Dark brown balayage is one of the most underrated hair colors. It’s the color equivalent of a really nice lie, and one where you look like you were born with depth and movement in your hair, and certainly didn’t sit in a salon chair for three hours getting it done. I had a client one time tell me she wanted her hair to look like “expensive coffee in sunlight,” and honestly, that’s been my mental shortcut for this whole category ever since. Dark brown balayage paired with a bob is one of those combinations that works on a chemical level. With the shorter length, every single brushstroke of color is completely visible and in a longer cut some of that dimension just gets lost.

You may not have noticed before, but the maintenance of dark brown balayage is far easier than that of blonde balayage and I think that is a big difference worth mentioning. The grow out of dark brown balayage is practically unnoticeable, and you won’t have to deal with a demarcation line every 6 weeks like a blonde balayage client would. A friend of mine went almost 7 months without an appointment and it looked intentional the entire time, which is the dream. The shorter length of a bob with this balayage combo also adds to the overall effect because it makes you consider where the light reflects from on the ends. When the light is placed correctly, an otherwise one-length bob looks like it has a lot of layers and texture which is just not the case. It’s kind of magic, honestly.

The Big Chop With Built-In Warmth

I’ve barely started, but I’m guessing this before-and-after is why I tell my clients that chopping length off doesn’t mean sacrificing personality. The longer version to the left looks nice, sure, but it has this empty feeling and whatever color was added is hardly visible. The bob on the right, however, has all these warm brown tones reflecting off the waves, and it feels so full and bouncy. The long hair was just suppressing all of that. If you’re worried about going for a shorter look, just do it! The balayage was definitely there in the longer version, but no one could see it.

The Bedroom-Ready Bouncy Bob

I am obsessed with the volume going on here! This bob has that blown out turn under look that gives shampoo commercial vibes from the back, and the balayage is running through, in these long, fine ribbons that just highlight every single bend in the blow dry. The warm brown tones with the brown blouse is doing something really good for the color that I want to highlight. If you go this route, jewel tones in your closet are going to be your bestie.

The Polished Sphere Bob With Cinnamon Highlights

I am finishing up with this style because I believe it might be the most perfectly executed combination of cuts and colors incorporated within this year’s collection. This bob has a beautiful rounded almost spherical shape from the back, and the vertical sectioned cinnamon balayage perfectly follows the curve of the head so that color and shape become one. The dark roots offer depth at the crown, and the cinnamon warms the mid-lengths to create an incredibly rich, dimensional color that looks like it belongs in a museum exhibit about beautiful hair. If you’re going to give your colorist one photo from this post, let this one be it.

Messy-Chic Chin Bob With Hidden Caramel

The texture here is amazing! The caramel pieces catch my eye too although it seems to have some pieces that are camouflaged, peeking through as if the wind brushes over those top layers. This is the perfect low-commitment balayage! It’s going to look so intentional as it grows out. The chin-length cut and soft, undone pieces are so effortless in a way that you can’t get with more rigid color placements.

Sharp Inverted Bob With Warm Brown Dimension

I absolutely adore this inverted bob. It’s got a nice clean cut that’s shorter in the back with an angled line that leads down to longer pieces in the front. The balayage has been such an even, good job throughout the hair, that rather than looking like a color job, it appears very natural. To keep the nice, crisp angle in the cut, regular trims are necessary; however, with the placement of the balayage, it is very dark at the roots, and this means that the color can easily go three to four months between touch-ups.

Glass-Smooth Blunt Bob

This shine is incredible! This is a classic one-length blunt bob that has been straightened within an inch of its life, and the balayage looks insane. The light reflection is so clear. The fine brown pieces are bouncing light to you in a way that solid dark brown wouldn’t do. If you want smoothness like this, a good hair glossing treatment over the balayage will give you the color richness with the gloss surface to make it look like actual glass.

Layered Textured Crop With Caramel Flashes

I’m getting cool, editorial vibes from this *tap layers, Grown out cut, and how the caramel balayage is scattered through the hair without any real intent and looks ‘accidentally’ done. The length sits right around the ears in the back and the jawline in the front, it’s a fabulous length for anyone with strong jawlines/cheekbones because it just frames everything up nicely without any effort.

Tousled Plum-Brown Chin-Length Bob

I think this one is really pretty. I love the subtle plum or cool burgundy in the brown balayage. It adds a moodier and cooler tone to the look. It still appears dark brown and not red but that cool hint is an interesting addition. If your skin tone has cool or neutral undertones, consider asking your colorist about this variation. It’s the type of subtle difference that leaves everything looking more in balance with your natural coloring.

Structured Angled Bob With Toffee Streaks

This bob’s angle is steeper than others, and it is noticeably shorter in the back and longer in the front. The balayage beautifully follows this angle. The toffee-toned pieces are placed smartly in the longer front sections, as they keep the back darker and more structural, while drawing warmth towards the face. If you work in a more corporate environment and want something that is still considered professional, this color placement is great for that.

The Perfect Rounded Short Bob

I would describe this pic to be what I would imagine someone with naturally beautiful dark hair looks like when they just let it be its best self. The rounded shape looks so clean! The balayage on the ends is just the thinnest threads of lighter brown woven through, definitely more like natural highlights than anything done in a salon. The blunt perimeter grounds the whole shape and keeps it from looking too precious or overdone. Just a really, really solid bob that I would not change a single thing about.

Polished Flip-Under With Hidden Warmth

The ends on this bob are doing that beautiful soft flip-under that makes the whole shape look so intentional, and what I really like is how the balayage is concentrated more on the interior layers so you get these hints of warm brown only when the hair moves or when you see it from behind like this. From the front, this probably reads as almost solid dark brown with just a whisper of something warmer, which is honestly such a sophisticated way to wear balayage. It’s the color equivalent of whispering instead of shouting.

The Piecy Layered Short Bob

This haircut is at the shorter length of a bob touching just at the nape. The layers are textured to make individual pieces that separate and reflect light on their own. The balayage is working double time here as it is both giving the color some dimension and bringing the texture of the cut to the surface. The lighter pieces highlight each layer and movement which might get lost in solid dark brown. It’s one of those haircuts that genuinely looks better the messier it gets.

Warm Copper-Kissed Ends on a Soft Bob

I love how the balayage here pulls a little warmer and coppery than the others. It looks like the balayage is really only painted on the bottom third of the hair which makes for a really stunning gradient effect where the roots are dark espresso coffee and the ends are a brighter warm brown that looks almost like amber in certain lights. The soft wave gives just enough of a shape to really showcase the color change without being too fussy. A color depositing conditioner in a warm brown shade would keep those ends looking fresh for ages.

Lived-In Choppy Bob With Peek-a-Boo Warmth

This look is the easiest to wear in the whole roundup because it needs almost no styling. The cut has some texture with slight razor ends, the balayage is subtle enough that you only see it when the hair is in motion, and it looks like someone with good hair simply went about their day. For air dry and go types, this is the reference photo for you.

Sculpted Chestnut Graduated Bob

I don’t use the word ‘Immaculate’ lightly, but I think the shape on this is immaculate! It is a graduated bob with short layers stacked in the back to build up this perfectly rounded silhouette, and the balayage is painting chestnut tones right through the middle section where the shape is fullest. The result is the dimension and the volume are working together to make the hair look thicker and even more sculptural than it probably is on its own. Whoever cut this understood architecture!

The No-Nonsense Classic Bob

There’s something about this picture that makes me want to point my finger and say, “that one, do that one.” It’s a typical bob, chin-length one-length bob, with a subtle bevel at the ends and the most faint balayage you could ask for. The brown strands are only visible when the sun hits them just right and the rest of the time, it looks like natural deep brown hair. This is the type of hair that looks good in a boardroom and at the Saturday farmer’s market, and I think that’s really nice.

Warm Wavy Lob With Brick-Wall Attitude

This style has a beautiful gradient of brown, from almost black at the roots to warm chestnut at the ends, and the waves really show off the beautiful layering. The length looks great as it just touches the shoulders, which is the most versatile length if you’re someone who likes to wear it down, half up, or tucked behind your ears. A little texture spray and some scrunching on damp hair and air dried would get you pretty close to this look.

Feathered Concrete-Cool Bob

The layering on this bob is so good that the ends look feathered, and the balayage is sitting perfectly in those feathered sections so every little piece that flips out or bends reflects the light in layers. I think what makes this one special is that the color is really dark, like almost espresso at the roots, and the brown is only half a shade or so lighter, so the whole thing stays super rich and moody. For anyone with thick hair who worries about bobs looking too helmet like, this level of interior layering is the answer.

The Undone Rust-Tipped Crop

I appreciate the uniqueness of this style compared to others. It gives off a more wild and out-there feeling. The warm tones are barely seen just right at the ends and the back. From the look, if someone asked “did you color your hair?” they would believe you if you said no. It looks like you have a lot of control over the styling. The cut has a lot of textures and the ends look sharp, which gives a nice chunky edgy look.

Polished Salon-Fresh Bob

This type of bob can have people thinking you have regular blowout appointments. The shine is absolutely stunning. The balayage has been manipulated in very fine, close-together sections so it looks like a single color with shine rather than obvious streaks. A round brush blowout with a boar bristle round brush will get you this look, plus a flat iron pass on the ends to tuck them under.

Sleek Stacked Graduated Bob

This one is all about the cut! The back graduation is angled down to give the sharp silhouette, and the balayage compliments the cut so well. The brown threaded pieces are so fine that they act more like natural light variation rather than actual highlights. Against the rust satin top, the whole color story is just obsessed! Be honest with yourself, are you going to keep up the six week trim kind of cut?

Sunset Promenade Curls

These curls are doing a lot of work, as the balayage is very minimal lightening, but the curl pattern opens everything up and shows how much warmer hair is underneath. This is a really good reference photo to show your colorist if you have naturally wavy or curly hair, because it shows you how little balayage you need when your texture already has dimension. The crown volume is amazing, and I can definitely see some layering in the middle to achieve that rounded look.

Coastal Trail Lob With Caramel Ribbons

It hits that ideal spot at the collarbone that makes it a lob, but acts more like a bob. The balayage placement is also very clever here. The lighter sections are at the ends and underneath, so when the hair moves or curls under, you see these warm brown flashes that you wouldn’t see if she stood still. It’s the kind of color that changes in photos every time.

Foggy Morning Textured Chop

I appreciate when a haircut gives off the impression that the wearer doesn’t care about it because it nearly always indicates that someone actually put a lot of effort into getting the cut super precise. This choppy bob has very blunt ends and just the right amount of texture in the mid-lengths to avoid looking blocky, plus the balayage is dark and subtle enough that it merely serves to keep the hair from looking flat. It really gives off an “I woke up in a cabin and my hair just does this” vibe.

Harbor Breeze Waves

This hairstyle probably took around twenty minutes to complete and appears very elegant. The body of the waves has a gentle, soft bend instead of a spiral curl. The sunkissed look with woven brown tones is stunning. A 1.25 inch curling iron would create the same look with alternating directions, plus the body on the ends would keep the curl and the length would hold the curl.

This post Dark Brown Balayage Bobs That Make Every Cut Feel More Dimensional, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Going short with your natural curls can mean less detangling, quicker wash days, and a shape that makes your texture look even better. But the best short cut for you depends on your curl pattern, density, shrinkage, and where you want the most volume—not simply the length you like.

I especially love short cuts for curls that have lost their shape or have thinner, worn ends, since removing that extra length can make the whole head of hair appear fuller. With tighter textures, judging the shape when the hair is dry is important because shrinkage can completely change where the perimeter and layers sit. A tapered cut, rounded crop, or curly pixie can also be customized by leaving strategic length around the crown, hairline, or sides.

Take a look at every idea and see which shape would make your own curls easier to love and style.

Ear-to-Chin Curly Bob With Subtle Warmth at the Ends

There is some tightness around the top of the left side and a bit of loft in the right side, but this is most likely from the natural hair shape that develops at this length. You have to learn to love it. This is a dry cut and was done around every curl and spring. It comes down to the ear and ends at the chin. The shape offers a good density of hair that rounds and frames the face, but doesn’t give off a bulky, helmet hair shape. The base has a lot of warm brown tones a dark brown and reddish undertones. Light hits this frame and curls and adds dimension to the overall color. This looks great on oval or heart shape because the width falls right above the cheekbone. If your curl pattern is 3c, you could have the hair be less defined and loose to give the appearance that it is hanging straight. People who think that they always need symmetry will drive themselves crazy pulling their hair out with this cut everyday.

Chin-Length Coil Bob With Caramel Woven Through the Mid-Lengths

The color doesn’t just lay on top of the curls. It goes throughout the curls and coils. Each coil was painted individually while still stretched, allowing the hair to spring back to its original form. This adds a warm glow rather than a harsh highlight. With this particular hairstyle, you’ll want to rock a layered bob that ends just above the chin. The length of the style is just long enough that it will be easy to maintain the rounded shape with a layer of curl throughout the style. This is best on hair types of about 3b to 3c curls. Finer hair or looser curls will quickly lose the rounded shape of the style. This style is perfect for an Oval face and heart face shape, as it balances the shape. It’s the worst for round face as it increases the width of the face.

Coil Crop With Caramel Tips That Only Show When the Curl Springs Up

There’s a lot of detail in how this model holds her color and why shouldn’t we admire it! This warm brown color is only in the tips of the outermost loops on the front crown. Because of this, light reflects off those curls as though they were formed by the sun over the summer. The sides and back remain dark and thick. It is also short enough to smoothly taper the sides with a nice gradual fade without being too harsh. This models a great example of a type 4 coil with natural thickness. This natural thickness curls beautifully on its own and holds height without the use of any styling products. This style works well for Oval and Hearts shaped faces. With Round faces, you will lose some of your definition as no length is present to create contrast around the face. The style and shape will read differently on curls with less density. Without a doubt, the highlights have been hand-painted to create that natural looking summer look. This look does require a consistent maintenance every 3 to 4 weeks or it will completely lose its shape.

Short Coil Crop With Warm Brown Threading and a Shape That Hugs the Head

This color is a brown the colorist added over individual curls after sun exposure. This would probably be a challenge to create with a traditional foil coloring technique but someone pulled it off and you can see it was intentional. The cuts are almost 2 inches shorter in the top and almost 2 inches longer in the back from side to side and has volume on the top. Because of the graduation, this cut is great for heart and oval faces. It shows your jawline without giving the appearance of a wider face. Depending on your curls pattern, if your pattern isn’t a 3c tight pattern you won’t be able to hold the shape of this cut. The cut works great with finer hair and helps conceal the hairline for sure.

Curly Pixie Tapered Close at the Temples With Volume That Leans Forward

Skin is revealed by the tight cut and curl pattern on the sides. There’s added dimension and texture against the top which is fuller. The top curls are not central. They’re side swept to the front and slightly off center. This prevents the cut from being a round, blobby mass. This highly defined, extreme taper leaves the top proximal to 3B/3C curl length. This style really complements curls on face shapes like oval and heart, without looking too harsh on round face shapes. If you don’t have this tight a curl pattern like the subject of this article, then this haircut will look too plain toward the top.

Ear-Length Coil Crop With Natural Volume That Builds Its Own Shape

Observe the forward placement of weight on the left. This is intentional as the rest of this side was built curl by curl to allow the hair to define the shape and silhouette through its natural growth pattern. This can be easily noticed in about 3-4 inch long dense, Type 4 coils. Roundness at the temples provides balance to an otherwise narrow chin for persons with Oval and Heart face shapes. For persons with uneven or looser curls, this will not hold the shape, and will require effort to shape it into something it doesn’t want to be. The all black color lacks contrast and therefore is not wrong, but this also does nothing at all. A single process of natural black on this tight coils can create a lack of contrast in certain lightings. This is something that is worth knowing.

Full-Volume Curly Bob With Warm Auburn Ends and a Fringe That Blends Right In

The color plays an important subtle role here, one that may easily go unnoticed. The Auburn tones are not simply placed on top of the hair, they are woven through the center/lower sections. The warmth will only be visible when the curls separate and catch the light. The colored sections have to be hand-painted on stretched curls before the spring back. The shape is a rounded bob that hits the jawline and is packed with 3c coils in the back and a soft fringe to balance the front of the face, all contrasting coils. The style is not suited for fine hair or low density. The style is volume dependent, thin hair will result in the style lacking. This shape will look good on round and heart shaped faces, and less so on a round face. This length and style will probably have a lot of shrinkage.

Copper-Kissed Coil Top With a Clean Fade That Frames Everything

This fade is definitely worth mentioning. It is not skin tight at the temples and is beginning to fade, but just enough to leave some texture before disappearing. This isaiwhat we call a “graded fade.” It prevents the fade from looking too harsh against the fuller crown. The warm copper brown sits only on the top coils where the light would hit. The style likely involved a freehand application of a color to dry curls, seeing where the color would deposit. This is a great freehand style for tightly coiled 4a/4b textured dense hair because the curls keep their volume without using products. This freehand style also works with round and oval faces because of the volume it adds to the top. For curls that are loose, you won’t get the same defined shape to this style while growing it out. A fade is a quick and easy way to lose all sharpness to a style if you don’t get it touched up every couple of weeks.

High-Top Coil Cut With Faded Sides and Curls That Spring on Their Own

This new taper will put you in the barber’s chair every two to three weeks. What most don’t tell you, is that this new taper will require a lot more maintenance. The quick taper along the sides and nape means you have to trim down to the skin for that tapered look. Fast grow out time and blurred shape are some of the downsides, and quickly eliminate the dimension and shape that you got just moments ago. Before you get this new cut, you have to know those things. This new cut pairs great with an executive level razor razor sharp fade with height and dimension area of the crown left untouched at 2 full inches. This leaves the crown’s full natural height, around two inches with 4B/4C naturally dense, textured curls that have an incredible amount of spring. The curls are defined without being crunchy. In the front section of the cut, you see longer, natural coils that lean forward and provide shape to this clean cut. This style looks great and elongates round face shapes. Looser curl patterns than 4A would struggle to keep this style looking sharp and would resist this style the most.

Tapered Coil Crop With Forward Fullness and Warm Brown Dimension

Notice how this style has a forward and top heavy weight with sides and back that are very close to the skin. There are no major details on this design. However, this is not just an all over crop. There are warm brown chocolately tendrils throughout the mid lengths which look like natural growth with color and not artificial color that was put in. This style will add length to your face and looks great on oval and heart shaped faces. Round shaped faces may appear wider. The tapered outer edges have been cut using a clipper and the top layers have been scissor over comb cut to blend in the longer lengths. These styles will need reshaping every 3-4 weeks to maintain the overall look.

Tight Coil Crop With a Soft Rounded Shape and Curls That Define Themselves

See how the fringe curls are defined and never clump together. It has a high level of curl definition and density. This style is almost one length at around 4 inches. It’s a dry cut with a rounded silhouette. It can be described as hugging the sides on the head and adding volume to the top of the head. This hairstyle looks great with oval or heart face shapes. Round face shapes will make the face look fuller. Loose curls extend this style hairstyle. Without curls this shape loses it’s mushroom shape. Before you try to get this style, make sure you have 3c curls or tighter curls. Curls will shrink so much on wash day to the point where it looks longer. It is almost impossible to avoid this effect. The color of her hair is natural dark brown.

Rounded Coil Bob With Warm Brown Tips and a Part That Barely Announces Itself

The color first caught my eye. A chestnut brown with sun-kissed shades runs the length of the hair which expresses an expertly painted highlight rather than a salon foil. The painting process is essential for the curls because without it, the hair is colored and compressed, hiding the color. This is a chin length bob with thick, tight and coiled 3c/4a hair which is rounded and layered with tight curls for beaked shaped triangle bob to avoid falling flat. This is a great style for round and oval shaped faces because the volume is on the sides and framing then creates an angle across the face. This style will really look completely different on people with less tight curls because of the shrinkage. If you have loose curls, shrinkage will pull the style longer and make the style completely flat without shrinkage. This tight density style is great for thick curly hair types. You won’t get this look if you lack this density.

Chin-Grazing Coil Bob With a Deep Side Part Doing All the Heavy Lifting

With this deep side part, volume is shifted to the other side creating a cascading effect of curls as opposed to an even distribution. This style would really lose that and round out overall without this side part. Length wise, it’s perfect for an oval and heart face shape as it hits at the chin (although this style can really work on all face shapes). This length may not work for a round face shape with a round jawline because, without proper layering, this style lacks the weight to pull the hair down. This Lizzi has a curl pattern (3c) with a lot of density and looks like she has warm brown tones in her gloss or wash at the mid-lengths. Even though she has color, this warmth is also present on the curls, and I think it’s because the curls are open, unlike the dark base at the roots. To get the desired shape with this style, it has to be cut dry. If not, a stylist who uses a dryer would leave you looking uneven. For those with looser curls, this bob cuts the fullness and starts hanging longer overall.

Ear-Length Curly Shag With a Fringe That Knows Where to Stop

The sides come closer to your head, but the top has the highest volume. Shrinkage is not the only cause for this. Some intentional layering is the reason why the crown has the most length on this style. The style looks like a mushroom in that there is no bulk on the sides but roundness at the top. This style works the best for medium size, 3B/3C curls, but for more tight and coarser curls the style would totally change to more of a fringe that lifts and falls over the forehead. This works well for this person because it fills in some of the straight lines and breaks up the open space on their face that is caused by having an oval face. Round faces will most likely lack definition because there is no length added at the side for them to create a line and contrast the roundness of their face. This style will lose shape quickly and will need to be reshaped after 5-6 weeks.

Chin-Length Natural Coil Bob With a Center Part That Requires Zero Guessing

The density here is performing all the work. Look how the curls are shaped and rounded with no layering. This is dry cut hair; stretched hair allows it to naturally take shape. To style this hair, sides are shaved full with lots of body to the ears. This is a perfect style for oval and heart shaped faces, but for full-cheeked faces, this style will give the illusion of fuller cheek. It won’t work well with loose curls. The tight coils, 3C and most likely 4A, define the texture of the hair and look neat and uniform. Most people don’t realize how the part is about centered allowing the hair to not have volume on both sides and flatten. This style does have shrinkage and on wash days you have to take it into account because it really does look like the hair is shorter than what it really is.

All-Over Coil Crop With Uniform Length and Zero Tricks

That’s no ordinary crew cut. There’s no taper, fading, or lines on this one. A lot of people think it’s an easy cut, but it actually requires a lot of work and dense, coiled hair. This one actually looks clean and polished when done properly. It has potential to look messy with a lot of hair. The cut actually makes faces with narrow chins and pointed chins appear softer and polished, but it actually wideens round faces. This particular hairdresser actually embraces the natural texture of the coils instead of cutting straight across and causing the hair to fall flat. The neat thing about this cut is that it actually looks neat and held in place by itself and doesn’t fall. A lot of people think this only works with hair density, but it actually works much better with a simple cut. This actually looks like it edits hair and doesn’t make the style look bulky.

Side-Swept Curly Pixie With Warm Copper Threading

First, I just want to say that the color caught my eye. Those copper colored highlights are only on the tops and crown curls. The sides and back have a taper cut, which leaves their dark, natural base. So they aren’t too costume-like. This is a longer pixie cut with a taper on the sides. Lets say 3-4 inches of curl from the sides. This cut allows for solid asymmetry while still having a lot of volume in the side. This style has a lot of dependency on texture and tight curls. The ensemble requires maintenance, as well asproduct, with looser curls to help volume and memory of the style daily. This cut is quick to wear and perfect for faces that are round, and oval. The tapered fit leaves the neckline fully exposed as well as the jawline. This is a major flattering part of this style. It will not soften or take away harsh lines around the jaw line, so that is also something to think about.

Tapered Curly Crop With a Fringe That Falls Exactly Where It Should

The sides and back curl under the head while the crown retains volume. This gives you a flexible curly fringe face frame that is dense to frame the temples without appearing sparse, and is short enough to not fall down the sides. The sides and back are layered curl by curl to create a curly fringe that is at each length and doesn’t appear blunt. This curly fringe works better on an oval and heart shaped face as round faces will lose definition due to the fullness straight across creating a wider face. Getting this fringe if your curls are loose than a 3B will result in fringe hanging in your face as your hair doesn’t curl to frame the sides. This length is shorter than it appears. There will be a lot of shrinkage, especially with curly hair, so expect this to be even shorter on the days you wash it.

Close-Cropped Coils With Honey-Brown Highlights That Catch Light From the Inside

The colors aren’t on top of the curls like they are for some styles. They’re more of a final woven in tone. Now the honey color only comes out when the curls are separated. So instead of foil highlights we use a hand painted coloring technique. This color choice makes a world of difference for picking out the lower tighter curl patterns. The cut is a 2-3 inch all over, with more fullness on top and less on the side and back. The shape is focused on the temples, which is great for both round and oval face shapes. For long face shapes this cut should be avoided since it will elongate the face even more. Generally bends/waves of hair type 3c to 4a will hold this cut well since they have the most volume and density of all the hair types. There’s no need for excessive product to maintain this cut.

Defined Coil Crop With Height on Top and Tight Tapered Sides

Each coil is defined independently. This is likely because each section of Type 4a/3c hair was finger coiled with a curl cream. This style also keeps the hair around the ears short, but leaves the top with around 2-3 inches for a natural lift to help elongate the face. This haircut looks best on people with heart or oval shaped faces, especially if they have a little bit more roundness to their face. Fine, or loosely waved hair, will lose shape with this style. The lift and length help balance the style, but because the width is not reduced, rounded faces will have a loss of length overall. It keeps its shape with regular trims. It looks best if you keep the shape with regular appointments every 3-4 weeks to maintain the shape. This style is best for loosely coiled curls.

Curly Top With a Hard Part and Faded Sides That Mean Business

The hard part may be tricky to execute, but the result is worth it! The clear line of demarcation between skin fade and top full curls that the hard part creates is much more distinguishable than an undercut. The curls are natural 3c type and are left at 2 inches to maintain volume on top. The curls and the fade help create length and add dimension to a round oval face shape. The fade grows out fast, so it is recommended to maintain it every 3 weeks. If you have fast growing hair, you will have to maintain the line of the hard part.

Curly Bob With Fringe That Sits Right at the Jawline

It takes a stylists understanding of shrinkage to cut the bangs dry, curl by curl, precisely at the brows. This chin-length curly bob with a subtle reddish tint on dense, 3B/3C hair looks great with a center part and is perfect for oval and heart-shaped faces. This look is great for a more voluminous style, balancing the shape of the face with the soft fringe. Loose curls will ruin the shape and you won’t achieve softness with volume. Humidity will ruin the style and cause frizz. You will need to get frequent trims.

Jaw-Length Curly Crop With a Soft Fringe That Earns Its Shape

Note the fringe is gently audienceed to her brow but doesn’t cover her brow. This was cut dry to an even length to provide that natural curl for this exact style. This isn’t a decorative style. It’s a rounded bob that rests on her jawline and frames her face with a softly curved line. It is an ideal style for an oval face. This style can appear too wide for rounder faces. Volumized sides are not at the crown which is thoughtful layering and works well for her due to the density of her curls. Fine curls can easily lose volume and therefore this cut doesn’t work well for her.

Rounded Curly Crop With Bangs That Actually Commit

This doesn’t thin, wispy or laze back. This is thick. It curls right in the middle. It has curl density and completes the overall look. It’s a dry cut on 3b/3c curls. It has an inner layer. The curls frame the head from the crown to the ears. The shape is round. The style looks great on oval and heart face shapes. It will make the temples of round face shapes quite wide. The length is about the chin/jaw line. It has a great, clean, intentional, balanced shape. Loose curls will bring flat and lose structure quite quickly. It needs a lot of tightly packed curls to give this look.

Chin-Length Curly Bob That Lets the Fringe Do the Talking

Let’s talk about the slight variations in the curl patterns. The front has a bit more spring and has been cut with some shrinkage in mind. Side curls grow past the jawline. This style is type 3b, with a lot of volume at the crown, and is rounded at the bob. This style is beautiful and can be worn by those with oval or heart shaped faces. Round faces should not try this style as it will add width where it is unneeded. The style comes out really nicely with warm brown highlights. This style especially fits someone with a good amount of curls. If you don’t have a good amount of curls, you should probably try another style. Worked into this style is fullness and no gaps or thin spots.

This post Black Women With Natural Curls Have So Many Good Reasons to Go Short, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

“I’m 58 and I’ve always loved having long hair, but lately I feel like it makes my round face look even fuller. I don’t want to lose the length, and I’m definitely not ready for a bob. Would long layers with curtain bangs give my face a little more shape without feeling like a drastic haircut?” — Karen D., Raleigh, North Carolina

Karen, I wouldn’t cut off the length you love just because your face is feeling a little fuller lately. You can absolutely keep your long hair. I’d simply change where the shape starts around your face.

What I’d suggest for you is long layers that begin below your cheekbones, paired with curtain bangs that fall around the bottom of your nose. That way, you’re not suddenly looking in the mirror and wondering where all your hair went. You’ll still very much have long hair, but those shorter pieces around the front will break up some of the fullness around your cheeks.

And when you style it don’t feel like you need one of those big, perfectly curled blowouts. You really don’t. I’d give you a little height at the crown, sweep your curtain bangs away from your cheeks, and put a few relaxed bends through your layers. That’s enough to show off the haircut.

Here’s exactly how I’d have you do it at home.

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Step 1: Give Your Roots a Little Help

Karen, after you wash your hair, gently squeeze out the excess water and let it air-dry for a few minutes. You want your hair damp rather than soaking wet.

If your long hair tends to lie flat, especially around the crown, smooth a small amount of Kenra Volume Mousse Extra 17 through your roots before you start drying. It gives you some lift and has thermal protection without requiring another styling step.

Don’t spread mousse through all of your lengths. For the shape we’re going for, I’d concentrate it around the crown and leave the ends lighter.

Step 2: Protect Your Hair Before You Blow-Dry

Before you bring out the dryer, mist CHI 44 Iron Guard Thermal Protection Spray lightly through your hair. It can be used before blow-drying and helps protect your hair from styling heat. It’s also currently listed on Amazon.com in the U.S.

You really don’t need to drench your hair in this. A light, even application is enough.

Then use your fingers to lift the hair at your crown while you dry your roots. Since you want your round face to appear a little longer, I’d put that extra volume on top rather than puffing out the hair beside your cheeks.

Step 3: Give Your Long Layers a Relaxed Bend

Once your hair is mostly dry, switch to a 2-inch round brush.

Take fairly large sections, place the brush underneath the hair, and slowly pull it toward your ends while following it with your dryer. When you reach the bottom, turn the brush slightly outward.

You don’t need to curl every section. We’re simply putting enough bend into your long layers so they don’t hang straight down around your face.

Step 4: Spend an Extra Minute on Your Curtain Bangs

If you only have time to style one part of this haircut, make it your curtain bangs.

Bring the entire bang section forward and place your round brush underneath. Dry it forward first, then divide it at the center and sweep each side back and away from your cheeks.

That outward direction is important for you. Instead of having the bangs sit heavily against the widest part of your face, you’re opening everything up around your eyes and cheekbones.

And please don’t spend ten minutes fighting with them. A couple of passes with the brush should do it.

Step 5: Keep the Front Layers Smooth and Directed Away From Your Face

Now take the first couple of layers on either side of your face and smooth them away from your cheeks with your round brush.

Place the brush underneath each section and pull it down through the hair while aiming your dryer from the roots toward the ends. As you reach the front, guide the hair slightly back and away from your face rather than turning the brush or curling the ends.

Karen, you don’t need a curl here. The goal is simply to keep those front layers from falling straight against your cheeks while letting the rest of your length stay smooth and natural.

Once those pieces are dry, leave them alone. They’ll frame your face without adding extra fullness around the sides.

Step 6: Smooth the Ends Without Flattening Everything You Just Did

If your ends look a little dry after blow-drying, Verb Ghost Oil would be my pick here. It’s specifically positioned for fine-to-medium hair and is designed to add shine without a heavy finish.

Even though the brand suggests two to three pumps, I’d start smaller for finishing. Rub a tiny amount between your palms and lightly skim it over your mid-lengths and ends. You can always add another little bit.

Keep it away from your curtain bangs and roots. We just spent all that time giving those areas lift, so we don’t want to flatten them now.

On Mornings When You Don’t Want to Style All That Hair

And this is the part I think you’ll appreciate most, Karen: don’t redo the whole thing.

Lightly dampen your curtain bangs and the two front sections. Use your round brush to sweep them away from your face, give the crown a quick blast with your dryer, and leave the rest of your hair alone.

If the ends need tidying, use the tiniest touch of your Verb Ghost Oil again.

That’s really all I’d want you doing between washes. Long layers and curtain bangs can look beautifully styled without turning your morning into a full blowout session.

This post How to Style Long Layers With Curtain Bangs for a Round Face After 50, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Learning how to distinguish between easy styling and hair that merely appears to be effortless is an important part of mastering hairstyles. Confusing the two will lead you to believe that attaining great hair will always be easier said than done. Most people think that casual, effortless hair is a result of a million steps, but great hair can be achieved in under three minutes and an accessory or two. I’ve had clients that answered the phone while their hair was air-drying. Other clients have tried to look casual, but all you can see is the effort and time spent styling.

One of my clients came in looking like she just rolled out of bed with her pinned up hair, but this actually was her best look by far. I believe that’s because she wasn’t looking to impress. Obviously, the hairstyles posted are effortless, but all of them will give you the appearance of looking your best.

Tortoiseshell Claw Clip Low Twist on Fine Blonde Hair

Instagram: everydayscrunchie

This accessory is a real game changer, and I’m sure others will appreciate the placement as much as I do. Most people add clips higher up, but this little upgrade brings volume to fine hair and brings even more fullness to the hair overall, as the volume is more compact in a smaller area. The length of this style falls between medium and long, and the balayage softens the look with a natural warm blonde. The escae of hair is left out and the nape of the hair is visible. For fine hair, this style looks great at the nape of the neck. This clip is not ideal for thick or coarse hair as they will fall out within twenty minutes. This clip works so well, at no point did I need to use bobby pins to secure hair.

Stacked Elastic Braid on Long Highlighted Hair That’s Fooling Nobody Into Thinking It’s Simple

Instagram: elianemartins_hair

The effect is achieved in the finishing. Look closely at the last bit of hair and you will notice a tapering. That’s how much pancaking was done to create effortless upper bubbles. This hair is long, medium density with a dark brown base and contain highlighted pieces of caramel. Great job structural work. They achieve this by doing each section and making each twisted hair appear thicker than it really is. This style doesn’t work well with fine hair. Those sections between the clear elastics must maintain the twisted and expanded state in order for the sections to not fall. This is not for those with silky and slippery hair. If your hair is like this, you will be putting this style up and watching sections fall around you all day. This style works best on oval and longer face shapes because the volume is built behind the head. This is not a true braid, but it is much faster and less work to do to create the sections twisted and fanned out.

Rope Twist Ponytail on Chestnut Hair That Owes Everything to Density

Instagram: terttiina

This style will not last on fine hair. Two joined sections need bulk to maintain their structure, and this ponytail has plenty. It is long, thick, and heavy and the weight of the hair actually stops the ponytail from falling. It has a neat base and slicked back crown with a clean looking gel or pomade. There are no lines from errant hairs and there are no bumps at the nape. The first wrap of the twist fully conceals the elastic, only working with enough hair to cover the elastic. Some of the rich chestnut brown hair has light reflecting along each ridge of the twist. This warm copper brown reflects light, and this is likely a single process gloss with a colored dye. This style is very flattering for oblong or oval face shapes, because it balances everything by pulling it all back to the scalp and removing any volume at the sides. Round face shapes lose their sharp angles and can create a considerably shorter style if your hair is past mid back. It shortens the length by one-third, resulting in a very stubby style that looks unpolished.

