You can create a fresh and entertaining style with layered haircuts! With layered hair, you can try different styling options. We have 25 different beautiful layered styles that can give you ideas and inspiration for your next haircut! Adding layers to your hair gives you added texture, looks more modern, and compliments any style, length, or type of hair. Adding layers is perfect for making a big change to your style or if you just want to take a smaller step and freshen up your overall look. We will definitely help you achieve a stylish fresh look that will make you stand out for the right reasons and praise your natural beauty and individuality.
Many people think of layers as a single concept, they couldn’t be more wrong. There is literally around 40 different styles of layers and what the individual client prefers totally changes depending on the person. I remember a client that came in years ago with a classic picture of Jennifer Aniston from 2004. Sure, everybody did that, but she did NOT need that look. She had super thick coarse hair and what she wanted most was for it to not feel like a helmet anymore. We added long internal layers which completely changed the look and her hair no longer looked like a helmet and for the first time in years, she looked at herself in the mirror and seemed like she had met her hair again.
Good layering alters the behavior of your hair instead of just the shape.
When making a list like this, I’m not just picking out nice photos. Each of these styles addresses specific textures, densities, or even lifestyles. Some are low maintenance, while others are high commitment. A few are just nice to look at, and I’d talk you out of them based on your hair, but let’s get into it.
#1: Versatile Mid-Length Feathered Cut
Out of all the haircuts I suggest, this is by far my favorite. I like that it is practical, and the way the hair moves with the cut is current, and not that dated ’90s blowout’ vibe. For those with medium density hair and oval or heart-shaped faces, this cut looks like it was framed specifically for you. Rounded looks are achieved with heat and a round brush, so practice the technique so it feels natural. This style works for everything from a Monday morning meeting to a laid-back Saturday afternoon.
#2 Chic Brunette Cascade with Subtle Layers
I love how quietly this cut works. Clients might not understand that it’s a layered cut, and may instead just enjoy the look of their hair overall. This will sit pretty on medium to thick hair and will have no issues with straight and wavy textures. The face-framing is soft and almost purposeful, which makes it more modern and not so try hard. You’ll want to keep up your 8 week trims because the whole idea behind this cut is to keep that outline clean. The magic will start to go as soon as those ends get ragged.
#3 Textured Copper Waves with Soft Fringe
The copper tones will complement your skin beautifully and add a glow that makes it look like you just got back from a holiday. The fringe brings everything together and will really draw the focus to your eyes. With medium density hair, these layers will provide the right amount of volume without going full bombshell, which is the type of balance a lot of people want but don’t know how to ask for it. The warning is out there though, copper is one of the more high maintenance tones. If you spend a lot of time outdoors, be honest with yourself about how often you will need to touch up your hair, and invest in a good colour protecting shampoo.
#4 Dynamic Auburn Waves with Playful Bangs
If someone were to ask me for a haircut with personality, this is the kind of cut I would recommend. The technique, some bangs, and eye brush make it effortless. If your hair is thinner and you want more volume, the layers give volume without looking overdone. The auburn shade is nice for anyone not wanting to go bold with color. It doesn’t look flat, plus a wave with a curling wand is a look you will have to upkeep. This style imperfects.
#5 Chic Wavy Brunette Bob with Natural Highlights
I love a bob that has a fun, layed back look and this creation definitely has that. The waves in the hair add movement and the pinpoint highlights, darker at the roots and lighter towards the ends, keep the look from being a solid block of brown color. Honestly, a super versatile bob since you can smooth it out for work or scrunch it up for the weekend and it won’t feel like you have two completely different haircuts. It also creates great volume on finer to medium hair. The only point I would make is that it’s not going to be a low maintenance bob because bobs like this will need some good texturizing spray (and maybe a bit of diffuser) to keep the waves from looking too puffy.
#6 Charming Soft Waves with Subtle Balayage
I consider this look ideal for those who want to be neat and polished, with hair that requires little to no maintenance. The gentle layering is beautiful and it helps to enhance her natural waves instead of detracting from them, while the balayage is intentionally done to reflect the light in a natural way without being too obvious about the highlights. It is a real sweet spot to achieve a look of fullness without heaviness on medium density hair, and in fact it is harder than it seems. If your hair tends to dry out, keep in mind that the balayage will require some sacrifice from your hair to make it look this good, so it is a good idea to use a deep conditioning mask once a week to protect and nourish your hair.
#7 Sleek Deep Brunette Dimensional Bob
A deep brunette bob hairstyle looks neat and serious and shows off someone who is well put together. This bob hairstyle has cuts that are shoulder-length and paired with a few subtle highlights which help to make the hairstyle a little more exciting. Also, the layers in the hairstyle help add volume and dimension especially for people who have fine hair. Gentle waves and bangs are styled to help soften the look and give a less harsh impression. Out of all the hairstyles in this list, this one is one of the most simple and easiest to take care of. This hairstyle is so low maintenance that the neat look is kept even when letting the hair air dry. I cannot say the same for a lot of other hairstyles. If your hair is naturally very textured or curly, the maintenance of daily sleek hair would be a waste of time.
