Growing Out a Pixie Cut Without the Awkward Phase
So you've decided to grow out your pixie cut. Maybe you're craving something longer, or maybe you just want a change. Either way, welcome to what everyone warns you about: the in-between stage. The good news? It doesn't have to be nearly as painful as people make it out to be. With a little patience and the right approach, you can actually enjoy this journey instead of hiding under hats for six months.
Set Realistic Expectations First
Hair grows roughly half an inch per month, so if you're starting from a close-cropped pixie and dreaming of a bob, you're looking at somewhere between eight months to a year. That's not meant to discourage you — it's just helpful to have a realistic timeline so you're not frustrated three months in when things look a little shaggy. And shaggy is okay. Shaggy is part of it.
Keep Visiting Your Stylist
This might feel counterintuitive when your goal is length, but regular trims are genuinely your best friend during a grow-out. You're not cutting for length — you're cutting for shape. A good stylist can clean up the sides and back while protecting the length on top, keeping everything looking intentional rather than neglected. Aim for a light trim every six to eight weeks.
Work With What You Have at Each Stage
The awkward phase feels awkward mainly because we're fighting the hair instead of working with it. Here's a stage-by-stage way to think about it:
- The shaggy top stage: Lean into texture. A little product scrunched through damp hair can turn frizzy volume into something that looks deliberately tousled and cool.
- The ear-covering stage: This is when a bit of heat styling makes a huge difference. A brush that adds smoothness and soft movement can transform what feels like a mullet-in-progress into something polished and pretty.
- The almost-bob stage: You're nearly there. Focus on keeping ends healthy and experiment with tucking hair behind your ears or using simple clips to add shape.
Invest in the Right Tools
One thing that genuinely helped a lot of people through the grow-out process is having a styling tool that's actually designed for shorter lengths. Most curling wands and flat irons are built for longer hair, which makes styling a pixie grow-out more frustrating than it needs to be. A heated styling brush built for short hair — like The Glow Wave — gives you that smoothing, polishing finish that makes in-between lengths look intentional and put-together, without the bulk or awkward angles of tools that weren't made with short hair in mind. Small difference, big impact on your daily routine.
Embrace Accessories More Than You Think You Will
Hair clips, headbands, and bobby pins are not a consolation prize during a grow-out — they're actually styling tools. A simple claw clip at the back when your hair is at that neither-here-nor-there length can look genuinely chic. Thin headbands can tame pieces that are too short to tuck but too long to ignore. Don't underestimate them.
Be Kind to Your Hair (and Yourself)
Growing out a pixie is a commitment, and some days it will look great and some days it won't cooperate at all. Deep conditioning treatments, silk pillowcases to reduce breakage, and staying away from excessive heat will all help you arrive at your goal length with healthier hair. But honestly, the biggest thing is just giving yourself some grace. Your hair is doing exactly what it's supposed to do — growing. You're not behind, and there's no wrong way to be in the middle of something.
The awkward phase is really just a series of looks you haven't tried yet. With a little creativity and the right tools in your corner, you might find you actually enjoy the ride.
