The Bixie: 5 Cutting Techniques to Master the Look

Photo Credit: @brianacisneros

The bixie made its comeback in 2022—and it’s not slowing down. This soft-meets-edgy pixie-bob hybrid flatters nearly every texture, and ARC™ Scissors Ambassador Briana Cisneros (@brianacisneros) is sharing her go-to techniques for creating the look with control, precision, and movement.

Start by Sectioning for TWO Haircuts

Because the bixie blends the discipline of a bob with the freedom of a pixie, Briana divides the head into two technical zones using the parietal ridge as her visual landmark.

Above the parietal ridge: Keep dry. This top section will control movement, texture, and volume.
Below the parietal ridge: Keep wet. This area establishes the strong, clean foundation of the haircut.

Then, she creates a triangle section above each ear, using the recession point as the top corner. These triangles form the undercut panels—the core of the bixie’s shape.

Pro Tip: Adjust triangle size to density. Thicker hair needs a larger section for balance; finer hair needs a smaller section for control. Keeping extra length on top ensures the “bob” finish while allowing the sides to collapse elegantly.

briana-bixie-btcu-sectioning

2. ARC Paragon & Razor

The bixie demands agility. You’re cutting two shapes—pixie and bob—so you need a tool that transitions between both effortlessly.

Briana only uses two tools for the entire cut:

A straight-edge razor
The ARC™ Paragon II 6.5” Scissors.

Why the Paragon II?
Because it’s the best scissor in the world built for both wet and dry cutting. The precision-forged Japanese steel and extended blade length allow for clean, controlled slides, slicing, and soft shaping—all without compromising the hair’s integrity. The convex edge glides through hair without “pushing” or “pulling” giving Briana complete freedom to move between foundational wet cutting and detailed dry refinement.

Technical Breakdown:

The long 6.5" blade maintains tension across wide subsections, crucial when building internal structure through the nape and occipital.
The ergonomic offset handle keeps wrist alignment neutral, allowing long cutting strokes close to the neck—ideal for creating that tight, balanced silhouette underneath.
The convex edge geometry prevents fraying during slide or slicing motions—essential when flicking out perimeter ends for that signature bixie texture.

3. Create a Foundation with Slide Cutting

“Most bobs we talk about are graduated or square, and they entail a lot of buildup of weight,” explains Briana. “With the bixie, there’s an intense amount of weight removal.”

Briana begins by using slide cutting to carve her foundation with the Paragon II:

Enter the section with blades slightly open.
Glide through mid-shaft to ends, closing the shear as you exit in one continuous motion.
Maintain a low elevation (0°–30°) to preserve length while tapering density.

This creates wispy, piecey ends and that signature “flicked out” movement the bixie is known for—without leaving harsh lines.

Pro Tip: Adjust pressure based on texture. For fine hair, keep tension light and glide slower. For coarse hair, increase tension and speed to release more weight.

briana-thebixie-btcu-slidecutting

4. Debulk with a Razor (or Your Scissor!) to Avoid a “Saggy” Undercut

The nape holds the most weight, and if not handled precisely, can make the shape look heavy—or “saggy.” Briana removes excess bulk here using her razor, but if you don’t have one, the Paragon II can achieve a similar effect.

Technique:

Take a center part and two diagonal-forward subsections near the hairline.
Hold the hair straight out from the head at 45°.
Using the edge of your Paragon II, open and close the blades rapidly in a rhythmic motion to “shatter” the weight, keeping length at the ends.

This scissor motion mimics a razor’s slice but with more control, reducing the risk of over-thinning and maintaining the sleek nape contour.

Pro Tip: When slide-cutting the nape, always angle your scissor parallel to hair growth—this ensures the ends flick out naturally rather than collapse inward.

5. Connect the Crown to the Undercut with a Traveling Guide

The blend lives at the crown—where bob structure meets pixie freedom.

Briana switches back to her Paragon II, takes a center vertical section, and elevates it straight up (90°). Using a fast, shallow up-and-down motion, she removes just the corner of the weight to create diffused texture.

“It doesn’t create a full layer,” Briana explains. “It’s just a little pop of texture—enough to make it move.”

She then uses that section as a traveling guide, working around the head to connect the top and undercut. The result? Soft internal lift and feathered movement that lets the bixie fall perfectly between structured and undone.

Pro Tip: Dry cut the top later with the tips of your Paragon II to visually balance length and add micro-texture to the surface. The fine tip and precision edge make it easy to refine the crown without disturbing your perimeter.

When to Texturize the Bixie

After you’ve established the structure with your Paragon II, texturizing happens in the refinement phase—typically during your dry cutting pass. The goal:

Reduce unwanted bulk in the crown and sides,
Add internal airiness so the cut doesn’t collapse,
And create that soft, shattered texture that makes the bixie look lived-in rather than overdone.

Which ARC™ Texturizer to Use (and Why)

For Coarse or Dense Hair:

Use: ARC™ 10/10 Reversible Texturizer
Why:

The 10/10’s low tooth count gives powerful bulk removal, ideal for heavier textures or thick crowns.
Use it vertically through the interior to open up density at the nape and occipital—this prevents that “saggy” feeling in thicker hair.
Because it’s reversible, you can switch hands or cutting direction easily to maintain symmetry on both sides.

Pro Tip: Work in diagonal-forward sections, elevating 45° to 90°, and close the shear only halfway as you exit the section. This removes internal weight without disturbing the shape Briana built with her Paragon II.

For Medium Hair:

Use: ARC™ 28/4 Texturizer
Why:

This tool delivers balanced weight removal—not too aggressive, not too subtle.
It’s perfect for detailing the crown and side panels of a bixie, where you want movement but still need substance.
The 28 teeth with a 4-step groove pattern diffuse texture softly, making it easy to blend the pixie and bob elements together.

Pro Tip: After styling, elevate the crown section straight up and “tap” the 28/4 vertically through the midshaft for airy separation. It will break up the top surface, creating that wispy, flicked-out finish that gives the bixie its signature silhouette.

For Fine or Fragile Hair:

Use: ARC™30/2 Reversible Blender
Why:

The 30 teeth are tightly spaced, making it ideal for soft diffusion and minimal weight removal.
Use this for refining around the face frame or bang area where every snip matters.
It keeps fullness intact while eliminating visual lines from your foundational layering.

Pro Tip: Work with dry hair. Point the 30/2 vertically and close softly through the ends around the fringe or temple area. This creates micro texture—almost like airbrushing the haircut—for a whisper-light finish.

When NOT to Texturize

Avoid over-texturizing directly after your wet cut. Always let the hair dry, observe its natural fall, and texturize strategically.
Remember:

Use lower elevation and fewer passes on fine hair.
For thick hair, focus removal internally, not near the perimeter.
Never texturize in areas that control the haircut’s weight line (especially around the ear and back perimeter).

The Why Behind It All

Briana’s cut lives in contrast: tight control underneath, featherweight movement on top. The Paragon II gives the cut its framework—precision, tension, and structure. The ARC Texturizer series gives it life—air, softness, and separation.

When you pair them, you’re not just cutting hair.
You’re sculpting texture that moves with intention.

Haircut Tutorials