How To Grow Out Your Pixie Cut: 8 Simple Steps - Byrdie

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Growing Out a Pixie Cut? Stylists Share 11 Tips for a Seamless Transition By Kendra Aarhus Kendra Aarhus Kendra is a cosmetologist and contributing writer for Byrdie with a speciality in hair. Byrdie's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 29, 2024 05:11PM Reviewed by Nigella Miller Reviewed by Nigella Miller Nigella Miller is an NYC-based natural hair and grooming expert with over 13 years of experience. About Byrdie's Beauty & Wellness Board Hairstylist

Short hair offers a plethora of benefits, often requiring less maintenance and product compared to longer styles while also providing versatility. Furthermore, short hairstyles, particularly pixie cuts, exude sophistication and fun, drawing inspiration from icons like Halle Berry, Audrey Hepburn, Zoë Kravitz, and Zendaya. However, growing out a pixie cut can be a daunting task.

To help you gracefully transition from a pixie cut to longer hair, we've enlisted the help of industry experts. Ahead, top hairstylists Horlenny Burgos, Chad Wood, Adam Livermore, George Papanikolas, and Anthony Montoya share their recommendations for growing out a pixie cut.

01 of 11

Do Weekly Hair Conditioning Treatments

"Weekly [conditioning] treatments are vital to maintaining the health of your [hair], so [it has] the foundation to continue growing healthy," Burgos explains. She recommends Ouidad's Ultra-Nourishing Intense Hydrating Mask for those with dry hair and the brand's Curl Therapy Lightweight Protein Foam Treatment for people with compromised curls.

02 of 11

Apply Coconut Oil to Your Hair and Scalp

Celebrity hairstylist Chad Wood recommends applying coconut oil to hair, as it not only helps with hydration and growth but also encourages natural scalp oil reproduction. Those with dry or curly hair will benefit most from this ingredient, while those with thinner, more fine hair may find coconut oil weighs their hair down.

03 of 11

Take Hair Supplements

If your regular diet lacks some of the nutrients necessary to grow strong, healthy hair, supplements are an easy way to get them. Nutrafol or Viviscal are two that are clinically proven to speed up the hair growth process as well as thicken hair. Just be sure to check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

04 of 11

Give Yourself Scalp Massages

When you give yourself a scalp massage, you encourage blood flow to the area, which, in turn, promotes hair growth. An easy way to do this is by incorporating a scalp scrub into your haircare routine. We like Drunk Elephant's T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub as it combines physical and chemical exfoliants to dissolve dead skin cells and gently buff away product buildup.

05 of 11

Get Regular Trims

Believe it or not, trims are a necessary part of growing short hair. "This might seem counterintuitive, but it helps maintain your hair's shape as you enter that 'awkward length' stage," Burgos explains.

Wood adds that hair will begin to take on a round shape without frequent trims. Another reason to hit the salon? Not only will consistent cuts eliminate split ends (which, as we know, can hinder the growth process), but they'll freshen up your style. What's more, a periodic check-in with your hairstylist will help you find a cut that complements what you're working with.

Byrdie Tip

According to celebrity hairstylist George Papanikolas, cleaning up the nape of the neck every eight weeks until the top layers catch up should be sufficient for a trim.

06 of 11

Protect Your Hair

Avoid excessive heat styling to reduce breakage and heat damage. If you choose to use heat styling tools, be mindful to apply a heat protectant each time. Additionally, it's important to shield your hair from damaging environmental factors like sun exposure and pollution, which can lead to brittleness and dryness. We recommend incorporating products like Oribe Power Drops Hydration and Anti-Pollution Booster into your routine.

07 of 11

Avoid Heavy Hairstyling Products

Burgos also recommends avoiding products such as heavy gel, which can weigh down hair and clog hair follicles if not properly washed. Instead, she recommends using lightweight styling products and cleansing your hair and scalp regularly.

08 of 11

Learn to Style Your Pixie

Styling your hair while it's in the grow-out phase requires patience and creativity, but thankfully, there are so many ways to style pixie cuts of every length.

For super-short pixies, Montoya likes to take his hairdryer on medium heat and airflow and brush the hair following the shape of the head with his paddle brush—first from right to left, then left to right. "This will help to break any undesired partings that your hair naturally falls into," he explains. From there, he suggests using a pomade for hold and texture.

For longer pixies, he recommends using Bio Ionic's 10x Iron with one-inch plates to smooth out hair or add texture. "To avoid pin-straight ends, slightly bend your wrist and curve your flat iron as you smooth through the ends," recommends Montoya. "Once cool, apply your pomade to add hold, break up texture, and add a smooth, shiny finish."

No matter the length, Wood recommends playing up your look with some fun accessories, donning a middle part, or slicking it back. You'll find products like pastes, pomades, and sprays will come in clutch during this time. We love Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray, which gives ends textured, piece-y movement for that slightly messy, model-off-duty look.

Byrdie Tip

If you have wavy or curly hair, Papanikolas recommends using a leave-in designed for curls, like Matrix's A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Cream, to help control volume and frizz and give curls definition.

09 of 11

Try Gradual Lengthening

Gradual lengthening is a great way to transition your hair as it grows. When growing out a pixie cut, ask your stylist to focus on keeping the sides and back of your hair shorter while allowing the top layers to grow longer. This technique creates a gradual transition for your hair, maintaining a neatly coiffed style throughout the growth process.

10 of 11

Eat a Balanced Diet

Be sure to incorporate foods that boost your hair's health. This means loading up on foods good for hair growth—think healthy fats like avocado, salmon, nuts, and lots and lots of veggies. According to Horlenny Burgos, the lead hairstylist at Ouidad's Manhattan flagship location, this will be key to keeping your hair growth journey on track.

11 of 11

Be Patient

Patience is key as hair grows about half an inch per month. "I encourage everyone to find stress management tools that work for them," celebrity hairstylist and Oribe global artist Adam Livermore says. "Exercise, meditation, massage, yoga, whatever works for you, do it. Your life and your hair will be better."

FAQ

• How long does it take to grow out a pixie?

  According to Livermore, most people’s hair grows about six inches a year. "To get from a true short pixie to a shaggy 'bob' with layers, it takes close to a year," he says. "A true blunt bob, like the trending Italian bob, will take longer." With that said, he adds that hair texture will also play a big factor in how long it takes to grow out a pixie, as curly hair tends to get bigger rather than longer.

• Should you cut your hair when growing out a pixie?

  Keeping up with trims and cuts helps ensure your hair stays healthy (and that you avoid split ends). So yes, even those growing out their pixie cuts should keep getting trims. Try and get a trim every eight-10 weeks to avoid split ends and maintain the shape while you're growing it out.

• Is there a way to speed up hair growth when growing out a pixie?

  There's no real surefire way to speed up growth, only by keeping your hair healthy. "Stay hydrated and get plenty of amino acids and essential fatty acids in your diet," says Livermore. "Stimulating circulation on the scalp helps with growth, and a good scalp exfoliator will boost circulation and help your topicals work better, just like it does with your face."

48 Pixie Haircuts That Are Chic and Low-Maintenance Article Sources Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

1. Ablon G. A 3-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating the ability of an extra-strength marine protein supplement to promote hair growth and decrease shedding in women with self-perceived thinning hair. Dermatol Res Pract. 2015;2015:841570. doi:10.1155/2015/841570

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