How to Gracefully Grow Out a Pixie Cut
If you’ve seen my short hairstyles through the years, you know I’ve loved a pixie. I also grew mine out, all the way to the long hair I have today, and I documented the whole journey. This guide has helped readers survive the grow out for over a decade, and I’ve fully updated it for 2026 with everything I know now, having made it out the other side.
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How to Gracefully Grow Out a Pixie Cut
The Quick Answer
To gracefully grow out a pixie cut: get small strategic trims every 4 to 6 weeks that shape the back and sides while leaving the top to grow, embrace your texture instead of fighting it with heat, lean on headbands, claw clips, and pins through the awkward stage, and deep condition regularly. Hair grows about half an inch per month, so expect 12 to 18 months from pixie to bob. There’s no shortcut, but there’s absolutely a graceful route, and I’ve walked it.
The Stages of Growing Out a Pixie Cut
Knowing what’s coming makes every stage easier, so here’s the honest roadmap:
Months 1 to 3: The Shaggy Pixie. Your cut loses its shape but still reads as intentional. This is the easy part. Enjoy it, and start your trim schedule now.
Months 3 to 6: The Awkward Stage. The back grows faster than everything else and the dreaded mullet looms. This is where most people give up and cut it all off. Don’t. This is what the trim strategy, texture styling, and accessories below are for.
Months 6 to 12: The Pixie-Bob. Suddenly you have something that looks like a haircut again. Ears get covered, the nape catches up, and styling gets fun.
Months 12 to 18: Bob and Beyond. You’ve made it. From here it’s just length, patience, and keeping your ends healthy.
Work With Your Hair, Not Against It
Growing out a pixie cut often leads to damaged hair as you try to tame the varying lengths with heat styling. Embrace the varying lengths with a tousled style instead. A texturizing or volumizing hair powder adds volume and works with the shattered layers, rather than the flat iron flattening them. This is still my favorite way to embrace the messy look. Below are 2 that I recommend.
Take it easy on heat styling and use lightweight products so your hair doesn’t dry out. A heat protectant before you flat iron or blow dry is a must, and regular deep conditioning treatments are critical for keeping fragile grow-out ends on your head instead of on the salon floor.
- Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray (Amazon)
- Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Instant Shine & Repair Treatment (Amazon)
Trimming Is Your Secret Weapon
It sounds backwards, but trimming your hair is how you grow it out gracefully. Small trims every 4 to 6 weeks eliminate split ends before they travel up the strand and force a bigger cut later. More importantly, strategic trims shape the grow out: ask your stylist to clean up the back and sides while leaving the top and crown alone, so everything grows toward one length instead of toward a mullet. If you don’t need an all over trim, a bang (fringe) trim or a neckline tidy-up is enough.
When I grew mine out, I focused my trims on getting rid of the back to bring my hair closer to one length all over. The mullet never stood a chance.
A Word on Supplements
Here’s my honest 2026 take: healthy hair growth starts with a healthy diet, enough protein, and a healthy scalp. Biotin only demonstrably helps if you’re actually deficient in it, which most people aren’t, and vitamins B, C, and D support hair and scalp health best when they come from food or a basic multivitamin. Talk to your doctor before adding anything. I personally have taken biotin in the past and it helped me but I also have hypermobility, and my collagen needs extra support, so I take supplements for that. The unglamorous truth is that gentle handling, less heat, and patience do more for a grow out than any pill.
Laser Cap
I use the Blueprint 302 Laser Cap to help reverse hair loss that I’ve had on my scalp. It uses FDA-cleared laser technology. I wear it for 6 minutes a day and it promises results in 16 weeks.
Hair Accessories Are Your Best Friends
Styling a growing pixie is just as important as growing it. Headbands were my daily armor during my own grow out, and the current accessory renaissance makes this the best era ever to be in an awkward stage: mini claw clips grip even short layers, jeweled clips and pins turn random pinned-back sections into a deliberate look, and silk scarves tie the whole mess into something editorial. Etsy is my favorite hunting ground for custom headbands, hair pins, and flowers from small makers.
You can also simply wear a wig on the days you’re done negotiating with your hair. No shame in it; I did it, and some of my favorite looks from my grow out were wig days.
