Most heat protection hair products come in the form of sprays or creams that you can use on wet or dry hair. Applying a couple of sprays or pumps then brushing through goes a long way to protect your hair. This is important even if you have extensions, as Miller notes your actual hair still needs to be strong and healthy for extensions to attach.
The LolaVie Perfecting Leave-In Conditioner is a Best of Beauty Award winner for how it protects and smooths hair (with a gorgeous floral scent).
How do you style your pixie as it grows out?
There are plenty of styling options to choose from to tide you over as you wait for your hair to be long enough for ponytails, buns, and heat styling.
For natural hair, Sturdivant-Drew recommends using protective hairstyles such as weaves, braids, locs, and wigs, depending on your personal preferences. If you want to avoid awkward-looking lengths, she suggests braiding the hair and getting a weave.
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Matt Newman, a hairstylist in New York City, cites stacked bobs, piece-y side bangs, and face-framing pieces as excellent styles for the in-between phases.
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Getty Images
Getty Images
For more short hair ideas, try a bob with flipped-up ends, a slicked side part, a wavy lob, and a pompadour. Feeling even bolder? Go for a mullet that’s halfway between short and long hair.
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Getty Images
Getty Images
For many of these styles, a strong-hold gel, pomade, paste, and dry shampoo will surely come in handy. Miller suggests using texture pastes, such as Oribe’s Fiber Groom Elastic Texture Paste and Rough Luxury Soft Molding Paste for control and mobility. You can’t forget about hairspray either, he says. Our pick: the Kristin Ess Refine Signature Finishing Hairspray, which has a flexible hold.
Accessory-wise, you’ve got options with cute bobby pins and headbands that you can style in a cinch. To freshen up your look, you can also elevate it with clips and barrettes.
More on hair:
Now, see how short hair has evolved within the past 100 years: