What is the ‘bixie’ haircut and will it suit me?

Shorter than a bob, longer than a pixie.

The bixie is having a moment. A ’90s style sported by the likes of Halle Berry, Winona Ryder and Cameron Diaz, the nostalgic haircut has swooped in to dethrone the bob and pixie. It’s not hard to see why it’s had a resurgence either. The bixie is an ideal middle ground – it’s both soft and edgy, nostalgic but easily modernised.

For more haircare reviews, check out our Beauty section.

To help break down everything you need to know about the bixe, I sought the advice of Sydney hairdresser, Florence Chiyoko Oka. Having worked in the industry for 14 years, Florence specialises in curls, dry cutting, shags and mullets. And at the moment, she’s been doing up to two bixie cuts a day.

What is the bixie haircut and why is it so popular?

As the name suggests, a bixie haircut blends the elements of a bob and pixie. “It’s longer than a pixie but shorter than a bob and has lots of layers, sometimes with a fringe or face-framing features,” Florence explains. If you’re tired of having a bob or mullet but a pixie feels too bold, then the bixie is the perfect middle ground.

“I really like bixie cuts. I feel like it lets people be a little bit more creative,” she tells me. “I love mullets… but they’re kind of dying down and I feel like the bixie is a little softer.”

What exactly should you ask for if you want a bixie haircut?

Florence doesn’t hesitate in her respobse. “I will always, always recommend to bring in pictures,” she says. The bixie can come in a range of shapes and styles, to a photo can help your hairdresser understand exactly what you’re after.

“If a client doesn’t actually say bixie, but they say bob with a lot of layers, or something a bit wolfy, I’ll think this is a bixie and then I’ll whip out some pictures. Or if they say they want a pixie haircut but they’re nervous about committing to it, then I’ll suggest a bixie and show them what that is.”

How can you tell if a bixie will suit you and your hair type?

While some haircuts are suited to specific hair types, Florence says the bixie is for anyone. “I do a lot of wavy and curly haircuts, personally and I think it looks good on most textures.” Though hairdressers will factor in your hair type (like the shrinkage that comes with curly hair, for example) it’s a hairstyle that, with some tweaks, can suit most people.

“Make sure you bring in reference images that are your hair texture,” she adds. “If you have curly hair, don’t bring in [an image of] someone with dead straight hair. Or if you have straight hair, don’t bring in a photo of someone who has really coily hair.”

It’s also worth keeping in mind that the bixie might take a second to get used to. “I have clients who get a bixie cut, and when they wake up in the morning, they’re like, ‘I look crazy.’ So if you’re not used to short layers, it could be a bit of a shock when you wake up because it’s going look wild,” she says. “You just have to be mentally prepared for that.” A little zhushing and you’ll be fine.

And then there’s maintenance. Long haired people will know all to well the beauty of leaving up to a year between cuts, but if you commit to the bixie, expect to make appointments with your hairstylist every two to three months if you want to maintain the shape.

How do you style a bixie cut?

While everyone’s personal preference might be different, Florence’s favourite way to wear a bixie is by leaving your hair natural. “[I love] air dried, with a curling balm or seafoam spray,” she tells me. “Or you can wear it slicked back and keep the little pieces out, so it looks a bit more moody or ethereal.”

Whatever look you’re after, Florence has four holy grail hair products when it comes to styling. There’s the Evo Total Recoil Curl Definer to add definition to your natural curls or the Evo Salty Dog Salt Spray for a tousled and textured finish. For volume, she suggests using the Evo Macgyver Multi-Use Mousse, or the Evo Shag Beach Paste for a lived-in look.

For more on short hairstyles, try this.