes pull fine hair down and show scalp. Davies adds that a wolf crop, with its layered, pieced shape, can make thin hair look fuller.
Thick hair
Thick hair can feel bulky in a short cut, so the goal is definition without extra weight. Davies recommends a lightweight spray that adds shape without weighing the hair down. Apply a small amount of paste or pomade only to the fringe and the top and leave the sides alone so they stay neat. Ask your stylist to remove weight with texturizing or layering, which helps the cut move instead of puffing out. Trimming on schedule matters too, since stylist Tommy Buckets tells Pure Wow that regular trims keep the sides from puffing out.
Curly hair
A curly pixie looks best when it is cut to follow your curl pattern. Davies suggests seeing a curly hair specialist for the cut, and the same logic applies to styling work with the curl, not against it. Apply a curl cream to towel dried hair to define the curl, hydrate and tame flyways, then diffuse on low heat or let it air-dry. Avoid brushing dry curls, since it breaks up the pattern and adds frizz. Tight coils need more moisture and Davies points to heavier creams and butters, with layering, to hold hydration.
Wavy hair sits between straight and curly, so it needs a light touch. Davies says loose waves do well with lightweight sprays and creams. Apply a small amount of cream to damp hair, scrunch the lengths gently, then rough dry with your fingers or a diffuser so the wave stays soft. Finish with a dry texture spray for a tousled look, or smooth the top with a pea sized amount of cream for a sleeker shape. Waves can shrink as they dry, so style slightly longer than you want the final look to sit.
Straight hair
Straight hair shows every line, which makes it good for both sleek and textured pixies. For a sleek finish, apply a little smoothing cream to damp hair, blow dry it in the direction of the cut and finish with a light hold spray. For a textured finish, Davies notes that texturizing powder lifts roots and adds grip, so tap a small amount into dry hair and pinch the ends apart. Straight hair can fall flat by midday, so keep a small tube of paste or a travel texture spray with you for a quick refresh.
Sources: Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Jewell Hungarian, Joey Scandisk, Pure Wows pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Bucket and Davies pixie cut guide.
How to Style a Pixie Cut by Length
To style a pixie cut by length, use more product and a tighter finish on a short pixie, more shape and movement on a long pixie and patience plus small tricks while it grows out. A pixie can take anywhere from about 4 to 12 months to grow out, according to Davines, so you will likely style several lengths along the way. Each stage needs a slightly different approach.
Short pixie
A short pixie, cropped close at the sides and back with a little length on top, is the easiest to style and the least forgiving to leave alone. It loses its shape fast, so stylists Joey Scandisk and Jewell Hungarian tell Marie Claire to trim every four to six weeks to keep it sharp. Because there is so little hair, use only a small amount of pomade or paste and focus it on the top and fringe. Lift the roots with a root lifting spray or texturizing powder so the crown does not lie flat. Tommy Buckets, a lead stylist at Marie Robinson Salon, advises in Pure Wow leaving some length around the hairline and nape instead of keeping one even length, which gives the short cut a softer, more natural outline.
Long pixie
A long pixie keeps more length on top and at the sides, so you can sweep, part and shape it in several ways. Davies lists face framing, blunt, wet look, side part and soft mohawk versions, and says this length works well if you are not ready for a very short crop. Start with a smoothing cream on damp hair, blow dry the top up and back or to one side, then finish with a medium hold paste for control. For a wet look finish, use a flexible hold gel on towel dried hair and comb it into place. A long pixie also lets you tuck hair behind one ear or use a small clip when you want it off your face.
Growing out or grown-out pixie
A growing out pixie passes through an awkward stage, but a few styling choices make it look intentional. Hair.com says growing out will not happen overnight, and advises you to stop cutting but keep getting trims, so the shape stays healthy. The main challenge, Davies notes, is keeping the back short while the top and sides grow, to avoid an awkward mullet stage. Ask your stylist to keep the nape tidy while you let the rest lengthen. If you are growing it into a pixie, a pixie bob blend, stylist Hayley Hickman recommends trims every eight to 12 weeks to keep the ends healthy.
