The Wixie Haircut Is the Cool-Girl Way to Get Short, Choppy Hair

Ready to shed some inches for spring? Then it may be time to hit refresh with the “wixie” haircut, a.k.a. the winged pixie. Put simply, it's the pixie cut's cooler, freewheeling cousin: understated yet considered; short but with edgy “winged” pieces to frame the face.   

Gamine cuts are currently stealing the limelight away from shoulder-grazing bobs. Everyone from Zendaya to Hailey Bieber are trading in their longer manes for a shorter, more playful chop. As for what separates the wixie from the rest of the short-hair pack?

Essentially the wixie haircut retains the same DNA as the traditional pixie but with different proportions and a nod to the shag. Think Emma Corrin, whose elfin spin on the wixie, is setting the bar on the red carpet.

According to celebrity hairstylist Sal Salcedo, traditional pixies are generally more of a crop. “The sides and back are kept tighter-looking and the front and bangs are longer,” he notes. 

The wixie, on the other hand, is essentially shaggier. “The length around the back and lobes is kept a bit longer and paired with shorter or even micro bangs,” says Salcedo, whose personal take on the style is the 1960s “mod cut.” “It is overall a bit more airy in appearance.”

When it comes to styling, the wixie can be worn smooth or mussed up to emphasize the texture. “For a smoother look, apply a styling cream to damp hair and brush it forward as you blow-dry it,” says Salcedo. “For a messier look, apply a light clay or pomade, push the hair forward at the top, and allow it to fall down on the back and sides. Scrunch the hair ever so slightly to bring about texture as you piece out some of the feathery bits.”

Feeling inspired? If you're thinking of giving the wixie trend a go, we've lined up some of our favorite renditions.

The bed-head wixie

The accessorized wixie 

The red-tipped wixie

The wet-look wixie

The soft-wave wixie

The glam wixie

This story originally appeared on Glamour UK.