Side French Braid Tucked Into a Low Knot on Fine Blonde Hair

Instagram: terttiina

This braid has great strength. It gets your fine to medium length hair in a low bun (drops within the next 10 minutes, no thank you) with ease. The French braid is on one side of the head and starts at the crown. The style finishes with a knot on the nape of the neck. The rest of your hair is a bun and helps hold the “low” bun. The style is low maintenance (good work) because the pieces around the ear and neckline are left out and left free. This style keeps more compact and neat for fine or medium thick hair that is of medium length to long. Be warned, you need to be able to braid behind your head otherwise you will be out of luck recreating this yourself!

Pull-Through Braid Down the Back on Thick Highlighted Hair

Instagram: thatbraidbabe

Not for thin hair. This style’s thickness is supported by thicker braiding hair. Each layer needs to preserve its width to the end of the braid. Pull-through braid-making uses no braiding actually, but just some ponytails. These are pulled apart to make space between them. While this may be a lazy style, it’s a stack of ponytails and probably uses only 9 elastics. Braiding hair and dimensionally colored hair create the style’s definition. Remove tonal variation for a loss of definition. Anything shorter will mean bare elastic on the bottom sections. To pull this off, the hair needs to be mid-back length at least, but longer is better to follow this example for length.

Double Dutch Braids Into a Low Curly Ponytail That Needs Texture to Survive

Instagram: thelifestylesalon

You can’t replicate a ponytail. The style works solely with natural textures. The lack of movement in straight styles doesn’t match with the natural curl in this style. Two Dutch braids are French plated and start at a center part and finish at a low ponytail. The rest is easy with long, dense, wavy to curly hair. Fine or straight hair will only make this style fall flat. A great contrasting element is the flat ponytail that creates so much unfinished and undone look to the style. The structured top of the hair juxtaposes the flat and unfinished look of the ponytail. This style works best for long and thick curly hair. Before braiding, hair must be either damp or very much gel lined. That is the only reason there are very little fly aways and the plaits look glossy. After one humid day this style will immediately become unglamorous and unfinished.

Twisted High Bun on Grown-Out Blonde That Leans Into Its Own Roots

Instagram: missysueblog

Dark roots actually add dimension that solid blonde cannot match. This is likely mid density length hair at the mid back. It’s been pulled and twisted into a bun perched up high without looking like it’s been pinned. Good quality hair has weight and is health and is able to stay in place thanks to just a few bobby pins. This is a good style for relatively thick hair, and would likely flatten and look sad and thin for people with fine hair. The balayage nicely complements the style as the roots provide dimension to the top so that the bun doesn’t loose all brightness from becoming too dull.

Smoothed High Knot on Dimensional Blonde That’s Relying on Color to Carry It

Instagram: moniqueringeribridal

Small, but mighty. These buns disguise the size. The casually placed bun most likely doesn’t take much effort to style, but the color is making a difference. A bun that is an afterthought incorporates a beige and light brown tone that creates a dimensional bun with a tight twist. For this person, this is all that was needed for a topknot, which works great with medium length hair. It is clear that sides and back were styled with strong hold hair gel and brushed through to create a neat bun. There’s no hair slipping out around the ears, despite a lack of hair, and there’s no flyaways. This style helps put attention on your jawline and helps create the hollows in your cheeks, thus making it a great style for the shape of your face (heart or oval). In contrast, it can lose fine lines for round faces, with this style. For those with fine hair, you probably wont see much of a difference, but those thinning hair with secure twisting probably wont notice much of a difference either.

Side Dutch Braid Crown on Long Blonde Hair That Requires More Length Than You Think

Instagram: nia_hairstyles_

Her hair is braided where her headband would be, and it’s amazing. This particular braid looks thick and full side to side, thanks to the hair strands being long enough. As you can see most clearly here, medium to even thicker straight hair stops around the mid back. There are roots with a nice blend and gradual transition into a warm blonde balayage and/or foilayage that has nice grow out. This style Dutch braid keeps the hair nice and raised, avoiding it falling into the hair, adding dimension to the style. Length is a necessity for this style to be successful, as without length, the braid will fall flat and be thin. If your hair stops at the shoulders, you should avoid this style. For as long as it holds part of the hair back, it is great if you are looking for a style that will remove volume from your face, and create an elongated square shape in the process.

Woven Gold Headband on Loose Brunette Waves That Needed Exactly One Accessory

Instagram: evita_peroni_official

This hairband represents the challenges of getting the effortless, no blowout, no curling iron, natural waves by letting my hair air dry. This hairband pushes the hair in front back without creating a flat crown, and is wider for that purpose. My gold woven hairband also has a crystal accent that looks great! This hairband was created with texture in mind. This hairband will not hold as easily on finer hair types as it is supposed to slide to constrict and maintain volume in the sides for those with Round or oval-shaped faces.

Silk Scarf Low Bun That’s Covering for Second-Day Hair and Winning

Instagram: filislowfashion

The scarf takes the main build. The low bun is small and loosely twist(ed) likely in dark, dense, medium length hair at the shoulders. This style requires a minimal amount of hair because the scarf tucks under and covers the roots. The seam of the scarf falls half way down the crown, hiding any line that would indicate too much hair has been covered. This style works well for people with longer faces to have width at the top and better help balance the face. This will only add the illusion of a wider face for round face shapes and will look heavy. The bun is rather loose and informal and some light stray hairs can be seen near the nape and probably were not involved in the twist. Satin fabric holds the best amount of dust and hair and is best used on hair that has been unwashed. For thick hair, the bun will appear more loose and unstructured. This bun is meant to be neat, so it should not appear as if it was done quickly.

Satin Knotted Headband on Long Black Hair That’s Barely Trying

Instagram: comfyzzbd

The headband is where all the action is in this style. The rest is just some long, dark hair that is blow-dried with some loose waves. The waves are inspired by the overnight braid, not the curling iron. The truly important part of this hairstyle is the placement of the hair to avoid too much face framing. Especially for those of us with small foreheads, larger headbands can not be ignored for taking up too much space. This headband is meant for fine to medium-thick hair. It is a good head accessory for fine hair, but you should expect that the side headband will show the fine side of your hair. The headband uses the contrast of fuchsia satin against black hair, so if you have brown or warmer hair colors, a bright durable headband can look costumey. Money is the best styling accessory, and at only ten dollars, this satin headband is really an investment for those looking for a way to combat the issue of looking unkempt.

Wide Twist Headband on Loose Dark Waves That Aren’t Hiding Anything

Instagram: anna_thenurse

The headband is the main attraction here and that is exactly how it should be. Besides the headband, the other part of this that I appreciate is how the twist knot is at the crown of the head to add volume and make it look like hair is longer. This is really flattering for people with round faces. I see that the hair is medium density dark hair and is probably some loosely curled hair from a night’s rest or a quick pass with a large barrel curling iron. No blowout is needed for this stunning style. The wide fabric band hides the entire hairline. This is the secret behind this clever design. There are a thousand and one reasons why you shouldn’t care about greasy roots or awkward hair growth or how many days it has been since you last washed your hair. This style conceals all of that and enables you to wear hair down to your shoulders. This style was not intended to be worn for people with coarse or super thick hair, as the headband will ultimately move to the crown of your head and make the style annoying. The fabric width is very important. A wide headband was intentionally used to create the appearance that the style was not lost.

Ribbon-Tied Bubble Pony on Balayage That’s Earning Its Keep Through Accessories Alone

Instagram: cavaliero_e_c

There’s a lot going on in these gold cuffs, so you probably want to think about it before buying them. Every bubble section is pancaked out. If you have thick hair, you will get expandable bubles, which will change the structure. It looks good with medium density hair that is medium length. It will help to contain sections. Adding an olive ribbon to the crown is a nice touch because it adds a point for the eye to focus on. Since the weight falls below this will look best for those with a round face. The style is great for fine hair, but it will fall out of the elastics in about an hour. No amount of texturizing spray will fix this.

Messy High Bun with Loose Tendrils

Instagram: dg.aesthetics_hair

For a finished look, we added a single curl that sits below the neck to complete this topknot. A curl added to the topknot can look rushed. Thick, but moderate length hair is needed for this hairstyle. The volume in the bun is all natural and unadulterated, no padding used. The bangs and pieces at the ear are structurally cut to put the pieces at the ears in an elegant arrangement. The layer height elongates the face, and the soft pieces around the face are balancing. This bun will not last in high winds.

Bubble Ponytail on Long Brunette Hair That Needs Every Inch It Has

Instagram: paolacanoesteticista

The thinnest is at the bottom and that is the spot for this type of clue. To have 3 pieces you need length past the base of your back and, if the fiber tapers, you will end up pulling something deflated no matter what you do. This is medium brown straight hair, small elastic with hair tied over to conceal the tie. That takes the most time and, unfortunately, most people skip it. With thick hair, each section should puff into a clean oval with minimal effort. With fine hair it lays flat. The base was slicked back using gel or strong holding pomade with the hair pulled tightly to the scalp. This allows for no volume at the crown to help keep everything nice and neat with a low maintenance style. It is a good low maintenance hairstyle for longer face and oval face shapes because there is very little height at the crown and so it does not elongate the face further. Skip this style if your hair is past the bra-strap.

Twisted Low Fold on Auburn Hair That’s Doing All the Heavy Lifting

Instagram: wildflowerbridalbeauty

The center back twist is a folded section of hair that is twisted once and tucked into a low knot to be held in place by friction and hair density. Fine hair can unravel this style in an hour. The flyaways on the crown show that there are minimal hair strays and most of the flyaways are somewhat cared for, instead of being gelled down. This hair style is really great for straight to slightly wavy hair that is thick enough to go back into the twist head in the front without padding. It looks like you tried. The single process color is an auburn that is warm and does not have any tricks of dimensional color, but the twists in the hair in the center back frame your face and show lots of dimension.

Twisted Low Bun with Face-Framing Pieces That Actually Earn Their Keep

Instagram: frizeraj_kod_vesne

This Bun is unique because rather than being folded, The Bun is essentially twisted. This adds to an intentional look rather than a rushed look. With the lighter ends coiling on the outside and the darker roots on the inner side, coiled, this look only works for hair that is of medium density with some natural wave to hold itself in a coil. Straight hair will not do and would easily unravel. The pieces that frame the face are curled and thus not loose. This takes less than a minute to do with a flat iron. This look also works better for people that have medium to long hair. This look also works with oval and oblong shapes since the front pieces of the hair framing the face are soft and not too overwhelming. On a round face, you would want them either longer or skipped. The crown is slicked back and held either with a light gel or texture spray. Humidity will first create frizz in that section before anything else.

Smoothed Low Knot on Thick Dark Hair That Needed No Pins

Instagram: matteoilari_style

The structure of this style is almost completely built off of density and tension. While fine or medium thin hair can hold this shape for a short time, the weight of thicker hair will help keep the style. Everything here is mostly unstructured, so unlike most styles, all hair here is supposed to fall flat and reflect light evenly. To do this, a smoothing cream was used on damp hair and brushed back while blow dried on low tension. Flyaway-free, smooth hair is all this look calls for. Dark hair in particular can really rock that sleek demeanor to the fullest, but it is clear why textured hair is called lazy hair and needs a flat iron for this look now.

Glass Ponytail with a Hair Wrap That Took More Work Than Anyone Will Admit

Instagram: stylistkafryzur_walczak

This is construction. Sure, it takes some work. You need to slick each section with gel or edge control, comb your hair down, and straighten with a flat iron before pulling it back. The hair-wrapped base helps hide the elastic and the tail has no frizz. It was likely straightened on washed and controlled hair with little humidity. If your hair has any wave or texture, it will need heat. It is not a maybe. The color is solid and shiny brown with no highlights and no low lights. I feel it looks a lot more expensive straight. Pulling your hair back is great for oblong and oval face shapes, but more so for round and wide face shapes because there is nothing to soften the face. Other face shapes will look and feel more exposed. It can be straight without extensions as long as your hair is at least mid back length and very straight.

Slicked Low Pony with a Hair-Wrapped Base

Instagram: athinaanastasiadouofficial

Because of that elastic band, most of that work is done for you, and it just looks clean since the density is on the medium to thicker side. If you have fine hair, this won’t work for you. There is a sign that ends need a blunt cut, as there is a considerable amount of tapering done, and the wispy ends give an unfinished look and detract from a nicely slicked hairstyle. This is mid to long length brunette hair that probably has an old balayage. This is the smoothest looking hair at the crown. To pull this off and create thatФ look, you will need to use either a gel or a strong hold mouse, brushed flat and wide with a boar bristle brush. There is a lot of tension from the lines of where it was pulled back. This style will compliment an oval and longer face shapes the most because it will not widen the face.

Wrapped Ponytail That Only Works If Your Hair Already Works

Instagram: styledbysf_

This hair band will step up your style game. A neat base is important for it to stay styled. A high density textured hair with straight and smooth (or pressed) hair, mid back (to down) length, will keep the hair tail nice and neat. This band is not recommended for fine hair. When pulled tight, the band will expose the elastic and add volume to the tail. Once you look into the band, you will notice the back of the neck. There are no fly-aways, loose strands, or bumps. This style has been achieved with a flat iron on the back of the neck and edge control to create some structure for the style and achieve a neat mid back to down pony. If your fine hair wants to break this band, this is not a recommended band.

Half-Up Claw Clip on Hair That Has No Business Looking This Clean

Instagram: fayehairco

The top section of the bun twists once and gets clipped. The twist creates an intentional shape, instead of a rushed look, and helps climbs to anchor the grip. The style works best with longer, thicker hair. The bottom section of the clip hangs past the shoulders and is heavy with lack of layers. This bottom section also adds some density and weight and balances the overall look from being too wispy. The bottom and top sections will look thin and the top will not keep the desired shape if your hair is fine or if it has a lot of layers. The actual concern is density and not styling, as that section of hair is not al smoothed down. The section of hair is left to give the look quick and rushed, yet precise. A large, wide clip is needed to hold the volume while a small to medium claw clips will not work for this style.

Claw Clip Twist That Lives on Medium Density

Instagram: fayehairco

The video does a lot of the work, but this would not look as good with less volume. see how the gathered section fans out and the piece of hair below the clip is smooth against her neck. The size and shape of this style look best on medium to thick hair that is straight or slightly wavy. This style doesn’t work with fine hair, and a flower clip this size will not hold your hair for long no matter how much hair spray you use. The face framing pieces should be pulled forward and twisted at the neck to soften the style and disguise a rounder face. The layer also should be past the chin length to maintain the style.

Looped Bun Held Together by Sheer Density

Instagram: hairbyshantyler

That little section at the nape looks kind of messy, but everything else looks curated. This is a collected hair style. About four or five large sections are made into a hair pin by folding the hair into a loop rather than a twist. This is made to look more voluminous and less tight. The structure will not hold on it’s own on fine/thin hair. You would need to have a left behind donut with a hole in the center to have this hold that shape, and at least medium to high density hair to stay rounded. This looks like a warm brown and has a color level 4 without any visible makeup. This help the style, as each loop will reflect light with dimension. Loose ends will cause the style to fall down.

This post The Best Lazy Hairstyles Dont Look Lazy at All, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

If you’re ready to go shorter but don’t want to lose the versatility that comes with some length, a rounded lob gives you the best of both worlds. The softly curved perimeter creates fullness around the ends, while keeping enough length to pull your hair back, add waves, or wear it sleek.

I especially like this shape when you want your hair to look denser without relying on lots of layers. For the cleanest result, the curve should be customized to your density and natural fall—cutting too much graduation into fine hair can make the perimeter look thinner instead of fuller. A subtle bevel at the ends can also help the shape tuck inward without looking overly styled.

Keep scrolling and save the rounded lob ideas you’ll want to show at your next appointment.

Ash Blonde Highlighted Lob with Wispy Fringe and Rounded Shape

This cut is designed to be very bouncy, and it starts at your chin length. It’s medium density and has layers to add this unique round shape and texture without losing weight. Cool ash highlights are painted over a brown base and run through the fringe and frame your face. The base is darker, and the difference is making a huge impact. The cut is designed to look super textured around the hairline and to create cleaner, more separated pieces. Things like length and fullness help frame the face. This style will not cut it for thicker or coarser hair without a blow-out everyday. This styled version is best for straight to slightly wavy hair of medium thickness.

Wavy Dark Brunette Lob with Shaggy Layers and Soft Fringe

The work is hidden somewhere, and most people will not even notice the work. Internal texturing keeps the layers thin and angular, with a smooth stacked texture. It incorporates a natural wave, and is cut slightly above the collarbone with a fringe that falls across the forehead. This cut works especially well for pear and heart shaped face. Straight and fine hair would not hold the same shape without daily work. It’s point cutting that prevents these layers from falling heavy and blunt. This adds shape to the hair and separates the individual pieces. This is not an average one length bob.

Flipped-Out Black Lob with Layered Curtain Fringe and Volume at the Ends

The expolding ends of lob great easily intentional because of the point-cut underneath the shoulders that helps remove bulk and shortens length. Looking at lob layering as the other layers of lob most likely also have been point cut to reduce bulk and weight. This dramatic look fits someone who has slightly longer hair that is straight to almost wavy. This lob actually can cut down styling time when using a blow-dryer and concentrator brush. This lob greats someone who has round or square shaped face the most because of the thick fringe. This lob is not for those who have fine hair since you wont be able to get voluminous root lift like the picture. No product will be able to create the body like most lob’s in the picture. Fine hair might have to think of a diffrent approach using one -length or low density hair.

Brunette Collarbone Lob with Thin Honey Ribbons and a Clean Center Part

The highlights do literally nothing. And that is the whole point. A lot of thin strips of honey are all over a cool brown base. I reflect light here and there, not to alter the base color. It’s a lob with no bangs, with density that is just right, and hits right where the collar bone is. The point cut ends basically take the bulk away and fall naturally as a triangle shape. The weight removal at the mid lengths gives the style the rounded shape. This is especially flattering on oval and heart face shapes because the center paired with the collar bone length balances everything around it. Round face shapes will not like this because there is nothing to direct the face. This complements medium and fine hair types. Thick hair will really easily overpower the style.

Glossy Black Lob with Invisible Layers and Clean Perimeter

With this model, you might see how it looks all flat and straight, but really, there’s actually a curve that shows where some layers, some dimensions, of course, have been cut. This cut also cleverly hides the decrease in volume of the hair piece, while maintaining its length. Straight shiny hair with minimal frizz looks great with this style. Dry, porous hair will not hold this well and will look more frizzy and unwanted overall. This length hits a little longer on the sides than the back. This style looks great on people with heart-shaped and oval faces. This style actually helps lengthen the face. This is a simple style, done all in black, which is very chic and trendy.

Dark Lob with Hidden Caramel Panels and Soft Inward Movement

The color placement is unique. Warm caramel pieces placed in underside and internal layers let the warm color flash through and not stay on the outer surface of the piece. This gives a more natural warmth. The placement of the cut right at the collar bone with inner layers which terminate the pieces inwards is great and helps eliminate fullness to give the piece shape with a round flow that is flattering to rounder face shapes. The piece is thick density, fine hair will not have the ability to keep the curved shape without heat styling every day. The center part is a nice detail, short pieces frame the face, and break the hair from looking like a helmet.

Warm Blonde Foiled Lob with Soft Fringe and Blunt Perimeter

An even balance of a blunt exterior and point-cut texture with medium density of weight on the chin works well. The natural brunette foil infused with honey tones is a great detail. The fringe is great because it falls just right without closing in or framing a round face and works great for most. This shape is good for most, elongated face types with loose fringe to avoid closing in the face. This shape doesn’t lose its rounded silhouette with thick hair. This is best for straight or slightly wavy medium hair.

Burnished Copper Lob with Bouncy Beveled Ends and Center Part

The design of this burgundy unit speaks for itself because of the clever layering of materials. Someone designed a rounded midshaft without looking too heavy by removing weight from the midshaft while maintaining the perimeter of the unit. Hand-painted copper ribbons are along a section of the unit that catches the light and emphasizes the bend. Very nice touch. With fine or flat hair, this style will not hold and will fall by the wayside. This unit does have texture and volume to maintain the style. This unit is great for round and square face shapes as the length falls just below the jawline to elongate the face, however, this unit is not great for long, thin face shapes as it will add more fullness on the side panels. The graduated and uniform cool-toned burgundy unit is great for achieving a gradient color from root to ends. There will be some banding, however, or noticeable grown out roots.

Jaw-Length Brunette Lob with Subtle Warm Ribbons and Tucked Layers

This style is rounded at the ends and layered with a point-cut finish. It sits at your jawline on round and heart shaped faces and doesn’t add width to your face. If you have medium to thick hair, this style will work on you. If you have fine hair, tucker ends will lose their shape and flatten within an hour. Warm ribbon highlights throughout the mid-shaft lighten the dark brunette base to avoid a heavy feeling. This style requires some effort to style and shouldn’t be washed on a regular basis to preserve the style.

Chin-Length Dark Lob with Subtle Toffee Peek-Through

The toffee pieces in this cut are even more clever, as they only reveal themselves when you move hair to the side, which helps conceal grow-out. The top coat is dark, and they are hidden. This is a simple one length cut with inner layering. The shape is very round, and is point-cut to curve to the inside. Medium to thick hair will hold this shape easily. Though, fine hair will hang flat and fully lose the volume on the sides. Round face shapes look great in this cut, because hair that ends at the jaw will help balance the shape of the face. There is no part in the cut. However, this cut does have soft sectioning so hair can fall to the side to create a rounded shape.

Collarbone Brunette Lob with Sun-Caught Ribbons and Razored Ends

The razored ends prevent the medium-density cut from looking bulky and helmet-like. The cool-brown with warm undertones adds dimension from the light shining on the front and top sections. It’s not a full balayage. This is more like ten foils, max. This is a lob with layers which are situated below the chin, this cut is great on oval and heart face shapes as the fullness is on the jawline and helps soften the face, without adding length and width. This cut is ideal for straight to slightly wavy hair. Coarse hair will disrupt the shape and give a triangle shaped hairline.

Jet Black Collarbone Lob with Feathered Curtain Bangs and Piecey Movement

Some important active layers include spreading from the mid sections and the ends to leave the crown fuller, thus accounting for the rounded look without the need to do a blowout. There is natural haircolor, no dimension, and just a single process healthy looking black. This cut does need some amount of density in the medium to thick range to maintain the shape. For finer hair, the shape of this cut will start to lose it’s definition and movement by noon. The bangs are point cut and feathered to fall to the center of the cheekbones. These bangs flatter wider and rounder face shapes and create the illusion of thinner cheeks because of the natural frame around the face. Most people won’t notice that the ends are textured shorter than longer to give a relaxed and styled look. If you like the lob, but want it to have a little more of a polished but undone finish, this is a good choice.

Wavy Mahogany Lob with Loose Center Part and Lived-In Texture

That color definitely deserves a shoutout. In direct lighting, it almost looks like mahogany. With indirect lighting, it can lean towards a deep dark plum or even a purple. This color has a reflective layer on top of a permanent base. It is cut to rest above the collarbone. It has layers that start close to the cheekbone, and you can see that the layers end in an open manner and are not bunching together. The wave on this design is great for medium density hair. Fine hair wouldn’t have enough volume to keep the wave defined and rounded. Thick hair will flatten it out. The curved shape on this design is great for round or square face shapes, and it has just the right amount of fullness. The color of this will start to look muddy if you only get the one.

Full Fringe Brunette Lob with Rounded Interior Layers

This celebrity has excellent density. Hers is a case of shaping with volume, rather than against it. Notice how her layers end with an inwards curve; this means the silhouette softens rather than flattens and straightens close to the jaw. This textured volume requires point cutting. A full fringe looks great on most people with thick hair, but thin hair won’t allow a more than a few days of this volumized style. This is an excellent frame for heart and oval face shape types, with width balance in the cheekbones compared to a narrow chin.

Tousled Caramel Balayage Lob with Soft Wave and Side-Swept Layers

This haircut has a low weight distribution at the collarbone. The ends are slightly rounded and mulleted. I think this may be because of a point cut which can remove a lot of bulk and shape. However, a lot of volume is retained. The face framing caramel balayage starts at the root so the base is still dark and this prevents growth line from looking harsh. Dimension and fullness is best for medium to thick natural wave hair. Oval and round face shapes will love this haircut. If you have fine straight hair you will probably not like this haircut and think it looks flat. The layering is not textured and looks thin.

Textured Wavy Lob with Warm Ribbons and Soft Curtain Fringe

The perimeter is about collarbone length and the texture helps separate waves without looking thin. There is an almost caramel colored paint used in a hand painted method along the shaft that keeps the darker base from looking flat. The cut is effortless. On straight hair this cut won’t look like this. This cut takes effort and commitment. Loose curls really help add a lot of shape, and without a straightening or curling iron this shape falls limp. It is a great shape for round and oval faces, as the bottom of the cut is balanced by the width of the cheekbones. The curtain fringe helps compliment the shape. Unlike most cuts, this fringe is cut more disconnected. It helps the fringe to frame the face. The preferred density is medium to thick.

Honey-Threaded Brunette Lob with Loose Wave and Feathered Fringe

The way the stylist has highlighted the other strands in this photo is worth noting. Instead of adding contrast to the crown, the highlight brightens the lengths. With this in mind, it is important to note that this works best on medium to thick hair. For fine hair like this, the layers would hollow out the shape and the fullness of a rounded cut. The layered fringe is pulled up to sit above the brow with a natural center split. This style works best on oval and heart shaped faces. This style is not ideal for round faces, since this length of hair at the cheekbones is too wide. This cut stops at the collarbone, and this stylist added a very blunt perimeter to the cut and then layered it. The stylist also added movement to the hair without making it too messy.

Layered Brunette Lob with Flipped Ends and Soft Curtain Fringe

The outer layers don’t fold under. In this case, they fold behind. Most rounded lobs tuck in, but this style goes with the opposite. The cut is tapered and gives added volume to thinner hair, and has layering between fine and thick hair. The point cut through the mid-lengths of the hair will help keep movement while eliminating bulk. This cut works great for square or broad faces and will soften the sides of your face where the cheekbones are. Fine hair may lose the shape for the day, but anyone can pull this style off.

Curly Rounded Lob with Burgundy Undertones and Natural Fringe

This guy does most of the load-bearing. It must have been compressed a lot after it was cut because the layers had to be in the exact locations for the shape to maintain its roundness without being longer or shorter than the rest. There is a dark base that almost has a sleeve-is-ironed-work burgundy that only really shows dimension with certain light and is almost invisible in indoor light. This shape would lay flat on the side and be triangular on the bottom of the shape. It really likes density and tight curls. The curly fringe is staying put. If your hair grows more than expected in humid air, that fringe is going to be over your eyebrows for sure.

Chin-Grazing Blonde Lob with Rooted Dimension and Loose Bend

The cooler aspects of this cut will be shaded by a dimming root. That’s why I say this is the cut’s most crucial element. Without the root gently transitioning to blonde, this will be a boring, one dimensional cut. Here is a tutorial for a jaw length ’rounded lob’. It has soft, outer layering that kicks the ends out. The shape stands wide at the bottom, so this cut will not flatter round or square face shapes as well as oval face shapes. This is also a good choice for people with fine to medium density hair because this cut doesn’t take aggressive thinning, point cutting keeps the hair full and adds texture throughout without losing weight. Thick hair will puff and the rounded shape of this cut will become a triangle, no amount of product will fix these problems.

Copper-Kissed Wavy Lob with Soft Brow-Skimming Bangs

Copper adds even more dimension with its copper balayage in this simple yet elegant, layered cut. The brunette base has dimension without the balayage too, bringing out the style’s best qualities. The lob is lengthwise with the lob portion of the cut stopping just above the collarbone, creating an overall rounded shape, and with an internal layering system. Hair should be styled using a 1.25 inch iron, and all pieces should be left out at the ends to achieve the preferred waved pattern. The bangs are a wispy fringe with lots of uneven thickness, incorporating a bit of the fringe at the temples with lots of fullness in the fringe ending at the bridge of the nose. Cowlicks are always a challenge. For this style, it is preferred to have a medium density to thick hair, which is the best hair type to frame rounder face shapes. The layers end and tuck under at jaw length.

Warm Chestnut Lob with Soft Bangs and Inward-Curving Ends

Rounded ends curve inward in the same direction. This happens when layers are texturized with uniform graduation. If not careful, this medium density hair will just hang straight. It has a base of a single process and has a gloss. This is a warm chestnut shade with just a hint of auburn. Great for round or heart-shaped faces. This color does not work well on square faces. Soft bangs begin above the brows with a slight part. This length then gradually thins to the temples and is parted with the rest of the length. The layers stop well above the ends to give a full and layer-free style. It is best if there is not a lot of natural wave to the hair and is not recommended for thick hair. It will be difficult to style.

Warm Caramel Ribbons on a Collarbone-Length Lob

Layers can quickly add structure and volume to the back. These layers are long and curved enough to allow a lot of ends to roll inward. They are perfect for stacking and forming that rounded shape on top of the head. I also love the balayage placed right on the highest part of the waves of hair. This means the colorist really painted according to the curl pattern of the hair similar to painting color onto straight hair. This instant chop looks best on medium to thick hair as the shape will not hold unless it has volume from using lots of product. The instant chop is great to use on thicker hair, especially if you have an oval or heart shaped face. The cut will not help you slim your face if you have a round face. The length of this cut hits the perfect spot of becoming a problem for fine hair, and it is awful because by the end of the day the hair will just hang and have no shape around the neck.

Textured Dark Chocolate Lob with Wispy Bangs and Soft Bend

Notice the short-ish layers right under this client’s cheekbone. These layers add the most dimension and length to her round face without the need of adding bangs. This is a lob of medium density hair, chin-length to the collarbone, with a point cutting technique to soften the perimeter. The layers in front create movement while the fringe is a split, soft fringe that helps frame the face. This is definitely not a heavy curtain bang and will look even worse on hair that is coarse, thick, and heavy – the hair will want to separate rather than stay together which will widen the bangs. This is a single process dark brown, no highlights, and although a dark color, the shape helps it stand out. This cut suits heart and round face shapes as it eliminates sharp angles but still maintains the original shape. The layers in the front of the face will need to be trimmed every 7 to 8 weeks to maintain the shape.

Soft Brunette Lob with Face-Framing Highlights and Curtain Bangs

Highlights that are seen around the face and at the front section leave the rest of the hair darker and more natural. It gets easier to color hair this way with lots of highlights rather than all one color. Your clients may not notice foils, but they do notice “money pieces”, which are hand-painted. This also features a hair accessory placed at the mid-length of the hair. This style is also very easy to grow out and is a collarbone length cut. The cut is also soft and round, with layers that open and frame the face. Curtain bangs are also slightly off center, and this style is perfect for faces that are either heart shaped or oval. Fine hair needs to be straightened everyday with heat tools to bring out the natural wave that highlights this style best.

This post The Rounded Lob Makes a Convincing Case for Keeping a Little Length, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Marjorie Tillman, Eufaula, Alabama: “I’ve been dealing with an itchy, flaky scalp for about two years now and I’m honestly so tired of medicated shampoos that smell like a hospital and leave my hair feeling like straw. My stylist mentioned something about clove water being a natural option but didn’t have time to go into detail. Can you explain how it actually works and how I use it? I have color-treated hair, too, if that matters.”

Marjorie, this is a question I get all the time, especially from women who are already taking good care of their hair. You can use a good shampoo, condition every wash, add a mask, and still wonder why your hair feels dry again a few days later. By Thursday, your ends feel rough, your shine is gone, and suddenly all that effort doesn’t seem to be doing much.

One thing I’ve noticed with clients is that adding more products isn’t always the fix. Some products make your hair feel silky right after you use them, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your hair is getting what it needs. Sometimes you end up layering product on top of product and wondering why your hair still doesn’t feel healthy.

The good news is that keeping your hair in better condition usually comes down to a few everyday habits. They’re not complicated, and you probably won’t need to replace everything in your bathroom either. There are also a few products I recommend, but your routine is where I’d start.

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7. Understand What Clove Water Actually Is (and Why It Works on Dandruff)

Before you can use something well, it helps to understand what it’s doing, and with clove water, the explanation is actually pretty satisfying. Clove water is made by soaking whole cloves, or sometimes ground cloves, in water, either at room temperature overnight or briefly simmered on the stove. What you end up with is a water-based infusion that pulls out the key active compounds from the cloves, especially eugenol, which is the main constituent of clove essential oil and the thing responsible for most of its therapeutic effects.

Dandruff itself has a few different causes depending on the person. For most people, the underlying culprit is an overgrowth of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia, which lives naturally on the scalp but can proliferate under certain conditions and trigger the inflammatory response that leads to flaking, itching, and redness. Eugenol has been studied specifically for its antifungal activity against Malassezia, which means clove water is actually going after the root of the problem rather than just washing away the flakes temporarily. On top of that, eugenol is a known anti-inflammatory, so it can reduce the scalp irritation and sensitivity that makes dandruff so uncomfortable day to day.

What I appreciate about clove water compared to most over-the-counter dandruff treatments is that it doesn’t strip the scalp. Zinc pyrithione shampoos, selenium sulfide, ketoconazole formulas, they can be genuinely effective for some people, but they also tend to mess with your scalp’s natural oil balance and leave the hair shaft feeling rough and dull. For someone like Marjorie with color-treated hair, that dryness compounds quickly. Clove water, used the right way, addresses the scalp environment without waging war on everything else. It’s worth taking seriously.

6. Make Your Clove Water the Right Way (This Part Matters More Than You’d Think)

I’ve seen some recipes floating around online that are honestly a bit sloppy with measurements, and I think it matters to get this right, especially for the scalp, where concentration can be the difference between soothing and irritating. The two main methods are a cold infusion and a simmer method, and they produce slightly different strengths.

For a cold infusion, you take about 10 to 15 whole cloves, the kind you can find in the spice aisle at any grocery store or grab in bulk on Amazon, and you let them soak in two cups of filtered water overnight, at least eight hours. The longer it sits, the more eugenol it pulls out. By morning you have a light amber liquid that smells wonderful and is ready to strain and use. This is the gentler option, and it’s what I’d recommend starting with if you have any sensitivity at all.

The simmer method is faster and produces a stronger infusion. You bring the same ratio of cloves and water to a low boil, reduce to a simmer for about 15 minutes, then let it cool completely before straining. This version is more potent, which means it can be more effective but also slightly more likely to cause irritation in very sensitive scalps. I’d suggest starting with the cold infusion and moving up to the simmer method once you know your scalp tolerates it well.

Store what you make in a clean glass spray bottle or a small glass jar in the refrigerator, where it will keep for about a week. I like the Infinity Jars amber glass spray bottles for this because they block light and keep the infusion fresher longer. Do not use a plastic spray bottle if you can help it, because the eugenol content can actually degrade certain plastics over time, and you don’t want that getting into something you’re putting on your scalp.

5. Apply It Correctly So It Actually Reaches the Scalp

This is the step most tutorials gloss over and it’s genuinely important, because if the clove water is just sitting on top of your hair rather than reaching your scalp, you’re not going to see results. I watch clients apply scalp treatments at home all the time and the most common mistake is applying to dry, thick hair where the product has almost no chance of penetrating before it runs off.

The best approach is to section your hair before you apply anything. Part your hair down the middle, then make additional horizontal sections from ear to ear so you have four quadrants. Then spray or apply your clove water directly to the scalp in each section, using your fingertips to gently massage it in. This is not a step to rush. Spend a couple of minutes actually working it into the scalp, because the massage itself increases blood circulation to the follicles, which supports a healthier scalp environment overall.