At the in between length, Hair.com suggests embracing it and wearing it either sleek or deliberately messy. If your bangs get long, spike them up with pomade or sweep them to the side and add accessories like clips or a leather flower on difficult days. When it is long enough to tie back, silk scrunchies are an easy way to keep it neat. Once the hair is long enough, you can try a wash and go to show your natural texture, or use a three quarter inch curling iron with a firm hold hairspray to add curls. For special occasions, Hair.com mentions a braided faux hawk, a pompadour or a 1920s style S curl. Throughout the process, use a healthy hair serum and keep heat low, since heat damage can force you to cut the hair again.
Sources: Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Joey Scandisk, Jewell Hungarian, Hayley Hickman, Pure Wow s pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Buckets, Davies pixie cut guide and Hair. coms guide to growing out a pixie.
Best Pixie Styling Tips by Face Shape and Age
The best way to style a pixie cut for your face shape is to use the top, fringe and sides to balance your features height and texture for round faces, a sleek or classic shape for oval faces and softness and movement for square faces. Age matters less than hair texture and density. Stylist Tommy Bucket of Marie Robinson Salon tells Pure Wow, There is a pixie cut for everyone and Davies says the fringe, nape and side lengths are what tailor a pixie to your face.
Round face
For a round face, build height and texture on top so the shape looks longer. Stylist Joey Scandisk tells Marie Claire that height or texture on top helps elongate a rounder face. Makeup. coms hairstylist Stenson recommends a short pixie with a close crop and some edge or texture, which balances round faces well. Lift the roots with a texturizing powder or root lifting spray, push the front up and slightly to one side, and keep the sides close to the head. Avoid flat, round styling on top, which Bucket warns against, because it adds width where you want length.
Oval face
An oval face suits almost any short cut. Stenson names a sleek pixie as one of the timeless choices for an oval face, along with a traditional blunt bob. Because your proportions already balance, style the pixie around the finish you like smooth and polished with a little serum and a medium hold paste or textured and tousled with a dry texture spray. Try a side part or a brushed back top to show off the face. This shape can carry a fringe too, so test short bangs or a side swept front if you want a change.
A square face has a strong jawline and a wider forehead, so softness works best. Scandisk advises a softer fringe or some movement to balance strong or angular features. Style the front with a side swept sweep and keep the top textured instead of slicked down, which can emphasize the angles. Makeup. coms Stenson suggests a wolf cut, with short layered texture around the face and crown, for square faces and a layered, pieces pixie follows the same logic. Keep the sides slightly soft rather than sharply cropped.
Over 40
Styling a pixie over 40 comes down to your hairs texture and density, not your birth year. If your hair is fine or thinning, Marie Clarise stylist Jewell Hungarian says the short length can make hair look fuller and she suggests a root lifting spray for finer hair. Use lightweight products, as Scandisk recommends, because heavy ones weigh a pixie down. Keep the top textured for lift, and keep the trims regular, every four to six weeks, so the shape stays sharp. Choose a fringe and part that suits your face shape from the sections above.
Over 50
A pixie over 50 follows the same rules as any other age fit the cut to your face shape, match the products to your hair type and trim often. Hungarian notes that pixies work on all textures and densities, so you can wear one whether your hair is fine, thick, curly or straight. If your texture has changed and your hair feels softer or thinner, lean on lightweight products, a root lifting spray and a texturizing powder for grip. If it feels dry, a smoothing cream on damp hair adds polish, as stylist Hayley Hackman describes. Ask your stylist how much time you want to spend styling each day and bring photos of looks you like and dislike, which Divines recommends.
Sources: Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Joey Scandisk, Jewell Hungarian, Hayley Hackman, Pure Wows pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Buckets, Makeup. coms face shape haircut guide Stenson and Davies’ pixie cut guide.
Tools and Products for Styling a Pixie Cut
You need very little to style a pixie cut: a blow dryer, a small comb, one hold product such as a pomade or paste and one lift product such as a texturizing powder or root-lifting spray. Stylist Joey Scandisk tells Marie Claire to choose lightweight products, since heavy textures can weigh a pixie down. The right product is the one that matches your hair type and the finish you want, not the strongest one.
