7 Expert Tips For Growing Out Your Pixie Cut

A “pixie cut” is a short hairstyle. Compared to other cuts and styles, pixies are generally shorter on the back and sides and sometimes slightly longer on the top or front with very short bangs.

These short haircuts are known for being cool and chic. While they’re easy to style, pixie cuts are also high-maintenance at the same time. (That’s because you need to get your hair trimmed more frequently to keep the desired short length.) Even if you’ve enjoyed your pixie cut for a while, sometimes you’re just ready for a new hairstyle — but unless you get extensions, you’ll likely have to wait quite some time before you have longer hair again.

Cue: the dreaded grow-out stage.

Thankfully, there are ways to make growing out a short haircut a little less “awkward.” Keep reading for expert advice on growing out your pixie:

Even though cutting your hair may seem like the last thing you’d want to do while growing out a pixie, Chanda Warren, senior stylist at Van Michael Highlands salon in Atlanta, actually advises getting frequent trims: “Every four to 12 weeks,” she says. In fact, the shorter your hair is, the more frequent you’ll want to get a trim to ensure the hair that’s growing in is healthy.

It’s also wise to take supplements like Nutrafol to help boost hair growth. Formulated to promote strength, shine, and less breakage, Nutrafol is an ingestible for hair growth. In a clinical study, 80% of women of taking Nutrafol saw improvement in hair growth, and 73% said their hair actually grew faster. That means these science-backed supplements can help potentially speed up the pixie grow-out process.

Hair growth speed is different for every person. If you have hair that typically grows in quickly, you won’t be in the grow-out stage for long. But if your hair grows in on the slower side, it may take you months (sometimes years) to get your hair even close to shoulder-length. To make the grow-out stage less painful, Chanda suggests setting short-term hair growth goals. “You want to create short-term goals so it’s not so frustrating,” Chanda advises. “First, try to grow out some of the layer into a short jaw- or chin-length layered bob. Second, try to grow to a collarbone-length shag, etc.”

Styling your pixie during the grow-out phase may be difficult, especially if there are bangs involved; however, if you use the right products and styling techniques, you can have a sleek hairstyle no matter what stage your pixie is in.

When brushing or untangling your short hair, “use a cream or detangle spray,” Chanda notes. “And always start from the bottom and work your way up the shaft of hair.” You don’t want to start at the top and apply too much product near the scalp, which can weigh down short strands of hair. Shorter hair is known to appear oily sooner than longer hair, so a little product usually goes a long way.

When your hair has reached the inevitable length where pieces of hair start to fall in your face but won’t quite fit into a ponytail, consider investing in headbands, clips, or barrettes to keep those loose strands back and in place.

If your hair is growing out unevenly, consider upping the frequency of your trims to keep it all one length. Unfortunately, that often involves cutting the hair that’s growing in longer and faster to match the length of your shorter, slower-growing hair.

Another option: You can try to match uneven layers with extensions. “Tape in extensions [are the most damaging kind of extension],” Chanda warns. She suggests using Halo extensions if you choose to go with this solution.

It might seem like growing out your pixie is a never-ending waiting game, but your hair will eventually grow. It just takes time, patience, and proper grow-out strategies.