Glamour

Hair

13 Haircuts for Long Hair That Will Create Texture and Movement

 

It’s all about the layers.

Short hair styles like bob haircuts aren’t your vibe? Trying out some new haircuts for long hair may just be your calling—maybe you prefer long layers and lower-maintenance hair looks instead. Though shorter styles are in right now, that doesn’t mean there’s no room for your long layered haircut dreams. To get the look, make sure you stock up on the right hair products and tools for you, whether it’s the best products for straight hair or styling products for curly hair. There’s so much to try and plenty of things you can do to change your look without losing your length, like adding bilevel layers or playing around with bangs.

For long hairstyles that are currently receiving all kinds of buzz, Dhiran Mistry, owner of luxury hair salon The Carriage House, says he sees a lot of face-framing wispy pieces and short or long bangs. Essentially, anything that allows hair to peek out while it’s tied back into ponytails or braids. “It seems to be quite a common thing that people with long hair do,” he says.

There are so many ideas for haircuts for long hair, whether it’s a glamorous sideswept look with a side part or a layered hairstyle with mid-length bangs. But one thing’s for certain: To keep your long locks looking fresh, using hair care products like leave-in conditioner for intense moisture, styling mousse for volumizing, and hairspray to lock your style in place will do wonders.

Need some inspiration before your next hair salon appointment? Ahead, experts share their favorite long hair haircut ideas to get right now, and don’t forget to screenshot (showing your hairdresser a picture of the hairstyle you’re envisioning will eliminate any room for miscommunication and an unwanted cut). Read on for the best haircuts right now for long hair, straight from experts and editors.

Layered Shag

Shags are still going strong, and they’re especially great if you want to skip hair appointments and extend time between trips to the salon. “Those growing out their shags (or getting a haircut that gives the appearance of growing out a shag) have a lot of layers and texture that give the hair a beautiful undone, natural finish that looks extremely healthy,” Ky Wilson, a hairstylist based in London, says. “This look also can give a luxurious ’90s supermodel vibe depending on the cut. The key is to make the layers seamless, oozing fluidity. Ask your stylist for freehand placement of layers and texture—think freehand placement just like we do with color.”

Breezy Waves

Chicago hairstylist Alex Brown expect lots of long hair paired with long, breezy layers. “I’m loving natural-looking waves with long layers around the face that add movement, and you can even add cute baby braids,” she says. To get the look, “ask your stylist for face-framing layers starting below the chin.”

Textured Waves

According to celebrity hairstylist Rossano Ferretti, ethereal textured waves will be seen everywhere this year. Think romantic XXL mermaid waves with super-long layers. “This style offers a dreamy, undone look that’s effortlessly chic. It’s all about embracing natural texture and enhancing it with soft, flowing waves that aren’t overly styled,” he says. After curling your hair with a waver or curling iron, finish things off with a texturizing spray to get natural volume and lived-in wavy hair.

Medium-Length Lobs

If short haircuts aren’t your style, the uber-popular bob isn’t going to do anything for you. Opt for the slightly longer lob (a long bob) instead, which remains one of the top hair trends this year. Sure, it’s not the longest haircut, but if you want to get in on the trend, this medium-length look is a great place to start. Plus, there’s good news: “They can be so varied and can suit any hair texture, density, face shape, and personal style,” says Olya Iudina, a hairstylist at IGK.

Birkin Bangs

Curtain bangs are flattering, face-framing shorter bangs that feature a middle part. According to Helen Reavey, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Act+Acre, we should be paying attention to retro styles, like Daisy Edgar Jones’s Jane Birkin-inspired curtain bangs. Style them with a blow-dryer and round brush to help zhuzh up even thin hair.

“We’re seeing a resurgence of Old Hollywood and vintage-inspired haircuts because there’s a craving for timeless elegance and glamour,” she says. “With the fast pace of trends today, many are drawn to these iconic styles that evoke a sense of nostalgia and sophistication. It’s versatile and polished while still standing out.” Proof that sometimes the best hairstyles are the classics.

Rock-n-Roll Fringe

Do you have thick hair and want choppy bangs that stand out? “Heavy fringes are back for a stand-out style,” says Amy Abramite, creative director and stylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “A dense triangular bang is carved out on the head for maximum thickness and cut into a strong squared outline.”

Abramite says that a full fringe like this is best for thick, wavy hair to maximize body, density, and texture. “At the salon, request a fringe without layering or texturizing for the design line,” she says.

Multilength Layers

Can’t choose how long you want your hair? Try a little bit of everything, incorporating different lengths as you go down the strands. “Gwen Stefani is trendsetting with a three-tiered look that mimics a short bob, a lob, and long layers,” says Abramite. “The lines are sharp and unblended for a choppy layered effect that is best worn on long thick straight hair to show off the strong angled shapes.” Into this look? Take it a step further with a jellyfish haircut.

’90s Layers

“Think super-layered styles with a lot of volume,” says Nunzio Saviano, owner of Nunzio Saviano Salon. The subtle layers are what makes this hairstyle an amazing look for any hair length, but especially longer hair. Think Jennifer Aniston in Friends, Alicia Silverstone in Clueless, and Cindy Crawford.

Octopus Haircut

The octopus haircut became popular thanks to TikTok, Saviano shares. It’s a stylish evolution of the shag and the mullet, creating a silhouette of an octopus’s tentacles. The layered cut looks great on longer hair, adding texture and shape to your strands.

Ask your stylist for shorter layers with shaping around the face. You’ll want to get some weight off your hair as well, especially if your hair is on the thicker side, to fully get the effect.

Butterfly Haircut

Another style full of layers, the butterfly haircut is meant to emulate the shape of a butterfly’s wing. The fun thing about this style is, depending on your hair type and desires, you can get a variation of different levels of volume.

“The short layers on top are blended through to longer layers on the bottom, and the shorter layers fall at or below the chin and the longer layers fall just past the shoulders,” says Maxine Salon hairstylist Jenna Spino.

Bombshell Blowout With Soft Layers

Rugetti recommends a volumized bombshell blowout with soft layers if you’re looking to make a statement. To create a fuller appearance, use extensions to get even more volume. Velcro rollers are ideal for getting that bouncy ’90s supermodel effect.

Soft layers aren’t as dramatic as some of the more choppy layers that are trending, which could be a good starting point if you want a cut that’s a bit more subtle.

Blunt Bangs

“I love a blunt bang for a more dramatic look,” celebrity hairstylist Laura Rugetti says. Brianna Dunning, cofounder of Unsubscribe,  agrees, adding that those who have very long hair (we’re talking almost-touching-your-butt long) can add some fringe to switch up their look.

Face-Framing Layers

“This look adds a ton of body and movement to the hair and can be worn with bangs or no bangs,” Saviano explains. Similar to the butterfly and octopus haircuts, there are layers and a lot of volume to a face-framing layered cut.

Dunning says that this style is good for people with finer hair who still want to maintain heaviness at the bottom. “The cut is also good for people with heavy density who want to feel like they have much less hair without losing length,” she says.