What’s a bixie, you may ask? Unofficially: One of the coolest haircuts of the summer. Officially: A hybrid between a bob and a pixie. In other words, the best of all worlds. Here, a look at what exactly makes a bixie a “bixie”—and how to style it if you decide to make the chop yourself.

Breaking down the bixie cut

The bixie has quickly become the most-requested haircut at salons. For good reason: “It’s a cut that combines the freshness and casualness of the pixie with the length of the bob, combining shorter layers at the nape of the neck and sideburns and leaving longer ones at the top and close to the face,” explains Spanish hairstylist and Redken ambassador Juandiegoteo. Think: A grown-out pixie or a choppy bob with face-framing bangs.

With a vibe that calls to minds the It-girls of the 1990s like Winona Ryder, Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry, and Victoria Beckham, it allows multiple variations depending on hair texture, bone structure, and desired length. “It can be adapted to all types of hair and face shapes: play with the bangs and leave them down, tousled, or wavy to achieve a classic or edgy style,” recommends stylist Mar Peón of Menta Beauty Place in Madrid.

Francesca Babbi

Who can wear a bixie cut?

While the bixie can be adapted for anyone, “it’s a cut that especially favors oval faces as it highlights the cheekbones,” says Juandiegoteo. He also considers it “ideal for fine hair because it adds a lot of volume. And, it also works well with wavy and curly hair for a more casual style,” he explains.

Felicitas Ordás of Felicitas Hair says it’s also a great cut for anyone who wants to highlight their jawline, shoulders, and neck. “With this cut, the nape of the neck and sides are lengthened.” Her advice: Comb it with the ends slightly outwards to give it a playful, gamine look.