Layers in your hair can transform your look from dull and singular to give you a hairstyle with more texture and, usually gives thinner or finer hair, a lot more volume.
Additionally, there are many different types of layers that can be cut into your haircut. There are long layers which are perfect for hair that is straight or wavy but on the thicker side of hair density.
Long layers are great for women who need a low maintenance style that can be air dried and like to enhance the natural waves of their hair.
Short layers are best used for short hair that requires some volume, or when you have bangs on a longer head of hair. Lastly, there are classic layers which are used to frame the face at the front and leave you with a messy, rugged style at the back.
These layers work well with using a curling iron to get a soft, bouncy feel to your locks.
All the different types of layers whether choppy, graduated, invisible, or feathered layers are meant to work on a woman’s specific texture, hair type and face shape, providing the hair with a balanced shape, edgy ends, and volume throughout the hair.
The best thing is, you can always tailor layers to your needs, that’s why this technique splits into so many types.
A lot of women like to combine braids with their layered styles to make beach waves and curls and combine them with layers to give their hair a casual, yet styled look.
The amount of variations of layered hairstyles and haircuts you can make are endless, and there are many ways to style your hair once it has been layered. It also doesn’t take a lot to reach a stylish end product.
From a simple brush through and blow dry combination to using tools like the curling wand and flat iron.
To make your layers pop, you can also use a variety of products like after wash foams or hair spray which will keep your hair in place, glossy and fizz-free.
This guide was put together to give you ideas on how to style your hair with layers to make sure you stay on trend and fashionable. It describes different styles suitable for different lengths of hair and hair types.
If you are looking to layer your hair, then hopefully this guide can help you decide what is best for you.
The layered lob (a lob is a long bob) cuts layers in a way that makes the hair look like feathers on a bird. The hair looks textured and light and the layers add a dimension of volume to the hair.
It is a gorgeous current hairstyle that you won’t easily get sick of and is super versatile in the way that it is suitable for both casual and formal looks, as is.
Balayage is a color technique used on hair where the highlights (which are a few shades lighter than the base hair color) are painted or “swept” across random sections of hair which gives your hair depth and dimension.
When combined with layers, it enhances the layers and creates a wavy look on the hair. If your lob is asymmetrical, even more texture and volume can be added.
If you are blonde or are a brunette wanting to go blonde, adding layers will accentuate the golden hues in your hair.
If you are bleaching your hair blonde, you will have to ensure that you keep your hair moisturized and healthy to ensure that they maintain the gloss and glow that you want.
Layers in straight hair work well on shoulder-length hair in particular, and you can also curl them to achieve a soft curl in your hair that will just kiss the tips of your shoulders.
Adding honey tones to your hair is a great choice no matter your skin tone or your face shape, and so it is no wonder it is one of the most popular hair colors. Combining this with layers will really make your hair pop.
Bangs and layers are a match made in heaven. Bangs frame features like your eyes and eyebrows and layers frame your face shape and when used together, they match perfectly together to make a trademark style.
If you are after a more Bohemian look, you can pair your layers with braids across your head or to the sides of your face. The combination of layers and braids will also make you look like you have just come from an exotic island.
Long and short layers along with an ash blonde hair color makes for a winning combination and will give you a long-lasting look. Ash blonde is a trendy hair color which is easy to maintain, especially if you have blonde and light brown hair at your roots.
Going platinum blonde is a brave and bold fashion statement. When paired with layers, and medium hair, you can make any hairstyle you want. The key with platinum blonde hair is to take a lot of good care of your hair.
It also needs to be dyed on quite a regular basis.
When you have layers, you can comb over your hair and brush it along with your blow-dryer you will achieve a massive amount of volume and a long shaggy haircut will enhance the look.
When you have extremely long hair, it may be a bit difficult to style and refresh, but if you add in cascading layers, they will frame your face and make your hair look like it is flowing off your head like a fountain of water.
Flipped ends with layered hair can suit all women who want to keep their hairstyles casual and classy. Flipped ends will add more volume and texture to your hair, even with fine hair. This look is reminiscent of “The Rachel”.
If you want to achieve an eye-catching look, using asymmetric layers in a bob will add in texture and volume to your hairdo. The end result will be a messy and shaggy, uneven mop of hair that is suitable for casual and elegant looks.
With the versatility of layers, it goes with any hair color and layers look great in darker shades of browns and espresso tones to match with sun-kissed skin and when paired with baby lights, natural waves and the layers make an elegant combination that will last a long time.
Baby lights are very delicate, white-blonde highlights created using a very fine color technique used to mimic natural highlights. They are a fabulous way to introduce color if you want a change but don’t want anything too drastic.
Blonde hair with baby lights around your face will frame your face and highlight your skin complexion.