Extensions
You can have extensions put in to skip the awkward stage entirely. I had extensions installed back in 2011 when I grew out an asymmetrical cut: we matched my hair with black and darkest auburn extensions for length and fullness, plus purple and hot pink for a splash of color. At the time, the full appointment with installation, cut, and styling ran about $330, with small adjustment visits after; expect prices to vary a lot by city and method today. Clip-in extensions are the commitment-free version once your hair is long enough to hide the clips, and they’re what I’d reach for first now. Irresistible Me has awesome wigs and hair extensions. Use my affiliate code CORDELIA for 10% off at their site.
Styling Through Every Phase
Messy up-dos are ideal for a growing pixie. You’ll be dealing with varying lengths anyway, so use jeweled clips or pins to pin back random sections and create a fun, artfully messy style on purpose. A volumizing foam or mousse at the roots when you blow dry makes your hair look fuller and smooths flyaways, and it can fake an almost-bob silhouette as your hair grows.
Once you reach the point where you can braid, go braid crazy. Braids are endlessly customizable and perfect for work, school, a night out, or the couch. For the best braid tutorials, check out my friend Christina at Hair Romance, who has amazing tutorials for every length.
Growing Out a Pixie Cut FAQ
How long does it take to grow out a pixie cut?
Hair grows about half an inch (1.25 cm) per month, so expect roughly 12 to 18 months to reach a bob, and around two years to reach shoulder length. Everyone’s growth rate is different, and strategic trims along the way make the time pass gracefully instead of awkwardly. I grew mine out from a short pixie to long hair, and patience was the only ingredient I couldn’t buy.
What is the awkward stage of growing out a pixie, and how do I survive it?
The awkward stage usually hits around months 3 to 6, when the back and sides outgrow the top and your cut stops looking intentional. Survive it with strategic trims that shape the back and sides, texture styling instead of heat, and accessories: headbands, mini claw clips, pins, and scarves turn in-between hair into a deliberate look.
Should I trim my hair while growing out a pixie?
Yes, and this is the tip people resist most. Small trims every 4 to 6 weeks remove split ends before they travel upward and force a bigger cut later, and shaping the back and sides while leaving the top alone is what steers a pixie toward a bob instead of a mullet. Skipping trims almost always makes the grow out take longer.
How do I avoid the mullet stage?
Ask your stylist to keep the back and neckline trimmed close while the top and crown grow. The mullet happens because nape hair gets a head start; regular neckline tidy-ups erase that head start until the rest catches up. A neckline trim is quick, and many salons charge very little for it between full cuts.
Does biotin make your hair grow faster?
Only if you’re actually deficient in biotin, which most people eating a reasonable diet are not. Healthy growth comes from overall nutrition, scalp health, and not breaking the hair you’ve grown with heat and rough handling. If you’re curious about supplements, talk to your doctor first, especially since biotin can interfere with some lab tests.
What hairstyles work while growing out a pixie?
Tousled texture with a styling powder in the early months, pinned-back sections and headbands through the awkward stage, a faux bob with volumizing foam once the nape fills in, and braids as soon as your length allows. Wigs and clip-in extensions are legitimate tools too; some of my favorite looks from my own grow out were wig days.
When should I stop trimming and just let it grow?
Once your hair reaches a mostly even length, usually around the bob stage, you can stretch trims to every 8 to 12 weeks and focus purely on length. Keep occasional dustings for split ends, because broken ends will always grow slower than healthy ones.
Final Thoughts
Growing out a pixie cut takes over a year, and there will be a week somewhere in the middle where the scissors call your name and promise to make it all stop. I made it through with trims, headbands, and stubbornness, from the short pixie at the top of this post to the long hair I have today, and I promise the other side is worth it.
My Current Hair Care Products
What I use on my hair to help it grow long and strong. Using my hair mask as conditioner helped me get through several growing stages where I thought it would never get longer. Joico has been my hero for my long hair journey.
- Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray (heat protectant)
- Joico InnerJoi Hydrate Shampoo (sulfate free hydrating formula, I wash every 5 to 7 days)
- Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Luster Lock Instant Shine & Repair Treatment (hair mask I use every time I wash my hair as my conditioner)
- Joico Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo (I use once a week or any time I need to touch up my roots)
- Pattern Curl Mousse (I use in damp hair with braids to add heatless waves)
- Joico Power Spray Hairspray (sometimes I need hairspray!)
- Sexy Hair Big Creme 2 Powder Play (sometimes a volumizer / texturizer helps!)
- Mulberry Silk Pillowcases (good for hair and skin, this prevents my pillowcase from sucking moisture out of my hair or causing breakage)
- Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer for Straight and Wavy Hair (I air dry most of the time but when I need to blow dry, this cuts my blow dry time in half.)
- Attitude Hair Dye (I use Brave and Moody for my multi-tonal blue and black hair)
What are your tips for how to gracefully grow out a pixie cut? Please share them below!
I could have used this two years ago! Thankfully my sister is a hairstylist, but I was clueless. I just surrendered my ‘do to her and let her do all the work.
All those hair styles look super cute! I can’t do a pixie cut, my hair curls up and I look crazy! You look cute though. Thanks for linking up to Snickerdoodle Sunday.
No Lie, I’ve always wanted to rock a Pixie cut, but I have a round face so I don’t think it would be complimentary to my face shape.
Ginnifer Goodwin has a rounder face and rocks short hair, I think 🙂
She has a round a face, but isn’t overweight so that’s why she can pull it off IMO.
She does have a defined jaw and cheekbones. I don’t care what other people look like, but I’m self conscious about my fat face, which is one reason I have longer hair.
i have a round face did it and everyone says i look good with it just try it remember hair grows out
You seem to be able to wear pretty much any style so well!! I’ve been cutting and growing my hair for 20 years now and accessories are definitely major players in a successful grow-out. Regular trims help too. And patience but sadly that can’t be purchased.
I had no patience with my hair today, so it was wig and accessory time 🙂
I wish I was like you and could experiment with different hair trends, but I’m afraid.
Get clip in hair. That lets you experiment without commitment 🙂
I love how you’re so fearless with your hair.
Thanks! It makes me happy 🙂
I am always inspired by your hair looks. A pixie is fantastic on you! Looking forward to what’s next!
Hopefully you’ll love the longer locks too.
I’ve gone through that process too– As soon as my hair was long enough I threw my hair into pigtails. Oy vey!
Braids and pigtails are fun!
I once had a stylist cut my curly, thick hair into a bob.. and it was awful. I relied heavily on headbands and barrettes for a while! Unfortunately, it was in the 80s when I didn’t have many options for products. You have lots of great ideas I wish I had access to then! 🙂
I hope you can use some of them now 🙂
It took me FOREVER to grow out my hair after my “Victoria Beckham” phase.
I think between vitamins and biotin it will go smoothly.
Your hair always looks great, so I take anything hair related you say seriously! Great tips! I’m a short hair gal too. My hair is just too thick and heavy to look good long haha.
Aww thanks Amber!
Your hair is looking really nice as it’s growing out. How long do you think you’ll go?
At least to my shoulders
Awesome Tips. You Seriously have the coolest hair styles. I cut my hair super short in 2008… to my ears… it grew out fast… but I felt so weird without it. lol It was also difficult to wear short for me because my hair is naturally curly – I had to flat iron it daily.
That would drive me crazy! My hair is so straight though, sometimes I wish for natural curl.
GREAT tips!!! I wish I could rock the short hair like that.
Get a wig to play with it 🙂
You look fab with a pixie and with longer hair! You go girl!
Thanks Noelle!
I LOVE how you can rock a pixie cut!
Aww thank you <3
One of the reasons I wanted to work with you in the first place on the hair masque (besides the fact that you’re super awesome!) is that your hair always looks shiny, thick, and amazing, despite the fact that you color it all the time. I wanted to learn the ingredients you use and combine them with what I knew from cosmetic science…and it appears to be working! Woohoo!
I considered getting a pixie cut once; this post makes me more likely to consider it again, because it makes it seem less like a forever commitment. Kudos!