Wax or pomade
Wax and pomade are the hold products. They define the fringe and nape, separate pieces and keep a shape in place. Davies describes a forming pomade as one that defines the fringe and nape and can be reworked throughout the day, which makes it useful when you want to adjust the style after you leave the house. Use a rice sized amount, warm it between your palms until it is clear, then apply it only to the sections you want to define. Fine hair needs even less, because a heavy product pulls it flat. If your hair looks greasy after styling, you used too much, and a quick rinse or a dry shampoo can reset it.
Blow dryer
A blow dryer does the real shaping work on a pixie. Dry on medium heat, keep the nozzle moving and lift the roots with your fingers while the hair is damp, because the direction set during drying holds the longest. Stylist Hayley Hickman recommends applying a smoothing cream to damp hair before blow drying for a glossy finish. Hair.com advises a good dryer on a low heat setting and limiting high heat, since heat damage can force you to cut the hair again. A concentrator nozzle gives more control on short hair than a bare dryer.
Flat iron
A flat iron is optional on a pixie and it is best used for small tasks rather than the whole head. Use it to smooth a fringe, flatten the sides or straighten a few pieces on top for a sleek look. Apply a heat protectant first, choose a low to medium temperature and make one slow pass per section instead of several. Because pixie hair is short, a mini or narrow plate iron reaches close to the roots without burning the scalp. For curls on a longer pixie, Hair.com suggests a three quarter inch curling iron with a firm hold hairspray.
Styling without heat or without product
You can style a pixie without heat by shaping it while damp. Towel dry, comb the hair in the direction you want, tuck the sides behind the ears and let it dry in that shape. This works best on hair that already follows its cut. Hair.com cautions that heavy air drying can leave hair flat, so if the top falls limp, a short blast of low heat at the roots helps. To style without product, use a brush or your fingers while the hair is damp and set the shape with a short blast of cool air. Expect less hold and less definition and trim regularly, since a well cut pixie needs less help to look right.
Best types of products educational, brand free
Five product types cover almost every pixie. Smoothing cream is applied to damp hair for polish and control. A forming pomade defines the fringe and nape. A medium hold, pliable paste suits polished, brushed back or side parted styles, according to Davies and works on dry or damp hair. A texturizing dust or dry texture spray lifts the roots and adds grip and Stylist Jewell Hungarian recommends a dry texture spray for a tousled, pieced look. A curl cream defines and hydrates curly and coaly hair when applied to towel dried hair. Start with one hold product and one lift product and add others only when you need them.
How to add volume
To add volume to a pixie cut, lift the roots while the hair is damp, dry the top upward and finish with a lift product. Hungarian suggests a root lifting spray for finer hair and mentions volume powders as a core product type. Spray at the roots on damp hair, blow dry with your fingers pulling the hair up and away from the scalp, then tap a small amount of texturizing powder into the roots on dry hair. Backcomb gently at the crown if you want more height and finish with a light hold spray. Stylist Tommy Buckets warns in Pure Wow against round, flat hair on a pixie, so keep the height on top and the sides close.
Sources: Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Joey Scandisk, Hayley Hickman, Jewell Hungarian, Pure Wows pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Buckets, Davies pixie cut guide and Hair. coms guide to growing out a pixie.
How to Dress Up a Pixie Cut
To dress up a pixie cut, make it smoother and more intentional: brush the top into a clean shape add a little shine and finish with one detail such as a clip, a headband or earrings. Stylist Jewell Hungarian tells Marie Claire that a small amount of smoothing serum gives a polished look and Davies names a medium hold, pliable paste as the pick for polished, brushed back or side parted styles. The shorter the hair, the more the finish and the details carry the look.
For work
For work, aim for neatness and control. Apply a small amount of smoothing cream or serum to damp hair, blow dry the top into a clean side part or a soft sweep, then set it with a medium hold paste on your palms. Smooth the sides and the nape so the outline looks tidy. Skip very spiky or heavily tousled finishes if your workplace is formal and keep the product light, because short hair shows residue quickly. A pixie that has been trimmed recently looks sharper and stylists in Marie Claire recommend every four to six weeks.
