I remember my first brunette pixie cut client. She was in her forties and started crying in the chair. It was not because she was happy with it, however. She had wanted to do this for years, and all the stylists she had been to in the past kept telling her to do ‘just a long bob’. So she was angry that she waited so long to do it. This moment stuck with me and I felt like I had seen it all before. Short hairstyles are treated as more serious and gives a more mature vibe with a darker hair color. Not to mention they photograph better than lighter colors do at least when it comes to pixies. There is something undeniably classy about a brunette pixie cut, especially on women in their forties or older who exude self confidence.
With this first collection, I have 25 cuts to offer you, but I don’t expect you to find something that works for you. There are high effort cuts that are disguised as low effort, and I’ll call out some of those. There are genuinely wash-and-go type cuts. I would completely steer some hair types away from several of them. However, if you’re in your forties, have dark hair, and have been thinking about going short, all of these are perfect for you. Let’s get into it.
#1: Textured Layers That Basically Style Themselves
For this cut, if your hair cooperates, it should only take about 3 minutes of styling time, despite its look giving the impression of a 20 minute completion time. The layers will move to create a styled look, even without full products — a simple texturizer from the shower will do the trick. If you are someone with fine/thin hair, this may be a great option for you because with the layering, it will create the illusion of having more hair than you actually do. Due to the fact that this cut emphasizes layers, it will be important to keep with regular trims every four to five weeks. This will help maintain the ‘effortless’ look as the layers tend to grow out quickly and the cut will lose its charm.
#2 Soft Layers with a Little Lift at the Crown
My favorite haircut for clients who want something shorter but aren’t ready to go completely short is the ear length cut. It keeps conservative enough so it doesn’t feel like a huge change. The added volume at the crown provides nice height that’s flattering if you have a rounder face. This haircut works better for fine to medium hair as anything too thick will lose that lightness completely. It’s the kind of cut that won’t standout but will draw attention to the more balanced look it gives your face.
#3 Tousled Waves with a Hint of Asymmetry
The asymmetry in this style gives it a unique look that some may not notice at first, but dramatically changes the appearance of the cut. It helps create an illusion of a personalized pixie that fits you perfectly, instead of it being selected from a generic hairstyle catalogue. The added waves keep the hairstyle from looking unkempt when you choose not to style it. When you want to style your hair, just add a bit of wavy mousse to the top, and you’re good to go. I will say though that if you have really straight hair, you’ll probably find yourself reaching for a mini curling iron to get some texture, especially if straight hair is your jam.
#4 Soft Volume Just Above the Jawline
You will find this length sits above the jawline which is flattering on most! It is also a great length to draw attention to the cheekbones. The waves with this style are not actually waves. They are bends in the hair which is easier to achieve than actual defined curls. I wouldn’t say this is a roll out of bed look, but it definitely takes effort to look this good. If you do nothing to style it, this cut will end up being flat by midday. It is worth the effort, just be realistic about how much effort you will actually put in.
#5 Choppy Layers with Soft Curl Through the Top
I like this style for medium to thick hair because it uses that density rather than working against it. The shorter nape keeps everything tidy, and the longer layers around the face add some movement, while the soft curls on top soften the whole style and stop it from being too structured. If your hair is fine, I would suggest something different, as you would have to put in a lot of work to create that volume, and it would look like a totally different style. This is one of the simpler styles on this list to maintain between appointments for the right hair type.
#6 Subtle Highlights on a Textured Pixie
With a pixie cut this short, some lighter hues can really help this look by offering some dimension that the shape can’t do. This example shows really well how the color and the cut work, especially in comparison to longer styles where the highlights blend in. The texture is fine enough so that light hair won’t be weighed down. Depending on your mood, you can choose to go sleek or messy. When you reach your forties and find your morning routines have to flex to accommodate your day, that kind of practicality is great.
#7 Clean Lines with Natural Movement
The differing lengths on this pixie cut have been done well, and that is sometimes the highest praise I can give. The color is a very natural brown, and so she won’t need highlights for some dimension. For clients wanting a low maintenance polished look, I would recommend this because the style does most of the work, and it will suit oval and heart face shapes the best. The only downside to this cut is that blunt cuts will show their growth sooner, so frequent trims are a must.
