Pixie temptation - am I crazy? - YouLookFab Forum

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Pixie temptation - am I crazy?

Astrid

Veteran

I've been thinking of getting a pixie for a while... While I like my longer hair on some days I've never been able to find a cut that just works and does so for longer than a few weeks. Inevitably with the next trim it ends up looking totally different again and most of the time not for the better. I'm tired of all this correcting I've been doing... And I've tried to just let it grow, you've seen me with longer hair. Definitely not something I want to go back to. My hair currently looks like this.

The thing is, I'm not sure if I can make a pixie work with my hair in a way that I like and that feels stylish. I loved having short hair because it was so easy. But it was definitely not stylish. I think this was mostly because I had a middle part even with the short hair (soo bad) and because the woman who cut it just wasn't very knowledgeable when it came to hair with structure like mine and modern haircuts. In the end I went long again because I just didn't feel feminine enough with it. I wore a uniform of jeans, tees, hoodies and chucks as a teen and combined with the short hair it was just too much tomboy for me. I don't think this would be a problem now, as my style is much more feminine. Dressier too.

#1 is probably similar to what I wanted it to look like back then, but I ended up looking like #2. But still, it just keeps bugging me, every time I see a stylish woman with short hair and mine is a mess again...

Do you think I'm crazy? Do you think this idea has merit? Do you have any idea whether I could make it work in a stylish way? Please be totally honest. I can take it.

(My next haircut will likely be in December, so there's still some time to think about it.)

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49 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

You definitely have the face for short hair so go for it!! Maybe keep the bangs a little longer and hair products do wonder.

crutcher

Veteran

Ok, I am being totally honest...I would go between where you are now and a pixie...I think a more in-between look would be totally flattering to you...Your hair seems to be a difficult texture to work with...I hope this is ok...I would like to see an in-between and how you are able to work with it...Best....

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, I have been saying go short for ages. With your thick, textured hair, it will take the right cut and hairdresser to do it -- but wow, it will be so much easier and a fantastic look for you. I do think something not unlike the look in #1 is probably possible. Your hair may require some training away from that centre part. Is that your natural part, by the way? Or just the way it has been for a while?

Anonymous

Well........I consider myself a bit of an expert on short hair (I'm a frustrated hair stylist in my secret life ) . I thought that you had fairly curly and thick hair, looking at how your hair is now, making a pixie a harder cut to work with, but your old pixie pic doesn't show a lot of curl, so it might work for you.

Current short hair styles need length somewhere- usually in front or on top - to push around and make the cut look modern. Too short all over is a hard one for any woman . It's funny, I just got back from a haircut that is way shorter than i went for, but I think I might be liking it. I still have long bangs though, which will save me.

You need to go to an expert stylist who does short hair -and take a ton of pictures (pinterest has great short hair pages) . Product is also the key to styling short hair - hair cream, spray thickeners, and hair powders are good to have. All of this - the length in front or on top, and finishing products will keep it from looking too boyish. And.....colour - add some highlights, or pieces of caramel/auburn, and it breaks up the helmet of short hair. Believe me, I'm always worried about tipping over into , well, I have a name for it but won't use it here territory that is no longer feminine and flattering.

I think you can do it! Can I cut it?

Neel

Veteran

I have no advice whatsoever ... But I am excited to see the outcome .. I am a huge pixie fan ... It would take some courage for me to go that route though!

Sheila

Veteran

Hmmm. It looks like your short haircut was not long enough on the top to accomplish the look you had in mind. I resonate with your temptation...I always hanker after long hair and take a couple of years to grow it out, then I just can't stand having a lot of hair to deal with and I chop it all off. Best of luck to you. Personally, I don't know if I can make it through winter with my current length! Another thought: do you have hair that runs on the curly/wavy side? Your inspiration photo looks like hair that is naturally quite straight.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Citygirldc.

Thanks Crutcher. Unfortunately I think an in between length is a total no go. The phase of growing my pixies out the two times I've had them until the hair was bob length again were the worst. If it's rather short the curls don't show, but with a bit of length I have a head full of cowlicks. Below is a picture.

Thanks Suz! I had a center part for as long as I can remember. That said, since the haircut in July when he gave me that side part my hair hasn't been in a center part and got used to it. It still feels best if it's not too far to either side, but it doesn't feel strange anymore to not have it smack in the middle.

