How to Style a Pixie Cut, According to Celebrities

Lily Collins with a pixie hair cut

Getty Images / Design by Camden Dechert

The pixie haircut requires some serious commitment—perhaps that's why it's the ultimate cool hairstyle of Hollywood. If you're thinking about making the cut, you likely know the transformative powers of the pixie: Not only does a pixie hairstyle highlight your cheekbones (no illuminator necessary), but it also signals confidence.

And while the cute 'do has a few downsides, mainly upkeep, it more than makes up for this minor drawback with its versatility. Pixie cuts are wearable for just about everyone, says stylist Michelle Sultan. "I believe a good hairstylist will cut your hair and adapt the pixie look according to your face shape," she says. To show you the many ways in which you can style a pixie, regardless of face shape or texture, we’ve rounded up the coolest super-short haircuts, alongside expert advice from Sultan and Ryan Richman. Keep scrolling for 29 incredible ways to style a pixie cut.

Meet the Expert

  • Michelle Sultan is a hairstylist and Brand Ambassador + Creative Director for Imbue. Her clients include Jennifer Hudson, Alesha Dixon, Mel B, and Jordyn Woods, and her work has appeared on television shows such as The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.
  • Ryan Richman is a hairstylist known for both red carpet and editorial work. He's worked with Kate Mara, Sadie Sink, Lili Reinhart, and countless other celebs.
01 of 29

Slicked Down

Eva Marcille Pigford wears a platinum slicked-down pixie cut

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"Pixie cuts are super versatile and can be styled in many different ways, whether you want an edgy, classic or vintage look," Sultan says. Eva Marcille's slicked-down 'do epitomizes elegance.

  • For a slick, almost wet-looking pixie, start with freshly washed hair. Part in the desired direction.
  • Add a shine-inducing oil, like Oribe's Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil ($57), to strands.
  • Then, coat the entire head with a lightweight gel (we love Kenra Styling Gel 17, $17). Use a light hand to avoid a total helmet vibe, and move with the grain so that the hair lies flat.
02 of 29

Braided

Julianne Hough wears a braided pixie hairstyle
Angela Weiss/Getty Images

Braid your pixie for an unexpected hairstyle that looks both romantic and edgy.

  • To get Julianne Hough's look, add some texture to your hair with Amika's Perk Up Dry Shampoo ($26), which will give the hair grip and make your braid hold all day long and well into the night.
  • Braid diagonally across the crown of the head, pulling some pieces of the braid loose to get that disheveled look.
  • Pin the ends into place to secure the braid.
03 of 29

Polished

Kerry Washington wears a tousled side-swept pixie cut

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Kerry Washington's side-swept pixie totally encompasses mod style.

  • "Short hair can still be extremely feminine by creating texture around the hairline (bangs, sideburns, nape of the neck) by using a razor for feathery softness," Richman says.
  • Use a comb like Mason Pearson's Fine Tooth Comb ($28) to sweep your locks to one side when styling.
  • Add a little hairspray to keep the bangs in place.
04 of 29

Accessorized

Lupita Nyong'o wears a cropped hairstyle with a thin cream headband while holding her 2014 Oscar

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Lupita Nyong'o's textured pixie looks even more stunning when accessorized with a headband.

  • Pull your hair back away from your face. If you have a longer pixie, secure it back in a high bun or small ponytail.
  • Use bobby pins as needed to secure into place.
  • For shorter pixies, keep the back loose and flowing and use a headband to pull your hair away from your face.
  • To get Nyong'o's look, rock your natural texture and apply a dainty accessory like this Tasha Crystal Headband ($24).

Byrdie Tip

"Foam wrap lotions are great for wrapping and setting short, naturally wavy, or relaxed hair," Sultan says. Try Nairobi's Wrapp-It Shine Foaming Lotion ($12).

05 of 29

Voluminous

Lily Collins with a voluminous pixie cut with side part
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

Lily Collins's high-volume pixie is the perfect look for an evening out.

