Although some people may find thin and wavy hair difficult, I could not disagree even more with that opinion. In my opinion, some of the best haircuts have come from thinner hair types. While some other stylists may find this hair type difficult, I find it to be an excellent canvas to do something a bit more creative. Instead of just trying to get volume in the hair, I like to create movement and use my layers to create even more movement.
A few years ago, I had a client who had straightened her hair so much that she had lost the memory of the wave pattern in her hair. We cut a few inches off and then she air dried it and sat there and touched it for a few minutes without saying anything. That kind of thing happens when a person finally finds the right haircut for their hair type. It is all about removing the weight from the hair so that the texture can finally be exposed. With clients who have thin and wavy hair, I always go back to these fifteen cuts that I know will work and are practical rather than just looking good in the salon mirrors.
#1: Textured Bob with Soft Bangs
A bob at this length with the hair being just above the shoulders makes thin wavy hair look alive. The bangs on this style do a lot. They soften the whole cut around the forehead and temples without a lot of added heaviness. I appreciate the moderation in layering. It is just right to give the waves some place to go and the movement look organic rather than overdone. If you’ve been growing out your hair because you thought that was the only way to achieve a fuller look, this will probably surprise you.
#2: Long Wavy Cut with Gentle Layers
I can tell from first glance that there is a lot of effort taken into this hairstyle, particularly the use of a shine serum or light oil finishing product that adds shine to the ends of the hair. The cut is a perfect balance between giving the ends of the hair volume and lift and not over thinning the hair. This is the type of hairstyle where it looks like you didn’t do anything but is ironically really difficult to create.
#3: Long Wavy Cut with Defined Curls
The deep side part makes you do a double take. It alters the whole shape of the cut and adds more intention to the curls. The length hits just below the shoulders, which is perfect for wavy hair that wants to curl, as it won’t be weighed down by the length. I will say that for wavy hair that doesn’t naturally clump, you will need curl cream and some patience on wash days. The cut shape also looks good even on the second or third day of unwashed hair.
#4: Layered Waves with Subtle Highlights
To my clients who have just returned from a vacation to a warm destination, this is the type of haircut I would do. The highlights are placed so that they evenly distribute into the wave formation, and that is what makes it most successful. The reflection of the light off the moving hair at different angles creates the illusion of the hair being super thick but without any additional weight. The longest layers are around the face, and the framing does a lot of the work here. It’s not a complex style, and that’s what I love about it.
#5: Long Waves with Soft Balayage
The balayage is quite stunning, especially how its been focused more around the face and the front pieces which brings a warmth that looks more sun-kissed rather than salon done. With thin hair, long hair can sometimes fall flat, but with the waves and color placement she has done, she has created enough visual texture that is super enticing. If you are going to keep the hair this long, you are definitely going to need to keep up with your trims and a split end treatment because the damage shows up thinner ends on longer hair quicker than anything else.
#6: Ashy Layered Waves with Cool-Toned Highlights
I love the mixture of colors in the hair. The way the colors blend gives it a softness that is almost palpable. Ashy tones can sometimes look a bit dull when in combination with fine hair but here the highlights are contrasting enough to prevent that from happening. The cut is light with just the right amount of layering at the ends to prevent it from looking overly wispy. I think this style is great for someone who wants a no-fuss look that requires minimal effort to style.
#7: Long Dark Waves with Soft Movement
Hair is an amazing work of art! This type of hair illustrates the beauty of a good haircut with lots of dimension. Internal long layers will keep the overall length of the hair while allowing movement to create a stunning effect. The cut will look best with periodic hair care. A deep conditioning treatment once a week will keep the waves soft and free of frizz. The weight of the hair looks amazing as it falls past the shoulders and creates an understated elegance that I find absolutely beautiful.
#8: Golden Wavy Layers with Balayage
What I love about this beautiful golden blonde is the warmth! I also love how certain colors can look different depending on the light and balayage does a fabulous job at that on wavy textures. I placed the layers to promote movement and with medium density hair like this, that really makes the difference. I love how soft and framing this cut is, it’s warm & inviting. This style, I think, photographs really well and you will love it when you see yourself in a window!
#9: Wavy Half-Up Style with Soft Curls
What I love about half-up styles on wavy hair is that you can play with a few different textures! The top section is so sleek while the bottom section has all that movement and bounce from the waves. Out of all the half-up styles, this one is definitely more sophisticated and dressed up. The defined curls that have been added to the ends of the hair create a lot of volume and fullness especially towards the middle and ends of the hair. If you are planning on using heat for curls like this, remember to use a heat protectant. This look would also be super nice with a gloss treatment to add shine.
#10: Dark Layered Waves with Natural Texture
It’s a nice, simple style that doesn’t overthink things. It’s a really good mid-length style that lets the natural wave variation do the talking. The waves added some volume at the crown and in the middle, while keeping some weight at the ends so that the hair doesn’t fly away. The dark color is beautiful and shiny, which adds to the overall look. Simplicity often receives a lot of compliments, and this is no exception.
#11: Long Voluminous Waves with Warm Dimension
The warm colors create depth and thickness to the hair even when it’s fine. The layers are soft and low enough to create fullness in the bottom half. That undone/beachy hair quality you’re referring to can be difficult to achieve without the right supportive wave pattern. If you deal with frizz, you can use a light anti-frizz cream on damp hair before air drying to keep everything under control.
#12: Soft Waves with Warm, Blended Highlights
The highlights that are woven into the waves are really nice. Each wave of the hair catches a different hue and the cut really pops. A single color would look plain with fine hair. The amount of detail is crazy! Texturizing will help avoid a flat look; there’s more than enough to make it clear. The color changes are subtle enough that the layers will pop. This cut is a great option if you don’t want to visit the salon frequently because it grows out really nicely.
#13: Shoulder-Length Waves with Warm Balayage
In my opinion, thin wavy hair is best at shoulder length, and this cut demonstrates why. There’s enough length for the waves to form, but not so much that the weight of the hair pulls them out. The warm balayage adds a richness to the hair that makes the strands look denser than they really are. This is the type of cut that looks good whether you take ten minutes to style it, or forty, and that’s what most of my clients are after, even if they don’t say so.
#14: Textured Wavy Cut with Easy Movement
The cut clearly knows what it’s doing. The layers have been done softly which lets the waves separate and move freely instead of having that feathery over layered look that less dense hair tends to have. It’s a nice uncomplicated shape that sits around shoulder length. If your hair has a tendency to frizz, adding a leave-in conditioner when it’s damp will keep the hair feeling soft and polished and it won’t weigh the hair down. This is the kind of cut that looks like you didn’t try at all and I mean that in a good way.
#15: Medium Wavy Cut with Face-Framing Layers
For thin, wavy hair, I consider these face-framing layers an example of a great haircut. Because these layers are more subtle, they do a great job of framing the hair, opening up room for the waves. Also, having length just below the shoulders helps keep enough weight in the hair, preventing the ends from looking too thin. This haircut is classic and beautiful, it’s the kind of haircut that keeps people going back to the salon. The haircut is so good that people don’t get tired of it.
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