For a wedding
For a wedding, add softness and a little shine. Try a side swept fringe or a gently brushed back top and use a smoothing serum for a glossy finish. Hold the shape with a flexible hold spray, since you may be photographed for hours and want the style to stay put without feeling stiff. Plan the cut as well if you want a very precise outline, book a trim a week or two before the event so the shape is sharp but has settled in. If the dress or venue is formal, a sleek, side parted pixie with a small accessory looks complete without extra work.
For a party
For a party, add texture and movement. Tap a texturizing powder or dry texture spray into the roots, pinch the ends apart for a pieces look and push the front up and to one side. Hungarian recommends a dry texture spray for a tousled, pieced finish. If you want more drama, try a wet look finished with a flexible hold gel on towel dried hair, combed into place. A bold earring or a shimmer product on the hair will stand out more on a short cut, so choose one focal point and keep the rest simple.
With accessories, headbands and clips
Accessories can change a pixie without changing the cut. A thin headband holds the fringe back and frames the face and these headband styling ideas show more ways to wear one. A small barrette or a pair of clips can pin one side behind the ear for a clean, polished look. Hair.com suggests accessories such as a leather flower to help during the awkward grow out stage and the same idea works for a finished pixie. On a short cut, earrings stand out because nothing covers the ears, so a simple stud, a small hoop or a drop earring is enough. Pick either bold earrings or a bold hair accessory, not both, so the look stays balanced.
A classy look
A classy pixie is smooth, controlled and quiet. Brush the top back or into a clean side part, add a small amount of serum for shine and keep the sides and nape neat. Choose a medium hold paste instead of a strong gel, so the hair looks soft and finished, not wet or stiff. Keep accessories minimal a pair of pearl or small gold earrings or a single clip. A recent trim keeps the shape crisp and Tommy Bucket, a lead stylist at Marie Robinson Salon, advises in Pure Wow to go back about every six weeks, which helps the style look intentional instead of grown out.
Sources: Marie Claire pixie cut styling guide Jewell Hungarian, Pure Wows pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Buckets, Divines pixie cut guide and Hair. coms guide to growing out a pixie.
Common Pixie Cut Styling Problems and Fixes
Most pixie cut styling problems come from three things a shape that feels too harsh, an in between growing out stage and trims that happen too late. You can fix each one with small changes to your styling and your salon schedule. Stylists in Marie Claire recommend a trim every four to six weeks, which prevents many of the other problems before they start.
How to make a pixie cut look feminine
A pixie looks more feminine when the outline is soft and the finish has movement. Stylist Joey Scandisk tells Marie Claire that a softer fringe or some movement balances strong or angular features, so ask for longer, wispy front pieces and style them across the forehead instead of straight up. Tommy Buckets, a lead stylist at Marie Robinson Salon, advises in Pure Wow leaving some length around the hairline and nape instead of keeping one even length, which gives the cut a gentler edge. Use a smoothing cream or a light texture spray so the pieces look soft, not stiff and avoid heavy gel or wax. Davines says a long, face framing pixie also works well if you want more softness. Finish with small earrings, a thin headband or a clip, since short hair makes accessories stand out.
What to do when it’s growing out
When a pixie is growing out, shape the in between length instead of fighting it. Hair.com advises you to stop cutting but keep getting trims, so the shape stays tidy while the length builds. Davies notes that the main challenge is keeping the back short while the top and sides grow, which avoids an awkward mullet stage, so ask your stylist to keep the nape clean. If you are heading toward a boxier, stylist Hayley Hickmann recommends trims every eight to 12 weeks to keep the ends healthy. For daily styling, wear the hair either sleek or deliberately messy, sweep overgrown bangs to the side or spike them up with pomade and use clips or a headband on difficult days. Davies says growing out can take about 4 to 12 months, so plan a few trims along the way.
How often to trim a pixie cut
Trim a pixie cut every four to six weeks to keep its shape sharp. Scandisk and Jewell Hungarian both give this range in Marie Claire, and Hungarian explains that short hair loses structure quickly. Bucket agrees in Pure Wow that you will be back in the salon about every six weeks for touch ups and says regular trims keep the sides from puffing out. Davies gives a slightly wider range, 4 to 8 weeks. If you are growing the pixie out, Hickmann suggests stretching trims to eight to 12 weeks. The signs that you are overdue are a bulky nape, ears that disappear under the sides, and a fringe that falls into your eyes.
