The Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe: A Bold And Beautiful Short Haircut
What is a Cropped Pixie Haircut?
A Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe cut is an ultra-short haircut where the back and sides are trimmed very close to the head. Hair on top is left slightly longer, often styled with height and texture.
Signature features of a cropped pixie include:
- Short length, typically 1-3 inches
- Tapered back and nape clipped close to scalp
- Volume and fullness on top
- Longer layers on crown for styling options
- Short sideburns and ears exposed
- Lots of natural movement with light layering
Cropped pixies radiate modern sophistication perfect for the daring, low-maintenance woman.
The Micro-Fringe Adds Softness
Pixie cuts run the risk of appearing overly masculine on some. This is easily counterbalanced by incorporating a micro-fringe.
What is a Micro-Fringe?
A micro-fringe refers to very short bangs trimmed to graze the forehead, often falling just at or above the eyebrows.
On a cropped pixie, a micro-fringe lends these advantages:
- Softens the forehead and hairline
- Adds feminine flair
- Lightens up intense crop textures
- Versatile styling options
- Face framing and flattering
- Fun alternative to full blunt bangs
A Brief History of the Pixie Cut
The pixie has its origins as a rebellious short style in the 1920s, but saw new life in the 1960s thanks to Vidal Sassoon.
1920s Flapper Style
In the roaring 20s, women chopped long locks into daring short bobs and crops. The pixie was born as a symbol of flapper confidence and liberation.
1960s Mod Crop
Hairstylist Vidal Sassoon revolutionized short hair in the 60s. His wash-and-wear pixie was angled, geometric, and oh-so mod.
1990s Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder’s pixie in the 90s made the cut less severe with tousled texture. Her sexy, mussed style increased the pixie’s popularity.
2010s Pixie Comeback
Stars like Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, and Michelle Williams brought back the cropped pixie, this time with micro-fringes for a softer take.
Benefits of Choosing a Cropped Pixie
Beyond making a bold style statement, cropped pixies offer many perks:
- Extremely low maintenance and easy routine
- Lightweight, cooler than long hair
- Fuss-free styling that takes minutes
- Fewer hair products needed
- Softens angular face shapes
- Spotlights gorgeous facial features
- Fun to accessorize with hair jewelry
- Allows frequent color experimentation
Best Candidates for a Cropped Pixie
A pixie cut suits:
- Oval, heart, and long face shapes
- Small to average size features
- Straight, thick hair textures
- Minimal volume at crown
- Strong jawlines and long necks
- Fashion forward dressers
- Busy professionals or mothers
- Minimalists who dislike fussy styling
- Frequent hair color changers
Worst Candidates for a Cropped Pixie
The exposed scalp and severity of an ultra-short cut emphasizes imperfections on:
- Round or wide face shapes
- Unusually large features
- High foreheads or receding hairlines
- Fragile, thinning hair prone to excessive shedding
- Head shapes with unusual bulges or flat spots
- Very wavy and curly hair textures (fro triangle risk)
- Those who dislike high maintenance upkeep
How to Style a Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe
Despite the shortened length, cropped pixies offer fun styling versatility:
The Tousled Textured Look
For piecey texture, work a styling cream through hair and tousle the fringe forward. Finger fluff the top layers for height and movement.
Sleek and Chic
Use a lightweight gel to slick the fringe across the forehead and sweep top layers smoothly to one side.
Faux Hawk
Spike up the central hair strips from forehead to crown for an edgy faux mohawk effect.
Sculpted and Sleek
Blow dry fringe forward and to the side while smoothing crown layers toward the ears. Sculpt with pomade.
Spiked Pixie
Work a matte styling glue through the top and spike pieces straight up and out. Leave fringe soft to contrast.
Caring for a Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe
While low maintenance overall, cropped pixies need some special care:
- Use volumizing products – Amp up fine hair with thickening shampoos and mousses.
- Moisturize ends – Pixie ends dry out faster. Treat with oils and hydrating masks.
