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RECIPES STRETCH THE-BEAUTY

50 Long Pixie Cuts to Try No Matter Your Styling Skill Level

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We're calling it now: The days of long, fussy hair extensions are over. Now, it's all about the messy, low-maintenance chop. In particular, pixie cuts with layers and complexities are perfect for effortless, post-quarantine style. But are you ready to make the cut?

“Be honest with yourself and your stylist,” says Adrianne Johnson, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “Is this a look you can commit to? Is it the right fit for your hair type and your lifestyle?”

If you're ready for something manageable, easy-to-style, and towel-dry chic, look no further. The following long and effortless (and in some cases, iconic) pixie cuts only look fussy.

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Zendaya

Zendaya - Long Pixie Cut

Out of all the red-carpet hairstyles Zendaya has sported over the years, it's difficult to choose a favorite. But we think her dirty-blonde pixie cut is criminally underrated. With tousled long bangs and dimensional color, this 'do is effortless perfection (perhaps Rue in Euphoria will wear a similar look next season).

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Joey King

Joey King - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Joey King may have shaved her head for her role in The Act, but she’s always managed to style it gracefully, no matter how awkward in-between growth can be. Here, she’s wearing layered, bouncy curls that are easy to style with a small curling iron. The key is not trying to achieve perfection with each curl and rather allowing them to vary in shape and direction.

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Rihanna

rihanna

Of course, Rihanna can do no wrong, and it's hard to choose from her iconic pixie-cut phase. But there's something about her naturally curly, tousled cut here that makes us feel nostalgic for her Diamonds era—maybe it's the wet-look curls or the statement jewelry. Either way, it's a favorite in our book.

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Kate Moss

Kate Moss - Long Pixie Cut

In case vintage supermodel vibes are your thing, we can’t help but swoon over Kate Moss’s long-pixie-cut-with-sideswept-bangs phase. Get the model-off-duty look with nothing but some smoothing serum and a hair straightener.

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Tavi Gevinson

Tavi Gevinson - Long Pixie Cut

Writer and cool-girl Tavi Gevinson shows us how low-effort is done. She still looks chic and put-together with her long pixie pieces slicked back and pulled behind the ears. Combine that with a fresh face and bold, bright lip, and we can’t help but admire how majorly this look was achieved with (probably) minimal effort.

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Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller - Long Pixie Cut

Model and actress Sienna Miller has long-perfected the effortless cool-girl aesthetic. But nothing encapsulates that vibe quite like a good haircut—and although Miller's been rocking different versions of pixie cuts for years, we're quite fond of this 'do in particular. All you need to do is middle-part your long pixie cut, and flip out the ends to your liking.

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Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson

"And you, you're gonna love me." Jennifer Hudson was right if she was talking about this hairstyle on her—because we're obsessed. The face-framing bangs combined with volume on top makes for a fun, versatile, and easy-to-style cut.

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Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington - Long Pixie Cut

To get Kerry Washington’s piece-y, side-swept bangs, all you need to do is take a pinch of texturizing cream (like Oribe Matte Waves Lotion) on your fingertips to piece out your bangs and accentuate the tousled texture. “It makes you look like you just happen to have great hair without trying,” says Johnson. “It’s not fussy.”

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Agyness Deyn

Agyness

Model Agyness Deyn has never strayed away from a fun beauty moment. This shag-like cut is reminiscent of retro vibes and rock-and-roll—and we're obsessed. Get the look with straight-across bangs, longer face-framing pieces, and a shaggy chop.

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Rowan Blanchard

Rowan Blanchard - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Rowan Blanchard pulls off the whimsical, shag-like pixie cut perfectly—and so could you! “As long as your hair has texture and isn’t too fine, it’s super fun and flirty,” says Johnson. “You need some density to make it work, and the right products to get that effortless vibe.”

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Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie - Long Pixie Cut

We love those who play by their own rules—and experimenting style-wise has always been Nicole Richie's M.O. If you have naturally fine, wavy hair, make the chop like Richie and pair a short, behind-the-ears style with longer, sideswept fringe in front. Chic, simple, and low-effort.

