The ELLE Guide To Nailing The Choppy Pixie Haircut

From Taylor Russell and Zoey Deutch to Emma Stone's traffic-stopping transformation at this year's Golden Globes, it's clear that the extra short, pixie haircut is steadily becoming 2025's favourite hairstyle.

Whether you're easing into it with a pixie bob or chopping it all off, there's a whole world of pixie hairstyles awaiting you on the other side. It's a bold move, if you're used to long hair, but the pixie cut brings with it a rebellious attitude that just feels undeniably cool - exactly what we need to take on the new year.

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Back in the '90s, choppy pixie cuts were all the rage for cultural icons such as actor Nia Long, singer Toni Braxton and supermodel Erin O'Connor.

Janelle Monáe

No one is more excited about the return of pixie haircuts than revered hair artist and textured hair specialist, Subrina Kidd. 'I've worked with hair for around 36 years, and it was big in the '90s, because R'n'B music was just so huge. I remember getting lots of requests (for it) from clients,' she tells ELLE.

2025's version stays true to the rock 'n roll mood of the '90s, with a laidback approach (no chunky highlights here) to make daily styling much simpler.

What is a choppy pixie haircut?

Unlike other pixie styles, choppy pixie cuts have an almost grown-out feel to them. 'It's got a softer perimeter. It's like having a pair of jeans that are hemmed or ripped, it's more frayed in the edges,' describes Kidd.

There's a lived-in feel to the look that's anything but prim.

Adds Oli Amodio, stylist and co-owner of Blue Tit salon in Leyton: 'A choppy pixie cut is characterised by its short length and textured layers. It is stylised by its uneven, jagged and bitty edges for a cool, edgy look.

' The hair, like most pixies is cut close to the scalp at the back and sides, with longer, wispy sections on top, giving it an effortless, textured appearance.'

How to achieve a choppy pixie haircut

The beauty of this pixie style is that anyone can get involved. No matter your curl pattern or hair thickness, your stylist will be able to create the right choppy pixie cut that embraces your natural hair. There are celebrity inspiration aplenty. Kidd references Beverly Knight in her Made It Back music video, Kate Moss, Kylie Minogue and Halle Berry.

To prevent any hair regrets, you should have a thorough consultation in the salon. Most of us are accustomed to bringing in images, but Kidd suggests a three-pronged approach: have a moodboard of your dream hairstyle, images of where you're at realistically with your own hair, and images of what you 100% do not want.

Anne Hathaway

'Sometimes things get lost in communication or translation, so images are really helpful,' says Kidd. 'You often get clients apologising for bringing images, but I fully encourage it because it just gives me a little bit of insight especially if you're a new client or someone I don't yet have a relationship with. It gives me an insight of how you see yourself.'

For Amodio, she achieves this cut using a razor. 'It allows me to create the aforementioned textures and styles and edit it with the texturising scissors. But the real signature look is created by focusing on the finer details at the end of the cut,' Amodio tells ELLE.

How to style the choppy pixie haircut

This style relies mainly on the cut, so a good haircut should mean you can pretty much get up and go. During your consultation, be honest about your lifestyle and how long have to spend on your hair. If your hair is naturally straight and you prefer to have it curly (or vice versa), that will require more time.

For maximum results with minimal effort, then it's imperative that your hairstylist leans into your natural hair texture, be it straight, coily, or curly. Those with straight hair may find that their hair looks better after two days ('the natural oils will have come through,' explains Kidd). A texturising spray can be useful for those with fine to medium strands of wavy or straight hair but for thicker and coarser types, Kidd recommends a soft or matte wax or even a light oil to bring some separation to the hair. 'The key lies in not brushing or combing in but pinching and scrunching,' suggests Amodio.

Kristen Stewart

'Depending on the texture of the hair and the density of it, it will dictate what product will help to show the pieces,' she says.

How to maintain the choppy pixie haircut

No matter your hair type, Kidd is a big fan of sleeping with a silk bonnet or silk scarf to maintain your choppy pixie.

'Regardless of your hair texture, what a silk scarf does is that it's secure on your head so it will hold your hairstyle in place. The fabric of the scarf is smooth, so it will create less friction on the hair,' she says, noting that while cotton pillowcases are soft and cooling, it can be more disruptive to hair as it slightly absorbs moisture from the hair, leading to bed head. 'If you want to preserve your hairstyle for the next three or four days, sleeping in a silk scarf is helpful,' explains Kidd.

ELLE Edit: The Choppy Pixie Toolkit

Silke London Hair Wrap

$65 at silkelondon.com

As I Am Edge Control

$6 at LookFantastic

Davines This Is A Forming Pomade

£22 at Cult Beauty

In terms of trimming, it purely depends on how short you'd like to keep your pixie cut. Those with tighter and coilier curls might get away with trimming it every eight to 10 weeks while straighter textures may need a trim every six-eight weeks.

The best inspiration for choppy pixie haircut

The preppy choppy pixie

Nia Long's minimalist take on the style on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is timeless and chic.

The jagged choppy pixie

Zoë Kravitz's close crop, choppy pixie features uneven edges for an ultra-cool feel that's incredibly easy to manage as the styling takes care of itself.

The voluminous choppy pixie

This look on Halle Berry lives rent-free in our minds. It's laid-back, relaxed, yet looks impeccably polished for the red carpet.

The dressed up choppy pixie

Michelle Williams proves that you can still very much accessorise the choppy pixie cut. Try a simple headband or dainty pins for an unexpected take.

The bleached blonde choppy pixie

Iris Law's gleaming peroxide blonde chop combines soft layers with plenty of defined texture.

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Medina Azaldin

Beauty Editor, ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK

Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.