Regarding layering, I understand that some women might find the term ‘layers’ uncomfortable because they associate it with traumatic experiences involving razors and haircuts. However, layering is a crucial component of my work and helps to alleviate the texture and density that can be problematic as people’s hair inevitably changes.
I think back to the time one client walked in with a photo from 1982, expecting me to recreate that hairstyle. I had to explain that the hair in the photo was gone and in fact, her hair had changed. It was now finer, with a slight wave at the temples. And the gray was a completely different texture than the brown. We ended up doing a mid-length layered cut with the weight placed a little higher and some over-direction at the crown. I even told her that she looked better than the photo because I had designed the haircut specifically for the hair on her head and not the memory of the photo.
This is the magic of layering. It works with your current density, growth patterns, and even how coarse or wavy your grays may be.
When I see someone with layered hair who is in their fifties or older, I know that person has some knowledge about layering, as opposed to simply following a diagram. What I want you to focus on in these cuts is not just the outline, but the weight distribution, the movement, and how the layers interact around the cheek and jaw bones, as that is where a good haircut earns its keep. Some of these will grab your attention immediately and some won’t and that is fine, just focus on the ones you connect with most and we will sort out the others.
#1: A Clean Short Cut That Actually Has Some Life to It
I like how this style looks simple but has a little more depth than that. The layers are more on the softer side and touch the face to frame everything. You won’t have to try too hard to achieve this look. The texture is doing the talking here, pulling everything together, and although there aren’t too many layers, there are just enough that it won’t fall flat and lose its structure by day 3. This is a great cut for fine hair because it creates the illusion of a lot more hair and looks fab for an effortless 5 minute style using a bit of texturising spray and messy fingers. That being said, for thicker hair, you’ll just have to do more regular maintenance to avoid a boxy look.
#2 That Copper Color Everyone’s Asking About Right Now
I have noticed a lot of copper hair recently. Most of them are too bright or too flat. This one is done right. I love how the warmth in the copper color looks on the skin. The way the color adds a nice pop to the layers compared to what a neutral brown would do. The movement in this hair is great and that’s likely due to the cut and the way it was layered. If you are thinking about going copper just keep in mind it is a fast fading color so you will want to get a color safe shampoo and a color depositing conditioner to maintain it between salon visits. The best part though, the color looks warm and alive on the face!
#3 A Wavy Lob That Doesn’t Need Much Convincing
I often recommend this haircut because it works on so many different people. It hits just above the shoulders which avoids the awkward zones. The waves give body to the hair without it looking like you spent time styling it. The blonde pieces are well placed because they frame the face and brighten it up without looking like highlights from fifteen feet away. This works best when you are blending gray or warming up a base. It also gives depth to medium to fine hair because the texture can create the illusion of more hair.
#4 Honey Tones with Layers That Frame Without Fuss
I really liked the color. It is a lovely warm honey color that is perfectly balanced, not too golden or too caramel. It is a nice in-between color that is reflective. The face framing pieces, are doing their job. They draw the eye to the cheek bones and brighten the area around the eyes and jaw. The layers are very conservative, not too dramatic and choppy, but they have just enough movement. And honestly that’s the best type of layering to get you through a full six weeks between cuts because it won’t fall apart as it grows.
#5 Long Layers in Rich Chocolate That Actually Look Healthy
I will say that depending on the hair condition, long layers may appear stringy. Still, this is a case where it looks good. The chocolate color has depth, and the waves are soft and don’t fight the color. If you have medium to thick hair and have been keeping up with your maintenance, this length is definitely still achievable for you. It just needs to have the layers done a certain way so the ends aren’t wispy. Also, if you want to keep the base how it is and lighten it a bit more, some balayage here would be gorgeous.
#6 Curly Layers That Let Your Texture Do Its Thing
Instead of battling against your natural curls, see what ‘working with your curls’ can create. Every curl can bounce to its own length with the right layering. This means you will get all the volume and movement you want without growing the dreaded triangle shape, which is the number one complaint I hear from curly clients. The sunkissed balayage highlights are so pretty and will create dimension in your curls so they don’t all blend into one big mass. You will definitely need a good curl cream and possibly a diffuser to help your look be more intentional, but the cut is pretty forgiving once you get a routine set.