You can apply clove water to a dry scalp or a slightly damp one, but I personally find the damp scalp approach works better because the water helps the solution spread more evenly. Don’t apply it right after washing when your hair is soaking wet, because you’ll dilute the infusion too much and it won’t have the same effect. Lightly towel-dried or naturally air-dried to about 70 to 80 percent is ideal.

Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before rinsing, or if your schedule allows, put on a soft satin-lined shower cap and leave it for an hour. Some people leave it on overnight without rinsing, which is fine, though the clove scent can be strong enough to bother some people on a pillow. Rinse thoroughly afterward and follow with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo if needed.

4. Pair It With the Right Shampoo and Not Just Any “Natural” One

Here’s where I’m going to be a little blunt, because I think there’s a lot of wishful thinking in the natural hair care space and it doesn’t always serve you well. Not every shampoo marketed as gentle or natural is actually going to support what you’re trying to do for your scalp. Some of them, particularly the ones that are very low-lather and heavily conditioner-based, can actually leave buildup on the scalp that feeds the very fungal environment you’re trying to correct. I’ve seen this happen more than once.

What you want is a shampoo that cleanses the scalp effectively without stripping it, ideally one that has at least some antifungal or scalp-balancing properties. A few that I genuinely recommend and have seen work well alongside a clove water routine: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo used just once a week is a solid anchor, even if you’re going the natural route, because the ketoconazole does a job nothing herbal can fully replicate. You use it once a week and let the clove water do the maintenance work in between.

If you want to stay fully natural, Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo is one I’ve recommended for years for clients with buildup-related dandruff and scalp congestion. It’s genuinely good. Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Special Shampoo is another option I keep coming back to because the tea tree works synergistically with clove’s antifungal properties rather than competing with them. For color-treated hair specifically, look for versions labeled color-safe, because Paul Mitchell does make a color-safe variant that I’ve used on clients without any fading issues.

3. Add Complementary Ingredients to Boost Results

Clove water works on its own, but there are a few things you can combine it with that genuinely amplify the results, and I want to be specific here because vague “you can add oils!” advice is not particularly useful when you’re dealing with something that’s been bothering you for two years.

The most effective addition I’ve seen is a small amount of tea tree essential oil. Adding about 5 drops of tea tree to your two-cup batch of clove water gives you an antifungal one-two combination that addresses Malassezia from multiple angles. Majestic Pure Tea Tree Essential Oil is one I’ve used and trusted. Don’t add more than 5 drops per two cups, though, because tea tree is potent and too much can cause irritation, especially on a scalp that’s already inflamed.

Aloe vera is another addition worth considering, particularly if dryness and itching are your main complaints rather than heavy flaking. You can mix your clove water at a 2:1 ratio with pure aloe vera gel, which turns it into more of a scalp treatment balm that sits on the scalp more easily. Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel is a reliable one because it’s very minimally processed and mixes well without getting stringy.

Apple cider vinegar is the third addition I’d mention, though I want to be careful here because there’s a lot of enthusiasm for it online that sometimes outpaces the reality. A tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar added to your clove water can help restore the scalp’s slightly acidic pH, which is genuinely beneficial for scalp health and can reduce the Malassezia-friendly alkaline environment some shampoos create. But if your scalp is already raw or irritated, skip the vinegar until things calm down, because the acidity can sting and set you back. Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is the standard recommendation here and for good reason, it’s consistently high quality.

2. Build a Consistent Routine and Give It Real Time to Work

This is probably where I see the most people get derailed, not because they’re using clove water wrong, but because they try it for a week, don’t see dramatic results, and give up. I understand the impulse, I really do, especially when you’ve already been through the cycle of trying things that don’t work. But scalp health is slow-moving in both directions. It takes time to get into trouble, and it takes time to genuinely get out of it.

For the first two weeks, I’d recommend applying your clove water rinse two to three times per week. Not every day, because you want to give the scalp time to respond and recalibrate between treatments, but consistent enough that you’re actually building cumulative benefit. Think of it the way you’d think of a new skincare routine, you don’t judge a retinol after four days, and you can’t judge a clove water routine after one week either.

After the first two weeks, you should start to notice some reduction in itching, and often that comes before the visual improvement in flaking, which I think is worth saying because it means you might feel better before you see better and that’s actually a good sign. Once you’ve got the itch under control, you can back off to a once-or-twice weekly maintenance application. A lot of my clients settle into a routine of applying it the night before their wash day, which makes it easy to remember and works well structurally because they’re already planning to be near the sink.

Keep a simple log, even just a few words in your phone’s notes app, about what you notice each week. I’m not usually a person who advocates for complicated tracking systems, but with scalp treatments specifically, changes happen gradually and it’s really easy to forget how bad things were at the start once you start improving. That perspective matters when you’re deciding whether something is worth continuing.

1. Know When Clove Water Is Not Enough (and What to Do Next)

This is the one I feel most strongly about getting right, because I think natural remedy conversations sometimes do a disservice to people by creating the impression that if something isn’t working, you just haven’t found the right herb or the right ratio. And sometimes that’s true. But sometimes dandruff is not just dandruff.

Seborrheic dermatitis, which is a more advanced form of scalp inflammation closely related to dandruff but more stubborn, often requires medical intervention to get under control, and no amount of clove water is going to fully address it on its own. If your flaking is thick and yellowish, if your scalp is actively red or feels sore to the touch, if you’re losing hair density in the affected areas, or if you’ve been dealing with this consistently for more than six months without improvement from anything you’ve tried, please see a dermatologist. I say this as someone who believes sincerely in what clove water can do, and it can do a lot, but knowing the limits of any remedy is part of using it responsibly.

Similarly, if you’ve been doing clove water correctly for six to eight weeks and you’re seeing zero change, that’s useful information. It might mean your dandruff is driven more by a seborrheic dermatitis component than a simple Malassezia overgrowth, or it might mean there’s a dietary or hormonal piece that’s contributing, both of which are worth discussing with a doctor. I’ve seen women in their fifties and sixties experience a significant worsening of scalp issues around menopause because of hormonal shifts, and that’s a systemic issue that no topical treatment alone will solve.

What I can tell you is that for garden-variety dandruff with itching and visible flaking, clove water used consistently and correctly is genuinely one of the more effective natural scalp treatments I’ve come across in years of working in this industry. Marjorie, I think it’s worth a real try, especially given that your skin sounds reactive to the heavier chemical options. Start with the cold infusion, pair it with a scalp-friendly shampoo, give it a solid six weeks, and actually track what you notice. I think you’ll be surprised.

A Few Final Thoughts Before You Get Started

One thing I didn’t get to above that I want to mention quickly for anyone with color-treated hair, clove water at a normal concentration is not going to lift or alter your color, but I’d still avoid letting a very concentrated simmer-method version sit on lightened or blonde hair for extended periods just because the slight pigment in the cloves can theoretically cause some warmth over time with repeated use. Keep it to the cold infusion method if you’re platinum or very light, and rinse thoroughly. For brunettes or anyone with medium to darker hair, honestly don’t worry about it.

I also want to say that the whole-body skin and scalp care market has grown enormously in the past few years, and there are now some really interesting scalp-specific treatments entering the space that combine clove with other proven botanical ingredients, so the category is worth watching. But for right now, a jar of good whole cloves from the spice aisle, a glass spray bottle, and a little patience will get you further than another ten-dollar drugstore shampoo that smells like a swimming pool.

Take care of that scalp, Marjorie. It’s the foundation of everything.

This post Clove Water for Dandruff (Reduce Itching & Flakes Naturally), was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The first time a client called her shoulder-length hair “boring,” she was in my chair with what is definitely one of the most versatile lengths in hairdressing. She was stuck. I realized that that idea of shoulder-length hair being boring gets said every year with the same clients. It really outlines the issue that when hair falls into that length, people become so quick to cut or grow to assume that’s the only way to go when really we should be sticking to that place that is somewhere worthy of staying.

I think shoulder-length hair is perfect for fall. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything mention how wonderful fall weather is for your hair. Spring, summer, and even winter hair type can have a tough time. When fall weather hits, humidity decreases, and there is less frizz. Hair styles that have a lot of layers and textures actually stay in place through the season and stop falling out like they do in the summer months. Also, shoulder length hair is long enough to make a small ponytail or bun, and still have long hair in the front for you to show off your hair cut. The styles in this hair collection are great examples of that, from a clean and simple bob to a hip and layered shag haircut. These styles show a nice trend along with simple hair styles that are easy to do, and some that have all the bells and whistles like hair accessories and pins.

Razored Brunette Shag with Burnt Amber Peekaboo Ends

The detail on this cut is copper only showing when hair shifts, and it’s intentional. Razor texture on the mid lengths and ends gives the cut the relevant detail. The choppy bangs finish above the forehead, allowing for a gap to avoid looking heavy. Shoulder length hair with a medium build of layers and lots of internal layer start at the crown to give volume. This structure won’t work with flat and straight hair. It’ll look flat by noon, and the layer will look stringy hair. This shear has to have some movement in the natural hair. Oval face shapes will complement the style because the cheeks will have volume, which brings out the jawline, and the curtain fringe will cover the width of the forehead. The color is a dark chocolate base with warm amber tones at the base to allow for a grow out for a clean dark chocolate base.

Choppy Dark Brunette Shag with Piecey Fringe

These layers are shorter near the cheekbones and lift the shape of the face. Oval- and heart-shaped faces will appreciate the lift. For rounds faces, this will broaden the face. Razor work in the middle of the layer cuts adds separation, and even though point-cutting achieves the same result, it is easier to do this routine. The bangs aren’t uniform and have varying lengths across the forehead, which prevents a block shape. This style looks best on thick hair because fine hair loses the shape and flattens. This style looks great on a good hair day, but on a humid day, this style will end up looking like a lost mess.

Center Pull-Through Braid on a Warm Bronde Shoulder-Length Cut

That braid is definitely creating volume! Check it out, this isn’t your typical plait. It’s what is known as a pull through braid. This style uses small ponytails that are looped and then sort of pancaked out. This braid is a lifesaver for medium and fine hair. This style holds braid width in a way a French braid would not hold on this density. The color is a bronde and has a dark root shadow which adds a kind of two-toned effect. This is why it looks great from the back. This style will not hold up on very short layers. If your shortest pieces are above your ear they will fall out and you will be left with a lumpy, half-attempt. A uniform length of hair that falls on or past the shoulders is necessary for the braid style to work.

Fishtail Crown Pull-Back on a Warm Brunette Shoulder-Length Bob

Your fishtail is doing an amazing job pulling weight off the crown and stopping hair from sticking to the head, which can be a struggle with length. Check out that side braid! It sticks to the scalp on one side and then loosens up to wrap back to the other side of the head. This style adds fun and fullness to the side that most bobs lack. Medium density, straight to slightly wavy hair will have this style fall flat without the use of thickening products and pins, even in the morning. Coarse hair will hold this style with no problem. This take on the bob is a little longer with a soft face framing bob collar length, with a base cut creating a dramatic effect and a few light pieces of hair around the ears. This keeps away that school photo haircut look. The warm brunette has dimension and light touching up the midshaft that looks great in all lighting without being too glammed out. For those with very curly and tightly textured hair, this style may look a bit different due to the nature of the braid pattern and will likely have to use a different hairstyle overall.

Half-Up Top Knot on a Warm Auburn Shoulder-Length Lob

The majority of work in this picture is due to the color. That shade of auburn has a warmth so precise that it almost looks like glazed cinnamon. The light reflecting off centerpiece strands leads me to believe that a single pass gloss is more accurate than balayage. Overall this is a fantastic color job: it is even, glossy, and greatly aids in the picture with dimension and depth. This style is particularly blunt with no layering, and looks best with a half-up bun. Tack on medium to thick hair, and it is an easy go-to style. There is very minimal effort needed with this style, it requires no upkeep. Lastly, this style, with no framing, is extremely polished and clean, but only for people with good hair lines as temple hairs and fly aways are a nightmare. Straight-ish hair, as well as this style, generally looks best with a very loose texture.

Side French Braid on a Sandy Blonde Shoulder-Length Bob

This is a good style for straight hair that isn’t too dense. The rest of the hair can be limp. One side of the face wears part of a low effort, asymmetric braid. It starts in the part and falls loosely before pulling the hair flat on that side of the head. It flatters hair that isn’t as thick, because thinner hair shows root. It isn’t the most effective style for thinner hair types. It does show some root, but the gray color and style hide average regrowth. A braid like this flatters most face shapes by being on one side and leaving the other side limp as it pulls the hair together. A style like this does not hold in humid weather.

Half-Pinned Brunette Lob with Textured Ends

There is a specific reason there is so much volume at the crown. To the novice, it may look like a half up, but it adds all the volume and lift to that area. This cut would fall flat without the twist. This is one of the challenges people don’t talk about with medium-density straight hair at this length. This cut is at shoulder length with point cut ends. There is a warm chestnut mid-length highlight that reflects light, but is not overdone enough to be a highlight. This cut is best on thin or medium hair. Thick hair will want to resist the loose volume and look bulky pinned back. It would be especially good for longer necks, because of the exposed nape. The exposed nape finishes the look and shape.

Half-Up Dark Brunette Lob with Loose Layered Ends

The half-up pull only works due to trimmed underneath layers that are cut short enough to purposefully spread apart. This type of detail is what you want to focus on. It’s a lob with medium density straight hair cut with layers, and point cutting. Thick, heavy hair will have a hard time falling this loose, since pieces will clump. Fine hair will have a hard time as well, since the half up section needs a lot of volume to not look flat. This face framing style is more flattering on oval and heart shaped faces since it softens the face without adding too much width. The natural deep brown color is a low commitment color since it has no visible dimension. This style typically needs effort to maintain looking put together by day three.

Twisted Half-Up Knot on a Dark Cherry Lob

That little knot on top does so much work! It pulls sections together that aren’t long enough to really twist and so hair that is a little longer than shoulder length is required for the style to last more than an hour. The base cut is a blunt lob cut that has been internally layered. The color is a dark mahogany with some wine that pops under the lights. This style is moreflattering on medium to thick hair as thin hair won’t hold the twist and will leave a more open looking bottom to the style. So if you have thin hair, you should not do this. The style is intentionally messy around the face with one or two pieces framing the ear and the rest twisted to the back. The picture shows why this style is ultimately pulled out before twisted to avoid a polished look. It works with most face shapes nicely because the hanging pieces are loose and off the face. This is especially helpful for more narrow face shapes in order to keep the style from being too harsh looking, but the loose pieces really frame to balance out more rounded face shapes.

Crown Braid Half-Up on a Dark Wavy Lob

This won’t easily grip your fine slippery hair. It will put up a fight! A braid spanning both temples needs medium to thick hair density to keep its full round shape. What draws me to it is the base color which is dark brown brunette. However, there are finer warm undertones that only come out on the length of the braid under the braid, because of the light reflecting off the loose waves. So I think there may be a tonal gloss or a few hand-painted pieces at the mid-shaft helping with the whole color correction. The under-cut is a textured lob which is longer than the shoulder with thick, soft, lined layers. This style is great for people who have dark bases and natural waves or even a bit of texture to their hair. This is a relatively simple 3-strand braid pinned at the nape of the neck that can unravel if your hair was just washed.

Mini Clip Pull-Back on a Warm Chestnut Shoulder-Length Cut

That clip is working well for your hair, and this specific cut is the only one that will. The layers are internal, point cut to remove weight without leaving steps, and as a result, the lower half of the hair cascades beautifully when half of the hair is pulled up. This hair style is sitting right at the shoulders and looks like it has pieces of straight hair that are just slightly wavy. The texture has a warm chestnut base with some fine caramel pieces. It actually looks like a gloss or demi-permanent toner was used as a brown color rather than foil highlights. Unfortunately, if your hair is thick or coarse, this half up style will never look good on you because the clip will not hold enough volume, and the bottom will always look puffy. This style looks best on fine to medium hair textures. I also like how the hair on the sides was cut to the jaw line so that it frames both the front/lower neck area. This creates a structured and complete style that usually works the best on oval and heart shaped faces. Round faces tend to like this style as well, but with added length to bring the front/neck area hair down past the jaw line.

Twisted Half-Back on a Dark Bob with Hidden Berry Streaks

The magenta peekaboo panels only become visible when hair is moved or pulled back, and that was quite deliberate. With a straight line, dense and shoulder length bob with a blunt perimeter, this simple twist at the crown aids in building volume at the nape while enabling the placement of the color to be noticed. The base color is a natural Level 1 or 2 black. Therefore, those berry tones were possibly lightened and a direct dye was probably used to neutralize. Colors that have been neutralized will gradually fade to pink in a matter of weeks, so this certainly is not low maintenance color. The cut is very straight, just one length and is great for someone with thick, straight hair that doesn’t need much to keep its shape. On someone with fine or medium density hair, this cut will look very flat. The shape that is most complemented by this length of hair (at the collar bone) is an oval or heart shaped face. This length of hair should be avoided by those with round faces.

Low Twisted Bun on a Warm Brunette Lob with Caramel Ribbons

That bun is so tiny! It definitely is shoulder length hair, not long hair. Shorter hair gets grouped with the lob as one of the trendy cut styles, but this twist gathers at the nape and barely has enough length to loop. The fine caramel balayage with the chocolate brown base adds dimension and shines once everything is pulled back. For thick or coarse hair it won’t sit small and compact like this. It will puff out. This is a great style for straight and fine hair that is medium to fine density. Leaving one tendril loose at the ear balances the style and it looks intentional because of the rest of the clean, smooth hairline. Great style for hair that demonstrates a pulled back shoulder length hair style.

French Braid Half-Back on a Straight Brunette Lob with Sun-Faded Ends

This fewer, larger braiding style works for medium-thick hair best. Fine hair would most likely just collapse it. This look requires plenty of density and a French braid starts at the crown and falls around the weight. It is pulled tight enough to keep the braid smooth and tidy. Not one hair will be left floating away for this style. The hair is pulled back and tied off with an elastic, and whatever hair is left is framed over the lob, which hits the shoulders. The lob has blunt ends with a natural finish and a lightened shade. The natural color variation throughout the hair helps to keep the look casual. For curly hair, this look is likely ruined with braiding, as the texture would be lost.

Flipped-Out Layered Lob in Rich Espresso

Longer beveled layers that are styled with a rounded brush, flipped away from the face, result in ends that flare out instead of curling under. While it’s a flipped style, it can be polished, but flexible. This brunette color has no highlights and no tricks to create dimension, so this style is low maintenance and is not too harsh on cool skin tones. This style is effective on hair that is medium to thick because of the volume needed to hold the flipped silhouette. For this style to flatten it would require fine hair. Point cut layering on a point-cut oval frame style is great for people with an oval face shape, but this frame really defines a heart face shape. This frame also features a lot of point cutting to decrease weight, but length is kept to define the lines.

Curly Layered Shag with Natural Brunette Depth

Don’t let the bangs fool you. These have very few layers because they would collapse toward the center of her forehead when pulled tight. The layers stop at the crown to keep the bangs voluminous. The bangs were not curled, but it looks like they were. You can tell by the way they sit. The length is densest at her collarbone from the crown down, which also helps retain volume at the crown. This style will not work with little to no curl because the curls will flatten. Side layers help round and heart shaped faces because they keep the face from looking too wide. This style uses all naturally dark brunette hair that has caramel highs from the mid shaft to ends. This was definitely a cut made for someone with curly hair because curly hair won’t naturally fall in this shape without being diffused. Without the right habits to maintain curls, you won’t be able to uphold this style either.

Copper-Kissed Wavy Lob with Warm Midtone Dimension

Those highlights aren’t lying flat. They’re actually woven through the mid section. There’s a bit of light reflection, but they’re actually kind of hidden, and I’m thinking that this is balayage that is done a little closer to the root on the inside panels while keeping it warm and cool and casual. As for length, the inside ends have medium density and length and are laying with waves. This is a great cut for a wider face shape because of all the extra length with the side-parted curtain piece that breaks the face and creates angles, therefore making the face seem less wide. This is a textured piece and should not be worn without movement. If you don’t have naturally textured movement to this piece, you will have to wear curls everyday, but if you have waves or movement, this looks like a piece that has been blown out fairly quickly with a diffuser and worn as a “worked but not really” type of style.

Clean Collarbone Lob in Cool Chocolate

The reason a cut for straight hair has blunt ends without graduations is that it sits flat. Anyone with natural wave in their hair gets punished with this style. This is a straight hair cut. Look at this style with a slight center part that falls slowly with absolutely no volume. The lines and angles are clean, approaching the collar bone. The color is a single brunette process with no color dimensions or highlights, but it works because the cut is the focal point. It is a great length for round and square face shapes because it slices the face. It will look easy while maintaining style on the hair with fine and medium thickness. Thick hair will lose the benefits.

Feathered Chocolate Wolf Cut at the Collarbone

Note how the layers just below the cheekbone are shorter compared to the neckline layers, which are much longer. This difference adds dimension and fullness to the crown with no bulk to the shoulders. This is a razor cut wolf shape with an S-curve through medium density hair with natural wave that compliments hair texture. Face-framing wisps provide a great way to break up the width of the face, whether the face is round or oval, without covering anything. This styling method won’t work on straight, flat hair, as movement requires at least some wave to be present in the hair. This brown chocolate base does not have any color work and thus requires very little commitment. Focus will be on the hair from the cut.

Layered Burgundy Shag with Wispy Curtain Bangs

This color will fade. Deep reddish wine always does. After about a month of vibrancy, you’ll need to touch it up to keep the depth and dimension. Consider this before you get it done. There’s a ton of movement from the layers and razored lengths throughout the hair. The pieces around the jawline will help to frame a rounder face. Thick hair will help bring out the movement and dimensions with this style. Thin pieces that reach the forehead will make the overall length of the hair appear shorter. This style won’t be harmed by neglect since it was made with curtain bangs and requires no styling. Any texture that isn’t natural will take work to achieve this look that is easy to maintain. It was designed for bangs to naturally fall straight and is really easy to style with a curling iron, even for straight hair. The hair style is designed for natural curly or wavy hair.

Textured Brunette Lob with Honey Face-Framing Pieces

These honey ribbons only appear on the top four strands of hair, but they make a huge difference. Unlike a regular highlight, they make this style special. The base of this style is a deep cool brown. The colorist hand painted these pieces to define the cheek bones. This style is best for medium to thick hair. The haircut is a style that hits right at the collar bone, providing a loose, piecey oval or heart shaped frame. This style is best for those with oval or heart shaped faces. Round faces will not look good in this style. The center part and no volume at the crown with this style draws all the focus to the center of the face. The texture of this style is soft as the ends are point cutting rather than razoring. After an hour of styling fine hair will fall flat.

Tousled Chin-Length Bob with Warm Highlights

De-emphasizing hair volume on the sides and emphasizing it on the crown adds volume to the crown. Different from other side parts, the volume of this style is created mainly by the deep side part. This style offers a razor-textured, choppy bob that comes down to about chin length. The base of this style involves choppy, textured layers that allow hair to have movement that is not uniform, and is especially great for medium densities of hair. The caramel balayage through the lengths and ends of the hair allows the hair to have darker roots and prevents this style from becoming unkempt while growing out. This style hits at the most narrow part of the jawline on round and oval faces, but on square jawlines this will add more width to the jawline. This style is effortless looking, but to maintain this style you have to straighten the ends of each strand with a flat iron. If your hair is fine, this style is probably easy to maintain without any product. However, someone with hair that is naturally loose will have a flat style.

Warm Brunette Shag with Curtain Fringe

Short layers begin at the cheekbones in this style. The shag is shoulder length and has razored interior layers. The curtains fringe runs through the layers for a face framing longer single layer. This style is rather easy to get wrong, so make sure to tell your stylist what you want. This style is great on medium to thick hair, but isn’t recommended on fine hair. Shape will be lost and it will look even thinner. This style elongates the face without looking too big. It is not recommended for those with a square jawline. The Hair is natural brown with an added layer of warm brunette highlight. To get this look, texture spray is used with blow drying. This style will relax and fall flat if it isn’t twisted and tied back from dry.

Dark Layered Flip with Face-Framing Movement

The layers concentrated within the mid-sections aren’t just there by accident. They provide just the right amount of separation to make room for the outward kick of the ends. The short, face-framing layers fall just below the cheekbone and are ideal for medium to thick hair with a good amount of density. Thin hair will not be able to create enough separation to build volume in the crown without some sort of product. This will be a great look for all face shapes, especially because usually the layers are nice and short, framing the jawline. People with a square jaw will also enjoy this style because it makes the jaw appear even more so. I really enjoy this single process dark caramel brown because it makes everything look dark and cohesive without much dimension. I would not recommend getting this style unless you plan on round brushing your hair because it will just fall flat on your head.

Soft Brunette Lob with Copper Ribbon Highlights

Here, different areas of hair are highlighted by thin, mid-shaft to tip stripes. The painted portion leaves the roots free to avoid stripes. This cut is a lob that is collarbone length with no to light layering and is great for textured hair. This can be worn by people with medium to thick hair, but won’t look great on thin hair. This frame looks lovely on an oval or heart face as the length is great for creating proportion and avoiding Franken face. Most will not notice that the part is slightly off center. This style is not a wash and go style as the hair will fall flat and straight without styling and product.

This post These Shoulder-Length Hairstyles Feel Made for Crisp Fall Days, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

If you’ve grown your hair extra long, you probably want styles that show off every inch instead of folding, tucking, or pinning all that length away. The prettiest options keep your ends visible while adding shape around your face, whether that’s a cascading braid, half-up style, soft waves, or a sleek ponytail.

With very long hair, I’m a big believer in keeping the styling intentional but not overly complicated. For better movement without sacrificing length, concentrate your volume from the mid-lengths down and use lightweight products at the roots—heavy creams can flatten long hair quickly because the hair’s own weight is already working against you. Even small details can make all that length look beautifully styled.

Take a look at every idea and see just how much you can do with your length without pinning it out of sight.

Hip-Length Dark Brunette with Blown-Out Volume and Deep Side Sweep

That’s unnatural. Look at the root lift at the crown and how she lays out from the mid-shaft down. This is a brush blow out done on a client with thick, dense hair, and long layers that frame her face and end around the collar bone, and an extreme side part that extends well past the hip. The layers in the internal sections are point cut (weight removal, no length loss, no thinning), and the ends are blunt and have fullness. This look does not work well with fine to medium density hair. To achieve this creation of shape and movement really relies on having thick hair. Oval and heart shaped faces look best wearing him deep side part as it frames the face and creates a nice asymmetrical look. One thing to notice is that she went with a deep brown single process and no layer work and it looks deep and rich, and this is all thanks to her healthy hair that allows reflection.

Hip-Length Brunette with Toffee Foilyage and Tapered Ends

You can really see the details in this picture. Look how these characters thin out at the waste. They’re almost lace with how see through they are from where the hair thins out. It’s actually not hair breakage, it’s hair loss. This happens to a lot of people, including you. You have to ask yourself if you will be alright with it, or if you will hate looking at yourself in the mirror everyday. This picture shows a lot of charbrown and toffee foil that really dulls regrowth. The roots are still kept natural and covers a great amount of the mid length hair. For people with medium to thick hair, this style really makes a great framing effect that makes everything look less large and is perfect for round and square shaped faces. This style would not look good on fine hair because it would look flat and sparse beyond the ribcage and no amount of product would correct that. The face framing layers are long, but not separated from the rest of the hair and is fully connected. This creates a great spotlight for the cheeks.

Butterfly Clip Half-Up on Knee-Length Natural Waves

This butterfly clip has some real world structural integrity and the top layer lifts up perfectly, leaving the imprint of the wave pattern intact. Very nice clip! Your hair looks very thick and natural! It looks like you have a nice dark warm blonde color and hair that hasn’t been dyed looks very beautiful with a very gradual natural fade from the root to the end. I can see that you have a lot of natural waves; you don’t have any layers but this sleek one length cut is amazing for getting the weight of your hair distributed to the very ends. Wavy hair can be very prone to frizz but this cut and style is amazing for keeping long waves shaped with absolutely no frizz! This style is perfect for thick, strong, naturally curly or wavy hair that is super thick and comes to at least the middle of your back. The half up style is a great way to take an amazing amount of hair off your shoulders and controls how much your hair would otherwise want to fall and look flat along the sides and back. Your thick hair naturally wants to have a lot of tangles.

Chunky Pull-Through Ponytail on Waist-Length Champagne Blonde

This isn’t an actual braid. This take on the pull through method creates volume by splitting a ponytail with elastics. Density gives the illusion of fullness, however, like all pull through methods, the braid will look lumpy and pancake-like, meaning thin haired folks will not be able to avoid bulk no matter how much it is pulled. Because the braid is fairly pancake-like and large, this method is not a good choice for fine hair. Hanging a single, slightly curled piece from the temple will break the harshness of the braid and add a nice frame to hold the hair against the face. This braid uses a cool-toned champagne blonde and has very little, if any dimensionality and will look good on hair that is either straight or wavy. The straight framing piece along the face will fit all face shapes and make this braid work well on any face. The only thing that will ruin this braid and make it impossible to work is wind.

Strawberry Blonde Curly Half-Bun on Hip-Length Natural Texture

Don’t underestimate this bun. This hair also has duties. For starters, it holds by lifting weight off the crown, thus, stopping curls from falling into each other as they generally do with long curly hair, which can be a problem. It is thick type 3a to 3b hair. It reaches well past the shoulders and somehow keeps its curls down the length of the hair. Long curly hair prefers to look it’s best and not be layered, so with this hair it must be one length, because of how quickly curly hair loses shape. The warm strawberry blonde also would add a nice, complete, effortless look, since the root doesn’t have color and looks natural. Fine or thinner hair would probably still look messy and have the half bun fall, but since this is a dense type of hair, the volume is shown.

Twin Three-Strand Braids on Hip-Length Bronde Curled Ends

Two three-strand braids starting at the crown with hair down at the length of the waist. This hair style has mostly length and density to it. Because this picture uses thick and fast braids it shows off braids as a detail of the style instead of the main focal point. This style uses a warm bronde shade on braids so it doesn’t appear flat. No hair volume would be left out with this style on finer or medium density hair. With the braids being pulled tightly against the scalp, there would not be much hair to fall naturally, and that is not a participating styling technique, it is a volume issue. The curled braids ends add width, and, paired with the tighter crown, balance out the overall width of the style. It is simple and an way to show off the length and really shows off the thickness of the hair. Accessory free, this style looks put together. This style is a great way to show off thick hair that can comfortably braid in a mirror.

Hip-Length Jet Black with Blunt Hemline and Subtle Interior Graduation

Although a blunt cut seems simple, the layers of the ribcage help push the front of the hair away from her chest, and aide with keeping the hair from falling flat. Heavy, straight dark hair without the separation of layers would flat against the hair. Layers add volume to hair. This hair style is not suitable for fine hair; it would not maintain the given shape. Additionally, this style adds even more volume to hair, and fine hair would begin to lack volume and become limp. The natural black color of the hair has no dimension, so it’s important to have a good hair cut. A good hair cut not only can help hair look healthy and not dry and unkempt, but it has a natural way of framing a face and helping to hide unwanted features. Because this is a lot of hair, it is a very good way to help frame a face in a very good way. This hair will help keep pain in check aesthetically around the face.

Warm Auburn Half-Up with Loose Natural Waves

This flower is great at holding my half up twist right above the occipital bone. It prevents that length from bunching. My hair is long and dense so I have to be careful when pulling back my hair because I don’t want to ruin the shape of my hair. The color is a warm auburn that has some lightened ends. This isn’t a balayage. The color is more like a gradual copper fade and has that copper color that fades with brown hair and is completely natural. If you want to look like this without a curl iron, you definitely need medium thickness or thick hair. The curl pattern is a true 2A and if you have fine hair it will not stay up in a half up for the duration of the day without falling. The great thing about this flower is that it actually holds the half up in place and they have had some pretty bold hair accessories in the past that definitely feel very costume-y. So, if you are the type to feel that way with hair accessories, skip this one.

Thigh-Length One-Length Dark Brunette with Minimal Face Pieces

Most of the ends are nearly blunt. That’s the style of this haircut. As appealing as it may look, there’s really no way to hide the damage. You can’t layer this haircut. Your hair has a natural tendency to want to fall in a straight line, so in essence it will want to fall straight, and if you have thick hair, it will want to fall straight and heavy. This hair cut has some face framing layers in the front off to the side so it keeps it from lying flat on her head.There’s really no way to grow this hair cut out in a few months. This hair style is not for anyone with fine or medium dense hair. If you have thick hair this may be one of the few times where the “no product” style actually is your best hair cut. Though you wont need to use a lot, you will need to low key take care of your hair more to keep the style and ends fresh.

Thigh-Length Dark Waves with Interior Layering and Soft Face Frame

Before: No obviously damaged hair, just… hair. Lack of style leads to “flat” looking hair. While thick, dense hair may look thinner, this style has layers. That said, most of these layers are “internal,” which means a good amount of weight is at the ends, with volume generated at the roots. The hair was “point cut” to create layers through the mid-shaft. These tips should reach the cheek bone, which is ideal for an oval face. This style would also work for heart shaped faces. If you do not take the time to style this cut, you will look like you have un-styled hair… left. Ecxactly like that. In which case, it is a very difficult style, but worth it if you are willing to take the time to style this cut regularly.

Ribbon-Tied Low Pony on Waist-Length Ash Blonde Waves

This lace ribbon really looks sweet and simple, but in reality it is a technique that is used to gather hair at the back of the neck to include volume on the crown and give the long flowing hair that falls below the waist. The light ashy blonde will give you the natural looking shadow root and balayage highlights. This style looks fabulous and is very chic because of the dimension and the root growth. The style also looks great even when you’ve grown out balayage highlights. Of course this works best on voluminous hair because fine and thin hair will look messy with a stringy tail. It is important for the ponytail to fall naturally into the desired shape without using too much product, and for this style to work the ponytail needs to have a lot of hair. The ponytail has a trendy wave texture that was created with a large barrel iron curling iron set in random sections. This texture avoids the negligent neglected curl pattern and looks very natural.

Waist-Length Dark Brunette with Feathered Interior Layers and Swept Face Pieces

These face-framing pieces can be enjoyed for a number of reasons. First, they are cut to sit slightly above the cheekbone and fan out to a point. This not only narrows the lower face, but does so without traditional curtain bangs. This cut and placement offer point-cut layering on the inside of the hair, which often keeps the back of the hair more dense, and the front separated, almost as if it’s a new layer. This cut is designed to complement hair that is straight to slightly wavy with moderate to high density. On fine hair though, these interior layers will just look thin. For this style, color work is not necessary. The natural dark brunette is clean and intentional looking. The ends do have a slight warm shift from the sun, but is very subtle. Oval and longer face shapes will benefit the most from this frame. For round and wide jaw face shapes, these cheekbone pieces will not benefit the frame.

Hip-Length French Braid on One-Length Dark Hair

Her braid goes way beyond her hips and is still thick at the end. Density is impressive. I’m always in awe of French braids and I’ve never had thick enough hair to attempt it, but this is a nice example of a classic 3 strand French braid starting at the crown and picking up even sections to finish the braid. There are no layers to create a messy pattern and it looks beautifully clean. One length hair braids and looks flawless; however, if you have any layers, especially around your face, and through your mid lengths you will end up with loose hairs andl lose the nice, clean look. The braid will look messy. This is best suited for very thick and straight hair that has only a minimum amount of layers. The braids will look loose and half the width which will give an effect of it being an after thought. The braid looks gorgeous in hair that is dark and has no color so each weave can be seen.

