Sometimes, a haircut is just a haircut. And sometimes, it’s Keira Knightley in Domino.
Back in 2005, the Black Doves actress chopped off her signature brunette waves, bleached them blonde, and emerged with a shaggy pixie cut so striking it practically had its own IMDb page. Now, nearly two decades later, Knightley’s tousled crop is suddenly feeling very 2025 — and according to top stylists, it’s the unexpected vintage inspiration behind this summer’s breakout hair trend.
“There’s something about that kind of pixie that just looks effortless,” TONI&GUY’s Global Creative Director Cos Sakkas told Hello Magazine. “But short doesn’t mean shorn — it ranges from a bob to the pixie, and it’s an exciting time to try something new.”
Actors Keira Knightley and Daniel Craig attend Screening of “The Jacket” at the Rex Cinema and bar on May 9, 2005 in London, England.
Dave Hogan/Getty Images
The 2025 revival leans into movement and texture — think soft, choppy layers, face-framing fringes, and that same undone polish that made Knightley’s cut feel rebellious and refined. Originally styled for her role in Domino, the cropped blonde ‘do wasn’t a slick Hollywood pixie. It was slightly grown-out, a little bit punk, and had just enough edge to spark a full-on beauty renaissance.
And the best part? Today’s version might be even more customizable. “You can really play around with it to suit your face,” John Frieda’s Creative Stylist Andreas Wilde said, explainning that modern pixie cuts are far more flexible than their reputation suggests. “By creating softer lines or adjusting the fringe, it can flatter different face shapes — it can be easily personalized to you.”
Of course, no one knows the risks of reinvention better than Knightley herself. In 2014, she revealed to InStyle U.K. that years of color-treating her hair left it so damaged, she wore wigs for five years. “It got so bad that my hair literally began to fall out of my head!” she shared. Luckily, her hair recovered after her pregnancy with daughter Edie — and today, her boldest look has aged into something more aspirational than shocking.
Whether you’re craving a big change or just a little chaos in your summer style, the Domino cut offers both. It’s low-maintenance but high-impact. Soft but fearless. And yes — still iconic.
Before you go, click here to see the most dramatic celebrity hair transformations. 