#7 A Medium Cut That Gives You Options
This cut is nice and simple. Not trying to be dramatic, and you can look nice with this cut whether you blow dry it straight, or even just air dry. The highlights aren’t obnoxious, and frames the face nicely. The layers are blended well so grown out harsh lines won’t be an issue. This is a keeper for someone who wants to look nice without a mirror time investment. The shape does most of the work. My only advice is don’t skimp out on trims. Once the layers grow out uneven and start losing that effortless look, you will regret it.
#8 Soft Brown Waves That Wear Well All Week
This hairstyle looks great for several days after it is done. It looks even better on day four or five than it does when it is just done. The layers will not frizz or become too tight. The color is a rich brown that has a number of different natural tones blended in. The framing pieces help to create that layered look, and also give the look of effortlessness. This is best for someone that likes to wash their hair every two to three days, and does not want to use hot tools frequently.
#9 A Gray Bob That’s Actually Doing Something Interesting
Going gray can be a massive style shift, but when done correctly, it looks classy and intentional. This example is a perfect representation of that. I love the bob cut. It’s just above the shoulders and the added layers make it look less like a solid, gray block and more like a soft, gray, piece-y, bob that is modern. If you are in the process of growing out your dye or have made the move to silver, this style is worth saving. The shape is doing all of the work. Plus, with a good purple shampoo to keep the tone cool and clean, that’s about as low-maintenance as it gets while still looking polished.
#10 Long Layers That Don’t Sacrifice Fullness
This cut has beautiful blending! You can see all of the layers, yet not a single one creates gaps or thin spots, which is the trickier side of longer layered cuts on finer hair. The face framing is soft and gentle, and I appreciate that it doesn’t get too short up front. Nothing ages a long cut quicker than face framing pieces that are too aggressive. This cut is going to require regular trims to maintain this look, and I would say every 8 weeks at the absolute outside. But if you’re going to commit to keeping the length, and you want it to look good rather than just long, this is how you do it!
#11 A Stacked Auburn Bob with Real Personality
I think the stacked back provides structure and lift, and the face framing layers will keep the front soft as well. That combination is really flattering on a lot of face shapes. The auburn color is bold and I appreciate that. It’s warm and rich, and it makes the whole cut feel alive. I will say that a color this vibrant requires touch ups more often than you probably want to hear about, maybe every four to five weeks if you don’t want it to go muddy, but when it’s fresh it’s absolutely gorgeous. The medium density here is perfect for this cut, because you get volume in the back without it getting too puffy.
#12 Classic Layers with a Polished Finish
There are no gimmicks with this haircut. The simple straight cuts with layers look great on smooth hair. The brown hair color looks shiny and healthy. The ends of the hair look fuller instead of thinned out because of the layers. That shows that a true professional did this cut. I recommend this for someone who likes to look polished and blow dries their hair a lot because it really looks great blow dried. This cut has a lot of style and will look great on its own after you give it some time.
#13 Long and Flowing with Layers That Move
The cut gives enough movement while the hair catches the air creating that soft bounce and helps long hair not look too heavy. The way the layers are positioned lower gives you smart movement and keeps the density through the top and mid lengths. Face framing is soft enough to work down or pulled half up. I like this for someone who has good thickness in their hair and wants to keep their length without it just hanging like a curtain. The hair will look different each way styled with soft waves or straight which is a mark of a versatile cut.
#14 A Short Textured Cut with Some Attitude
I love the confidence this style has! Cuts that lie around the jaw are really flattering because they showcase your cheekbones and arms. The layered tousle adds to the chic effortlessness of the style. It’s a notoriously hard look to achieve if the cut doesn’t create those vibes. It works best with fine to medium-density hair because the added texture makes hair look more abundant. Styling is also really low maintenance— just a bit of paste through the fingers will do the trick! If you’re leaning towards something a bit more modern and loose, I will take this over a more structured short cut any day.
#15 Warm Toned Layers That Fall Just Right
I love how easy it can be to have a great haircut. A great example of a perfect cut shows us that the warm layers add some depth and the ends are wavy just enough to add some bounce. The haircut shows that no time is needed in the morning to style hair, because the haircut does all the work, which we appreciate and means looking good in the morning without any time is possible. For medium to fine hair that is looking for a wash and go hair style, this is your cut.
