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37 Celeb-Inspired Pixie Cuts for Thick Hair

ByStaff Author

Updated on September 25, 2024 05:21PM

Reviewed by

Dhiran Mistry

Hairstylist

Kate Mara / Ruth Negga / Zendaya pixie cuts — Getty Images / Byrdie

If you’re not already a devotee of cropped cuts, pixies can sneak up on you. One minute you’re twirling your longer-than-long hair, the next you’re awkwardly trying to fashion it to see if a significant chop would suit. The catalyst? A chic celebrity pixie sighting. Leave it to the most glammed of the glam to serve up the gutsy hair inspiration, from bold, power-move pixies to soft, whimsical iterations. But, texture is a major player in the world of pixie cuts. Worried the crop won’t be able to tame thicker hair? We rounded up 37 stunning pixie cuts for thick hair and reached out to stylists Gina Rivera and Clay Nielsen for their industry insight.

Keep scrolling, and prepare to feast your eyes.

Meet the Experts

Gina Rivera is the founder of Phenix Salon Suites. She is also the creator of Colours by Gina and the By Gina hair product line.
Clay Nielsen is a hair stylist and groomer based in New York City. He is also a guest artist at Spoke & Weal.

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Piecey Pixie

Jourdan Dunn with piecy pixie — @jourdandunn / Instagram

Jourdan Dunn models this piecey pixie like no other. For thick coarse hair, a style like this keeps hair looking chic and requires very little upkeep, just a bit of molding wax.

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Curly Pixie

Winnie Harlow’s curly pixie is oh-so glamorous. We love how intricate layers were used to showcase the short ringlets doing the absolute most.

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Asymmetrical Pixie

Rihanna with asymmetric pixie — Jeff Kravitz / Getty

From fire-engine red to an asymmetrical bob, Rihanna has pretty much done every cut and color justice—and then some. However, this edgy pixie cut circa the 2008 Grammy Awards hit a high note. (And it’s been etched in our brains ever since.) Nielsen comments, “I love asymmetry in haircuts. It allows the hair to move a bit more freely especially when it’s soft and shattered like this. A small flatiron is great for smoothing shorter hair post-blow-dry or on day two, three, four…”

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Razored Pixie

Sabrina Elba wears a long, thick pixie with uneven feathered bangs, red lips and a chunky earring while attending Paris Fashion Week — Claudio Lavenia / Getty

Sabrina Elba’s pixie offers a slightly softer approach to Rihanna’s more shattered asymmetry. The razored bangs are more subtle, taking on a feathered look, that is well balanced with the longer length throughout.

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Sculpted Pixie

For a sculptural take on the classic pixie, we give a nod to Scarlett Johansson’s one-of-a-kind cut she wore during the 2017 Academy Awards. “Disconnection is a favorite of mine, especially with short hair. A haircut like this will definitely keep your styling time down,” says Nielsen.

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Lived-In Pixie

Lily Collins with tousled pixie — Venturelli / Getty

Not quite ready to go full-on pixie? Take a cue from actress Lily Collins who demonstrates a perfectly lived-in cut if you’re after a bit more length. Not to mention that her well-placed layers are an excellent solution if you have thicker strands. According to Nielsen, “This is a perfect example of the haircut when you’re growing out the Scarlett Johansson. There is still disconnection, but the sides have filled in and are no longer shaved.”

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Curly, Lifted Pixie

Lupita Nyong'o with natural curly pixie — Mike Marsland / WireImage / Getty

“[Lupita Nyong’o] gives us the perfect example of how to wear a pixie with curly hair,” says Rivera. “This is a fabulous style because it’s trendy and it emphasizes the beautiful natural curls that [she] has. The short length in the back draws attention to [her] amazing neckline as well. To carry out this style use a soft styling mousse and allow it to dry naturally. Use a pick or a comb to slightly loosen and lift curls. Finish the look with a styling spray that allows for movement.”

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Long, Layered Pixie

Keira Knightley with layered pixie — MJ Kim / Getty

According to Rivera, “The pixie with longer length on top is always a great look. This is a great style if you want to hide fine lines on the forehead and create a softer look using bangs. The look is both stylish and sophisticated. To get this look use mousse at the roots after drying hair just using your fingers and tousle hair at the top of the scalp. Use a styling serum to create a piecey look around the face. Simply take your fingers and pull the bangs across your face. Keira Knightley shows off the look flawlessly.”