  • "For straighter hair, use a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle and a flat brush to blow dry the hair in different directions to create volume and texture," Richman says.
  • Embrace your cowlick like Collins, and add some Bumble and bumble Thickening Full Form Mousse ($32) to your roots.
06 of 29

Pinned Back

Jada Pinkett Smith wears a voluminous, pinned-back pixie cut

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Jada Pinkett Smith's simple yet chic style is super easy to recreate.

  • To add volume to your crown, start by applying some volumizing mousse.
  • Blow dry your hair, using a nozzle and flat brush. Dry it up and in several different directions to create texture and volume.
  • Use bobby pins to pin hair back. Make sure you keep some volume on top.
  • A decorative clip like these Kitsch Classic Rhinestone Bobby Pins ($49) could add a dressier element.
07 of 29

Curly

Woman with short natural curls with caramel highlights

@barbaraacruz

"Curly pixie cuts are so chic and can look super effortless," Sultan says. Follow her advice for styling:

08 of 29

Spiky

Halle Berry wears a spiky pixie cut hairstyle
Mark Davis/Getty Images

Halle Berry's signature pixie might be the most coveted short 'do of our time. To reach spiky heights like Berry's, follow these tips:

  • First, start with the right cut: "An oval face shape is ideal to sport any style of pixie cut," Richman says. That said, any face shape can go short. "Other face shapes may require a different style of pixie cut to create balance."
  • Next, on air-dried hair, use a root-lifting product like Kenra Professional's Root Lifting Spray ($17).
  • Add a bit of touchable gel at the tips to keep that height and lift in place for hours.
09 of 29

Asymmetrical

Tichina Arnold wears a choppy, asymmetrical pixie cut

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Tichina Arnold's choppy strands are similar to Berry's, but with a face-sweeping fringe.

  • Follow the tips from #8, lifting the back of the hair into spikes around the crown.
  • Then, use Ouai's Wave Spray ($28) and comb your bangs off to one side.
10 of 29

Deep Side Part

Michelle Williams wears a polished pixie cut with a deep side part
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Michelle Williams's iconic pixie is perfectly polished. To copy:

  • Wash your hair and air dry or blow dry, using a paddle brush to straighten if you have more of a natural wave.
  • Comb over, starting the part far over to one side.
  • Spray a toothbrush with Living Proof's Style Lab Flex Hairspray ($27) and run it atop your hair to tame unwanted flyaways.
11 of 29

Shaved Sides

Woman with curly platinum pixie cut with shaved sides

@rafafranco2

"Pixie cuts should be easy to manage, almost wash-and-go depending on your hair type," Sultan says of this edgy pixie cut, which especially suits tight curls.

  • Ask your stylist for sharply shaved sides, with a little length on top.
  • Add a little styling serum to play up your curls and shine, while keeping frizz away.
  • You can also style this into a faux hawk for an even edgier look.
12 of 29

Micro-Fringe

Zoe Kravitz wears a short pixie cut with micro fringe

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"My favorite pixie style is when there are no hard lines around the edges of the haircut, but it’s layered and tapered well to fit the head shape," Sultan shares. Zoë Kravitz's baby bangs and super short sides fit the bill.

13 of 29

Retro

Zendaya wears a pixie hairstyle with finger waves
Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Want to dress up your short 'do? Make like Zendaya and give retro finger waves a try.

  • To get the look, use a generous helping of mousse and setting pins like Conair's Styling Essential Wave Clips ($2).
  • "If you want a straight finish, foam mousse is great for molding hair and/or creating finger waves before drying," Sultan adds.
  • Apply the mousse, then comb the product-coated hair into the finger wave shape.
  • Clip into place and wait for it to dry.

Byrdie Tip

You can speed up the drying process with a blow dryer, or let air dry.

14 of 29

Piece-y Fringed

Emma Watson with a short, straight pixie cut with feathered bangs
Jon Furniss/Getty Images

While Emma Watson's pixie is fairly simple, her perfectly placed wispy bangs give her major style points.

