A pixie cut is a short women’s haircut you typically see on a fashionably gamine woman. If you are a tomboy at heart or just want to shake things up a bit and don’t mind a crop, definitely go for a pixie haircut! You may lose most of your locks but what you gain is a simple wash-and-go style, an added edge to your and lots of compliments.
What Is a Pixie Cut?
Pixie crop or pixie cut is a women’s haircut about half an inch to 3-inches in length. It may either be one-length or cut shorter on the back/sides and longer on the top.
Pixie haircuts became popular in the 50s, after the premiere of the Roman Holiday featuring the charming short-haired Audrey Hepburn. In the 60s, actress Mia Farrow and supermodel Twiggy wore the cut as well. Moving to modern day, many celebrities have tried pixies, too, such as Katy Perry, Cara Delevingne, Pamela Anderson, and Miley Cyrus, among others.
Pixie Haircut Benefits
If you are ready for a short crop, here are some reasons to choose a pixie:
- It’s practical. That means less time and money on styling.
- It’s expressive. It perfectly frames the face and makes cheekbones pop.
- It’s ideal for hair color experiments. Less hair to bleach and your tresses quickly regenerate, which makes it safe to experiment with hair color ideas for a pixie cut.
As a disadvantage, many point out the lack of versatility. A myth! Just look below in our gallery at how differently short hair may be styled and put that hesitation aside. The only drawback is that a Sunday-bunday and lazy ponytail is not an option.
Best Pixie Cut Ideas for 2024
Modern pixies are often paired with long side bangs or a shorter angled side fringe. They are upgraded with choppy, spiky layers and undercuts. The contrast of lengths, such as long hair on the top and very short tapered sides and back is very in. A great idea for a pixie is to try a new fashionable hair color you’ve never tried but have always wanted to. Now’s the time! Check all these variants and other beautiful ideas — flip through!
1. Pixie Wedge
Finding a picture of a haircut you kinda dig, can be the foundation for getting your vision across to a stylist. Keeping the top and sides longer than a traditional pixie can add volume, and change the shape accordingly. These small changes make this pixie linger near the borderline of turning into a Dorothy Hamill wedge; a testament to why it will always be a classic cut.
2. Feathered Pixie with Balayage Highlights
When in doubt, go with the highlights-and-layers pairing; it works for short haircuts just as well as with longer ones. Bonus: when you grow out this pixie, its original asymmetrical cut will remain interesting and edgy, as your hair is getting longer.
3. Classic Pixie
The hairstyle you think of when you hear ‘short hair’, is the classic and timeless pixie cut. Sticking to the classic cut, you may at the same time go for a trendy hair color, such as this gorgeous silver blonde.
4. Two-Tone Pixie
Normally, there is no such thing as any style being age specific, but a disconnected haircut could be too extreme for the working professional. Modern pixie cut hairstyles may seem too mainstream for someone requiring only a bit of sass, so if it’s the case, allow your stylist to add some “neat” texture throughout. Using a little pomade to emphasize the texture will do the trick in adding that missing spunk, and also a bit of shine.
5. Pixie Bob
A long shaggy pixie cut is the perfect transition if you do decide to start the process of growing out your hair. Having more long hair in front will now give you more color options to play and experiment with.
6. Disconnected Blonde Balayage Pixie
A longer tapered pixie cut provides enough length to play with texture and color. Try a pixie with long disconnected layers, a soft nape line and piece-y bangs. If you have fine yet dense straight hair, it will look awesome in easy tousled styles with a dab of root-lifting product and a quick blowdry.
7. Choppy Gray Pixie
The number one reason to be smitten about the pixie cut is its brilliance in versatility. Knowing you can quickly grow out color with shorter hair, means making more confident color choices, and possibly experimenting with the symmetry of your cut.
8. Razored Cut with Precise Nape and Sideburns
What makes this cute pixie stand out is the combo of wispy layers and precise cuts, basically two contradictory things. Ash blonde layers soften the straight cut nape and angled pieces in front of the ears creating a sophisticated style in a short length that looks 100% feminine.
9. Bleach Blonde Pixie
Disconnecting a long, razor-cut top section from a significantly shorter undercut is anything but classic. Texture and movement in a haircut make it more enjoyable to style different ways, and help us discover new styling techniques and products we’ve never needed or used on longer hair.