#16 Rich Auburn Waves with Real Warmth
This deep auburn color is equally striking and warming, and contains none of the off-putting tones inherent in fire-engine red, which is a distinct advantage. This particular shade is a lovely complement to the skin in a way that enhances all of the features. It is also particularly nice in a wavy style, and works great for a lot of layers around the face. For those with round cheeks, this color will help to elongate face. The second-day haircut always looks amazing. The waves relax a bit to create a better overall shape. Be prepared for a bit of commitment, as this color is definitely striking and requires high maintenance.
#17 A Textured Bob That Knows What It’s Doing
This bob has the ideal amount of texture for it to look modern but not messy. There’s movement around the bottom half with the layers and the slight tousle avoids the look of it being too precious or “helmet-y”. That is always my concern with bobs that are too smooth and polished. For anyone looking for an everyday look, I’d say this is the perfect length. It also easily dresses up for occasions. The best part of this style is the grow-out. You really have to keep it looking sharp with regular trims, about every six weeks. A textured bob that loses its shape just looks like hair that needs to be cut. No in between.
#18 Soft Layers with a Gentle Wave That Flatters
I’m loving this length! Just under the shoulders is great for giving enough length to pull back if desired, but not so long that it drags everything down. The layers are light, the face framing is softer, and the soft waves through the mid-lengths add just a bit more body. I think this could work on a lot of people because it isn’t extreme in any direction. It’s such a nice, balanced cut. If you want to add something extra, some subtle highlights through the front pieces would brighten up the face without changing the overall vibe of the look.
#19 A Pixie That Works With Fine Hair Instead of Against It
I do love a good pixie cut and this one is done especially well. The layers look soft and not at all choppy and also give a great amount of texture so finer hair doesn’t just lie flat against the scalp level. The top length is great for styling options and the sides are kept clean as well, plus the slightly tousled styling gives an effortlessly nice vibe. This is one of those cuts where the maintenance is all about keeping the trim up, which honestly gives daily styling a true five minutes or less. If you have fine to medium hair and have been thinking of going short, this is a perfect option that still looks really trendy.
#20 Copper Layers with Bangs That Actually Work
The bangs on this really make the style. They’re soft, and hit at the cheekbone area so they open the whole face up instead of closing it down like bad bangs do. The feathers throughout the layers give it some movement, and the copper is warm but not too warm so it enhances rather than overwhelms. I will stand by bangs on anyone over 50, they can be extremely cut right, but they do need to be more maintained than the rest of the hair. We’re talking a trim every three to four weeks on just the fringe so they can do what they’re supposed to do. If you are willing to commit to that, then this look is very rewarding.
#21 Silver Pixie That Makes Gray Look Like a Choice
This is the kind of look that I think fully embracing going gray looks like. I appreciate the silver tone because it feels clean and bright, as opposed to dull or yellow. It is very well done. I love the texture and movement. The layers at the crown really help add volume, which is super important in a short cut, otherwise you can end up with hair that sits really flat on your head. The soft edges around the face also keep it looking feminine. If you are going this way, silvers this clean do take a bit of maintenance, so invest in a good toner. It looks really well maintained, and I’d take it any day over a bad dye job!
#22 Long Layers in Silver That Look Intentional
I love seeing how gorgeous long hair in silver and gray looks. Many women think that when they stop coloring their hair, they have to chop it all off and that’s simply not the case. The hair here has soft waves which give the gray hair more dimension, so it doesn’t look flat or one-dimensional. The layers also create movement which gives the hair health and vibrancy. The face-framing layers soften the look around the jaw and temple areas. Something to note about gray hair is that it can be dryer and coarser than your original hair texture. This means that if you want your hair to look like this and not wiry you will need to do weekly deep conditioning masks. This demonstrates that with the right care, long grey hair can be very beautiful.
#23 Curly Layers That Bring Out the Best in Your Natural Texture
This style is a great option for people with curls that are a bit crazy or not well defined. There are certain layers that are meant to let the curl do it’s own thing, helping to avoid the dreaded pyramid shape. The face framing layers are done in a way that helps them to drape nicely, unlike the weird angles that come from someone who doesn’t know how to layer curly hair. The mid length style is also great because it gives you just the right amount of weight to avoid that puffy look, while having enough layers that it doesn’t fall flat. To achieve this look, be sure to find a stylist that cuts curly hair dry, as it is very important. Wet curls will surprise you in a bad way!
