Layered cuts are all the rage. Whether you want them soft and bouncy or edgy and sleek, if your hair is boring, a layered cut is the best way to add movement, dimension and personality to your look. According to experts, depending on your hair type, face shape and style, there are a few things to consider before choosing the right cut.
Selected experts
- Kylee Heath is a celebrity hairstylist and brand ambassador for V & Co. Beauty
- Raven Hurtado is a stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago
- Wes Sharpton is a hair story professional and lecturer
- Paul Labrecque is the Creative Director, Master Stylist and Colorist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa
Face-framing layers
What they are: Face-framing layers are designed to accentuate your facial features and add softness and balance to your overall look. These layers usually start at different points on the face, depending on the desired effect and face shape.
Expert tip: Kylee Heath, celebrity hairstylist and V&Co. Beauty brand ambassador, explains, “Consider your hair type/texture and how likely you are to style your hair when creating face-framing layers. They require a little maintenance, but it’s worth it! For a round face, layers that start just below the chin can help make the face appear longer.”
What you should ask for: Talk to your hairdresser about how you normally wear your hair, as this will affect the placement of the layers. Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, advises, “Think about placement when adding face-framing layers on different face shapes to soften and highlight your features. For example, a round face looks best with layers starting below the chin to elongate it.”
Curtain Pony
What they are: Curtain bangs are soft, parted bangs that blend seamlessly into the face-framing layers, providing a versatile look that can be styled in multiple ways.
Expert tip: Wes Sharpton, a professional and instructor at Hairstory, notes, “Curtain bangs can enhance your face-framing layers. They offer a versatile look that can be parted or swept to the side.”
What you should ask for: For a consistent look, ask your stylist to incorporate curtain bangs into your existing layers. Paul Labrecque, creative director at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spa, adds, “Heart-shaped faces look great with curtain bangs and layers placed to extend away from the center of the face.”
Shaved layers
What they are: Shaved layers are edgy, vibrant layers created with a razor instead of scissors. This technique adds texture and movement, making it a popular choice for straight or wavy hair.
Expert tip: “Razor cuts can add a modern touch to the overall look,” says Sharpton. This technique works well on straight or wavy textures to emphasize the natural movement of the hair.
What you should ask for: To achieve this look, ask your hairdresser to use a razor to trim the layers. This will create a softer, more lived-in effect. It’s ideal for those who want subtle texture without a drastic change.
Wolf Cuts
What they are: The wolf cut is a trendy shag-inspired haircut with lots of choppy, face-framing layers. It’s a mix of shag and mullet, creating a wild, untamed look.
Expert tip: Labrecque mentions, “Clients ask for the wolf cut – it’s full of layers that frame the face. It’s important to keep the texture and thickness of your hair in mind before opting for this trendy layered cut.”
What you should ask for: Discuss with your hairdresser how much structure you want and where you want the layers to start. This style is best suited to medium to thick hair with natural movement, as volume is required to achieve the desired effect.
Lion cuts
What they are: Like the wolf cut, the lion cut is a dramatic, voluminous style characterized by layers that give the hair a wild, mane-like appearance.
Expert tip: Labrecque also highlights the popularity of the lion cut, noting that it is “full of layers that frame the face,” but warns that it may not be suitable for everyone. “Thin hair doesn’t do well with lots of layers and if your hair is really thick, it can end up looking like a cotton swab.”
What you should ask for: This style requires careful consideration of the thickness and texture of the hair. If you have thick hair, removing some weight can prevent the style from becoming too bulky.
Bouncing Blowouts
What they are: A bouncey blowout is a voluminous, soft style that works beautifully with face-framing layers and adds fullness and movement to the hair.
Expert tip: Heath is excited about the trend, saying, “Face-framing layers combined with a bouncy blow-dry is one of my absolute favorite looks. When creating waves or curls, it’s nice to add a little more dimension to the haircut.”
How to style: To achieve this look, use a round brush when blow-drying to add volume and finish the look with a texturizing spray. Regular trimming will keep the layers fresh and prevent split ends.
Feathered layers
What they are: Feathered layers are soft, thin layers that flow away from the face, creating a light, airy effect. This style is perfect for adding subtle movement without losing length.
Expert tip: Labrecque recommends this style for people with oval faces: “For oval shapes, I suggest sweeping the layers away from the face. This creates a soft, flowing look that enhances the natural symmetry of the face.”
How to style: Feathery layers work best with longer hair and can be styled using a round brush to flip the ends outward, enhancing the feathery effect.
Chopped layers
What they are: Choppy layers are uneven, textured layers that give the haircut a bold, edgy feel. They are often used to create volume and movement, especially on straight hair.
Expert tip: Heath advises being cautious with this style: “If you wear your hair straight, you may not want super choppy layers. It’s important to communicate how you want to wear your hair before cutting.”
What you should ask for: If you prefer a tousled, undone look, ask your hairdresser for choppy layers. Styling with a texturizing spray can help enhance the edgy feel of this cut.
Textured layers
What they are: Textured layers add subtle or pronounced texture to the hair, creating a more natural, casual look. This style works well for adding movement and reducing volume.
Expert tip: Hurtado warns against overdoing it: “Another mistake is to let the hair be too thin or textured. You don’t always need to texture the layers that frame the face, especially with fine hair, because otherwise the ends would feel finer and thinner.”
What you should ask for: Depending on the desired effect, texturing can be done with scissors or a razor. Especially with fine or thin hair, it is important to find the right balance so that the ends do not appear too thin.
