One of my favorite parts of my job is seeing the reactions of hair clients with a lot of hair. They are so impressed when I tell them how much weight I plan to take off and that they will get to experience the feeling of a pixie cut. Most people think that getting a pixie cut with thick hair is a bad combo because of the texture. But, that’s not true, and I can promise you that there are a lot of great layers with the right structure to balance the cut, and a lot of strategically dense pieces can be left to keep the look.
Several years back, one of my clients had an incredible bun, but it was obvious that she was struggling to manage the bun because she had so much hair. She wanted a bob, but after explaining my thought process to her I was actually able to talk her into getting a pixie cut. It goes against my philosophy that you should always get what you ask for, but I honestly felt it would be an exceptional bob, and I had great hair confidence for her. She shed good tears, which is a common occurrence with thick hair pixie cuts. I have about a dozen thick hair pixies that I believe are exceptional, and I will be completely honest about which cuts I think are worth it and which come with surprises.
#1: Choppy Layers with a Warm Copper Tone
This cut has a lot of warmth in it due to the copper color, and that also makes the choppy look more intentional rather than messy. Thick hair with short layers makes it easier to create enough density to support the shape of the cut without having to use a lot of product. This will sit beautifully over the cheeks on oval and heart shaped faces. However, I will say you have to be all in on this copper color. It fades really quickly and if you want it to look like this then you’ll be refreshing it every couple of weeks.
#2 Clean Layers That Frame the Jaw
While this may seem simple, it is actually very structured and has a good deal of layers that sits just above the ears and gives the top some length so you can style it in different ways. I like this on thick hair. The hair density on your thick hair gives you shape for longer and better than most pixies, so you won’t have to sit in my chair every three weeks. The subtle highlight we chose gives just the right dimension to not look like you are trying too hard, which is ideal for a cut this short.
#3 Soft Fringe on Straight, Thick Hair
If your hair is straight and thick, this is ideal for you. The bangs will be soft enough, so their bangs are not going to look heavy, which, is what typically happens when you get bangs with thick hair. The layering on top allows for some movement without the use of texture or waves that aren’t there, which is good. There will be some regular upkeep, trims every 4-5 weeks will probably be best, as once those bangs start creeping into your eyes, the whole thing will lose its shape. But while fresh, this is one of the most beautiful versions of this haircut that I’ve seen.
#4 Short and Edgy with Natural Density
This style works best with thicker hair. This offers natural movement with no need for extra styling, just your hair’s natural volume. It really creates a solid contrast with all lengths. If you’d like to create a lil’ style, you can do a light scrunch with some mousse. I want to be real with you, growing this cut out is not fun at all. You don’t have to grow it out, but in the first three months, you hit a super awkward stage that requires a lot of patience.
#5 Auburn Waves with a Confident Edge
Loose waves and an auburn tint are pleasing and also add some richness to the look. It’s bold but not too aggressive. This look really does most of the work for you. All you will need is some thick hair that is wavy (or slightly wavy). The defined layers help to eliminate that overly puffy look that a lot of people worry about when it comes to thick hair. While you will need some maintenance every 5 weeks to keep it looking sharp, the day-to-day styling is really quite simple.
#6 Soft Layers That Let Thick Hair Breathe
You can let your hair live and do it’s own thing with this cut and sometimes that’s the best option for thick hair. The soft layers make it look alive without the look of having been over thinned or over-textured. I recommend this for square jawed individuals as it softens everything and is not concealing. That lick you see is the light so a good leave-in treatment will assist with the weekly shine.
#7 Chocolate Tones with Playful Texture
I’ll be honest, this look is not the most exciting to me as the waving will take more morning effort than most people assume. It looks straightforward, but getting this kind of wave on thick hair at this pixie length typically requires a small curling iron and around 10 minutes (if you even have that!). With that said, if you enjoy styling your hair in the morning, the result will be a really nice youthful shape that is great on round and oval faces. Also, the chocolate tone is forgiving on regrowth, so that’s a nice bonus!
#8 Side-Swept Fringe with a Lively Feel
This technique prevents the pixie cut from looking overly uniform or boxy like with blunt thick hair. Shearing the front will help keep some length in the front that aids in framing and elongating the face as well. As the bangs grow out the cut will still look nice, and it will maintain a good length around the face to preserve the overall look of the haircut. When comparing the two, those with finer hair will have a shorter time
span of this cut looking nice. This is because fine hair requires much more texture from the cut to keep the bangs styled, and the top looking nice and voluminous.
#9 Layered Pixie with Warm, Subtle Highlights
You trimmed the hair to a good length. An example of a haircut that has edgy and approachable qualities, it stays within a range of extreme and layered cuts. I think the highlight placement is really good… There is just enough to add warmth and depth without being over highlighted. This style is very easy to maintain on thick hair. I suggest scheduling regular trims every 4-5 weeks to keep the nape looking fresh. This is a good option for someone trying a pixie cut for the first time.
#10 Silver Pixie with Choppy, Lived-In Texture
Going silver should be thought of as an entire lifestyle change, not just an aspect of your appearance. While the color is beautiful and looks great with thick hair, this look isn’t a short term commitment. You will need regular trips to the salon to maintain your color. For the style to look unkempt, it will require a good amount of pomade and a lot of hair to create the desired effect. On top of the regular salon visits, you may also need to buy a purple shampoo to avoid brassiness and stay within your toning schedule to keep your hair looking its best. If you want something easy to manage, keep scrolling.
#11 Side-Swept Bangs with a Polished Finish
I appreciate this style because it looks polished while avoiding looking stiff or formal. The look is clean and easy because the side-swept bangs do all the framing needed, and the short length keeps everything clean. This style can be particularly flattering for round or oval face shapes. Lucky you if you have thick hair! The cut does require that volumous (spelling is correct) crown. The maintenance for this style will be low day to day, though you will need to trim the bangs more frequently than the rest of the cut.
#12 Raspberry Color with Soft, Textured Waves
The rich raspberry color is playful and feels intentional and non-natural. The waves create a nice density on the hair and the plushness from the cut being close to the head. This works particularly on round faces as the texture will draw the eye upwards creating a greater overall length. To be truthful, you will need to do this most mornings to get the waves done right, and because fashion colors don’t last, it’s going to require a lot of touch ups. But, if you enjoy the ritual, this is the type of look that will be remembered.
#13 Bold Layers with Plenty of Movement
I personally like how the cut embraces thickness instead of trying to tame it. The layers are bold and create actual movement. Depending on how you feel, this cut gives you plenty of styling choices. You can push it forward, sweep it back, or tousle it, and it will look intentional. The top volume is ideal for round and oval faces. It is one of those styles that looks better slightly grown out, which is rare for a pixie cut, and to be honest, it is a bonus.
#14 Soft Bangs That Open Up the Face
These bangs are great because they are lightweight. They avoid that face stuffing problem that thick blunt bangs can create. The soft layers on the sides make it all soft and airy. That is especially difficult to do without over thinning on thick hair. For someone who doesn’t want to spend time styling their hair, this is a very practical haircut. It has almost no drying time and will fall into place easily. I would recommend this for someone round to oval face who wants something fresh without going too far out of their comfort zone.
#15 Wispy Layers with Rich, Dark Color
I love how these wispy layers look! They take off just enough to add some dimension while keeping fullness which is perfect for thicker hair at this length. The dark color and subtle highlights offer great depth and reflection to light. This style is great for round face shapes because the height of the crown elongates the face and the side layers help to soften the face. It’s not super high-maintenance because of the cut, but you will have to go for regular trims to maintain the wispy look. Layers will lose shape quicker than those with heavier layers.
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