The Flixie: A Low-Maintenance Haircut Inspired by the 90s

The scent of old newsprint still clings to my memory, a lingering echo from early days at Reuters. It wasn't the breaking headlines that captivated me, though; it was the meticulous dissection of a story, the patient unpicking of layers.

Introducing the Flixie

I’m an all-or-nothing person. I’m either watering my basil plant religiously or neglecting it for three months. Feeding my sourdough starter diligently or neglecting it for three months. Maintaining my micro-fringe with the precision of a neurosurgeon or… yep, you guessed it, neglecting it for three months. So, when I hear about a haircut that promises to look good with very little effort, I am, naturally, all ears. Enter: the flixie, a part grown-out pixie, part 90s flick and a very good option for anyone whose fine hair has a habit of going flat at the slightest hint of a breeze (AKA, someone breathing within my vicinity).

Oh, and crucially, if you neglect it for three months, it won't perish like my basil plant, sourdough starter or fringe. It's an all-rounder, TBH.

What is the Flixie?

The name is essentially a haircut portmanteau (read: mash-up!!): flixie equals flick plus pixie. Comprende? Think of it as a grown-out pixie with the ends flicking out and back, and often, through the sides, too. John Frieda Mayfair hairstylist Zoe Irwin describes it as "a softened pixie, with the back flicking out," calling it "a real 90s haircut". Any given opportunity to resurrect the 90s and I'm there!

Styling and Suitability

That said, if you’re worried it might feel a little ~dated~, fear not. This isn't the sort of retro revival that requires you to fully commit to a decade; the beauty of the flixie is in its flexibility. "It’s highly adaptable," Zoe says, explaining that you can gloss sections down for a sleeker finish or use texture to make it tousled and soft. Who is the flixie best suited to? Good news! You don’t need a particular face shape or hair type to pull off a flixie. In fact, Zoe says it works "really well with so many face shapes" because the flick can be adjusted depending on what suits you. "If someone has a very narrow face, and you’re wanting to achieve more width, you can have some longer pieces in the nape of the neck that flick out," she explains. Equally, the top can be kept flatter on heart-shaped faces. Everyone’s clicking on.

In terms of hair type, it pairs particularly well with fine hair. "The haircut is cut multi-texturised so it’s got different layers within it, so the haircut makes it easy to lift," says Zoe. So, in other words, the movement is built into the cut rather than requiring an ample amount of backcombing every morning. To style, Zoe recommends using texturising products to accentuate the tousled effect, while lighter panels or ends can create "the illusion of having more density within the hair".