These 15 Layer Cuts for Long Hair Will Give You Major Hair Goals
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I'll receive a commission if you purchase through the link at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.
Layered haircuts are a fantastic way to add dimension, movement, and texture to long hair. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, a layer cut for long hair can provide a fresh, stylish look.
As a hairstylist, I've had the pleasure of creating many beautiful layered haircuts for my clients. In this guide, I'll explore the best layered haircuts for long hair, from subtle layers to dramatic, choppy cuts. You'll find the perfect inspiration to transform your hair and achieve a versatile, low-maintenance hairstyle that suits your lifestyle and personal style.
Which Layer Cut Is Best For Long Hair?
Picking out the best-layered haircut for long hair comes down to a few things: your hair density, the overall look you're trying to achieve, your lifestyle, and, most importantly, your face shape.
As a hairstylist, I always consider these factors when helping my clients choose the perfect long layered haircut.
If you have thick hair, you might want to opt for more pronounced layers to remove some of the bulk and add movement. On the other hand, if your hair is on the thinner side, subtle, graduated layers can give the illusion of more volume and body.
Your lifestyle also plays a big role in choosing the right layer cut for long hair. If you prefer a low-maintenance look, long layers that blend seamlessly might be the best choice. These cuts are easy to style and can help your hair look great with minimal effort. For those who enjoy styling their hair, more defined layers can provide a variety of options, from sleek straight looks to voluminous curls.
Finally, the shape of your face should guide your decision. For instance, if you have a round face, longer layers that start below the chin can elongate your face.
To help you find the best long hair layered haircuts for your face shape and learn what to ask your hairstylist, download my FREE haircut guide. It's packed with tips and insights to ensure you get the perfect cut every time!
FREE DOWNLOAD
FIND YOUR PERFECT HAIRCUT FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE
The struggle is real when it comes to getting the perfect haircut! Most of the time, you never really get the haircut you want.
That stops now! This FREE GUIDE will give you the best haircut ideas for your face shape. While also breaking down how to describe the haircut to your hairstylist.
Best Layered Haircuts for Long Hair
I've handpicked a range of layered haircuts for long hair that combine trendiness with timeless appeal. These styles are perfect for different hair types and textures. Whether you're looking for something low-maintenance or versatile, these haircuts will enhance the natural beauty of your long hair and offer flexibility for various occasions.
Layered Cut with Long Layers
If you're looking to add volume and movement to your long hair, a Long Layered Haircut might be just what you need. This style features layers that start around the chin, creating a soft, feathered appearance that adds texture and dimension. It's perfect for those with thin hair who want to create the illusion of fuller, thicker hair.
The long layers can be customized to suit your hair type. For those with straight hair, this cut adds a beautiful flow and reduces heaviness. If you have wavy or curly hair, the layers can enhance your natural texture and give your hair a lively bounce.
As a hairstylist, I love recommending this cut to clients who want a versatile and low-maintenance style. You can style it in various ways, from sleek and polished to tousled and casual.
Long Layered Haircut with Curtain Bangs
If you want to elevate your long layered haircut, adding curtain bangs can be a game-changer. The long layers add movement and texture, while curtain bangs draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones. This combination works well with various hair types, making it a versatile choice for many.
For styling, you can blowout the bangs for a sleek look, add waves for a beachy vibe, or create loose curls for a soft look. Whether you prefer a polished finish or a more relaxed style, this cut offers flexibility and an effortlessly chic appearance.
Butterfly Haircut
The Butterfly Haircut is a beautiful and versatile style that adds depth and dimension to long hair. It's perfect for those who want to keep their length but add some flair. This cut features shorter layers around the face and longer layers at the back, creating a cascading effect that mimics butterfly wings.
I recently gave this cut to one of my clients with natural wavy hair, who typically wears it straight 90% of the time. The layers enhance her waves when she decides to wear her hair natural, adding volume and movement. If you wear your hair natural all the time, I suggest making your curtain bangs a little longer, depending on how wavy your hair is.
For this client, I took 2 inches off all the way around. In the back, I did an straight across cut with longer layers to remove some weight and add movement. In the front, I added heavy face-framing layers and curtain bangs starting below the cheekbone. This combination brought out the best in her natural texture and gave her a chic, stylish look.
If you're curious about whether you need to style the butterfly haircut daily, I’ve got all the details for you.
Long Blunt Haircut
The Long Blunt Haircut is a timeless choice for those who prefer a sleek and polished look. This style features a straight, even cut across the bottom, which gives your hair a thick, healthy appearance. It’s perfect for showcasing the natural shine and texture of your long hair.
For styling, you can keep it straight and sleek with a flat iron to highlight the blunt ends, or add some soft waves with a three barrel curling iron for a bit of movement while still maintaining the blunt structure. If you prefer a more natural look, let your hair air dry to showcase its natural texture, whether it’s straight, wavy, or slightly curly.
Long Shaggy Haircut
The Long Shaggy Haircut is perfect for those looking to add a playful and effortless vibe to their long hair. This style features choppy layers throughout, creating a tousled, textured look that’s full of movement and personality. The uneven layers give your hair a natural, lived-in appearance, making it ideal for both casual and more styled looks.
For styling, you can embrace the shaggy texture by using a texturizing spray to enhance the layers and give your hair a beachy, windswept look. Soft waves created with a curling wand can add even more dimension, while a blowout can provide a sleek yet voluminous finish.
Long Face-Framing Layers
Long Face Framing Layers are a fantastic choice if you want to add body and bounce to the front of your hair while maintaining the length.
When asking your hairstylist for this cut, make sure to specify that you want the first layer to start below your chin. This ensures that you can still tie up all your hair into a ponytail without any of the layers falling out.
For styling, you can blow-dry your hair with a round brush to create soft, bouncy waves that highlight the face-framing layers. Alternatively, use a curling iron to add loose curls for a more glamorous look, or keep it sleek and straight for a polished finish.
Long Layers All Over
For those wanting consistent volume and movement throughout their hair, the all over long layers haircut is ideal. This style evenly layers the hair from top to bottom, adding texture and dimension to every part.
This cut suits all hair types—straight, wavy, or curly—creating a full-bodied look that makes your hair appear thicker. To style, you can blow-dry with a round brush for a smooth finish or use a curling iron to add soft waves for an effortlessly chic look.
When you visit your hairstylist, ask for uniform layers all over to ensure volume and movement throughout your hair. This will help you achieve a vibrant, versatile style that's easy to maintain.
Choppy Long Layers
If you’re looking to add some edge and texture to your long hair, the Choppy Long Layers haircut is a fantastic option. The layers are cut in varying lengths, creating a more relaxed and tousled appearance compared to uniform layers.
Choppy long layers can give the illusion of thicker hair, making it perfect for those with fine or thin hair. This cut works well with straight, wavy, or even curly hair, enhancing the natural texture.
To style, you can use a texturizing spray and scrunch your hair for a messy, lived-in look, or use a flat iron to define the choppy layers for a sleek, modern finish. Learn how to curl long hair with a flat iron to achieve those beautiful, voluminous waves that enhance your choppy layered haircut.
Subtle Layers
For those who want a refined, polished look without sacrificing length, Subtle Layers are the perfect choice. This haircut features gentle, barely-there layers that add a touch of movement and texture to long hair while maintaining a sleek and smooth appearance.
These layers are typically cut starting below the chin and taper downwards, providing a hint of volume without making the hair look choppy or uneven. The layers are delicately cut to blend seamlessly with the rest of the hair, creating a soft, natural flow.
When styling Subtle Layers, you can blow-dry your hair for a sleek finish, add soft waves for a bit of texture, or use a flat iron for a smooth, polished look. The key is to keep the styling simple to highlight the natural beauty of the layers.
FREE DOWNLOAD
GET THE RIGHT HAIRCUT FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE
Never settle for an unflattering haircut again! This FREE GUIDE will show you the perfect haircut ideas for your face shape and how to describe them to your hairstylist for the best results.
Feathered Layers
Feathered Layers is a classic cut that features layers that are finely tapered towards the ends, creating a soft, feather-like effect. The layers start at the mid-lengths and blend seamlessly down to the ends, giving the hair a light, airy appearance.
It is perfect for adding movement and texture to long hair without making it look bulky. It's an excellent choice for those with straight or wavy hair who want to achieve a voluminous look that still feels natural.
When styling Feathered Layers, you can use a round brush while blow-drying to enhance the feathered effect. Adding soft waves or curls can also accentuate the layers, giving your hair a bouncy, lively look.
Long Layers Only at the Bottom
This haircut is perfect for those who want to add movement and volume to their hair without losing overall length. It features long, subtle layers that begin towards the bottom of the hair.
The long layers at the bottom create a soft, flowing effect that enhances the natural texture of the hair, whether it is straight, wavy, or curly. This haircut adds dimension and prevents the hair from looking flat or weighed down.
