Iconic Hairstyles
If You Love Easy Styles, Try These Short Layered Haircuts
Short layered haircuts are one of the most popular and versatile hairstyles today. Whether you want volume, shape, or easy maintenance, a layered haircut can completely transform your look.
Short layers work well on all hair types-straight, wavy, or curly-and they suit almost every face shape. In this guide, we'll explore what short layered haircuts are, why they're loved, how to choose the right one, and how to maintain them.
A short layered haircut features hair cut into different lengths, often shorter at the crown and gradually longer toward the bottom. These layers help to add texture, remove weight, and create movement. Unlike a blunt cut, which is the same length all around, layers bring softness and flow to a haircut.
Benefits of Short Layered Haircuts
• Adds Volume and Fullness:
Short layers can make thin or fine hair look fuller and more voluminous.
• Reduces Bulk in Thick Hair:
Layers remove extra weight from thick hair, making it feel lighter and easier to style.
• Works on All Hair Types:
From poker-straight to tight curls, layers can be customized to suit your texture.
• Easy to Maintain:
Short layered styles typically require less styling time and fewer products.
• Versatile Styling Options:
You can go for messy, sleek, curled, or beachy waves-the layers add versatility.
Choosing the Right Short Layered Haircut
Face Shape Guide:
- Round Face:
Go for longer layers around the face to create the illusion of length. - Oval Face:
Most short layered cuts will work-pixies, bobs, or shag styles. - Square Face:
Choose soft, feathered layers to soften the angles of your jawline. - Heart-Shaped Face:
Layers with side bangs balance the forehead and narrow chin.
Hair Type Guide:
- Fine Hair:
Add shorter layers at the crown to lift the roots. - Thick Hair:
Opt for longer layers to remove weight and add flow. - Curly Hair:
Go for graduated or rounded layers to enhance your curls' natural pattern.
Soft Voluminous Layers with Curtain Bangs
This haircut features shoulder-length hair with soft layers that add natural volume and movement. The curtain bangs are parted in the middle and sweep gently to each side of the face.
The layers start around the chin area and blend smoothly downward. This style creates a bouncy, full look that frames the face beautifully. The ends are cut to create soft texture without being too choppy or harsh.
Classic Layered Bob with Volume
This is a timeless bob haircut that sits just above the shoulders. The layers are cut throughout the hair to add body and lift from the roots. The back is slightly shorter than the front, creating a gentle angle.
The layers help the hair curve inward naturally, giving it a polished, round shape. This cut works well for people who want a neat, professional look with extra fullness.
Textured Short Bob with Side Part
This bob haircut is cut just below the chin with choppy, uneven layers for texture. The hair is parted deeply to one side, creating an asymmetrical look. The layers are cut at different lengths to give the hair a tousled, casual appearance.
The ends are slightly jagged rather than perfectly straight, which adds movement and makes the hair look more relaxed and modern.
Curled Under Short Layers
This haircut features layers that are styled to curl under at the ends, creating a vintage-inspired look. The hair is cut in layers of different lengths, with the shortest pieces around the face. When styled, the ends flip inward to create soft curves that frame the face.
This cut gives a polished, feminine appearance and works especially well when blow-dried with a round brush to enhance the curved shape.
Straight Layered Bob with Face Frame
This is a sleek, straight bob with subtle layers cut around the face. The hair is cut to one length at the bottom, but shorter pieces frame the face starting around the cheekbones. The layers are minimal and blend smoothly into the main length.
This cut creates a clean, modern look that's easy to style straight. The face-framing pieces add softness without too much texture or volume.
Natural Layered Cut with Wispy Ends
This haircut has gentle layers throughout with very soft, wispy ends. The layers are cut to follow the natural shape of the head, creating subtle movement. The ends are thinned out and textured to look light and airy.
This cut has a relaxed, effortless feel and looks great when air-dried. The wispy texture prevents the hair from looking too heavy or blunt at the bottom.
Chin-Length Layers with a Blowout Finish
This layered cut sits right at chin level with layers that add volume and curve. The hair is cut with shorter pieces on top and longer pieces underneath. When styled with a blowout, it creates smooth, bouncy waves that flip outward at the ends.