Thanks Lisa! My hair is not that thick, it just gets very voluminous with length. I have more waves than curls, I do have to do some work to get something I would call curl. I would be alright with using some product (I use nothing right now), but I'm not someone who wants to take too long in the morning to get ready. I get that some length is necessary, I just feel like all those inspiration pictures out there are geared towards straight hair.

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Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Neel.

Thanks Sheila. Yes, I have natural waves. The last time my hair was that short it was 2008, so it's been a while. And yes, you're right about the inspiration picture - it's difficult to find ones that look like they have my hair structure. Either they're straight or still quite curly.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I always thought curly hair was really tough to get right in super short cuts. And then there's the maintenance part - everyone here seems to agree that you need "a lot of product" to make it behave, which is a huge red flag to me.

What about something more in between to start?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/536491374334374837/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39406565462246689/

or if you really want a short pixie, your curls might behave more like this if they are cut just right...but it is a bit of a "messy" look - in a good way, but can you be happy with a messy style?
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/538250592937776191/

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Texstyle. I don't think I want to get something similar to the first two cuts, all those short layers seem to scream danger to me, LOL. That awful cut I grew out since last year had layers that short and I know that at this length the hair is too short to stay together as wavy strands and long enough to fly allover the place. I absolutely love the pixie of Audrey Tatou, but I'm not sure if my hair curls that much at this short length. I don't think so.

Astrid

Veteran

Looking at the curly hair types I'm probably between a 2A and 2B. http://hairtype.naturallycurly.com/ I think Suz said she was a 2A?

rabbit

Veteran

I like the idea of a somewhat longer short look to start with, maybe with length in the front and top or swept to the side, but short in the back and back sides. I think you would look good with a straight-up pixie too, but less margin for error or opportunity to correct or re-style there.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Rabbit. You're probably right that starting with slightly longer cut might be useful. I'm just not sure what I should look/ask for. Every cut that has some length and seems to be wavy/messy looks like it's straight hair they used a curler on, not truly wavy hair.

Meow

Veteran

You have a lovely oval face shape that can pull off most hairstyles. Lucky you! It's probably going to be more about finding a style that works with your hair's texture, is modern, and easy to maintain. I like what others here have suggested.

tulle

Veteran

I love the idea of a pixie on you, and if you follow all of Lisa's advice, you should have a good outcome. As someone who has gone from long hair to a pixie many times, I offer this advice: to keep your look Gamine, rather than Frumpy Tomboy, pay more attention to your glasses, and to make-up, especially eyes--the shorter your hair, the more you need mascara!--and keep something a little edgy, a little French in every outfit. If you start with a lean silhouette of skinny pants or skirt and a loose top, something as simple as a wonderful long scarf looped around your neck a few times will give you that je ne sais quois, and keep your bare neck warm, too.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Sarah! I'm going to brave the depths of Pinterest Pixie boards and try to find some pictures.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Tulle. I do have different frames now, ones I've selected with help of the forum. I'm also thinking of getting a new pair with my Christmas money, but that's still a maybe. I do wear different styles now than I did back then, I'm posting outfits regularly if you're interested. I do wear a lot of skirts and scarves too.

Isabel

Veteran

My attitude has always been : it will grow back. Let me get this out of the way, you are absolutely beautiful right now. I do agree with the others who say that going pixie but needing a bit more length than last time is a good way to go. You do need to get a good hairstylist, though, for a really good cut.

Disclaimer : follow my advice at your own risk. Because, what do I know ? LOL

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, I'm probably between a 2A and whatever is slightly straighter than that. My hair is super thick, with some but not a lot of wave. If layered and longer it is a bit wavy, but not at all curly. It tends to grow "out" vs. "down" and is easy to straighten or curl. Straightening works better or lasts longer; curls go in but don't necessarily stay in because of hair's weight; waves will stay in if they are CUT in, with layering. Not on their own. I.e. the longer my hair gets, the more the weight of it straightens it, although there is always some wave visible (at least to shoulder length.)

I have worn a very short pixie with more layers and texturizing and I really liked it on me. It was easier (even) to maintain than the current cut with the long asymmetrical bang.) Literally wash and wear. But I do think my hair is straighter than yours to begin with by quite a lot.

Having said that, Shevia looked amazing in her Audrey Tatou like pixie, and her hair is wavier.

bj1111

Veteran

what lisap said...longer in front makes it more modern and super super flattering. great contrast to your skirts look.

