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Just when I thought we'd figured out what all the big hairstyle trends were going to be, the bixie is here to throw a curveball. The throwback '90s trend has been making its return over the past few years, but it's going big heading into summer.
What is a Bixie?
The bixie is named after the two distinctive haircuts that combine to create it – the bob and the pixie. And while we've picked it back up from its heyday in the ‘90s, we don’t remember it previously being called that. Think of the influx of short haircuts during that decade—the ones that weren't cropped enough to be called pixies, but weren't long enough to be considered bobs. (At the time, I think we just called it "short hair"?) So many stars were doing it: Winona Ryder, Meg Ryan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Rachael Leigh Cook, Neve Campbell, Drew Barrymore, and the Aussie soap opera star turned pop singer who inspired my own college crop, Natalie Imbruglia. Essentially, "it's a shaggy bob with a mix of layers to add dimension and texture,” says hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.
The evolution of the Bixie
It was an undeniably adorable look that eventually fell out of favour. My theory is that it evolved from a carefree look to a more heavily styled, extremely angular look that felt pretty cool when Victoria Beckham did it and a little less so when the Karen's did. (Is there any haircut more indelibly associated with the phrase, "I need to speak to your manager"?) But a wave of celebrities (like Jourdan Dunn, Florence Pugh, Halsey and Rowan Blanchard) and countless content creators have brought back that original, lower-key, bob-meets-pixie vibe, and with it, an inevitability: We're all going to be getting bixies in 2024.
“The bixie haircut is growing in popularity today because it feels like a more customised take on shorter hairstyles,” says Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK. In essence, a bob finishes between the cheekbone and shoulder. "A pixie’s super-short length limits customisation. A bixie, however, lives in-between the two with more length to work with and a style that doesn’t feel as weighty,” says Devin.
It’s also a smart warm-weather style choice, as hairstylist Monae Everett attests. “They are great for the summer when you want to have a shorter hairstyle while growing out a pixie cut,” she says.
As for which hair types may be best suited for a bixie, Fabrice Gilli, a stylist at Fekkai Soho, recommends the bixie for “fine- to medium-textured hair."
Monae says that no one should shy away from the look because they fear it’s not a fit for their hair texture, but that tighter curls and coils “that grow upward and away from the scalp” might have a tougher time replicating the exact bixie shape from the ‘90s.
How to wear the Bixie?
If you’re thinking of trying it out yourself, you can expect plenty of hairstylists to know what you mean when you say “bixie,” says Fabrice. “With that said, it’s always good to show your hairstylist a picture of the look you’re going for to ensure it’s exactly what you want,” he adds.
That, and pay attention to how your hairstylist finishes your new look. To style your bixie, Devin recommends a strong-hold cream or wax (like the Shu Uemura Umou Hold Hair Cream), and a strong-hold hairspray (particularly the Kérastase Laque hairspray). Moane agrees, adding a texturising hairspray is essential for straight hair if you’re adding waves or curls “to really show off the layers.” Her pick for this is the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray.
Ahead, bixie haircut inspiration from the ‘90s and beyond.
The classic bixie
The deep side part bixie
The piece-y bixie
The flared-out bixie
The sleek bixie
This feature originally appeared on Allure.