Pixie haircuts are a versatile and bold look that helps to enhance facial features alongside a touch of sophistication. There are endless style variations when it comes to pixie haircuts, such as cropped cuts, textured layers, and edgy styles. This is the crux of why pixie haircuts are popular, allowing individuals to adapt their hairstyle to their personality in a way other hairstyles don’t. Read on to learn more about pixie haircuts and what styles are likely to trend in the coming year.
Table of Contents
What are pixie haircuts?
How to create a pixie haircut
Popular pixie haircut styles
Conclusion
What are pixie haircuts?
Pixie haircuts originated in the 1950s and became iconic with celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn. It’s a bold and easy-to-maintain look that features shorter layers on the sides and slightly longer layers on top, typically cut close to the head. This look helps to frame the wearer’s face and emphasize the jawline, cheekbones, and eyes for a pixie-esque look that gives it its namesake.
Pixie haircuts have evolved since their conception in the mid-20th century and now include a large selection of styles and colors, making them a popular choice for people of all face shapes and styles.
How to create a pixie haircut
Pixie haircuts aren’t the simplest of hairstyles, but with good technique and precision, they can be achieved, especially by those who have some experience cutting hair.
Tools needed:
Spray bottle (to fill with water)
Thinning shears (for texture, optional)
Razor (depending on texture needed)
Step 1: Preparing the hair
Using a spray bottle, dampen the hair to make cutting it more manageable. Repeat if the hair starts to dry while you work.
Step 2: Section the hair
Use sectioning clips to divide the hair into four sections: back, front, crown, and sides. This makes it easier to focus on one section at a time.
Step 3: Begin cutting at the nape
Pixie haircuts should start at the nape (back of the head). Begin by taking a small section of hair at the nape, holding it at a 45-degree angle between your fingers. Use your hairdressing scissors to start trimming to the desired length, keeping the bottom layer a little shorter to create a tapered look.
Step 4: Work upwards along the back section
While working through the back section, continue to cut upwards. Cut the hair in horizontal subsections and bring each layer down to match the others. This will eventually create a layering effect and add shape to the look.
Step 5: Cut the sides
Once the back section is finished, move onto the sides. Using the back length as a guide, cut vertically along the ear and angle your scissors slightly inwards to shape the face. This will help to blend the side with the back and ensure symmetry throughout.
Step 6: Cut the top
The next step is to unclip the top sections and the crown. Before cutting, decide on the length of the top. Cutting the top slightly longer than the sides will create a textured look, and this should be angled forward or to the side, depending on the style. It’s important to work in small sections here to ensure each layer adds volume to the pixie haircut.
Step 7: Blending and texturizing
Now that all of the sides are cut, it’s time to blend and texturize. Grab a pair of thinning shears, or a razor if preferred, and start to soften any harsh lines you see in the layers. This will give the haircut a more seamless look. If the client wants bangs, this is where you’d pull a small section of hair forward and cut to the desired length.
Step 8: Refinement
Before drying the hair, it’s important to double-check that the haircut is symmetrical from different angles. This is where you should make any necessary adjustments.
Step 9: Styling
Pixie haircuts are usually worn with lift or texture, so once you’ve dried the hair, you can use light styling products such as mousse to add volume.
Popular pixie haircut styles
Pixie haircuts have been around for decades, and their popularity is only increasing as new styles emerge. According to Google Ads, “pixie haircuts” receives an average of 201,000 searches per month, with the most searches coming in May.
While there are many styles for clients to choose from, these are the three most popular:
Textured pixie cut
A textured pixie cut is achieved through the use of texturizing shears to create various hair lengths throughout the cut. This adds an additional level of dimension and volume and makes the haircut look effortless and tousled.
This is the perfect hairstyle for those looking for a playful look that can be easily maintained, and matches almost every personal style throughout the seasons.
Classic pixie cut
Nothing screams timeless quite like the classic pixie cut. This style features cropped, short hair that’s longer on the top and tapered at the back and along the sides. It’s characterized by soft and feminine lines that beautifully frame the face, making it the ideal choice for people who want to highlight certain features, such as their jawlines and cheekbones.
This type of pixie haircut can easily be styled for a polished look, or it can take on a tousled and more relaxed appearance. Either way, this versatile haircut is likely to be around for many more decades to come.
Asymmetrical pixie cut
For a modern twist on the traditional pixie cut, many clients opt for the asymmetrical pixie cut. This unique style incorporates various lengths of hair on different sides, which allows for various creative options. Most commonly, one side will be cut shorter while the other remains longer to create a more dynamic and edgy look. Finally, a popular way to style this pixie cut is to have the longer sides sweep across the forehead.
Conclusion
Pixie haircuts are among one of the most popular short hairstyles for women. Although the classic pixie cut is still highly sought after, other styles, such as the textured pixie cut and the asymmetrical pixie cut, are starting to pick up steam with clients who want a more modern look. Since this is a more complex haircut, it’s recommended that clients seek out an experienced stylist rather than attempting to achieve this look at home.
