Thick hair can be seen as a hassle, or the need to wear really controlling hairstyles to manage it, and is often underappreciated for what it can accomplish. I felt that way for many years in my career, until I started to embrace layering or other techniques that free up thick hair and let it move. I remember one of my older clients who, for over a decade, fought against her own hair by doing battle with it every day flat-ironing it to try and dull her hair’s volume. When we finally added some long layers, she was ecstatic and proclaimed “it’s breathing!” That is the type of result good layering should create.
I especially enjoy long layered hair because it means you don’t have to sacrifice any of the length you’ve worked hard to achieve. It’s about redistributing the weight of your hair, and sculpting it so that it will move, as well as determining the angle at which light will reflect off your hair. Some of these styles may require a little more effort in the morning, others will genuinely be wash-and-go. I did my best to convey that in the photos. These are fifteen of my favorite hairstyles for thick hair that look nice and feel like themselves.
#1: Caramel Ribbon Layers on Brunette
That’s a great example because the color and the cut feel equally supportive of one another. The way the caramel ribbons are woven through the deep brunette base adds warmth and almost glows. This is also aided by the layering which gives each highlighted piece its own little moment of movement. This is an excellent way to ease into something a little more dimensional. For waves like this, we would recommend using a large barrel curling iron and wrapping the hair to cool. Then to get that casual look just shake it out.
#2: Voluminous Long Layers with Face-Framing Highlights
Doesn’t layered hair with lots of volume finish a look? Of course it works because of the layers, but the styling is what finishes it all off. You’ll need a nice round brush and a good blow dryer (plus a bit of patience) to get that nice bouncy lift at the roots. Then, before you start blow drying, a bit of mousse on the damp hair offers nice texture and hold without stickiness. The highlights are soft and mellow, focusing more on dimension than a statement. With this much volume, I think that’s exactly what you need.
#3: Gorgeous Long Layered Cut with Soft Volume
While it may look easy from the outside, it does involve some precise cutting in order to achieve these results, especially with thick hair. The inner layers are subtle, relatively speaking, and contribute to the overall ‘volume’ of the cut remaining less. Instead, they achieve a closer to the head, not flat aesthetic, which is important for thick, straight hair like this. The purpose of the length also remains and no heaviness is added. I would say, compared to some of the other styles, this one does require more upkeep. The interior layers grow out unevenly, and without the contrast, you lose the shape quickly.
#4: Long Layered Cut with Soft Waves
Waves look super natural, it’s very possible she just woke up from sleeping on a braid, considering she has straight hair. Hair like this usually takes a lot of work to get into waves because it tends to resist coiling. If you have straight, thick hair and you want waves, the best way to achieve that is to curl it and then just leave it for a few hours. The waves fall at cheekbone level without being annoying. I would really recommend this to anyone who wants a hairstyle that says they didn’t put in too much effort.
#5: Elegant Long Layers with Subtle Waves
This is a great example of thick, dark hair. It demonstrates how beautiful hair can be when styled to suit its shape. The layers are long and gradual. There is nothing choppy or drastic about this hairstyle. The slight color wave in the midsection adds interest without competing with the richness of the color. If your hair is thick and dark, you really don’t need to do much. A trim every few months along with a good split end treatment to keep the ends from getting ragged is all you need. The simplicity here is the whole point.
#6: Glamorous Long Layered Cut with Voluminous Waves
I want to be honest and set the expectation that this look will take time to achieve in the morning and realistically it will require time with the curling iron as well as a good amount of volumizing hairspray to achieve the lifted defined waves look. Considering the amount of thickness your hair has, it will require a good amount of effort but it will be worth it in the end. What will really give this look its glam is avoiding that top puff and that’s where layers starting around the chin will come in. They create that movement in the lower sections so the upper half can stay smooth and streamlined to achieve that really nice silhouette. If this is something you like and you look at the time spent in the chair more of a ritual than a chore then this look is going to be very rewarding to achieve.
#7: Rich Chocolate Long Layers with Soft Curls
I love the chocolate tone here and how warm it looks, almost glazy in contrast to the underlying natural color. The curls are soft and relaxed, more like large ironed sections that have been combed out rather than tight ringlets and I love this uniform finish. It gives a great overall effect. What I love most about this particular cut is that it would look stunning worn straight too, as the layers are enough on their own. I’m always trying to achieve that sort of versatility for clients who don’t want to feel locked into one particular way of styling their hair and this is a perfect example of that.
#8: Modern Long Layered Cut with Caramel Highlights
What stands out the most with this highlight placement is how it complements the layers. With every movement of the hair, a new flash of light reflecting caramel accents is revealed. Layers used on thick and dense hair do double duty; they create movement and also allow room for the highlighted sections to show. The waves at the ends are playful, but not overly so. I should mention that should you choose this color, maintenance is a factor. It looks best with salon visits every eight to ten weeks so that highlights don’t grow out in a way that looks unintentional.
#9: Radiant Long Layered Cut with Face-Framing Bangs
I love when people decide to get bangs with long layered cuts because it changes the whole look. Although the bangs are blended into the layers so well that they actually look like they belong, most people feel like they stand out. The highlights do a nice job of brightening up the entire face framing area so the eyes and cheekbones pop. A good leave in conditioner is nice for the ends of your hair to keep the dry looking ends nice and for the whole style to look maintained between washes. The bangs will probably need more frequent trims than the rest but every 3-4 weeks will definitely be worth it.
#10: Chic Long Layered Cut with Subtle Face-Framing Layers
The subtle face-framing we see here is such a good sign of a great cut. This isn’t a curtain bang situation where everything is super extreme. It’s just some shorter pieces in the front to guide the eye and soften everything. The cut does all the work here, so the natural waves in her hair really make it look like she’s put in a lot of effort. On thicker hair, this looks best after a day or two when some natural texture builds up. If you live in a humid area and are prone to frizz, you can always use a bit of leave in conditioner through the mid lengths to keep it smooth without flattening the waves.
#11: Elegant Long Layered Cut with Soft Curls
This one has a great rich color which enhances the overall look greatly. Intensive coloring goes a long way for curls, making every little shadow and highlight stand out where the curls catch the color. The chin length layers definitely make the curls have a starting point so they look fuller as they go down rather than just being at one length all the way around. On thick hair, a lightweight mousse is going to be key to define without crunch because the last thing you want with this much natural body is to add anything that makes the hair feel stiff or heavy.
#12: Elegant Long Layered Cut with Natural Movement
I suggest this type of cut to customers who want layers but are nervous about losing fullness, because it shows you can have both. There’s still overall density, because the layers are long and gradual, but it gives a nice natural movement that thick one-length hair doesn’t have. That soft wave is doing a lot with probably just a few bends with an iron or even just some scrunching while air-drying. The shine also indicates to me this hair is well taken care of, which matters more than any specific styling technique for a look like this.
#13: Glossy Long Layers with Face-Framing Volume
The shine on this hair looks beautiful and I think it deserves more credit! It doesn’t matter how great the style or cut is, if the hair looks lackluster it just won’t translate the way you want it to. Hair like this with that much shine and thickness comes from a good deep conditioning treatment combined with an oil or serum. It’s not rocket science, just simple maintenance. The way the layers are structured minimizes internal bulk, so the hair will hang beautifully and not puff out. This is the kind of cut that looks good down, but also in a low ponytail, and I like to do that sort of thing for thick-haired clients who are going to want that kind of versatility.
#14: Gorgeous Long Layered Cut with Sun-Kissed Highlights
The highlights seem to remind me of hair after a summer trip to the beach with hair going lighter in the front face framing pieces and the strands that would get sun-kissed the most. The darker base definitely adds contrast and depth to the hair and creates more defined layers. The waves are perfect here – they are just the right amount of volume and not too much and with a lot of hair, this type of soft wave will most likely stay like this all day. There is something so effortless about this look and I think that applies to a lot of styles although this one may look better in person than in photos. If you like this style, keep in mind that the bottom layers will need to be cut every 8-10 weeks to prevent the shape looking too bulky.
#15: Radiant Long Layers with Soft Volume
What I appreciate about the style shown in the picture is the timeless elegance it embodies. I think of Andie MacDowell movies, where her hair always looks so healthy and full, and gives off an effortless vibe. I like that the top is sleek and smooth, while the bottom is softer and has a nice little flip that adds personality to the style. If the hair is thick and straight, the ends would have had to be rounded in during the blow-dry. A lot of the ends would have been turned under, which is a great way to mix up the flipping. Little details like this keep a style looking polished instead of stiff.
#16: Luxurious Long Layered Cut with Soft Movement
Long, thick hair can look like a curtain if there aren’t enough layers, so getting the cut right is especially important for this type of hair. Luckily, this one gets it right. The layering in the back is done really well for good movement with the length. It’s always my goal that the hair moves freely when she turns her head and that she doesn’t have to pull a single strand to do it. I finish up the cut, and then ask the client to shake her head, and if the hair moves back into its original position (not like the hair is cut to sit like a block), I know the layering is correct. As for this haircut, the client will definitely be needing regular blowouts and she will have to get handy with the brush and dryer, but when I say it will look its best, I mean for those people who like that kind of styling, this cut is definitely worth it.
#17: Radiant Long Layers with Glossy Shine
An amazing example of what thoughtful layering can achieve for someone with lots of thick hair and no time for the extra fuss. The blended layers are done so there aren’t any pronounced lines or steps, so when the hair is down, it all just sinks together. That is how you reduce bulk without it looking like something was taken out. The finish is stunning and shows off all the richness in the color. If you have thick hair and have been refraining from getting layers in fear of looking too “piecey” or for losing that volume you love, this is the cut to take to your stylist. It demonstrates that just enough shape and movement can be done while keeping all that gorgeous density.
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