Adding a shaved section to a pixie changes its whole attitude. Remove hair from one side, the nape or beneath the top layer and the cut instantly feels sharper, cooler and lighter to wear. In this collection you’ll find a long half-shaved pixie with punk roots, a sleek blonde crop slicked to one side, a lavender pixie bob with a shaved nape, a curly mohawk in metallic colour and several undercuts carved with lines and patterns.
These cuts suit people who like low-effort mornings but enjoy a bold silhouette. Thick hair benefits most, since shaving underneath removes bulk and helps the top lie flat. Fine hair can work too if the top is left longer and styled with volume. Petite features and defined cheekbones are shown off by the exposed sides, while asymmetrical versions balance rounder faces by adding height and angles.
Bear in mind that shaved areas grow out quickly; most need a clipper touch-up every two to four weeks to stay crisp, and designs fade even faster.
1. Modern Buzz-Cut
Longer hair on top combined with a buzzed side updates the classic buzz cut without going fully extreme. It nods to seventies and eighties punk, and pushing the colour to stark white would make it even more striking.
Inspiration: @ladylee.looks
2. The Sleek Crop
With one side shaved and the other smoothed back into glossy blonde lengths, this crop works equally well at the office and on a night out. The sleek finish keeps it polished, while the shaved side adds an unexpected edge.
Inspiration: @fernthebarber
3. Swept-Over Style
An asymmetrical pixie with a shaved side and a long sweep of hair over the top projects a confident, powerful image. It’s a daring choice for someone who enjoys a strong statement, and the swept section can be restyled to change the mood.
Inspiration: @johnny_spanakos
4. Textured Undercut
Long blonde pixie layers sit over a severe undercut, a contrast between soft texture and hard lines that shouldn’t work but does. Pale blonde or two-tone colour emphasises the difference even more. A light texture paste helps the long top layers stay piecey and soft.
Inspiration: @katiezimbalisalon
5. Powder Pink Pixie
Powdery lavender transforms a choppy pixie bob with a shaved nape and fine etched lines. Short cuts are perfect for testing colourful shades, since any experiment grows out quickly; soft pastels are a gentle place to start.
Inspiration: @presleypoe
6. The Feathered Cut
Gentle feathering keeps this pixie bob casual, with just a small shaved temple for edge. Natural browns, blondes and even grey suit it well, and the fine, wispy shape tends to flatter slim or petite faces.
Inspiration: @russellmayes
7. Chic Curled Mohawk
Soft curls are teased to one side over an undercut, creating a glamorous mohawk-like shape. Metallic colour adds shine and depth, and leaving the curls loose rather than tightly set keeps the look relaxed. A curl cream and a quick diffuse keep the curls defined on top.
Inspiration: @jacquelynmarieh
8. The Boyish Cut
Short blonde hair with a shaved nape gives a boyish, gender-neutral look that has become hugely popular. It is simple to wear and quick to style, relying on clean lines and a neat outline rather than product.
Inspiration: @caitlinfordhair
9. Asymmetric Undercut
A blonde layered pixie sits over an asymmetric undercut decorated with small indented patterns. Those subtle details set it apart, and the hair waved back at the top adds a mod-inspired, polished-yet-carefree finish. Ask your barber to refresh the indented patterns every couple of weeks.
Inspiration: @playwithscissors
10. Quirky Quiff
Very short sides graduate up into a flexible top that can be pushed back into a sleek quiff or brought forward as a soft fringe. The gradual shave keeps the outline feminine while allowing two completely different looks.
Inspiration: @dillahajhair
11. Short and Snappy Haircut
Ash blonde with shaved sides and a textured, naturally falling top makes a striking but easy pixie. Adding texture through the crown flatters smaller frames and delicate features especially well. A matte clay worked through dry hair keeps the texture separated.
Inspiration: @naomihairdesign
12. Pixie with Paneled Color
Panelled colour, a nineties favourite, returns with a modern spin on an asymmetrical half-shaved pixie. The detailed undercut acts as a frame for the coloured top layer, making the whole head look like a piece of art.
Inspiration: @hugosalon
13. Subtle Moho Hairstyle
A choppy pixie with a side undercut gets a slight mohawk flick at the top. It’s an original, daring touch, while the feathered sides soften the overall effect and keep it feminine. Push the top upward with a small amount of wax to create the flick.
Inspiration: @cocoutureartistry
14. The Sassy ‘Updo’
Black hair is piled into a tousled, pseudo updo on top while the nape is shaved with a design. The two elements seem opposite yet complement each other, giving the classic pixie a sassy streak.
Inspiration: @artistry4gg
15. The Swept-Back Cut
Fine hair can still achieve a glamorous swept-back look when shaved sections remove bulk and a little length is left on top. Brush the top back with a light cream and you have a sleek style without growing long hair.
Inspiration: @naomihairdesign
16. Asian Shaved Pixie
A short pixie with an undershave keeps fullness on top while the hidden shaved section adds a rebellious feel. It’s versatile enough for both professional days and evenings out, and the top can be worn smooth or messy.
Inspiration: @headdress_hairsalon
17. Pastel Pink Pixie Undercut
Pastel pink colour meets a half-shaved pixie with a cropped back and messy top, adding a punk twist to a sweet shade. Bright colour on a short cut is an easy way to experiment with your image.
Inspiration: @hairbykristenh
18. Cascading Curls with Shaved Undercut
Texture can be tricky when most of the length is removed, but loose curls dropping heavily to one side solve that problem here. A side undercut lightens the base, leaving the curls to sit in an elegant sweep.
Inspiration: @playwithscissors
19. The Shaven Detail Haircut
A shaved design worked into the undercut turns this pixie into a canvas for hair art. Adding a pattern may feel like a leap, but the whimsical result is worth it; plan to refresh the lines regularly as they grow out quickly.
Inspiration: @b.k_bescene
20. Cropped Cut
A long pixie with an undercut can be cut with just one side shaved or the full undercut all around. Blow-drying the top layer smooth adds a glossy finish, making it a simple, dependable shaved-sides option.
Inspiration: @toniandguyperth
Deciding how much to shave
Start conservatively if you’re unsure. A small nape undercut can be hidden by the top layer and grown out discreetly, while a full side shave is a bigger commitment that takes months to blend back in.
- Nape only: subtle, visible when the back is lifted; good for first-timers.
- One side: asymmetrical and dramatic; the longer side can sweep over.
- Both sides and back: the most graphic look, often paired with a quiff or mohawk-like top.
Ask for a clipper guard number rather than “short” so the result is predictable, and decide whether you want a hard line or a softer fade into the longer hair.
Styling and maintaining the top
The length left on top is what makes these cuts versatile. Blow-dry it back for a slick quiff, push it forward for a fringe or twist it into piecey texture with a matte paste. A small amount of pomade gives shine for sleek crops. Book trims for the shaved area every few weeks and for the top every six to eight, and use a purple shampoo if your pixie is pale blonde or pastel.