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Long, Asymmetrical Pixie

Victoria Beckham with blonde choppy pixie — Evan Agostini / Getty

“Victoria Beckham is always known for cutting edge fashion and there’s no wonder when she wears amazing hairstyles like this one,” comments Rivera. She adds, “Victoria’s long asymmetrical pixie combined with choppy layers makes this look incredibly trendy. To get this look, apply a root booster and blow the hair upside down. Then create a deep side part and comb one side back and tuck behind the ear. Going from underneath, tousle the hair slightly at the roots on the long side to create lift and volume. Finish by pulling bangs across the face using your fingers and then, lightly comb over the top layer of hair to make it appear smooth. Complete the look with a finishing spray.”

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Rounded Curly Pixie

The queen of showing off her natural texture while on the red carpet, Ruth Negga demonstrates that a short and sweet pixie doesn’t necessarily require hours on end of styling. (We’re also having a serious moment with that blue eyeliner, but alas, we digress.) “This haircut is great for the woman who wants to embrace her natural texture,” says Nielsen. He recommends using a curl cream on wet hair and drying the hair with a hair dryer with the diffuser attachment for the perfect curls.”

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Side-Slicked Pixie

Kate Mara with slick pixie — Jason Merritt / Getty

To tame thick hair while rocking a pixie cut, do like actress Kate Mara and go for an effortlessly glamorous, side-slicked take. (It’s also great for showing off that bone structure.)

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Long, Choppy Pixie

Florence Pugh with platinum long pixie with choppy layers and pink suit — Jacopo Raule / Getty

Florence Pugh rocks the red carpet with this longer pixie with choppy layers. “[This] cut utilizes point cutting where the hair is elevated away from the scalp and the scissors are used to cut small notches into the ends of the hair segments, creating ‘points’ in the layers,” explains Rivera. “Use mousse and direct the hair forward from mid-upper scalp when drying,”

Byrdie Tip

The great thing about this cut is that it’s incredibly versatile. Apply some stiff styling gel to ends so that they take on more extreme points and create a completely different look.

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Deep Side-Parted Pixie

A surefire way to add drama to a pixie cut for thick hair—and also flatter a round face—is an ultra-deep side part à la actress Ginnifer Goodwin. Similar to Lily Collins’s pixie, Nielsen comments, “The asymmetrical and longer hair in the front allows for a lot of flexibility in styling, whether you want to change your part, smooth it back or have a long fringe in the face, this cut gives one many options for styling.”

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Glossy Pixie

Emma Watson with side-parted pixie — Dave Hogan / Getty

“A deep side part combined with amazing shine makes this style that Emma Watson wears a standout. If you’re looking for a sophisticated look that is also low maintenance, this is the look for you. To obtain the look, leave sides slightly longer with the top shorter. Part the hair deeply to one side and then use a shine serum. Finish by combing through hair until it lays close to the scalp,” notes Rivera.

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Asymmetrical, Androgynous Pixie

Jennifer Hudson with asymmetrical pixie — Kevork Djansezian / Getty

The singer and actress proves that a shortened length doesn’t necessarily lessen versatility, thanks to this asymmetrical and ever-so-cool androgynous take on the traditional pixie cut.

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Feathered Pixie

Xuan Xu’s lilac feathered pixie defies the laws of gravity. “This is a great example of growing the pixie out into a bob,” says Nielsen. “All her hair is long enough to tuck behind the ears. Just because you are growing your hair out doesn’t mean you should have a haircut you don’t like or that is ‘in-between’.”

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Shaggy Pixie

Zendaya with shaggy blonde pixie — Allen Berezovsky / Getty

Leave it to Zendaya to make us crave shaggy bangs, gilded highlights, and 99% less hair from just one amazing hair look. Yes, the pixie cut was just temporary, but we think it deserves a forever standing ovation. According to Nielsen, “This haircut is great when you want to show off your cheekbones. Having a more concentrated line at the top of your cheekbones will definitely draw attention to them.”

Byrdie Tip

“Make sure to talk to your stylist about removing weight since a shape like this can often feel like a ‘mushroom’ if the density is not removed properly,” recommends Nielsen.