10. Pastel and Ash Pixie with Fused Layers
Longer and shorter pieces, deeper and paler hues are fused into a funky pixie haircut that still doesn’t go overboard. The faded pink-violet roots provide a perfect background for the swoopy ashy layers. They appear super dimensional and full of air.
11. Platinum Blonde Disheveled Pixie
As previously mentioned, finely chopped locks will look great on blonde hair, because it’s light enough to bring out every razor-sharp cut of every strand. This platinum version perfectly illustrates the point and also enriches it with the styling choice so daring you’d be hard-pressed not to notice it.
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12. Gray Blonde Pixie
When women choose to embrace their gray tresses and decide to go au naturel, a sassy, ash blonde pixie would be right to the point. The two-tone color with a subtle difference in hues helps to integrate gray, so that it looks fashionable and appealing.
13. Tapered Pixie Cut
A tapered pixie is a less extreme pixie version compared to a bolder, disconnected, undercut pixie. A taper gives a softer touch to your conventional short cut.
14. Side-Parted Silver Pixie-Bob
A long pixie is certainly all the rage. With bangs, of course. And certainly in a trendy color. This shiny silver is a worthy alternative to the ever popular platinum blonde. Be sure to complete silver hair with bright lips. Simply flawless.
15. Pixie with Long Wispy Bangs
A grown-out, shaggy pixie cut with bangs looks especially hot on jet-black hair, while a wet look adds texture, making the hair appear even more interesting. For the wet look, make sure you use the right gel. Glossing spray is optional, but highly recommendable!
16. Choppy Bowl-Cut Pixie
When you view images like these, you realize that undercut pixies are absolutely the hottest options among short women’s haircuts. A nape and sides undercut topped with choppy layers give you a cool badass look. If you can pull it, you should definitely try. No excuses.
17. Pixie-Bob with Temple Undercut
Half pixie, half undercut bob, the pictured style can be a leader of the trendy edgy haircuts group. Asymmetry is what always makes your hairstyle way more interesting. So does a dimensional two-tone color. And tousled texture.
18. Undercut Pixie
If you are confused in trying to decide whether you want a softer style opposed to a rough, edgier look, do both! An undercut is the current trend in bringing out your inner bad girl, while still maintaining the lady-like side of you.
19. Stacked Pixie with V-Cut Nape
If you decide on a voluminous pixie with stacked layers in the back, you’ll have to include a shaved nape. A square nape looks blocky and masculine, that’s why it’s recommended to fade the nape in women’s short cuts. Another great solution is a V-cut nape. It adds up to the edginess of your shaggy pixie and works as an unexpected detail drawing attention to your graceful neck line and shoulders.
20. Long Red Pixie Cut
The phenomenal haircut AND wicked color make this red pixie cut daring, yet manageable for everyday wear. Keeping the color fresh and vibrant is less complicated on shorter do’s. Applying a color mousse or toning shampoo is much simpler and less demanding on short hair than it is on longer tresses. This simple maintenance step will assist in maintaining the dynamics of your color.
21. Uneven Undercut Pixie
Uneven choppy layers that twist and turn on a whim cover the back undercut partially creating a cool asymmetrical half-shaved cut. Play up your pixie with a popular platinum blonde shade. If you boast porcelain skin, you can make the hair shade almost icy.
22. Side-Parted Blonde Balayage Pixie
This boyish tapered pixie cut is upgraded with long girly bangs and enhanced with a sun-kissed color. Blowdry those bangs with a round brush to achieve the swoopy effect that never goes out of style.
23. Layered Pixie with Side-Swept Bangs
This incredibly feminine pixie is achieved through soft layers paired with side-swept bangs. What is more, it’s a great choice for women with thin hair who are looking for a low-maintenance option.
24. Ravishing Red Pixie
If you’re gonna go short, you should go red while you’re at it! A bright crimson hair hue is the perfect way to brighten up your pixie cut. Make sure to invest in a color-enhancing hair mask that protects your color and keeps your color-treated strands from getting dry and brittle.