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Linda Evangelista

Linda Evangelista - Long Pixie Cut

We're still taking beauty inspo from our favorite '90s supermodels—because, the looks are proving to be timeless. Linda Evangelista's sweet pixie cut is perfect for 2020 and beyond.

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Maria Borges

Maria Borges - Long Pixie Cut

With short sides and longer pieces on top, get ready for endless styling possibilities. Model Maria Borges shows us how it's done with voluminous ringlets on top, piled asymmetrically. It might look ultra-polished and glam, but with the right cut, you'll be able to style your hair like this instantly.

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Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae - Long Pixie Cut

Janelle Monae is a certified beauty risk-taker, but we love the classic vibes here. “I love my natural hair,” she told us in 2016. “You can straighten it, curl it, play with different shapes and textures.” With a chin-grazing length and a side-part, you’d never guess that the singer usually goes for more whimsical beauty looks on the red carpet, and we love the versatility.

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Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway - Long Pixie Cut

Want a secret styling hack from the pixie-cut pros, like Anne Hathaway? Simply twist your face-framing pieces and pull them back to look like you're wearing an elaborate updo. No matter how you style a long pixie cut, finding the right products is important. "You just have to keep it simple and use the right products, and apply and reapply them when you need to," Johnson says.

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Ruth Bell

Ruth Bell - Long Pixie Cut

Model Ruth Bell has long leaned into androgynous looks, and has played around with a multitude of short hairstyles in the past (including a knockout buzzcut). But we love the look of fringey, face-framing bangs here that look like they could’ve simply been tousled after jumping out of the shower. (And this platinum hair color is the icing on top.)

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Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough Long Pixie Cut

With this style, Julianne Hough further dispels the notion that pixie cuts can't be sexy. Of course, sideswept bangs and a perfect, multidimensional blonde hue don't hurt—but the key to a gorgeous, sultry long pixie like this is subtle layers and hidden, boosted volume.

18 of 50

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder - Long Pixie Cut

Winona Ryder has experimented with short ‘dos in the past, and we love how this sweet style suits her. Use this as inspiration if you wake up one morning and suddenly hate the idea of doing your hair—simply push in a statement-making headband and call it a day.

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Lily Collins

Lily Collins - Long Pixie Cut

Lily Collins is a hair chameleon, and we can't help but fall for this particular piece-y 'do. Chin-length layers have never looked this chic. (And bonus: This is a great look to use for inspiration if you're currently in that in-between stage of "not a pixie, not yet a bob.")

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Maggie Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal - Long Pixie Cut

Maggie Gyllenhaal has worn pixie cuts at varying lengths over the years, but we're obsessed with this side-swept version. It's slightly longer than what the actress usually goes for, and with straightened locks (instead of her signature curly or wavy regimen), it's a refreshingly chic change of pace.

21 of 50

Ruby Rose

Ruby Rose - Long Pixie Cut

It’s not a stretch to say Ruby Rose’s piece-y pixie cut has become her signature look. In particular, her long-pieces-on-top (with voluminous spikes) and short, polished sides have become a red-carpet staple for the actress. Get the look yourself with styling gel and a great round brush.

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Meg Ryan

Meg Ryan - Long Pixie Cut

America's Sweetheart has given us hair-spiration for years. She may be most well-known for her blonde curls, but we love Meg Ryan's short, sleek, and straight look here (even if we miss the curls just a little bit). Get the look with face-framing layers that you, too, can probably wear straight out of bed in the morning.

23 of 50

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman - Long Pixie Cut

Natalie Portman pulls the wet look off perfectly. Although the Oscar-winning actress has graduated to more grown-up styles these days, we can’t help but admire her sleek, long pixie cut days. (Try using a bit of hair oil to recreate your own version.)

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Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart - Long Pixie Cut

Kristen Stewart has experimented with hairstyles throughout her career, but nothing suits her quite as perfectly as a tousled, long pixie cut. (Probably because we know the actress has literally shaved her head before to avoid the fuss of hairstyling.) The contrasting colors at play just add to the fun.

