Kayla Young
When it comes to haircuts, a pixie haircut is bold. Like skydiving, once you decide to go for it, there’s no turning back. So it’s no wonder that, despite pixie hair cuts being all the rage at the moment, there’s a lot of apprehension about making the big cut. It takes a long time to grow that hair back!
What if it’s a mistake? What if it doesn’t look good? What if it makes me look like a boy? What if I hate it?
In this article, we are going to look at what to consider if you’re thinking about getting a pixie hair cut, and which pixie styles are most suited to different hair types and face shapes to help you find the right style for you. Before you jump out of the plane, put on your parachute.
Contents
What is a Pixie Hair Cut?
A traditional pixie haircut is short on the sides and back, with short bangs, as seen above. However, the pixie has evolved to include different styles that incorporate longer bangs, different textures and layers that have made the pixie so versatile, that regardless of your hair type, face shape or age, there is a pixie cut out there that will suit you.
It’s no wonder the pixie is one of this year’s hottest hair trends.
What’s The Best Pixie Cut For Your Face Shape?
The thing about a pixie haircut is that just because you saw one that looks great on a celebrity or the barista at the coffee shop, doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the right cut for you. The good news is though, there is a pixie cut out there that you too can rock. The trick is to find the right cut.
The right pixie cut for you should not only balance out the angles (or the lack thereof) of your face and accentuate your features but also work with your hair texture.
Pixie Cut On Round Face
For rounder face shapes, adding some volume at the top and a few wispy pieces at the fullest point of your face, will reduce the roundness. A longer, sweeping side fringe does the same.
The forward movement of this pixie cut creates the ultimate face slimming illusion with its amazing natural volume and texture, which creates a range of hair tones and reflections, perfectly flattering a round face shape.
Pixie Cut On Heart Shaped Face
Those with heart-shaped faces tend to have wider foreheads. Adding some side-swept bangs and some volume on top will help to elongate and frame the face.
Pixie Cut On Square Face Shape
If your face is square, a few fine pieces around your cheekbones with choppy layers and an off-center part will soften the angles.
A long layered, asymmetrical pixie that sweeps the jawline will also help to soften the angular features of a square face.
Pixie Cut On Oblong Face Shape
Oblong face shapes look best with a flatter crown, more volume on the sides and longer bangs, which will help balance out the length of the face.
Pixie Cut On Oval Face Shape
Oval face shapes look good with just about any pixie cut.
Best Pixie Hair Cut For Your Hair Texture
Not only do you need to take into consideration your face shape, your hair texture is also important. You’ll want to choose a pixie cut style that is going to work with your hair texture, instead of against it.
Pixie Cut For Thick Hair
Keep thick hair shorter at the sides and longer at the crown. Unless you are trying to add width to balance out a narrow face, you should stick to a pixie with shorter sides.
Consider tapering the cut at the nape of the neck, rather than just straight across to manage your hair’s texture and volume.
Keep plenty of fullness and layers at the top of your style.
Pixie Hair Cut For Thin Hair
Choppy layers and edgy bangs will give dimension to fine hair. While fine hair can feel limp in a heavy, long haircut, it can be light and voluminous when cut short.
Adding lots of layers will make your hair look nice and full.
Choppy cuts look especially great with fine hair.
Try bangs that are graduated from short to long. Undercutting with longer layers on top can give you the flexibility to use styling products to style it up or down as much as you want, while making sure that you look as good on your casual wash and wear days as you do when you decide to go glam.
Consider adding lowlights and highlights that will emphasize your pixie’s volume and add even more depth and dimension.
The key to adding volume to a pixie cut with thinner hair will be texturizing and volumizing styling products. Styling mousses, pomades and hairspray will be your best friends.
And thanks to your new shorter cut, your hair products will last you forever!
Pixie Cut With Curly Hair
Curly hair responds much differently than straight hair when it’s cut. So those with curly hair have a set of different guidelines….
Pixie cuts can be fantastic for those with curly hair, or they can make you look like Lil’ Orphan Annie. If you have curly hair, try incorporating longer layers, which add volume, movement, and texture to your cut.
Curly hair can create a whole host of dynamic, beautifully textured pixie styles, as long as you keep enough length for your curls to take shape.
If you have long curly hair and you’re not sure how your curls will respond to a shorter style, try going in for a shorter bob first. This way you can see how much your curls will bounce back without the weight of the long hair.
Guidelines, Not Rules
It’s important to note that all of the recommendations as to face shape and hair texture are just guidelines – not definitive rules set in stone!
While the guidelines will point you in the right direction as to the type of pixie that will most likely suit you, it doesn’t mean you can’t look good in another style.
And if you decide it’s time to move on from the Pixie world, see our guide to Growing Out a Pixie Cut.
