Layered Hair Styles
Want volume and movement in your hair style? Let there be layered hair cuts! Not only can they liven up your look, they can control thick hair or fatten-up fine hair types. Layered hair also allow you to partake in the texture trend. Roller-set or iron-curl layers, and hair is so much livelier!“Layered Hair Styles for Every Hair Type”
Of course, face shape plays a big role, too, which is why it’s always best to leave what type and where up to your hairdresser. In the meantime, use this guide to become a smart layer player.
 Fine Layered Hair Style |
 Fine Layered Hair Style |
Layered Hair Styles For Fine Hair
When your hair is fine, a layered hair cuts can act as problem solvers. Limp, baby fine hair types tend to lie flat, but they can’t take a lot of layering either. What to do? Add long, subtle surface layers. Snipped to slightly uneven lengths, they add texture and volume where you need it most. Round brush hair styling can give you volume, as long as you stick with lightweight hair styling products used at the roots only. You can also pair a graduated back with long, subtle surface layers that are snipped in small sections to create irregular lengths.
Says Frances DuBose of London Hair in Mt. Pleasant, SC, “Done correctly, a layered haircut can do more than a blunt cut with fine hair, but they should be vertical, not horizontal. The layers must also work with the perimeter of the haircut. You can’t add a lot of layers below the flat of the head or the occipital.” If you aren’t sure if your hair can hold up lots of layers, have just the ends detailed so they frame your face and enhance your cheekbones. For more of a texturizing than layering technique, hairdressers can notch into ends with their scissors, then slide the scissors through strands to create long layers. Of course, short and even uniform layers work if your hair is very short.
 Long Chunky Layered Hair Style |
 Unblended Layered Hair Style |
Layered Hair Styles For Thick Hair
Thick hair that’s straight needs help looking bodified and textured. If this is your hair type, ask for a chunky layered hair style, then have ends softened with a razor to add extra movement. Fine but abundant hair can also be shagged out if you accommodate your locks’ natural softness. Another option: Unblended layers that progress from short to longer at the sides. This results in a deconstructed shape.
Depending on your haircut, you can get short or long layers. DuBose says face shape matters a lot with thick hair; for a round face, get more layers in the interior, so you take weight off the sides and slenderize the face shape.
“If you have a wide forehead, add more top layers, which lets the hair fill in more at the bottom,” she adds.
When it’s straight and cut somewhat short, this is one of the few hair types that looks great with uniform layers, or ones that are all the same length. On the other hand, super-dense manes let you opt for a super-strong bob without any layers whatsoever!
 Coarse Layered Hair Style |
 Coarse Layered Hair Style |
Layered Hair Styles For Coarse Hair
If your hair is coarse, you should avoid over-layering and razored layered haircuts. Because of its wiry texture, coarse hair can be difficult to control and the wrong type of layering only makes ends pop out.
“For coarse hair, we work with the outer form, creating short-to-longer layers and removing the hair that flares out,” says DuBose. “This hair can be the hardest to work with, depending on how coarse it is— you actually need to sculpt in the shape you want with layers.”
 Straight Layered Hair Style |
 Straight Layered Hair Style |
Layered Hair Styles For Straight Hair
Depending on whether or not you have a little hair or a lot, you can have long, progressive, short or uniform layers. Just remember that straight hair shows every cut-in line, so unless you want an avant-garde or otherwise strong shape, have your layers blended.
With a double form line or a bi-level cut, you can go with short layers on top and long ones on the bottom. Of course, the shorter your hair, the shorter layers can be, right up to boy-style strands that stick straight up. Not sure? Start with a few long layers, then add more as you go.
 Curly Layered Hair Style |
 Curly Layered Hair Style |
Layered Hair Styles For Curly Hair
Curly hair can be challenging to layer because it tends to take on a circular shape as it grows. What you want is curl control!
“With this hair type, layers should create an indent at the sides,” notes DuBose. “I always look at the face and body shape. If the face is longer, layers should go from mid-shaft to ends, not on top. Doing this creates more side width.”
Thick, curly hair needs control to achieve sexy, loosened curly hair styles. This means carefully contrived layers that sculpt in a shape. Paired with a short cut, uniform layers bring curl to life. When hair is long, surface layering should be fairly long, lest you end up looking like the Great Pyramid.
Layers for this hair type can be fairly heavy because you want them to be visibly defined . . . unless, of course, your hair is both curly and fine. Hair like this will show your scalp too easily if you add a lot of layers, especially if it’s worn short. Your best bet is to tell your hairdresser your likes, dislikes and goals, and have him or her decide.
Article courtesy of Harris Publications
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