Fine hair is difficult to texturize and volumize, and so you need the help of layers and curls to do that. Short, messy layers will enhance your face and give you volume and texture.
You don’t need to have thick hair to style hair and have a great crop on your head.
Since the popularizing of ombre hairstyles in the early 2000s, it has continued to be a favorite among women. When you add waves and layers to ombre, you will achieve a volume and depth and dimension with no other.
Blonde shades with dark roots provide you with a beautiful, modern and stylish look.
A combination of long and choppy layers with a few shorter ones provide your medium hair with a dimension of volume and a gorgeous look. Medium length hair does not need to have many layers to add volume and texture.
A half up, half down hairstyle is a versatile one that can be worn on any occasion. It is suitable to have when going out or just an easy go-to hairstyle at home.
Highlights and dark roots paired with the half up, half down hairstyle will give you a remarkable look while remaining fun and casual.
Using a combination of short and long layers will give you a haircut that is always in style that can be worn on any occasion. The varying layers give your hair body and texture like no other because of the varying lengths of layers.
This rock ‘n’ roll inspired look is layers on another level. The balayage technique alongside these messy layers will look amazing. The look can be made even messier by using your fingers and hands instead of a brush.
The look is versatile and can be used on any length and color of hair.
Whether you have natural red hair or are looking to change your color to red, layers of any kind and bangs will look great on you. Curls will also upgrade your look to a more modern and stylish look.
When you have layered hair and bangs and when your hair is a bit greasy or if you don’t want to wash it or don’t have time to style it, it is easy to put it into a ponytail. Ponytails can be styled with accessories like headscarves or bows.
A long hairstyle combining auburn with ombre blonde ends give a fall feel to your look. When paired with long layers and bangs in the front, you will achieve an amazing casual hairstyle that can be worn on any occasion.
Pairing long waved hair with cascading layers with strawberry blonde dyed hair. It is one of the trendiest hairstyles for everyday wear these days. The strawberry blonde is really accentuated by layers and will make your face and outfit pop.
Short layered cuts in any length hair, but especially short hair with a choppy bob makes for an interesting hairstyle. There are many ways to style a chopped bob, but using curls to style a bob is very stylish and dresses up any look for any occasion.
Straight layers in straight hair will give you a polished, stylish look every day. It is minimal effort and can be achieved with medium and long hair lengths and is very low maintenance. This hairstyle is great when paired with side bangs.
Top knots on medium length and long length hair is a versatile and low-maintenance look for layered hairstyles. You can leave part of your hair down or just the bangs instead, and tie up the hair in the top knot.
Hairstyles with asymmetric cuts and short layers in a bobbed style will give a messy, classy yet modern update to your look. It is relatively low maintenance to manage and is a stylish look for any person of any face shape.
This style combining layered medium length hair that is highlighted will be suitable for more mature women or those that need an easy but classy and sophisticated look.
To create beach waves in an asymmetric bob, longer layers and shorter layers are combined to make a beautiful layered bob. When paired with highlights and baby lights, you will uplift your hairstyle to a level that will make people notice you.
Feathered layers in long hair look elegant and will be easy to wear for any occasion and looks great in the form of long, short, and medium feather layers. It is easy to style and is great for a casual or more formal look depending on what you are after.
Side bangs with layers frame your face and work well with short or longer hair to add more volume to your hair, and is a great addition to up-style your hair with minimal effort.
A layered lob gives the wearer a shaggy look that is messy but stylish at the same time. It is an ideal hairstyle for women on the go who do not have time to do their hair every day in the morning. Extra highlights or an ombre look will only enhance this look.
Long, medium, choppy or short layers can be cut into naturally curly or wavy hair. Short layers should be used only if you want to enhance your curls or if you want to add extra volume to your curls.
Styled layers give an elegant lift to your hair when you need to take center stage at an event. This is achieved with the use of a blow-dryer and a round brush.
If you have natural waves or curls, you can definitely style your hair with layers. Layers and highlights make your hairstyle look polished and classy, and will enhance the natural waves and characteristics of your hair.
Combining dark hair with golden blonde and light brown highlights and baby lights with layers and waves to achieve cascading curls and waves that will stay in place for days on end.
Braids can add an interesting and chic element to any hairstyle and can make a super romantic look if braids are used in long hair to the side of your head.
Alternatively, you can wear your layered hair in a long Dutch braid, which is a braid that is a three-piece section of hair braided together with the pieces crossing under the middle section from the crown of the head to the nape of the neck.
Layered pixie cut hairstyles are for the brave and is complemented with braids and trendy hairpins which can be used to dress up your hair for a more formal occasion such as a wedding or engagement events.
If you are headed to Coachella any time soon, this hairstyle with braids leading to a half up, half down top knot styled hairdo will be sure to turn heads.