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Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood - Long Pixie Cut

Elevate a simple pixie cut like actress Evan Rachel Wood. Pull some small, individual pieces back, twist, brand, and clip them so it looks like you're hiding an elegant updo under your layers. You'll look red-carpet-ready in under five minutes.

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Robin Wright

Robin Wright - Long Pixie Cut

Robin Wright's been wearing her iconic blonde hair on the red carpet for decades, but there's something about her long pixie cut here that we simply can't get enough of. Maybe it's the dimension of the highlights and length on top, and the piece-y, tousled pieces that make it approachable and chic at the same time. Either way, we're Robin Wright stans forever more.

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Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan - Long Pixie Cut

Besides her topnotch acting chops, Karen Gillan is usually known for her long, gorgeous auburn tresses. But the Dr. Who actress has also sported short, messy styles in the past too—and we love this chin-length 'do that still feels consistent to her usual aesthetic (tousled beach waves).

28 of 50

Audrey Tautou

Audrey Tautou - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Audrey Tautou epitomizes the fuss-free vibe of French style, and her signature tousled locks are no different. Here, she rocks a pixie cut with bouncy waves. This length is perfect for amping up the volume, especially with a naturally wavy texture like Tautou's.

29 of 50

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams - Long Pixie Cut

Queen of pixie cuts, Michelle Williams' piecey, messy pixie cut here is a great example of what to do with naturally fine hair. The layers, side bangs, and color give her dimension, and the cut itself allows for low-maintenance, easy-to-style perfection.

30 of 50

Rita Ora

Rita Ora - Long Pixie Cut

Rita Ora's different hairstyles and colors run the gamut, but we can't help but admire her platinum pixie phase. A foolproof way of styling it is simply to slick it back while wet, like Ora does here. (It'll only look like it took you forever to style it.)

31 of 50

Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks - Long Pixie Cut

Smize your way into a new hair regimen. With long, layered pieces on top, Tyra Banks' long pixie cut has a ton of versatility. Style it straight, wavy, wispy, and beyond.

32 of 50

Ai Tominaga

Ai Tominaga - Long Pixie Cut

Model Ai Tominaga's subtle layers give her look a polished feel, but it definitely has an edge. With tousled pieces and easy layers, you can get a similarly low-maintenance look. (Just make sure your hair texture is right for the cut.)

33 of 50

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley - Long Pixie Cut

Keira Knightley is one of our favorite Hollywood style-and-beauty chameleons, but her retro long pixie cut here is particularly inspired. Get a similar chin-length chop and wear it with touchable beach waves too. It has a retro, vintage vibe but still feels completely of-the-moment.

34 of 50

Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes - Long Pixie Cut

For a few years in the early-aughts, Katie Holmes was the reigning pixie-cut princess. We love her with any hairstyle, to be clear, but there's something ultra-chic and sweet about this sleek, chin-length pixie cut. (It's long enough to wear behind the ears, short enough to style in under five minutes.)

35 of 50

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham - Long Pixie Cut

Multi-hyphenate Victoria Beckham can do no wrong, and that goes for her choice of hairstyles too. She’s had varying degrees of long pixies and short pixies, but the spike-y style here is one of her most iconic. All you need is a good styling wax to get the look yourself.

36 of 50

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence - Long Pixie Cut

Jennifer Lawrence has slayed the long pixie cut for years, and although this 'do is on the longer side for what she's done in the past, we love the way she styles the tousled, short tendrils. If you have naturally wavy hair too, let your long pixie cut loose like Lawrence.

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Halle Berry

Halle Berry - Long Pixie Cut

We can all thank Halle Berry for putting the “sexy pixie cut” on the map. (Seriously—when was the pixie cut ever associated with James Bond films before her?) In any case, one of Berry’s signature, spiky looks is fun, flirty, and easy to achieve with a good styling mousse.

38 of 50

Katy Perry

Katy Perry - Long Pixie Cut

With shorter hair on the sides and longer hair on the top, Katy Perry's undercut is top-notch and versatile. "You can play up both sides, collapse the hair on it, or show the undercut and own the edginess," Johnson says. "It can be high-fashion and punk, all at once."

