Manic pixie dream ‘do

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and get a fancy, new pixie ‘do. But put down the sword, Mulan, because before you chop those tresses there are a few facts about style, maintenance and growth that you need to take into consideration.

Choosing the ‘do

From Audrey Hepburn to Miley Cyrus, the pixie cut has a long-standing history with many options to choose from. Be sure to use Pinterest or another bookmarking system to keep track of styles you like.

Think about your current hair regime. Are you the type to roll out of bed and go, or do you take the time to perfect your do? This is important, because even though you may love Audrey Tautou’s curls or Rihanna’s sleek cut, your hair’s natural texture, and the amount of time and product you’re willing to dedicate to it, are important determining factors.

Certain styles are more flattering for different face shapes, so it’s important to keep yours in account. A good starting point in your search is to find celebrities or models with a similar bone structure to yours and see which styles have been particularly successful.

Fashion articles will claim absolute rules — like no pixie cuts or bobs for round- or square-faced women — but if Kirsten Dunst and Ginnifer Goodwin’s crops have taught us anything, it’s that there’s always room for tactful exceptions. That being said, if you have a rounder or squarer face, you will need to be more cautious in choosing a style.

When you’re finally ready to take the plunge, be sure to bring photos so that your hairdresser knows exactly what you’re looking for. From there, you can consult them on how to alter the styles to better take into account your regime and face shape. You might be tempted to tell them to do what they want, but at the end of the day, you’re the one who’s going to be living with this new do so don’t hand over complete control.

Maintaining the ‘do

Your showers will be shorter and you’ll be shedding much less, but maintaining short hair is not as easy as you might think. While long hair lets you get away with biannual haircuts, short hair demands more upkeep.

Sections of hair grow at different rates, and this unevenness is noticeable with short hair. The hair at the nape of your neck in particular will constantly be running ahead, conspiring to turn your crop into a mullet.

The upside is that the majority of hair salons will offer to trim your bangs and the back of your hair free of charge between major cuts as often as you’d like. Take advantage of this.

Growing out the ‘do

Whatever your reason for growing out the pixie, be warned that it’s not the most graceful of processes.

It might seem counterproductive, but take advantage of those complementary hair trims, as they are your greatest defence against those awkward growth phases.

Awkwardness aside, growing out your hair is a great opportunity to try out new styles along the way. Don’t be afraid to incorporate different fringes or to try out that edgy Pulp Fiction bob or Twiggy pageboy you’ve always admired.

Tags

Beauty, hairstyle, pixie, short hair

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