#8 Short Curly Pixie for Natural Texture
If you have the good fortune of having curly hair, this style is an easy choice. It works with all of the natural texture of your hair, so you don’t have to do a ton of work every morning. The shorter the hair is, the more the curls will pop, and the fluffier the hair will feel, which I love. To keep the curls from looking messy, you will probably need to use a curl cream to style. The upkeep on this curly cut is minimal, which is a huge plus. The best part is, it’s really versatile and looks good on a lot of different face shapes, which is a rarity with hair cuts these days.
#9 Softly Textured Pixie with Dimensional Highlights
The soft waves on this hairstyle are much more versatile than the traditional flat, polished pixie. You can achieve a more sleek appearance by pushing the hair to one side, but you can also let the hair fall naturally to keep the look soft. Both options will create a polished overall appearance. The highlights are really nice because they are not overly done, but just deep enough to look natural. On pixie cuts, heavy highlights can look really mismatched to the point of being from a completely different haircut and that is some of the fuss I want to avoid. It will require some maintenance to keep the shape, but the good news is that the styling is going to take five minutes instead of 20.
#10 Side-Swept Softness with Fine Layers
The side-swept bangs soften the face and look so good with the haircut They also take off years from your appearance and look more approachable. I think a short pixie haircut could have looked nice too, but the bangs really help. On finer hair, this looks even better because it gives the illusion of fullness without having to use a volumizing blow dry every day. This cut also has a more modern look and can be dressed up or down. You can keep it looking neat and not grown-out with a trim every five weeks.
#11 Side-Swept Bangs with Warm Brunette Tones
Visually this looks good and showcases what a fringe can offer with a pixie. The side-swept bangs soften the features and with the warmth from the color especially the effect is enhanced. I would recommend this specific cut to someone with fine hair as the layered texture offers a lot of volume with minimal product. The movement is right so it does not sit flat to the head. With the bangs some maintenance is involved; a quick touch up with a flat iron or some directing with a blow dry to create the bangs. However, this is minimal for a great result.
#12 Short and Polished with Just Enough Texture
I mean that with all possible praise, the side-swept bangs soften angular features, and aren’t too heavy to overpower the look. The length is just short enough to be crisp, while still leaving your options open. The cut is framed nicely with the volume and texture from the layers, and the highlights add a depth that increases the overall look, and makes it more expensive. Since your hair looks this good every day, this cut will pay for itself with the low maintenance. That being said, the nape of your neck will require more cleanups than the rest.
#13 Asymmetrical Pixie with Light, Airy Layers
Pixie cuts feature a playful use of asymmetry, and this one has hit the jackpot. Longer top layers mixed with shorter layers create a feeling of purpose that a more uniform cut would lack, and on fine hair especially, that contrast creates interest that wouldn’t be there otherwise. The asymmetry of this style works particularly well with oval face shapes. This is a cut that requires regular maintenance to avoid looking more like a grow-out than an intentional style.
#14 Elegant and Clean with Subtle Movement
There really isn’t any need to overcomplicate things with a cut like this. There are no finishing techniques that are out of the ordinary or any special angles or unique textures that are done. This looks like a really well balanced short cut with the right amount of layering used to create movement. I recommend this style to women going for a short hair look for the first time because it is a safe choice, and because it doesn’t look boring. Once you become more comfortable with that length you can always go for something a bit more daring. Also, if you have really thick hair, achieving the soft look seen in the image will be a challenge and you may end up with more bulk than softness.
#15 Choppy Definition with Youthful Energy
In this case, the chop is purposeful; each layer is crafted to add bulk in particular spots, rather than haphazardly adding texture to the hair. It is wonderful for fine to medium density hair, as it creates the illusion of thick hair, and is particularly flattering around the crown area. This cut will need to be trimmed every four weeks, at the very least. The choppy layers will combine as they grow, and you will lose the definition that the cut provides. If you are committed to the upkeep, this is a great cut to always look polished.
#16 Defined Curls on a Short, Fun Pixie
Loose defined curls are the ideal feature for a short cut. You can skip the exhausting scrunch and diffuse each morning and enjoy an easy, no hassle casual style. Highlights will be a beautiful touch and will add dimension which will catch the light. The texture of your curls will be maximized to about medium. A little hair will be great for this so the curls will have the right density to hold their shape. The style will need maintainence to keep it looking clean and to avoid excess frizz and shapelessness.
