If you are looking for inspiration for your pixie cut based on Audrey Hepburn, you would want something feminine and chic. You want an option that is easy to style and still offers softness to your face in the front.
What is interesting about Audrey Hepburn’s pixie cut is that it is not just one cut. In the movie, Roman Holiday, she had a really different look than the one she had in the later ones, and she had a really distinct style that many people try to copy. A lot of people look at it like what is essentially the same look and feel like there is a lot of room to replicate what Audrey Hepburn did. I once had a petite client with an image of Audrey and she said she wanted that look. I remember how amazing I thought the haircut would be, but I knew it would be for different reasons than she thought. She had natural crown waves which made the haircut softer than the reference picture and she loved the haircut.
What determines the success of this cut is not the length, but the balance of the distribution of the weight. I’ve seen many pixies look like a helmet because either no one took weight out in the right places, or they over thinned it, and now it looks hollow on the sides. The nape needs to be neat and clean and graduated- most of the weight should be at the crown so it has a bit of movement, and the bangs should do whatever your specific cowlick situation allows because you are not winning a battle against a cowlick in a pixie cut and I will die on that hill. This cut should be weightless, and done right it should be weightless in the best way possible.
Scroll through and see what resonates with you.
#1: Soft Textured Pixie with a Wispy Little Fringe
This cut also looks classy and understated. It seems like it’s taking your natural look and elevating it. The bangs are perfect since they are little wispy pieces and not solid bangs which I think keeps it from being too extreme. You could honestly get out of bed and just run your hands through your hair. With a bit of texture paste, you’d be good to go and it would look like you’d put a ton of work into it.
#2: Fine Hair Pixie with Bright Subtle Highlights
Highlighting the hair gives the appearance of more hair than actually is there. I do this with a lot of my clients with finer hair. A few lighter pieces around the crown gives an illusion of more hair. It really adds width and dimension to the hair. It’s a close cut, nothing to fuss, and that what allows the color to be so good with it.
#3: Playful Choppy Pixie with Forward Bangs
I do have a weakness for this one because of how fun the bangs are. These pushed forward bangs are a little choppy, so they draw attention to the eyes. This is the sort of haircut that I would spend extra time on because the fringe has to be *just right*. If it is too blunt, it looks like a mistake, too wispy, and so on. If you have a face where the eyes are the main feature, this is the haircut that will showcase them.
#4: Sharp Cropped Pixie with an Edgy Fringe
I think this works really well because the fringe adds just the right amount of edge to not look too safe. The hair is straight and fine here which is actually ideal for this particular shape, because anything thicker would puff at the sides and lose that sleek line. I would say this one needs a trim about every four weeks, five if you’re really stretching it, because once that fringe grows even a little out, it loses personality.
#5: Warm-Toned Pixie with Crown Volume
This is my absolute favorite color. I love the warm, deep brown with a touch of copper! The way it catches the light is beautiful, and also makes the cut look expensive. The crown is layered really well, and gives great lift without being overly poofy. This is one of those styles that looks best in a few days once it’s settled in, and some natural texture is built up.
#6: Structured Pixie with Face-Framing Layers
The layers have been done very well, and I can tell the person who cut this was careful with how the weight sits around the jaw and temple areas, there is no bulk there. For more angular faces, this is a pretty good reference photo to show your stylist. It works great if you want something that softens without obscuring your bone structure completely. I would not recommend this shape for very dense hair, you’d require a lot more interior texturizing to be done in order for it to sit this flat and neat.
#7: Soft Pink Pixie with Grown-Out Roots
Fashion colors can be very high-maintenance, especially if you have a lot of hair. The softer pink/pixie combo is very low-maintenance because there is less hair to manage. Also, the dark roots grow in pretty quickly, and add to the depth of the color. This makes it less likely that you’ll have to go on a super rigorous touch-up schedule. If you’re considering a fashion color, getting a pixie cut is one of the best ways to do it. After your cut, you can let your hair grow out. Plus, if you want to, you can cut it again in about 6 weeks.
#8: Classic Cropped Pixie with Soft Dimension
This cut is really classic and really Audrey, and I think what holds it back works is the restraint. Nothing is done in excess. The layers are subtle, the length is conservative, and it sits pretty. A touch of pomade simple enough through with your hands and you’re done. I think I’d put this in the cuts that don’t look as good as the feel in person. Due to the proportions, in real life, they’re doing a lot of the flattering work.
#9: Tousled Pixie with Natural Wave and Texture
This option is great if your hair has any wave or bend in the strands. It embraces your natural hair instead of going against it. The bangs are piecy and imperfect which gives it a lived in look, I think this is more day-to-day wearable than something overly polished. I think it is worth knowing this cut would be completely different on straight hair. So if you are going to show this picture to your stylist, you better be having an honest conversation about what your hair really does when it air dries.
#10: Soft Wavy Pixie with Ear-Length Sides
The length around the ears is great because it hits that sweet spot where it is short enough for a pixie cut, but long enough that you have something to tuck or push around when you’re fiddling with it during the day (not that you will do that or anything…). The wave through the fringe is soft and not overly styled, and I think a sea salt spray would be all you need to get this look after washing.
#11: Piecey Pixie with Tousled Top Layers
I appreciate the overall messy look of this aesthetic. It appears to be more of a cutting and layering job than a styling one, and that the upper sections were cut to different lengths to fall more freely. It’s nice to have this sort of cut because rather than hoping to create texture with products after the cut, you can use shears during the cut to create structure. It also lasts throughout the week. Unlike blunt pixies, it doesn’t typically collapse or get flat by day four.