39 of 50

Danai Gurira

Danai Gurira - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Danai Gurira has a gorgeous asymmetrical moment here, with long pieces on top collapsing over to frame her face. Got volume like this? You'll give your hair extra bounce by cutting it shorter. Plus, the styling possibilities are endless.

40 of 50

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan - Long Pixie Cut

Carey Mulligan has sported pixie cuts before pixie cuts were cool. Of course, it's hard to pick a favorite style of hers, but we love this long, blonde piecey moment. If you have fine hair, you can give the illusion of volume too, with strategically placed layers and styled bangs.

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Kate Mara

Kate Mara - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Kate Mara gives us messy, tousled perfection without looking frizzy. The key is getting a lightweight working spray (like Kérastase Laque Dantelle) to smooth flyaways and layers. “Whether your hair is freshly washed or it’s been a few days,” says Johnson, “you should definitely use a spray to prep and finish hair for hot tool use, like when you use a curling iron.”

42 of 50

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Tilda Swinton enlisted the half-buzz here, and we're kind of obsessed. Also referred to as an undercut, Tilda's shaven side could be easily concealed with her longer, messy layers, or shown off like so. The versatility is what makes this style even more alluring.

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Coco Rocha

Coco Rocha - Long Pixie Cut

Although Coco Rocha's hair may be naturally fine, the strategic layers of her blonde pixie add volume and movement. "Layers create lift," says Johnson. "So although you might have less hair density, finding the right balance for your hair type is the most important thing." Clearly, layering short hair pays off when it's done right.

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Haley Bennett

Haley Bennett - Long Pixie Cut

Turn your natural waves into something a little more glam, à la actress Haley Bennett. How to get the retro look, you ask? It's easy: While your hair is wet, brush a heavy mousse through it, and use hairpins where you want your curl to be—and don't remove them until the minute before you walk out the door for ultimate oomph.

45 of 50

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore - Long Pixie Cut

Drew Barrymore is a beauty aficionado in her own right—and she shows how a wavy short ‘do is done. And good news for those of us growing out pixie cuts as we speak: No matter what stage of the growing-out process you’re in, you’ll be golden if you simply tousle your waves with some styling serum to get the look.

46 of 50

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow - Long Pixie Cut

Yes, this might be the kind of post you’d see on the @90sanxiety Instagram account, but we also love the hair inspo Gwyneth is giving here. With a chin-grazing length and flipped-out ends, it’s the ultimate vintage throwback.

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Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley - Long Pixie Cut

Shailene Woodley's pixie cut plays around with style and color. Emphasize your high- and lowlights with a dimensional, layered cut like this one. Tousle it, pull it up, or part it on the side—either way, the length here will give you plenty of options.

48 of 50

Nora Zehetner

Nora Zehetner - Long Pixie Cut

Actress Nora Zehetner is known for effortless style, and this curly long pixie cut—complete with front ringlets—is definitely one of her best looks. If you have naturally wavy hair, use a good hairspray to play around with your bangs and manipulate the pieces around your face. With a good holding spray, you can get next-level volume, too.

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Emma Watson

Emma Watson - Long Pixie Cut

Play around with pixie cuts like Emma Watson has over the years. Her sheared side bangs paired with longer pieces on the sideburns is vintage, red-carpet Emma at her finest (if we do say so ourselves). Barely visible: a headband she slipped in for some extra-plush volume.

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Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz - Long Pixie Cut

A forever blonde bombshell, Cameron Diaz can really never do wrong. But if you've been waiting for the moment to finally chop your hair off, let this be a sign: No one does a tousled blonde pixie cut better than Diaz (especially if you need it to hold up during action movie stunts and sequences).

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RECIPES STRETCH THE-BEAUTY

Face Taping Wrinkles Is Trending—But Does It Actually Work?

Woman using Frownies in her mirror

When it comes to TikTok beauty advice, things can get dicey pretty quickly, with everyday people making sweeping proclamations with little to no evidence to back them up—think the viral Vitamin C tests. That’s not to say all TikTok-born beauty hacks are bad; quite the contrary. After all, who could forget Mario Dedivanovic’s viral lip liner technique or the endless tutorials on blush placement? But overall, TikTok beauty trends and advice should be taken with a grain of salt—we need to look at who is sharing this advice, why they’re sharing it, and what proof they have to back it up.

