The ’90s Bixie—a Hybrid of a Bob and Pixie—Is the Short Hairstyle of Summer 2024
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Just when I thought we'd figured out what all the big hairstyle trends were going to be this year, a familiar look from a few decades ago is throwing a gamine wrench into things. [Editor’s note: It might look more recently familiar too—parts of this story were originally reported way back in 2021, when the bixie made its first modern-day resurgence.] Although I honestly don't remember it being called the bixie in the ’90s—and I remember pretty much all the great portmanteaus I've encountered in my lifetime—the bixie is back, and it's ready to delight, dazzle, and potentially confuse.
It's called the bixie because it combines elements of two distinctly recognizable hairstyles—the bob and the pixie—and creates a new hairstyle in a gray (but very cute) area. "It's a shaggy bob with a mix of layers to add dimension and texture,” says hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. Think of the influx of short haircuts in the mid- to late- '90s—the ones that weren't cropped enough to be called pixies, but weren't long enough to be considered bobs. (At the time, I think we just called it "short hair"?) So many stars were doing it: Winona Ryder, Meg Ryan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Rachael Leigh Cook, Neve Campbell, Drew Barrymore, and the Aussie soap opera star turned pop singer who inspired my own college crop, Natalie Imbruglia.
It was an undeniably adorable look that eventually fell out of favor. My theory is that it evolved from a carefree look to a more heavily styled, extremely angular look that felt pretty cool when Victoria Beckham did it and a little less so when Kate Gosselin did. (Is there any haircut more indelibly associated with the phrase, "I need to speak to your manager"?) But a wave of celebrities (like Florence Pugh, Halsey, and Rowan Blanchard) and countless content creators have brought back that original, lower-key, bob-meets-pixie vibe, and with it, an inevitability: We're all going to be getting bixies in 2024.
“The bixie haircut is growing in popularity today because it feels like a more customized take on shorter hairstyles,” says Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK. “In essence, a bob’s a bob—no matter what kind it is—and can be heavy. A pixie’s super-short length limits customization. A bixie, however, lives in-between the two with more length to work with and a style that doesn’t feel as weighty.”
It’s also a smart warm-weather style choice, as hairstylist Monae Everett attests. “They are great for the summer when you want to have a shorter hairstyle while growing out a pixie cut,” she says.
As for which hair types may be best suited for a bixie, Fabrice Gilli, a stylist at Fekkai SoHo in New York City, recommends the bixie for “fine- to medium-textured hair."
Everett says that no one should shy away from the look because they fear it’s not a fit for their hair texture, but that tighter curls and coils “that grow upward and away from the scalp” might have a tougher time replicating the exact bixie shape from the '90s.
If you’re thinking of trying it out yourself, you can expect plenty of hairstylists to know what you mean when you say “bixie,” says Gilli. “With that said, it’s always good to show your hairstylist a picture of the look you’re going for to ensure it’s exactly what you want.”
That, and pay attention to how your hairstylist finishes your new look. To style your bixie, Toth recommends a strong-hold cream or wax (like the Shu Uemura Umou Hold Hair Cream) and a strong-hold hairspray (particularly the Kérastase Laque Extrême Strong Hold Hair Spray). Everett agrees that adding a texturizing hairspray is essential for straight hair if you’re adding waves or curls “to really show off the layers.” Her pick for this is the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray.
Shu Uemura Umou Hold Hair Cream
$39.00, Shu Uemura
Kérastase Laque Extrême Strong Hold Hair Spray
$36.00, Sephora
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray
$52.00, Bluemercury
Ahead, bixie haircut inspiration from the '90s and beyond.
The classic bixie
natasha richardson bixie hair.jpg
The deep side part bixie
Santa Monica, California
The piece-y bixie
The flared-out bixie
Angeles in 2002
The sleek bixie
More on short hair:
Now check out more 1990s beauty trends:
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Originally Appeared on Allure
