If bobs defined the beginning of this year, then the end is all about a different, similarly flattering short haircut. Gamine and ethereal, the soft pixie has been adopted by many of London’s cool girls, from Iris Law to content creator Alexis Foreman. Sure enough, the impish and cool style is being dressed up (and down) with faux fur coats and grunge beauty galore for the holiday season.
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“It’s not a classic pixie, but more of a blend of a crop and a pixie,” explains hairstylist Luke Hersheson, who has chopped in a few of these styles of late. “It’s gamine but ethereal and has lots of soft edges—Iris Law is a good reference. There’s no harsh line at the back of the neck, instead, the ends are almost tufty, giving the cut a feeling of length.” It also often features tufts of hair, like sideburns, that sit around the ears, creating a flattering, elfin feel. Many soft pixies feature this sort of face-framing detail, such as curtain bangs or a fuller fringe.
Hairstylist Paul Edmonds is also a fan of this new iteration of the pixie, calling it a “look of empowerment.” Perhaps a reaction to the more manicured and homogenous looks we’ve become accustomed to seeing on social media in recent years, it’s a cut that feels lived-in and cool, authentic and individual—ultimately, it’s hair to have fun with.
