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When it’s time to transition from a super-short pixie cut, there’s typically an awkward stage in between. Before you schedule that appointment with your hairdresser, check out these hairstyles for growing out a pixie!
Hairstyles for Growing Out a Pixie
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While adorable when freshly trimmed, pixie haircuts tend to go through a haggard phase as they grow out. The problem only worsens when you’re trying to completely transition out of this low-maintenance style into something with a little more length.
The most common concern when it comes to hairstyles for growing out a pixie is how to hide the ragged sides and faux mullet that show up as your tresses get longer. While this stage typically only lasts a month or two, it can take a severe toll on your self-confidence.
With some creativity and well-placed bobby pins, though, you can survive the cowlicks and misplaced curls. Eventually, you’ll reach the first growth milestone cut: the bob.
We pulled together some hairstyles for growing out a pixie to inspire you, including general tips and eight specific looks to keep you fashionable and successfully mullet-free.
Read Next: 30 Trending Pixie Bob Hairstyle Ideas
How to Grow Out a Pixie
As you approach the “mullet phase” of growing out short hair, you must have plenty of weapons in your hairstyling arsenal to keep yourself from getting all of your progress chopped off again.
Invest in Accessories
One of the best parts about growing a pixie is wearing tons of cute accessories, like bows, hats, and headbands! Headbands are trendy because they come in many different shapes, sizes, and styles.
You can wear something sporty to the gym, then swap out for an elegantly bedazzled one before a girl’s night out.
Hair scarves are also an appealing option and come in various widths. Some are large enough to completely hide the back of your hair while still showing off your lovely length at the crown of your head.
If you happen to be growing your hair in the wintertime, beanies are super trendy, and they can keep you warm while masking any growth that’s looking a bit worse for the wear.
Be Brave and Bold
Growing out a pixie cut is a great excuse to do so if you’ve always wanted to play with exciting colors. Shorter hair requires less dye, which means it costs less for you to swap colors every few weeks.
You could also totally change up your look by doing something as simple as parting your hair on a different side or adding a tight braid to your fringe. You have very little to lose when your hair is growing out in goofy angles.
Get Regular Trims
It might seem counterproductive, but trims are an absolute requirement if you want to avoid sporting a mullet as the intermediary hairstyle between pixie and bob.
Focus only on the nape of your neck, where the thinner, more delicate hair is less easy to hide in the bulk of your clipped tresses. Chat with your hairstylist about how often they think you should come in for a trim, depending on your growth rate and how your hair comes in.
Thicker, more textured hair will want to stop in more often than those with straight, fine hair. Eventually, the growth on top will cover the nape of your neck, and you can take a break from your regular trims.
Experiment with Textures
Cowlicks are the bane of existence for ladies trying to grow out a short haircut, but adding a little texture to your strands can hide unexpected whorls you’d instead not show off.
Be sure to grab a tiny barrel iron or 1/2 inch straightener. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get multiple swirls in each piece of hair, and they’ll look unnatural.
The goal is to make them look effortless and breezy. Another trick is to use dry shampoo at the roots. It introduces volume and texture without adding heat, which can damage your locks.
Rock That Messy Shag
If you’re willing to do so, just let your mane grow out in all of its shaggy, ragged glory. As long as you feel confident, there’s no shame in rocking a grown-out pixie cut until it’s ready for your first bob cut.
If this is the route you choose to take, hats are an excellent mediator. You can embrace the tufts and twisty bits without looking like you got into a fight with a pair of clippers. Rock a sun hat or baseball cap in the summertime, then switch to a beanie or beret when cold weather arrives.
Be Patient!
You’re going to feel tempted to lob off all of the overgrowths at least once during the process of growing out your pixie cut, but resist that tiny voice telling you to find your scissors. Every time you cut off new growth, you push your progress back to square one.
Just be patient. Eventually, you’ll have the length you’ve been looking for and be very, very glad that you chose not to go all Edward Scissorhands on yourself.
You can help your hair out by ensuring it’s healthy and well-moisturizing throughout your journey to more lengthy locks. Otherwise, you risk losing some of your growth to breakage.
8 Hairstyles for Growing Out a Pixie
Hair growth goes through different phases, so you’ll want to switch things up often to keep that awkward phase at bay. Try out these eight hairstyles for growing out a pixie and look fabulous at any length!
