For The Best Low-Effort Hairstyle, Copy Jamie Lee Curtis' Classic Short Locks

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For every hairstyle you can think of, there's a celebrity out there who's its unquestioned poster child. For instance, Jennifer Aniston gave us The Rachel, and Jane Birkin started a movement with her bangs. When it comes to the fuss-free pixie, no one pulls it off like Jamie Lee Curtis. "So very early on in my career, I had a perm, and then had to dye my hair for a movie, and it burned my hair off my head," she told Lorraine of her iconic cut's origin story. "And the first time I cut my hair short, I went, 'Oh, oh, my God. Oh wow, I look like me.'"

Luckily for fans of this low-effort look, it's super-easy to DIY. Curtis' hairstylist, Sean James, who knows how to style a pixie for every occasion, told World Day News that the magic starts with the right haircare routine. "Regular trims are the cornerstone of Jamie's hair maintenance," he explained. "We schedule appointments every four to six weeks to keep her pixie cut sharp and prevent split ends." When washing her hair, James revealed that they stick to "leave-in conditioners and lightweight hair oils to keep her pixie cut moisturized and healthy," as "hydration is non-negotiable." If you're looking to bring Curtis' haircare routine home, the COLOR WOW Money Mist is a highly rated leave-in conditioner that customers praise for its ability to smooth frizz and add shine, while the Moroccanoil Treatment Light has a 4.7-star average from more than 22,000 ratings.

"We always use products with UV filters to shield Jamie's hair from sun damage, even in winter," James added. To that end, the Sun Bum Heat Protector Spray is a vegan and cruelty-free option that defends against UV rays and also offers thermal protection from heat-styling tools. Once you have your pixie-approved haircare products sorted, it's time to move onto styling. 

In his chat with World Day News, Sean James noted that he doesn't try to mold Jamie Lee Curtis' hair into something it's not. "We embrace Jamie's natural texture, enhancing it rather than fighting it," he explained. "I start by lifting and bending the hair from the root using a small round brush and a professional-grade dryer. Then, I use a flat iron to piece and spike out the fringe area while maintaining that root lift. It's like sculpting a masterpiece — every strand matters."

So, to start with, you'll need a good root lift spray, such as the Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Boost Volumizing Spray. Receiving more than 4 stars from nearly 11,000 ratings, this product is designed to even lift fine hair, so it packs a punch. For the spiking part of the pixie process, you'll need both a styling gel to help define those spikes and a hairspray to hold everything in place. The FRAGFRE Light Hold Hair Gel is a great choice because of its lightweight formula, so it won't make the hair overly crunchy or weigh it down, ruining the volume you're trying to create. Then, the CHI Keratin Flex Finish Hair Spray is a gentle option that will similarly control frizz and flyaways without weighing down the look. 

"When I have my hair cut the way I love it and the way it suits me, it gives me the freedom to exist with no make up and very little fuss," Curtis gushed in an April 2025 Instagram post. "It gives me a confidence that I never had in my life and I am grateful that [Sean James] has been in charge of this haircut for a LONG time." Clearly, the man knows his way around a pixie, and there's a reason why this haircut is a game-changer for women over 60.

To choose the best hair products to create a Jamie Lee Curtis-inspired pixie, we followed the guidance of her stylist, Sean James, ensuring we stuck to the kinds of products he uses when doing the "Freakier Friday" star's hair. From there, we looked carefully at the ratings and reviews of each product, making sure that every recommendation came at a minimum of 4 stars and with specific endorsements from other customers. 

Now, if you'd like to go to an edgier place with your low-effort short 'do, here's the only inspo you need for a punk pixie cut.