The 5 Phases of Growing Out a Pixie

Anne Hathaway surprised us all (herself included) when she committed to Fantine's close-cut hair in Les Miserables. And now she's proving that she can not only work that pixie, but a bob too—and everything in between. Yet, anyone who has grown out layers (especially short ones!) knows just how hard this transition can be. So how did Anne do it so seamlessly? It took five flawless steps. Come steal her tricks below.

Phase 1: The Shave

After cutting her hair onscreen, the actress sported no more than inch long strands.

Phase 2: The Big Bang

Nothing makes a pixie more flattering than adding a bit (or a lot, in Anne’s case) of bang, because it instantly softens the features.

Phase 3: The Intricate Updo

Making good use of the difficult grow-out phase, Anne opted for intricate updos that most likely hid any uneven length issues.

Phase 4: The Asymmetrical Bob

Because her pixie oftentimes had long bangs, it was a simple transition to an angular bob with longer pieces in front.

Phase 5: The Wavy Bob

Anne transitioned to the bob just as the trend reached its peak. What timing!