1. Tousled Bedhead
Dean Drobot/Shutterstock
Suppose you’ve decided to let a shaggy pixie be your trademark style, at least for the time being. In that case, you can add a little bit of sophistication to the look by using a very slight amount of pomade to tousle your hair.
For those with curly or wavy hair, a little product will also help define the strands and add shape to a long mop-top.
2. Bubblegum Blonde
Michelle Aleksa/Shutterstock
This grown-out pixie look capitalizes on a tri-tone color that transitions from dark root to platinum blonde to candy pink. The hair is highly textured with piece-y layers that draw attention away from the mismatched length.
The cut also helps with weight, which increases as your hair grows longer. Random layers help you maintain volume without sacrificing those crucial inches.
3. Pretty Pompadour
Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock
Not many hair lengths can pull off poofed-up pomp, but a long pixie is perfect for it. Instead of letting your growing tresses flop over your forehead, tame them with a light hairspray or gel for a slicked-back style that looks edgy and individualistic.
4. Soft Layers
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Despite the apparent “ducktail” at the nape of the neck, these lightly razored layers look intentional.
They’re romantic, perfect for women who prefer a soft, low-maintenance hairstyle and don’t want to bother with monthly trims. Consider tucking away flyaways with a decorative bobby pin or a charming barrette.
5. Flock of Flyaways
Jandrie Lombard/Shutterstock
Quite the opposite of the back-slicked pompadour, this style focuses the volume forward. To achieve this style, use a dime-sized amount of product to push your hair towards your forehead, separating the ends to create visually exciting peaks and valleys.
It’s runway-ready, even if the only red carpet you’ll be rocking is the one in the hallway from your bedroom to the living room.
6. Soft Waves
Look Studio/Shutterstock
When your hair is long enough on the sides but still short in the back, an asymmetrical, stacked bob is a super cute transition style that you might be tempted to keep around for a while.
The best part is that you can very easily camouflage your cowlicks with barely-there waves, making your morning hair routine a quick and easy affair.
7. Side Swept Bangs
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Why not keep things simple with a shag cut coupled with long, side-swept bangs? Depending on your hair texture, you may have to spend a little time blow drying your fringe into place, but you can keep the back lively and loose to contrast the structured front.
8. Metallic Curlicues
Lana K/Shutterstock
Pair a bold middle part with silver, bronze, and copper highlights for a statuesque take a long pixie. Messy curls hide any flaws, while the shimmering color will turn heads for all the right reasons.
It’s a fun style that’s undoubtedly more doable when your hair is still short enough to add a whole spectrum of colors affordably.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you style a pixie while growing it out?
There are several strategies for hiding bushy sides, growth at the nape of the neck, and frustrating cowlicks. Get creative with gel, braids, and hair accessories to cover up the parts you feel less-than-confident about.
How do you transition from pixie to bob?
When transitioning from a pixie to bob, you must resist cutting any of the top growth while keeping the back of your hair neat at the nape of your neck. You can swap to a short bob once your hair is at the bottom of your ears.
How long does it take to grow hair from pixie to shoulder length?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, hair grows at a rate of 6-inches per year. Depending on the length of your head, you can expect it to take anywhere from a year-and-a-half to two years for your pixie cut to reach shoulder length.
Should you cut your hair when growing out a pixie?
That depends on your personal preferences. If you want to keep your hair relatively tailored during the growth, you’ll need to cut your hair when growing out a pixie, especially at the nape of your neck. If you’re willing to wear it mussed, don’t worry about it too much.
How do you stop a mullet from growing out a pixie cut?
The best way to stop a mullet from growing out a pixie cut is to keep the hair trimmed at the back of your neck while leaving the top alone. Eventually, the longer top will hide the shorter back, so you won’t have to worry about keeping it tidy.
So, What Are Hairstyles for Growing Out a Pixie?
We hope that this list inspired you to try out a new look while you’re dealing with your unruly hair. When growing out a pixie cut, you must have a few different hairstyles you feel confident wearing so that you’re not tempted to stall your progress with a desperation cut.
Hairstyles for growing out a pixie focus on letting your hair grow as much as possible while cleverly hiding cowlicks, awkward lengths, and bushy sides. There are plenty of options, so you can look gorgeous even when your hair goes through its rebellious phase.