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Wavy Pixie

Meagan Good with strawberry blonde pixie — Gregg DeGuire / WireImage / Getty

Meagan Good’s strawberry blonde pixie is exceptionally romantic. The texturized waves on top add volume and accentuate the shorter sides. To keep your pixie from falling flat, lightly spray a texturizing spray to lift and define waves.

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Closely-Cropped Pixie

Zoe Kravitz with short pixie — Frazer Harrison / Getty

Be still our hearts. Zoë Kravitz’s super-close crop and ethereal bone structure are a match made in haircut heaven. “One of my favorite pixies,” comments Nielsen. “This is fairly low-maintenance if you are willing to sleep with a headscarf to keep hair looking flat and smooth. I also recommend the a root pressing comb for the edges and overall finishing.”

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Blonde Pixie With Dark Roots

Kate Hudson with blonde pixie and dark roots — Steve Granitz / Getty

Kate Hudson has always had a lock on glamorously long tresses, so when she went rogue for a role and shaved her head, the world did a double-take (in the best way possible). And as her strands began to grow out, she showed off a litany of super-demure styles to accent her fresh pixie cut. Nielsen says, “This is a perfect example of having a conversation with your colorist and your stylist (assuming they are not the same person). The color gives this cut a ton of dimension that wouldn’t exist without the darker roots. Make sure your colorist and stylist are on the same page to give you the results you want.”

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Curly, Pompadour Pixie

Pink with blonde, curly pompadour and pink outfit — Todd Williamson / NBC / Getty

Pink’s pompadour pixie cut looks exceptional styled with curls. Her close side shave contrasts with her soft, thick, curls, playing up their volume and texture. Apply a small amount of texturizing product on your hands and work through hair to style.

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Undercut Pixie

Person with bleach blonde pixie hairstyle with undercut and dark roots — @undercut_challenge / Instagram

For a sharper fade, blend an undercut with a longer pompadour pixie. We love the crisply etched design lines for further dimension.

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Choppy, Textured Pixie

Katy Perry with piecey blonde pixie — Jon Kopaloff / Getty

Pre-chop, Katy Perry was known for her long and luscious locks. Now she demonstrates one of the ultimate pixie cuts for thick hair: longer length on top, closely shaved sides, and a chic dusting of fringe. Talk about amazing hair transformations.

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Long-Layered Pixie With Side Part

Julianne Hough with long layered pixie — Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic / Getty

“[Julianne Hough] wears this look well by having a subtle side part that is placed more deeply to one side,” says Rivera. She explains, “Here, extra-long layers are then pulled directly from the back of her crown forward and swooped across her face creating a fun and casual look. The extra volume this look generates works well for Julianne’s petite features. To get this look, use styling mousse and a large round brush to create volume and to direct the hair.”

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Top-Heavy Pixie

Nia Long with high pixie — Chad Buchanan / Getty

Nia Long embraces her thick, natural hair in this cropped, top-heavy pixie cut. Tell your stylist to cut sides shorter and leave some extra length on top. Style with a texturizing foam to add volume and hold.

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Accessorized, Choppy Pixie

Cara Delevingne platinum pixie with headband — Getty

“Cara Delevingne has a unique look. She combines a traditional bang with a choppy pixie for a beautiful face-framing style,” says Rivera. Working with contrasts, the black headband really pops in her platinum hair. To replicate Delevinge’s ‘do, Rivera instructs, “Blow-dry hair forward using root boost to create lift. Finish by blow-drying the bangs and combing them to one side with a wide-tooth comb. Use fingers to tousle the hair at the roots with the exception of the bangs. Finish by adding a headband and spritz of hairspray for hold.”

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Gilded Pixie

Janelle Monae wears a delicate double wired gold headband with bejeweled flowers in her short, shoppy pixie cut — Getty

No stranger to close crops and pixies of all kinds, Janelle Monae illustrates a similarly adorned style. The choppy layers here are shorter, working seamlessly with the baby bangs and graduating to slightly longer, face-framing pieces around the ears.

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Stylized Pixie

Jodie Turner-Smith stands out with this modern take on Hollywood glamour style. We love the contrast between her shaved sides and sleek retro S-waves.

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Finger Wave Pixie

Saweetie wears finger waves pixie to ack Daniel's Tennessee Honey music celebration — Paul Archuleta / Getty

Saweetie’s finger waves err on the more traditional side of the retro cut. The allover waves and bends are as meticulous as they are flawless, but be prepared to get comfortable with gel for this look.

