Getting the Perfect Pixie

It seems that pixie cuts have been named the new "it" haircut. Well, at least according to several magazines, including Teen Vogue. This year, we've seen an increase in the celebrities with chopped-off hair (see Natalie Portman above center), and models like Agnes Deyn (above right) have also increased in popularity. For as long as I can remember, I've admired pixie cuts. There's something so chic about them. There's always the worry that a "boy haircut" will make you look like...well...a boy, but I think in most cases a pixie cut makes its wearer look ultra-feminine by highlighting the girlish curves and features of their face. I was actually a little ahead of the loop on this trend (which makes me feel infinitely cool), because I chopped off my hair last year. I recently gave into my short hair attention span and started to grow it out, but this is what it looked like a year ago (excuse the odd, gloomy expression):

I really loved the cut. In fact, it was probably my favorite haircut I've ever had. And because of my short hair attention span, I've been changing my hairstlye about twice a year since I was 10, so I have a lot of haircuts to pick from. First of all, it was so easy. I went from being a girl who was attatched at the hip to a blowdryer to a girl who didn't touch one. In fact, I didn't even need a hairbrush. All I had to do was wet my hair (or wash it), decide whether or not I wanted to mess up my hair with gel, and go. Also, it added interest to my appearance. I didn't have to worry so much about whether my clothing looked to much like everyone else's on a lazy day, because my hair didn't look like anyone else's. And I think it looked good on me, which is always a plus.

A lot of people worry about getting such a short haircut, because it's so radically different from any style they've had before. What if it looks bad? What if it makes them look butch? What if their hair decides to curl wildly after being cut so short? Here are some tips for getting the perfect pixie.

1) People always give all these criteria for different haircuts, like only people with heart-shaped faces can get one cut, and people with oval faces should get another. I say, screw those criteria! I've never been able to figure out my face shape, and I don't think you can really fit a whole population into three or four different face shapes. People are too unique. If you want to know whether your face is suited to a pixie cut, then check to see if you're a Ponytail Girl. What is a Ponytail Girl? Well, I am, for starters. So are a lot of girls. A Ponytail Girl is a girl who looks best, or even just good, with her hair up. All you have to do to see if you are pixie cut material is to pull your hair up off your face in a ponytail (or a bun, if you wanna mix it up), and decide whether that looks good. Keep in mind that a pixie cut will not be as flat to your head as a ponytail, but your face will look basically the same in a pixie cut as it will in a ponytail.

2) Unfortunately, hair type must be taken into account. A lot of curly-haired girls look great with short hair, but if you have curly hair, you shouldn't expect your hair to look sleek in the way that most people picture pixie cuts. If your hair is straight, however, or mildly wavy, you're all set. Hair is funny, and it does different things for everyone. My hair is pretty wavy, but after I cut it short, it turned straight. Odd, right? I had expected it to turn curly, if anything. Part of this is luck. You have to hope that your hair will turn out the way you want it after being cut, and just take a risk. But if you're worried, there's a safer route. I'd suggest getting your hair cut semi-short, like maybe chin length, at first. If it is curlier at that length, then it will definitely be curly as a pixie. You can stop there if you don't want to go on. But if you do, try an even shorter (but not quite pixie length) haircut before you move on, or just go for the pixie.

3) Go to a good hairdresser! I can't stress the importance of this enough. If you usually go to a place like Super Cuts (I admit it, I usually do), then try to get a reccomendation from a friend, or even ask an employee at your haircutting place.

4) Be as specific as possible about what you want. If you just walk in and ask for a pixie cut, the hairdresser won't know what to do. There are many variations on the pixie cut. Try to find a picture of the haircut you want, and bring it in with you when you go. If you are still nervous about getting the cut, you can ask your expert hairdresser if they think a pixie will look good on you, but I find that hairdressers tend to shy away from giving their opinions because they worry you migth get mad at them if you don't like your haircut.

5) Go home and admire! Once your hair is all lovely and pixie-ish, it may take a few days to get used to. Play around with gels and things, mess it up, tease it, put in some hair clips, try on different outfits with it - have fun with your new look. I didn't like my cut right after I got it, but it turned out that I just hated the way my hairdresser styled it. It looked much better after I showered and hand-combed it. Also, remember that hair grows. If you've played around with your hair, and you still don't like it, don't panic. In about a month, if you let it grow, you'll be sporting a chic 20's-style bob. And the nice thing about short hair is that it can be easilly covered. If you hate it, although I doubt you will, hats and scarves will easily hide the evidence of your loathsome cut. Don't expect to hate it, though. Pixie cuts are great, and if you follow my tips, I think your cut will be a thing of beauty.

Happy hair-cutting!