25. Long Voluminous Pixie
Not all cropped styles pull a tomboy out of you. Some pixies are very feminine. Here’s a beautiful example. Length, layers and color come together to build up a short yet voluminous ‘do you’ll love to wear with jeans or dresses.
26. Lavender Pixie-Bob
Modern choppy pixie cuts are all about blends… Blends of lengths, textures and hues result in swoon-worthy hairstyles you can’t pass unnoticed in the street. This lavender pixie-bob is one of those.
27. Strawberry Blonde Pixie
A choppy pixie cut and an unusual hair color are a match made in heaven, don’t you think so? This strawberry blonde, super voluminous pixie cut is your way to go if you prefer to express your bright personality with your hair.
28. Choppy Side-Parted Pixie Bob
Long pixie cuts for straight hair always resort to layering to avoid a boring flat look. Opt for chunky layers and dress them up with balayage to bring the impact from the texture to maximum. Style tousled and try a side part; those tricks work particularly well for fine hair that begs for added body.
29. Reverse Gray Ombre for Short Hair
An interesting effect of a reverse ombre is achieved if your leave your natural dark hair color at the nape and highlight the top part of your hair. It takes some smart blending of colors and expertly cut layers to succeed with the perfect gradient. The side and back view of this style are simply flawless!
30. African-American Messy Ashy Pixie
Ash blonde hair with light cool-toned skin is an evident solution, but this picture proves that ashy hues can be pulled very well by darker complexions as well. There’s something magnetizing about an African-American lady with cool blonde hair, but the cut itself also counts. Short pixie haircuts with plenty of crescent layers are very flattering on black women. By the way, did you know they pair great with hoop earrings?
31. Shaggy Pixie with Balayage Highlights
This cute pixie features a neat brown undercut underneath long, razored, bleached layers. The contrast of light and dark, long and short, neat and shaggy once again results in a wow short hairstyle we are tempted to try.
32. Long Honey Blonde and Black Pixie
The pixie with long choppy layers is the most feminine of short haircuts. You can scrunch those pieces with mousse or curl them with a flat iron getting different looks for different moods.
33. Cropped Tousled Waves and Side Bangs
Buzzed pixie cuts aren’t your only option. If you would like to still have some length, there are ideas for you. Her layers are long enough to be styled straight or curly. The latter option is brilliant for making your mane appear thicker and flirtier, too!
34. Long Pixie for Fine Hair
It takes some skills to cut fine hair so that it doesn’t look limp. Lots of thin layers are a way to go. A balayage with very light, fine pieces that pop plus chunkier warm toned strands that fill in the gaps and serve as a backdrop for highlights is a brilliant idea if your want to bring more interest and visual volume to your thin hair.
35. Stacked Pixie-Bob with Long Bangs
Pixies that build up maximum volume around the crown are very flattering. And when balanced with extra long bangs, they add to the overall cool girl impression. High or low contrast balayage highlights won’t hurt either. As a result, you get a style that turns heads. In a good way.
36. Undercut Blonde Pixie with Dark Roots
The extra long wispy blonde layers are beautifully set off by the nape undercut and dark roots. This style has depth and boosts volume of fine hair. Long bangs sweeping across the forehead accentuate the eyes and ooze nonchalant summery vibes. Why not take with you into the cooler months?
37. Balayage Pixie with Tiered Layers
Layers on layers on layers give off an impression of enhanced texture where the extra long pieces and shorter strands are smartly blended for a feminine yet edgy style in a short length. Pixie haircuts like this are perfect for ladies on the go who want a comfortable cut that’s also chic and on-trend.
38. Tapered Pixie with Blonde Highlights
There’s no wonder a tapered pixie cut has won the love of women who prefer looking youthful no matter their age. Pixie cuts go a long way toward making your hair look neat and healthy, while blonde highlights brighten up the face.
39. Ash Blonde Pixie with Nape Undercut
Dishwater blondes often complain about boring hair. Cheer things up with an edgy pixie haircut and melted ash blonde balayage. A nape undercut is optional but it makes the style sharper, chicer and absolutely present-day.
40. Brunette Pixie with Feathered Layers
There’s an assumption that short brunette hairstyles look too androgynous, so if you go for a crop, it’s better to pair it with a lighter hue. This pixie hair style shows that looking feminine with a short cut while you keep your natural dark hair is a breeze as long as you soften the style with feathery layers and subtle highlights.