Waist-Length Brunette Wolf Cut with Shaggy Face Framing and Textured Ends

Starting at cheekbones, these layers carry weight. Without them, you’d just have long hair. The point cut texturing allows the hair to be undone and torn. This is intentional cut, not neglected. It is due to point-cut texturing through the face frame. This is almost considered thin hair. The layering is done aggressively and because of that the ends do appear sparse. This will not happen if you have fine hair. In this case, the cut will look very see through. This cut looks good on an oval or heart shaped face, because the short pieces narrow around your jaw line. When looking in the mirror, pay attention to how the back does actually fall flat. Because of this, styling was done almost entirely in the front. The cutting pattern draws focus to the front as it is done there.

Dutch Braid into Bubble Ponytail on Hip-Length Auburn Hair

This hairstyle is layered and dense. It looks rounded and full, and individual sections can pancake and flatten. This person clearly has hair that is wider than average, and it goes far past their hips. The crown is braided dutch and pulled into a ponytail with a few loose hair tied with small elastics. The bubbles at the end of the ponytail elastics create volume. The neatness of the braid is due to even tension at the roots, while the bubbles at the end of the strands are unraveled and voluminous. This style is a tied-off tail for those of us with thin or fine hair. Light reflects off the auburn hair differently depending on the angle and added texture from the weave. An advantage to this style is that it naturally looks dimensional without highlights, and fine hair looks worse and hides the hair, making it look like all the hair is hidden. Thick hair is best for this look. This style is best for showing off the length of your hair and not hiding it.

Hip-Length Jet Black with Textured Curtain Bangs and Razored Perimeter

Razoring at the ends does most of the heavy lifting. Without it, they can wonder why our version looks flat. You’ll need bottom 6 inches to be sharp cut or razor finished, to feather the edges and make it almost like shredded edges to stop long hair from looking like a curtain. The fringe is soft and falls slightly to one side, where you are able to grow out (or keep) this length without making the fringe look weird. This length is quite a lot. It needs either of fast, thick growing straight hair or fast growing wavy hair, so it doesn’t look stringy after it crosses your chest. With a more rounder face this length on the face framing pieces actually works to elongate your face, and works great with this shape. If your hair is fine, this length will actually bring out the fine looking spots, so you can’t layer it to avoid this.

Hip-Length Natural Curls with Dry-Cut Shaping and No Fringe

Your hair has a lot of impressive density. There is minimal frizz and all the curls stay shiny and sleek past your hips. The type 3A/3B thick hair was dry cut into a layered shoulder length style, removing bulk from the inside. This hair has a high density and the length works because there is already so much of it. This length also adds a lot of volume. Without volume, this length would appear stringy and thin. Tangles will get worse the longer your hair is, however, you have lots of volume, which helps compensate. Your face shape doesn’t matter because your curls frame your face on their own and lightly encase everything underneath.

Hip-Length Dark Brunette with Fine Honey Foils and Piecy Curtain Fringe

The concetration of foils on the midshaft and down means the regrowth won’t happen for some time and the root area continues to be practically undisturbed. The base color is a brunette with deep cool tones while the highlights are a honey color. The highlights are extremely thin and therefore will appear to be light. The weight has been largely removed by the layers, since the interior is layered as well. This style will look stringy on fine hair. The razor cut fringe is the perfect style for people with rounder faces because of how it shredded and will narrow the focus of the face. Everyone will tell you that hair this long and as heavily foiled as this will look dry and very translucent fast. No amount of conditioning will stop this and the bottom will go see through and you will need to get more frequent trims than you’d think.

Beaded Half-Up Braids on Hip-Length Wavy Blonde

These styles rely mostly on beaded chains to create that drama they’re famous for, so this needs plenty of length. Two twists fall on either side of the head and end in a tiara braid after meeting in the center of the crown. The rest of the hair is left loose and wavy past the hips. This style is ideal for very thick hair. It won’t work on fine hair. When you have fine hair, your braid sections will whisper to the world about the presence of your scalp, and the loose section is only going to enhance that. Fine hair is naturally stringy and flat. This style will not work with straight hair. It is a special occasion style. It is not a Tuesday morning before work style. Doing this style will require a lot of time for a hair braid artist to weave in all of those beads.

Hip-Length Jet Black with Wispy Bangs and Blunt Perimeter

The length almost all the way around outlines a strong straight style that thinner hair will struggle to pull off. Thin hair ends have no place to hide, and everything will fall to the same point on the hips. This long, dramatic style balances the overall weight and leaves it still feeling light and airy. The length of the hair is True 1 black with no color warmth, and it breaks up the end color that is black and unforgiving to damaged hair. Burnt ends and frizzy hair will shine for everyone to see with a hairstyle that splits ends in the middle.

Waist-Length Bronde with Sun-Kissed Foils and Sweeping Layers

The action happens on the top layer of this style, the thickest and shortest at the top of the cheekbones. It does not need to extend all the way down. The thickness on the bottom does not go away. Medium to thick textured hair is needed because fine hair won’t hold this style. There will be natural bend and movement in the style even without the use of a curling iron. The base color is cool brown with golden honey and caramel with warm tones. These run through the color heavily around the face and become less prominent in the length of the hair. This style does not look great on everyone, but it works well on people with longer shaped faces. Round faces will think the style adds more roundness. The ends of the hair will be less healthy and less hard to manage than the hair closer to the scalp.

Pearl-Wrapped Pull-Through Braid on Hip-Length Dark Blonde

This style of braid will not work for fine hair. The pull-through braid includes braiding hair into sections that are large enough to pull through the braid to create a rounded, puffy, “pillow-like” effect. Without enough hair density in each section, the braid will lay flat against the scalp with nothing but pearl clips holding the hair in place. The hair shown in this picture is medium to thick, straight hair with dimension and lightened highlights. Each of the braided sections reflects light differently because of the various angles. The pearl accent clips, which neatly conceal themselves in each section of hair, actually have a huge amount of structural importance and hold all of the braided sections all day. The last elastic tied around the hair creates a fun tail. This style looks amazing on people of all hair types. The tricky part of pull-through braids is perfect spacing; this braid is easy, but a second person is needed to see the spacing.

Waist-Length Copper-Kissed Brunette with Windswept Layering and Soft Curtain Fringe

The layers start at the cheekbones and are the weight-bearing layer. If you were to take this layer out, the length loses definition. A lot of people forget to add internal layers, especially on longer hair. But if you look closely you will see that the hair framing this person’s face are razor cut which results in the face framing layers. The brown color of this artwork is not a solid brown, rather copper tones and amber. This reflects light in a much more interesting way than simple processing. The look works best on medium to thick hair types because fine hair will quickly become limp. Oval and heart shape faces look great with this. A lose fringe adds volume and helps balance the length. Use a round brush when styling because it will create lift and allow the layers to frame the fringe.

Hip-Length Dark Brunette with Long Curtain Layers and Tapered Ends

The layering ramp up from the collar bone stops this style from just being a heavy drape of hair. Carefully placed asymmetrical face-framing pieces with one tucked back, the other falling forward, balances the weight of the hair. This style consists of point cutting interior sections to create movement and density, and this is visible by the way the mid sections fall and distinguish themselves. This style works best on thick hair. Thin or splitting hair would show fast at this length because this style heavily relies on length. This style works well for round and oval shaped faces due to the long front pieces. For thinner hair, this would look wispy past the waist.

Waist-Length Butterfly Cut with Warm Caramel Ribbons

The easiest layers start at the cheekbones, and while shorter, this actually requires more work than the length. The layered pieces frame the face and are point-cut. The effect of the points is that the pieces move on their own. This style feels more natural, and less weighed-down, even with a full head of hair, instead of feeling heavy or layered. The hair falls to one side in a “ buttafly” shape. This haircut contains one short layer at collarbone height, with hair length extending below to create a gap in the center big enough to move. Caramel highlights are hand-painted throughout the layers. This particular style is not ideal for low-density hair, as layers are meant to fill out the rest of the hair. It suits an oval or round-shaped face the best, as it creates the perfect framing effect. Unlike traditional haircuts, this looks best without sharp and blunt end lengths, and with texturized edges. This style looks best with some length as the shortest layers at the chest create an awkward ending/focus.

This post The Prettiest Ways to Style Extra-Long Hair Without Hiding the Length, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Deborah Langley, Tucson, Arizona: “I’ve been buying hair brushes my whole life and I honestly have no idea what I’m doing. I just grab whatever looks good or is on sale. My hair is thick and wavy and I feel like I’m always fighting it instead of working with it. Is there actually a science to picking the right brush size? I feel like I’m missing something obvious.”

Deborah, you are absolutely not alone in this, and I want you to know that even people who sit in my salon chair every six weeks, people who spend real money on their hair, have a drawer full of brushes they’ve never used correctly. The brush aisle is genuinely confusing. The packaging never tells you what you actually need to know, and most of us just… grab something and hope for the best.

Here’s what I’ve noticed after years of working behind the chair: the brush is doing more of the styling work than the heat tool in most cases, and nobody talks about that. Get the wrong size paddle brush and you’ll spend forty-five minutes on a blowout that should take fifteen. Get the right barrel size on a round brush and even fine hair can hold a bend through the whole next day. Brush size is genuinely one of the most underrated variables in how your hair turns out, and once you understand it, shopping for tools gets so much easier. So let’s go through this properly, from the brushes that matter least to the one I’d tell you to buy first if you could only pick one.

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8. Oversized Paddle Brushes (The One Most People Buy First and Use Wrong)

The big, wide, flat paddle brush is probably the most purchased brush in America and also one of the most misunderstood. I say this with love because I have one on my own bathroom counter. The issue isn’t the brush itself, it’s that people reach for it when they want a sleek, smooth blowout and then wonder why they’re not getting one. A paddle brush, especially a large one, is a detangling tool and a roughing-out tool. It’s meant for moving volume around, for smoothing long hair when the hair is already mostly dry, for that sweeping pass over a ponytail before you pull it up. It is not a styling brush in the traditional sense.

For thick, wavy hair like yours, Deborah, a paddle brush can be genuinely great in the early stages of a blowout when you’re just trying to get the hair from soaking wet to about seventy percent dry. The Mason Pearson paddle brush is the gold standard and yes, it costs what it costs, but the boar bristle quality is incomparable for smoothing the cuticle. If that price makes you flinch, the Wet Brush Pro paddle is a solid everyday option that works especially well on wet or damp hair without the breakage risk.

Where people go wrong is expecting a paddle to give them that curved, bouncy, inward bend at the ends of a blowout. That’s not its job. Use it to get the bulk of the moisture out and the hair moving in the right direction, then switch to a round brush for the finishing work. I’ve also found that paddle brushes with a mix of boar and nylon bristles tend to work better across a wider range of hair types than all-boar or all-nylon alone. The nylon pins lift and separate while the boar smooths, and that combination is genuinely useful when you’re dealing with thick or coarse texture.

7. Extra-Large Round Brushes (For Long Hair That Needs Big, Loose Movement)

Round brushes come in barrel sizes that are measured in diameter, usually in millimeters, and this is where the real decision-making happens. An extra-large round brush, we’re talking 55mm barrel diameter and above, is built for one specific kind of result: long hair, loose bends, that sweeping movement you see in a blowout where the hair just curves gently away from the face without looking curled. If your hair is past your collarbone and you want body without definition, this is your tool.

The thing about a brush this large is that the barrel doesn’t really curl the hair, it just redirects it. You’re not wrapping tightly, you’re more or less guiding the hair in a direction while the heat sets it there. For someone with fine, long hair who wants volume at the root without any bend at the ends, an extra-large round brush used just at the root and midshaft can add a surprising amount of lift. I used to work with a client who had the most beautiful silver hair, very long and very fine, and the only thing that gave her that full look she wanted was a large Olivia Garden NanoThermic round brush used on the top sections while everything else just dried naturally underneath. Simple, but the result was gorgeous every time.

Where this size fails you is on anything shorter than the collarbone. Below that length, the barrel is just too wide to properly wrap the hair around, and you’ll spend forever trying to get a section to cooperate. It also doesn’t work great on very thick hair unless you have strong wrists and a lot of patience, because you’re essentially trying to tension a lot of hair around a wide surface and keep it taut while the dryer does its thing. Great brush, but very specific in what it’s designed to do well.

6. Large Round Brushes (The Workhorse That Professionals Reach For Most)

Somewhere in the 45mm to 52mm range is where most professional blowouts actually happen, and I think this size gets overshadowed by the extra-large because it looks less impressive on a shelf. But honestly, if I had to recommend one round brush for someone who is shoulder length or longer with medium to thick hair, this is it. It’s large enough to give you movement and body without overcurling, and small enough to actually wrap a full section cleanly without the hair slipping off the barrel every five seconds.

The Dyson Airwrap large barrel falls into this general category, which is part of why it works for so many people, the size is genuinely versatile. For a more traditional brush, the Ibiza hair round brush is what I have on my station and what I’ve been using for years. The tension is good, the bristles don’t catch or snag, and it holds up to daily professional use in a way that cheaper brushes just don’t.

For thick, wavy hair specifically, this size is where you get the most useful result per effort. You can use it to pull the wave out and set the hair straighter if that’s what you want, or you can roll the ends under or away and get a soft bend that makes wavy hair look intentional rather than frizzy and unpredictable. I’d say this is the size I personally reach for about sixty percent of the time, across all hair types that come through my chair. It’s just reliable in a way that feels good when you’re in a hurry.

5. Medium Round Brushes (The Curl-Setter for Shoulder-Length Hair)

This is around the 35mm to 42mm range, and this is where blowouts start to look more styled and less just-smoothed-out. At this barrel size, you’re actually wrapping the hair enough to set a real bend, something that will hold through the day and look like you made an effort. For anyone with a shoulder-length cut, a lob, a long bob, this size is basically designed for you. The wrap is tight enough to create shape but not so tight that it looks like you curled your hair with an iron.

I had a client a few years back who had been fighting her lob for months, convinced she needed layers or a different cut, when what she actually needed was to swap her large paddle brush for a medium round. We did her blowout at the sink before her haircut and she literally said “that’s what I wanted, that’s the whole thing I was trying to get” and we hadn’t even touched her hair with scissors yet. That happens more than you’d think. The cut gets all the credit but often it’s just the right tool doing what it’s supposed to do.

The T3 Voluminous round brush in medium is one I recommend a lot for home use because the barrel heats up from the dryer airflow and holds that heat, which helps the style set faster. The Conair Pro round brush is a completely respectable drugstore option that works well if you’re not ready to invest in a higher-end brush yet. Medium round is also the size I’d suggest if you’re just learning how to blowout your own hair, because it’s forgiving enough that small technique mistakes don’t ruin the whole result.

4. Small Round Brushes (For Short Hair and Precision Styling)

We’re in the 25mm to 32mm territory now, and this is a brush that a lot of women with medium or long hair never buy, which is a shame because it’s incredibly useful for specific situations even if you’re not working with a pixie or a short bob. Any time you want to really define movement around the face, smooth out a cowlick, add curl to a shorter fringe, or style the pieces around your ears, a small round brush gives you a level of control that larger brushes simply can’t.

For short haircuts, this size is non-negotiable. A pixie cut done with a medium round brush looks puffy and unresolved. Done with a small round, the sections wrap tight, the styling is precise, and the result actually looks like the cut your stylist gave you instead of something that’s just drying in its own direction. I’ve done a lot of short cuts over the years and I always finish with a small round on the perimeter to get those pieces to sit exactly right.

The Denman small round brush is a classic for a reason, sturdy, reliable, bristles that don’t shed after two weeks. If you have short hair or you’re growing out a bob and dealing with that in-between length awkwardness, keep a small round brush in your kit. It’s also really good for anyone doing a blowout on bangs, whether they’re curtain bangs, side-swept, or blunt across the forehead. The small barrel gives you enough control to smooth the bang flat or roll it slightly without it looking like a sausage.

3. Boar Bristle Brushes (The Type That Changes How Your Hair Feels, Not Just Looks)

Okay, this is where I want to take a slight detour from size and talk about bristle type, because for the older female audience especially, this matters enormously and it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. As hair gets finer with age, or drier, or more prone to static and breakage, the bristle composition of your brush becomes just as important as the barrel size. Boar bristle brushes distribute your scalp’s natural oils down the hair shaft in a way that no product can fully replicate, and the difference in shine and softness is genuinely real and not just marketing.

The Mason Pearson brush is the one every stylist mentions and I know it’s an investment, but I’ve had mine for nine years and it still performs. If you’re not ready for that price point, the Diane boar bristle brush is a much more accessible option that still does the core job well. I will say that pure boar bristle brushes don’t work great on very thick or coarse hair because the bristles can’t really penetrate the density, and that’s where a mixed bristle brush, boar plus nylon pins, gives you the best of both worlds.

Using a boar bristle brush on dry hair before bed, just a hundred strokes sounds like something your grandmother told you and it kind of is, distributes oils beautifully and reduces the need for as much product the next morning. I started doing this myself a couple of years ago and my hair genuinely needs less dry shampoo between washes now. It won’t replace your round brush for blowout styling, but as a finishing and maintenance tool, there is nothing else quite like it.

2. Cushion Brushes with Mixed Bristles (The Underrated Daily Driver)

This is the brush I think most people should actually have in their everyday rotation, and it’s the one that gets the least attention because it doesn’t look fancy or specialized. A cushion brush, the kind with a pneumatic base that gives a little when you press it against your scalp, with a mix of boar and nylon bristles, is the most versatile styling and maintenance brush available. It detangles without breakage, smooths the cuticle while adding a little tension, and works on wet or dry hair without tearing through it.

The cushion base is the key feature here because it reduces the force transmitted to the hair shaft when you hit a tangle. That matters a lot for anyone dealing with fine, aging, or color-treated hair where breakage is already a concern. A stiff brush on a knot yanks. A cushion brush gives, and that little bit of give protects your hair over hundreds of brush strokes. The Cricket Centrix cushion brush is one I’ve recommended more times than I can count, and the Spornette cushion brush is another solid option that holds up really well over time.

For Deborah’s thick, wavy hair specifically, I’d suggest a large cushion brush with nylon pins that are long enough to actually reach through the density. The short pins on cheaper cushion brushes just skim the surface and don’t do much. Look for pins that are at least 10mm long if your hair is thick. Used with a dryer in the roughing-out stage, a good cushion brush can reduce frizz significantly just by smoothing the cuticle as the hair dries, before you ever even pick up a round brush. It’s boring-looking tool that does a lot of quiet, important work.

1. A Medium-Barrel Round Brush with Boar-Nylon Bristles in the 38mm-45mm Range (The One Brush That Actually Changes Everything)

I know I said this a little already in section six, but I want to come back to it here and be really specific because this is genuinely the answer to Deborah’s question and to the question most women are actually asking when they’re standing in the brush aisle feeling overwhelmed. If you could only own one quality hair brush, one brush that would handle the majority of your styling needs from a light blowout to a full smooth finish, a mixed bristle round brush in the 38mm to 45mm range is it. Not the most expensive, not the fanciest, just the most genuinely useful across the widest range of situations.

The boar bristle component smooths the cuticle as you roll the section, which means you’re getting shine and frizz control built into the blowout process rather than having to apply finishing products afterward to compensate for what your brush didn’t do. The nylon pins create the tension you need to actually stretch and smooth wavy or thick hair, because pure boar bristle alone can’t grip coarse or dense hair properly. The 38mm to 45mm barrel is large enough to give you body and movement without making you fight to wrap the sections, and small enough to actually work on shoulder-length or slightly shorter hair.

My specific recommendation here, the one I would hand to a client to take home, is the Olivia Garden Ceramic Ion round brush in medium. The ceramic barrel holds heat evenly, the mixed bristles are properly balanced between smooth and grip, and the handle is comfortable enough to use for a full blowout without your wrist giving out. I’ve also seen good results from the Drybar round brushes, which are designed specifically for home use and have a slightly easier learning curve. If you pair either of these with a good ionic hair dryer like the Revlon One-Step Volumizer or the Shark HyperAir for more of an investment, you will be genuinely surprised at what you can do at home with your own two hands. The brush is that important, and getting this one right makes everything else easier.

So What Does This All Add Up To?

For Deborah, and honestly for a lot of you reading this, I’d suggest starting with two brushes: a large cushion brush with mixed bristles for detangling and roughing out, and a medium round in that 38mm to 45mm range for finishing. That’s it. You don’t need a whole collection. You need the right two tools used with some intention, and your blowout routine will feel completely different within a week.

The thing about the right brush is that it stops fighting you. Your arm gets less tired, the hair cooperates more, the result lasts longer, and you stop feeling like you’re doing it wrong. Which you weren’t, Deborah. You just had the wrong tools. And now you don’t have to.

This post Hair Brush Size Guide (The Hair Tool Guide Every Girl Should Save), was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The most misunderstood thing about layers on medium length hair is that they allegedly make hair look short. This is what I get told most by new clients. They think their layered haircut will take away their length that they grew out over so much time. The purpose of a layered approach on medium length hair is to shift the weight. The actual length does not come off. It just makes the hair hang and rest on the shoulders. This actually makes the hair look longer and fuller than the bedraggled line hanging down with limp hair that it previously was.

A client of mine saw this with good results. Her medium length hair was healthy, but dull. She said she hadn’t gotten a haircut in over a year because she didn’t want to lose any length. I put in some internal layers and framed the hair around her face. She lost the length of one line in the process. Three days later she sent me a text to say that her husband thought she got hair extensions put in. Hair that is layered and free of weight looks healthier and fuller. The focus is on the movement and less on the shape that was cut.

Bouncy Brunette Blow-Out Layers with Soft Side-Swept Fringe

The flip at the ends comes from round brush work, not the actual cut. The layers will lay flat on your face without the flip. The cut is a medium-length angled layer with pointed ends to keep the movement while allowing fullness at the edges. The hair is straight to just a touch of a wave. The side sweep bangs blend into facial framing layers nicely. It’s a great cut for an oval face shape. Round face shapes will experience width due to the side volume, and this style may not be flattering. This cut will not have the same outcome if you air dry and go.

Reddish Auburn Shoulder-Length Layers with Soft Curtain Fringe on Medium-Density Hair

Think of quick fades? This auburn needs cool color safe shampoo so you can probably expect to do touch ups around every 4-5 weeks. From that expectation, it seems you’d rather have it deep and rich. The cut is a point cut with layers around the cheekbone and collarbone, with a wispy fringe that naturally splits. What makes this cut unique is that the layers come through around the mid lengths and are not even down to the ends. This means that the cut has movement and does not look blunt and heavy. The cut looks best with medium density hair with a slight wave. On fine hair you’ll lose the movement. Oval and Heart shaped faces benefit the most from the length of this curtain fringe. These pieces will not close your face off, but on round faces, they create length and elongate your face.

Rich Espresso Collarbone Lob with Soft Wave and Hidden Interior Texturing

This style is different from the rest. Each curl is textured. Most medium-density hair falls to about shoulder length and bluntly styled hair tends to fall into a triangular shape, but that isn’t a problem with this style. It is perfect for the oval and heart face shapes. The length adds just the right amount of balance horizontally without dominating the lower region of the face. The color is a “deep espresso brown”. For newly dyed hair, it looks glossy. For it to appear glossy, your hair has to be healthy too. Anything unhealthy about the hair will cause your hair to become dull and flat. Fine hair won’t hold this wave pattern without straightening it daily.

Warm Toffee Balayage on a Textured Collarbone Lob with Soft Interior Movement

I shall begin by covering the ends. As much as many people don’t enjoy the blunt ends, Truth be told, there are a lot of features to like. For starters, most of the time, these ends are blunt and are disguised, and that’s what adds the rest of the cut. The bottom-most part of the ends (which are more thick in this texture of hair) and the upper (more thin) layers are the real busy-bodies. This is what people consider medium density hair. A balayage usually goes lower through the hair, but this is pretty forgiving, and only takes about 4 weeks to grow out. Warm caramels and toffee look perfect framed around this dark chocolate brown hairstyle, and are a perfect base to this look. Face-framing hair which ends just above the shoulders, in combination with some subtle curls along the jawline really show off your features. This cut is not for those with naturally fine hair, as it creates width where you generally want to avoid it.

Chestnut Brunette Collarbone Lob with Long Face-Framing Pieces and Beveled Ends

This style is clean thanks to bottom inward bevel. A bit of mid-density straight hair needs the help of product or brushing. The front pieces past the chin frame the face to an ideal oval shape for folks with an otherwise more rounded face. There is absolutely nothing fussy about this cut. It’s for straight hair, and it won’t work for curly hair. The chestnut hair color is warm with dimension in the mid-lengths, and so it gives off a look that’s a little highlighted, but natural. Fine hair that is longer than layers will lay flat and fall to the sides.

Warm Brunette Shoulder-Length Lob with Flippy Layered Ends and Side-Swept Face Framing

These layers start at her cheekbones, and they work the wonders for her oval face. Medium-density cut, slide-cut layers. They prevent clumping. That means each piece will flip and separate on its own without looking stringy. The left has more volume than the right. This is intentional, due to the side part which begins at her left crown and moves to her right hairline. This cut will add shape and volume to a flat crown in the morning, but will lose this volume by noon. Volume is important for this cut. This cut is not discourage you to book the appointment, as it fits most women with wavy to straight, medium to thick hair and warm brunette with base and some lighter pieces around the mid lengths. This cut is not recommended for round face shapes because the layers will widen the face.

Lived-In Blonde Collarbone Lob with Soft Waves and Shadow Root

This style refutes the bad reputation that shadow root has due to the hand painted buttery blonde balayage blending effortlessly into blended tessy lights that give an audacious tousled grown out look. It won’t need a touch up for six weeks. A blunt bob, chin length with long layers cut internally will allow hair to bend and move. The layered perimeter allows hair to sway even without weighing down the layers. Asymmetrical internal layering creates a soft bend and keeps the shape of waves by not concentrating the weight to the ends, which will fall naturally. This style will only look the way it’s supposed to on hair with density. Face framing layers are the focus of hair that is chin length and longer on oval and heart shaped faces. Round faces should focus on length long than this.

Warm Caramel Wavy Layers with Soft Arched Bangs on Medium-Dense Hair

Bangs legitimately help here. They are cut more toward the center then blended into the face-framing pieces using a slide cut. This helps them fall naturally without looking too sharp. This style also has a pretty simple design but it all comes together to help calls the style effortless. This collarbone length haircut has internal pieces that start around the cheek bone. The wave pattern created with an intentional curl or natural wave keeps this a voluminous style. The ends have an intentional point cutting that is spaced out to avoid weighted-out hair. This is a great style for round and oval shaped faces. With naturally fine hair or particularly low density hair this style will likely fall and lose the intention of the layers. The bangs will also end up separating from the rest of the hair.

Cool Ash Brunette Collarbone Waves with Wispy Curtain Fringe and Disconnected Layers

Short pieces begin just below the chin. Since these pieces are cut disconnected from the length, they push and create a full perimeter up to the collarbone. Short layers actually have a lot of lift because of the texure. As for the texture being filled in, it creates a lot of dimension and movement. The pieces also work great for medium density hair with a slight wave. The style also works great because the thin wispy bang is not overpowering on a small forehead or heart shaped face. The layers are cut straight across, which actually show how little hair you have with the midsection. The neutral brown ash is a low maintenance color. It’s most likely one tone color over previously lightened hair. The top is long and grown out. Short pieces add the perfect style to a full shag, which is less committal.

Soft Brunette Collarbone Shag with Feathered Face Frame and Piece-y Interior Layers

The short face-framing layers should be left a little longer to graze your cheekbones. These layers are arranged so they capture light and fall separately. This style has volume and texture (but not too much) that works great on oval and heart-shaped faces. The cheekbone-framing style won’t widen any features and will look best and keep dimension on more defined features. This style will lose dimension on round faces. These bangs are long and wispy, but grown out enough to be styled and swept to the side. Without product these layers will go flat on very fine hair by noon.

Warm Auburn Shoulder-Length Layers with Thin Wispy Bangs and Flipped Ends

The bangs that came from this shop are impressive. They’re cut to the right thickness and spacing, and include a center split to fit smaller foreheads without looking crammed. The detail most will miss is that the density of this fringe has been reduced for the sake of the face so this is a dense hair cut at a low to medium density. The straight to slightly wavy hair is cut longer and frames the face. The warm auburn single process with no dimension looks fantastic in this style. This frame is great for round or oval shaped faces as the side pieces land at the jawline for great definition. If you have thick hair this frame will feel to heavy as the flips won’t stay. The layering is good as the hair isn’t resisting and complements the frame quite well.

Sandy Blonde Blowout Layers with Curtain Fringe on Medium-Density Straight Hair

The longest layer starts a little above the collar bone, and the shortest almost touch the cheek bone. In this style, spacing in the hair line makes a big difference. This style is a medium density, round blow out with a light wave to straight hair. The ends are cut with lots of layers that flip out. The heavy cheek layering is sandy blonde, and heavily foiled at the root to give dimension. The framing layers are tapered and side swept, and are longest in the bangs. This style works well with oval and heart face shapes. The framing layers that start at the cheekbone, will make the face appear round instead of oval like a heart shaped face. This cut should never be air dried. Every time you style this hair you should use a round brush, and focus on every single direction.

Ash Blonde Collarbone Lob with Invisible Layers and a Deep Side Part

These layers are impressive. Take for example how the weight around the interior has been removed to create a natural shape where the ends taper without any stepping. This looks great because it’s point cutting. The cuts are made on straight, medium density hair, and this is done well. The textured blunt cut is creating great length on her round face. It’s especially impressive length around the cheekbone. That whole blunt cut is purposely made to create length and depth on an asymmetrical face. It’s spectacularly precise. The ash blonde color looks great on warm skin tones and was done intentionally. This is a color that needs a toner treatment. Without it, this cool toned base will go brassy in no time. If you aren’t prepared to have brass, don’t get this color. The weighted short pieces at the end of the style will solve the problem straight to wavy hair faces who don’t have layers.

Ash Beige Layered Cut with Soft Fringe and Flipped Ends on Straight Medium Hair

This cut teaches us the importance of the turned-under ends. Without these ends, the cut would be flat. Seeing how the look in the picture shows curled hair, or straightened hair with a round brush, we can see the importance of these ends. This cut has layers that are point-cut. This means that layers are focused in one area, but it is done with gradual cuts. This helps bulk in that area to be less, while still allowing fullness in the crown. This color is about an ash beige blonde. This is likely a dark base lift and the root shadow is noticeable enough to make the grow-out a bit cleaner for a few weeks. This fringe, side-parted, is great for a round face. This style will work for medium to fine density hair. This cut is for straight hair, so someone with curly hair would not be able to pull this off.

Dark Curly Collarbone Cut with Internal Layers for Natural Movement

This cut has layers on the inside of the shape rather than on the outside. This allows for more volume and helps avoid the stringy look when curls don’t stack on top of one another. This is a collarbone length layered cut for medium to thick 2C/3A curls, and was cut dry. Cutting this type of curl texture wet often leads to uneven and excessive amounts of spring when left untagged. The face framing layers are just barely past her cheekbones. This cut helps to lift her oval shaped face and avoids too much shortening. Due to this design, it is not recommended for fine or sparse curls because they will lack shape. With bolder curls, it is designed to be the main focal point. The single process dark brunette color is a complement to the design of the cut and helps neatly tie everything together instead of looking too messy.

Natural Brunette Collarbone Layers with Point-Cut Ends and No Fringe

Each layer has one purpose and does it best. They do not eliminate length, but they do reduce weight from the mid-shaft area. The most inner layers are the shortest and are just above the cheekbones, whereas the outer layers taper beautifully and straight to the collarbone and help to straighten and keep medium density hair from falling flat and lifeless. Point-cutting provides that textured finish. Now, this technique is not recommended for fine hair as it will not hold a shape, and we do not recommend this cut for fine hair as I mentioned earlier in the post. For people with straight and medium to thick hair, this cut is easy to maintain. This cut is very suitable for most people with an oval or heart face shape. I also think this single-process brown color looks fantastic on this hair.

Warm Chestnut Collarbone Cut with Slide-Cut Layers and a Soft Center Part

One side tucks and the other side pushes out. That’s what makes this asymmetrical slide-cut appearance seem like there’s no style. While this style looks easy to pull off, it actually is pretty tricky. This is a collarbone grazing long cut for straight medium density hair that has a rich, single-process chestnut brown. This style won’t work for fine hair. There needs to be some length and some layers starting around the chin. This style needs a lot of weight to create the movement that is uplifted. Flat or wispy hair won’t work for this style. Oval and heart shaped faces will look better with this style than the rest, since it frames the face and exposes the cheekbones with the middle part. For people with a lot of straight hair, this is a good style to frame and pull back.

Wavy Black Shag With Choppy Bangs at Shoulder Length

You did a great job with your Bangs! They are angled ever so slightly on the curve to compliment the wave pattern. They were nicely finished at the brow line. Since they compliment the wave pattern, they look natural and not styled. This is a shag cut, shoulder length, on thick, naturally wavy hair. Razor cut layers help to break the volume on the crown of the hair. The layers that fall closer to the face, lift, while the hair that falls below and under the face, stays close. This is what creates the style. People with round or oval face shapes will look the best in this style. People with thin or straight hair will never see this style. A lot of density is key to this style for the best texture. Without it, the layers just fall flat.

Copper Red Collarbone Cut with Wispy Bangs and Razored Ends

Although a solid red finish can be visually appealing, copper really shows off its color when the razored layers catch the light in multiple dimensions. This collarbone-length style with medium thick hair has layers that begin around the cheekbone and flare out slightly. Bangs that are wispy frame a round face with this style because they leave your forehead visible and resist closing your face. This copper red has a warmth to it that will fade, so you will want to tone these reds every few weeks to avoid the copper turning to an orange-brass. These frames nicely frame the jawline on upside down teardrop shaped faces and heart faces.

Honey Blonde Feathered Layers with Wispy Bangs on Medium-Density Hair

These layers are right above the cheekbones and are essential as they expand out to create more width for the midface (Cheekbone area) which gives the appearance of longer faces and creates an imbalance to rounder face shapes. With this short point cut layering, it complements hair with a straight or slightly wavy texture of medium thickness. It also contains fragile warm honey blonde highlights that are placed on a darker base. The highlights prevent a stripey appearance. The bangs are longer in the middle and shorter around the temples. It takes precision to cut this way. It works well on fine, flat hair and if you do not wear a blowout with a round brush it will lose its shape and volume by lunch.

Warm Brunette Shoulder-Length Layers with Caramel Foil Highlights and Flipped Ends

The first layer starts at the cheekbone, and helps create a lot of volume at the top. This cut features medium density with longer face framing layers and extra layers in the back that are stacked on top of each other. It features caramel highlights that have been placed throughout the layers. It isn’t flat; it follows the movement. Adding technique can be very clever. It flatters most oval and heart shapes because the cheekbone layers add width to a narrow chin and a round face where you want to create more width. This cut flatters fine hair the least because it will fall the way it wants to without product. Fine hair does not hold the flipped ends as shown here.

Curly Layered Lob with Sun-Kissed Highlights

Springy curls start at the cheekbones with this cut. They avoid giving a downturned appearance. The placement of the layers is equally as important. This is a naturally curly and medium density cut that falls above the collar bone. We hand paint balayage to keep your roots warm brown, and we blend them into your mid lengths and the ends a light brown honey blonde. This cut is perfect for round or even square faces because of the shorter curtain pieces surrounding the face. Looser curls like 2C tend to blow out and lose the shape that this cut is designed for.

Layering is an important part of giving volume to someone’s hair. This means curls that individually have a lot of bounce and definition. This cut looks great on thick hair because it frames the face and adds volume. With fine hair and sparse hair, this cut will make your hair thinner and more sparse with no volume.