#17 Playful Texture with Warm Highlighted Dimension
This is a classic pixie cut, and true to form, it does exactly what you would expect from it. There are just enough layers to be cut and to add some movement, but not so many to make the cut overly busy. The highlights are warm and natural, and just the right amount to keep a dark base from looking flat. I would recommend cuts like this to people looking for a big change, but don’t want to have to talk about it everyday, or don’t want to have to style it. This cut works best for finer to medium hair. It is low maintenance in theory, however, in order to keep the style and shape of the cut, you will need to make regular appointments to the salon.
#18 Short and Defined with a Natural Ease
This hairstyle really highlights your bone structure. It is short and clean enough to let your face do the talking. If you have cheekbones, this will draw even more attention to them. Having fine hair can be an advantage as it will lie closer to the head, without having to thin it out and lose too many layers. There won’t be a ton of styling requirements, but I would keep some volumizing powder for days where it feels flat. This hairstyle is versatile enough to dress up or down, which isn’t something that can be claimed by every pixie cut.
#19 Edgy Choppy Pixie with Fiery Color
The color is very self-explanatory: warm, fiery highlights against a dark brunette base will be more energetic than a more conservative palette. It is an edgier choice, I guess it suits someone whose personal style leans that way rather than someone wanting to safely venture into short hair. The layering is designed is to play with it however you want, pushed back and tight if you want more of a polished look, or relaxed and tousled for a more laid back vibe. This cut lets fine hair shine its full potential. Just like most heavily layered pixies, frequent trims are part of the deal.
#20 Textured Finish with Face-Framing Highlights
Thank you for the haircut and the highlights. I especially like that the highlights are meant to frame the face and not just placed in the cut randomly. That kind of intent makes the whole style feel more thought out. The texture on fine to medium density hair is also just the right amount to feel full without looking overdone. The proportions are really nice if you have a heart shaped face. I would keep a light styling paste for days when you want that piecey separated texture. Otherwise most days you can just work it with your fingers and go.
#21 Curly Pixie with Soft, Face-Framing Shape
This specific cut uses curls to soften angular features well, and honestly I probably find myself recommending it more than people would expect. Keeping the sides shorter while finishing the top leaves some room for the curls to do their thing without the whole cut losing its structure. I love how it embraces the texture while maintaining a shape that seems intentional. With that said, fine to medium density is best suited for this, as very thick curly hair at this length can start to feel like a different style altogether. A little bit of styling to support the curl pattern is a good thing, but shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.
#22 Layered and Light with a Tousled Finish
I love how relaxed this cut is. The back and sides are shorter and the top is left a bit longer, adding some structure to the style, but the tousled finish stops it from feeling too solid. What I think is more important than most people realize however, is that it looks great right after the salon, and just as good two weeks later. This kind of cut works best with round and oval face shapes. It’s really low maintenance – that is, if a bit of natural messiness doesn’t bother you. If it does, this is not the cut for you.
#23 Choppy Volume with an Easy, Textured Feel
This is a good option for you if your hair is medium or fine and lays flat. The choppy layers create fullness that your hair doesn’t naturally have. The cut has texture so you won’t have to use a ton of products, which will simplify your mornings. The style also suits oval and heart-shaped faces and looks young and fresh. With this style, you’ll be able to see more of the hair growth, so you’ll need trims every four to five weeks.
#24 Curly Brunette Pixie with Highlighted Depth
Working on curly pixie cuts is something I enjoy because of all the creative angles I can take. This is a great example of the defined curls that hold shape throughout the day. The highlights in the curls reflect light in a way that straight hair does not. Medium to thick hair is required for this look. The overall volume in the design is important, and the curls will be cut to balance the structure. Honestly, all you need is a good curl cream through wet hair and you will have a simple style that is a fair exchange for a cut as interesting as this. This is particularly a good look for heart and oval face shapes.
#25 Sleek Chin-Length Pixie with Textured Layers
This haircut sits between a pixie cut and a baby bob. I believe a lot of women underestimate this length. It gives the effect of being a lot more short and extreme, while still keeping enough to hold onto, and the layers are what keep it from being a blunt one note cut. The highlights create a little more depth and the ear length framing around the jawline is a detail that is great if you want to pull the focus there. It works best with fine to medium hair types. Like any well shaped short cut, this does come with some requirements in terms of maintenance to keep the lines clean. If you are already committed to going shorter, then that is part of the deal.
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