Layered haircuts are a go-to option for women these days, especially women who have thick hair. Layering the hair simply means hair is cut at different lengths. It cuts down on bulky hair and creates swoon-worthy movement you’ll fall in love with. Plus, layers work with all hair types! So what are you waiting for?
What Is a Layered Haircut?
The meaning of a layered haircut is clear from its name. Getting your hair layered essentially entails cutting sections of your hair at various lengths. By doing this, the ends of your hair fall at different points of your head.
Typically, the section closest to your neck is the longest, and the layers get cut shorter as they get closer to the top of your head.
Getting layers can give the illusion that your hair is longer and more voluminous than it is. This is why many people choose to get this style of haircut.
When getting your layered haircut, you have some options. You could get short layers, which means that the distance between layers is rather short.
You could also get long layers, which create a more choppy and dramatic look since the layers are farther away from each other.
Who Should Get Layers in Their Hair?
Anyone can get layers if they want them. They work for both thin and thick hair. However, you’ll receive different benefits from the style depending on your hair type.
If you have thin hair, getting a layered haircut can make your hair look significantly more voluminous. If you have thick hair, getting layers will help reduce the heaviness of your hair.
Wearing a ponytail with thick hair can feel like it’s pulling on your scalp and can cause headaches. Layers will help reduce that feeling. Getting layers in thick hair will also give your hair a little more movement.
How To Cut Layeres
Here’s how to cut hair into the layered style:
- You’ll want to wash the hair first and leave it damp. Hair is much easier to manage and cut when it is damp.
- Start dividing the hair into sections. You should have two sections at the front of the head, two in the middle right above the ear, and two towards the nape of the neck.
- After you have the sections pinned back or up in hair ties, let one section at the nape of your neck loose. Grab a good pair of hair-cutting shears and hold them at a 90-degree angle. Trim the section to your desired length. Match this length with the other nape section. These two sections will be your longest layer.
- Once you have your bottom layer at the length you want it, untie the next two layers. Still holding the shears at a 90-degree angle, trim these sections of hair evenly. They should fall a little above your bottom layer.
- Now, you should have the two top sections left to trim. Let one section loose and hold it diagonally across the face between two fingers. Trim the hair at a 90-degree angle. This will help to frame the layer around the face. Do the same thing to the other side section.
Another way to do this would be to let one side section loose and cut it at a 45-degree angle. Then repeat this on the other side section. There is no crossing over the face with this method.
- The final step would be to even out the layers if they aren’t already.
Watch the Following Tutorial to learn How to DIY Cut Layers on Your Hair
Lovely Layered Haircuts
This list of 35 layered haircuts will leave you with plenty of options for updating your current hairstyle.
1. Long Layered Hair
Sure you could wear your long hair all at one length, but a better way to style it is by adding layers. These are long layers so the first level of layering doesn’t start until the shoulders.
2. Short Layered Hair
Do you have a short haircut you want to liven up? Short layers start closer to the scalp so not only do they create shape, they add texture up top you can easily manipulate with fingers.
3. Layered Medium Haircut
These blonde layers begin at chin level and really pop when hair is straightened and draped over shoulders. When you have layers, you need only add a center part to finish off your look.
4. Layered Curly Hair
Curly hair tends to get thick and bulky, sometimes even messy if it’s not tamed the right way. Whether you have natural curls or use a curling wand, adding layers is the best way to whip them into shape.
5. Layered Hair with Bangs
A half updo with straight bangs looks even better with layers. On brown hair with caramel layers and waves, layers add a slight feathering to help hair stand out hanging over shoulders.
6. Layered Straight Hair
For women with naturally straight hair, a layered look is very work-appropriate. This style features a slight blonde balayage, helping the look stand out even more.
7. Layered Wavy Hair
Wear your layered hair loaded with waves and a statement headband to feel your best. Whether it’s a wedding, date night, or you just want to look cute for work, this style will do it.
8. Choppy Layers
Choppy layers mean the hair is still cut into layers but unevenly. Many women choose these to add a rocker edge to their hairstyle, like this straight dark red look.
9. Layered Thick Hair
For my thick hair, layers are the key to keeping it manageable. If yours is as thick as mine, you’ll love the amazing things layers do for making it easy to style.
10. Thin Layered Blonde Hair
As if platinum was the only way to make thin hair angelic-like, adding layers will help to give the illusion of thicker locks. On straight hair, they’re especially noticeable for their piecey appearance.
11. Face-framing Layers
Layers that frame the face will never go out of style. Whether it’s a round or oval face you’re trying to flatter, layers that begin at cheekbones will give your face a whole new look.
12. Layers and Bangs
Amp a simple shoulder-length hairstyle by trimming it into layers starting near the jaw while covering the forehead with wispy eyebrow-skimming bangs. A hand tousle is enough to keep the layers in shape. Middle-aged women can add platinum blonde babylights for a detailed look.
13. Edgy Pixie Cut
This wonderfully layered pixie is the haircut to go for in 2024. Lighten the hair to a warm blonde hue and chop it off into layers with a longer side-swept fringe at the front. The subtle blonde babylights add an instant glow to the face.
