Okay so I chopped my hair into a pixie last summer and it was super cute at first. Then around month three I looked in the mirror one morning and went “oh crap.” My hair was doing this weird puffy helmet thing and sticking straight out over my ears. Total hedgehog situation. So yeah, I hit that awkward stage hard.
That First Month of Chaos
First thing I did was panic-buy like five different hair products. Big mistake. Most just made my hair crunchy or greasy. Finally realized all I needed was a tiny bit of water-based pomade. Rub a pea-sized amount between palms, scrunch it into the crazy bits – especially the back where it sticks up. Doesn’t weigh it down but tames the rebellion.
Washing less helped too. Started washing only every 2-3 days instead of daily. Letting natural oils build up made the shorter layers way easier to mold.
The Magic of Snips and Bands
Month four was the worst. Top layers hit my eyebrows while neck hair felt like a Brillo pad. Here’s what saved me:
- Got micro-trims every 8 weeks. Just snipped the mullet-y back section and any stragglers. Kept it from looking like I got attacked by weed whackers.
- Discovered plastic snap clips – not those bulky claw things. Pin down the side pieces that wanted to do helicopter impressions.
- When front pieces got long enough to annoy my eyes, fabric headbands became my uniform. Twist them once before putting on so they don’t slip.
Hat Phase and the Breakthrough
Around month six? Beanie season. Threw on slouchy knit hats constantly. Didn’t care if it looked lazy – hid the weird triangle shape forming at my jawline.
Breakthrough came at month seven: texturizing spray + blow-drying upside down. Game changer. Flip head over, spray roots, blast with medium heat while finger-fluffing. Gave enough volume at the crown so the uneven lengths finally blended.
Where I’m At Now
Just passed month ten. Can tie back the top layer with mini elastics into a half-up “puff” – looks intentional, not desperate. Still got some wacky layers at the nape, but they’re blending. My routine?
- Wash max twice weekly
- Pomade on flyaways
- Dry shampoo for volume
- Micro-trim every 10 weeks
Biggest lesson? Stop stressing over growth speed. Hair grows half-inch per month whether you obsess or not. Embrace the weird phases. You got this.
