How to Style Layered Hair: 10 Tips & Tutorials (2024)

Whether you have short, medium-length or long hair, layers can add dimension to any look. And if you’re feeling like you need a change without cutting too much off, layers are the perfect solution. They allow you to eliminate weight from your hair without giving up too much length. They’re flattering for almost everyone and can add volume and texture to your strands. Whether you have thick and wavy hair or fine, straight hair, strategically placed layers can elevate your look. Here’s how to style layered hair and things to consider before the cut.

4 Things to Consider Before Getting a Layered Haircut

1. Maintenance: If you want to maintain the layered look, regular haircuts are key. If you’re someone who can’t commit to the upkeep, you may want to consider longer layers that are more easily grown out. To maintain shorter, more styled layers, plan to head to salon about every 6 to 8 weeks.
2. Styling: Along with maintenance, layered looks require effort and styling. Consider how much time you’re willing to put into styling your hair. Layers tend to work best on dense hair types with slight texture, so if you have super straight hair, it can require more effort to style.
3. Choose Your Layered Cut: There are so many layered haircuts to choose from, from the kitty cut to a shag, butterfly cut, wolf cut and more. Take a look on social media to find inspiration photos of what you want. Certain layered looks work better for certain lengths, face shapes and hair textures. What you like best may not necessarily suit your hair. Your stylist will be able to work with you to figure out what will look best on your hair while keeping your inspo front of mind.
4. Your Shortest Layer: Think about how short you want to go with your shortest layer. Do you want to be able to tuck it behind your ear? Easily pull it back into a ponytail? Think about your daily lifestyle, job and activities you do to figure out what makes the most sense.

How to Style Layered Hair That’s Short

1. How I Style My Short Hair with Bangs + Layers | Lorena Caroline

If you have short hair with bangs and layers, your hair can be a little more challenging to style, but once you know the right techniques and products, it will be a piece of cake. This is a full, voluminous look with a somewhat 70s vibe. She uses products like the OGX Heat Protectant Blow Out Spray, the Revlon Heated 1’ Blow Dry Brush and the OGX Argan Oil Hair Oil. She shares her best technique for styling her layers and it only takes about 5 minutes to get this look!

2. How to Style a Shag for Beginners, Super Easy | Ana Molina

A shag haircut is one of the most popular layered cuts and it works super well for short hair. This is a super easy way to style a shag that will leave your hair with a nice wave. Along with a flat iron and curling iron, she also uses products including a heat protection spray, the R+Co Dry Shampoo Paste and a hair volumizing powder to add lift to the look.

How to Style Layered Hair That’s Medium-Length

1. How I Style My Shag Haircut & Bangs | Ashley Taylor

This tutorial is perfect for you if you have medium length hair with a natural wave. She has a shaggy layered haircut and shows you how she styles her bangs along with the rest of her hair. The end result is effortless and gorgeous, and you’ll need products like the Davines Liquid Spell, the Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Spray and the Living Proof Hairspray. The Eva NYC Hair Dryer with the diffuser attachment is also essential to achieving this look.

2. How I Style My Wolf Haircut | Maria Chandelier

The wolf cut combines the 70s shag with a mullet, featuring shorter layers at the front and longer layers in the back. Watch as she styles her wolf cut from wet to dry with products like a heat protectant serum, a heated blow dry brush and a volumizing powder. Follow her heated brush technique for seriously stylish layers.

How to Style Layered Hair That’s Long

1. How I Style My Layered Haircut | Tina Engeo

If you have long layered hair, take a look at this tutorial. She shows you how she styles it starting from damp hair that about 80-90% dry. She uses a heated blow dryer brush for the majority of her hair, and for the shorter top layers, she uses ceramic hair rollers to add some nice volume. Layered hair looks best when it’s styled and when you put the time and effort into it, the results are incredible.

2. At Home Salon Blowout Tutorial + Hair Care Routine, Products I Use Everyday | ColleenHo

A blowout is another perfect style for long, layered hair as it allows you to really highlight each layer. She takes you step-by-step through her whole routine, from hair wash prep to styling. She uses velcro rollers for the majority of the blow out, as well as the Revlon Heated Blow Dry Brush. She also uses a volume spray to get as much lift as possible at the root.

If you think layered hair is for you, use these looks for inspiration and hair styling techniques.

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