Sources: Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Joey Scandisk, Jewell Hungarian, Hayley Hickman, Pure Wow's pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Buckets , Davies pixie cut guide and Hair. coms guide to growing out a pixie.
Common Pixie Styling Mistakes
The most common pixie styling mistakes are using too much heavy product, drying the top flat, skipping trims and ignoring your hairs natural texture. Tommy Buckets, a lead stylist at Marie Robinson Salon in New York, tells Pure Wow that going too long between trims lets the sides puff out and he says you will be back in the salon about every six weeks. Most of these mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for.
Using too much heavy product. Short hair shows every clump, so a thick layer of wax or gel makes a pixie look greasy and stiff. Stylist Joey Scandisk tells Marie Claire to choose lightweight products, since heavy textures can weigh the cut down. Start with a rice sized amount and add only if you need it.
Letting the top dry flat. A pixie loses its shape when the crown lies flat against the scalp. Buckets advises adding volume and height on top and warns against round, flat hair. Lift the roots while blow drying and use a root lifting spray or texturizing powder, which stylist Jewell Hungarian recommends for finer hair.
Waiting too long between trims. Hungarian says short hair loses structure quickly and she and Scandisk recommend trimming every four to six weeks. Davies gives a range of four to eight weeks. A pixie that is overdue looks bulky at the nape and shapeless at the top, and no product fixes that.
Keeping the cut too uniform. Buckets also warns against making a pixie one even length all over. Leave some length around the hairline and nape and add texture on top, so the shape looks natural instead of cropped.
Overusing high heat. Short hair is styled often, and repeated high heat dries it out. Hair.com advises using a good dryer on a low heat setting and limiting high heat, since heat damage can force you to cut the hair again. A heat protectant and a medium setting are usually enough.
Ignoring your hair type. The same product does not work on every texture. Divines says curly pixies should be cut to the curl pattern, ideally by a curly hair specialist and that tight coils need heavier creams, butters and layering to hold moisture, while loose waves do better with lightweight sprays and creams. Match the product to your texture, not to what worked for someone else.
Sources: Pure Wows pixie cut mistakes guide Tommy Bucket, Marie Clarise pixie cut styling guide Joey Scandisk, Jewell Hungarian, Divines pixie cut guide and Hair.coms guide to growing out a pixie.
Conclusion
Learning how to style a pixie cut comes down to a short routine: damp hair, a small amount of lightweight product, fingertip shaping on top and a light hold to finish. Match the finish to your hair type, length and face shape and trim every four to six weeks, as stylists in Marie Claire recommend, so the cut keeps its shape. You can find more hair and style ideas at Stylish Women. Try the 5 minute routine tomorrow morning with just a dab of product, then add more only if you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you style a pixie cut in the morning?
To style a pixie cut in the morning, dampen your hair, work in a small amount of lightweight cream or paste and blow dry the roots upward on medium heat. Shape the top and fringe with your fingertips, then finish with a light hold spray. The routine takes about five minutes and works on most hair types.
How do you make a pixie cut look feminine?
To make a pixie cut look feminine, ask for a softer fringe and longer pieces around the face, then style them with movement instead of stiff hold. Stylist Joey Scandisk says a softer fringe balances angular features. Leave some length at the hairline and nape and add small earrings or a thin headband.
How do you add volume to a pixie cut?
To add volume to a pixie cut, apply a root lifting spray to damp hair, then blow dry with your fingers pulling the roots up and away from the scalp. Finish with a small amount of texturizing powder on dry hair. Stylist Jewell Hungarian recommends root lifting spray for finer hair and volume powders as a core product type.
How often should you trim a pixie cut?
Trim a pixie cut every four to six weeks to keep its shape sharp. Stylists Joey Scandisk and Jewell Hungarian give this range in Marie Claire and Hungarian notes that short hair loses structure quickly. If you are growing it out into a boxier, stretch trims to every eight to 12 weeks.
Can you style a pixie cut without a product?
Yes, you can style a pixie cut without product, but expect less hold and definition. Towel dry, comb the hair into the direction you want, tuck the sides behind your ears and let it dry in shape. A recent trim helps, since a well cut pixie needs less help to look right.
Comments
Post a Comment