41. Short Choppy Side-Parted Pixie
Even extra short hair doesn’t appear boyish when it features a height on the top achieved with tiered layers. Add this parted on the side cut to your inspirational gallery if you have a round or square face, as it has an elongating effect flattering for those face shapes.
42. Angled Pixie Bob with Layers
The right haircut enhances your best facial features and follows the lines of your face. If you have a lovely face shape and want a long pixie, consider layered pixie cuts cropped at the same angle as the angle of your jawline.
43. Messy Tapered Pixie
One cute styling idea for a layered tapered pixie is a messy ‘do with haphazard at first sight, yet in reality strategically shuffled, layers. The partial balayage where highlights graze only the bangs is a popular pick for short cuts, because it’s commitment-free but does the job of catching the eye perfectly.
44. Piece-y Cut with Subtle Balayage
Check this edgy short cut that confidently follows the trend on mixes. Today we mix everything – textures, colors, lengths – and achieve unexpected contrasts. This pixie-bob is not much in your face. But it does stick to the idea and looks fresh.
45. Sassy Undercut Pixie with Bangs
Modern short pixie cuts are never cut evenly. Shaved sections can border on extra long pieces while being topped with mid-length spikes. Add a trendy blonde shade and dark roots and you get this charming undercut pixie you can hardly resist, and why should you?
46. Soft Pixie Bob for Fine Hair
Soft in texture, soft in color, this beautiful style seems to be designed in heaven and it’s meant for delicate fine strands. Side part and blow out with a round brush. Backcomb the crown and be ready to be exposed to admiring glances.
47. Long Curly Pixie
There’s room for curly pixies in every short hair gallery. Growing out your pixie hairuts can be frustrating but with the help of styling tricks (curls, braids, scrunched styles) and regular trims to refresh the shape, you’ll enjoy your pixie bob and painlessly transition to lob.
48. Reddish Brown Layered Pixie Bob
A pixie bob in a rich hue with dimensional highlights is a great transitional style if you are growing out your short cut. Though this long sunset inspired pixie is so chic that you may want to wear it for a longer period of time and keep the length at the nape for a while.
49. Blonde Pixie with Short Angled Layers
This very short spiky cut with a gradual reduction of length down the back and sides stands out thanks to its cropped V-cut layers and a high contrast dye job. Style the slightly longer top messy to bring some dynamics into your style.
50. Choppy Pixie Fade
A blurred bottom hair line and choppy ash blue layers make for a very unique short edgy cut for women. It’s so nice to have hair off your neck. Literally. As long as you can pull off an extra short cut, this idea is fresh and interesting.
51. Imperfect Pixie
A bonus to waking up with a messy pixie cut, is that messy hair is in! For the few who always seem to be rushing out the door every morning, a messy pixie is the ideal hairdo. Grabbing a dab of hair paste or pomade and running it through your hair takes less than 30 seconds, and takes your ‘just-rolled-out of-bed’ look to the next level.
52. Finely Chopped Pixie for Thin Hair
Worried that your wispy locks can’t accommodate a bold short hairstyle? Quit your worries and try this wonderfully layered look for thin hair. The finely chopped layers will add both structure and volume to your look, while the thin highlights will bring out your expression at all times.
53. Shaggy Pixie Cut
This elaborately textured shaggy pixie is all about volume and cuteness! The cut seamlessly merges with brow-grazing choppy bangs, which, by the way, can effectively solve the problem of long or round faces by covering the forehead.
54. Sassy Pixie for Fine Hair
While it’s a well-known fact that short hair looks fuller and more voluminous, a combed-forward layered pixie haircut is number one in creating volume and movement. A word of advice: for your pixie to look hot at all times, make sure you keep it naturally messy.
55. Platinum Blonde Pixie
Short pixie haircuts look absolutely stunning when coupled with light blonde shades. A platinum blonde shaggy pixie seems to never go out of style. In addition, it’s fairly versatile: you can wear brow-skimming straight bangs or go for a longer version and sweep them to the side.