#24 Shoulder-Length Softness with Layers That Don’t Overwhelm
This beautiful cut may not be the easiest to photograph, but it will look amazing in real life! What is more important than looking amazing on a daily basis? This length is most suitable for hair that is fine to medium because it has enough weight to keep it under control, but not so much that it loses movement from the layers, and the natural shine indicates that the hair is in very good condition. That is the most important thing when it comes to hair and cuts. It will be very difficult for your friends to guess what has changed about you with a cut like this, but they will definitely give you a ton of compliments about it, and that cut is the best compliment a cut could get!
#25 A Warm Textured Bob with Depth
The rich warmth and chestnut brown color of this bob offers stunning depth and interest instead of a flat and dull brown. The slightly wavy and textured bob will help keep the style from looking overly stiff. It is nice to see that the cutting and layering creates fullness at the bottom instead of thins the bob out. This type of cut looks nice regardless of if it’s styled or not but I do think a volume mousse applied to damp hair and a blow dry will do good things to the appearance of the layers. The length allows for casual styles like tucking the hair behind the ears but more polished looks can be achieved by side parting it.
#26 Long Layers with Face Framing That Knows When to Stop
This cut shows the restraint with the framing that I really appreciate; it’s there but it’s not overdone, the shortest pieces fall where they should, and the lengths blend seamlessly with the layers. A lot of longer cuts can be too much with the face framing and it’s easy to end up with short pieces that will stick out when you try to put your hair up, but this one has been done with purpose. The hair is straight and medium density which is pretty much ideal for this kind of cut because everything just works and the layers do all the moving. This will need upkeep and long layered cuts always do, but if you keep up with your trims, it will grow out nicely and won’t get shapeless.
#27 Medium Layers with Highlights That Keep Things Bright
The highlights have been done and blended into the layers to create a lot of dimension and brightness to the hair without looking stripey or overly done. Many dated highlights are due to being too thick, too blunt, or too uniform. However, these are deliberate and natural looking, especially around the face. The layers provide a lot of body to fine hair and there’s great lift at the crown which indicates some smart layering. For this kind of cut, I’d typically recommend easing back on the layering if you have hair that tends to frizz because humidity will give the layers something to work with. But with fine hair that is likely to lie flat this is perfect.
#28 Short Layers with a Fresh, Clean Finish
The shortcut is appealing, and just the right amount of texture will keep the style from being overly conservative. The layers bring some dimension, and the soft highlights will make your face look brighter in a very natural way. I like this for customers who want to look modern and chic, but who also do not want to spend a lot of time doing their hair in the morning. The way the shape will hold is good, and it looks nice even if you just air dry it or blow dry it a little. The light layers around the face help soften the jaw and temple area, which is flattering on almost everyone. The maintenance is low, but you will need yearly trims every five to six weeks.
#29 Curly Layers with Warm Highlights That Actually Complement Curls
I’ve been noticing curled hair with highlights that look really good when straightened but really bad when worn curly. This highlight and haircut combo really helps to follow her curl pattern and add warmth into her hair instead of working against it. The volume here is gorgeous and the layers are keeping everything in proportion so it doesn’t get too wide at the bottom, this cut works best on medium to thick hair as finer curls may not hold this shape as well you’ll definitely want to use a good curl gel or cream to keep definition without it looking crunchy, and the length is versatile as it is just above the shoulders meaning it’s not going to be weighed down but it still has enough length to play around with.
#30 Long Warm Waves That Look Effortless
Assuming healthy hair, and a haircut that is skillfully done, this style can be achieved. The long layers create soft elegant tiers. The colour with its warm tones, helps to create a soft glow. These waves look like they were done with a big barrel curling iron, or, at least, look like they were created by braiding the hair while it is wet. This style is easy and celebrates healthy hair, however it will definitely look better with healthy hair. This look can be achieved with little to no heat and can be made with a decent thermal hair brush and straightener. If you have medium to thick hair and want a style that is romantic and effortless, this is a great choice.
Enter your email and get this picture and description straight to your inbox, and you'll also get new hair ideas ❤️
🔒 We don't spam or sell emails. See our Privacy Policy.