The latest trend to hit the FYP? Face taping. Yes, as in putting tape on your face either overnight or for a limited amount of time under makeup to reduce wrinkles.

It’s actually nothing new. Frownies, the most famous brand of face tape, hit the market in 1889 and has long been one of Hollywood’s oldest secrets—actress, singer, model, and international sex symbol Raquel Welch even admitted to applying them nightly in her autobiography. Meanwhile, many leading ladies have spoken of wearing face tape for events or during filming to give the skin a lifted, smoother appearance. It’s also a technique frequented by the drag community.

So what’s the deal? Is face taping the key to staying youthful or just another ill-advised social media trend? We asked the pros—board-certified dermatologists Anthony Rossi, MD, and Ranella Hirsch, MD, and board-certified plastic surgeon Raja Mohan, MD—to weigh in. Keep reading for their thoughts on face taping.

Meet the Expert

  • Anthony Rossi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist recognized internationally as a leading expert on sensitive skin.
  • Raja Mohan, MD, is a Dallas-based plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries of the face, breasts, and body.
  • Ranella Hirsch, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Atolla.

What Is Face Taping?

Unromantically, face taping is exactly what it sounds like. Simply put, it’s a technique that claims to fight and prevent fine lines and wrinkles using strategically placed sticky tape on areas of the face. By wearing it overnight, the tape should ideally constrict muscles and limit their motion, preventing you from frowning or making other line-inducing expressions in your sleep. It’s also said to reduce and prevent lines caused by sleeping on your side and stomach. Face tape can also be used for an immediate lifting and smoothing effect—like Spanx for your face, says Hirsch.

“Face taping may not be mainstream but it’s not new,” Rossi says. “From drag performers to movie stars, face taping has been used to help instantly lift the skin and disguise wrinkles in strategic places. By taping the face up in certain vectors, you can give an instant facelift effect.”

You might have seen the aforementioned Frownies in your grandmother’s medicine cabinet growing up; they’re flesh-toned face stickers that come in various shapes and sizes depending on their intended uses (a rounded triangle shape for the forehead and in between the eyes, butterfly-shaped for the corners of the eyes and mouth, and so on). Today, there are dozens of options available from brands like Furlesse, SiO Beauty, and others. 

Benefits of Face Taping

Here’s the thing: All of the doctors agree that wrinkles and fine lines certainly look better when the tape is on. So using it overnight seems to be a moot point—the tape isn’t going to reduce your wrinkles. When used for an event, though, it can hide signs of aging and gives an immediate lift to the face.

But, as Mohan puts it, using face tape is similar to using makeup to cover blemishes—it’s an instant material effect, not a long-term solution or fix. If you’re looking to actually treat wrinkles, he suggests looking into laser therapy, chemical peels, and other in-office procedures.

Potential Side Effects of Face Taping

Even as a short-term, momentary solution, face tape can be fairly cumbersome. According to Rossi, it’s hard to camouflage, even with heavy makeup or a wig. Beyond that, all the doctors mentioned the potential for irritation due to the glue on the tape. And while Hirsch points out that certain materials are often used for face tape to lessen this risk, irritation is still a possibility. 

And, Rossi says, repeated use can and will be irritating for most people—regardless of the tape’s materials. He also points out that if the tape is left on too long, its occlusive nature could cause clogged pores and acne from the sweat and sebum buildup.

The Final Takeaway

It’s clear that overnight face taping is fairly pointless—it does not provide any sort of permanent benefits and can really only cause irritation. The same goes for everyday use. Face tape is hard to camouflage and repeated use increases the chances of irritation.

If someone can recognize it for what it is—which, as Hirsch brilliantly puts it, is “facial Spanx” meant to temporarily improve the appearance for a big night out or for filming—it can be okay occasionally. Just remember that it is by no means whatsoever a way to treat or prevent wrinkles.

And so, the final verdict is a big fat… it’s complicated—as with most viral hacks we see online. Happy scrolling.

Article Sources Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

  1. History of frownies. The Frownies.