The layers help the hair hold its shape and add movement. This style has a glamorous, salon-fresh look that frames the face nicely.
Retro-Inspired Feathered Layers
This haircut features layers that are cut and styled to flip away from the face, creating a feathered effect. The layers start around the ears and get longer toward the back. When styled, the hair flips outward and backward, similar to styles popular in the 1970s.
The feathering technique creates lots of volume and movement. This cut works best on hair with some natural texture or wave.
Messy Shaggy Layers with Bangs
This is a casual, tousled haircut with lots of choppy layers throughout. The layers are cut at many different lengths to create a messy, undone look. There are also wispy bangs that blend into the shorter face-framing pieces.
The overall effect is relaxed and effortless, like you just ran your fingers through your hair. This cut is perfect for people who want a low-maintenance, edgy style.
Bouncy Layers with Side-Swept Bangs
This layered cut creates lots of volume and bounce throughout the hair. The layers are cut to add fullness, especially around the crown area. The bangs are cut longer on one side and swept across the forehead to the other side.
When styled, this cut has a lively, energetic look with lots of movement. The layers help the hair hold curl and create a youthful, playful appearance.
Full Volume Layers with Flipped Ends
This haircut features multiple layers cut throughout to maximize volume and body. The layers start quite short on top and gradually get longer. The ends are styled to flip outward, creating even more fullness and a rounded shape.
This cut is perfect for people with fine or thin hair who want to create the appearance of thicker, fuller hair. The flipped ends add extra bounce and movement.
Blonde Layered Bob with Face-Framing Highlights
This bob haircut has subtle layers cut throughout with shorter pieces around the face. The layers add gentle movement without being too choppy. The hair color features blonde highlights that are concentrated around the face to brighten and frame the features.
The cut sits just below the chin and has a sleek, polished finish. The face-framing highlights enhance the layered cut and add dimension to the overall style.
Blonde Feathered Layers with Bangs
This haircut has medium-length layers that flip outward and away from the face, creating a feathered look. The blonde hair is cut with wispy bangs that blend into the shorter face-framing pieces.
The layers start around the ears and create lots of volume and movement. When styled, the hair flips back naturally, giving it a bouncy, retro feel. This cut works great for people who want a glamorous, voluminous style.
🡆 Short Layered Haircuts Shoulder Length
Rounded Layered Bob with Volume
This bob haircut is cut into a round, full shape with layers throughout for extra body. The hair curves inward at the bottom, creating a neat, polished look. The layers are blended smoothly to add volume without making the cut look choppy.
The back is slightly shorter than the front, which helps the hair maintain its rounded shape. This style is perfect for people who want a classic, professional appearance.
Wavy Shag Cut with Layers
This is a casual shag haircut with lots of choppy layers that create natural waves and texture. The layers are cut at different lengths throughout the hair, giving it a messy, tousled look. The cut has a relaxed, effortless vibe that looks great when air-dried.
The uneven layers add movement and prevent the hair from looking too neat or structured. This style is perfect for people who want an easy, low-maintenance cut.
Sleek Short Layers with Side Part
This haircut features subtle layers cut into shoulder-length hair with a deep side part. The layers are minimal and blend smoothly, creating gentle movement without too much texture. The hair is styled sleek and straight, giving it a polished, modern look.
The side part adds asymmetry and helps frame one side of the face. This cut is simple but elegant, perfect for people who want something refined and easy to style.
Flipped-In Layers with Soft Volume
This layered cut is styled so the ends curve inward toward the face and neck. The layers are cut to create gentle volume and movement throughout the hair. When blown out with a round brush, the ends naturally flip under, creating a soft, feminine shape.
The layers start around the jawline and blend smoothly downward. This cut gives a polished, put-together look that's perfect for work or special occasions.
Elegant Short Layers with Loose Curls
This haircut has soft layers cut throughout shoulder-length hair that's styled with loose, gentle curls. The layers add movement and help the curls fall naturally without looking too structured. The cut creates a romantic, feminine look with lots of texture and volume.