  • For sleek and smooth tresses like Watson's, start by using Living Proof's No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream ($38), which smooths frizz, controls moisture, and keeps baby bangs in place.
  • Blow dry hair, using a flat brush as needed to smooth strands.
  • Create a side part, brushing bangs over to the side.
  • Use a small amount of styling serum and separate small pieces of hair to create the wispy bangs.
15 of 29

Bobby Pinned

Hikari Mori wears a soft, long pixie cut styled with bobby pins

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This softer take on a pixie as seen on Hikari Mori features a little bit more length and artfully placed bobby pins. To style:

  • Blow dry freshly washed strands to get those imperfectly flipped-out ends.
  • Add a shine serum, like the Kristin Ess Weightless Shine Working Serum ($14).
  • Place bobby pins along the front to hold hair off the face. We're partial to this asymmetrical take.
16 of 29

Pompadour

Scarlett Johansson wears a pompadour pixie cut hairstyle
Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson's pompadour works just as well at the office as it does at a concert.

  • Use a volumizing mousse while hair is wet.
  • Use a small round brush to dry the top of your hair back in the pompadour style.
  • Use a pomade like Oribe's Fiber Groom ($39), first to the sides of your hair to style them flat or slicked back.
  • Add in the pomade to the top to reinforce the height of your pompadour. You can also tease the roots before brushing back as needed.
  • Finish with a spray of hairspray to lock in the style.
17 of 29

Longer in Front

This pixie is all bangs, baby!

  • "The great thing about having bangs with a pixie cut is that you can totally switch it up," Sultan says.
  • "You could try moving the part to create a flatter look or a side-swooping fringe for drama over the eye. Bangs work well to create a face-framing hairstyle. They really help to bring attention to the eyes, which can look super sexy." says Sultan.
  • Blow-dry your bangs using a paddle brush to get the bang placement right every time.
18 of 29

Coiffed

Anne Hathaway with a blown-out pixie haircut
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Anne Hathaway’s ’90s-inspired ’do is a classic.

  • To get the look, give your pixie a little lift by adding a touch of L'Oréal Paris’s EverStyle Volume Lifting Root Spray ($15) to your roots.
  • Use your fingers to get that piece-y, imperfect style.
19 of 29

Long and Wispy

Jennifer Hudson wears a pixie cut hairstyle with wispy bangs
Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Want gorgeous, bold bangs like Jennifer Hudson's? It's all about the volume.

  • Work in a dollop of volumizing mousse.
  • Blow dry your hair with a hairdryer like Drybar's Buttercup Blow Dryer ($199). Not only will this add volume to your hair, but it will also make your bangs that much easier to style later on.
  • Use a flat brush to dry your hair up as well as in different directions to create texture and volume.
  • Create a side part and brush bangs to the side.
  • Finish off your style with a spritz of hairspray to keep your bangs in place.
20 of 29

Colorful

Woman with pink and blonde curly pixie cut

@salonchristol

Bright, pastel ringlets make this short crop stand out. To style a curly pixie, Richman says:

  • "Diffuse your hair using a blow dryer with a diffuser attached and some Monat Studio One Curl Defining Cream ($38)."
  • "For a more precise curl, touch up your hair using a small curling iron after it is dry."
21 of 29

Faux-Hawk

Miley Cyrus wears a short faux-hawk pixie cut hairstyle
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

It doesn’t get more rock 'n' roll chic than Miley Cyrus's bleached faux-hawk. It's similar in some ways to Berry's spiked pixie, but with closer, shaved-down sides.

  • Use a root-boosting product while hair is wet to set the stage for the height.
  • Dry hair completely, using your fingers or brush to direct strands upwards.
  • Work in some Moroccanoil Molding Cream ($30) for defined spikes and flexible hold.
22 of 29

Purposely Disheveled

Rowan Blanchard wears a long, tousled pixie cut

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Talk about taking a risk. A few years back, Rowan Blanchard chopped her gorgeous chestnut brown locks into this edgy pixie cut, and we are 100 percent here for it.