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Long, Teased Pixie

Anne Hathaway with long pixie — Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty

“Anne Hathaway knows how to wear this pixie that is unique with its longer sides and crown,” comments Rivera. “The longer sideburn style sides paired with the longer bangs work to frame Anne’s face in a beautiful way. Anne does a great job of getting a bit of added height by applying some styling gel and teasing slightly at the back of the crown.”

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Minimalist, Platinum Pixie

Model Agyness Deyn with platinum buzzed pixie — Mark Von Holden / Getty

Model Agyness Deyn’s closely cropped pixie may flirt with buzz-cut territory, but it still emphasizes the use of color in making an impact—even if you’re not working with a lot of hair. Her minimalist pixie really stands out in this platinum shade.

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Edgy Pixie

Miley Cyrus with blonde voluminous pixie — JB Lacroix / WireImage / Getty

“Miley Cyrus leaves us wanting more with this super-sharp look. This style creates a lot of volume but does not detract from Miley’s gorgeous facial features. The use of platinum color also creates more depth,” says Rivera. To get this style, she adds, “Leave the hair at the crown longer while shaving the sides and back. When coloring hair, make sure to leave the roots darker. To style, use a stiff gel to get height at the crown. Dry the hair upside down and then use your fingers and pull the hair back from the face. Slightly tease the back of the crown and comb hair over. Use a firm hold finishing spray to complete the look.”

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Tightly Coiled Pixie

Issa Rae with natural curly pixie — Jason Kempin / BET / Getty

Issa Rae works with her thick, tight coils to achieve a pixie that plays with contrasting texture and volume. By keeping the sides closely shaved, she further emphasizes the curly volume on top.

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Long, Sleek Pixie

Sienna Miller with pixie long — Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic / Getty

“Sienna Miller keeps her cut simple and on the right track with this beautiful pixie. Sienna makes this look work by staying away from short choppy layers and instead, selects long layers that are both beautiful and natural-looking. To get this look, make sure to use a shine serum and a large round brush to dry hair. When hair is 90 percent dry, use your fingers to create your part and pull apart,” Rivera says.

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Spiky Pixie

Halle Berry with pixie — Steve Granitz / Getty

It’s true: No Pixie Cut Hall of Fame would be complete without Halle Berry’s iconic look. And though she’s flirted with longer length on and off, her signature spiky cut (perfect for adding some extra definition to thick hair) will always have our hearts.

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Shullet Pixie

Mullets are back, baby. But you don’t need especially long lengths to partake in the trend. This shattered pixie is a beautifully abbreviated version of the longer, rocker ‘do.

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Natural Pixie

Maria Borges wears a buzz cut pixie in her natural hair texture to the Mad Max premiere — Samir Hussein / WireImage / Getty

Maria Borges’s buzzed pixie illustrates all the signature facets of the classic style. The shaping here is absolutely flawless.

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Source URL: https://www.byrdie.com/15-pixie-cuts-for-thick-hair-straight-from-our-favorite-celebs-5070893

37 Celeb-Inspired Pixie Cuts for Thick Hair

37 Celeb-Inspired Pixie Cuts for Thick Hair

Piecey Pixie

Curly Pixie

Asymmetrical Pixie

Razored Pixie

Sculpted Pixie

Lived-In Pixie

Curly, Lifted Pixie

Long, Layered Pixie

Long, Asymmetrical Pixie

Rounded Curly Pixie

Side-Slicked Pixie

Long, Choppy Pixie

Deep Side-Parted Pixie

Glossy Pixie

Asymmetrical, Androgynous Pixie

Feathered Pixie

Shaggy Pixie

Wavy Pixie

Closely-Cropped Pixie

Blonde Pixie With Dark Roots

Curly, Pompadour Pixie

Undercut Pixie

Choppy, Textured Pixie

Long-Layered Pixie With Side Part

Top-Heavy Pixie

Accessorized, Choppy Pixie

Gilded Pixie

Stylized Pixie

Finger Wave Pixie

Long, Teased Pixie

Minimalist, Platinum Pixie

Edgy Pixie

Tightly Coiled Pixie

Long, Sleek Pixie

Spiky Pixie

Shullet Pixie

Natural Pixie

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2026-02-23 09:59:39