Thanks Nicki! Yeah, as long as you’re mentally prepared with what you look like with short hair, and you’re comfortable with the in between phases, you’ll do ok. Plus, I can help you 🙂
When I was in 7th grade I got an unintended pixie cut, and I was horrified. This was in 1997 when short hair was only really seen on much older women. Little did I know that I wouldn’t try to grow my hair out until 2002. I kept it very short, barely an inch in length and often spiked it. I had heavy highlights that looked like leopard print, it was awesome. When I started growing it out I would trim the back myself along my neck, not touching layers. I was kind of a tomboy so I kept it standing up in spikes of all sorts until they wouldn’t stand up as easily. By that point it had become a chin length bob and I had also been victim to my sisters cosmetology class practice.
Outside of that, I did have it short again when I donated it in 2008. I would sweep it back out of my face with gel when it became unmanageable. Now it’s past my shoulder blades 🙂
I always like your hair, it’s fun!
My firs short hair experience was like… 1995 or 1994 when I cut off my waist length hair into an extreme A line bob. i love hearing about your hair! I would love to have seen the leopard print.
My best tip is: Patience! Lots and lots of patience! Growing hair isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. 😀
Yep, Patience is definitely needed.
I love the pixie style in the third photo down. I like your January style too 🙂 I have never been brave enough to cut my hair shorter than my shoulders so I have never had to go through growing it out but these tips are great for those who are.
Yeah the wavy pixy is super cute!
I think your January hair looks fab, when I go short that’s similar to what I do. I have been growing my hair out for the first time in years, and I’m enjoying it! Usually I grow my hair out and then get it chopped in the Feb/March timeframe – every year! These are great tips and options for enjoying that grow out phase 🙂
You’re welcome! I’m glad you find them helpful 🙂
Growing out any short haircut is a long and challenging process, good to know there are tips on how to make it more graceful. This is a very informative post!
It really is! It’s easy to get frustrated and cut it all off again.
I changed the way that I eat and my hair and nails have been growing so fast. I no longer eat any food that I can’t pronounce or recognize as food in an ingredients list, such as citric acid, lactic acid, anything that does not read like a real food ingredient. I have eaten this way for over a year now and it still amazes my hair stylist how fast my hair grows. My nails are strong and long, but not in a stiff brittle way. They are sort of flexible but they don’t peel or break. I change my nail polish often and it has no effect on their strength. It has helped my skin be visibly brighter and I no longer get acne. I only get acne if I am having a reaction to a new product.
Citric acid is a natural preservative, if I recall correctly.
Citric acid is a preservative and it’s not bad for you. It’s found in citrus fruits. Lactic acid comes from mostly protein- and lactose-based sources. Both are fine to ingest and are actually good for your hair and skin; I have numerous products that contain both of these ingredients, particularly citric acid (it’s found in a lot of vegan products). They sound scary but it’s really nothing to worry about- a lot of these long, awful-sounding chemical names are just science-y names for everyday things.
Citric acid is made by fermenting corn for industrial use. It is far to expensive to use citric fruits for the demand of citric acid needed so companies don’t use real citrus anymore. Smaller more health conscious companies may use real citrus, or a combination of fermentation and citrus, but it is something that you would have to find out from each company. My skin, hair and nails have improved tremendously since cutting these chemically processed foods out. Every time I do eat these ingredients, my skin behaves poorly and breaks out in eczema and deep cystic acne. My skin behaves beautifully without them. I am personally just more sensitive to these chemical ingredients. The only way to know if your body works better without these ingredients in it is to eliminate them from your diet for a period of time and see if your health or emotional wellbeing improves. Every body is different 😀 My schizophrenia has greatly improved as well. I have found personally in my travels in the natural world, that naturally derived isn’t always natural enough for my body. I do have sensitivities to yeast and molds, and many of the long worded ingredients are made by introducing natural bacteria strains to natural foods, creating another natural product. I am so happy that I tried this elimination test at the suggestion of a friend; I noticed results in my skin and emotional wellbeing in the first two weeks. I also notice that I don’t get the “water” weight that comes with menstrual cycle anymore. Every body is different and I hope that my experiences have been an interesting read! 😀
I’ve heard that elimination diets are the best way to figure out food allergies / sensitivities but they’re definitely not fun to do 🙁