Styling this haircut is straightforward and versatile. You can blow-dry your hair with a round brush to add volume at the ends, or use a curling iron to create loose waves for a more romantic and tousled look. The long layers also make it easy to achieve a sleek, polished appearance with minimal effort.
U-Cut with Long Layers
This haircut is a classic and elegant style that combines the smooth, curved finish of a U-shaped cut with the added texture and volume of layers.
In this style, the hair is cut in a U-shape, with the longest strands at the center of the back gradually getting shorter towards the sides. The layers are then added throughout the length to create movement and body, enhancing the natural flow of the hair. This design not only looks beautiful but also makes the hair appear thicker and more voluminous. It is versatile and works well with all hair types, whether straight, wavy, or curly.
Long V-Cut Layers
The Layered V-cut is perfect for those with thick hair who want to remove some bulk while maintaining length. This cut is characterized by a V-shape at the back, with the hair gradually getting shorter towards the center, creating a sharp and stylish point. The layers enhance this shape, adding volume and movement.
The cut works well with both straight and wavy hair, giving you a versatile look that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. For styling, you can blow-dry your hair to highlight the V-shape, or add waves and curls to enhance the layers.
Long Lived-in Layers
The Long Lived-in Layers are perfect for those who love an effortlessly chic, low-maintenance look. The key to achieving the lived-in look is to keep the layers soft and gradual, allowing them to enhance the natural texture of your hair. The result is a haircut that grows out gracefully, making it ideal for those who prefer less frequent salon visits.
This cut works beautifully for all hair types, whether straight, wavy, or curly. For styling, you can let your hair air-dry for a relaxed, tousled look or use a blow-dryer to add some volume and smoothness. Adding a bit of texturizing spray can help define the layers and give your hair that perfect "I woke up like this" vibe.
For one of my clients, we transformed her long, grown-out hair into gorgeous lived-in layers. Before the cut, her hair was below the chest with no layers at the back and grown-out face-framing layers at the front. After the makeover, her hair length was trimmed to chest level, with long layers added to the back and soft framing layers in the front. Her natural texture is pin-straight, and her hair density is medium. This cut truly brought out the best in her hair's natural texture and made it easy for her to maintain a stylish look with minimal effort.
One-Length Long Hair with Subtle Face-Framing Layers
One-Length Long Hair with Subtle Face-Framing Layers is a timeless and elegant look that suits various hair types and face shapes. This haircut features a straight-across cut at the back, maintaining length and fullness, while the front showcases short curtain bangs and soft face-framing layers that blend seamlessly with the bangs. This style is perfect for those who want to keep their hair long but add a bit of movement and dimension around the face.
For one of my clients, we kept the length long at chest level with a straight-across cut at the back, ensuring there were no layers to maintain that sleek, full look. At the front, we introduced short curtain bangs and soft face-framing layers, which beautifully blended with her wavy hair texture and medium density. This cut not only highlighted her natural waves but also added a touch of sophistication and ease to her everyday look. Whether she chooses to wear her hair straight or embrace her natural waves, this style offers versatility and effortless chic.
Related Posts…
If you're looking for fresh and trending haircut ideas to inspire your next visit to the salon, my other blog post has some fantastic suggestions!
Plus, if you have thin hair, you might find it especially helpful to check out my guide on what haircut is best for thin hair.
FAQs
What Do Layers Look Like In Long Hair?
Layers in long hair add dimension and movement by creating varying lengths throughout the hair. The layers can start from the chin or lower, depending on your preference, and can be subtle or more pronounced to achieve the desired look.
Will Adding Layers Make My Long Hair Thinner?
Adding layers to long hair will not necessarily make your hair thinner. Layers can add volume and body, especially if you have thick hair. They can also give the illusion of fuller hair if done correctly.
Can I Add Layers To Long Hair Without Losing Length?
Yes, you can add layers to long hair without losing significant length. Layers are cut into the hair to create movement and shape while maintaining the overall length of your hair.
Are Layers High Maintenance?
Layers are not necessarily high maintenance. The level of maintenance depends on the type of layers you choose and your hair's natural texture. Some layered cuts may require more frequent styling, while others can be low-maintenance.
How Often Should I Get My Layers Trimmed?
You should get your layers trimmed every 8-12 weeks to maintain the shape and health of your haircut. Regular trims help prevent split ends and keep your layers looking fresh.
Conclusion
From subtle face-framing layers to dramatic, choppy cuts, there's a style for everyone. Don't forget to consider your hair type, density, and personal style when selecting the right cut.
For even more personalized advice, download my free haircut guide. It’s packed with tips on how to find the best haircuts for your face shape and how to communicate your desired look to your hairstylist!