#12: Sleek Pixie with a Healthy Shine
A shiny pixie cut shows me that you are confident in the condition of your hair. With short styles, it’s important to have strong hair. With the pixie cut, I can really appreciate the work that has gone into maintaining a care regimen for your hair. The layers are just as refined as the rest of the look, and everything comes together to read as polished and complete. If you like to put work into your hair care routine, then I would definitely recommend a cut like this.
#13: Bold Platinum Pixie with Micro Bangs
Certainly, micro bangs can be seen differently by different people. That said, with the right person and the right bone structure, these are stunning. The platinum does a lot here, giving the whole cut a very editorial and fashion-forward look. That said, platinum on a pixie is a big commitment, and you need to pay special attention to your hair health because the new growth is very obvious. You’ll need a good purple shampoo and regular toning appointments because with no length to distract you, the brassiness becomes very obvious.
#14: Modern Tousled Pixie with Soft Finishing
This looks very modern with the softer, less sharp edges, and the overall shape is more leaned back than the other styles. I can see this working well as a first-time transitional cut for someone going from bob to pixie as it looks less extreme, there is still a good amount of length up top for some styling, and the sides aren’t cut super short. It is a compliment when I say this is a pixie with training wheels.
#15: Elegant Layered Pixie with Soft Highlighted Dimension
The highlights in this cut are very nice; they are thin and blended so they do not look stripey and just add warmth and movement. The taper at the nape is nice and I like that it contrasts with the softer more textured top as it gives you that polished and relaxed juxtaposition. A touch of texture paste through the top pieces will be spot on for this.
#16: Sleek Cropped Pixie with Dimensional Color
The thin color is understated, but still makes a noticeable impact. The dimension pieces line the top and look very light and livening, always adding more dimension to the cut than a flat single-process. The crop is really close, and it’s not for everyone. It does draw attention to your face and doesn’t really create a frame. But, if you like that more clean feeling, the cut definitely achieves that.
#17: Wispy Layered Pixie with Soft Movement
A great benefit of this particular cut is its subtle look, and the way the wispy layers blend together so incredibly well to create the impression of unified motion across the entire style. Its also nice that this doesn’t have an overly styled appearance. It gives the impression that she quickly ran her fingers through the hair and left, and that effortless look is, in my opinion, the best aspect of a good pixie. For those who really do not want to dedicate any time to thinking about their hair in the morning, this is the cut for you.
#18: Clean Nape-Hugging Pixie with Blended Layers
I love how this hugs the nape. It is tight and clean without being too harsh. The blending through the back and into the crown is very smooth. The layers create enough texture so it doesn’t look flat but they also aren’t so aggressive that you will have to restyle it every single morning. This is the kind of cut a great stylist can personalize for almost everyone because the foundation is so simple and versatile. It is all about balancing the weight to work with what you have.
#19: Voluminous Textured Pixie with Crown Lift
I love the volume at the crown! I can see the cut was designed to create that lift which is great. I built the cut for structural support instead of blow-drying, and that’s the point. A style that needs a full blow-out to look good is not low-maintenance, contrary to popular belief. If you tend to go flat, tell your stylist you want to create height with the layers instead of going shorter because shorter does not mean more volume! It’s a misconception I fix all the time.
#20: Precision Pixie with Clean Defined Edges
The lines and angles are sharp and give the cut an overall graphic appearance. The sides are cut close while the top has the perfect length to create some contrast, and I find that ratio to be very flattering. This is the kind of cut for which the quality of the cutting is most important. You really need someobe with a steady hand and a good eye for balance and symmetry because when the hair is this short and structured there is zero tolerance for uneven lines.
#21: Curly Textured Pixie with Natural Volume
This is for those with natural curls or waves. This is how a pixie cut looks on curly hair — with all the texture celebrated and not straightened in to submission. Way too many curly haired people get a pixie and then start to flat iron it every single day and it defeats the purpose and in the end they damage their hair for no reason. The secret with curly pixie cuts is that they should be cut dry so the stylist can see how the curl falls and how much it springs up. Just keep in mind that curly hair always shrinks, so if your stylist is one that likes to cut the hair wet, you’re going to be shorter than you anticipated every single time.
#22: Warm-Toned Pixie with Fringe and Texture
I believe this style works due to the nice tone that works well with the skin. The good cut with wrong tone being able to be washed out and bad cut with right tone being able to be elevated means the shade and cut have to complement each other. The bangs are textured and sheared to the point where there is enough hair to be considered a full fringe as opposed to just some stray pieces of hair on the forehead. That is a hard balance to achieve.
#23: Short Textured Pixie with Statement Bangs
This haircut’s bangs are especially unique; the texture breaks up the heaviness on the forehead. The ear length is nice and clean, giving a European vibe like you could be at a market in Paris, which is the Audrey energy we want. I’d style this using a lightweight styling cream in the bangs to keep them piecey.
#24: Delicate Pixie with Feathered Soft Layers
At first, this cut may appear simple, but it’s very difficult to master because the layers of the cut are blended to perfection, so they actually look as if they melt together. The extra softness in the haircut and the layers really draws out these cheekbones, and I assume this is intentional. Some bulk has been removed from the sides to keep the entire face open. This haircut is ideal for anyone with naturally good bone structure, a nice face, or defined contours, as it really allows the face to be the center of attention.
#25: Polished Pixie with a Layered Soft Fringe
This hairstyle includes multiple layers with a fringe and a clean finish. If you want a more editorial feel, you can wear the fringe straight forward, to the side, or even pushed back. Most importantly, this hairstyle can work for a Saturday brunch and also for a dinner on Wednesday. This cut is very practical and I appreciate that because I hate haircuts that work in a limited number of situations. The top volume is amazing, and I think this is a great example of a modern pixie haircut that captures the essence of Audrey Hepburn.
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