#8 Elegant Mocha Brunette Layers with Soft Ends
I often go for this shade since the deep mocha tone suits a wide variety of skin tones. The layers around the face start and taper gently through the ends to give fine hair a look of denser hair without the bulk. The graduation at the bottom also helps stop the shape from being triangular as it grows out. In terms of this type of layering, shoulder-length hair truly is the most forgiving length because it’s the most versatile length. To maintain this look throughout the day, a light volumizing mousse and a quick blowout may be all you really need. The result is a cut that looks like you spent a lot of time on it.
#9 Effortlessly Tousled Medium-Length Waves
What adds another layer of complexity to this cut is the interesting asymmetry that people won’t be able to explain, but will certainly be able to experience. This type of detail makes a great haircut, rather than just a good one. The added waves will give body to finer hair in an effortless way, and the face-framing layers sit at the perfect length so you don’t have to fully commit to bangs. This looks good on a lot of different face shapes, and I say that knowing how badly that gets over-claimed. For this style to continue to be high maintenance and for the waves to not fall flat, a light hold styling product is recommended.
#10 Subtle Golden Ombre with Soft Layering
The golden ombre is brightening to the face and is low-maintenance, since it requires no color all over the hair. This effect also looks very natural with warm-toned skin. The layers are soft enough to provide movement while still making it suitable for medium to thick hair that needs a lot of shape but doesn’t want to be thinned out. I would recommend this to someone who wants a change, but doesn’t want every office at the Monday morning meeting to comment on it. The color gradient from roots to ends is seamlessly blended, and while the ombre will need a refresh at some point, the grow out on this kind of placement is as graceful as it gets.
#11 Effortless Chestnut Waves with Soft Layering
The chestnut color adds slight warmth, and with fluorescent lighting, which is rare, it looks even better in person. The delicate soft layering gently adds a subtle frame around the cheekbones and makes the eyes pop, especially for oval and round faces. Because of the layers, I would classify this in maintenance cut because as the layers grow out, they lose that intended shape and blend into something more boring and less interesting. Expect to budget for a trim every 6 to 8 weeks to keep this looking just how you want it.
#12 Glossy Auburn Feathered Layers
Look how shiny this style is! A good color technique paired with an important cut should be acknowledged. The feathered layers that frame your face and blend with the color, provide the perfect amount of weight removal to make the hair feel light and movable. It’s a suggestion to find a colorist who knows how to work with warm tones so you don’t end up with a simple box color. If your hair looks this good, you definitely won’t mind the upkeep appointments for color and layers.
#13 Chic Mid-Length Layered Cut for Fine Hair
If you have fine hair and have been wanting to give the cut a go, this style is worth your while. These layers are placed under the shoulders and long enough to keep the general length while providing an appearance of fullness. The type of volume this cut provides is much more honest than any product. This cut requires daily styling. To keep the layers defined, you will need to blow dry and keep the shape round. If you are looking for a wash-and-go type cut, this won’t be for you. But for fine hair clients who are willing to spend ten minutes with a hair dryer, this cut does the trick.
#14 Soft Caramel Highlights with Gentle Waves
I understand that it takes skill to do caramel highlights, but these highlights are all over the place. The colorist probably used a good technique considering how warm and not brassy the highlights are, and with good placement the hair looks dimensional and light instead of heavy. This look has two key components to it; the waves and the color. The waves could use a spritz of wave spray (just try not to use it too much, it can create a lot of buildup), and the color will need to be refreshed before it looks unintentional. This is a very good option to add some life without it being too dramatic.
#15 Brunette Swirl with Soft Voluminous Layers
The brunette and blonde highlights look beautiful together. The two-tone coloring adds a level of dimension that a single-process color doesn’t create. The haircut adds natural structure to the face. The way the layers contour around the face highlights the cheekbones. The mid-lengths give fine hair the appearance of thickness. This cut will enhance the natural waves in your hair. If you don’t have waves, adding them will be super easy with a large-barreled curling iron. This style will need a bit of a lift, so a light volumizing spray will help.
#16 Mocha Layers with Face-Framing Highlights
These highlights create a flattering contrast without being overly dramatic and crossing the line into being racing stripes. Unfortunately, that’s a mistake too many colorists make. The soft layering underneath adds some movement and volume, which is fantastic if your hair likes to fall flat. This is ideal mid-length hair for fine to medium hair types without taking out too much bulk. The mocha base is subtle enough for the grow out to remain nice for longer than a bold color choice would, too. For that swoopy shape around the face you’re going to want a quick blow out and a light texturizing spray, but it’s mostly a five minute kind of effort, not a production.
