5 Steps To Maintaining A Pixie Cut, From When To Trim It And How Often You Should Shampoo

Congrats! You finally got that short pixie cut you've been mood-boarding for ages. Now what?

Generally, a pixie cut will make getting ready in the morning much easier – especially if you opted for a statement look such as an undercut pixie or a pixie cut with bangs. But it is still important to make sure you're taking proper care of short hair to ensure it stays looking fresh and healthy.

Ahead, we speak to a professional stylist to find out just how to make sure your pixie cut thrives through summer and beyond.

When to trim your pixie cut

Hair grows at varying rates depending on the individual, but in general, Dale Herne, a stylist at Hershesons Fitzrovia, recommends getting your pixie trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks to maintain the shape. '8 weeks will give you about one inch worth of growth, which can look very long on a pixie cut,' shares Herne, so it's worth booking in just beforehand.

As for whether or not you should do a DIY trim, professionals caution against it - not least because pixie cuts can be notoriously tricky. 'The key in being able to pull it off lies in a cut that’s tailored to your face shape,' says Herne, so do leave it to the pros.

If a standing appointment at your hair salon isn't feasible, make sure to tell your hairdresser during your haircut consultation so they can advise on the best pixie cuts for your lifestyle. A bixie (bob-pixie hybrid) or a long pixie might be a better option if you're easing into the look.

Condition your pixie cut

Since the lengths closest to your head is the 'freshest', hair that's in a pixie cut often feels healthier in general. That said, there are plenty of things you can do to keep it in top form.

'Coily and curly hair may require more nourishing products,' says Herne, who recommends Hershesons Almost Everything Cream. For a weekly treatment, look to hydrating masks with fatty acids and plant proteins to keep the texture soft and strong.

The Hershesons cream works well on straight and wavy textures too, as it helps minimise frizz and maintain a smooth finish. Weekly, incorporate lightweight hydrating treatments to condition your lengths.

Styling your pixie cut carefully

Since short hair is less prone to tangles, it requires far less combing than longer locks so try using your fingers to gently style.

Mousses and soft styling creams will help to create your desired pixie silhouette and add some hold or run a texturising cream or mist to add texture.

With pixie cuts, it's easier to minimise heat styling as the haircut itself should do the hard work for you (this also means less heat damage). But if you must use heated tools, always do so after using a heat-protector.

ELLE Edit: Pixie Cut Hair Essentials

Hershesons Almost Everything Cream

£14 at hershesons.com

Curlsmith Hydro Crème Soothing Mask

£24 at LookFantastic

Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Pomade

Now 55% Off

£9 at charlottemensah.com

Hair by Sam McKnight Pure Genius 98% Natural Scalp Restoring Oil

£36 at Space NK

Cleanse your pixie cut

According to Herne, your wash routine doesn't have to differ dramatically. 'It depends on your hair texture, For thicker hair you don’t need to wash it as often, however with finer hair, you may want to wash more regularly,' he shares.

Take care of your scalp

It goes without saying, but great hair comes from a healthy scalp. As pixies sit closer to the scalp, giving yourself a scalp facial is much easier. Regular five minute scalp massages will encourage blood flow and improve hair growth over time, while adding scalp oils and scalp scrubs into your routine will create a healthy environment for new hair to thrive.

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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.