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    1. Beauty
    2. Hair

    Michelle Williams’s French Twist Is Giving Us a Master Class On Growing Out a Pixie Cut

    Awkward phase? Never knew her.

    Ariel Wilson's avatar
    By Ariel Wilson
    Published 19 August 2025 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Michelle Williams
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
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    Michelle Williams is firmly in her post-pixie era. On August 19, the actress was spotted in Los Angeles looking as chic as ever. She was smartly dressed in a denim jacket, cropped capris, and a trendy pair of flat sandals. Still, it was her hair that put the cherry on top of the outfit, with Williams once again proving that short hair is as versatile as any other length out there.

    Williams’s hair was first parted down the middle, before being brushed into a sleek, low ponytail. Instead of securing it with a hair tie, her strands were twisted and tucked in before being secured with bobby pins. The result? A gorgeous French twist hairstyle. A soft pop of color on the lips and cheeks, a neat brow, and matte skin accompanied the look, with a pair of black sunglasses adding the final finishing touch.

    Michelle Williams with a french twist

     Michelle Williams is seen on August 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Since growing out her hair back in April after almost a decade with her signature pixie cut, Williams has been having tons of fun playing around with her longer hair. She’s been seen in a myriad of hairstyles, all of which have looked next-level chic with her blunt haircut. Retro flipped ends, a deep side part, and even bangs are a few of the styles she’s championed in the past. This French twist feels like Williams’s subtle confirmation that she will continue to grow her hair for the foreseeable future.

    French twists can be fairly easy to recreate, but with the right tools and products. Keep reading for what you’ll need to recreate Williams’s look at home.

    Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit

    T3
    Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler Blowout Kit
    $300
    SHOP NOW

    I love a multipurpose tool, and ones like this Airstyler are perfect to give you a sleek blowout, which is the foundation of any good hairstyle.

    Mason Pearson Handy Mixture Hair Brush

    Mason Pearson
    Mason Pearson Handy Mixture Hair Brush
    $200
    SHOP NOW

    If your hair is already freshly washed and dried (or if you're working with day-three hair) use a brush like this one to detangle your hair before styling it.

    Strong Hold Hair Gel

    Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross
    Strong Hold Hair Gel
    $28
    SHOP NOW

    Get Williams's slicked-back look by applying a healthy amount of hair gel before styling.

    Bobby Pin Set - Black

    KITSCH
    Bobby Pin Set - Black
    $4
    SHOP NOW

    One of my favorite hair-styling hacks? Using bobby pins that are the same color as your hair. It makes any style (like a French twist, perhaps) look much more seamless.

    Finishing Spray

    Maria Nila
    Finishing Spray
    $35
    SHOP NOW

    Keep the style in place with a few mists of a strong hold hair spray.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Ariel Wilson
    Ariel Wilson
    Social Links Navigation
    Beauty Writer

    Ariel Wilson is the Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. Previously the associate beauty editor at PS, she also has bylines in InStyle, Forbes Vetted, Women's Health, and more.

    Shaped by her experience in research, social sciences, and the non-profit sector, Ariel enjoys looking at beauty from a sociocultural lens, looking to avenues like politics, culture, and the arts, to inform her views on the space. That being said, as a true beauty-product obsessive, testing the latest items to hit the market, keeping up with trends, and meeting industry icons, will always be her favorite part of working in the beauty space.

    When she's not working, Ariel can be found hanging out with her husband and loving on their two cat daughters: Cow and Chicken.

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