A new season is as good an excuse as any to switch up your hairstyle, and with the sweltering summer months fast approaching, maybe you’re looking to shed some layers by way of a chop. If you’re nodding your head right now, you could consider a pixie haircut with bangs. Pixies are a timeless take on a short ‘do, and adding a bit of fringe in the front is the perfect way to modernize the look.
The increasing temperatures make the ultra-short cut even more appealing. “Pixies are a perfect option for summer because they are light and airy — nothing to pull up and out of your face in the heat or humidity,” notes hairstylist and Mizani global curl specialist Antonia Wazir. Plus, less hair means less time spent melting in front of the mirror. “You’re not stuck in a humid bathroom with a blow dryer and heat tools, sweating before you leave,” adds Devin Graciano, hairstylist and head of product development at Goldie Locks, on the allure of the pixie.
Beyond the logistics, rocking a pixie cut with bangs is a foolproof way to ooze an easy glamour that’s sure to turn heads — and few cuts are as versatile. There’s truly a pixie for every mood, whether you’re feeling bold and edgy or chic and elegant. Larry Sims, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union, just recommends that you keep your face shape in mind. He also says to go to a professional for the cut and opt for a style that you’ll be able to maintain at home with minimal heat, to ensure “the integrity of the hair.” But have fun with it because, as Sims says, pixie haircuts are “effortless, sexy, and fly — all at the same time.”
If you’re sold on pixie haircuts with bangs, then scroll on for eight versions that are perfect for summer.
1The Bowl Cut
The bowl cut gets a bad rap, but this super chic version with its layers and wispy bangs is sure to disrupt everything you thought you knew. Take Zendaya’s cut as proof.
2The Asymmetrical Pixie
There’s not just one way to do a pixie with bangs, and this half-shaven asymmetrical cut on Halsey is inspo for an edgy variation. Fully embrace the uneven aesthetic by sporting it with asymmetrical bangs.
3Fluffy Layers
Lean into volume and texture with a pixie cut like this one that’s heavy on the fluffy front fringe. Wazir says dense, thicker hair can prove tricky because it tends to “puff out,” but a pixie is totally doable with some extra texturizing.
4Baby Bangs
Add a pinch of edge to an otherwise dainty ’60s-style pixie cut by adding choppy baby bangs like the one seen here. “Zoë Kravitz has shown us how a short, cropped haircut like a pixie adds an alluring confidence to an already beautiful woman,” Graciano notes.
5Side-Swept Bangs
For a sleek yet classic take on a pixie cut, opt for side-swept bangs and even layers — a variation Graciano favors for being so timeless.
6With Texture
Sims assures that pixie haircuts aren’t just for straight hair. “All textures can rock a pixie look,” he tells Bustle. Joey King proves that curled bangs add depth and a little extra glamour.
7The Choppy Shag
You could also go for a shaggy pixie for more texture. “I love a razor cut pixie that looks choppy and spiky,” says Wazir. For this, she says to cut the sides and back area short enough that the grow-out is still chic. “Otherwise you can end up creating a helmet head effect,” she explains.