Layered Curly Shag With Short Bangs on Dense Hair

This is some serious work! Those bangs are cut dry, just above the brow and avoid falling into the eye thanks to the curls having so much natural spring and lift. This length would be boring and outdated for straight or wavy hair. Graduated slide-cut layers build height on the crown and help lift the weight of the curls, and layered short hair in the back helps the curls lift away from the back of the neck. Without those layers, this style would be a triangle on the neck that is too loose and curly. This style works best for thick curly hair that gets to the collarbone. This style would completely flatten on people with loose curls on top with the ends pouffing out. It’s definitely not a styling issue – it’s a textural issue.

Before and After Collarbone Lob with Face-Framing Layers

This has a similar effect as a before and after photo. The HAIR in the before image appears to be visually longer, but lacks movement, and looks thin and flat due to pull at the face length. The AFTER looks like it has 4 inch loss. But, it has so much more movement. The stylist placed mid-length to short inner layered faced framing pieces that are cut to kick out at the cheekbones. This style adds width to her oval face. Honey Balayage pieces are placed in the front and really catch light in the area that the layers are bent in. A blowdry is completely necessary for this style in order to really define the style for curly or coarse hair. The face framing layers will grow out in about 6 weeks, but will loose the flick.

Textured Shoulder-Length Cut with Soft Curtain Bangs and Warm Brunette Balayage

With this style most people overlook the fact that the shortest layer actually starts below the chin to create an effect of lifting the crown. This style has a medium density, medium length curly style hair cut. The layers have a point cut and curtain bang style and are cut straight across and start right above the brow. The balayage on this particular style is more subtle and frames the face and the ends, and still keeps the root area a warm brown. This style would look great on someone with an oval face, and this style would not look great on someone with a round face. If you have straight hair that has no texture, you will have to style it everyday to prevent it from looking flat.

This post Layers Make Medium-Length Hair Feel Lighter While Keeping Its Versatile Length, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

A feathered bob can be especially flattering as your hair becomes finer, less dense, or changes texture with age. The right layering creates softness around your face while giving the crown a fuller appearance without relying on heavy styling or teasing.

I prefer feathering that keeps enough weight through the bottom, especially on fine hair, because overly thinned or razored ends can quickly make a bob look wispy. Strategically placed layers can also soften the jawline, bring attention toward your cheekbones, and help silver or gray hair fall with more movement instead of looking stiff.

Whether you prefer something short and polished or soft and tousled, keep going to find the feathered bob that deserves a spot at your next salon appointment.

Tousled Ash Blonde Bob with Feathered Waves

This chin length bob is stacked at the crown on top to create movement through length, and avoid building bulk at the bottom. Ash-blonde enhances natural silvers. Highlights can help with hiding root growth, but longer up keep is expected with the blended roots look. If you have some natural bounce, this style won’t need much work for you. Straight hair will need work every single day, so keep that in mind. This bob style is great for those with heart and oval shaped faces as the width at the cheekbones helps to balance a defined jaw line. Looseness around the ears is very intentional, and is achieved with Point cutting. This leaves the ends very soft and feathered.

Close-Cropped Silver Pixie with Feathered Top Layers

The tapered neckline helps to define the length of the hair. The hair is shorter in the back than the rest of the hair. The best part about this style is that it is simple but looks good on people of all ages. This style looks great on women with round faces because of the way the hair on the side sweeps in and is the shortest part on the hair style.The front of the hair has movement and the length helps to slim the width of the rest of the face. The roots are left dark with the rest of the hair being blonde. This helps to add dimension to the style. Thick, course hair textures are not beginner friendly. If you are coarse, textured hair type this style will actually create a large puff of hair instead of the thin movement sweeping the hair to the side.

Buttery Blonde Chin-Length Bob with Feathered Flip and Root Warmth

The ends flip and angle away from the body of the hair to create a shape that is medium-density and chin-length instead of looking like hair is covered in a helmet. Hair that is layered and cut with texturing razor scissors and/or point texturizing shears stops too much separation while adding thickening volume. This hair color is a effortless way to add dimension to your hair with a very natural butter blonde base, which is grow out to show your natural root with a very slight and natural darkening. This cut is flattering on people with oval faces and heart face shapes especially, and round face shapes will dislike this cut with no volume on the sides. This cut works well for people that like outward volume and displaying their bone structure since it has no fringe. Those that do not like to show off their face should avoid this cut.

Warm Brunette Feathered Crop with Sun-Kissed Pieces and Neck-Grazing Length

Longest pieces end right at the jawline and kick out, rather than curling under. That’s razor work, not blunt shears. The cut is overall light with no blocky sections. The base is a natural medium brown with fine babylights placed around the face. The color base is low maintenance with this cut. This will show well on medium thick hair that has natural texture and wave. Round and oval face shapes will appreciate the added volume to the temples. If you have straight and flat hair, don’t expect the volume with this cut unless you are willing to style your hair every day.

Mushroom Blonde Feathered Bob with Layered Side Sweep

The longest pieces touch right at the jawline and kick out. That flip isn’t natural, it’s actually with layers, which cut weight out of the mid-shaft and create fullness the rest of the way. It’s a mushroom blonde color with some highlights that help with grays. This is a medium density cut, meaning thin hair won’t give off much volume, and thick hair won’t give off much puffy ends. Round and oval shaped faces can wear the side bangs because the bangs create an angle to break up the fullness on the sides of the face. Movement is lost when no heat application is used on the hair with a styling tool to smooth the hair and give it shape.

Feathered Steel and Charcoal Bob with Bright Silver Streaking

These aren’t highlights; they’re gray intentionally left natural and gray laid over darker tones to add even more contrast. Contrast is an excellent natural way to highlight and medium-density hair can lack dimension. This is a chin-length bob with feathered, razor-cut layers to create the soft, flicked end. The mouth of this bob is also flared slightly to open the style up on the jaw line, making it a great style for round and fuller faces. Look closely at how the style concentrates volume at the top and how length is created at the side bang with bang length pulled sideways. This style is done with at least medium density. With some volume this is a daytime style for flat, thin hair with fine hair not holding the shape.

Chin-Length Brunette Bob with Feathered Layers and Soft Caramel Ribbons

What do you notice in that crown? The layers are chopped right at pixie length. The reason for that is volume. This dries with great hold and you don’t have to spray up high to tease or pile a bunch of product in the crown because it’s chin length in the back with feathered ends that fall out slightly to the sides. This cut is perfect for medium density hair. For fine hair, the crown will be lacking volume before noon. Thick hair will leave the cut lacking definition at the crown and crisp. The caramel highlights that fall right at mid length add a cool dark brown root. This will create an easier grow out for other sections of the hair. This cut is much more even and looks great on oval or round face shapes. This style needs a round brush blowout or else you’re just going to get a flat, unintentional style that lacks volume.

Warm Auburn Short Crop with Razored Feathering and Copper Glints

These styles have a crown that is cut much shorter so that there is a lot of texture around the jawline. With razor cut layers, the hair is given shape, while fine density hair is kept lifted. The base color is a warm copper brown. Brown copper highlights reflect light through the hair. The top is highly textured but does not have a striped appearance. Along with many straight lines, this cut is great to slim down (with extra width). The oval and heart faces will pull this look off best. Avoid this look with a round face. Since these cuts focus on texture, women with thick or course hair may not appreciate this look.

Chin-Length Icy Blonde Bob with Feathered Side Sweep and Darker Root Shadow

This crown has heavy-duty, dark hues for the roots that do the heavy lifting to add volume. Shadow ash roots with some level 7, icy platinum ends, provide the density that a single-process blonde cannot achieve on medium textured hair. The mid-lengths and ends are point cut and demonstrate a soft round flipped effect as opposed to being cut to hang straight. This style is flattering for round and oval-shaped faces because of the side-swept fringe. The length of this style with the side-swept fringe creates the illusion and spacing of a longer face to offset a lack of volume. It also helps to hide a lack of volume disguise a neck that is bare rather than frame the neck with hair. The style frames the scalp, creating an illusion of density loss and length. Angle the layers to frame your jaw in a more soft, elegant way. The soft touch adds length to the style and grows out beautifully.

Warm Brunette Ear-Length Cut with Feathered Side Fringe

Some of the longest, most eye catching styles are asymmetrical, tapering cuts behind one ear. The length enhances your cheekbones.It also has a base color of brown and has thin highlights woven through the crown and fringe that reflect light as the feathering spreads. It having a razor finish and medium density requires a lot of maintenance, which impacts very thick hair most, as the same style on very thick hair would induce lots of volume and puff instead of laying flat. Square face shapes least enjoy this style, as it also most emphasizes the width of a square face shape. It also loses volume by noon on very fine, flat hair.

Razored Bronde Bob with Choppy Feathered Movement

Here’s the secret: the crown layers are cut much shorter than the perimeter. This is why this style looks lifted without the use of any product. This is a razor cut style meaning each piece is definition separated. This is a medium density bob cut at chin length, in a bronde shade with cool ash highlights and a warm brunette base. The warmth and coolness in the highlights adds a good amount of dimension. This style works great on fuller rounder faces as the layers cut at the jaw break up the fullness of the face without being too sharp. This style has a lot of body and wave so straight styles will not hold this style. A lot of flat straight hair will give you a much less defined stylish look.

Textured Steel and Ash Crop with Piecy Feathered Fringe

Notice the layers at the crown. See how they are cut at different lengths? From barely an inch to almost three inches? This layering is what provides all the volume and can be done without backcombing and product. This technique is razor work and provides tapered ends rather than blunt. This is definitely my favorite cut! I love that the natural salt and pepper is left in the hair because the variation of dark roots and light ends grows volume. This shape is definitely great for people with round and oval faces. It is great for growing the appearance of the face because of the pieced out sections at the temples. The longer the face is, the more you should stay away from this style. This style needs a lot of hair to take shape. Long, thin hair is not going to help grow this style. By the end of the day, the style will lay completely flat.

Collarbone-Grazing Blonde Bob with Lowlight Depth and Curtain Fringe

Here you can see the impact lowlights have on overall style. Replace the darker hair strands and it would appear dull and flat. In fine hair it’s imperative to have some of these pieces in. This style falls just below the chin and has layers that face out slightly. This naturally styled feathered curtain bangs add texture and frame without closing in. All lengths are lined with a point so pieces don’t form a straight line and look blunt/helmet like. This style works well with average thickness hair as it has volume and definition. Thin hair will not pull off this look well the volume is not there and the feathered ends will fall flat. This is a buttery warm blonde with sandy brown lowlights throughout the interior and without babylights which helps make the style more dynamic. It looks great aired dried.

Rich Chocolate Feathered Bob with Swept Bangs and Crown Volume

You can see layers that are shorter than the rest at the crown line. This cut works with medium density hair and finess with detail razoring. It frames the face with bangs and connects to the rest of the face framing layers on the forehead. This offers a flattering look to both oval and heart face shapes. On round face shapes, this look will make the face appear wider. The uniform depth of this style balances with the focus on the shape, which is excellent. This style requires a trip to the salon. The crown gets volume and a feathered edge when blow dried, and in order to create this style, you will need to go to the salon.

Dark Feathered Bob with Silver Threading and Wispy Fringe

The silver highlights in this hair color are more like accents. They’re part of grays and draw attention to the natural woven gray. They came from a deep charcoal base. I cut this hair just below the chin and put in point-cut layers. These frame the cut to make it effortless while still frantic, without the need for product. This cut is perfect for medium density hair, whereas straight, thick hair won’t work. I recommend the feathering to be natural and this will be the best for this hairstyle. Waving your hair and allowing it to go natural will show off the best for this cut. This is a great way to draw attention to your gray hair for your hair with some wave.

Layered Warm Brunette Bob with Highlighted Feathering

Look at the before. This hair is medium-density, flat and lifeless. Without support, it loses all structure. Here, it is straight down at the crown and frizzes out in all other directions. The top short layers are sitting right at the crown. I used a razor to guide the hair for outward growth. This will create a lot of volume with no product needed. Feathered, graduated bob layers with longer front pieces to frame the face. This bob is short and layered at the back with length at the front. Cool ash blonde and warm brunette highlights reflect light and add dimension to the layering. The layering helps to slim and brighten a round or full face. This hairstyle requires a good hair density because this cut will not hold otherwise.

Warm Copper-Blonde Short Bob with Feathered Crown Lift

That crown volume is honestly not due to backcombing or build up and this is definitely not a lazy cut. In this instance the layers were razored shorter which has given the cut overall height. See how close the length on the sides gets to graze the jawline and how much length the back has. The back is also short. This cut relies a lot on hair density. If you have enough hair to hold the structure then this cut is polished for any density hair. For fine hair, side pieces will straighten and expose your scalp. The color is a cool caramel brown with some dimensions, pulled through the layers to show movement. This side swept bang is great for anyone with a rounder face, especially those with a fuller face. This cut is not a great idea for people with square jaws.

Caramel-Kissed Brunette Bob with Flipped Feathered Ends

Purposeful flipped ends rely on precision and a completed razor cut executed at an angle. Angled razor cuts move hair ends to naturally lift, which prevents the hair from curling underneath. It creates volume and movement with a more carefree effect. It also uses warm brunette as a base color with fine caramel highlights midshaft that will help reflect light, especially along the thinnest part of the hair. It’s medium density chin-length to the jawline with a side-swept fringe with longest layers with the added benefit of flatters round and oval faces with a blunt cut and side-swept style. This is because the width of the hair is moved to the jawline, rather than the cheeks. The texture of this style is best for fine straight hair and should not be attempted with curly and thick hair textures. It also should not be used to control coarse hair types.

Feathered Brunette Bob with Blonde Foils and Deep Side Part

Draw the side part down to the center of the lower forehead (a center part would be less flattering to this face shape). The ends taper and feather inward to a jaw line length. The side and back of the head are kept dark, while the front of the head is highlighted with a strong foiling technique. This is the perfect placement for a medium density hair style like this. Hair that is any less dense will be flat and limp and not stay in this style. All of the front pieces and full Bangs ideally should fall past the chin to flatter both Round and Fuller faces. The finish is great for anyone that has coarse or wavy hair.

Short Feathered Brunette with Razor-Cut Texture and Honey Highlights

With the addition of a crown volume, this style really flourishes. We have stacked layers that are razor-cut to fan out with side tapering that hooks up to the ear and feathering to the neckline. The stacking of layers really gives the illusion of fullness to a finer medium hair length. Honey brown highlights have been added throughout the upper layers, with the base layer brushed up a warm brown in a natural darker hue, which adds depth without being a processed highlight. This short bob style really feels like a pixie in the back. The style does work with a thin finer hair, however is not recommend for coarser thick hair. This length is great on an oval face shape and heart shape, however round face shapes with larger jaw lines feels more full and is complementary.

Cropped Feathered Waves in Natural Pepper and Steel

The layers at the crown provide the most volume and give the appearance of the cut being full and heavy instead of poofy, as most styles lack at this length. This is a razor cut crop with feathered layers that follow the natural wave, as opposed to breaking it, thereby giving the cut a lot of character and a lot of color. It also has a lot of vibrant, unique color that is totally her own. Dimension without highlights is provided by a darker root and bright silver white strands. Those with round and heart shaped faces will adore this cut with how the side pieces come forward at the cheek. It will lay flat in a matter of hours for those very fine and straight hair. This cut will need medium density with a fair amount of texture to hold and should be avoided by fine and straight haired people.

Ear-Length Silver Bob with Feathered Pieces and Soft Wave

This cut isn’t fully uniform, unlike layers. Some of the shorter pieces around the crown are cut intentionally shorter and are swept to the front to add volume. Teasing and backcombing can be avoided with this cut. Her natural hair wave and medium density put volume at ease to this cut. The point-cut ends, with reflective light, add a perception of textured hair as opposed to thinned out. Hair cuts like this, which pull pieces away to the side and toward the cheek, avoid widening a round and wider face. Lack of volume does flatten this cut for someone with straight hair, but the natural gray silver blending with some darker hair underneath adds great contrast.

Chin-Length Feathered Bob in Blended Ash and Wheat Tones

See how the layers cut outward rather than curl inward. This eliminates the set roller effect and helps the style retain its shape. The layers of this haircut start at the chin and have a point cutting style, which gives a feathered, waves with a piecey finish throughout the hair. This cut helps prevent a thinning appearance due to layers. The color work gives warmth to the hair with a silver ash base and Wheat highlight. The cut is most flattering on round face shapes with full cheeks. Imagine your hair growing past your cheeks, tapering to your jawline. Don’t wear straight hair with no waves or curls to this style because it requires little to no effort to style.

Curly Feathered Bob in Blended Brunette and Sandy Highlights

These layers are cut a bit dry and that’s important to note. This stylist cuts curly hair dry, which is probably a good thing because you never know what you are going to get when you cut curly hair wet. This stylist has likely cut in the curl pattern, allowing the hair to fall where it’s supposed to go without the need for the stylist to over-manipulate the hair by pulling and pushing it to try and make it fall in different places. This stylist used a sandy brown hair color in the mid-lengths to give some depth to the hair without using a tired and trite style of hair coloring with a solid, dark root. This is a medium density chin-length bob that looks great on round and oval faces because of the inward tapering side bang that goes down to the jawline. This style works well with tighter curls because it will appear to be wider.

Silver Feathered Bob with Sweeping Side Bangs

A stacked bob with long layers in the front that fall just below the jawline and top layers that stop slightly above the head. This style has super cute inner layers to add fullness without bulk. Naturally, the silver sparkles, and it looks like it was done on purpose, throughout this cut. If this hairstyle had fringe, this would really compliment Oval and heart-shaped faces the best, but not round faces. If you have really thick hair, it is going to be a pain to deal with every day and it will probably look un-soft like it should.

Chin-Length Silver with Loose Feathered Curls

See how layers are shorter in the crown and longer in the sides and see how that lifts the whole style without looking like it’s on rollers. Look here for a feathered bob, it’s a great style on natural wave or curl hair. It’s chin length. The texture is point cut so the ends do the work. If straight hair is what you have, expect to be using a curling iron every day to get this style. It has great volume on top and the sides fall to the jawline. If you have a round face, the silver natural hair color gives great depth to your look. The overall look is really bright and clean, probably thanks to good hair conditioner. On thin or wispy hair, feathered layers won’t look as good because they would only look sparse.

Salt-and-Pepper Feathered Bob with Natural Curl Texture

This work is beautiful because each curly wave remained natural and didn’t have to be topped with a curl pattern. Point cut layers through mid-shaft length allow the curls to fully themselves and the feathering and loose layers around the ears compliment the face. This is a great cut for medium dense naturally wavy hair. This cut is not for straight hair since this natural wave is the style. This style is not about defined curls, adding curls will take away from the style of this haircut. There is a clip in the crown that shortens and adds layers to define natural volume.

This post Feathered Bobs Are Looking Especially Good on Older Women Right Now, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Patricia Wollenberg, Duluth, Minnesota: “I keep seeing Korean hair masks all over my social media feed and I’m genuinely curious, are they actually worth making at home? My hair is pretty dry and damaged from coloring and I’d love to try something more natural but I don’t know where to start. Can you walk me through it?”

Patricia, I can see why Korean hair care caught your attention. I’ve had plenty of women ask me about it lately, especially when their usual masks and conditioners aren’t doing much anymore. I had a client come in last spring, mid-fifties, highlighted every six weeks for years, and her hair was just… tired. Limp, kind of straw-like at the ends, not broken exactly but definitely not thriving. She’d tried a dozen drugstore masks, the usual suspects, and nothing was sticking. Then she mentioned she’d been making a simple rice water and egg mask at home, something she’d read about on a Korean beauty forum, and honestly? Her hair felt different in my hands the next appointment. Noticeably so. I actually asked her what she’d changed before I even thought to ask about products.

Korean hair care philosophy is less about a single miracle ingredient and more about layering gentle, nourishing treatments consistently over time. A lot of traditional Korean hair masks use things that were sitting in your kitchen already, fermented rice water, camellia oil, egg yolk, honey, and they work because they’re feeding the hair shaft what it’s actually missing rather than just coating it with silicone to fake the look of health. There’s a meaningful difference there. So let’s get into it, and I’ll walk you through several recipes, ranked from good to genuinely great, so you can work your way down to the one I actually think you should try first.

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5. The Banana and Honey Mask (The Beginner’s Entry Point)

If you’ve never made a homemade hair mask before and the whole thing feels slightly intimidating, this is where you start, because you almost certainly have everything you need right now. One ripe banana, two tablespoons of honey, and a tablespoon of whatever oil you have around, olive, coconut, or even a light vegetable oil will do. Mash the banana until it’s as smooth as you can get it, and I really mean smooth, because banana that doesn’t get fully broken down will leave little chunks in your hair that are deeply annoying to rinse out. I learned this the hard way the first time I tried this at home and spent twenty minutes picking bits out of my own highlights. Use a blender if you have one. Seriously, just use the blender.

Once it’s smooth, mix in the honey and oil until it comes together into a paste. Apply it to damp hair, starting at the mid-lengths and ends where damage tends to live, and work your way up toward the roots if your scalp is also feeling dry. Cover with a shower cap or wrap your hair in plastic wrap, and let it sit for at least twenty to thirty minutes. Some people go an hour, and that’s fine, though I don’t think you get dramatically different results past the thirty-minute mark with this particular recipe.

The banana brings potassium and natural oils that help with elasticity, so if your hair snaps easily or feels brittle after coloring, this is genuinely addressing something real. The honey is a humectant, which means it draws moisture from the air into the hair shaft, and it also has mild antibacterial properties that can help if your scalp tends toward buildup. This isn’t the most powerful mask on this list, but for dry, color-treated hair that just needs a gentle reset, it’s a lovely place to begin. Rinse thoroughly with cool water, shampoo lightly if you feel you need to, and don’t be surprised if your hair feels softer than you expected from something this simple.

4. The Egg Yolk and Camellia Oil Mask (The One Korean Grandmothers Actually Use)

Camellia oil is the ingredient I wish more of my clients knew about. It’s been used in Korean and Japanese hair care for centuries, which honestly tells you more than any clinical study could. If something has been passed down through generations of women specifically for hair health, that’s a track record worth respecting. You can find it pretty easily now, search for camellia oil for hair on Amazon and you’ll find several good options, but the one I’ve personally used and liked is from a brand called Camellia Naturals, though any cold-pressed version without a lot of additives will serve you well.

For this mask, you want two egg yolks (not the whites, the yolks, which carry the protein and fatty acids your damaged hair actually needs), two tablespoons of camellia oil, and one tablespoon of honey if you want to add some extra moisture-binding power. Whisk the yolks first until they’re fully broken up, then slowly work in the oil so it emulsifies rather than just sitting in oily pockets. The honey goes in last. Apply to dry or very slightly damp hair, because oil-based masks actually absorb better on dry hair, which is the opposite of what most of us were taught.

Work it through section by section if you have thicker hair, and be generous with the ends. Wrap everything up and let it sit for forty-five minutes to an hour. This mask is doing real work, the protein in the egg yolk is temporarily filling in gaps in the cuticle where color and heat damage have roughed up the surface, and the camellia oil is so lightweight and closely structured to your hair’s own natural sebum that it absorbs without leaving that heavy coating you might expect. Rinse with cool water and a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo, and your hair will feel smooth in a way that’s different from product-smooth, it’ll feel like it’s coming from inside the strand. That’s the distinction that matters.

3. The Fermented Rice Water Mask (Give It Time and It Will Change Your Hair)

Okay, this one requires a little planning because you’re going to ferment the rice water rather than just use it fresh, and that process takes about twenty-four to forty-eight hours. I know that sounds fussy but I promise it’s not, it’s just time. The fermenting is what activates the inositol, which is a compound found in rice water that actually penetrates damaged hair and helps restore elasticity from within. Fresh rice water has some benefit, but fermented rice water is in a different category entirely, and if you’ve read about the women of Huangluo in China who have famously long, healthy hair and have been using fermented rice water for generations, you start to take this very seriously.

To make the base, rinse about half a cup of uncooked white or brown rice, then cover it with two cups of water and let it soak for two hours. Strain out the rice and keep the water in a jar at room temperature for one to two days until it smells slightly sour and tangy. That sourness is the fermentation, and it means it’s ready. From there you can use the fermented rice water as a mask on its own, applying it to your hair, leaving it for twenty to thirty minutes, and rinsing, or you can thicken it into a more traditional mask by mixing it with a tablespoon of rice flour and a teaspoon of camellia or argan oil to give it more body and staying power on the hair.

For your recipe specifically, Patricia, I’d go with two tablespoons fermented rice water, one tablespoon rice flour, one teaspoon of argan oil, and a few drops of rosemary essential oil because rosemary has shown some real promise for scalp circulation and hair growth, and it smells wonderful. Apply to the scalp and work down through the lengths, leave it for twenty to thirty minutes, and rinse well. Some people notice results immediately, some need four to six weeks of weekly use before it really shifts the texture of their hair. Be patient with this one, because it’s worth it, and the results tend to be cumulative rather than instant.

2. The Green Tea and Rice Bran Oil Mask (The Antioxidant Treatment Your Scalp Has Been Missing)

This mask is the one I’d call the most underrated on this list, because most people focus on the hair itself when they’re dealing with dryness and damage, but the scalp is the actual source of everything, and if it’s congested, inflamed, or starved of nutrients, your hair is going to reflect that no matter how many masks you apply to the lengths. Green tea has been used in Korean skincare forever, and the same antioxidant properties that make it brilliant for your face, reducing oxidative stress, calming inflammation, being genuinely rich in polyphenols, apply just as meaningfully to your scalp environment.

Brew two strong cups of green tea and let them cool completely, you want it room temperature or slightly cold before it touches your scalp. To that, add two tablespoons of rice bran oil, which is a Korean beauty staple and worth keeping around, one tablespoon of aloe vera gel (pure, not the bright blue kind with a million additives), and optionally a teaspoon of matcha powder if you have it because concentrated green tea brings even more of those antioxidant compounds to the party. The texture is more liquid than paste, so this one works best applied with a spray bottle or a tint brush, working it into the scalp first and then smoothing whatever remains through the lengths.

Leave it on for thirty minutes. You don’t need heat, though sitting under a hooded dryer for the last ten minutes does seem to help the oils absorb more fully, and if you have one of those soft bonnet dryer attachments that fits over a regular hair dryer, those are genuinely useful for home treatments. Bonnet hair dryer attachments are inexpensive and kind of change the at-home mask experience. Rinse with cool water, and follow with a light conditioner on the ends only. Over several weeks of consistent use, this mask tends to calm scalp sensitivity, reduce flaking, and create an environment where hair actually grows in healthier from the root. That’s the long game, and it’s worth playing.

1. The Full Korean Hair Mask Ritual: Fermented Rice Water, Egg Yolk, Camellia Oil, and Honey (The One You Build Toward)

This is the one I’d tell every single client with dry, damaged, color-treated hair to work toward making a monthly ritual, and I say monthly rather than weekly because this particular combination is rich enough that your hair needs time between applications to actually absorb and utilize everything you’re giving it. Weekly is fine for the simpler masks higher on this list, but this one you do deliberately, maybe on a Sunday when you have an hour, a glass of something good, and nowhere you have to be.

Here’s the full recipe. Three tablespoons of fermented rice water (made using the method described above), two egg yolks, two tablespoons of camellia oil, one tablespoon of raw honey, and one teaspoon of ginseng extract, which is a traditionally Korean addition and genuinely has research behind it supporting its role in stimulating hair follicles and increasing circulation to the scalp. If you can also find a product called Daeng Gi Meo Ri, which is a well-regarded Korean hair brand, their treatments use a lot of these same herbal principles in a pre-formulated version that makes a nice complement to your DIY work on the weeks you don’t want to mix anything yourself.

To make the mask, whisk your egg yolks first until they’re fully combined and slightly pale, then whisk in the fermented rice water slowly so the proteins don’t seize up, then add the camellia oil, the honey, and the ginseng extract last. You’ll get a slightly loose, creamy emulsion, not a thick paste, and that’s correct. On clean, towel-dried hair (damp but not dripping), apply it in sections starting at the scalp and working all the way to the ends. Be thorough. This isn’t the moment to rush. Cover with a shower cap and if you have a thermal heat cap, use it, because the gentle heat helps everything penetrate more deeply, and the difference is real.

Leave it on for forty-five minutes to a full hour. Rinse with cool water first, then lukewarm, taking your time to get everything out. Follow with a gentle, moisturizing shampoo like Biolage HydraSource or even a co-wash if your hair is particularly fragile, and a light conditioner on the mid-lengths and ends. Do not use hot water to rinse, ever, but especially after a protein-rich mask like this, because hot water lifts the cuticle back open and undoes the smoothing work you just spent an hour creating.

What you’ll notice in the days after this mask is that your hair dries differently. Not necessarily shinier right away, though that often comes, but with more weight to it, more integrity, like it’s holding its shape better. My client who inspired this whole conversation came back after doing a version of this once a month for three months and her ends, which we’d been debating cutting off entirely, had recovered enough that we took a half inch instead of two. That’s not a miracle, that’s consistent, targeted nourishment doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

A Few Notes on Making This Work in Real Life

Some practical things worth mentioning before you go mix anything. If you have a known egg allergy, obviously skip any mask that uses egg and lean into the rice water and oil-based recipes instead. Patch test the ginseng extract on your inner arm before you put it anywhere near your scalp, not because reactions are common but because they do happen and it’s not worth finding out the hard way. Store any leftover fermented rice water in the fridge and use it within a week, it will go off after that.

Also, and I feel strongly about this, do not add essential oils beyond a few drops (three to five max) and always dilute them in a carrier oil before they touch your scalp. Rosemary, peppermint, and lavender are all useful additions, but they’re also potent and undiluted essential oils on a sensitive scalp are genuinely irritating. More is not better with those. Rosemary essential oil in particular has gotten a lot of attention lately for hair growth, and there’s decent evidence behind it, just use it the right way.

The last thing I’ll say is this: your hair got to its current state over months or years of coloring, heat styling, and environmental exposure, and it’s going to take some consistent time to meaningfully shift. One mask won’t do it. But a simple ritual, once or twice a month, with ingredients that actually address what hair needs rather than just making it look temporarily shiny, can genuinely change how your hair feels to touch, how it wears through the week, and honestly how you feel about it. Patricia, I think you’re going to love this. Your hair is going to thank you for paying it a little extra attention, and that’s really what all of this is about.

This post How to Make a Korean Hair Mask?, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

A short choppy layered haircut is a great choice when you want more movement, texture, and fullness without spending forever styling your hair. The key is getting layers that work with your natural density and texture—too much internal layering on fine hair can actually make your ends look thinner instead of fuller.

I especially love this cut when the perimeter stays strong while shorter, piecey layers create lift through the crown and softness around your face. If your hair tends to fall flat, ask for strategically placed layers rather than aggressive thinning; point cutting and slide cutting can create separation without removing too much weight. A little root lift and lightweight texture spray are usually all you need for that undone finish.

Keep scrolling to find the short choppy layered haircut you’ll want to show at your next appointment.

Copper Shag Mullet with Heavy Fringe and Razored Nape

Instagram: tga_official

These layers are pretty cool. There’s a blunt cut but also razor texture that fall across the brows, helping to guide the shape of the eyes, and construct the position and orientation of the face while still keeping the rest of the face open. There is a point cut and wispy long layers at the side of the ears that join the longer layered mullet-style hair in the back that hits the nape. This is an excellent color that is semi-red copper, and not permanent, looks excellent on lighter skin. This style requires a minimum of average density for hair and will not look good on fine because you will start to see a lot of the scalp. For this style you will need either fair or medium thickness and density. Round and oval faces will look excellent in this style as the heavy fringe balanced by the tight side pieces helps bring length to the rest of your face. This is an excellent and ideal style for the average person as long as you do not have a longer face.

Textured Pixie Mullet with Choppy Nape Length

Instagram: gnarlyhair

The length of the nape of your neck Defines the structure of this mullet. The rest is just a basic pixie cut. The length of the nape starts a gradual controlled mullet, that is, intentional, as opposed to a unfortunate and long mullet. The top has short layers that are point cut to make the top irregular and frame the natural wave. If you have straight, fine hair you won’t get that texture unless you wear product. This cut also has some texture and wave. If you have thick hair, don’t try to wear this style because the unstructured pieces will be emphasized. This cut looks good on oval and heart face shapes. Round face shapes lose a lot of the definition because there is no length to balance the sides that are cut right above the ears. The length of the fringe is almost cut to the hairline and grows out to be an ugly mullet.

Layered Dark Pixie with Choppy Fringe and Ear-Hugging Taper

Instagram: thedenverstylist

This cut features intricate sideburns that are taped just past the short pixiereferred to as the Diteni. The top is layered with choppy waves that can maintain a wavy style. The fringe is broken and falls just above the brows. This works on round and oval face shapes. For those with a long, narrow face shape, this cut appears to give more length and width to the face. This cut will not work with thick hair because the layers will be blown out. Medium to straight, wavy hair is ideal for this total look.

Shaggy Black Pixie with Feathered Ear Taper and Choppy Fringe

Instagram: __k_vu__

Below, you’ll see that most of the hair lengths are the same and hair on the nape and ear parts are even a little thinner. The cut itself is a great contrast to that. Point cutting on the top of the hair is a good idea for a gradient as most of the bulkiness can stay. The cut itself is actually beneficial for coarse and straight hair types to avoid that unwanted lay-flat look. This cut actually adds a lot of shape to round and flat-faced people to help with spacing. Fine hair types would even give off the appearance of sparse. This style does grow out pretty rapidly, so it looks unkempt if neglected.

Soft Choppy Ear-Length Cut with Thin Separated Fringe

Instagram: motoksmmm

This is not a solid blunt fringe. This fringe looks point cut and sky-high precision stacking. Skin peek stacks normally look bad, but they won’t look bulky or thick at all, since the top layer is much shorter than the nape. This cut is ideal for clients who don’t like to spend time styling their hair. Layered haircuts look best with a bit of straightening. S-shaped hair, with a slight S wave or straight hair that is even straighter than that would all work well. More curly textured hair will definitely look messy and bulky in this cut. Oval faces will look amazing in this cut, since they are already balanced. Pointed face shapes won’t look as good in this cut.

Textured Jaw-Length Bob with Stacked Back and Lived-In Balayage

Instagram: amatoderosa

The front drops down to the jawline and is subtly stacked shorter in the back. There’s no need for product to create crown volume. The inner layers were point cut to break up the weight and as you can see, the ends separate into individual pieces. This works effectively on medium to thick hair. Fine hair, within the hour, will cause the stacked back to flatten exposing your scalp and creating a balding hairline. The balayage has dark roots and a warm blonde running surrounding the face which creates easy regrowth and a lot of dimension in the front. This looks better from the side and, from the center, may lose dimension and appear dull. This length is good on both round and oval face shapes because the jaw length pieces create a frame without new short layers. For longer face shapes this length will make your face appear longer.

Choppy Chin-Length Shag with Piecey Fringe and Razored Interior

Instagram: randa.rivera

The first photo shows length adding both weight and width to hair pulling the eye down to the jawline. This makes hair look dense. Medium-density hair has the areas of longer lengths through the crown balanced with long, separated fringe. This causes the focal point to move higher. This is a great achievable sculpt for a round face. The interior was razored, retaining a lot of length, to create movement. Because of this cut, ends scatter and don’t curl under as expected. This cut is definitely not the same with stick-straight hair. This cut is not worth it if your hair is straight all the time, as you will need to curl your hair every day. The curves in hair will define this cut and make it look great.

