61 Pixie Cut Ideas That’ll Make You Want Short Hair
While the desire to chop our hair into a pixie cut always kicks in this time of year, in 2021 the urge is hitting particularly hard. Maybe we just need to get rid of some dead weight or are simply ready for a major change now that there’s a light at the end of the COVID tunnel, but short haircuts are majorly trending. And why not go as short as possible?
For too long there’s been a misguided idea that chopping your hair had to be some kind of political statement or edgy act. While that can certainly be the case with shaving your head, the antiquated belief that long hair is the ultimate symbol of femininity couldn’t be less true. Short hair is as much a style choice and way of self-expression as a bold lipstick or a striking nail color.
Still, it can be intimidating to go for a full pixie haircut. Luckily, celebrities have embraced shorter lengths with open arms, whether it’s for a role in a movie, in honor of a new season, or just because they felt like it—meaning you have plenty of icons to steal inspiration from. If you’ve been considering taking the plunge, we suggest you scroll on for the best pixie cut ideas for 2021.
Presley Ann/Getty1/61Emilia Clarke’s Pixie With Long Bangs
The longer bangs on Clarke’s cut make it a great option for someone who wants to ease their way into a short style—or grow out the one they already have.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty2/61Janelle Monáe’s Sideswept Pixie
Monáe’s long bangs that are swept over to the side give the pixie style a fresh new vibe.
Samir Hussein/Getty3/61Cara Delevingne’s Choppy Pixie
Delevingne has proved there are dozens of ways to approach super-short hair. She’s shaved it all off and worn it short all over, but we’re particularly fond of this ladylike ribbon headband.
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty4/61Zoë Kravitz’s Bleach-Blonde Pixie
Super short and super blonde is never a bad idea. Kravitz looks amazing with this platinum hair and dark brow pairing.
Robert Kamau/Getty5/61Lupita Nyong’o’s Angular Crop
Nyong’o often uses her hair to celebrate Black culture, and this angular cut is no different. It’s strong, it’s fun, it’s gorgeous.
George Pimentel/Getty6/61Ginnifer Goodwin’s Polished Pixie
Forever a pixie icon, Goodwin looks glam with her dark hair short, proving that you don’t need a lot of length to pull off a lot of look.
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Taylor Hill/Getty7/61Bella Hadid’s Slicked-to-the-Side Pixie
While Hadid’s Met Gala cut was just a wig, her swooping bangs are still a great reference to bring to your hairdresser.
Alexander Tamargo/Getty8/61Amber Rose’s Buzzcut
We love a closely shaved head, and Rose has made it into her signature look.
David M. Benett/Getty9/61Jourdan Dunn’s Long Pixie
Long in the front plus short in the back equals looks for days, as shown by Dunn’s very versatile cut that’s just a hint shorter than a bob and longer than a traditional pixie cut.
Dominique Charriau/Getty10/61Amandla Stenberg’s Coily Pixie
This cute coily style shows off Stenberg’s texture beautifully. Pair the look with caramel-colored highlights to add to its playfulness.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty11/61Katy Perry’s Choppy Pixie
Perry’s platinum crop may not have been her original plan, but it suits her so well.
12/61Taraji P. Henson’s Voluminous Curls
Okay, volume! This tapered crop plays up the beauty of Henson’s natural texture. The cinnamon auburn color is the perfect finishing touch.
George Pimentel/Getty13/61Keke Palmer’s Lavender Pixie
She dyed it pink and then she dyed it purple. Palmer had so much fun with her buzz cut, and it showed.
Kevin Mazur/Getty14/61Miley Cyrus’s Long-on-Top Pixie
Who can forget the pixie cut that rocked the world? It’s still as relevant and cool nearly a decade later.
Jason Merritt/Getty15/61Anne Hathaway’s Demure Pixie
The heavy bangs and short sides look amazing on Hathaway—and create a polished, ultraclassic look.
Dia Dipasupil16/61Tiffany Haddish’s Rounded Bangs
This chic pixie cut is sleek, choppy, and curled under to perfection. The longer length at the temples frames Haddish’s face wonderfully.
