There are hairstyles you try, and then there are hairstyles that become a part of who you are.

For me, the pixie is the latter.

Welcome to the first installment of Pixie Diaries, a new ESSENCE series documenting my relationship with one of my favorite beauty signatures—and the woman I trust to keep it looking its best. Because while a pixie may look effortless once it’s finished, anyone who wears one knows there is a lot that goes into getting the shape, texture and details just right.

For this appointment, I headed back to Miss Mary, my Supreme Pixie Stylist, for a fresh take on my signature cut. I had recently gotten a relaxer, so we started where any good hair appointment should: at the washbowl.

I’ve spent time on both sides of the natural-hair conversation, and I have plenty of love for the natural girlies. But there is something about a pixie that continues to pull me back. It feels grown. It feels sexy. And, perhaps most importantly, it feels like me.

One of my favorite parts of the process is the mold-down. Before the curls, the finishing touches or even the dryer, there is that moment when you can start to see the shape come together. This time around, I wanted something fuller, so Miss Mary and I decided to skip the traditional part and let the hair have a little more movement.

Then came the detail work.

Watching her work is part of the experience for me. Every section is intentional, from the way she molds the hair to the waves she creates before I sit underneath the dryer. I have thick hair, so that dryer session can take a little time, but I’ve learned that patience is part of the pixie process.

And while I was sitting there, I couldn’t help but think about how much this haircut has become a family affair.

My younger sister has a pixie. I have a pixie. My mom has a pixie.

Apparently, we have a generational pixie run happening in my family—and that story deserves its own episode.

Once I was finally out from underneath the dryer, Miss Mary began shaping the look with soft curls, finger-combing them through to create the fullness and body I wanted. From there, it was all about the finishing touches: small adjustments, reshaping a curl here, refining another there, until everything fell exactly where it needed to.

That attention to detail is what makes a pixie work.

When people talk about short hair, the conversation can sometimes center on how much you lose when you cut it. For me, the opposite has always been true. There is something freeing about having less hair and somehow feeling even more like yourself. The cut puts your face front and center. Your earrings, your makeup, your neckline and even your mood become part of the look.

And when the appointment is over and I catch that first glimpse of the finished style, there is always that little feeling of, Yep. This is why I keep doing this.

The pixie has become more than just a haircut for me. It’s a signature. It’s a beauty ritual. And now, it’s the beginning of a new chapter here at ESSENCE.

So, welcome to Pixie Diaries.

There’s plenty more to come—from trying new colors and styles to talking about the maintenance, the inspiration and the women who have made the pixie their own.

But for now, I want to know: What’s your favorite part about having a pixie?

Author: Shelby Stewart

Read the original article on Essence.