Warm Auburn Ear-Length Bob with Choppy Fringe and Flicked Ends

Instagram: mihotama_

This bob has ends that naturally kick out. It’s intentional. The layers are point-cut, short and through the center. There is no way around the ends flipping and separating on their own. This bob has movement without the need for a blow out. The warm auburn color brings out the style, making it much less dull in the dark base color. This choppy bob is flattering for all face shapes and brings angles to a soft face. This style will not lay soft on fine hair, it will blow out. This bob is ideal for hair of medium thickness with some natural control.

Wine-Red Choppy Bob with Feathered Fringe and Razored Perimeter

I love the perimeter of this cut! The clever use of razor techniques creates a feathered look almost like a stepless cut. This effect takes a lot of control since it uses a leave-in shaggy texture which is the opposite of how most cuts are used to achieve softness. This cut contains a bob style with a chin length, straight hair with a medium density and a dark berry red semi permanent color. This style has soft fringe layered pieces that gently touch the brows and are swept toward one side to make the overall volume of the look less dense. This style benefits round and oval face shapes because of angular pieces that help create more definition around the jawline. This style is a good choice if you have natural texture because the hair is more likely to stick up and puff out on its own versus lying flat. Your color will turn pink and begin to fade quickly.

Dark Choppy Pixie Mullet with Pointed Sideburns and Textured Fringe

Instagram: fabioscaliasalons

The length of the nape greatly influences the style. Without the wispy tail pieces beyond the ears, it can look like a standard short crop. It is the length variation of the top and the length in the back that makes this style attractive. Point cutting the crown creates shattered and piecey movement to straight to slightly wavy medium density hair. This style creates a lot of volume and textured pieces on thicker and coarser hair. With a choppy fringe that is broken style, it is razor cut across the forehead to look intentional as opposed to growing out. With strong jawlines this style will make them stand out even more. However, if you have a round face this style will drown it. This style looks the best at this length with about a 3 week grow out.

Cropped Textured Pixie with Choppy Top and Close-Cut Sides

Instagram: motoksmmm

Sides are tapered to the point of showing scalp, but the top has a purposeful ruff with a varied length of strands. This length works at the crown for most face shapes due to the short sides. The crown top is textured and does not look strict. Individuals with angular faces need not apply! Thick, straight hair is what this crown needs. Fine hair will not work, as the strands will not naturally stay spaced and will lack shape. For the front, the crown has a sharp fringe and textured top at the sides short with a sharp fringe above the brow line. This style adds lots of exposure to the forehead. Be confident to wear this crown style.

Jagged Pixie Shag with Blunt Baby Bangs and Spiky Crown

Instagram: hair.hellion

This fringe has some precision to it. It is heavy, blunt, and jagged. Below that, the vertical cut version has point-crowned, sliced ends that are almost splintered. This is a great contrast cut. Without density and thickness, this shape falls flat and becomes wispy. Fine hair will not work with this hairstyle. Rounder, fuller face shapes work great here because of the strong horizontal line of the short, blunt bangs to anchor the focus and attention to the top of the head. This style adds vertical height to the face, like the top short, choppy pieces that kick out past the ears. This style has a feral look. If you can’t control your hair each day, do not this style because it looks intentional when no manipulation is done and it appears undone. This style looks wrong when put together.

Rough-Cut Pixie Shag with Golden Peek-Through

Instagram: mahoganyhairdressing

Pay close attention to how the strands of gold are throughout the crown. There isn’t any structure or framing of the strand. They don’t have a classic framing of a strand of hair. Only light is captured as the hair moves. And the crown is truly detailed; the top is long and unframed with lots of texture and height to the crown, whereas the sides are just above the ears and there is a short fringe above the brow line. This style works best with dense fine hair, as thin hair will expose the scalp and lay flat with lack of volume. This style looks great paired with strong brows and well defined facial features, and works best on an oval or heart shaped face. For a round or wide face at the jawline, this cut will make the face appear even wider and fuller. This style of cut is best to keep short. It grows out extremely fast.

Choppy Micro-Banged Shag with Razored Ends

Instagram: _luisagaxiola_

It starts with vertically cutting the bangs to the hairline. That gives it an additional detail. This cut should be avoided if you like keeping micro bangs. The top layers are razored short, and are cut at the nape and left uneven. This texture leads a feathered effect around the ears. This style works with straight and slightly wavy hair with fine to medium density hair. It works best with thick hair. This style complements strong jawlines and oval face shapes. This cut will not grow out nicely. You will notice looking neglected in 5 to 6 weeks. A trim will have to be repeated to avoid looking neglected.

Undone Wavy Bob with Rough-Cut Interior Texture

Instagram: thebosofbeauty

The crown is pretty tight, but it has just a little bit of frizz. Most stylists strive for perfection, so they might try to eliminate frizz in any and all spots, but the frizz on this section is actually kept, and that is in fact what makes this cut. With hair that is moderately thick and naturally wavy, point-cut internal layers to break the weight of the hair are perfect for this chin length bob. This bob is perfect for the typical morning struggle to gauge how to control your hair texture. Instead of tucking in texture to try and keep it out of the way, this bob actually showcases texture. The cut length hitting just below the jaw will give your face some width without adding weight to the cheeks. Straight hair will not give you this desired look. You will end up with a boring, unflattering, blunt bob. No sea salt spray will ever achieve the look that natural, textured hair moves to.

Wavy Chin-Length French Bob with Soft Choppy Fringe

Instagram: harris_sonne

This haircut is created with a perimeter of layers. Waves are pointing outwards at the jawline, making the crown layers shorter at mid-lengths. It looks best on medium to thick hair with texture and some wave to it. Hair with less wave/texture will lack shape and structure and will fall flat without the use of product. This cut can make a square and round face shape more boxy because of the length and fringe. This cut looks best with longer, oblong, and oval face shapes. This cut will require trims every 5-6 weeks. If this cut is not maintained with frequent trimming, it will lose its shape and structure.

Razored Short Crop with Wispy Sideburn Detail

Instagram: bohemianrosehairstudio

Look at the sideburns. This style involves intentional wispy growth that kisses the ear. Length at the top is cut short and textured, but still a little uneven and messy. The fringe is just above the brow and is broken and made of uneven strands. This cut adds dimension to fine to medium density hair and maintains body. It works great for thick hair as it won’t lose volume. This cut frames a round or full face because the shorter sides show off the jawline and ears of the wearer. It works well for someone that wants a little bit of face framing and structure, because worn naturally the pieces will fall forward and lie against the forehead. The auburn color is a warm single process and is not over complicated, and has brightening highlights.

Rounded Choppy Bob with Soft Wave and Curtain Fringe

Instagram: moefoils

Because of the crown’s heavier distribution, more thickness is concentrated up top, while the length is more condensed as it moves down to the nape and almost to the jawline. The layers also work to not develop a “boxy” or “helmet-like” shape. This style will not be successful for ladies who have fine, flat hair. Texturing your hair can help enhance the natural wave and should also help for this style. The shorter pieces create more choppy pieces rather than uneven. Volume for this style is accomplished by shorter pieces. Volume is also added to help balance round face shapes. This style can be done to compliment long sideburns. The style can be paired with high volume. Growing it out a little more than a month will create a more bulkier and less defined style.

Stacked Pixie with Choppy Crown and Tapered Sideburns

Instagram: kerrbear.hair

The volume is achieved by weight stacking down the crown to the nape. This style keeps a very neat line and does not require buzzing. Crown layers have been point cut to give the style some texture without having to curl messy hair. The side burn wispy pieces break up the jaw line on rounder and fuller face shapes, rather than framing the face. This style does not work on curly or wavy hair. The style relies on the hair laying completely flat to create the taper and direct the fall of the fringe. If your hair doesn’t follow the laws of gravity, you will need to each morning flat iron the pieces that fall straight.

Tousled Jaw-Length Bob with Piece-y Interior Layers

Instagram: themaneviibe

Let’s look at how the layers are formed. This is part of what gives it its fullness while still using very little styling. There is essentially no styling needed to pull off this haircut. The cut falls precisely on the jaw line, with the ends point cut to kick out on their own, as opposed to curtaincut; which would otherwise stick under the hair and create a ‘helmet’ effect. The layers in this style are great for hair that is medium density and straight to slightly wavy, but if you have thick, coarse hair, you will probably lose that relaxed style. The style has the copper-brown neutral color which reflects a lot of light, following the neutral tone of T’s hair. It should look good on women of all face shapes, but especially oval and round. If you have a wide jaw line, then this hair style will especially enhance the definition of your jaw line.

Chin-Length Choppy Bob with Lived-In Highlights

Instagram: joymage3

Layers become shorter as you go up, as you go down they get longer. This lift supports the volume at the crown of the head. This style also works well with a wide range of density, as well as heart-shaped and oval-shaped faces, all because of the balancing pieces around the jaw. The longest pieces framing around the jaw help balance the face. This style is also very flattering because of the midshaft hand painted highlight. This style doesn’t have color near the root, meaning the grow-out will be much less noticeable. While this style works very well in thickness, it also works very well in thin to medium hair. For coarse and curly hair, volume can be an issue with this style, so it is important to note that coarse and curly hair may have a harder time with this style.

Layered Short Shag with Disconnected Sideburns

Instagram: hairbylaurabiagi

Crown and bottom chop lengths are similar, but they have obvious differences. A shaggy unstructured look is the likely result of an unintentional over-direction with a razor. The texture mimics a shredded look, as most pixie cuts do. This style is meant to be shorter in the back and has volume in the front. This style works best on those with thicker hair as the loose layers and volume will maintain thickness. The style will lead to flat hair for those with thin hair. This style balances the strong straight lines of a more square face and looks great on those with a thin face. For those who don’t like keeping hair tight, this is a great style to try.

Razored Pixie Crop with Jagged Baby Fringe

Instagram: uglymughair

Because of the rest of the cut, Fringe is often under appreciated, but this cut has shorter pieces sitting above the brow, and it’s not a continuous blunt micro bang. A razor was used to create a restless energy throughout the whole style. The base of the crown has a short choppy layer and a side is tapered shorter with length left at the nape so it’s not military short. This cut will accentuate everything if done wrong. Ideally this cut needs straight or fine hair that is medium to fine in texture. Coily or thicker hair won’t work because the control messy layers need with this cut will result in the hair bushy on top. Avoid this cut at all costs, particularly if your hair is coarser. It has a fast awkward grow out.

Choppy Pixie with Feathered Crown Texture

Instagram: hair_alchemist_izzy

The point cuts at the crown allow light to hit each individual feather and give the crown almost a three dimensional feathery effect, but it is not a design flaw. This is a clever design technique to control hair density and thickness and to prevent a crown from looking like a helmet. The sides and back show a lot of taper and cut off before they reach the ears, but the top is cut to leave a lot of length and volume for a rounder face shape. It’s built to control density on the sides. Finer hair will fall flat and lose volume with this cut. A slight cowlick will stick up in the morning for the straighter and wavy hair types, and it will frame the face with a blunt fringe as it hits the brow line.

Textured Ear-Length Shag with Wispy Micro Fringe

Instagram: charlotteshairpage

In this picture those wispy stray pieces show that this hair was razor cut, rather than point cut. Fine to medium density hair looks great because razor cutting keeps density while giving that choppy, piecey, slightly wet look. The layers are chopped through the crown, while the length sits at the ears. Fringe is cut very short and layered sparsely to leave some of the forehead, while short bangs with side length leave everything open and look very flattering to oval and heart-shaped face structures. It will look nice on round face structures, but will make it even wider. This style will look nothing like this on thick or coarse hair. It will puff out and lose all the textured layers. It would be a great low maintenance hair style for a person who has fine to medium density hair.

This post Short Choppy Layers Are Back, and They Feel Better Than Ever, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

If you’re ready for a fresh haircut this fall, the best choice is one that gives your hair shape, movement, and fullness without demanding a complicated morning routine. After 50, I especially love cuts with strategic layering around the crown and face because they can make finer or changing hair look noticeably denser without sacrificing too much length.

Fall is also a smart time to remove dry summer ends and rethink where your layers sit. If your hair has become finer, avoid excessive thinning or razor work through the ends—keeping a stronger perimeter usually creates the appearance of thicker, healthier hair. Personally, I’d choose a cut that works with your natural texture rather than one you have to fight into place every day.

Keep scrolling and save the cuts you can already picture yourself wearing this fall.

Textured Brunette Pixie with Tapered Nape and Forward Movement

You smartened up your neck by the ear. It’s the length, layered with many layers on top, that’s just the right amount to avoid looking messy. Top layers are point cut and pushed forward. Natural waves polished it off. For hair that just lays on the head, you would need to apply a product everyday style this. It looks great on you because of the warm highlights through the crown, which breaks the dark brown. If you have an Oval or Heart shaped face, it’s perfect. I wouldn’t recommend it for a face with more of a round shape- too much width with not enough length to create balance on the sides. To keep this style, a trim will definitely help you in about 4-5 weeks because the tapered length on this style loses its shape quickly.

Flipped-Out Mid-Length Shag with Sandy Blonde Dimension

Can you see where the ends kick out at the collarbone? The flip makes a huge difference in pulling medium density hair off looking like twice as much. To achieve this style, razor cuts on the mid-length hair allow lots of face-framing layers to come just below the jawline, which helps to slim a rounder face. The color also has a cool contrasting base of sandy blonde over brunette to add some dimension, but avoids becoming flat. Not for fine hair, this style relies on having enough body to hold the flipped ends from becoming limp and flat by noon. Oval and round faces will look great in this, however, square jaws, not so much, as the ends add width, and square jaws only need to be slimmed.

Swept-Back Silver Pixie with Pepper Root and Piece-y Crown

Dark shadowed roots covering your crown create a dense fine hair look, which helps with some coordinating highlights at the top. Silver pieces are added after everything is hand painted in the bright spots. This is not your average pixie cut. The layers used really help hold everything in place. It also helps with face shape frames, especially round and full faces. Because of how the layers are cut, it also helps elongate the face. This pixie cut is not suitable for thick and coarse hair. It won’t help you keep your hair in shape. The length adds to the neatness, but it does not take away from the control of the hair in general. You should know this cut grows out pretty quickly and you need to get it trimmed within the month.

Shoulder-Length Curly Shag with Warm Chestnut Ribbons and Soft Curly Fringe

Take a look at this cut and observe how the layers begin at the cheekbone. These layers do all the heavy lifting. The curl pattern actually does the work here so there isn’t much styling that would be required. This curl pattern actually shapes the cut and begins to fan out rather than pulling down to shape the pattern. The fringe of this cut is also a dry cut where the individual curls will retain their shape. This cut is painted in warm Chestnut to mix a little dimension and color and catch the light where flat colored hair would just disappear. This cut is made for curly-medium to thick hair and is made to fit curly hair. Looser waves will leave you with gaps. Oval, and Heart Shaped faces look very beautiful in this cut because of the wide volume at the jaw and temples. For Round faces, the curls elongates the face. This hairstyle requires a curly hair specialist. Not your average hair stylist.

Flipped Brunette Bob with Sun-Kissed Mid-Lengths and Invisible Layers

The signature flat crown and kick out from the collar are not structural quirks. The hair needs movement. The warm brunette palette is hand painted with fine highlights that start above the ear and create textured dark root sections. The volume at the ends works great on thinner hair, but will not work on fine hair. Heart and oval shaped faces look great with this cut as it falls right at the jaw. This length of a cut from the neck can make a round face appear wider, so partners with round faces should take caution. The off-center part, which is not deep, helps keep the fall effortless and the balance helps bring a lot of dimension to the look. This simple chop works great for people with natural waves, but truly brings dimension with low effort for everyone.

Polished Dark Chin-Length Bob with Soft Separated Fringe

Back graduation adds so much fullness without bulk. It tends to pull the jaw line down so is a great option to add density to a bob with Medium density hair. This color is Chocolate brown, which is even a single process color and contains zero visible dimensions. Some regrowth begins to show around the third week. This length is great for longer faces as it adds both shape and length. This length is not designed to aid rounder face shapes. The cut has a lot of contrast as the perimeter is very precise and the fringe is jagged and loose. The formal cut is designed for fine straight hair. Coarse/wavy hair will need to be blown out every morning to achieve similar results.

Razored Short Crop with Sandy Highlights and Sweeping Fringe

Longest pieces to the extra long razor cut fringe style should be positioned by your cheekbones and up to ensure this style works best for square and round face shapes to avoid drawing attention to your jawline. Because of the razor texture, this style should be worn with fine to medium hair density. The style works best on hair that is thinner, as finer hair has more texture to add to the overall design. This style in particular also works best on brunette base hair tones. It gives off a nice warm brunette tone, instead of the usual look, which can be harsh from having too many highlighted tones. Although the top will grow in at a nice rate, we can’t say the same for the rest of the style. It may need a full service after 5 weeks at the most.

Wavy Collarbone Lob with Soft Curtain Bangs and Warm Brunette Ribbons

How amazing are those bangs? The front bang is split, and the sides are feathered to the cheekbones to enhance the face shape. The lob is collarbone length with layers internally that add movement to the lob with thick edges to keep thickness. This style is for medium to thick hair. My fine hair un-styles itself by noon, but for the style and thickness it works well. Round and Square face structures and short necks really like this style. This is definitely not a wash-and-go style. To get the tousled texture you would need a diffuser or a wave iron and a lot of finishing product.

Tucked Jaw-Length Bob with Blonde Contrast and Dark Root Shadow

The cut and color is asymmetrical to make it less rigid. The asymmetry is also placed intentionally across one side of a bob with a layered style to add dimension with more natural dark ash tones and a heavy blonde balayage with light placement in the front pieces to draw the eye to the cheekbones. The length can make a round or square face shape look wide. The body of the hair holds the tucked line and determines the shape, so this style is best on those with medium density. Without enough body, the style will be flat by noon. Don’t get this style if your hair is on the thinner side because it will not hold the style.

Textured Collarbone Shag with Choppy Bangs and Dark Chocolate Depth

Different length layers create the shape of this style. The short layers start at the cheekbone level and flare outwards, while the longer layers fall straight. Fine hair will not hold this shape. Bangs are razor cut and purposely uneven and will help to keep a longer face from looking narrow. Her colorist chose a rich, dark brunette with a warm tone through the brown, which helps to create movement and dimension when the hair moves. There are no dimension tricks via highlights. It’s basically solid color brunette with warmth that you only notice when you look up close. This color style is considered low commitment because it quick loses it’s shape with growth as the layers grow past their ideal length. It needs to be reshaped every 6 – 7 weeks to maintain the shape of the inner layers.

Dark Brunette Blunt Bob with Soft Interior Layers

This cut is a great example of a straight yet light point-cut. It has no need for tight round brush finish. It’s a medium density cut and heavily relies on hair shaping the frames. The weight line will flat out on fine hair by lunch, so this cut works best with fine hair that’s got a little weight. It will also work best on oval and heart-shaped faces. The length hits the jaw and is great for framing your face without going too wide. This is the perfect haircut for someone who wants to have dark single-process dark brunette hair and is almost maintenance free. You will have to touch up your roots every 4-5 weeks.

Shoulder-Grazing Shag with Warm Toffee Foils and Feathered Side Fringe

The layers around her face are short and give the impression of a top curtain to the length of her hair. This is deliberate razor work and does most of the work in this style. This is a medium density shag and is a good example of what would look like natural straight or slightly wavy hair with a bit of wave or movement from a large barrel iron. The toffee foils are through the mid lengths, and this leaves the root dark and the ends without color. This helps to grow the style out even longer in between touch ups. This style is great for heart shaped and oval shaped faces. For round shaped faces, this style doesn’t work as it will widen the face given the volume will frame the face at the jawline. A very fined texture of hair will lose volume and the style will fall flat after a day or two without product and styling with heat.

Short Curly Bob with Warm Chestnut Tones and Soft Fringe

Pay attention to where the curls are in this model. The curls taper in at the nape and move to the cheekbones. The stylist layered each curl to create this shape. Otherwise, the shape would be ruined when the curls come to life and spring. The Fuji Apple Brown color has copper tones that deflect light and make it look like foil highlights. I also think this is a gloss or demi-permanent application. This is a great option for anyone with thick, textured, naturally curly hair. Natural Wavy hair will not frame your face as this does. The fringe is cut at the brows, so the individual curls can frame and define a round face, because there is height at the crown and width to control the sides. This length is absolutely not the style forThin curly hair. You could go at least five to six weeks without having to come in for a shape up.

Soft Layered Bob with Ash Blonde and Silver Blend

Focus on the layers that stop on your cheekbone and then angle out. This is controlled point cutting and helps to stop medium density hair from laying flat against your jaw. In this case, I used cool ash blonde that is woven throughout natural silver. I didn’t color over the gray for this client, so I had to use a toner that matched her natural silver. This length is great for round and oval faces. However, for square and strong, wide faces and jawlines, a length like this will make them appear even wider. This cut will not work for thick and coarse hair, as this will increase volume at the ends that cannot be controlled with products.

Feathered Short Bob with Warm Brunette Highlights

The layers at the crown are shorter and razor texturized to lift away from the head. The length of hair that falls past the ears gets added texturization for more thickness and overall shape. This cut is ideal for medium density hair and for face shapes that are more oval or heart shaped. The fine caramel highlights that are hand painted throughout the mid-lengths, helps maintain the roots and prevents a striped look. If you have a round face shape, avoid this cut because the length of the layers stops at the jaw line, and it will actually widen and not elongate the face. The fringe is layered as well and blends into the point cut layers. The cut will lay very flat by the second day on thin hair.

Flippy Layered Brunette Bob with Soft Curtain Fringe

You think the layers kick out instead of curl under, but that isn’t the case! This is actually a strategic style that takes a little bit of bulk razoring, buuuut the outer hair is heavy enough to hold the flip. Fine hair won’t really hold this style. It’s great for medium to thick hair. The brown base color isn’t full of highlights, and is great for a low maintenance style. It also cancels out a round or full face and adds definition to a face and frame. Nice feature of this hair style is that it grows out easily without needing a lot of trims.

Cropped Natural Curls with Dark Chocolate Base

One advantage of this cut is that the ears have elasticity to retain the design. However, the top of the hair has been left with a 3 inch curl and has been dry cut to encourage the curl pattern. It was cut curl by curl, and there are no sheared curls. An effortless cut is actually a precise cut. If you have sprogncy or dense curls, this cut would be ideal. It wouldn’t be the same for loose curls or wavy hair. The single-process dark chocolate hair color has no highlights and gives a focus on texture. This cut offers the most balance for heart shaped and oval faces, but round faces will appear wider. The crown of this cut has volume and balances a narrow chin. This cut has a strong bond with the stylist, and it needs to be maintained after 5-6 weeks, because after that is passes the sweet spot where the structure of the shape will start to fall.

Razored Shag with Curtain Bangs and Rich Auburn Dimension

I like what I see with these bangs. They’re sharp and parted just like a curtain, and perfectly perch right on the brow with no blunt shelf, which I also love. With this collarbone-grazing shag, there’s a lot of heavy layering and razoring that really brings effortless texture. The best part about this look is that you can forgo your flat iron and round brush. The shag is a warm brown base caramelized with auburn with a few pieces of dimension. The pieces have a bit of depth, and won’t be foiled to the root, so you’ll still look natural. The layers will nicely frame your face for a more open appearance. If you have a round face, too much texture at the cheeks will widen your face further. Heart and Oval face shapes will pull this off best.

Collarbone Waves with Honey Face-Framing Pieces

Notice how the blonde pieces are sliced at the cheekbones. We’re going for that effect. The colorist highlighted the front sections and used a warm honey brown tone to hand paint the section. This is over a dark brunette base which shows dimension and visual interest, as opposed to flat highlights. This cut has long layers around the chin and stops just above the collarbone. A center part provides a vertical line to elongate the face, which will look best on oval and round faces. This cut feels best on medium to thick types for hair with density. Thin, flat types will not be able to keep this style, nor will so many of us struggle with having to style this every day to set the curls (although natural wavy hair will set it easily). 2nd day styles will be amazing for this cut.

Piece-y Jaw-Length Bob with Toffee Ribbon Highlights

Notice a widening of highlights as they get further from the base of the hair. This is used to counteract darker brown hair thickness and adds a natural dimensional look to the hair. This is a handpainted technique that is intentionally created. Everything along the jawline is texturized razor approach and separates into individual pieces. This adds volume to what appears to be fine or medium hair. This shape is great for round face structures with oval face structures. This is the opposite for a square face structure due to the hair being so thick and covering a lot of the face. if your hair is wavy or slightly thicker this shape will lose the appearance of a sleek hair line and will pouf out the side of the head.

Curly Shag with Rounded Bangs in Deep Espresso

This cut won’t work on fine, limp hair. This cut needs layering to function properly. Curls add the overall shape of the shag. Without curls, this style may appear messy. Dry cuts allow the perfection of layering and bangs. Look at how the layers around the center of the back are shortest and going down to around the shoulders. The cut is round and full. This cut looks amazing on someone with a more wide face. There is a warm brown under-tone which softens the hair to not have as much of an appearance to be black. If you have a curl pattern of around 3A, then you won’t have as much of a struggle getting this style.

Chin-Length Bob with Wispy Bangs and Warm Copper Highlights

There’s a point cut that frames the brow in this style to slightly show some forehead. Without that, the style would look bulky on somebody with medium density hair, so its clever. The bob comes down to the chin and has adjustable interior layering to help cascade the hair and is a nice style suited to people with oval or heart-shaped faces. The copper foils go on the mid shaft, so regrowth is clean, and the roots stay a darker chocolate brown. This style will definitely not hold without daily flat ironing. It’s best suited for straight to slight wave. For people with a thick or coarse texture, your hair will end up looking flared out and not curving in, so this style is something you will end up fighting.

Tousled Chin-Length Waves with Natural Silver Streaking

This woman’s hair is a warm medium brown with gray growing in and highlights along the silver line running down the front of her hair. The color is gorgeous and soft. The graying can be natural or treated, but coloring would result in a gray line in her hair rather than the silver line that the stylist created. This is a bob cut that is right below the chin with some long layers and a razor edit. The shape of the cut allows the wave in her hair to not be triangular, but to open up, giving her hair an even better shape. This is a great style of cut for medium to thick hair. The ends would look flat on fine hair. The crown layers are thinned and shortened to create a lot of movement. This bob cut is a great option for thick hair. This style can be worn well by rounded and square faced women as the wave patterns break the strong line of the jaw. Any natural wave will be looser than this style, so a good stylist will be able to work their magic on this style to fit your hair.

Layered Shoulder-Length Cut with Caramel Balayage and Side-Swept Fringe

What can you see in the before photo? She had hair that was long and heavy weighing her down. Her medium density hair was appearing thin. The new shoulder length cut has internal layers that begin around the cheek area of the face to add fullness. A side sweeping fringe narrows a wide forehead without fully covering it. These cut styles have caramel pieces hand painted on the mid lengths that are focused around the face. These warm tones help bring light to the area and help frame the face. Round and square face shapes are great for this cut style because of the way it will soften the edges from the cheek lines. The width of the cheek area will make this look too wide for oblong face shapes, and it will not hold the shape if it is not blown out or brushed down with a round brush. Overall, it will fall flat if air dried.

Side-Swept Silver Pixie with Long Top Layers

Because of how deep the side of the crown gets, a lot of the weight is on one side. Volumized hair looks more dynamic and requires no hair teasing or product build up. The pixie cut features length and razor-level layers that cut towards the nape and ears. The gray color has some natural salt n’ pepper that looks intentional. Darker roots balance the silver and add the dimension that it would otherwise be missing. This pixie cut is great for round and oval face shapes. The hairstyle is great for fine to medium hair with some body. The fringes add to the style, but will lose their shape with thick and coarse hair. Most people will think her hair has a natural wave, but without the wave, the hair will fall and hang straight to the side. Hair without wave cannot hold a bend that lays this flat against the face.

This post Looking for a New Cut This Fall? These Ideas Are So Good After 50, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Donna Marchetti, Bozeman, Montana: “I’ve been struggling with my curly hair for years and I feel like I’m always doing something wrong. My curls look great right after washing but by day two they’re a frizzy mess, and I can’t figure out what I’m actually supposed to be doing or in what order. Can you walk me through a real curly hair care routine that actually works?”

Donna, I hear you, and honestly, you’re describing something I’ve watched women struggle with in my chair for the better part of fifteen years. The frustrating thing about curly hair is that there’s so much conflicting advice out there that even smart, well-researched women end up more confused after doing their homework than before. I’ve had clients come in with printed-out ten-step routines from Reddit that would stress anyone out, and then I’ve had others who were doing almost nothing and wondering why their curls weren’t cooperating.

Here’s what I actually believe after all those years: curly hair isn’t harder to care for than straight hair, it’s just different, and most of the products and advice on the market were built around straight hair for a long time. The routine matters enormously with curly hair, way more than the products, which I know sounds counterintuitive when every brand is telling you their curl cream is the answer. Get the steps right, in the right order, and even drugstore products will perform better for you.

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9. Start With a Clarifying Wash, At Least Once a Month

Most people skip this step entirely or don’t even know it exists, and it genuinely undermines everything else in their routine. Here’s the thing, curly hair products are often heavy. Creams, gels, leave-ins, oils, all of that builds up on the hair shaft over time, and when it does, your curls start to feel weighed down and look dull, and you end up adding more product trying to fix it, which makes the buildup worse. It’s a cycle I see all the time.

A clarifying shampoo is different from your regular shampoo. It’s designed to cut through product buildup, mineral deposits from hard water, and any residue that your normal wash isn’t fully removing. I usually recommend something like a dedicated clarifying shampoo for curly hair, and my personal go-to for clients has been Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo because it cleans thoroughly without stripping the hair completely dry. Neutrogena Anti-Residue is a much cheaper option that actually works well if you’re not ready to invest in a salon brand.

You only need to do this once or twice a month depending on how many products you use. Don’t do it every wash, that would be too drying. Think of it as a reset button. After a clarifying wash, your curls will absorb moisture better, your styling products will actually do their job, and you’ll probably notice your curl pattern looks more defined. I always tell clients to do a clarifying wash before trying any new product line, because otherwise you’re not giving those products a fair chance. Donna, if you haven’t done this in a while, start here. It might honestly explain a lot.

8. Follow With a Moisturizing, Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Regular Wash Days

After you’ve done your clarifying wash and reset everything, your regular wash days should involve a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo, and this part is non-negotiable in my opinion. Sulfates are the cleansing agents in most conventional shampoos, they’re what makes shampoo lather, but they’re also quite harsh and they strip the natural oils from your hair that curly hair desperately needs. Straight hair can sometimes recover from that. Curly hair, because of its coiled shape, already has a harder time getting natural scalp oils distributed down the hair shaft, so stripping them away repeatedly is a real problem.

I’ve been recommending sulfate-free shampoo for curly and wavy hair to my clients for years, and brands like SheaMoisture Curl and Shine Shampoo, or DevaCurl No-Poo Original, are ones I’ve seen perform consistently well across different curl types. Low-poo and no-poo formulas are everywhere now and the quality has gotten genuinely better over the last several years.

One thing worth mentioning that most people don’t do: focus the shampoo on your scalp, not your ends. Your scalp is where the oil and buildup actually accumulate, and your ends are the oldest, driest, most fragile part of the hair. Scrubbing shampoo through your ends is doing them no favors. Let the lather from the scalp wash rinse down through the lengths as you rinse, that’s enough. And when you rinse, use cool water if you can stand it, because heat opens the cuticle and contributes to frizz before you even get out of the shower. I know cold rinses are not the most pleasant experience, but honestly your curls will feel it.

7. Deep Condition Every Single Wash Day, Not Just Occasionally

This is the step where I see the biggest difference between women whose curls thrive and women who are constantly fighting their hair. Deep conditioning isn’t a once-in-a-while treat for when your hair feels particularly bad. For curly hair, it should be a regular part of every wash routine, or at minimum every other wash if you’re washing very frequently.

The structure of curly hair makes it prone to dryness because each bend and coil in the hair shaft is a point where moisture can escape and where the cuticle lifts slightly. That’s not a flaw, it’s just how curly hair is built, and you have to work with it rather than against it. A good deep conditioner, left on for at least ten to fifteen minutes under a shower cap or a warm towel, makes a real difference in elasticity, which is what determines whether your curls spring back nicely or break off at the ends.

Some of my favorites that I actually stock and use in the salon include deep conditioning hair masks for curly hair, and Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair is one I genuinely love for clients with color-treated curls. Aunt Jackie’s Intensive Moisture and Repair Masque is an incredible value and I’ve been quietly recommending it for years. If your budget allows, Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is worth every penny for damaged or chemically treated curly hair. The difference in how the hair feels before and after is something you can feel immediately when you rinse it out.

6. Detangle Gently With Conditioner In, Never Dry

Please, please don’t detangle dry curly hair. I say this with a lot of warmth but also complete firmness. Dry detangling causes breakage, it disrupts the curl pattern, and it creates frizz that you’ll spend the rest of your styling routine trying to reverse. I have seen grown women in my chair in tears about breakage that was entirely caused by aggressive dry brushing, and it is absolutely preventable.

The right time to detangle curly hair is when it’s saturated with conditioner, either your rinse-out conditioner or a dedicated detangling conditioner, and you use either your fingers or a wide-tooth comb starting from the ends and working your way up to the roots in sections. The slip that conditioner provides is everything. It lets the knots release instead of snapping.

For tools, I’m partial to wide tooth combs and detangling brushes for curly hair, and the Tangle Teezer Thick and Curly brush has been a client favorite for years. The Denman brush is another one with a real following in the curly hair community and for good reason. If you prefer your fingers, that’s perfectly fine and actually preferred by many curl specialists because it lets you feel what you’re doing and avoid forcing through a knot.

Work in sections if your hair is thick or long. Clip the sections you’re not working on out of the way. Take your time. I know this sounds like more effort, but the detangling step done correctly actually saves you time later because your hair is smoother, more even, and easier to style. Donna, if this is a step you’ve been skipping or rushing, I’d put money on this being part of why your second-day hair is falling apart.

5. Apply Leave-In Conditioner to Soaking Wet Hair

Timing matters here more than most people realize. Your leave-in conditioner should go on when your hair is absolutely dripping wet, not damp, not towel-dried, still wet from the shower or the sink. The reason is that leave-in conditioner is designed to help your hair hold onto moisture, and if you apply it to hair that’s already partially dried, you’re sealing in less water than you could be.

I’ve had this conversation probably a thousand times at the shampoo bowl. Someone will say their leave-in doesn’t seem to do much, and when I ask how they’re applying it they tell me they let their hair dry a bit first because they don’t want to drip everywhere. That’s the problem. Get yourself a microfiber hair towel for curly hair to handle the dripping issue, a Aquis Rapid Dry Hair Turban is a good one, and apply your products over the sink so the dripping isn’t landing on your clothes.

For the leave-in itself, I really like leave-in conditioners for curly and natural hair, and Kinky-Curly Knot Today is one of those products I’ve recommended so many times it’s practically a reflex at this point. It has great slip, it’s not heavy, and it plays well with other styling products. For finer curls, the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product is lighter and works beautifully without weighing curls down.

4. Layer Your Styling Products Using the LOC or LCO Method

This is where the routine really starts to feel like something, and I want to explain it clearly because the layering order matters and nobody really explains why. LOC stands for liquid, oil, cream, and LCO is liquid, cream, oil, and the difference between them is just about which seals better for your particular curl type. The idea is that you’re layering products so that moisture gets locked in progressively rather than just sitting on the surface of the hair.

For most people with medium to thick curly hair, LOC works well. Fine or low-porosity curls often do better with LCO because the cream goes on before the oil and prevents the oil from creating a barrier that blocks moisture from getting in. If you’ve ever felt like your hair just sits on top of the products rather than absorbing them, switching your order might be the entire fix.

