I have so many feelings when someone says they want easy hair because it is so subjective. Last year, I had a client who is a surgeon, and when I asked her what kind of hair she wanted she said she wanted low maintenance hair. However, what she meant is that she wanted to be able to work four minutes on her hair and then go to a twelve hour shift. On the contrary, I have another client who says low maintenance hair is hair that won’t require her to return to me for six months. Both of them are valid, but definitely require different styles and techniques.
What I have come to understand all these years is that for hair to really be low maintenance, it is not about the simplified styles, but about the right style for the right person. This is sometimes what lends to good low maintenance hairstyles not looking low maintenance. There is a big misconception that low maintenance hairstyles have to be short and simple, but that is just not true; long hair can still be low maintenance! I want to show you some of my favorite looks to explain just that.
#1: Long Warm-Toned Waves That Basically Style Themselves
This is my favorite style of color work in February. It gives off the vibe that you just returned from a tropical vacation. The work done in highlights is amazing, and the amount of hair just needs to be enough so that the waves don’t need to be perfect in order to look clean and intentional. For medium to thick hair this is one of those styles where you wash it, scrunch in some texturizing spray and you’re done! A color touch-up will definitely be needed every few months, but this style will look great with every stage of growing out the cut.
#2: Long and Loose with Just Enough Going On
This hairstyle is similar to an outfit with a good fit like a t-shirt and jeans, it’s simple but nice. The highlights are good because they are super subtle. The waves are nice and you could probably skip it most days. Just make sure you come in for trims, those ends will start telling on you.
#3: The Short Shag That Makes Fine Hair Look Like It Has a Secret
I love cutting this style! A short shag seems to help people remember how cool they are. The layers here on fine to medium hair are creating the illusion of just the right amount of fullness, and you don’t have to do a thing! Just some mousse on your damp hair and you’re ready to roll. I will say though, if you have a really strong curl pattern, this version may not translate the same, so maybe talk to your stylist about adjusting the layers.
#4: The Rounded Bob That Looks More Expensive Than It Is
I can tell this is going to make a lot of people’s weeks even if I did it in my sleep. The back has soft layers which adds a nice little swing and is the kind of detail that differentiates a good bob from a boring one. The barely there highlights are just to prevent it from reading flat. This will work for you if you are wash-and-go type of person. Just a heads up bobs are honest haircuts. They clearly show their shape so you will want to keep your trim schedule tighter than you would with longer hair.
#5: Long and Sleek with Layers You Can Barely See
Stylists know what to keep and what to cut, and this is a great example of how it is done. No one will call out the internal layers, but they will be the reason for the hair and its movement. If you have straight hair and love to keep it that way, this is the cut for you. A good shine serum is the only product you will need at the ends, and it really requires no product conversations. The sleekness is doing all the talking.
#6: Tousled Medium Length That Looks Better Messy
I always tell clients the easiest styles tend to be the cuts that look best on second day hair and this one is no different. It also gives off a super relaxed vibe which I appreciate. The subtle highlights add depth to the waves making them look more intentional rather than like bedhead. If you have an oval or round face with fine to medium texture hair, this will suit you best! Aside from having to reshape the waves with your hands and a bit of product every few days, this style requires almost no effort at all.
#7: Long Blended Layers with That Expensive Highlight Placement
I would say the color is like “your hair but richer”, which makes for the best sort of highlight because that means the client leaves feeling like themselves, but a bit elevated. The blended layers keep everything cohesive and moving together rather than feeling chunky and like they’re in separate pieces. The face framing pieces are nice and bright and do the job of adding lightness without being too heavy. For your hair that is straight to slightly wavy, this is a perfect set-it-and-forget-it sort of cut if you want to look polished and put together without having to do any work on a Tuesday morning.
#8: The Lob That Works for Basically Everyone
Of all the possible haircuts I could recommend, this is the one I would go for without any guilt. I feel like I’m cheating recommending the shoulder-length lob with soft texture because it suits everybody. It is also really good because you have the option to tie it up! I like how the layers add a contemporary touch, especially with the middle part. For people with really thick hair, we might have to talk about how to thin it out. This haircut would be easy for people with fine to medium hair.
#9: Long Layers with Face-Framing Highlights That Earn Their Keep
Face-framing pieces are clever as they emphasize the front and top sections of the hair. This gives an illumination effect and makes one look more awake! The layers are just right to maintain the overall length and avoid that heavy curtain effect. In my opinion, the true test of a low-maintenance cut is that this style looks nice air dried or styled, and highlights will need to be touched up every few months to keep them looking lively, but the cut is very grow-out friendly.
#10: The Long Layered Classic That Never Lets You Down
The reason this hairstyle has stuck around is because it works! I have done variations of this haircut on countless people and I can’t say I’ve had any complaints. That to me, is as good as it gets. The soft highlight framing the face is brightening, and the layering creates enough dimension so the hair doesn’t look like a solid sheet. If you have mid to thick hair and want something that is low maintenance, then this is the style for you!
#11: Soft Waves That Frame Everything Perfectly
I love the layers here. They lighten the hair to create ends that soften and curl under, rather than just hang. Most people don’t notice the technical work that goes into cuts, but if it was left out, it would be super obvious. This is going to be best on heart and oval shapes because the soft waves that frame the face create a really nice outline around the jaws and cheekbones. That being said, it’s going to take a round brush blow dry or hot tool to keep that exact wave pattern and maintain it. So the cut is low maintenance, but styling is going to take some effort.
#12: The Long Shag with Curtain Bangs, aka My Current Obsession
I have been putting curtain bangs on pretty much everyone, and I am not sorry about it at all! I especially love doing curtain bangs on shaggy long hair, because you actually get a lot of volume and bangs in the front that make it look face-framing and effortless. If your hair is medium to thick, I think you’re gonna really enjoy the movement this brings! Just make sure you have a good leave-in conditioner handy because shaggy layers and humidity can be a little bit of a hassle, but honestly, it is worth it for all of the personality this hairstyle adds!
#13: Curly Shag with Bangs That Actually Understands Curly Hair
I love this one because it is clear someone who knows about cutting curls did it, which isn’t a given in this industry. The bang and curl balance is great and the shape leans into the pattern rather than out of it. If you have lucky enough to have natural curls and a medium to thick density, this type of haircut will bless you in the mornings so much that you may even raise an eyebrow at how easy it is going to be. The cut will do most of the work, but you’ll want to use a curl cream with a good hold to keep the definition where you want it.
#14: Beachy Waves That Look Like a Vacation You Didn’t Take
I always think about how some people’s hair just does this while others have to put in work to get it. If you have medium to thick hair, and the right cut, these waves are going to stay in for days. The highlights are perfectly done to help catch the light and give some movement, even as the waves start to fall. Truly a style you can set and forget for days, as low maintenance as it gets with long hair.
#15: Textured Bob with Soft Bangs for the Minimalist in You
All hairstyles have their advantages, and cuts like this one are more practical for darker hair because the different shades tend to distract from the texture and movement created by the layers. The soft bangs do wonders to soften the face and give that effortless chic look that’s just the right amount of French and a little bed-head, which is my favorite. This style is ideal for those with fine or medium hair, since the layers will create volume where it is needed most. Bobs like this are very maintenance heavy, meaning you’ll have to get trims every 6 weeks to keep the shape, as the shape really makes the cut and unevenness shows very easily. The plus side to this cut is that once it is styled, the daily upkeep will be a breeze.
#16: Curly Shag with Volume That Doesn’t Quit
I love how bouncy this cut is! If you’ve been spending years trying to control your curls with hot tools and keratin treatments, I suggest you ease off that and start embracing your curls! The shaggy layers give you that beautiful volume that makes your hair look intentional, rather than just hair. That’s exactly what we want! The bangs soften the look and make it flattering for all face shapes. You’re going to want some product for definition, but it’s more about a quick two-minute style, not a lengthy drawn out process.
#17: Mid-Length Waves That Are Genuinely Wash and Go
The easiest hair length is around the collarbone. This length is long enough that you can pull it up, but it is short enough that you don’t have to wait ages for it to dry or spend ages styling it. If you have thick hair, textured layers will give you some movement, plus natural highlights will look good and you won’t have to keep running to the salon for color. For this haircut, you can do something a little extra and maybe give it a quick touch up with a flat iron or a wand, but most of the time you can just let it be.
#18: Mid-Length Waves with Highlights That Grow Out Gracefully
With this color, I appreciate that it will look nice at every stage of grow out. That’s not something a lot of highlighting techniques can say. The face framing layers here are quietly genius, they draw the focus in and soften the areas that need softening. This is a really versatile cut that works across a lot of different face shapes and hair types, and the wavy texture gives it enough personality that it doesn’t feel basic, even though the upkeep is really low. You will likely want to wand it every few days to keep the waves defined, but you could also leave it.
#19: Golden Layers That Catch Light Like They Were Designed To
It truly brings me joy to see more expertise shown with regard to the highlights placed. Most people seem to place highlights all over the place and act like there’s a cohesive artistic vision, but you show more intention. All of them look great, but these seem to be more purposely placed to catch the light and give that warm golden look and feel like you’re always in good light. The layered waves will soften to be more suitable to medium or finer hair, and will not look overdone. Of course maintenance on color will be the biggest commitment since those gold tones can change, but the cut is really low maintenance.
#20: Warm Caramel Layers That Make Medium Hair Look Thick
There’s some magic going on with this cut! The combination of color and layering creates the illusion of 30% more volume! The added visual depth with warm caramel tones makes the hair appear fuller, especially with medium and fine hair. Longer textured layers help maintain a flowing look and provide great body with the right balance of layers and body throughout the cut. The shape is pretty low maintenance and will probably only require a light volumizing product to keep the bounciness between washes.
#21: Silver Waves with Dark Roots, Because Grow-Out Can Be the Whole Point
I’ll be honest, when the silver hair trend started I wasn’t a huge fan, but this look is how you do it right. The dark roots are intentional and actually make the silver work. They add a lot of depth, and make the whole thing feel modern and not like a box dye experiment. The layered waves add volume and keep it from feeling flat, which is a risk with cooler tones. Here’s the trade-off you should know about: the cut is low maintenance, but silver vibrancy takes a lot of work. Purple shampoo is going to be your best friend.
#22: Beachy Balayage That Ages Beautifully
If you don’t want to spend too much time in the salon, balayage is the best color technique. As the business of the balayage grows out, the highlights will continue to look natural. Blended highlights grow out like sun-stained hair. The shoulder-length layers give easy movement and also look great in photos, which is nice since that’s the world we are in now. This is an ideal low maintenance look with just an occasional toning gloss to keep the color from getting too brassy.
#23: Long Loose Waves That Look Expensive for No Reason
There’s an expensive look to the combination of these specific wave patterns and highlights. I can’t explain it, but it’s one of those things I know when I see it. The perfect amount of density in the hair allows the waves to hold in just the right spot, and give the impression that the hair does this naturally. This style is particularly flattering on oval and heart-shaped faces because the waves soften the features without adding any width. The cut is definitely low maintenance, but I would assume that keeping the waves this consistent will take more effort than what you’d expect from wash-and-go hair. I imagine it would take around 10 minutes on a wand a few times a week.
#24: Long Layers with Highlights That Know Where to Be
The placement of highlights in this haircut is perfectly located for brightening up the face, and the rest of the color is kept so natural that you won’t have to make a commitment to a dull and highlight maintenance schedule, smart color placement. The layering gives this cut soft movement and polish for medium to thick hair without it being too heavy. This cut is really designed to stand out styled or unstyled, I would say the gap is much smaller than you’d expect, which is low maintenance.
#25: Caramel Beach Waves for the Person Who Just Wants to Look Good Without Trying
I recommend this cut to a few clients every month because it gives such an effortless polished look. The warm caramel highlights add movement and depth, and even on days where you literally just brush and go, it looks intentional. If you want to spend minimal time styling your hair in the morning, I recommend this. The soft waves help add texture and volume and make the hair appear fuller which is great for fine to medium hair.
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