Best Salon to Get a Pixie Cut in Pasadena or Los Angeles
June 18, 2017 7:01 AM   Subscribe

Based on the photos provided inside, can I pull off a pixie cut, and if so, where in Pasadena/Los Angeles should I go to have it done?

Hi! This is what I look like (and what my hair has looked like over the past 10 years).

Right now my hair is waist length and nearing the end of its in-good-condition lifespan. It's extremely dense, very dry when curly, and pretty damaged where I've overprocessed my bangs for many years. My default hair style is ballet bun because it takes a lot of time to blow dry, but when it is down it's very pretty (though prone to tangling and knots even when straight).

I desperately want a pixie cut, preferably of the Natalie Portman variety, mostly because I see it as a major opportunity to cut off and regrow the damaged parts of my hair, but also because I just really want a change.

Based on the photos provided above, could I make this work, and if so, what would be the best salon in Pasadena or Los Angeles to get it done?
posted by anonymous to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (15 answers total)
 
When I first glanced at your photo, I actually thought it was Natalie Portman and that was before I got to the reference to her cut her down so I think you can definitely pull off that look!

I love having a pixie for ease of care. No specific recommendations for individuals in that area but I've had short hair cut by a lot of people and I'm my experience stylists with short hair themselves tend to get it. If you're going to a new person for such a major change they might be a little timid with the cut - I gather some people with long hair cry when too much is cut so you have to be really really direct. Say something like "I've thought about this a lot and I want it this short. Seriously." Otherwise some people soft pedal and you'll get a short bob when you wanted a true pixie.

Good luck!
posted by cessair at 7:25 AM on June 18, 2017 [8 favorites]


I say go for it! If you already spend most of your time with your hair on top of your head, you're used to having your neck and jawline exposed, which was the biggest adjustment I had to make when I did what you're contemplating a few years back. Well, that and all the time I got back from not having to wash/dry/style/maintain long hair day-in and day-out. Seriously, you're going to save water because your showers are about to take a quarter of the time. Also, no more shed hair all over the place.

I can't help with finding a salon, but I recommend bringing picture of what you want and insisting, like cessair says.
posted by minervous at 7:29 AM on June 18, 2017 [2 favorites]


You can definitely pull off a pixie, but my only caveat for you is possibly talking to your hairstylist, if you have one that knows your hair texture well. I have wavy, not curly, hair myself, and I'm wavering on growing out my pixie, but it constantly amazes me how weird my hair is short. I have to put more product on it than I would like to make it lie flat because while short, it still has a lot of volume. If I let it air dry, I almost have a mushroom cap going on on my head.

But oh, yes, you'll love having non-damaged hair. It was bliss when I first got it cut. Absolutely worth it!
posted by not that mimi at 7:32 AM on June 18, 2017 [1 favorite]


Of course you can pull it off! You're going to love it.
posted by beandip at 8:37 AM on June 18, 2017


I have been fighting a two-year battle and finally trained my hairdresser in Northridge that I really do absolutely positively mean SHORT when I say SHORT. I had so much trouble getting people to believe me when I first went short that I hacked my own ponytail off first and went in all "you've got no choice but to fix this mess now".

If you want to come all the way out here, MeMail me and I'll give you her number and you can tell her I sent you because you mean short when you say short.

My pixie is Jennifer Lawrence - my one warning about the picture you linked is that Portman's hair is so dark that it's really hard to tell what that cut actually is. You may want to make a page or two of pictures from multiple angles, use multiple women if you can't find enough red carpet pictures of that specific cut (for the cut you want, see also Audrey Tatou, Morena Baccarin, and Ginnifer Goodwin) and print it in color. This has gotten me my best results by far, something she can leave open on her workbench for reference while she cuts.

Now, honestly, you ought to be able to get this done at any well-Yelped stylist in your neighborhood. The hurdle is convincing them that YES, you mean it. Bring a friend for backup if you need to, to swear that you are not in crisis or going through a bad breakup and you have been talking about this for ages. Maybe don't cut your ponytail off like I did, but it's an option.

