Hair Layering
Layering has been around for ages and there are so many ways to do it, it’s hard to know what’s really best for your style. That’s where your stylist comes in! Your stylist will look at your hair with a critical eye and help you determine how long your hair should be, how much lift you need, etc. When talking to your stylist about your needs, ask them if your style could benefit from adding layers. Here are some of the pros and cons:
Layering adds lift! If your hair just lays flat and boring, layering can help add a little volume without having to add product. Your stylist will take the hair from the top section of your head and cut it shorter than the longest length of your hair to separate the ends. They will generally then connect the ends from the shortest layer at the top to the longest layer at the bottom. This helps to blend the points together and take out choppy lines. When the stylist does this, they may use regular scissors, a razor or razor comb, or even thinning shears. And there are actually a lot of other techniques using these tools to help achieve the layering that the stylist will use based on your hairs texture and condition.
Layering takes out bulk. If your hair is really heavy, layering can take a lot of that bulk out to add more life and movement to your hair. The layers can be long or short or in between, but the point is to remove the heaviest portion of the mid-length to ends to add energy to your style.
Layering creates more definition. The act of layering can take a simple bob haircut and turn it into hair “art.” It can be used to show off colors to a better advantage or add in another shape for a more contemporary or European feel. A lot of times layering is used to show off peek-a-boo colors, halo lights, and other coloring techniques.
Caution: a layering job gone wrong can make your hair look tragic. I don’t tell you this to scare you away from doing it, but make sure your stylist knows what they are doing. Layering is fun but can be a bad thing for your style if your stylist isn’t comfortable with your hair type or texture. Example – if you have fine hair that is long, too much layering can make your hair appear stringy or even more thin. That’s generally not the look you are going for when you grow your hair out. If your hair is extremely thick and curly and your stylist cuts the layers incorrectly, the overall shape of your cut can look too round or boxy. Make sure you fully trust your stylist before you start going in for layering.
Layering is a technique used on all lengths, textures and types of hair. Your hair doesn’t have to be medium or long to benefit from this technique. Discuss the pros and cons with your stylist to determine if it’s the right thing for you.
Other Hair Cut, Color & Styling Glossary Terms:
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