- The 'Power Pixie' is a bold, cropped haircut that’s sharp, sculpted, and slightly androgynous, with longer layers on top for versatile styling.
- Low-maintenance yet powerful, it’s an anti-blow-dry look that complements confident, tailored fashion — perfect for adding lift and contour to finer hair.
- Celeb-approved trend for autumn 2025, seen on stars like Julia Garner, Florence Pugh, and Meryl Streep, offering both polished and edgy styling options.
As Beyoncé famously once said, girls run the world—and powerful ones at that! And nothing says powerful women more than a strong haircut (other than independence and a matching suit set... but hey, you know what I mean).
Sure, a bob or mid-length layers give 'I own 51 per cent of this company' vibes, but if you're looking to reinvent your style with an even bigger statement, meet the 'power pixie'. Short but mighty, she knows how to make a splash.
Hairstylist and trend forecaster Tom Smith coined the look and predicts it to be a big trend for autumn 2025, with celebrities from Julia Garner to Florence Pugh and even Meryl Streep all rocking the cut. But what defines the so-called power pixie, and how can you achieve the same style yourself? Well, we picked Tom's brains, who revealed all below...
What is the power pixie?
Like the classic pixie haircut, the power pixie is "a cropped, layered pixie that’s sharp, sculpted, and deliberately androgynous," Tom says. Where it differs, however, is in the layers, length, and its styling. "There's enough hair length left at the top and front to allow for versatile styling," Tom explains.
That said, it's actually an anti-blow-dry style – aka, the styling required is pretty low-maintenance! "It's a no-fuss look, but a fashion statement. Bold, defiant, and perfect for the season’s sharper tailoring and attitude-led dressing," Tom says. And to that, we say it's the perfect style for the Cosmo girl!
Who is the Power Pixie best suited for?
While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the power pixie, short hair isn't for everyone – we all have our preferences, after all! However, those daring enough to make a statement, look no further.
Confidence aside, if you have finer hair and want to add more lift, body, and volume to your hair, the power pixie is the style for just that. Plus, Tom says it can "contour jawlines and cheekbones when long enough to be tucked behind the ears."
How to style the power pixie
Convinced of the power pixie? Well, when heading to the salon, Tom recommends asking for "close layering and texture that can shift from matte and punkish by day to polished and glossy at night." Like he mentioned before, with a little styling, this cut is super versatile.
The hair on top makes for a longer, sweepy fringe when styled down and can add femininity. When swept back, on the other hand, the style is strong and assertive. To achieve this, my most reached for product is a hair pomade or wax; use sparingly through strands and be met with body and hold for days.
Now, with your new haircut sorted, go get that pay rise you so deserve!
Power pixie inspo
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