The liquid is your leave-in, which you’ve already applied. The oil can be something like jojoba oil or argan oil for curly hair, just a few drops worked through the hair, and I genuinely love Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil, it smells incredible and it’s really affordable. The cream is your curl cream or styler, and something like Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream or the Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream depending on your hair’s thickness. Don’t use too much of any one layer. A little goes a long way, and product overload is one of the most common mistakes I see with curly hair care routines for women who are really trying.

3. Scrunch In a Curl-Defining Gel or Mousse for Hold

Here’s where I get a little opinionated, because I think the gel step is the most misunderstood part of a curly hair care routine and it’s the one that makes women the most nervous. A lot of people either skip it entirely because they think gel will make their hair crunchy, or they use way too much and end up with a helmet. Both are fixable.

Gel is what gives your curl definition its staying power. Without it, or without some kind of hold product, your curls might look beautiful right out of the shower and then slowly relax and separate throughout the day. That’s the frizzy-by-noon problem. The gel creates a temporary cast around the curl that holds it in shape while it dries, and once the hair is completely dry you scrunch it with your hands or a microfiber cloth to break that cast and get soft, bouncy curls underneath.

I have clients who swore they hated gel until I put a curl defining gel for curly hair in their hands and showed them how to use it. Aussie Instant Freeze Gel is an inexpensive option that actually performs really well. Eco Styler Olive Oil Gel is another one with a massive following. If you want to invest a little more, the Bounce Curl Light Creme Gel is something I’ve been loving lately for medium curl types. For mousse lovers, the Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Frizz Control Mousse is genuinely good and won’t break the bank.

Apply it in prayer hands, pressing the hair upward toward your scalp in a scrunching motion rather than smoothing it downward. Scrunching upward encourages the curl to coil rather than elongate and lose its shape.

2. Dry Your Hair Without Touching It Until It’s Fully Dry

This step requires patience and I’m going to be honest with you, it’s the step that most women struggle with the most, myself included when I’m in a rush. But touching, scrunching, flipping, or diffusing at too high a heat before your hair is fully dry is a significant contributor to frizz. When the cuticle is still open from the water and the products are still setting, every time you touch the hair you’re disturbing the curl formation.

There are a couple of ways to dry curly hair well. Air drying is the gentlest option, and if you can let your hair dry naturally without touching it much, plopping is a technique worth learning. Plopping means wrapping your freshly-styled wet hair up in a microfiber towel or old t-shirt for plopping curly hair for fifteen to thirty minutes, which helps absorb excess water without disrupting the curl pattern. Then you let it down and air dry the rest of the way.

If you diffuse, and I do think a good diffuser on low heat and low speed makes a real difference in cutting down air dry time without the frizz of a regular dryer setting, look at the hair diffuser attachments for curly hair and consider the DevaCurl DevaFuser or the Xtava Black Orchid Diffuser, which fits most standard dryers. Dry on low heat, medium speed, hold the diffuser still rather than moving it around constantly, and give each section time to actually set before moving on. The whole point is heat that encourages drying without agitation that causes frizz.

1. Protect and Refresh Your Curls Overnight So Day Two Actually Works

This is the one I always wish I could go back and tell my younger clients about sooner, because everything in a curly hair care routine that comes before this step can be undermined completely by how you treat your hair at night. This is the key to Donna’s specific problem, because she mentioned day two being where things fall apart, and this is almost always why.

Sleeping on a regular cotton pillowcase with curly hair loose is rough on the cuticle, literally. Cotton is absorbent and it creates friction, which means your carefully defined curls are being rubbed against an absorbent surface for six to eight hours every night. By morning you have frizz, flattened sections, and a curl pattern that’s lost its shape. The fix is genuinely simple and it makes a dramatic difference.

First, switch to a satin or silk pillowcase for curly hair. A satin pillowcase is much more affordable than silk and works well. ALASKA BEAR makes a good affordable satin option that I’ve recommended to clients for years. Alternatively, a satin-lined bonnet or sleep cap for curly hair keeps your curls completely protected and contained while you sleep, which I personally prefer because it stays put better than a pillowcase if you move around a lot.

The other thing to do before bed is loosely gather your curls up in what’s called a pineapple, a very high, loose bun at the top of your head secured with a satin scrunchie or snag-free hair tie that won’t leave a crease. The pineapple keeps your curl pattern intact so when you take it down in the morning, your roots have volume and your curls just need a light refresh rather than a full re-style.

That refresh for day two can be as simple as a spray bottle with water and a tiny bit of leave-in conditioner, just misting your curls and scrunching them gently to reactivate the gel cast. Some people add a tiny bit of fresh curl cream over the top of particularly flat sections. In five minutes you can have day two curls that look almost as good as wash day, and this is the step that makes the whole routine feel sustainable rather than exhausting. Donna, if there’s only one thing you change from reading this, make it this one. I promise it will change everything about how your hair looks by Tuesday.

Putting It All Together

The thing about a curly hair care routine is that it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive to work, it just has to be consistent and in the right order. What I’ve laid out here isn’t a rigid prescription, it’s a framework, and within it you have a lot of flexibility to use the products that work for your budget, your curl type, your lifestyle. Some of my clients air dry every time. Some diffuse every time. Some deep condition twice a week and some once a month. The details flex. The order doesn’t.

If you’re starting from scratch or starting over, I’d say don’t try to change everything at once. Pick two or three steps you’re not doing at all right now and add those in first, see how your hair responds over a few weeks, and then layer in the rest. Hair doesn’t change overnight and it takes a full wash day or two before you start seeing the real cumulative effect of a routine done consistently.

The women I’ve seen really transform their relationship with their curls weren’t the ones who found the most expensive products or the most elaborate routine. They were the ones who got curious about their hair, paid attention to what it was telling them, and stuck with something long enough to let it actually work. Donna, your curls are already there. You’re just learning how to work with them, and that’s actually kind of a fun thing to figure out once you have the right map.

This post Best Curly Hair Care Routine, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The ponytail that changed my mind was a last minute decision. I was doing color for a bride’s trial and her updo stylist was constructing this ridiculously overdone chignon and she was visibly uncomfortable and kept tugging at it. Two weeks later, at her wedding, she walked in and said she wanted a ponytail. I remember her stylist looking horrified, but honestly, that was the best decision she made that day (other than marrying the groom, of course). The color I had done on her, a rich multidimensional brunette with thin caramel ribbons, ended up looking better in the ponytail than it would have in a pinned up bun. This is the part that people often overlook about wedding ponytails; they are one of the rare formal styles that actually allow your color to shine.

Many people think ponytails are too casual for weddings, but this is a misunderstanding. Many people think of ponytails as elastic-and-go style ponytails. This type of ponytail is worn to the supermarket. Wedding ponytails are a totally different thing. The volume on the crown, the way the ends are curled or waved, the wrap that conceals the elastic, and the intentional face-framing pieces, transforms a ponytail so that it looks beautiful in pictures. These types of ponytails can also withstand dancing, humidity, and won’t give you a headache from forty bobby pins by hour 3. From a color perspective, I love these ponytails because they let the hair show and move, which is ideal when someone has spent good money on balayage or highlights.

Bridal Before and After: Textured Waves Pulled into a Full Curled Pony with Crystal Comb

The hair before styling it has medium hair thickness with a natural wave and a subtle balayage. The styling process of the hair involved a lot of curling from the base of the ponytail and increased the volume at the top of the ponytail so the profile does not fall flat. If your hair is fine or thin, the fullness will not happen without extensions. The floral comb located just above the base draws the eye to that section and the framing is even left out so as to leave the pieces and curl them away from the face, which softens the appearance of round and square jaw shapes. This look is meant for a person with long thick hair. This is designed to look polished without being too rigid. This look will not last in humid conditions.

Warm Blonde Curled Pony with Scattered Pearl Pins

Instagram: godlewska_hair

The small pearl pins are actually doing a lot of work. Without them, the section would be way too plain. They are pinned into the hair at different intervals which makes it sit properly rather than make the whole thing look costume-y. For this style to get that rounded, full curl cluster at the end of the hair, it requires medium to thick density hair as fine hair will look super flat and will probably look really wispy by hour 3 of a reception. The base of the style is at mid-nape height and the hair is wrapped super clean so there are no elastics showing and the curls have been done with a 1.25 inch barrel and then brushed out so they are grouped together (rather than separated into defined ringlets). If your hair is darker at the roots like this models, then a warm honey balayage will look much better than a plain blonde as it will capture the light better across the smooth crown of the style. If you dislike hairspray then you will want to skip this style, because that sleek top section will require a lot of it.

Cool Brunette Mid Pony with Pearl Pin and Lived-In Waves

Instagram: bethanyrowe_norwich_hair

That single pearl pin is doing more than you think: it is sitting right at the elastic to anchor the eye and make a simple ponytail feel intentional while not competing with earrings or a neckline. This is medium density hair, likely mid back length, waved with a 1.25 inch iron and then brushed out so the curls connect into soft S shaped ridges rather than individual ringlets. The color reads as a cool toned level 5 brunette with subtle lighter pieces through the ends that only show when the light hits the wave pattern. If your hair is fine or thin this exact placement and fullness will not translate. The loose tendril pulled in front of the ear is purposefully longer than a face framing piece usually is, almost chin length which keeps the look relaxed but will annoy you if you’re someone who touches their hair a lot. Works well on oval and heart shaped faces because the pulled back crown does not add height or width. Excellent wedding guest style for anyone who wants to look polished without sitting in a chair for two hours.

Rich Auburn Low Pony with Rope Twist Detail and Polished Waves

Instagram: traceytennant_hair

The rope twist wrapping the base is doing quiet, critical work here. Without it, this would just be a curled ponytail. It creates a seam between the smooth crown and the waved length, and keeps everything structured. This style requires medium to thick hair and ideally hair that is past the collarbone. The warm copper auburn tone shown here catches the light in a way that cooler brunette tones simply do not. If your hair is fine, that twist will look stringy and the waves will fall flat within an hour. The curls with this style are set with a large barrel iron and brushed through just enough to become waves without losing their shape, which is a narrow window most people overshoot. One thing worth noticing is the front piece near the ear is left out and curled separately, providing softness around they jaw which prevents the pulled back crown from looking too severe on longer faces. This is a great wedding style for someone whose hair color already has dimension and warmth built in.

Textured Blonde Mid Pony with Romantic Curls and Floral Vine Pin

Instagram: karolinavrablik.muah

Hair that is thick or coarse tends to hold curl styles better, while fine hair may skip this style altogether. It also means that there will be weightless, flat, and sparse areas. This style is essentially a mid-height ponytail with individually curled and pinned sections to create this rounded tubular shape. The top has some reserved, pulled-back textural volume crown area (that is not teased) to keep it looking more intentional and not messy. That floral vine pin is right in the area of the hair elastic and anchors the visual transition from a smooth crown to the blurred-out curls. Ideal hair for this style is medium to thick density and a length that brushes the collarbone or longer. Dimensional blonde color works well for this style because the tonal range creates a contrast that defines each curl. On a flat or single color, the curls would mass into a single dense form so it is best to avoid that look. This style is more flattering on round or heart shaped faces because the volume sits behind and below the crown and offers a lift without adding width to the sides of the face. This style will not survive a humid event without an industrial
strength hold.

Brushed-Back Dark Brunette Pony with Waved Ends and Loose Front Pieces

Instagram: bridalbykelseyzerebny

If someone has fine or thin hair, it can show in this style. The whole look relies on enough thickness in the hair to hold the smoothed-back crown without any padding or extensions, and this person obviously has medium to thick hair doing the work. The tail is only about collarbone length when down, and the waves look to be set with a flat iron instead of a curling wand because they have that crimped, ribbon effect, not a round curl. Those front pieces are doing a lot to soften the pull around the ears so it doesn’t read too severe for a wedding. This style works well for strong jawlines and oval faces. Round faces will feel exposed. It’s clean from every angle which is more important than most people think at events. It’s also very clean in photos which is important.

Straight Brunette Low Pony with Oversized Pearl Cluster

Instagram: shuzenmoy_makeup

If your hair is fine or medium density, this will show right away. The entire look relies on having enough hair the fill out that smooth, flat shape without the scalp showing at the nape, and the tail has to have enough weight to hang with that kind of stillness. Look at how the base is situated right at the occipital bone, not sagging below it. That means above it was all pulled and directed tightly down and locked with a lot of product before securing. Three big pearl pins at the wrap point do all the work here and without them, it’s just a standard ponytail. That’s the cold hard truth. The hair is also mid length, straight, and a cool dark brown with no dimension, meaning the flat iron and shine serum were doing the heavy lifting. This works for someone who wants the dress and accessories to take the focus off the hair. From the front, it won’t photograph very interesting.

Loose Dutch Braid into Textured Mid Pony with Fresh Florals

Instagram: hairbylaurrenkate

If you have fine hair, this probably will not hold. The whole structure relies on a **Dutch braid** that has been pulled wide to create the illusion of thickness and on genuinely fine or thin hair those expanded sections collapse in under an hour. This works on medium to thick density hair and is shoulder length or longer. The braid feeds into a **mid-height pony** that has been backcombed for volume and tiny white flowers are tucked right at the base where the braid meets the elastic which is a nice detail that keeps the look from being too casual. I notice how much intentional looseness there is around the ears and nape with wispy pieces left out that were clearly curled as a separate step and not just left out randomly. That deliberate mess is harder to achieve than it looks. Round and oval faces wear this well because those face-framing tendrils soften width without adding it. One honest thing: from the front this can look a little undone in a way that photographs better than it lives. In person the line between romantic texture and ‘coming apart’ is very thin.

Honey Blonde Wrapped Pony with Scattered Pearl Pins

Instagram: annikamenken.hair.makeup

We recommend this one if you have fine to medium density hair. The tapered end of the hair piece isn’t thick, which is beneficial because the soft ends S-wave won’t read as limp when the volume is moderate. It also looks intentional because of this. I also like the twist wrap at the bottom because it serves two functions: it conceals the elastic and creates an anchor point for the pearl pins. The hair color is a warm honey blonde (very pretty!) with a bright dimension throughout the mid shaft, so it won’t go flat under event lighting. It’s most likely a balayage with a root melt to keep the grow out natural. For the people with very thick, coarse hair, this is not for you. The relaxed draping and that single loose tendril only stay controlled on finer textures; heavy hair pulls the wrap apart and the pearls start sliding. This is designed for medium length hair, probably past the collarbone. This looks especially good on oval and heart-shaped face because the soft pieces keep everything balanced. The asymmetrical placement of the pearls adds a special touch and elevates the style from basic to sophisticated.

Twisted Low Pony with Gold Floral Comb and Bronde Dimension

Instagram: aimeelonghairandmakeup

The accessory isntextbf{‘}s doing anything here; the twist technique is doing all the heavy lifting. Each side is rolled inward towards the nape, crossed over, and then gathered into the pony, which is what creates that seamless look down the back of the head. This technique only works well with medium to thick, straight, or slightly wavy hair. In fine hair, gaps in the twist will be visible within an hour. The bronde balayage (darker at the roots and warming to a honey blonde towards the ends) gives the twists depth. Without that contrast, you wouldn’t be able to discern the structure from a few feet away. The low placement at the nape of the hair is flattering for longer necks and wontextbf{‘}t clash with a high neckline or bold earrings. For those with shorter necks it compresses everything. The slightly off center position of the gold pearl comb feels intentional rather than bridal, which allows this to be worn as a guest outfit.

Braided Crown Ponytail with Pearl Vine Accent

Instagram: alexandralee1016

A horizontal Dutch braid goes across the head from one side to the other and tends to need a lot of hair to keep the braid looking puffy (and not flatten to a sad ribbon) so this hairstyle will work best on thicker hair than mid back length. The ponytail is a perfect mid-height so it sits right in the middle of the head. The loose curls on the hair are done with a large barrel curling iron and brushed out to add volume so the curls don’t look stiff. The dimension of the color caught my eye, along with the rooted blonde and the contrast between the cool and warm blonde tones in the hair. The braid pin adds to the look perfectly because it covers the spot where the braid gets pinned, so it works great for brides that want something bridal without an updo. It also works great for oval and heart faces since it opens up the cheekbones, but round faces might feel a bit exposed.

Deep Brunette Bridal Pony with Segmented Bubble Waves

Instagram: frizerski__salon__jovana

This style will not work on fine hair. It’s important to say this first because the segmenting bubbles will only look like individual rounded segments when medium to thick texture is working in your favor. The curls are set in large barrels and then tied or pinned loosely at intervals to create that pillowy, stacked effect along the low nape ponytail. The crown is almost flat and the crystal vine is placed off-center to break the smoothness without clashing with the lower texture. That smoothness is doing so much because it allows the volume to sit in the tail. Rich chocolate brunette without highlights keeps the style uniform and polished. If your hair is mid-back length or shorter, you are going to need a clip-in piece to achieve this level of fullness. It’s a bridal style for sure, and on a wedding guest it could definitely read as too much.

Copper-Gold High Pony with Brushed-Out Waves

Instagram: sarahwadehair

This is going to show off if your hair is fine or thin. The nape is pulled completely smooth and there is nowhere for sparse density to hide. This works because she has medium to thick hair, with enough weight that the waves sit heavy and full without them frizzing out at the ends. The color is a warm strawberry blonde, with what looks like a natural darker root, blending into hand-painted copper gold. This gives dimension even in a sleek style. Notice how the tail fans wide instead of hanging in a narrow rope. That spread only happens with genuine density or well matched extensions. The placement sits right at the crown, not the very top of the head, which keeps it from reading costume-y while still giving lift. You need mid back length minimum. Strong choice for oval or heart shaped faces since pulling everything back won’t widen the jaw line and that smooth crown elongates nicely.

Voluminous Curled High Ponytail with Face-Framing Tendrils

Instagram: updosbyjess

That crown volume is definitely doing a lot of work here, and it does look like there has been some teasing and strong hold spray applied before the pony was even secured. If you look close enough at the base you can see the hair that is wrapped around the elastic to conceal it, which little detail is what separates a wedding-ready ponytail from a gym ponytail. The loose curls are with a 1.25-inch barrel and are left to cool like that before being brushed through to give that soft, bouncy finish instead of tight ringlets. This is yours if you have mid-back length medium to thick hair. Fine hair will not hold this shape and volume past the ceremony without clipped-in extensions that are padded into the tail. The single tendril pulled in front of the ear is intentional and does look flattering on longer face shapes, but can close things in on round faces. This style will not survive humidity.

Pearl-Scattered Low Pony with Ash Blonde Waves

Instagram: invitebride

The pearl pins can style this up quite a bit, but if your hair density is fine or medium, the pins won’t sit how they do here. Instead, they’ll slide around and clump together in a way that looks random. Pearls need thick long hair to look intentional. Do you see how the wrap around the elastic is holding the lower cluster of pearls? That is possible only because there is enough hair holding that wrap. The color is a cool ash blonde with shadow roots, which is probably a toned foilayage on the icier side. It looks beautiful on light and medium skin tones. This particular shade of ash can wash you out quickly if you have warm or olive undertones. Brides, these pins reflect light in a way that can result in white spots in pictures because of how they pin your hair and in combination with your photographer’s flash settings. It’s a good idea to talk about this in advance.

Polished Dark Pony with Deep S-Waves and Braided Wrap

Instagram: indep_hairstylist

The hair base is straightened, making it look glassy. However, the glassy look is for hair that is straight, smooth, and without imperfections. If your hair has any wrinkles or curls, that glassy look will come from a complete blowout and flat iron job vertically and horizontally everywhere before you style the ponytail. If your hair is humid, it will come undone quickly. The ponytail is set in consistent S-waved curls created by a bigger barrel iron. Each curl has been combed through and pinned to cool so that it keeps the wave for a long time. There is a small braid wrapped around the ponytail holder (elastic). If the braid is small, it is almost invisible, which means you need medium to thick hair for the braid, or it will look too thin, exposing the elastic. Your hair length needs to be long, straightened, and enough weight to contain everything. It won’t work if your hair is too thin. A deep wave will not look good if your hair is fine after the party ends. Long oval and oblong faces look the best with hair slicked back and this style. If your face is round or wider at the jaw, it will not be good.

Blonde Mid-Pony with Soft Body Waves and Built-Up Base

Instagram: makeup_by_marlies

That base is padded. Look how high the crown is, there is a bump/hair piece underneath to create that rounded shape before the ponytail starts. Without it, this would just fall flat against the head and then everything changes. If you have fine or medium dense hair, that’s the detail that makes or breaks this look. The loose waves you see are done with a large barrel curling iron, and it is brushed out to create a looser wave pattern and kept connected so it’s not like ringlets. The weight of the length makes the look polished without it being stiff. This requires hair that is a minimum of mid back length to achieve this look and the blonde here is a multidimensional balayage with an intentional darker root shadow, which will work in the ponytail’s favor because it will add depth at the crown. It will not hold in humidity. If you are at an outdoor summer wedding, expect that the wave pattern will loosen and the bulk of the hair will be at the tie point and it won’t sit this clean.

Warm Brunette Low Pony with Old Hollywood Body Waves

Instagram: styles_bymarcella

These waves aren’t from a curling iron. They’re flat iron waves that have been brushed and pinned in a ribbon technique. That’s how the waves are uniform from the root to the tip without any frizz. That takes time and a stylist who isn’t going to rush. If your hair is fine to medium density, the waves won’t hold the same shape after 3 hours unless you use a working spray before removing the pins. You also need hair that is mid-back length and if I’m being honest, thick hair is the reason this looks as full as it does. The warm caramel highlights against the brown base reflect light off of every wave and ridge, and it really does a lot of work. Without light contrast, the wavy and textured hair will look flat. And while face shape doesn’t matter too much since everything is pulled back, notice how that single loose piece at the nape softens the line at the ear. If your hair is layered above your collarbone, I’d skip this because the tail will thin out and lose the wave pattern completely.

Loose Ribbon-Tied Low Pony with Undone Texture

Instagram: lucja.bridalstylist

I can tell the bow shown is providing the most contrast. It’s assembled over a clear elastic, so I assume the construction is pretty straightforward. This appears to be a medium density, mid-length ponytail that has been hand curled and then broken up for a more relaxed look. This looks good in the light and is a slightly warm toned balayage with foils. It can be a struggle for finer hair. If the hair isn’t thick enough, the look can almost seem carelessly thrown together.. If your hair is on the thick side, or at least medium and somewhat wavy, the style will stay in place through a ceremony and a reception with very little readjusting. The leftover pieces around the nape are a bit intentional and can provide a lived in look, but also consider that when it comes to your neck being more covered.

Brunette Bouncy Pony with Lifted Crown and Curtain Piece

Instagram: theupdobysungiang

The big volume at the top is made by teasing the hair and pinning a cushion underneath before the ponytail is done. The ponytail likely also has a clip in extension weft added. The density from root to tip is way too consistent to be natural medium hair only. The tail itself has probably also been professionally cut to be thick in density. The 1.25 inch barrel curls are brushed out to be more of a wave and not separated at the ends. What I noticed is that single curtain piece left out at the temple face and curled away from the face. It really helps the look from being too severe and pulled back. This looks best on thick long brunette hair with some subtle warm highlights. It looks good with off the shoulder or open necklines. This is best on oval and heart-shaped faces. It will fall by hour four of a reception no matter how much hairspray you use.

Lifted Blonde Pony with Barrel Curls and Loose Pieces

Instagram: meghanlairdhair_makeup

The base is doing some serious work! Someone teased and pinned a foundation under the pony for that lift, which means if your hair is fine or thin, this exact volume is not happening without padding or a clip in weft. The dimensional blonde here reads like a heavy foil highlight on a natural level 6 or 7, and the root & ends contrast is what gives the waves that visual depth. The ends are barrel curled, probably with a 1.25 inch iron, set and brushed out. The loose tendril around the ear is strategic and stops it from looking too rigid, but notice how the nape is a bit undone too, with some strands escaping. That section is going to get messier as the night goes on. Ideal is medium to thick, mid-length hair. If your hair barely reaches your shoulders, expect a stubbier tail that won’t drape the same.

Double French Braid into Curled Low Ponytail

Instagram: bridalhairbytiff

If your hair is fine or thin, this one isn’t for you. The two French braids leading into the ponytail need actual volume to appear full, and it’s not something you can fake with product. This style is best suited for medium to thick, mid-back length or longer hair, with enough texture to hold a reception curl. You can see the braids are pancaked, yet they still have clean diagonal sections. This shows the stylist fed in her sections loosely from the beginning, not from the middle like most, and that makes a difference. The warm brown color with lighter balayage ends gives some nice dimension to the curled ponytail without looking overly highlighted. A tip for those framing your face: they will frizz in humid weather, and the front can change from intentional to messy very quickly. The width that those braids add at the top is most flattering for oval and heart-shaped faces.

Sleek Mid-Height Pony with Hollywood Waves

Instagram: melavibeauty_

Let’s get one thing straight: if your hair is fine or thin, this won’t suit you. The density of this style is doing most of the work, allowing the barrel curled waves to be held tight without separating. What I noticed is how flat the crown is, like no one teased her or added volume at the root, and this is a choice that is really giving the entire thing a bridal look without being too fussy. The position of the waves is right at the mid to nape area so it’s neither too high or too low and a wrapped section of hair covers the tie really nicely. The color is a blended dimensional blonde with foils over an ashy cool base and you can see the contrast in tones really showing in the waves. This is perfect for medium to long, thick, straight to wavy hair. Round or square faces suit this style best as the slicked back sides really pull everything together. It will definitely start to loosen up in a few hours if you’re at a reception.

Wavy Balayage Ponytail with Soft Crown Volume

Instagram: melissawood_hair.makeup

That single loose strand in front of the ear is working hard to pull the whole look from ‘done’ to ‘undone on purpose.’ This needs thick long hair to land right. If your hair’s density is fine or medium, you won’t get this weight in the ponytail without extensions, and there’s no faking it. The balayage here moves from a deep brunette root into ashy blonde at the ends, so the ponytail reads almost ombré when gathered and creates a color gradient that wouldn’t be visible when worn down. To create the crown volume, you want to lightly tease and pull some sections forwards and then secure it at mid-height; not high, not low, just where the skull starts to curve. Oval and heart faces are flattered by this style, but round faces lose some definition because that placement just doesn’t lift enough. This is a wedding guest ponytail that will photograph beautifully from behind, but will start to droop by hour four unless it’s pinned with some internal support.

Glossy Low Pony with Hair-Wrapped Base

Instagram: maisiesparkshair

It’s easy to see if you have fine or thin hair. There’s no volume to hide behind and the sleek ponytail look will require you to have medium or thick hair. I like the way the hair wrap around the ponytail holder is perfectly flat. This would take some careful pinning with a long enough hair strand to loop around without a stubby tail sticking out. The balayage does the most, going from deep brunette to warm honey blonde, and that dimension is what keeps a simple style from looking plain. I would say this is mid-back length at the minimum. This style looks good on healthy, well conditioned hair and bad on hair that is dry and frizzy because every strand is on display and it looks like there is a ton of shine spray and smoothing products.

This post Wedding Ponytail Hairstyles That Look Graceful From Every Angle, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The long bob with bangs seems to be a cut that women over 50 love, and that women of all ages seem to come back to time and time again. The reason I think so many women over 50 seem to love the cut the most is because the long bob really takes no personality of it’s own, it absorbs your personality and makes it even bolder. Many of my friends believe that the long bob is simply a shorter version of their hair, and it looks so right for them. I tend to believe that the long bob is coming back because it’s really whatever your personality is, and on top of that it’s a little shorter hair that will fit your day to day activities.

There’s something about this cut that resonates particularly with women over 50, and I have to say, it’s taken me some time to describe it. I think it’s about length. There’s a point at which length loses its utility and this cut stops it before that happens. As the texture of hair begins to change with age, the lob stops length from working against the texture. The bangs allow for texture to be incorporated around the front in ways that go beyond just growing it behind the ears. Once, I had a client that told me she had grown her bangs for two straight years, and had hated every single day of that process. But she got them cut it on a Wednesday and that Friday took a selfie in a restaurant that she sent me. This cut actually isn’t meant for a special occasion. It’s meant for anyone who is done the overthinking.

Wavy Collarbone Lob With Soft Bangs and Caramel Foils

Here is the before. She has so much hair and it was weighing her down in the worst way. Instead of having volume, length was making it go flat on her body. Her new lob with layers has restored her previous volume. The bangs have even been point cut to hang free. They are also caramel brown mid-shaft foils. That’s perfect for balancing her rounder face. You have to have wavy or textured hair because there is no way thick straight hair is going to stay like this without a straightener. Also, it will need to be trimmed often because if they split it is going to look bad in the middle.

Curly Brunette Lob With Rounded Layers and Cinnamon Highlights

Straight hair will not benefit from this style, show this to your stylist if you have natural curl and at least 3A texture, as this style relies on natural curl to maintain the shape. The layers of this style were cut and then rounded through the mid-lengths to keep the back of the style full and not triangular. The bangs of this style sit shorter and have looser curls, and curl away from the forehead, as opposed to sticking to it. The entire style is cut with the curl pattern maintained and Sprung, and as a result the cinnamon-colored bits of hair woven throughout darker curls attract light and reflect the most with their flat color. These pieces are likely hand-painted and it looks amazing. This cut is an absolute flatter for heart shaped and round faced people due to the height of the volume because this style is cut with curved fullness and volume, balanced with the collarbone length of the hair. Very curly and voluminous hair will look strong with this style, and straight/limper/thin curls will most likely fall flat by noon.

Warm Brunette Wavy Lob With Shaggy Curtain Fringe and Sun-Kissed Ribbons

These bangs pack a punch. They hit the face framing layers and shorten the brow length. It’s tricky to cut the face framing layers, but I was able to get a lot of length through to the temples. This lob has natural layering and razor cuts that provide bounce to the hair with movements. The base of the hair is warm chocolate brown and is topped with a fine hand-painted caramel layer throughout to provide the hair with dimension. This looks great on hair that is of medium thickness or thicker as it won’t contain the shape to define the style and will lay flat. This is a great style for someone with natural curls and waves as it looks great with movement. This style looks great to frame an oval and round face the most due to how the length hits beneath the jaw. This style looks great on thinning hair as the highlights are concentrated more mid-lengths to ends where as the roots grow the length will maintain volume.

Buttery Blonde Lob With Textured Fringe and Rooted Dimension

Bangs at this salon have a sneaky trick – they’re cut thin enough to show off skin using a technique called “point-cutting.” This light-weighted and modern technique helps compact your overall style. This is a lob with an inside layer razor to remove bulk. It is perfect for medium to straight hair and warm root to blonde ends. It is not recommended for curly, thick, or textured hair unless daily styling is acceptable. Long, straight fringe is complimentary to ovals and hearts and looks stunning. If you have fine hair this style will most likely mean your hair will appear greasy by the end of the day.

Straight Dark Lob With Brow-Grazing Fringe and Subtle Caramel Threading

Notice that the bangs are not solid and seamless. They have been point-cut so that they can have separation at the brow line. Airy bangs look great on softer faced individuals and point cutting bangs is much more important than the length of the cut. This is a lob. Before point cutting the bangs, this medium length straight hair was a blunt cut with no layers. The color has a deep espresso base. With light caramel highlights put in by hand painting only through the mid length, it looks great on oval and heart face shapes. If you have a rounder face shape, this length collar bone cut with no length falling to the face will help to slim the face. Cape de rance bangs need to be touched up every three weeks to maintain this look. If you have any curl at the hairline, they will not lay perfectly flat without daily straightening.

Cool Platinum Bob With Flicked Layers and Blended Side Fringe

Look carefully. These are slightly uplifted at the collar. This flip is perfect for medium density hair because there’s no need to backcomb or use a ton of hair products to create volume. The razored layers around the crown give this style movement and weight. This probably isn’t ideal for very curly or coarse hair because the ends being uplifted will probably create frizz. The color looks like expensive ash blonde and has fine babylight highlights with a gray base and toner. The long side fringe helps narrow the forehead for a more oval shape while the length sits just below the cheeks and helps widen your face. This style also won’t work well for those with a more defined jawline. This style mainly works for those with fine and flat hair. In order to get the style, you must blow dry and use a round brush with every single wash.

Wavy Brunette Lob With Swept Bangs and Golden Caramel Pieces

Highlights around the face with the ends a bit darker leave the crown dark and are placed intentionally to catch more light there and draw the attention away from the roundness of the face and to the front of the face. Layer cut with face framing pieces that start just above the collarbone is designed to fall to one side but without adding volume. It has a lot of thick hair and looking at the style wouldn’t be great for those who have fine or thin hair. Long enough to be worn to the side, the fringe is great for face framing pieces and grows out fast which is great for the growing out process, but trimming is needed every 3 to 4 weeks because as they grow out, they tend to join together and lose the definition. People with straight hair should avoid this style, as this style curls and utilizes volume.

Wavy Dark Bob With Shaggy Bangs and Warm Peek-a-Boo Ribbons

Copper ribbons only appear with the movement of the hair. It is this level of detail that makes this cut truly lovely. For this base color, this would look flat in most pictures, even with low lighting, without the copper ribbons. The colorist has put these copper ribbons under and throughout the mid-lengths, which maintains dark brunette and gives it something to grab while forming waves. This is a chin-to-jaw length bob with internal layers that have been razored. The hair is loose, lived-in and bent. The bangs are shaggy and intentional uneven. This style is better for those with medium to thick hair and natural texture. Fine hair will likely lose this shape with only product. For those with round or square face shapes, the length is perfect to hits at the widest part of the face and makes everything seem extra wide. For those with oval or heart face shapes, this length is great too, to play with. This hairstyle flatters many shapes the best but straight hair will ruin this style for sure. Movement in the hair really does fix the shape.

Blonde Collarbone Lob With Layered Fringe and Buttery Highlights

Point cut bangs look cool and showcase your forehead. Straight thick bangs on top of medium weight hair, like this length, look like a ‘heavy helmet’. The lob barely falls past the collarbone with some ends shaped. This keeps the hair clean around the face, while the bangs hold all the softness. Round and square faces will love this style because it narrows and elongates the face without closing off the perimeter. It would be a bad choice on fine, thick, coarse hair type, unless your stylist sees fit to remove some weight internally. The warm butterscotch foils that frame the face and fill in the hair from root to tip are placed heavily, to create a darker blonde base. This style completely changes your hair in a ponytail.

Jet Black Collarbone Lob With Soft Arched Bangs

Cutting bangs to just hit the brow bone keeps a face looking balanced and open. This collarbone-grazing lob has layers that are point cut and minimize the bulk of the hair without affecting the weight. The layers keep the appearance of the hair thick and full from the roots to the tips. The single-process black hair, while great for medium to thick hair, can look dull and lifeless on finer hair. On both oval and heart-shaped faces, the bangs soften but do not conceal the face, and the collar bone length of the cut frames and minimizes the appearance of the face. The hairstyle will work to conceal and balance a rounder face but will make it appear even wider. Black hair is one of the most difficult hair colors to maintain because it’s very noticeable when someone doesn’t get their hair glossed.

Dark Chocolate Curly Lob With Loose Shag Bangs

This is a dry cut. Notice how there is no gap at the top. A dry cut means the stylist cuts the hair where it dries at rather than fighting against the curl pattern. A common cause for hair that dries shorter than it is cut is hair that is allowed to dry naturally and takes on its natural shape (aka springs) after being cut wet. This cut relies on a good amount of hair for the shape and weight to fall out towards the the sides of the face. Picture framers give this shape and help it from falling flat on the face. This won’t work on a bob that has looser curls than 3A. The deep espresso brown has warm chestnuts, but the tone is generally a solid. This haircut looks amazing on someone with an oval or heart shaped face. The shape is best avoided if you have a round face, which is characterized by extra fullness in the cheeks. It will be especially bad in humid weather.