#17 Vibrant Copper Cascading Layers
This copper hue is absolutely gorgeous. On fair skin, it adds a warmth that is invigorating. The flowing layers give an impression of luxurious weight rather than heaviness. This is especially true for medium to thick hair where more of that controlled movement is preferred. The layers also help remove some of the bulk so that the hair is easier to manage day-to-day, all the while keeping that luxurious fullness. I won’t sugar coat it, the color is a lot of maintenance. Copper fades fast, so prepare to see your colorist often. But, some things absolutely justify the maintenance, and this is one of those cases.
#18 Subtle Chestnut Curls with Seamless Layers
The tapering through the layers was well done. It allows the curls to move and bounce instead of weighing each other down. The chestnut color is pretty good too. It adds a nice warmth to the complexion and goes well with the texture without taking focus. Hair of a medium to thick texture will take some getting used to how nice it will feel once cut and how much time will be saved each morning. The shape will need to be trimmed regularly to avoid looking unkempt and the color will need maintenance, but this is one of those cases where the upkeep is warranted.
#19 Auburn Tousled Layers with a Modern Fringe
The cut showcases youth, driven by movement and styling attitude, not an intent to look younger. Those tousled layers are not as “effortless” as many believe, and I can tell you that a great amount of skill is necessary to achieve the right amount of volume and waves. The choppy fringe is doing something intentional for the face shape by shortening longer foreheads and drawing the focus to the eyes. This makes it a great option for oval and heart-shaped faces. The rich auburn color will beautifully flatter cooler skin tones while also being warm enough to keep the overall look from feeling sharp or severe. To keep the texture, you will want to use some styling cream and possibly a diffuser.
#20 Brunette Layers with Soft Bangs and Textured Waves
The soft bangs are a finish on the whole haircut that are important, as they help frame and soften the face and make the textured waves look more intentional rather than a mistake. This cut is a medium length and is very versatile in how it can be styled. The waves will need some maintenance, but using an anti-frizz product should help with controlled texture without looking too cottony. If your hair is thick and heavy, the layers will help lighten the load a lot and give the hair more room to breathe. I would be less inclined to recommend this for hair that is pretty fine. Once some layers and texture are added to hair that is low in density, the result can be really deceiving, as it looks far less dense than it actually is.
#21 Deep Chestnut Tousled Layers
I would describe deep chestnut as an elegant warm color that does not have any red in it. It is an expensive looking color, chocolate brown. The tousled layers give just the right amount of volume and texture for those with thin hair that can become limp. The length is ideal for those who do not want to spend a long time doing their hair, although it will still require some work. With a curling iron and a bit of texture spray, you’re good to go! I would say colors like this tend to look a little obvious when your roots need to be touched up, so keeping up with your color appointments is a must!
#22 Rich Copper Layered Bob with Soft Waves
The distinct layering and structure of this bob give it movement and volume where medium-density hair needs it most – through the crown and around the face. The tone of this bob is copper. The tone of this bob is copper which is not overly dramatic, and it adds warmth to the skin in a more natural than costume like way. At this length you get the best of both worlds, short enough to feel fresh and modern, but long enough that you still have styling options. The color will require commitment, as copper always does, but the cut itself is fairly forgiving as it grows so you have some flexibility between salon visits.
#23 Classic Brunette Waves with Soft Volume
If you want to embrace your hair’s natural texture, this cut is perfect for you. The subtle layers offer refinement without creating harsh breaks, and the way they fall around the jaw looks accidental (in a good way). This is about as wash-and-go as a wavy layered cut will get. Just a heads up, this cut will be particularly difficult to manage with humidity, but once you get your hands on a good smoothing serum, it will be a lot easier.
#24 Luxurious Chestnut Waves with Soft Fringe
The side-swept bangs combined with the layered waves create a seamless transition that looks effortless and it’s anything but easy. This elevates it from a good haircut to a great one. The layers on medium to coarse hair work ideally to alleviate weight so that the length doesnu2019t drag everything while providing the waves with shape and bounce. People tend to underestimate how comfortable it is to wear a longer style on an everyday basis. The chestnut tones are classically attractive. Warm and dimensional, it is particularly complimentary to those with an oval or heart-shaped face.
#25 Elegant Auburn Waves with Sunkissed Highlights
This design highlights the brilliance of contemporary hair artistry, capturing where the light hits and blending seamlessly, so there are no striped or dated looks. The auburn base with sunkissed highlights gives the whole style an effortless, warm, and vibrant look, while soft layers create just enough framing around the face to flatter without closing it in. This style works best for medium to thick hair and looks polished even when you don’t do anything to it, which is the highest compliment I can give to a haircut. For the clients on the go, the most commitment is required for the color, but the cut is low maintenance and grows out nicely.
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