14. Black and White Appeal
Young girls can keep all the eyes on themselves with this two-toned look. Half of the hair is dyed black while the remaining is in an icy platinum hue. The layering starts near the ears and continues to the ends with the lob sitting on the shoulders.
15. Layered Pigtails
Tired of your long mane but don’t want to chop it off? Try adding connecting layers to dark brown locks that will enhance the volume of the hair while livening up your look. Style the hair in middle-parted pigtails to recreate this hairstyle exactly.
16. Feathery Look + Peekaboo Highlights
Ladies with naturally straight hair can also get layers on medium-length hair. Ask the hairstylist to start the layers near the crown and continue to the ends that are curled up to create a feathery appeal. The blonde peekaboo highlights will turn around many heads.
17. Highlighted Tips
Make those long layered tresses noticeable from a distance by dyeing the tips of the chocolate brown strands in a warm caramel hue. Add curls and style the hair in a messy updo with some strands loose and an embellished crown for an elegant appeal.
18. Blonde Balayage
A balayage looks gorgeous on long layers and is an ideal way of lightening down the hair without dominating the natural base hair shade. Create this look by melting the light ash brown top into a vanilla blonde hue. Flaunt the two-toned hair with a top knot hairstyle.
19. Dark to Light Gradient
Show off your natural curls by clipping the medium-length hair in choppy layers with the dark roots merging into the blonde hue midway to the ends. Babylights add further detail to this look that is easy to maintain as the growing roots accentuate the hairstyle.
20. Curtain Fringe
A curtain fringe covers a wide forehead and goes perfectly well with curly layered hair. This haircut is ideal for women with fine curls as it imparts some volume to them. The middle-parted fringe gives this style a chic appeal. Finger brushing is enough to style this easy-going haircut.
21. Short and Sassy
This lovely layered haircut is perfect for women over 50 to flaunt their greys while young ladies can pull it off too. Get as many layers as possible all over the head. This haircut is low-maintenance and a hand-tousle is enough to style it.
22. Layered Hair with Side Bangs
Why let your hair lie limp against your head when layers will give the body some shape? Worn with soft side bangs, this short style with waves is a great hairstyle for any woman.
23. V-Cut Hair with Layers
To create a V-shape with your hair, you’ll want to start layers at least 5 inches up from your hair’s ends. Slowly add in longer layers and brush hair straight for the most noticeable effect.
24. Layered Blonde Hair
A blonde haircut is definitely for the girl-next-door and you can make it even more attractive with layers. Worn straight with curtain bangs and your favorite dress, it’s super chic.
25. Layered Hairstyle for Black Women
In between haircuts and want something simple yet stylish? A straight black weave with layers and long straight bangs takes only minutes to style in the mornings, so you can look good in a flash. If you prefer shorter hair, go for layered bob.
26. Layered Bob
Avoid the boring rounded shape a bob haircut can look like and add layers. With bouncy curls for body and a cut that stops at the jawline, it’s the ultimate flattering short haircut.
27. Layered Brown Hair
Against light or medium brown hair, highlighted layers stand out beautifully. It’s a classy style for the woman who prefers chic traditional cuts.
28. Asian Girl With Layered Hair
Many Asian women tend to have straight hair. Since this texture of hair is easy to work with, adding layers will only make it easier. Try a rich chocolate brown for even more beauty.
29. Layers for Women over 50
Prefer thick luscious locks for your short hairstyle? A bit of teasing and layered curls will bring all eyes to you. Part hair in the center and add blonde highlights to make your curls pop.
30. Feathered Layers
The crown of this hairstyle is teased to add volume while the layers are feathered to create wispy ends. A rich chocolate brown color pulls it all together.
31. Shaggy Layers
Avril Lavigne once rocked shaggy layers and girls went crazy. It’s back in style and you can get it by asking your stylist for slightly messy, razor-cut layers.
32. Layered Hair with Highlights
Another great thing about having a layered haircut is you can easily create a beach babe look. Give your hair a heavy part to create blonde highlighted tresses that are lusciously voluminous.
33. Layered Hair for Round Face
A round face needs a shaped hairstyle in order for the face not to look even more round. Start your layers at the cheek so that whether you wear hair parted in the center or off-center, your locks will flatter your angles.
34. Layered Hair into Ponytail
While layered hair looks beautiful worn down and loose, it looks equally as pretty gathered into a ponytail secured at medium height. Wrap a section of hair around the base to disguise an ugly elastic.
35. Braids for Layered Hair
This dressed-up formal hairstyle for layered hair features braids of varying sizes intertwined with waves and curls, perfect for a wedding or date.
Layered Haircut Vs Feather Cut
While a layered haircut requires cutting sections of hair at varying lengths, feathering is a technique that is typically done to layered hair. A feather cut is a way to shape and texturize the ends of your hair.
To feather the ends of your hair, a hairdresser will typically hold the hair-cutting shears at about a 45-degree angle and cut the ends of your layers. Once the hairdresser finishes, the ends of your hair will look like wispy feathers. This is where the cut gets its name.
The feathering technique will look good on any type of hair, as long as you have layers.
Be honest: how many of these layered haircuts did you fall in love with? If your answer is all of the above, start today with your favorite and try them all!
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