  • "Aside from a good cut, you need a great texturizing spray for fine to medium textured hair to finish your style," Richman says.
  • "Texturizing spray will create wispy movement and volume throughout your hair." He likes Monat's Studio One Dry Texturizing Spray ($35).
23 of 29

Sculptural

Jodie Turner-Smith wears a fade pixie haircut with a voluminous geometric top

@jodiesmith

For those more adventurous, try a sculptural pixie. This works especially well for very curly hair types that can hold a shape without much product.

  • First, follow the styling advice from #20.
  • "Use a bit of sculpting taffy in the palms of your hands and fingertips to finish your look," Richman says. He recommends the Monat Restyle Instant Sculpting Taffy ($34)
24 of 29

Side-Swept

Evan Rachel Wood wears a 1920s-inspired long, side-swept pixie cut

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Pixie queen Evan Rachel Wood demonstrates a longer take on the style. Her '20s flapper-esque cut is super short in the back, longer in the front, with side-swept bangs that come to a point just above the jawline.

  • Start by working a styling product through your hair that boosts shine to create straight, sleek strands. One great choice is L'Ange's Glass Hair Thermal Blowout Primer ($30).
  • Use a flat brush to blow dry hair straight. If your hair has more texture, you may need to use a flat iron.
  • Once dry, create a deep side part and brush your bangs to the side.
  • Add in a small amount of shine-boosting serum and finish off with a spritz of hairspray to keep your locks in place.
25 of 29

Grown-Out

Cara Delevingne wears a grown-out, tousled pixie hairstyle

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Cara Delevingne shows us how to navigate that awkward grow-out period in style. Follow Sultan's advice for transitioning from super short to slightly longer:

  • "Growing out a pixie cut requires time and patience," notes Sultan, who recommends making a plan with your stylist.
  • "It also helps to adjust or change your hair color while you’re growing out your hair. A clever colorist can make short hair look fuller, or dare I say it, longer, using techniques that you may not have had with the pixie cut."
26 of 29

Choppy Fringe

Choppy fringe with shaved sides provides a cool contrast. If you have super short hair with bangs, take Richman's advice:

  • "When styling a pixie with bangs, or any haircut with bangs, you should always style the bangs when they are wet, and you should always style them first."
  • "Use a brush with mixed bristles for tension and work the bangs back and forth to break any cowlicks."
  • "Once most of the moisture is out of your bangs, begin to style them in the direction you want them to go."
27 of 29

Slightly Soaked

Halsey wears a wet look pixie hairstyle and purple lipstick

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Halsey's wet look pixie is a little bit sexy, a little bit edgy, and a whole lot perfect for a night out.

  • Start with wet hair and part your hair to one side.
  • Work in a lightweight gel throughout your entire hair, styling it to the side.
  • You may need to use a few blasts of the hair dryer to get the height at the crown.
  • Keep out a few longer strands in front to graze the forehead.

Byrdie Tip

If you feel like your hair looks too crunchy, mix together a dollop of hair gel and hair cream for the perfect wet look.

28 of 29

Butterfly Clipped

Janelle Monae wears a short pixie hairstyle with white butterfly clips

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Cute butterfly clips add a flirty '90s vibe to just about any style of pixie, but we especially love how they look on Janelle Monae's choppy, super short version.

  • Dry your hair using a hairdryer with a nozzle, brushing your hair in several directions to create texture and volume.
  • Apply a pomade to the roots to create more volume.
  • Clip in butterfly clips throughout your hair, such as Eoane's Metallic Mini Butterfly Hair Clips ($15).
29 of 29

Side Braided

Ruby Rose wears a side-braided pixie cut hairstyle

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Ruby Rose shows us a different take on the braided pixie that's super simple to recreate.

  • Part your hair down the middle.
  • Gather one section of your hair and braid across, using a small clear hair tie at the end.
  • Repeat on the other side.
  • Pull each braid back to one side, clipping back with a bobby pin.

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