56. Edgy Pixie Cut with Copper Highlights
Although a short pixie cut is a statement itself, a couple of vivid highlights will make it look even more eye-catching. When choosing the shade of highlights to juice up your brunette pixie, make sure you go for a hue that matches your skin tone.
57. Feathered Pixie
Finding a product to highlight your edgy pixie cut just the way you like may be tricky. It might be a good idea to get small samples of different pomades, pastes, or gels to see which works best for you. There are matte or shine-finish products with different degrees of holding power. Choosing a few favorite styling products for the looks you wear often would be wise.
58. Stacked Pixie
For a chic, lady-like look, consider a longer version of the pixie cut, like this elegant stacked pixie. A deep side parting works wonders adding mind-blowing volume to a classic layered pixie cut.
59. Side Swept Pixie
This gorgeous blonde pixie draws all attention thanks to its unusual shape. If you want your strands to be always in place, don’t forget about a proper styling product to help you. All eyes on you guaranteed!
60. Sassy Pixie for Fine Hair
One of the biggest advantages of a shaggy pixie cut is its suitability for any age and any hair type. For fine hair it’s a true windfall. Your hairstylist may suggest using a razor on the tips of your hair to build layers around the crown. This will create a shag effect that is super chic and fun!
61. Feathered Pixie with Long Bangs
A feathered pixie cut is your best bet if you wish to add a vibe of lightness and femininity to your look. Long bangs make this blonde pixie appear more dramatic and elegant. For your hair to look flawless wherever you go, don’t forget to ask your hair guru for a styling class.
62. Low Maintenance Pixie Cut
Busy lifestyles call for low-maintenance haircuts. If you’ve decided to cut your tresses short, make sure your brand-new look won’t give you trouble making you spend more time styling than you can afford. If you’re one of those ladies who are always on the go, consider a pixie haircut with soft lines like this. For more volume, ask your stylist to part your hair a bit away from the center.
63. Asymmetrical Pixie
This stunning spiky pixie definitely deserves your attention. Asymmetry makes it look quite interesting, while dark roots add even more contrast, helping emphasize facial features. If you’re looking for something unusual and don’t mind opening your forehead, steal this idea!
64. Romantic Pixie with Bangs
A pixie haircut can be incredibly versatile. For instance, a rebellious choppy pixie cut can turn into a romantic hairstyle if you use smaller amounts of styling products and prefer your fingertips over combs and brushes.
65. Layered Pixie for Gray Hair
A choppy pixie cut with a V-cut nape is a popular choice with women who choose to embrace their graying tresses. Fair enough, since a pixie allows you to always look stylish regardless of your age.
66. Messy Pixie Hairstyle
A voluminous layered pixie is a nice choice if it’s a sharp transition from longer tresses to short hair. This amazing pixie has it all: messy layers on top creating a stunning volume, choppy layered bangs beautifully integrating with the rest of the hair, and an amazing pixie color solution perfectly flattering the girl’s skin tone.
67. Classic Pixie Cut
A classic pixie haircut looks great on all hair types, from stick-straight to naturally curly hair, and can flatter any face shape with the help of some professional tricks. To make your pixie stand out, turn to a colorist to identify a hue that can best match your complexion and eye color.
68. Perfect Pixie for Thick Hair
If you’re looking for a wash & go pixie idea for thick hair, look no further — this soft choppy pixie might be your way to go. Elaborate layering will reduce the burden of thick tresses, resulting in a light, voluminous mane.
69. Pixie for Older Women
Gray hair almost always means fine hair, and it’s important to find a haircut that can solve both challenges at once. Choppy pixies come to save the day. They help gray strands look well-groomed and provide the volume fine hair needs so much.
70. Dark Brown Pixie
Layered pixie cuts are loved for their power to tame even extra thick hair. A bit of your favorite styling product plus blow drying usually suffice to keep your pixie in place, even if your naturally thick tresses were originally challenging to manage.
Wondering why we haven’t told you much about how to style these pixie hairstyles? That’s because, when it comes to pixie cuts, the styling issues are taken care of by your stylist’s scissors beforehand. In other words, if you want to go messy, shaggy, spiky, cute, and short, just make sure you choose the right haircut for your type of hair and face. Add a dashing color and a bit of styling product, and you’ll be all set—both for wild nights on the town, as well as for efficient days at work.
