40 Lovely Pixie Haircuts That Prove Shorter Can Indeed Be Better

We've all been there; you're wrestling with your hair, or you see someone with a cute and stylish short hairstyle, and suddenly you're inspired. Should you go for the big chop? Cutting your hair can be a big decision, especially if you're thinking of a style as short as a pixie cut. But it can also be an exciting change that's easier to style and gets rid of old, damaged hair for a fresh start. 

Whether you've already decided to get your hair cut or are still weighing your options, there are lots of styles to consider. Just because your hair is short doesn't mean you can't find unique ways to style it and express yourself. Pixie cuts can be cute and spunky, elegant and chic, or anywhere in between. We've found 40 of our absolute favorite short haircuts that show just how trendy and varied pixie cuts can be.

This is another slightly longer pixie that gives you a little more hair to frame your face while keeping the back cropped. The extreme side part adds some drama, and the shorter layers on the top provide volume, which is especially great if you have fine hair.

Actress Carey Mulligan is known for rocking a variety of chic and cute short hairstyles. At the 2010 Met Gala, she rocked a pixie with most of her hair brushed forward for heavy, straight-across bangs (via PopSugar). It's a bolder style that looks wonderful with Mulligan's oval face shape and delicate features.

As reported by PopSugar, Emma Watson had her hair in this sleek style at the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" premiere in New York City in 2011. Her short hair was parted neatly to the side and slicked back for a chic and sophisticated look that's easy to copy.

If you want a stylish haircut that you don't have to spend a lot of time styling, this is the look for you. The super short, cropped pixie is about as low-maintenance as it gets but still looks fun and edgy with a slightly spiked top.

This is a fun and edgy take on the classic pixie cut. The short hair is chopped into light, feathery layers that are easy to style into a slight faux hawk. It's a great option if you have fine hair that you want to give some texture and volume.

This haircut is such a fun take on the pixie cut. The shaved sides keep the hair off your neck, which is perfect for the summer. Then you have lots of longer layers on top to curl, gel, and style into a high pompadour (via Byrdie).

Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, there's a pixie cut that will look amazing, and we love this style for hair with tight curls! The short and simple cut looks adorable and is the perfect way to show off your natural ringlets.

This haircut gives you the best of both worlds. You get the heavy bangs and layers on top as well as the edgy undercut on the sides. If you have thick hair, it's a great way to cut down on volume while keeping some length. Plus, it looks incredible with vibrant, dyed hair!

If you are looking for an edgier style, then this mullet pixie cut is the way to go. The long in the back and short in the front style is inspired by the popular '70s mullet haircut. But the messier, choppier layers on top give it a modern feel.

This is another pixie cut that's great if you have thick hair. The longer layers give it a similar shape to a classic bob, but the undercut at the nape of the neck keeps it fairly short and takes away extra volume so that it's not too big.

Short, soft, feathered layers are the perfect way to add a little extra texture to a traditional pixie cut. Kaley Cuoco, who's had a stunning transformation, is another celebrity who's worn her hair at many lengths. She looked beautiful with this short, spunky style messily parted to the side with some side-swept bangs.

The short, cropped pixie looks just as amazing with curly hair. This haircut is just long enough for the tight curls to show but super easy to maintain with cropped sides and a higher top.

This messy cut gives you lots of layers and bangs while keeping the hair light. To get this look, the hair has to be cut with a razor along with regular scissors. Using a razor on the hair ends eliminates some of the bulk you'd have with a blunt cut for easier, lighter layers.

This simple cut with feathered layers is one of the most classic pixie cuts you can get. It's a no-fuss cut, and the short bangs give it a little more interest without adding heavy bangs that you'd have to style every morning.

This pixie cut gives you a nice amount of length to frame the face but keeps it short in the back. The razored layers at the top of the head provide some extra volume even where it's short, which is great for thin or straight hair.

This is another option with short layers in the back and long in the front. The heavy side-swept bangs make a big statement brushed over her eyes. However, it is a pretty versatile cut that you can style more like a bob if you don't want as messy of a look.

An undercut at the temple is another way to cut down on bulk if you have a lot of hair. You can leave the longer hair covering the undercut or tuck the front layers behind your ear, like in this picture, to show the shaved corner off.

This is a spunky, shorter version of the asymmetric cut. For the most part, it's as short as a classic pixie but with the addition of angled bangs on one side. The small, choppy layers are a great way to give some lift, even to pin-straight hair.

For a no-nonsense short style that looks cute and professional, this is the way to go. Soft layers help the hair to lay right, but there are no choppy layers or heavy bangs. Just a simple short cut with neat lines that's easy to style.

This longer pixie cut is great for a cute professional look. It's also a great option if you're working on growing out a shorter style and need an in-between haircut.