The curls are loose and relaxed, not tight or bouncy. This style works well for people who want something elegant but not too formal or stiff.
Simple Layered Cut with Natural Flow
This is a basic layered haircut with subtle layers that follow the natural shape of the head. The layers are cut to add gentle movement without creating too much texture or volume.
The hair falls naturally and smoothly, with just enough layering to prevent it from looking flat or heavy. This cut is versatile and easy to style, working well both straight and with gentle waves. It's perfect for people who want something simple and low-maintenance.
🡆 Short Layered Haircuts Straight Hair
Short Textured Layers with Face Frame
This chin-length haircut has choppy, textured layers throughout with shorter pieces that frame the face. The layers create a tousled, casual look with lots of movement and body. The face-framing pieces start around the cheekbones and blend into the rest of the cut.
The texture prevents the hair from looking too neat or perfect, giving it a relaxed, modern vibe. This cut is great for people who want something edgy but not too dramatic.
Feathered Short Layers with Wispy Ends
This haircut features layers that are cut and styled to flip away from the face in a feathered pattern. The ends are thinned out to create a wispy, light texture that moves easily. The layers start around the ears and create volume and lift throughout the hair.
When styled, the hair naturally flips outward and backward. This cut has a retro feel but works well for modern styles too. It's perfect for adding volume to fine hair.
Smooth Short Layers with Under Curve
This layered cut is styled with the ends curving under toward the neck, creating a smooth, polished look. The layers are subtle and blend seamlessly, adding just enough movement to prevent the hair from looking flat.
The under curve gives the hair a neat, professional appearance that works well for work or formal occasions. The cut sits just above the shoulders and maintains its shape well between salon visits.
Retro-Inspired Soft Shaggy Layers
This shag haircut has multiple layers cut throughout to create a soft, vintage-inspired look. The layers are choppy but not too harsh, giving the hair lots of movement and texture. The cut has a relaxed, bohemian vibe that looks effortlessly cool.
The layers help create volume and prevent the hair from looking flat or lifeless. This style works well when tousled with your fingers for a messy, undone finish.
Light Tousled Layers with Volume
This layered haircut is cut to create natural volume and movement throughout. The layers are light and airy, giving the hair a bouncy, full appearance. When styled, the hair has a slightly tousled, casual look that's not too messy or undone.
The layers help the hair hold its shape and add body from roots to ends. This cut is perfect for people who want something that looks effortless but still polished and put-together.
Playful Layers with Wispy Bangs
This haircut features shoulder-length layers with light, wispy bangs that frame the face softly. The layers are cut to add gentle movement and bounce throughout the hair. The bangs are cut thin and airy, not thick or heavy, so they blend naturally with the face-framing pieces.
The overall look is youthful and fresh, with just enough texture to keep the hair from looking flat. This cut is perfect for people who want something fun but not too dramatic.
Curled-In Layers with Side Part
This layered cut is styled with the ends curling inward toward the face and neck. The hair is parted deeply to one side, creating an elegant, asymmetrical look. The layers are subtle and help the hair maintain its curved shape when styled with a round brush.
The inward curl gives the hair a polished, sophisticated appearance. This style works well for people who want something classic and refined that's easy to recreate at home.
Blunt Layered Cut with Soft Ends
This haircut combines a blunt, straight-across bottom with subtle layers throughout. The layers are minimal and cut to add gentle movement without making the hair look choppy. The ends are softened slightly to prevent the cut from looking too harsh or severe.
The overall effect is clean and modern, with just enough layering to add body and prevent the hair from looking flat. This cut is perfect for people who want something sleek but not boring.
Mid-Length Layers with Feathered Tips
This shoulder-length haircut has layers that are cut and styled to flip outward at the ends, creating a feathered effect. The layers start around the jawline and gradually get longer toward the back. When styled, the ends naturally flip away from the face, adding volume and movement.
The feathered tips give the hair a bouncy, retro-inspired look that's both fun and flattering. This cut works great for people who want to add fullness to their hair.
Rounded Layers with Flipped Ends
This layered cut is styled into a rounded, full shape with the ends flipping outward. The layers are cut to create maximum volume and body throughout the hair. When blow-dried with a round brush, the hair takes on a bouncy, curved appearance that's very flattering.
