The Classic Pixie Is Getting a Flirty Update In 2024 (2024)

While there’s no “right” time to reinvent yourself, the new year seems to be a popular season to redecorate your apartment, pick up a new hobby, or — if you’re beauty-obsessed like us — get a new haircut. Thankfully, 2024’s haircut trends are versatile and make that first trip to the salon more exciting than usual.

While ‘90s haircuts like the octopus and mixie reigned supreme in the past year, hairstylists predict the return of the longer, flowier hairstyles of the ‘70s. As far as fringes go, Jane Birkin-inspired bangs will sweep foreheads from January to December.

Short crops will still be in style, but expect them to have a more effortless twist. Relaxed bobs and pixies with natural waves will replace more done-up styles like the bowl cut and the mullet — which is great news for those who prefer a low-maintenance styling routine. If spending time primping your hair brings you joy, don’t worry, there are still hairstyles for you. The chin-length bob and halo cut will give you plenty of opportunities to play around with hot tools and brushes to achieve the perfect shape.

Continue reading to discover the top 2024 haircut trends along with expert tips for styling and maintaining your new crop.

Meet the experts:

• Angela Calisti is a New York City-based hairstylist.
• Sunnie Brook is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
• Sophie Rose Gutterman is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
• Michael Dueñas is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist.
• Melissa Wade-Smith is a hairstylist based in La Canada Flintridge, California.
• Dazy Lyn is a Los Angeles-based hairstylist and owner of Dazy Lyn Studio.
• Frédéric Fekkai is a global hairstylist and founder of Fekkai haircare.

Wavy Blunt Bob

Hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai says people have been wanting a more relaxed, “lived-in” flare to their hair, so instead of bone-straight bobs, expect to see slightly tousled waves that mimic natural textures. Fekkai also notes that this bob forgoes layers in favor of blunt ends because “the jagged edges add an edgy and modern twist to the classic bob shape.”

If you’re looking to wear a wavy blunt bob this year, experts recommend asking your stylist to get rid of some weight in the ends to remove bulkiness. "This will allow for straight sleek looks, or rounder, fuller, and denser looks depending on your hair texture," says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Michael Dueñas. He also recommends keeping the cut square as this will create height in the corners and push the hair forward towards your face.

‘70s Birkin Bangs

Bust out your tie-dye and paisley prints because we’re due for a ‘70s revival. Though we can’t predict exactly what ‘70s fashion or culture trends will resurge, our crystal ball says Birkin Bangs from that era will definitely have a moment. “This haircut is inspired by the iconic Jane Birkin,” says Fekkai. “It features full French bangs paired with collarbone-length or longer [hair].”

The key to the perfectly undone vibe of this look is subtle layers. Fekkai says layers that are slightly uneven and “broken” give this cut a soft and natural appearance. This haircut is especially great for those with natural type 2 waves (a slight S-shaped wave) because this hair texture gives that effortless free-spirited look with minimal styling.

Chin-Length Bob

Another short haircut you can expect to take off in 2024 is the chin-length bob. Even going from a neck-length hairstyle to this hairstyle is dramatic enough to stop traffic in the best way. Characterized by its jaw-skimming length and chin-framing shape, this look is “short, clean, and playful, while being stylish at the same time,” says Melissa Wade-Smith, a hairstylist based in La Canada Flintridge, California.

Wear it sleek, straight, and parted down the middle like Lori Harvey, or add some curl cream to your hair and wear it with some texture, like Issa Rae’s tousled side-part bob.

Halo Cut

You don’t have to be an angel to have a halo. This ethereal cut will get you close enough. Consider the halo a more relaxed version of the bowl cut. (It’s even more laid back than the shaggy bowl cut that was trendy last year.) With a loose, round shape, this face-framing haircut “arches below the brows, carving around the face and opening up at the cheekbones,” says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Sunnie Brooke.

This cut can be cropped at the chin or sit at the collarbone but the mainstay of this look is the curved bangs. Ask your stylist to cut “subtle layers to allow for movement," says Fekkai. For the bangs, your hairstylist should cut along the eyebrow and frame your face so that layers enhance the curves and contours of your face.

