When it comes to the biggest spring hair trends, short hair is not only having a serious moment right now but one haircut in particular – the ‘bixie’ – is set to headline in summer 2026, too, thanks to celebrities such as Gracie Abrams and Zendaya giving it a cool-girl update.
What is a bixie?
Put simply, the bixie is the lovechild of two distinctive haircuts – the bob and the pixie. This hairstyle had its heyday in the ‘90s, even if we don’t remember it being called that at the time. Think of the influx of short haircuts during that decade—the ones that weren't cropped enough to be called pixies, but weren't long enough to be considered bobs. (At the time, I think we just called it "short hair"?).
So many stars were doing it: Winona Ryder, Meg Ryan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, Rachael Leigh Cook, Neve Campbell, Drew Barrymore and the Aussie soap opera star turned pop singer who inspired my own college crop, Natalie Imbruglia. Essentially, the bixie "is a shaggy bob with a mix of layers to add dimension and texture,” says hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons.
The evolution of the Bixie
The bixie was an undeniably adorable look that eventually fell out of favour. My theory is that it evolved from a carefree crop to a more heavily styled, extremely angular look. But lived-in texture is back for 2026.
Emma Stone first made a case for this last year, but in recent weeks there's been a smorgasbord of celebrities co-signing the modern bixie. Hamnet's Jessie Buckley has showcased how versatile the bixie is, wearing the crop side swept and textured one minute, and slicked down in a retro style the next. Gracie Abrams has made the ‘Tinkerbell bixie’ one of the coolest cuts of the year so far and, in exclusive shots from Zendaya's A24 shoot with Robert Pattinson (promoting their new wedding film, The Drama, premiering on April 3), the actor just delivered a lesson in how to master the soft curly bixie.
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Not to mention countless content creators have brought back that original, lower-key, bob-meets-pixie vibe, and with it, an inevitability: We're all going to be getting bixies in 2026.
“The bixie haircut is growing in popularity today because it feels like a more customised take on shorter hairstyles,” says Devin Toth, a hairstylist at Salon SCK. In essence, a bob finishes between the cheekbone and shoulder. "A pixie’s super-short length limits customisation. A bixie, however, lives in-between the two with more length to work with and a style that doesn’t feel as weighty,” says Devin.
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It’s also a smart warm-weather style choice, as hairstylist Monae Everett attests. “Bixies are great for the summer when you want to have a shorter hairstyle while growing out a pixie cut,” she says.
As for which hair types may be best suited for a bixie, Fabrice Gilli, a stylist at Fekkai Soho, recommends the bixie for “fine- to medium-textured hair."
Monae says that no one should shy away from the look because they fear it’s not a fit for their hair texture, but that tighter curls and coils “that grow upward and away from the scalp” might have a tougher time replicating the exact bixie shape from the ‘90s.
How to wear the bixie?
If you’re thinking of trying it out yourself, you can expect plenty of hairstylists to know what you mean when you say 'bixie, says Fabrice. “With that said, it’s always good to show your hairstylist a picture of the look you’re going for to ensure it’s exactly what you want,” he adds.
That, and pay attention to how your hairstylist finishes your new look. To style your bixie, Devin recommends a strong-hold cream or wax (like the Shu Uemura Umou Hold Hair Cream), and a strong-hold hairspray (particularly the Kérastase Laque hairspray). Moane agrees, adding a texturising hairspray is essential for straight hair if you’re adding waves or curls “to really show off the layers.” Her pick for this is the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray.
And if you've been won over by Gracie's ‘Tinkerbell bixie’, “Keep a little length at the nape so it can flick upwards,” Melissa Timperley, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Melissa Salons, tells Glamour. "That small detail transforms it to fashion-forward, giving it movement, charm and femininity. Work a pea-sized amount of lightweight wax or cream into the ends – avoid heavy products, this cut is about airiness, not weight.”
Ahead, bixie haircut inspiration from the ‘90s and beyond.
The 2026 Tinkerbell bixie
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The soft curly bixie
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The classic bixie
The deep side part bixie
The piece-y bixie
The flared-out bixie
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