Growing Out Your Pixie Cut With Ease
So you've decided to grow out your pixie cut. First of all — brave move, and a completely worthwhile one. But let's be honest: the in-between phase is where most people lose their nerve. There's a stretch of several months where your hair seems determined to do absolutely nothing flattering, and the temptation to grab the scissors again is very real.
The good news? With a little patience and the right approach, growing out a pixie can actually be a pretty enjoyable journey. Here's how to make it as smooth as possible.
Embrace the Awkward Phase (It Won't Last Forever)
Every pixie grow-out has an awkward stage — usually around the three to five month mark, when your hair is too long to look intentionally short but too short to feel like a proper style. The key is to stop thinking of this as a problem to solve and start thinking of it as a series of short-term styles to work with.
During this phase, try leaning into texture. Piece-y, slightly tousled looks tend to work beautifully on growing pixies because they make the unevenness feel deliberate rather than accidental. A little product and the right tool can genuinely transform what feels like a bad hair day into something that looks carefully considered.
Strategic Trims Are Your Friend
Counterintuitive as it sounds, getting regular trims actually helps your grow-out look better at every stage. You don't need to lose length — just ask your stylist to clean up the shape and remove any straggly ends. A good trim every six to eight weeks keeps things looking polished while you wait for the length to catch up.
This is also a great time to talk to your stylist about the shape you're aiming for. Whether you want a bob, a lob, or something layered and longer, knowing your destination helps them guide the grow-out in the right direction from the start.
Work With What You Have at Each Stage
One of the nicest things about growing out a pixie is that you get to rediscover styling as your options open up. In the early weeks, a little curl or wave can add so much volume and intention to shorter lengths. As your hair reaches your ears and beyond, you'll start to have even more to play with.
A heated styling brush is genuinely useful during this phase — it smooths and adds shape without requiring the kind of precision that a flat iron or wand demands on short hair. The Glow Wave is a cordless heated styling brush designed specifically for short hair, which makes it a handy companion right through the grow-out process, from the earliest stages all the way to that first proper bob.
Products That Help Along the Way
A few well-chosen products can make a real difference during a pixie grow-out:
- A lightweight texturizing spray adds grip and movement without weighing fine or short hair down.
- A flexible-hold pomade or wax is great for defining pieces and taming the sides when they start to flare out.
- A good dry shampoo helps extend styles between washes, which matters more when your hair is at an awkward length and you're relying on the shape to carry the look.
- A nourishing leave-in conditioner keeps ends healthy as your hair grows, reducing breakage along the way.
Be Kind to Yourself Through the Process
Growing out a pixie takes time — typically twelve to eighteen months to reach a proper shoulder-length style, depending on how fast your hair grows. There will be weeks where you love it and weeks where you're tempted to give up. That's completely normal.
Take photos along the way. You'll be surprised how much progress you've actually made when you compare month one to month six. And remember: every longer style you've ever admired started exactly where you are right now.
Hang in there. The grow-out is worth it.