Curly Pixie

The classic pixie is getting a flirty update in 2024. Experts predict this short haircut with curly bangs, which Brook calls “The Swish,” will be a go-to for those looking to completely refresh their look. (Stars like Taylor Hill and Joey King have already hopped on the wave.)

“The signature of this look is a sweeping fringe or layer that softly crosses the forehead,” says Brooke. She recommends asking your hairstylist for higher layers on the sides so all the volume is front-loaded.

This look is great for those with a naturally wavy hair texture because it allows your hair to do its thing without too much styling — just a few spritzes of texturizer (we love the SexyHair Texture Beach'n Spray) to define your curls, gather your bangs right where you want them, and you’re ready to step out.

Eyelash Bangs

This year, expect bangs that are longer than you’ve ever seen before. Hairstylists predict people will be wearing long and wispy eyelash bangs which, according to Los Angeles-based hairstylist Sophie Rose Gutterman are “almost too long but in the best way.” If your hair is naturally straight, these bangs don’t require as much styling as other types of bangs (like curtain bangs) because “they can be worn straight down which gives a super sexy mysterious vibe,” says Gutterman.

Gutterman recommends coming to the salon with some inspo pictures. (Rihanna and Sydney Sweeney’s eyelash bangs are spot on according to the stylist.) For functionality, ask your stylist to leave the middle of your bangs a little bit shorter and wispier (so your eyesight isn’t obstructed) and make the sides long to blend in with the rest of your hair creating a face-framing arch.

Round Curly Cut

There are a variety of curly haircuts that enhance the natural beauty of textured hair, but experts agree that a round curly cut is the most versatile (which also makes it the most popular). This cut shapes the face and allows curls to look fuller and more uniform. There are a few iterations of this haircut based on texture and length ​​so Los Angeles-based hairstylist Dazy Lyn recommends bringing a reference picture “to ensure your hairstylist knows exactly what type of shape and length you desire.”

Two stars to take inspiration from are Yara Shahidi who has a shoulder-length rounded cut with curved, face-framing curly bangs, and Ice Spice who wears the cut in a tighter-shaped afro with fullness and volume concentrated at the top and front of the hair.

Polished Shag

Consider this the bougie sister to the shaggy bob that was trendy in 2023. “This haircut is perfect for those who have become bored with their basic bob or shag and want to take it up a notch,” says Wade-Smith. The longer, straighter layers make it more polished than your average shag, while the bottle shape and flipped ends make it more interesting than a basic bob. This cut’s simplicity makes it easy to style and maintain which is why Wade-Smith predicts it will be the most sought-after haircut of 2024.

If you want the standard version of this cut, ask your stylist to add internal layers throughout the bottom of your hair. “These diagonal layers remove weight allowing the curvature of the head to create volume and movement,” says Wade-Smith. For a sultrier look (perfect for thinner hair types), ask your stylist to remove less hair leaving longer layers from the crown of the head to the nape. For more drama, have your stylist add extra wispy bangs and flip your ends with a flat iron for that retro look.

Butterfly Layers

If you want hair that gently hugs the contours of your face, consider butterfly layers. This feminine haircut “beautifully frames the face with soft flattering layers that offer softness and movement,” says Wade-Smith. Ask your stylist for angled or face-framing layers to remove the weight from around the curvature of the face and create volume and movement. For increased volume and fullness, Biotera Wade-Smith suggests asking your stylist to extend your layers throughout by using the face-framing layers as the stationary guide and “overdirecting the remaining hair, section by section, to the stationery guide, creating short to longer layers.”

For maximum volume, while styling this cut, Wade-Smith recommends using a round brush dryer with a light mousse, like the Biotera Styling Mousse (Wade-Smith is an ambassador for the brand). We like the Hours Full-Time Plumping Mousse for this because the airy whip dissolves on contact and gives your style incredible staying power. Drying the bangs forward and away from your face creates that signature butterfly look that makes this style so alluring.

Discover more trends:

• Getting a Curly Cut Can Help You Embrace Your Natural Texture
• Here’s How to Gracefully Grow Out a Pixie Haircut
• A Step Haircut Will Give You Shampoo-Commercial Hair

Now, watch a video about hair health: