Most people are shocked at how much of a difference a layered haircut can make to their brown hair, even without color! One of my clients from last winter would get hair color appointments every six weeks to try to achieve a more dimensional color. However, she eventually told me I could do her layers, and I honestlt thought I could do a lot more than any color job I would do. The way light bounces off of brown hair and reflects is completely different when it’s all one length versus when there is movement and that’s what I want to convey to people before getting highlights.
Where your layers start is more important to the outcome than most people think. I see many cuts where a stylist sections the hair and just randomly chops in without considering how the hair is going to fall after it dries and has been lived in for a week. I do this more and more with dry cuts because wet hair is dishonest. It stretches and dries in a way that is completely different from how it will once the client walks out the door. If your brown color has warm undertones, layers around the face will surrpringly bright caramel tones. If you have cool undertones, the right layers will give a glow. I have done these cuts of all variations and love talking about them, so let’s go!
#1: Long Brown Waves with Just Enough Highlight to Matter
I admire this kind of haircut as it allows you the freedom of growing your hair whilst avoiding the pressure of regular salon visits due to expertly placed highlights and gorgeous layering. Given the thickness of this hair, it will fall and tuck beautifully with no encouragement. For the days you want the waves to last all the way through to the afternoon, a flexible hold spray will be ideal, but don’t worry too much about it as this hair will only look better on day 3.
#2: Soft Flowing Layers That Frame Without Trying Too Hard
Brown base colors look amazing with well-placed highlights, and this particular cut looks wonderful with the soft, non-aggressive framing and layered face cuts. Face framing cuts are difficult to do, but when done right they look best when there’s a little bit of wave to the hair since the cut will promote what is naturally there. For finer hair, it’s best to ask the stylist to keep the layers longer for added fullness at the ends of the hair.
#3: Chocolate Brown Bob with That Effortless Texture
I enjoy a good bob, and this one is just about perfect as it sits just above the shoulders, where there is enough length to tuck behind your ears, but short enough to feel like a massive change! The colour is a rich and expensive looking deep chocolate brown, with a gentle wave at the mid-lengths adding some personality to it. For anyone thinking of going for shorter hair, I think this should be the length as it is super forgiving, is one of those cuts that grows out nicely, and does not require you to spend some precious time in the morning doing your hair to look good.
#4: Layered Shoulder-Length Curls with Real Life in Them
I like this particular haircut because the curls and layers work together instead of falling in different directions. It shows that this stylist knows how to work with curly hair and the way it moves. The way the layers are done allows for each ringlet to bounce up independently without adding to the height caused by too many layers in curly hair. It’s a shame so many stylists miss these kinds of details. To style this cut, all you need is a light hold curl defining cream that won’t leave a crunch. The overall aim for this cut is to have a relaxed and effortless look and that’s exactly what you need.
#5: Bouncy Brown Curls with Serious Volume
Curly hair can be styled in many beautiful ways! If someone has suggested that hair layers can make your hair thinner, then this is proof that the right layers can do the opposite. The fullness is coming from the way the layers are stacked to pull and build on each other. Layers can also achieve fullness in fine hair, and an effortless rounded shape that looks intentional. As if you woke up like this! The curls are defined but not crunchy, and anyone with finer hair that wants this much volume needs similar layering to create it. Just remember to keep your curls hydrated because dry curls lose their bounce.
#6: Wavy Layered Bob with a Little Something Extra
The bob features a subtle balayage, which could easily go unnoticed, but it really enhances the overall look. It adds the ideal amount of contrast for the layers so that they can truly stand out (and shine) when the light hits them. The swing that this bob has will give you that effortless movement and flow, and that’s what we love about a great bob. When it comes to styling, you’re in luck with this length. It’s short enough for a quick blowout, yet long enough for some styling freedom. The layers will give just the right amount of texture to allow for a simple toss-in some sea salt spray and go look.
#7: Airy Brown Layers with Face-Framing Brightness
The highlights are pulling focus upward and making everything feel lighter and more open, without doing an entire makeover. I like that the technique works especially well with finer hair because the layers aren’t too short or choppy, but they’re long enough to maintain some weight while still providing the movement that most people want. Most of my clients want this soft, lived-in feel to the hair, even if they think they want something more polished, because this is the sort of hair that looks good naturally.
#8: Copper Layered Bob That Catches Everything
I love your copper color! It’s true that warm tones require a little more maintenance than cooler tones, but the results are stunning! New copper tones will make a huge difference in your look! The layers in your hair make your hair look thicker and add some dimension. The length you have is also super versatile! I would recommend using a color depositing conditioner to maintain that warmth in your hair between appointments. Also, try to wash your hair as little as you can (every other day or even every three days if possible) so that your color lasts longer!
#9: Cool-Toned Ash Brown with Clean Layers
This hairstyle may look simple, but a lot goes into how it creates movement and avoids looking flat. It takes a good amount of skill to layer the ends and achieve the perfectly done ash tone. In my experience, ash brown tends to look more expensive than warm brown. I think this is due to the fact that the cool undertone looks polished without the effort. If you’re going to to flat iron your hair, make sure to use a heat protectant. Because of the layers, it will still look intentional if you let it air dry with a slight bend. The sleek look is part of the appeal.
#10: Deep Espresso Layers with Serious Movement
I enjoy the deep espresso brown color that almost looks black in lower light settings. But when the sun touches it, the rich depth of the color comes alive. And i also enjoy the long layers. The color without the movement of long layers would be boring, but instead it looks multidimensional. The color reveals more of itself instead of just dark hair. This is a commitment cut, as long layers need shaping every 8 to 10 weeks. If you stay on top of it, the results are worth every appointment.
#11: Mahogany Layers with That Salon-Fresh Shine
I love how it glows, I could talk to a client about it all day! Brown hair this shiny is hard to achieve only through cutting. It takes healthy hair! With this shade of mahogany, your skin will look warm and glowy, and it won’t look too red. For long layers when you want soft curls that bounce, this is everything! For blow-out curls, if your hair is on the dry side, I suggest a gloss treatment to maintain the same level of shine you see here, as it will extend the shiny look for weeks!
#12: Long Brown Layers with Highlights That Build Depth
It is common for stylists to start layering around the face and then make the layers longer toward the back. Here, that technique has been executed extremely well; all the transitions are smooth and the connected layers look great. The highlights add the right amount of depth without making the look too busy, which is a balance a lot of colorists struggle with. This haircut looks good all week and doesn’t need to be styled a certain way to look good; wear it straight or tousled and the shape still holds.
#13: Long Chocolate Layers with a Sleek Finish
I like this haircut. The layers have been blended so well that it gives the illusion of fullness even though some weight has been taken out. The chocolate brown color is very even and its deep color with shiny ends shows that this client is taking care of their ends, which is important with this length. I think this is a good option if you love having long hair, but end up pulling it up because it is too heavy or feels too one note. The layering will give it enough shape so you will actually want to wear it down.
#14: Soft Chocolate Stacked Layers for Fine Hair
This cut is great for someone with finer hair who wants some layers without losing the appearance of thickness. The layering done here makes the hair more dense at the bottom while the longer pieces on top flow over it. The chocolate color is warm and soft. It adds a richness to the hair that may not be there in a cooler shade. I often suggest cooler shades to my clients with finer hair because warmer tones tend to photograph as more full. I will say that long layers on finer hair do need to be trimmed more often than people think, maybe every six weeks, because the thinner ends of the hair show signs of damage faster than anything else.
#15: Long Layers with Soft Face-Framing Pieces
These face-framing layers are nicely done. They are long enough to blend with the rest of the hair, but short enough to create a difference when you have your hair down and forward, and that versatility makes this haircut easy to manage. The overall density is good here, meaning the layers are allowed to be a bit more daring without looking bottom-heavy, and the natural shine is evidence that this hair is well-conditioned and doesn’t need much product to control it. If considering adding some balayage to a cut like this, I would say go for it but more subtly because the layers are creating enough dimension.
#16: Mahogany Waves with Depth and Warmth
I don’t say this often, but mahogany is one of those shades I find flattering on almost everyone. It sits perfectly in between brown and red, and warms and brightens almost every skin tone. The layers here are adding just the right amount of wave without any sort of curl or set, which suggests a lot of work was done on the cut and the styling was kept pretty minimal. For someone who doesn’t want to spend a ton of time on their hair in the morning, but wants it to look done, this is definitely the cut and color combo I’d recommend over and over again.
#17: Soft Brown Waves with a Lightweight Feel
A softly blended balayage has been placed through the mid-lengths of the hair to create subtle depth and interest. My favorite type of color work is when the hair looks as if it has been kissed by the sun and naturally glows. The layers have been designed to encourage that soft wave formation, and when the hair is finer, this is even more important since you are using the natural flow of the hair as opposed to fighting against it with a curling iron every morning. Fine hair is when the longer layers are needed the most because if there are too many short layers, the ends become overly thin which is the opposite goal of the look.
#18: Long Copper Layers That Catch the Light
We must consider how to work with the copper color because it can be difficult to work with. However, this color works well because it has a deep and rich tone that does not approach orange, which is what we often have to face with shades of copper. Starting the layers below the shoulders will keep the top half full, and let all the movement happen in the bottom half. The soft face-framing pieces also contribute to this and soften the entire look. This color will warm up in sunlight, which is part of the charm of this look. Keep in mind that copper is one of the colors that fades the fastest. Because of this, we will have to do touch-ups sooner than what is typical for a natural brown.
#19: Chocolate Waves with Volume That Doesn’t Quit
When creating volume, we want to avoid using a ton of product, or backcombing, as that results in stiff, unnatural hair. We want it to move naturally and not have that stiff lifted quality that teased hair gets. Thatu2019s honestly the dream. The chocolate color is deep, even, and the shine on it just makes it look so expensive. The waves are soft enough to get you through a full day without them falling flat. This is a fantastic cut for medium to thick hair because the layers balance out just the right amount of weight to let everything bounce without looking like you lost density. A lot of thicker haired clients have that fear about layers.
#20: Auburn Layers That Fall Just Right
Layered hairstyles look particularly stunning in auburn as the shifting movement in the layers makes the warm reds, golds and browns of the hair color look warm and dynamic. Here we see a long smooth auburn layered hairstyle that really compliments the thickness of the hair and the face framing pieces are just right, not too obvious. If you’re thinking about going auburn and are concerned about the maintenance, I would suggest trying a demi-permanent first to see how you feel about it. That way you won’t have to commit to something that will require root touch ups every month, because once you go auburn, you’ll definitely have to be on top of it.
#21: Layered Brunette with Soft Curls Throughout
This balayage job is amazing! It really compliments the brown color, adding some extra dimension, and then adding curls makes the balayage look rich and luxurious. The layers are cut to work with the curls, so each piece falls into its own space. This prevents that annoying tangle that happens when too many layers are added to curly hair. This is definitely the kind of style that will take some time in the morning to style with a wand or a diffuser, and if you enjoy that styling process, it’s a really awesome cut to work with!
#22: Sleek Auburn Layers with Side-Swept Detail
I appreciate the addition of side-swept bangs. It makes this long layered cut more unique. It gives the cut an extra touch. The straight, rich auburn color looks good. For your bangs and layers to keep their shape, I’m suggesting that you get trims. New bangs and layers will get loose, and you want to be able to keep that clean and nice look. I’d also recommend putting a smoothing serum on the ends to keep the ends polished all day.
#23: Glossy Brunette Waves with Understated Highlights
In this look, everything comes together perfectly. The waves are beautifully effortless, the highlights are toned just enough to add depth without making too much noise, and the layers are blended so well that it all looks effortless (and I know it isn’t). With thicker hair types, layering becomes critical. Otherwise, you’d just end up with a thick, curtain-like wall of hair that just hangs there. Movement is what makes brown hair captivating, and the highlights through the mid-lengths and ends are smart, low-maintenance at the roots, but give dimension where it actually matters.
#24: Rich Chocolate Waves with Natural Depth
To be honest, the color chocolate brown does a lot of the work. It is the ideal middle brown which compliments all skin tones and looks good in all lightings. The layers really enhance an already amazing color. The soft and loose waves were created by twisting sections of hair around a curling wand. Instead of keeping the hair as curls, she brushed through them which creates a more modern look rather than an overdone one. If you want to keep this look in between washing your hair, I would suggest a texturizing spray. It will help maintain the volume without having to recurl anything.
#25: Chestnut Waves with Effortless Volume
The chestnut shade is my favorite because it has warm tones without any reds, and is rich without being too dark. It’s in a nice, flattering zone that compliments lots of people. The layers are creating a lot of volume in the mid lengths and ends and there’s a slight balayage that adds a touch more dimension. I like this more subtle approach to balayage on brown hair. She has long hair that is not heavy and that is the goal when layering to this length. This style looks good whether you spent 5 minutes on it or 20.
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