Emma McIntyre/Getty17/61Kristen Stewart’s Platinum Pixie
Stewart’s bright blonde and frosted tips contrasts with her typically dark style in the coolest way.
Jon Furniss/Getty18/61Emma Watson’s Feathery Pixie
It’s cute, it’s fun, it’s elegant. What’s not to love about this wispy, sideswept hairstyle?
Jeffrey Mayer/Getty19/61Rihanna’s Mullet Pixie
Rihanna can truly rock any look, but this “pixie mullet meets baby bangs” combo is particularly jaw-dropping.
Steve Granitz/Getty20/61Ruth Negga’s Curly Pixie
Curly and short is one of the coolest combos you can get with a haircut. This pretty textured look is proof.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty21/61Mel B’s Long, Swooped Pixie
Mel B went the asymmetrical route with her short cut, keeping one side long and shaving the other. Gorgeous.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty22/61Maria Borges’s Choppy Pixie
A pixie cut with choppy bangs? You can never go wrong.
Tony Barson/Getty23/61Michelle Williams’s Elegant Pixie
The sideswept short pieces in the front make this cut look even more demure.
Mireya Acierto/Getty24/61Charlize Theron’s Swooped Pixie
Theron’s pixie is like the power suit of haircuts. It’s strong and bold but still has a subtle softness to it thanks to the volume in her bangs.
Presley Ann/Getty25/61Coco Rocha’s Playful Pixie
The model’s jet-black fauxhawk is proof pixies can go from soft to bold in minutes.
ANGELA WEISS/Getty26/61Scarlett Johansson’s Voluminous Pixie
This deep side part lets Johansson wear her hair long on top while still keeping her style in pixie territory.
Vivien Killilea/Getty27/61Zendaya’s Bowl-Cut Pixie
This may be one of Zendaya’s many wigs, but we think she should consider making this look a little more permanent.
Taylor Hill/Getty28/61Viola Davis’s Classic Pixie
Davis always looks chic, especially with the sideswept bangs featured front and center in this asymmetrical pixie cut.
Scott Dudelson/Getty29/61Halsey’s Edgy Pixie
We love the super-short sides of Halsey’s cut; they give it a little extra edge.
Steve Granitz/Getty30/61Jennifer Lawrence’s Shaggy Pixie
J.Law’s layers are long and shaggy while still looking totally polished.
Gregg DeGuire/Getty31/61Rowan Blanchard’s Baby Bangs
This is why Tyra Banks references Rosemary’s Baby in nearly every makeover episode of Top Model. The iconic pixie is just as edgy and flattering in 2021 as it was in 1968.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty32/61Halle Berry’s Spiky Pixie
Berry rocked this gamine cut for nearly a decade, and it’s not hard to see why. The volume on top makes this traditionally tough style look equally sweet.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty33/61Maye Musk’s Slicked-Back Pixie
Musk’s edgy slicked-back pixie perfectly complements her futuristic makeup and looks cool as hell.
Jon Kopaloff34/61Joey King’s Side-Parted Pixie
Although she shaved her head for her role in The Act, we vote King keeps her pixie around.
Jon Kopaloff/Getty35/61Jennifer Hudson’s Wispy Pixie
Hudson left the top layers of her hair longer so she could play around with different styles.
George Pimentel/Getty36/61Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Flipped Ends
Keeping some flippy length on top as Gyllenhaal did is a great option if you’re not ready to go completely cropped just yet.
Jesse Grant/Getty37/61Maggie Grace’s Long Bangs
From the long bangs to the frosty shade, there’s so much to love about this cut.
Michael Loccisano/Getty38/61Chloë Sevigny’s Center-Parted Pixie
Sevigny’s middle-parted pixie has a ’90s heartthrob vibe (think Leo Dicaprio in Romeo + Juliette) that’s so androgynous and cool.
Frazer Harrison/Getty39/61Jodie Turner-Smith’s S-waves
Slick finger waves give a pixie crop a cool vintage feel.