- Don’t overwash – Shampoo just 1-2 times weekly to avoid drying out the scalp.
- Heat style wisely – Limit use of hot tools to preserve integrity of shortened hair.
- Schedule frequent trims – Trim every 3-4 weeks to keep layers sharp as hair grows quickly.
- Protect with product – Shield hair from environmental damage; pixies show wear sooner.
- Add extensions for temporary length – Easy to blend when missing longer locks.
- Adjust color maintenance – Touch up roots more frequently; reduced dye intervals.
Pros and Cons of Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe
Like any dramatic style, the cropped pixie has tradeoffs:
Pros
- Low maintenance and quick to style
- Light and cool for warm climates
- Endless styling versatility
- Embraces natural texture
- Soft yet modern and on-trend
- Fun, youthful alternative to short bobs
Cons
- Learning curve to master flattering styling
- Needs frequent trims as short hair grows out fast
- Not ideal for thin or fragile hair
- Ear shape and size are focal points
- Can emphasize unusually large facial features
- Head shape imperfections are revealed
Conclusion
For high style women seeking a bold look with little daily fuss, the Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe is a fabulous option. This chic, androgynous cut proves short hair can be incredibly feminine. Embrace your daring side and be prepared to turn heads with this high-impact, face-flattering crop!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe
What is the difference between a pixie cut and a pixie bob?
The main difference is length. A classic pixie cut is very short, with hair 1-3 inches long layered on top and closely cropped sides. A pixie bob leaves hair longer (at least 3-5 inches) with less gradation between the top layers and sides for a softer shape.
What face shape does a pixie cut look best on?
A pixie cut tends to be most flattering on oval, heart, long, and diamond face shapes. The short sides and back complement strong jawlines and elegant necks. Soft rounded shapes like circles can be overwhelmed and accentuated by ultra-short pixie crops.
How do you style a pixie cut with a fringe?
There are many options! For volume, mess up the fringe and sweep top layers into a fauxhawk. For polish, smooth fringe to the side across the forehead and tuck longer pieces behind the ears. Also play with spiking the fringe straight up or sculpting it lightly back.
Does very short hair make you look older or younger?
It depends on the cut! Severe super-short buzzed cuts or uneven chops can age you. But a stylish, well-cut pixie with proper layering can shave years off for a youthful boost. Keep the sides subtly tapered and incorporate movement with light texturizing.
What height is best for a pixie cut?
Pixies complement those taller than average best. Petite frames under 5’4” can be overwhelmed and overpowered by the drama of a cropped pixie. The elongation of height provides balance against the ultra-short cut. Go for longer pixie bobs to suit smaller stature.
How do you cut very short fringe?
Section cleanly and isolate the fringe area. Trim in increments working horizontally from eye level and angling down lightly towards the cheekbones. Remove no more than 1⁄4 inch at a time, checking regularly until desired micro-fringe length just dusting the brows is achieved. Texturize lightly with point cutting shears.
What face shapes should not get pixie cuts?
More angular face shapes like square or inverted triangle should approach ultra-short pixies with caution. The dramatic exposure can over accentuate strong jawlines or wide cheekbones. Softening and balancing elements like side-swept fringe helps minimize over-amplification of lines.
How often should you trim a very short pixie cut?
Expect to have your stylist trim your cropped pixie every 3-4 weeks. The short length means layers grow out quickly and regular trimming maintains the shape. Book frequent maintenance visits to prevent shaggy growth and preserve the precision of the pixie shape.
What age is too old for a Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe?
There is no age limit for rocking a trendy pixie! The most important factors are having healthy hair (not too fine or thinning), the right face shape to balance, and a stylish cut. Update with fresh color to keep it modern. muit maintains the shape.
What product gives Cropped Pixie with Micro fringe volume?
For maximizing fullness in fine pixie hair, opt for volumizing mousse during blow drying. Apply at roots while hair is still damp. Also use a root lifting spray before heat styling. When nearly dry, tousle layers with fingers to build airy texture and flexible hold.
