Hair

Your guide to getting a pixie cut

Lots of celebs are going short with their hair. But is it likely to suit you?
Pixie Cut

Lots of celebs are going short with their hair – including our own Lorraine Downes! It’s chic and on-trend. But is it likely to suit you? And will it be difficult to maintain?

Jock Robson of Auckland’s Dharma Salon was the Supreme Award runner-up at this year’s L’Oréal Colour Trophy Awards. He shares his short-hair wisdom below.

**Who suits short hair?

**Most people will suit a shorter style if it’s cut according to their face shape. It has everything to do with where the weight (width) of the cut sits. Extremely thick, coarse hair requires a bit more effort from both the stylist and client, and often an in-salon treatment too.

**Who shouldn’t get a short haircut?

**People who prefer not to visit their salon every four to six weeks should maybe consider a longer style. Even if cut well, the texture will need attention after that amount of time. The same goes for those who aren’t keen on styling their hair daily – even though it often takes very little time.

**What’s an under-cut?

**An under-cut is where the hair on top of your head hangs over shorter lengths on the sides and back of your head. In its most exaggerated form, the under-cut will have shaved sides with a longer, bob-type shape on top. In its modern form, it’s used to increase movement and texture and is noticeable only to the client and a trained eye.

**Define ‘the pixie’?

**This is like defining the bob! There are many interpretations of a pixie cut, so it’s important for your stylist to explain their version so you’re both on the same page before cutting starts. For me, a pixie cut is a short style with a soft, textured finish around the face, ears and nape. As with all styles, it needs to be adjusted to suit a client’s face shape and hair type.

Actress Carey Mulligan is a fan of the pixie cut.

**What’s the best way to style your hair?

**This varies from person to person. I believe people enjoy their cut and receive the most compliments when it looks effortless and not over-styled. This is achieved through technique, so discuss with your stylist what this would involve.

**What are the best products for texture?

**At the moment, I’m a big fan of dry texture sprays applied to towel-dried hair and worked with a blowdryer. These sprays never weigh the hair down. Thick, coarse and unruly hair still benefits from clay-type waxes. These work well when heated with a blowdryer after being applied to the hair.

**How much product is the right amount?

**Experiment to find out what works with your hair. You can almost never over-do dry texture sprays, which allow you to rework the hair until you get it right. However, it can be easy to over-apply a wax product and once this is done, all you can do is wash and start again.

**Which female stars do you think have the best short cuts?

**Jennifer Lawrence is an obvious one, Rita Ora with her blonde bob, and Charlize Theron.

**What’s the best short hairstyle for a more mature woman?

**I’m not a big subscriber to a cut being based on age. At Dharma, we cut to make you the most beautiful you. A person’s face, body and hair are in a constant state of change – sometimes it’s slow, sometimes it happens quickly. As this happens, a stylist should make slight adjustments to make sure all the elements of your hair – direction, shape, texture and silhouette – enhance your best features and play down your least favourite ones.

Five of the best products

1. For fine hair: Fudge Fat Head $22 bulks up hair for chunky, textured styles.

2. A soft, beachy look: Eleven Australia Sea Salt Texture Spray $32 creates shine and delivers a tousled, beachy look.

3. Long-lasting shine: Joico Texture Boost Dry Spray Wax $29.90 for textured, movable cuts.

4. For definition: Rusk Paste Define & Separate $34.95 for a textured, “piecey” look.

5. Matte effect: L’Oréal Tecni.Art Wild Stylers CrÉpage de Chignon $34 for texture, volume and root lift.

Want more beauty news? Take a look at former Shorty Street star new face of Pantene here.

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