The flipped ends add extra fullness and movement. This cut is perfect for people with fine or thin hair who want to create the illusion of thicker, more voluminous hair.
🡆 Short Layered Haircuts Wavy Hair
Short Voluminous Layers with Curl Bounce
This short layered cut is styled with lots of bouncy curls that add volume and texture. The layers are cut at different lengths to help the curls fall naturally and create maximum body. The curls are styled to be full and bouncy, not tight or springy.
The overall effect is glamorous and full of movement. This cut is perfect for people who want a dramatic, eye-catching style that's full of personality and charm.
Tight Curly Layers with Volume
This haircut features layers cut specifically for naturally curly or permed hair. The layers are designed to enhance the curl pattern and add volume throughout. The curls are tight and bouncy, creating lots of texture and movement. The layers help prevent the hair from looking triangular or bottom-heavy.
This cut celebrates natural curl texture and creates a full, voluminous look that's both stylish and manageable for people with curly hair.
Natural Curly Bob with Layers
This bob haircut is designed for naturally wavy or curly hair, with layers that enhance the natural texture. The layers are cut to follow the curl pattern and prevent the hair from looking too heavy or bulky.
The bob length keeps the hair manageable while the layers add movement and prevent frizz. This cut works with natural texture rather than fighting against it, creating an effortless, beautiful look that's easy to maintain.
Shaggy Curly Layers with Bangs
This shag haircut features lots of choppy layers throughout curly hair, with wispy bangs that blend into the face-framing pieces. The layers are cut at many different lengths to create a tousled, messy look that works perfectly with natural curl texture.
The bangs are cut to work with the curls, not against them. This cut has a relaxed, bohemian vibe that's perfect for people who want something edgy and low-maintenance.
Wavy Bob with Soft Layers
This bob haircut is cut with gentle layers that enhance natural waves and movement. The layers are subtle and soft, adding just enough texture to prevent the hair from looking flat.
The bob length is classic and versatile, while the layers help the waves fall naturally and beautifully. This cut is perfect for people with naturally wavy hair who want something polished but not too structured or formal.
Glamorous Long Layers with Bounce
This layered cut features long, flowing layers that create lots of volume and movement. The layers are cut to add body throughout the length of the hair, preventing it from looking flat or lifeless.
When styled, the hair has a bouncy, glamorous appearance with lots of texture and flow. The layers help the hair hold curl and create a red-carpet worthy look that's full of drama and sophistication.
Modern Wolf Cut with Choppy Layers
This trendy wolf cut combines elements of a shag and a mullet, with lots of choppy layers throughout. The layers are cut at many different lengths, creating a wild, untamed look that's very modern and edgy.
The cut has shorter layers on top that blend into longer pieces at the back. This style is perfect for people who want something bold and different that makes a statement. It works well with natural texture and looks great when tousled.
Soft Natural Waves with Curtain Bangs
This haircut features shoulder-length layers that create beautiful, soft waves throughout the hair. The curtain bangs are parted in the middle and sweep gently to each side of the face, blending seamlessly with the longer layers.
The waves look natural and effortless, not too tight or structured. The layers are cut to enhance the wave pattern and add movement. This cut is perfect for people who want a romantic, feminine look that's easy to style and maintain.
Messy Curls with Tousled Volume and Fringe
This layered cut creates lots of messy, tousled curls with maximum volume and texture. The fringe bangs are cut to work with the curly texture, creating a soft frame around the face. The layers are choppy and uneven, giving the hair a wild, carefree appearance.
The curls look naturally messy and undone, perfect for people who want an edgy, bohemian style. This cut celebrates natural texture and looks great when scrunched with styling products.
Textured Medium Layers with Feathered Curtain Bangs
This medium-length haircut has lots of textured layers throughout that add body and movement. The curtain bangs are cut and feathered to create a soft, wispy effect that frames the face beautifully.
The layers are cut at different lengths to create texture without being too choppy or harsh. The overall look is modern and fresh, with just enough edge to keep it interesting. This cut works well for people who want something stylish but not too dramatic.