Fine thin hair - should I grow out pixie?

[BabCNesbitt]

I’ve had a short pixie cut for nearly 15 years (think Michelle Williams at her shortest); the nearest I’ve got to growing it out was over lockdown, but I’ve generally preferred keeping it short (and I’m told I do suit it). But I’m now late 40s and I’m wary of it starting to look too much like a sensible middle-aged lady cut (can never be arsed styling it and product generally makes it look greasy). I used to look cute; now I just look a bit haggard.

I’m willing to go through the misery of growing it out if it’ll be worth it, but my hair tended towards the thin and straggly when it was shoulder length (lots of random flicks in annoying directions, no volume at all) and it never got long enough to tie up properly. When it was briefly long enough to put in a ponytail, I’d have to loop it around four or five times, to give you an idea of how fine my hair is! So my question is, should I give it one last try, or just accept that sensible mum crop is my future?

I could have written your post, OP so I’m watching with interest! I’ve had a pixie for over 20 years now. I sometimes dream of going back to how I used to have my hair - a chin length bob. But like you, it’s so thin and straggly (I’m 50 and I don’t think the menopause is helping) that it may look even worse. For now I’m trying out more edgier cuts to keep it looking a bit cooler and not old lady-ish! At the moment I have an undercut similar to this. I’ve even thought about a complete buzz cut!

I’ve grown out my really short crop and now have a slightly shorter version of this - including the colour. My hair is very fine so I dry with a Babyliss Big Hair for volume, run straighteners through it and sprinkle on a bit of styling powder. Shoulder length would be too long for my hair.

@Iheartmysmart That looks great! How long did it take you to grow it out, and how often were you going for trims?

@BabCNesbitt My hair grows quite quickly so it’s taken about 8 months. Started off with 6 weekly trims them moved on to 8 weeks when it had grown down a bit. It’s now about an inch below my earlobe at the longest point.

This is giving me some hope. The last time I had longer hair, I also had a cheap crappy hairdryer and 99p shampoo and conditioner (though far fewer grey hairs) and I’m wondering if I might be able to coax it into not looking so limp and woeful.

Try a short blunt Bob

Oh, I’ve had a fringe like that in the past, but I also have glasses and they looked crap with a blunt fringe (plus I have cowlicks all over the front of my hairline so fringes never lie nice and neat like that for me).

I find I get a much smoother finish with the Babyliss as well as more volume. I use a volumising spray on the roots and a little bit of Frizz Ease on the ends. Conditioner weighs my hair down so I don’t use it every day.

Loving this thread for some inspiration! I also have v fine hair and it's getting thinner in my 40s - think I need to go shorter. Interesting tip on the styling powder (is that like dry shampoo?)

@Coniferhedge

I could have written your post, OP so I’m watching with interest! I’ve had a pixie for over 20 years now. I sometimes dream of going back to how I used to have my hair - a chin length bob. But like you, it’s so thin and straggly (I’m 50 and I don’t think the menopause is helping) that it may look even worse. For now I’m trying out more edgier cuts to keep it looking a bit cooler and not old lady-ish! At the moment I have an undercut similar to this. I’ve even thought about a complete buzz cut!

That cut is fire!! If I could get my hair to do that I would never grow it out 😂

My hair is so fine, I have the problem that using wax or any sort of styling product like wax just weighs my hair down rather than making it look choppier and piecey. My recommendation is Kevin Murphy Bedroom Hair. It’s not cheap, but I find I don’t need much so it lasts a long time. I just squoosh a quick spritz over my hair and that helps to give it more volume and texture without the weight that wax can add.

www.cultbeauty.co.uk/kevin.murphy-bedroom.hair/13311494.html

what about making your hair more interesting by dying it funky colours, but keeping it short?

I think I’d still prefer to have my natural hair colour (minus the greys!) but just not look like I’m copping out by having a sensible, low maintenance, blah cut.

This is the year to do it if you want to try it. There are so many cool variations of shag/pixie hybrid or Bob/pixie hybrid cuts that I think would work with fine hair that are the “Cool Girl” styles of 2022. Why don’t you Google and make a Pinterest board and take to your hairdresser?

@Fraaahnces Do you think a shag cut would work on a tired-looking 40-something, as opposed to a skinny 20-something? Or would it just look like I’d just emerged from lockdown?

I think it all boils down to personality and also if you want to keep it or maybe keep growing it out into a slightly longer shag. Why not try it?

**personally I think it’s quite feminine and it’s not really a new hairdo anyway. It’s been done many times before. In the 70’s, 90’s and now.