Echo

Veteran

I agree that a short cut that is longer on top will probably work better than a all-over short pixie. Additionally, product is so easy to apply and make work for short hair, and that would help with either volume or changing the part (or eliminating it) if that's what you desire.

I highly favour longer curly hair, but I also freely admit that it is because that's what I wish I had (we always want what we cannot have). You look beautiful with short hair, and as long as you seek out a stylist who will cut it the way you want it (bring pictures), I think it will look great.

Anonymous

Astrid, don't get freaked out by the product part. All it is is a dab of cream , blow-dry, and then fix it up with a straightening iron. I can do mine from wet to completely styled and out the door in less than 10 minutes and I play around with mine a fair bit because i like it looking quite styled and polished for work. Seriously - super easy. You will most definitely want a straightening iron to smooth out the longer pieces -- but again, it's 2 minutes or less of work.

E

Veteran

The one thing I'd warn about is that pixies aren't as budget friendly. I had one a couple years ago now, based on Ginnifer Goodwin's longer banged one, and while I loved it, it really needed to get trimmed/re-cut every 6 weeks (every 4 probably would have been best), and since I had to go to a much better and more expensive stylist to get the cut I wanted in the first place, it was just not in my budget cards. Also, I had to buy products to make it behave.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

You want to know something weird Astrid? I just pinned that exact picture onto my Pixie board. I have straight hair but it's very thick so I'm not entirely sure what works with curlier hair.

I do think you would look lovely in a pixie but I do agree with E's comment about budget. I have to get my hair cut every 4 weeks or it starts to lose its shape.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

My advice would be don't do it I had a long-ish pixie for years & while I had a fantastic stylist it worked well. BUT I moved & had trouble finding a really good cutter & my hair just kept getting shorter & shorter & the layers were never right. Agreeing with lisap that there is short & there is short & E about the need to have your hair cut more often.

My hair is dead-straight so a lot easier to work with than wavy/curly hair & they still couldn't get it right. If you don't have complete faith in the cutter then it's best to go with a style that doesn't require the precision you need for a pixie to work well. Just my opinion.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Interesting points and they do make sense. I tend to discount the costs of frequent cuts because of what I save in time and aggravation. And because I'm not a big "beauty" buyer -- I tend to spend on my hair and little else (lipstick, etc. is pretty much once a year for me). But it's true -- I need to get my hair cut every 5 weeks to keep it looking its best. If I go 6 weeks or 8 weeks, it look horrid. And 4 is a bit too soon.

Gigi

Veteran

I can't offer any advice about whether to go for a pixie, but I will say that I think I have similar hair to yours (2A, basically wavy), and I have been frustrated also. But I recently checked out a book called Curly Girl from the library, and I am amazed at how much easier my hair is to style now. I made some easy changes in how I wash my hair and how I style it, and that helps preserve the wave so that my hair doesn't look like it's half wavy and half straight. I'm glad I checked out the book, because now I am actually starting to like my hair. It might be worth looking at the book before committing to a new hairstyle.

viva

Veteran

I will be no real help to you, sadly. I don't have curly or super wavy hair, and I really think you need to listen to those who have similar texture to yours, because texture matters a lot.

That said, I am very pro-short-hair, and also -- more importantly -- very pro-hair-adventure. I just went dark after a year of a lot of blonde, and it was scary but fun. I mean, it's only hair!!!

Good luck, Astrid. Listen to the wisdom, but follow your gut on this one. xx

Greyscale

Veteran

I think my hair is very similar to yours, and I've also wondered if I could do a pixie cut. When the shaved part of my hair grows to be a few cm long, it looks like the texture of your old very short haircut: thin compared to the volume of curls, and doesn't really hold much shape. So a plain pixie cut might not be the best for me.

What about a cut that leaves some longer curls? I like the idea of sculpting layers into your hair to thin it out, and having parts of it very short.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/359373245239668332/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/132011832797161607/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/526710118891761726/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/335588609706880043/
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/561894490980907797/
You'd need a bit of product but I just use a shea butter & aloe gel that is so easy and natural looking.

Or there's Garance Dore's magic haircut
http://www.garancedore.fr/en/2014/09/11/my-hair/

Totally random note: when I was searching pinterest, this picture of one of my good friends with craaaaaazy hair was in the first page of hits!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/388083692861642675/

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