Growing Out a Pixie Cut? Stylists Share 11 Tips for a Seamless Transition

Do Weekly Hair Conditioning Treatments

"Weekly [conditioning] treatments are vital to maintaining the health of your [hair], so [it has] the foundation to continue growing healthy," Burgos explains. She recommends Ouidad's Ultra-Nourishing Intense Hydrating Mask for those with dry hair and the brand's Curl Therapy Lightweight Protein Foam Treatment for people with compromised curls.

Apply Coconut Oil to Your Hair and Scalp

Celebrity hairstylist Chad Wood recommends applying coconut oil to hair, as it not only helps with hydration and growth but also encourages natural scalp oil reproduction. Those with dry or curly hair will benefit most from this ingredient, while those with thinner, more fine hair may find coconut oil weighs their hair down.

Take Hair Supplements

If your regular diet lacks some of the nutrients necessary to grow strong, healthy hair, supplements are an easy way to get them. Nutrafol or Viviscal are two that are clinically proven to speed up the hair growth process as well as thicken hair. Just be sure to check with your doctor before taking any supplements.

Give Yourself Scalp Massages

When you give yourself a scalp massage, you encourage blood flow to the area, which, in turn, promotes hair growth. An easy way to do this is by incorporating a scalp scrub into your haircare routine. We like Drunk Elephant's T.L.C. Happi Scalp Scrub as it combines physical and chemical exfoliants to dissolve dead skin cells and gently buff away product buildup.

Get Regular Trims

Believe it or not, trims are a necessary part of growing short hair. "This might seem counterintuitive, but it helps maintain your hair's shape as you enter that 'awkward length' stage," Burgos explains.

Wood adds that hair will begin to take on a round shape without frequent trims. Another reason to hit the salon? Not only will consistent cuts eliminate split ends (which, as we know, can hinder the growth process), but they'll freshen up your style. What's more, a periodic check-in with your hairstylist will help you find a cut that complements what you're working with.

Protect Your Hair

Avoid excessive heat styling to reduce breakage and heat damage. If you choose to use heat styling tools, be mindful to apply a heat protectant each time. Additionally, it's important to shield your hair from damaging environmental factors like sun exposure and pollution, which can lead to brittleness and dryness. We recommend incorporating products like Oribe Power Drops Hydration and Anti-Pollution Booster into your routine.

Avoid Heavy Hairstyling Products

Burgos also recommends avoiding products such as heavy gel, which can weigh down hair and clog hair follicles if not properly washed. Instead, she recommends using lightweight styling products and cleansing your hair and scalp regularly.

Learn to Style Your Pixie

Styling your hair while it's in the grow-out phase requires patience and creativity, but thankfully, there are so many ways to style pixie cuts of every length.

For super-short pixies, Montoya likes to take his hairdryer on medium heat and airflow and brush the hair following the shape of the head with his paddle brush—first from right to left, then left to right. "This will help to break any undesired partings that your hair naturally falls into," he explains. From there, he suggests using a pomade for hold and texture.

For longer pixies, he recommends using Bio Ionic's 10x Iron with one-inch plates to smooth out hair or add texture. "To avoid pin-straight ends, slightly bend your wrist and curve your flat iron as you smooth through the ends," recommends Montoya. "Once cool, apply your pomade to add hold, break up texture, and add a smooth, shiny finish."

No matter the length, Wood recommends playing up your look with some fun accessories, donning a middle part, or slicking it back. You'll find products like pastes, pomades, and sprays will come in clutch during this time. We love Oribe's Dry Texturizing Spray, which gives ends textured, piece-y movement for that slightly messy, model-off-duty look.

Try Gradual Lengthening

Gradual lengthening is a great way to transition your hair as it grows. When growing out a pixie cut, ask your stylist to focus on keeping the sides and back of your hair shorter while allowing the top layers to grow longer. This technique creates a gradual transition for your hair, maintaining a neatly coiffed style throughout the growth process.

Eat a Balanced Diet

Be sure to incorporate foods that boost your hair's health. This means loading up on foods good for hair growth—think healthy fats like avocado, salmon, nuts, and lots and lots of veggies. According to Horlenny Burgos, the lead hairstylist at Ouidad's Manhattan flagship location, this will be key to keeping your hair growth journey on track.

Be Patient

Patience is key as hair grows about half an inch per month. "I encourage everyone to find stress management tools that work for them," celebrity hairstylist and Oribe global artist Adam Livermore says. "Exercise, meditation, massage, yoga, whatever works for you, do it. Your life and your hair will be better."