My advice on going real short from very long is that you - and any hairdresser - have no idea what your hair's going to do when freed from the weight of long hair. It doesn't matter if you've had short hair before, because that was probably at least several years ago and your hormones and body chemistry are different now. It's probably going to freak out for several months before it settles into its real new texture. This is fine. You'll have options. As long as having short hair doesn't hurt your heart, *extremely* short hair is a thing that only lasts a few weeks, buzz it and start over next month if you have to. It's totally ephemeral.

This is why having a stylist near your home or work is probably preferable to hiking all over LA looking for someone who specializes in what is not actually a very difficult cut, because you get to go get your hair cut constantly. I used to get one cut a year maybe, and now I'll sometimes go 4-6 months in the winter until the whole thing gets so shaggy and poofy I have no control over it, but in the LA summer it's monthly because there's no point in being unnecessarily head-sweaty.

So I'll be happy to share my hairdresser with you, she's young and chatty with an astounding memory for your personal details, but she's not annoying and I am easily annoyed. But you'd be better off finding someone you like who listens to you who's not more than 10 minutes off your typical routine path. Maybe try someone out once first, just let them trim you while you explain that you're going to come back in a couple weeks and cut it alllllll off, and can they deal with that? If you get an excited response, from someone you like, you've struck gold.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:32 AM on June 18, 2017 [2 favorites]


Just saying you will look great with that pixie cut, which is not true of everyone. Go for it.
posted by mermayd at 9:35 AM on June 18, 2017


Absolutely yes!! And WOW, you look *just* like Natalie Portman in your picture ... like cessair, I was a little confused at first.

Pixie cut is *amazing* freedom, you'll love it. And you will look fabulous!
posted by mccxxiii at 9:37 AM on June 18, 2017


Try Tamara at Perry McGrath.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:42 AM on June 18, 2017


Yes but with the caveat that my semi-curly long hair turns into a 'fro when I cut it short. The weight is what keeps it semi-straight. So make sure your stylist knows that and you have a plan in case it Sideshow Bob's on you.
posted by fshgrl at 12:31 PM on June 18, 2017


Yes, you can absolutely pull it off. I think your jaw shape will help you with this, not hinder you!

However, make sure your stylist knows your hair has a curly inclination, as it will curl more when it is short. Have the stylist take a lot of bulk out of your hair when they cut it, so it doesn't get too poofy. Be prepared to use some ~texturing paste~ or some other kind of hair product that you just run through your hair on your fingers quickly in the morning - not had at all and way easier than long hair. Also be prepared for regular bang trims.

Source: am woman with long curly hair who has had very short curly hair.
posted by hepta at 2:16 PM on June 18, 2017


You will look fantastic with a pixie, and I think you'll be happy with the change since it'll let you get rid of the damage and grow out healthy hair.

Three caveats, some of which have been covered:

-make sure your stylist knows your hair's true texture, esp if it's curlier when shorter and your current length is weighing it down to look straighter than it really is
-be aware that growing out a pixie is tricky and you might go through some awkward periods--discuss with your trusted stylist how best to deal with that (Carey Mulligan is a good role model for this)
-you are going to need to use more product than you probably anticipate and will need to spend time styling it; your go-to alternative options when you have long hair no longer exist with a pixie

That said, I think you'll love it. I had a pixie for years, loved it from the moment the cut was done, and look back on it fondly.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 2:47 PM on June 18, 2017


Rock Paper Salon in Echo Park is pretty great.
posted by itesser at 8:17 PM on June 18, 2017


I have a pixie and my haircutter is great, but he's in Santa Monica. Better to find one near you - you really have to go every 4-6 weeks for trims.
posted by bluesky78987 at 7:43 AM on June 19, 2017


Mod note: Followup from the OP:
I took the plunge today and found a salon nearby after eagerly asking someone at a restaurant where she'd gotten her haircut from. The results are in. (http://imgur.com/a/UvVSh) As it turns out, Natalie Portman does NOT have my hair type whatsoever (my new stylist has worked with her and knows her hair well) so her reference photos were out but that's okay. I'm not sure yet how I feel about the cut. Reactions so far have been a mix of real enthusiasm and polite enthusiasm. Hopefully, it'll grow on everyone, including me. Thank you all for your input.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:26 AM on July 8, 2017


Wow! I think your new short cut looks fantastic with your face shape and features. You look beautiful.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 1:42 PM on July 8, 2017


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