Steve Granitz/Getty40/61Kota Eberhardt’s Icy Gray Pixie
It doesn’t get any cooler than a silver pixie (especially if you match it to your outfit).
Jamie McCarthy/Getty41/61Cardi B’s Piece-y Pixie
Piece-y bangs add some visual interest—and give you some length to play with if you’re scared to take the plunge.
SXSW/Getty42/61Demi Lovato’s Bright Pink Pixie
Lovato has played with tons of hairstyles through the years, and this bright bubblegum is up there with our favorites. Lovato has also been open about how this haircut has made her feel free, which makes us love it even more.
Michael Stewart/Getty43/61Kehlani’s Wavy Pixie
See? Short haircuts can still have tons of texture and movement—like this soft, wavy pixie hairstyle.
ROBYN BECK/Getty44/61Kristen Wiig’s Sharp Pixie
Wiig’s deep side part and slicked style is so classic.
Steve Granitz/Getty45/61Meagan Good’s Airy Pixie
A little volume at the front takes a pixie into almost sculptural territory.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty46/61Gabrielle Union’s Blunt-Cut Pixie
Keeping the front and sides a little longer gives a short cut tons of versatility.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty47/61Teyana Taylor’s Strong Pixie
This cool cut shows off Taylor’s natural texture (and cheekbones). The key is keeping the front super short and extra choppy.
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty48/61Jada Pinkett Smith’s Deep-Swooped Pixie
A deep side swoop adds an elegant touch to an otherwise short cut.
Alexander Tamargo/Getty49/61Ruby Rose’s Curled-Under Ends
Rose’s long fringe almost falls into bowl cut territory–in the coolest way possible—with its rounded-out finish.
Steve Granitz/Getty50/61Kate Hudson’s Sweet Pixie
The piece-y construction of Hudson’s pixie gives off beach vibes, even without mermaid waves.
David M. Benett/Getty51/61Kris Jenner’s Classic Pixie
Jenner has one of the most iconic pixie cuts in the biz, and for a good reason. The sideswept bangs emphasize her features, and the length is just long enough to be versatile.
Aaron J. Thornton/Getty52/61Cynthia Erivo’s Buzzed Curls
It simply doesn’t get any cooler than a blonde buzzcut—especially when it’s platinum.
Presley Ann/Getty53/61Samira Wiley’s Cropped Curls
Wiley’s short cut and ombré highlights make her curls pop.
Daniele Venturelli54/61Kristen Stewart’s Punky Pixie
The quickest way to take a pixie from precious to punk? Bleach your hair—but keep your roots dark—and add a gritty texturizing spray. Bonus if you keep the length longer on one side.
Getty Images55/61Kendall Jenner’s Faux Pixie
“Like mother, like daughter,” might be one of the world’s biggest clichés, but at Tom Ford’s spring 2018 show, the phrase got literal for Jenner, who walked down the runway with a pixie cut that looked uncannily like her mother’s signature hairstyle—sideswept bangs and all.
Getty Images56/61Kaley Cuoco’s Mussed-Up Pixie
Cool lived-in texture and choppy layers give this cropped cut a whole lot of movement and volume.
57/61Jackie Cruz’s Extra-Long Bangs
Sleek, straight, XXL-length bangs take a basic pixie into badass territory. It’s perfect if you want to draw more attention to your eyes.
Jason Merritt58/61Pink’s Pixie-Hawk
Pink’s iconic tapered cut is the epitome of edginess—short on the sides, massive volume on the top—giving off the look of a mohawk.
Dan MacMedan59/61Kate Mara’s Asymmetrical Pixie
The brilliance of this kind of pixie cut is that there’s so much you can do with it. But our favorite might just be this play on texture that Mara did. The loose waves on one side with straight, tucked-back strands on the other is a work of art.
Michael Tullberg60/61Maye Musk’s Flipped Pixie
Bold, wispy volume at the top? It looks amazing on everyone.
Getty Images61/61Katy Perry’s Two-Tone Pixie
Bleached tips with a dark base? Oh, yeah, it rocks. Make like Perry and pair the look with dark brown brows.
