The Curly Pixie Is the Coolest Way to Go Short This Summer

The Gist

• A curly pixie cut is a major style change that works across curl patterns, waves, coils, and textures.

• The short cut is surprisingly versatile, with styling options ranging from slicked looks to tousled curls and blown-out bends.

• Celebrities like Teyana Taylor, Zendaya, and Rihanna prove the curly pixie can feel edgy, romantic, or effortless.

If you're looking to switch up your style without reaching for a bottle of bleach , a pixie cut will provide the major change you're craving. Whether you're rocking your natural curls or adding texture by way of hot tools, the look is sunning, so long as you style it correctly. When going for a big pixie chop, it's key to keep your hair's natural texture in mind to keep styling maintenance at a minimum.

According to celebrity hairstylist Sophie Gutterman, opting for curly pixie hairstyles is a great idea for summer and beyond. "Going for the [curly pixie] cut can be extremely freeing," says Gutterman. "It's also fun because you can wear it in so many different ways. It's easy to wear it curly, blown out straight, or slicked down with some soft finger waves." Though it's short, the pixie cut has way more styling range than you'd expect.

Meet Our Expert

• Sophie Gutterman , a celebrity hairstylist and curl specialist

If you need help narrowing down your next curly pixie, let the stars (as in, A-list celebs) guide you. Ahead, 15 ways the coolest girls in Hollywood are styling the curly pixie.

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Soft Kiss Curls

Quinta Brunson's curls stay close to her crown, but they're not falling anywhere near flat territory. This red carpet-ready look features meticulously placed curls along her forehead for a timeless, vintage-inspired result.

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Old Hollywood Bixie

If your pixie is starting to reach bixie territory, zhuzh up your growing strands with some classic bombshell curls. It's a fun, glamorous way to add volume to your look and play with curls while still having a polished effect of a blowout.

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Shixie

Keke Palmer's cool-girl shixie—half shag, half pixie—is perfect if you want a curly cut that's not too sweet.

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Wash-and-Go Coils

You can also opt for a really short and coily pixie like Rihanna. Her hair is almost exactly the same length throughout, but the top is slightly longer to accentuate her coils. To make sure your curls are soft and moisturized, use a deep-conditioning mask and hydrating leave-in products .

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Tousled Waves

Zoë Kravitz is no stranger to sporting different hairstyles—and she's certainly not scared to go short . This tousled, wavy pixie is cool and effortless. Kravitz's longer pieces are gathered up in spikes to give this an edgy vibe.

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Dramtic Side Part

Joey King's wavy texture is perfect for this pixie with a deep side part. Since the actress's curls aren't super defined, bringing in more hair from one side helps feign fullness. Consider using a mousse for curly hair to keep your hair big.

Tips

If you're looking for other ways to add volume to your hair , you can also try blow-drying your hair upside down, teasing your roots, or changing the direction of your part.

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Cropped Waves

Getting a pixie cut when you have curly or wavy hair definitely counts as giving yourself a low-maintenance haircut. What's more is that this style is appropriate for so many occasions, including formal events like red carpets. Here, singer and rapper Coi Leray proves that with a little styling, a pixie can give some serious glam.

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Micro Bangs

Halsey gives this Elizabeth Taylor-inspired pixie an edgier look with straight micro bangs. This is a fun way to give an otherwise voluminous look a modern, contemporary feel.

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Sculpted Fingerwaves

Gutterman loves styling curly pixies with fingerwaves. Armed with mousse and a fine-tooth comb, you can do the same. Douse your hair in mousse, and use the comb and your fingers to create alternating S-wave patterns throughout. Here, Jodie Turner-Smith dons a side part for some extra glam.

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Side-Parted Coily Pixie

Simple and chic, you can also wear your natural curls out in a cropped, side-parted Afro like Lupita Nyong'o. Gutterman says you'll want to style hair with a good gel and leave-in moisturizer combo to keep curls hydrated and touchable.

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Botticelli Curls

If the style is named after one of the greatest artists of all time (i.e., Botticelli), you know it's a good one. Opt for something soft and romantic, like Garner's bleached blonde Botticelli curls, for a classic curly pixie look. The extra length will help your curls sing.

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French Pixie

Like the French bob , the quintessential French pixie involves tousled loose waves and that effortless je-ne-sais-quoi attitude. Here, Audrey Tautou wears hers with extra shine to finish the look.

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Cascading Curls

Halle Berry's deconstructed finger waves at the 2023 Oscars were the moment. Covering one eye gave her curly pixie a modern and fresh twist on the classic style, and it also added tons of volume to her strands.

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Betty Boop Crop

Embrace your inner Betty Boop like Teyana Taylor has here. To blow out your curls for a wavy texture like Taylor's, Gutterman says to use a small round brush and focus your dryer on your ends to smooth out strands and give the ends that curl.

Tips

If your hair is too dense to fit in the round brush, Gutterman suggests using "your hands to push the hair back and forth while drying."

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Long Coils

Again, you can't go wrong with classic coils like Keke Palmer. Use a hydrating leave-in conditioner to keep your natural curls healthy.

Read the original article on InStyle