A side loose braid can make a long hair with layers look interesting, and looks great for any occasion and can be styled with many outfits and fashion choices-from formal and workwear to everyday wear- it is a great way to change up your layered look.
Corset braids are great for styling front layers of hair. A corset braid is basically a ribbon or string weaved through two braids like a corset.
The braids can be any size and can be used on any hair types. Additionally, they could be used on cornrows and on thick french braids with the whole head of hair.
With long layered hair, two braids can easily be made and is a trendy staple to have in your hairstyle toolkit. This hairstyle is easy to make and is perfect for making a statement in your look.
Using a messy wrap with layers-that is, tying your hair up in a ponytail and wrapping it up with strands of hair. This natural look is accentuated with layers and highlights, and looks especially great with long hair.
The layered lob with waves can be done without a curling wand or flattening iron. If you braid your hair at night and section it and go to sleep with them in. This minimal effort will give you a cute and wavy lob hairstyle that you can wear the next day.
By adding honey hues to the platinum dye, your blonde hair will go from cold to warm and when paired with loose waves, you will look like you stepped out of a fashion shoot.
The loose waves will allow the light to reflect off the hair and give a shimmer and gloss to the hair.
When you have long hair with cascading layers, adding loose and large waves to the hair, combined with highlights, will give you an elegant look that looks stunning for every occasion.
The comb over works well with short and long layers and despite length, it is a sure fire way to get volume to your hair. The combed over hair will look stylish and relaxed at the same time.
This hairstyle works great with layered hair as the layered hair is gathered to the back of your head and clipped together with an accessory or hair pins are great to wear for elegant events.
This look is flawless and elegant and is great for corporate events or a night out on the town.
Using sun-kissed golden hues, braids, and top knots with layers are the perfect combination for wearing a boho hairstyle for summer and is great for days at the beach and poolsides or music and craft festivals.
Mermaid hairstyles with loads of color combinations work well with layered hair, as you can do ombre styles and can be used with longer and shorter layers. If you are after an eccentric style or if you want to make a statement, then this is the look for you!
The top knot made a comeback a few years ago with the emergence of hipsters in the world, and has since become one of the most popular hairstyles for men and women.
You can wrap a part of layered hair with the rest making lovely loose waves cascading down your head.
These Princess Leia inspired space buns at the top of your head and are very popular. Black or darker roots with blond ends along the two space buns give you a Bohemian look that will not go out of style.
A waterfall braid is a half French braid in which half of the hair is braided, and the reset is allowed to fall down, just like a waterfall.
This type of braid looks great on any hair length but will look nice in medium or long hair that is layered. Adding ombre or balayage highlights takes this look to the next level.
Cutting your hair in an angled bob is a favorite for short hairstyles and bobs. When combined with striking purple dye, you will stand out from the crowd and truly make a statement.
If you want to do something different with your hair, then you cannot go wrong with this angle layered purple bob.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Layering Hair Do?
Layering hair combines shorter strands of hair into the length of the hair to create movement, remove weight and give the hair extra texture and volume.
From light, irregular detail layers that accentuate your hair and color to extreme choppy layers that remove the weight to the hair and create shape to the face and helps you define personal expression in many styles.
What Is The Difference Between Texturizing And Layering Hair?
Thinning and adding texture refer to interior layers that cannot be seen from the exterior and has the sole purpose of taking weight out of the hair. Layers do the same but can actually be seen from the exterior.
How To Manage Layered Hair?
When you are styling layered hair, you should blow-dry hair to make the layers more noticeable and bouncy. If you have curly hair, you should use a boar-bristle brush when brushing your hair.
If you have straight hair with layers, you should use a large ceramic brush with nylon bristles. These brushes will help add volume and add bounce to your hair.
Applying volumizing products if you have dry, thin or straight hair. Adding curls or straightening your hair will freshen up your look as well and by adding a protectant when using heat on your hair will ensure that your hair is protected.
The layers should be trimmed at least every six weeks and can be accentuated with bangs and coloring or highlighting – as detailed above.
Whatever you decide to do with your layers in your hair, hopefully this guide has helped you make an informed decision.
Hi, my name is Miranda Cole, and I’ve been working in the makeup industry for the last 10 years. I began my journey as a beautician, and now I specialize in both makeup and hair.
Over the last 10 years, I have watched as the latest trends change, and have seen the evolution of beauty and makeup in particular. As a result of this, I have a good knowledge of different makeup products, and hairstyles that will suit specific complexions or face shapes.
I want Fabulyst to be an extension of my day job, so that I can help educate others on everything they need to know about fashion and beauty. From the latest style pieces to wear, to the best hairstyles, I will be covering everything there is to know.