Silver Shaggy Lob With Full Fringe and Natural Texture

The center density contrasts nicely with the reduced thickness of the surrounding sections enabling the layers to merge evenly. It is a really great balance for this particular cut. This is a shag with a collarbone length cut designed for medium-density hair to show off natural waves. This won’t work on straight hair. This will work best on women with oval and round face shapes as the pieces around the jaw break up the width of the face without creating more. I love how natural silver was left untoned and unhighlighted. This will work best for women with natural silver hair as it will not lay as flat for women with warm, yellow gray hair. Short layers provide the illusion of fullness, but in longer hair, Phyllis, they will equal more frizz.

Tousled Brunette Shag With Choppy Bangs and Bronze Ribbons

Lots of detail has gone into these layers. Notice how much shorter the crown layers are compared to the collarbone layers. This creates a rounded, full shape at the top and sides, while thinning at the ends. This is a razor cut shag not blunt layers and it works well with medium to thick hair otherwise it can look stringy and lose volume. Fine hair will lay flat by noon. The bangs are choppy and sit above the brow and flatter a rounder face shape. What I like about this is some warm bronze highlights placed on the face and mid lengths. This leaves the root and the rest of the hair dark. This adds texture and depth to the cut without highlights, messy hair would look flat. This is a great cut for people with natural wave or curls. If you have straight hair, a lot of work is needed to style it either with a diffuser or straightening it to get the look with a lot of curls. This is not a wash-and-go hairstyle.

Rich Mahogany Bob With Soft Tapered Bangs

Check out the bangs. They’ve been point-cut and tapered to blend the side layers. There’s also mahogany brown. It’s flat single-process brown with cherry hints. You can tell the color is brown. From medium lengths to longer lengths hair can sometimes be boring and flat. Lots of angles create a great frame for faces that are oval or even round. It works less for square faces. This haircut actually creates a strong jaw line for square faces and needs to be that length from the chin to the collar. It relies on the length to create movement. This style really works best with thick and coarse hair. You can’t get the look otherwise. No amount of product will change that.

Chin-Length Bob With Side-Swept Bangs and Sandy Blonde Highlights

Internal layers are razor cut so they move while maintaining weight. This inhibits stringy ends on medium-density hair such as this. The bangs are cut to meet on an angled line across the forehead to shorten the face and accentuate the eyes. This style will not hold it’s natural shape on thick, course hair and will need to be manipulated daily. This color is a warm-toned sand with fine, foil highlights with a warm brown base. Highlights have been strategically placed around the face to brighten and frame within the rest of the hair being a lot darker. The nape is also darker which gives a nice contrast as the hair grows out. This style will not complement a round face due to the chin length line making the face appear wider. Straight hair with subtle waves will work well with this style.

Flippy Ash Blonde Lob With Feathered Layers and Dimensional Lowlights

This style uses a technique that takes the most practice, but the hardest part to recreate, as the style is flipped on one side, courtesy of an end-flipped round brush. There’s a lot of density to the hair, but it’s balanced with some fine layers that start below the chin. Cooler ash blonde with darker lowlights, and root and interior highlights, with a natural grow out in between from partial foils, gives these some color. Oval and heart face shapes like the included feathered bangs, which are less than full fringe. The layers should puff rather than flip with thicker and/or course hair, so it is best to skip this style.

Beachy Blonde Lob With Piecey Curtain Bangs and Lived-In Waves

Note the thin, triangular bang section that does not extend and covers her face. This collarbone length lob with long layers with point cutting adds movement. The texture is natural with not perfectly spaced waves. The color is a natural rooted blonde with white bang highlights and balayage through the lengths. This medium density hair has natural bounce and a lot of curl. This style requires daily styling on straight hair to hold the shape. Curtain bangs that meet the cheek bone are a good option to shorten the length of a longer or oval face. Round faces may feel wider with this much horizontal texture at the jawline. The texture in thicker hair that is pulled with texture spray in the right areas holds the shape.

Dark Brunette Lob With a Deep Side Part and Feathered Bangs

The bangs aren’t really bangs. They’re slightly blended pieces chopping off angles, and are perfect to grow out. This is a medium density bob with internal layers cut to a natural length around the back, finished off with some extra length through the collarbone. This style gives lots of volume along the crown without the use of back-combing or build up of hair products. It looks good on both round and oval face shapes, but will make long and narrow faces flat. Avoid the heavy diagonal fringe if you have a long and narrow face. With a dark brunette shade on this style, it looks great without dimension, but will grow gray roots in about three weeks.

Polished Blonde Bob With Soft Fringe and Fine Highlights

The fringe/bangs are cut to around eye level, no block of hair across the forehead, and are thinned to separate and soften. A lot of the work is done by this one length bob, which ends right at the shoulders. This cut requires medium/thick hair to keep a clean rounded edge, as thin hair will expose the hair. The hair color is a few shades of warm caramel and is a balanced base to blend and soften the regrowth line. Babylights are not too harsh and give volume to the hair. The length will widen the face due to the length, so this cut is flattering for an oval or heart shaped face. Round faces should avoid this look as it can overemphasize the round shape. This is a straight finish cut so it requires a blowout with a round brush every time you wash your hair.

Curly Shag Lob With Shaggy Bangs and Warm Auburn Pieces

These bangs are pretty cool. The stylists actually used the natural curl to cut the bangs when they were dry. This helps with the integration of the bangs to the layering, so they don’t look like a separate element on the forehead. This will only work on curl patterns beginning at 2B. Straight hair will not work with this. This style has a lot of flexibility, with the shag style, thick and medium hair doesn’t get a lot of bulk because of this inner-layer short layering style. The hand-painted auburn pieces are great because they have warmth amidst the dark brunette base, all without a color appointment. Round and oval face shapes will appreciate this, because the bangs and face-framing curls help balance the shape. This style will not be great for fine low-density hair. And of course you have to worry about not controlling the humidity as it will also rebel against you and your hair style.

Warm Chestnut Bob With Seamless Side Bangs

You might be underestimating this cut, but for good reason. The layers are cut to be shorter than the surface, so as long as there’s enough density, the shape will hold without a round brush. This cut works best for medium to thick hair, fine hair will be flat by lunch and bangs will be separating. The copper highlights really pop and shine through the mid-shaft and lower. It really looks great on her skin because it’s warm, and you know a lot better than yellow! The length of the cut Helen got really helps elongate and frame the face, especially for rounder faces, whereas most of the time hair cuts tend to focus on elongating the neck. It’s not for you if you want low maintenance color, because the copper will definitely begin to fade little by little. To avoid a brass disaster, you will definitely have to come in for regular glossing.

Textured Lob With Wispy Bangs and Warm Highlights

Some impressive technique implemented here. With razored layers at mid lengths, the hair is now jagged, and this style works beautifully with textured hair. The elongated bangs and feathered pieces framing the face are more intentional than the after-thought styles that simply have one length bangs. I would say this works with any face shape, but especially with those who have rounded faces. This is because the length of the cut is below the jawline and on a rounded face the length opticaly breaks up the face and can make it appear smaller with less width. The balayge caramel highlights within dark brunette works especially well with this style because the dark base grows out naturally with no harsh line, meaning this style will work with most hair types, but not if you have very fine straight hair.

Layered Lob With Curtain Bangs and Honey Brunette Dimension

This silhouette splits the bangs off to the side to help contrast against rounder faces. The length drops below the chin while adding an internal layer to provide dimension and movement to the hair and a full head of hair. The layers begin up at the crown and can be cut at that point to avoid heavy looking hair. Medium density hair look good in this style because this style avoids excessive volume. If you have thin hair, this style is a winner. If you have thick hair, stay away from this cut hairstyle because your hair will quickly spread losing the defined shape.

Choppy Collarbone Cut With Copper Ribbon Highlights

Razor work begins here along the cheekbone in a fan-like shape giving more movement in the mid-lengths and adding volume that give a appearance of thicker hair, even on medium density hair. Copper ribbons are woven through a dark chocolate base. This is done free hand and woven without a foil, so it looks modern as opposed to the traditional highlight way of doing it. This is great for round and oval face shapes as it adds angles to the cheekbones. The curtain bangs are cut to naturally separate and create framing without covering. This is a great picture for people with natural wave or curled/textured hair. This looks best on wavy hair, straight hair will look unfinished.

Shoulder-Length Shag With Face-Framing Pieces and Toffee Balayage

These hairstyles are differentiated by one significant layer. Look for the shortest layers that sit just above your cheekbones and fall away slightly. Those are point cut to fall open and widen your mid-face. This style is great for those with oval and long face shapes. The color is a hand-painted balayage using neutral shades of toffee and ash on a brunette base. This style is quite sophisticated. It won’t look lived in on straight hair, except if it was styled that way intentionally. That is because the Texas layers are straight, blunt cuts that give this style its shape. Thin hair or flat hair at the roots will make this style lose its shape. So this style is better suited on medium to thick hair.

This post A Long Bob With Bangs Might Be the Best Haircut to Try After 50, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Patricia Holloway, Bend, Oregon: “I’ve been losing more hair than usual and my scalp feels really dry and irritated. I keep seeing rosemary oil everywhere but honestly I don’t know where to start. Someone at my gym mentioned making a flaxseed gel at home and combining it with rosemary. Is that actually a thing? Does it work? I’d love a real recipe if you have one, not just a vague list of ingredients.”

Patricia, yes, it is absolutely a thing, and you came to the right place. Flaxseed gel on its own has been a staple in natural hair circles for years, but combining it with rosemary is something I started doing in my own routine about three years ago after a client of mine, a woman in her late fifties going through some hormonal changes, asked me if there was anything gentler than the minoxidil her dermatologist had suggested. I didn’t want to overpromise anything, but I did some digging, started experimenting, and eventually landed on a recipe that she, and honestly I, still use regularly. Her hair is noticeably thicker now. Mine grew back after a stress-related shed I had during a really rough winter. I’m not saying it’s magic, but the results were real enough that I kept making it.

What draws me to this combination specifically is that it’s not just about one trendy ingredient. Rosemary has actual clinical research behind it, including a 2015 study published in Skinmed that compared rosemary oil to 2% minoxidil and found comparable results at six months. And flaxseed gel, which most people only associate with curl definition, is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and creates a film-forming base that helps active ingredients actually stay on your scalp instead of just sitting on the surface and then sliding off when you move. Together they make a lot of sense.

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7. Understanding What You’re Actually Making (and Why It Works)

Before we get into the recipe steps, I want to spend a minute here because I think a lot of DIY hair care tutorials skip past the part where they explain what’s happening, and then people make it wrong or use it wrong and wonder why it didn’t work. So let’s talk about what this gel actually is.

Flaxseed gel is what’s called a mucilage, which just means it’s a thick, slippery substance that comes out of the seed when you boil it in water. That mucilage is rich in lignans, which have mild estrogenic properties that can be helpful for women experiencing hormonal hair thinning, and it’s also full of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that supports a healthy scalp environment. When your scalp is inflamed or dry, hair follicles don’t perform well. That’s just the reality. The gel addresses both of those things at once, conditioning the scalp while also coating each strand to reduce breakage.

Rosemary, specifically rosemary essential oil or a concentrated rosemary infusion, works by stimulating circulation in the scalp. Better blood flow means more nutrients reaching the follicle. There’s also evidence that rosemary inhibits DHT, the hormone most associated with pattern hair loss in women, particularly after menopause. That’s actually a meaningful mechanism, not just a nice idea. When you combine a DHT-blocking, circulation-stimulating ingredient with a scalp-conditioning, follicle-supporting base, you have something that’s working on the problem from more than one angle, and that’s why this recipe tends to get better results than just using rosemary oil alone on a dry scalp.

The gel also acts as a delivery system. Because it’s water-based and slightly sticky, it holds the rosemary in contact with your scalp for longer than if you were just massaging in a dry oil. Think of it like a leave-on treatment that actually stays where you put it.

6. The Full Ingredient List (with notes on what to buy and what to skip)

Here’s where I’m going to be a little opinionated because I’ve made this enough times to know which corners you can cut and which ones will cost you. Let’s go through everything.

Whole flaxseeds are the foundation. You want whole seeds, not ground flaxseed meal, because ground seeds make a cloudy, grainy gel that’s harder to strain and doesn’t have the same slip. I use golden flaxseeds because they produce a lighter-colored gel that won’t tint light hair, but brown flaxseeds work just as well if that’s what you have. Look for organic if you can, simply because you’re putting this directly on your scalp and keeping the chemical load low makes sense. Organic whole flaxseeds are easy to find on Amazon and usually much cheaper per ounce than what you’d find at a health food store.

Rosemary essential oil is your main active ingredient. Not rosemary fragrance oil, not a rosemary-scented product, but actual rosemary essential oil with no added carrier. The one I’ve used most consistently is Plant Therapy Rosemary Essential Oil, which is reasonably priced, third-party tested, and widely available. Majestic Pure is another solid option. I’d stay away from anything sold at a dollar store or without any sourcing information on the label.

You’ll also want distilled water rather than tap, because tap water minerals can affect the gel’s consistency and shelf life. A small bottle of vitamin E oil acts as a natural preservative and adds extra scalp-nourishing benefits. Vitamin E oil for hair is very affordable and one bottle lasts a long time since you only use a small amount per batch.

Optional but worth considering: a few drops of peppermint essential oil for additional circulation support, and a teaspoon of aloe vera gel to boost the soothing properties if your scalp is particularly irritated. Pure aloe vera gel without the green dye or added alcohol is what you want.

5. Equipment You’ll Need (most of it is already in your kitchen)

This is one of those recipes that doesn’t require any special tools, which is part of why I like it. You need a small saucepan, a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, a bowl to strain into, and an airtight glass jar or bottle to store the finished gel. That’s genuinely it.

I do want to make a case for glass storage over plastic here. Essential oils, rosemary especially, can degrade certain plastics over time and you don’t want any of that leaching into something you’re putting on your scalp. I use small glass spray bottles because they make application so much easier, especially if you’re targeting your scalp through your hair. The spray top lets you section and apply without making a mess, which I genuinely appreciate at six in the morning when I’m doing my own hair care routine before work.

A funnel helps if you’re pouring into a narrow-mouthed bottle. A silicone spatula is useful for scraping every last bit of gel out of the pan because this stuff is precious and you don’t want to waste it. If you’re planning to make larger batches, a kitchen scale is helpful for getting consistent measurements, but for the recipe I’m giving you, standard measuring cups and spoons work fine.

One thing that does matter is cleanliness. Because this gel has no synthetic preservatives, bacteria can get in if you’re using dirty equipment or hands. I wash my jar with hot soapy water and then pour boiling water over it before I fill it, sort of a low-tech sterilization method that works well enough for a product you’re going to use within two weeks. If you want to go further, sterile glass dropper bottles are inexpensive and make portion control much easier if you’re applying the gel in targeted sections.

4. The Step-by-Step Recipe

Alright, here’s the actual recipe. I’ll give you the base version first, then mention the variations at the end of this section.

Start by measuring out 2 tablespoons of whole flaxseeds and 2 cups of distilled water. Add both to your saucepan and turn the heat to medium. You’re going to bring this to a simmer, not a full rolling boil, and then watch it carefully because the transition from liquid to gel happens fast and if you cook it too long you get a thick, almost solid lump that’s impossible to strain. You want it to look like slightly thickened liquid, like the texture of a light egg white. That usually takes somewhere between 8 and 12 minutes of simmering, stirring occasionally.

Once you see that gel consistency forming, pull it off the heat immediately and pour it through your fine mesh strainer into your bowl. Work quickly while it’s still hot because it thickens as it cools and becomes much harder to strain. Press gently with your spatula to get everything through. Discard the seeds, or compost them if that’s your thing.

Now let the gel cool to room temperature. This part is important because you’re about to add your essential oils, and adding them to hot liquid will cause them to evaporate and you’ll lose most of the active compounds before the gel even hits your scalp. Once it’s genuinely cool, add 10 to 12 drops of rosemary essential oil per cup of finished gel. Add your vitamin E oil, about half a teaspoon per cup, and stir everything together well. If you’re adding aloe or peppermint oil, this is when those go in too.

Transfer to your storage container and refrigerate. The gel keeps for about two weeks in the fridge. Some people add a few drops of tea tree oil to extend shelf life, and that’s fine, but I find two weeks goes by fast enough that preservation hasn’t been a big issue for me. I make a fresh batch every ten days or so, and the whole process takes maybe twenty minutes once you’ve done it a couple of times.

3. How to Actually Apply It for Hair Growth Results

Making the gel is the easy part. Using it correctly is where most people go wrong, and it’s also where I see the biggest difference in results between people who try this and people who stick with it.

The gel works best as a scalp treatment, not just a styling product, though it does work as a light hold gel for wavy and curly hair if you want a two-in-one situation. For hair growth purposes, you want it on your scalp, and you want to spend some time working it in. I section my hair into four or five parts depending on which areas I’m focusing on, apply the gel directly with either a dropper bottle or my fingertips, and then massage for about five to seven minutes. Not a gentle touch, either. A real scalp massage with medium-firm pressure, moving the scalp itself rather than just sliding your fingers across the surface of your hair. That movement is what stimulates circulation, and combined with the rosemary, you’re giving your follicles a meaningful signal.

Leave it on for at least 30 minutes, or overnight if you can manage it. I sleep in a satin sleep cap when I do an overnight treatment, which keeps the gel from transferring to my pillow and also helps retain moisture. Wash out with a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo the next morning. I’ve been using sulfate-free scalp-focused shampoos for years and the difference in scalp health is real, especially for anyone dealing with dryness or irritation like Patricia mentioned in her question.

Consistency is the thing that matters most here. I tell clients the same thing I tell myself: do this two to three times a week for at least eight weeks before you decide whether it’s working. Hair growth cycles are long, and you’re not going to see new growth in ten days. What you might notice sooner is that your scalp feels less itchy and dry, that your existing hair looks shinier and feels stronger. Those are signs the treatment is doing something, even before you see length or density changes.

2. Variations Worth Trying Once You’ve Got the Base Down

Once you’ve made the basic recipe a few times and you know how it should look and feel, there’s a lot of room to customize based on your specific scalp situation or hair type, and I think this is where the recipe gets really interesting.

If you’re dealing with a particularly irritated or flaky scalp, steep a handful of dried rosemary leaves directly in your hot distilled water for twenty minutes before you add the flaxseeds. Strain out the rosemary, then proceed with the recipe using that infused water instead of plain distilled water. You get a much more concentrated herbal benefit and the gel has this beautiful pale green color that honestly looks gorgeous. You can find dried rosemary in bulk online very cheaply, and it keeps for ages in a sealed jar.

For women dealing with significant thinning at the crown or temples, which is where most of us start to notice hormonal loss, I’d recommend adding a few drops of pumpkin seed oil to the finished gel. There’s actually some clinical evidence supporting pumpkin seed oil’s role in blocking DHT, similar to rosemary, and the two work well together. It does make the gel slightly heavier and less suitable as a styling product, so keep that in mind.

For fine hair that’s prone to looking weighed down, use a slightly shorter cook time to get a thinner gel, add a teaspoon of aloe vera juice rather than gel, and cut the seed quantity to one and a half tablespoons per two cups of water. The result is lighter and less sticky, easier to use on thinner, finer strands without that crunchy feel that some people complain about with flaxseed gel generally.

And if you have curly or wavy hair and you want this to double as your styler, apply it to soaking wet hair in sections, scrunch it in, and let it air dry. It gives a nice soft hold with zero crunch once it’s fully dry, and you’re also treating your scalp at the same time. That’s the version my curly-haired clients tend to fall in love with.

1. The Real Talk on Results, Timeline, and What to Expect

I saved this for last because I think it’s the most important thing I can tell you, and I wanted you to read everything else first so you have context for it. Hair growth treatments, whether they’re clinical or natural, take time. That’s not a disclaimer I’m adding to protect myself, it’s just the truth about how hair biology works.

The average person’s hair grows about half an inch per month, and that growth originates from follicles that have their own cycle of growing, resting, and shedding. When follicles are stressed, which can happen from hormonal shifts, nutritional deficiencies, physical stress, or just age, they spend more time in the resting phase and less in the growing phase. What a treatment like this rosemary and flaxseed gel does is address the scalp environment so that follicles can function better, and that process shows results over months, not weeks.

What I can tell you from personal experience, and from watching clients use this consistently, is that the first thing most people notice is reduced shedding. Not more growth right away, but less coming out in the shower and in the brush. For Patricia, whose scalp is dry and irritated, I’d expect her to notice that her scalp feels better within the first two or three weeks, because the flaxseed is genuinely soothing and the improved circulation from the rosemary helps with that tight, uncomfortable feeling that comes with a dry, unhappy scalp.

The client I mentioned in the intro, the one who was looking for an alternative to minoxidil, she noticed reduced shedding around week four, saw baby hairs forming around her hairline at week ten, and by the five or six month mark her overall density had visibly improved. I’ve seen similar timelines with other clients who were consistent. The key word being consistent. Twice a week minimum, real scalp massage, give it a full three months before you decide it isn’t working.

A few things that will make the treatment more effective alongside the gel: a diet with adequate protein, since hair is made of keratin and you need protein to produce it; iron levels worth checking if you haven’t, because low ferritin is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of hair loss in women over forty; and stress management, which I know is easier said than done but is genuinely one of the biggest drivers of hair shedding. The gel is a meaningful piece of the puzzle, but it works best when you’re also taking care of the rest of the picture.

If you want to track your progress, take a photo of your hairline and crown in the same lighting every four weeks. It’s very hard to see gradual changes day to day, but a side-by-side comparison at the three-month mark is usually pretty convincing. I started doing this for myself and it’s genuinely what kept me going during weeks when I wasn’t sure anything was happening.

One Last Thing Before You Go Make a Batch

Patricia, I hope this gives you exactly what you were looking for, and then some. The beauty of this recipe is that it costs almost nothing compared to commercial hair growth treatments, the ingredients are clean and simple, and you know exactly what’s going on your scalp. That matters, especially when your scalp is already irritated and sensitive.

If you try it and the consistency isn’t quite right your first time, don’t give up on it. The cook time is the trickiest variable and it takes a batch or two to get a feel for it. Too thin, cook it a bit longer next time. Too thick to strain, pull it off the heat earlier. Once you nail the texture, you’ll make it on autopilot.

I’d love to hear how it goes for you. And if anyone reading this has a variation they’ve tried or a question about adapting the recipe for their specific hair type, drop it in the comments. Some of the best tweaks I’ve landed on came from exactly that kind of back and forth.

Here’s to healthier, happier hair, all of it, starting from the scalp.

This post Natural Rosemary and Flaxseed Hair Growth Gel Recipe, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The Jackie cut has such a modern twist that women often don’t even realize they’re asking for it. Instead of bringing in a photo of Jackie Kennedy, clients will bring in photos of celebrities and say “I want this,” with the picture leading to a chin-length bob that has extra height and volume at the crown with j curved ends. Last year, I had a client who was very set in her style for many years with a long layered cut. It was her signature style for over a decade, but she said that she was finally inspired to try something new after finding a picture from her mom’s house that her mom tore out of an old Vogue, many years ago. She said she wanted that, and in reality, she wanted a style that is currently one of the hottest trends and she didn’t even know it.

What makes this cut so popular is how the proportions compliment different finer hair types. This cut allows for a volume on the sides and top. The cut also creates length and holds a lot of shape. It is also a low-effort look since the curved ends are held with minimal product and little to no heat tool styling. The style is very popular with women over 60 because similar short hairstyles don’t hold their shape as well in-between appointments. This cut is also forgiving since it grows out in a cute shape that looks intentional, unlike a lot of other shorter style cuts.

The Caramel Highlight Flip Bob

For an effortlessly chic daytime hairstyle, you can’t go wrong with a brown bob with caramel highlights! Traditional Jackie O styles keep the ends curved inwards. However, I also think a flipped out end looks great! This style does call for some face framing highlights and highlights on the ends, so the front sections of your hair and the ends that will capture a lot of light. I would suggest to the stylist that you do get partial highlights instead of a full.

The Warm Brunette Side-Part Flip

This chestnut brown bob with side bangs is shoulder length. It has ends that flip out slightly, and layers that build a ‘70s inspired top on a ‘60s styled base. The end of the hair naturally stands out, which explains the top most layer of the hair and the flip at the ends, both of which build shape and style. The flip is a natural feature of the layers. Make sure you tell your hair stylist to cut the layers with the outward flip because they will try to fight against it.

The Brunette Shoulder Flip with Volume

A dark brown shoulder-length bob, with volume at the roots and ends that flip out. Blow drying with the head over helps to create root volume, the easiest way to get volume without much skill. This bob parting helps to create a flip of the ends. This shape is great for people looking for a short bob with a lot of volume like Jackie’s, but don’t want to have really short hair and can wear their hair up with a low ponytail.

The Feathered Brown Short Jackie

A bob with side-swept bangs is such a timeless style. This cut is reminiscent of pictures taken at the 1963 White House. The feathered sides and back stops this style from looking round or boxy. This style flatters various hair textures from medium to fine. However, it will look especially flat if it grows out. To avoid this, you will need to get a trim every 5 weeks.

The Jet Black Side-Part Chin Bob

This bob features a side-part with a chin-length rounded shape and ends that are brushed forward, slightly framing your face. This bob also has an asymmetrical side part giving this bob an effortlessly undone style. This bob is best for straight to slightly wavy hair, and is especially great for thicker hair. This bob requires little to no maintenance, since it is essentially a low-productivity asymmetrical hair cut. The finished hair look only requires the application of smoothing serum on the ends.

The Layered Brunette With Curtain Fringe

A medium brown shoulder length layered bob with long curtain bangs has a perfect balance of movement, due to the layers in the bottom half of the bob, with no messy ends. The shortest version of the Jackie is probably this one. The makeup of the ends is very forgiving as you grow out the bangs, which there aren’t any truly awkward stages. Let your stylist know that you want them to keep the heaviest layer at chin level.

The Dark Brunette Volume Bob

A dark brown bob with deep side part and volume built through a crown with either backcombing or a volume product, this is a great representation of Jackie’s signature style. This style is great for medium density hair, but it needs a lift from a volumizing root spray at the crown before styling with a blow dryer.

The Updo with Loose Face Pieces

The Jackie style Hi-Bun is a great everyday style. Jackie O used to pull her hair up in the back and pull most of it back and then frame her face with side-swept bangs. Because of the flattering frame and weight of side-swept bangs, you don’t need much shoulder length hair for the Hi-Bun style pony. This hairdo is the perfect style for people wanting to style hair length at the minimum shoulder length hair length.

The Highlighted Flippy Chin Bob

Light brown bob with a flipped endsrown. Top layer is weighted, thinned bottom layer adds a good deal of dimension with low effort. Great cut for straight hair with natural end flip. Would let the ends flip naturally as opposed to trying to force them to flip inward.

The Curly Brown Highlight Bob

This chin-length brown bob features golden highlights that have been roughly cut. The highlights are intended to be thin and will catch the light in different ways throughout the curl. They should be placed against the curl’s pattern. Curl should be fully formed and dry before styling. Curl pattern of the bob will be kept best by applying a curl defining cream to hair while it is soaking wet.

The Jet Black Smooth Jaw-Length Bob

Jet black smooth jaw-length bob with a slight center part. This style is the most streamlined version of the Jackie o, with no bangs, no layers, and just the shape. It can work with hair that is straight or treated to be straight with smoothness. Even hair that is slightly wavy can be styled in this way with a flat iron. However, how much styling is needed on a daily basis should be a factor in which version of this style is chosen.

The Auburn Bob with Blunt Bangs

A structured bob with chin length hair and thin blunt bangs. Thick, straight across blunt bangs give this bob type a lot of structure. These bangs do not have a lot of poufiness like other blunt bangs, so they fall over your eyes after about 3 week without a trim. This particular shade of auburn has brown undertones.

The Black Layered Shag Bob

This style includes a black layered, shoulder-length shag with some face-framing layers. The layers start high on the cheekbone, which helps to create movement in the style. This style is better for growing out when compared to a regular Jackie because the layers are longer and they eventually blend together to lose the definition somewhat, where as classic Jackie’s start losing definition once they are grown out. This style also helps remove some thickness out of the hair.

The Dirty Blonde Textured Short Cut

A textured crop with disconnected layers, sandy brown highlights, and a short wavy shag. This haircut is similar to a shorter and more modern version of the Jackie O. The haircut is close to the head. The top is added with volume. This haircut is versatile and looks great on all medium density textured hair that has waves. There’s a lot of texture, and it needs minimal styling.

The Classic Brunette Chin-Grazer

My take on your cut is women’s style perfection for busy ladies. I adore your closed shape cut below your jawline. This style is a perfect match with the natural bend on medium density hair to a blowout. This beautifully retained shape is perfect for a round bristle brush and low heat blowout.

The Curly Jackie with Full Bangs

Naturally black with curly bangs. Bob is jackie and the round shape naturally appears because tight curls provide voluminize without the blow-dry. The shape depends on an omission of blow-drying and heat straightening, so the dry cut or no blow-dry is all about curly hair. Volume is everything in this style cut and the secret is finding curly hair dry cut specialist.

The Copper Round Bob

This bob is copper red with rounded length with side swept bangs and a modern color to capture the essence of the Kennedy silhouette. It would work better with thick or moderately dense hair to capture the rounded side without looking flat. It will require a color depositing conditioner in copper every few weeks to look its best.

The Shoulder-Length Curtain Bang Jackie

Shoulder length hair, brown, and a layered style with long curtain bangs. The line of this Jackie style has been stretched as much as possible to retain the shape, with all aspects dropping by a couple of inches. The center of the curtain bangs falls to approximately the level of the cheekbones. The style guides the length as it is grown because the overall shape of the style is achieved in a series of steps as opposed to being all cut at once.

The Highlighted Shag with Wispy Bangs

A brown highlighted neck-level shaggy bob with wispy bangs is style fusion of a shag and a long length Jackie. There is a choppier layering structure and less inward curling is present. This would be great for medium to thick hair that needs movement, but people don’t want to blow dry too often.

The Wavy Black Chin-Length Bob

The Jackie Cut has chin length bob hair and features curved bangs. The wavy style works with the Jackie Cut, not against it. This style doesn’t require volumizing spray, blow-drying inward, etc. Natural waves already bring a soft curl to your hair. This style was made specifically for curly hair, so you can beat the humidity frizz and control your hair.

The Warm Auburn Ear-Length Bob

A warm auburn color side-parted bob, worn chin-length and with wispy bangs. The copper color warm tone on this Jackie shape can really elevate the cut. This color and silhouette looks very different in black or dark brown. Bring this photo if you are planning to book this color and cut. This color will start to get brassy and look unhealthy if there isn’t regular color touch-ups and maintenance done every 4 to 5 weeks.

The Textured Dark Pixie

This pixie has short dark textured messy crown volume with a side swept shape. It can be short so all the hair is cut short and sweet, while still having some top fullness. Perfect for fine to medium length hair. For thinner hair this cut can really show it off. A small amount of texturizing paste should be used through the top of the style and separated with the fingers.

The Pulled-Back Volume Ponytail

A dark half-up style with curtain bang face-framing is enhanced by the fact that you can still Do A Jackie. Clients often worry about length when they have shorter lengths of hair. Styling brings the pieces and the bangs out to frame the face which means that even if you pull the rest of the hair up, you still have an intentional cut.

The Layered Curtain Fringe Bob

Dark chocolate brown eve-length hair with curtain bangs. The layers are structured to work the mid-lengths, where the hair wants to kick out on its own. This cut nullifies the effects of heavy, triangular hair. This works great for maintaining unruly hair. This cut needs to be done every 7-8 weeks to avoid hair falling into the eyes.

The Long-to-Short Transformation Bob

A sexy shoulder-length layered bob with flipped ends. This style is definitely not boring. It has a bit of lift on the right side, and it has some choppy texturized layers and weighted bob length. With the appropriate structure, this style could easily pull away from looking one dimensional and looks great with a center part. This style is perfect for someone looking for new hair that is edgy, and for a pg. this style definitely has a lots of weight!

This post Jackie Kennedy’s Signature Cut Is Getting a Softer, More Modern Update, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

In color trends, most of the time, you can ease in a little, put in a minimal effort, or try something that looks “natural.” However, blue purple hair is not like this. The point of the color is to look like a cross section of a bruise and a galaxy, and the best version isn’t afraid to go all out. One thing I like about this color family is how different it can look depending on the ratios. People can go super far with cobalt or let the purples take over, and keep different amounts of their natural dark color at the root. Just with the same two pigments a look can be created that is so moody and almost noir, or it can be super vivid so much so that it looks backlit. I remember years ago when a friend got her first blue purple color and I was surprised at how it looked different in every room she went into. It looked almost navy under the fluorescent lights, but when she stepped outside, the purple would just explode. That is why this color family is of so much interest to me. It is new and different every time, and it pays you back for the effort. Because the vivid color fades quick and unevenly, the maintenance is a real conversation. However, people that love this color family tend to enjoy the change as much as the first result.

Galaxy Ombré: Straight vs. Waved

This side by side is super helpful in illustrating how extreme the same color can look based on styling. On the left, the hair is straight, and the purple to blue gradient looks stretched and watercolor-y with each shade bleeding into the next in a long, flowing stripe. On the right, the waves compress the color into smaller, more focused bursts, and the blue at the ends looks way brighter and more pronounced. It is a good reminder that when you pick a vivid color you’re picking how you want to wear your hair most days because the color and the texture are having a conversation whether you meant to or not.

Deep Violet Layered Melt

This is much the same in palette to the royal purple melt above but reads differently due to the layering, a bit heavier through the bottom with less graduation at the roots. As a result, the purple completely takes over the overall impression with the blue being more of a shadow at the crown rather than a co-star. It’s a small difference in technique that changes the whole mood and that’s what I think is interesting about blue-purple as a color family. The same components can produce very different emotions based on where you emphasis.

Dramatic Violet Layers on Dark Base

Here, the drama of the violet shade comes from the different layers of the cut. Each level reflects the color at a different intensity. The depth created here would not be achievable with a blunt cut. The darker shades framing the violets also offer the eye a reference point. They give the illusion of the brighter sections being held in place. The cut has a lot of bounce and every flip of a layer reveals a new shade, which means it will photograph differently on every occasion.

Blunt Lob with Quiet Violet Ends

As a compliment, the blunt cut gives the color no place to conceal. There are no layers to soften the edge, no textures to divert from the clean transition of the straight cut, and deep blue-black collar to soft violet ends. It’s as simple as it gets, the kind that takes five minutes to style but still feels complete. A blunt cut can be the most kind to a gorgeous color, and for that, I thank you.

Stacked Blue-to-Purple Micro Bob

This might have the best color placement out of the entire collection. The crown is a clear, saturated blue that blends into purple right at the bob weight line where the stacking starts. The result is almost like an upside down sunset, with a sky blue top and a deeper violet below. The combination of a sharp cut and fully committed color gives an editorial vibe, but not in an impractical way. It takes a stylist with a solid understanding of both color theory and precision cutting to create this kind of look.

Curly Bob with Jewel-Tone Threads

Curls and color create magic together! The curls will open and close and catch color at different angles creating a scattered, kaleidoscopic look! You won’t get this look with straight hair! The bob keeps the curls bouncy and the color placement is so fun, it is throughout and not just at the ends so nothing will be boring, and overall it’s fun without being too much!

Shaggy Midnight with Purple Underlayer

The cut is all about not overthinking it with choppy shag layers, a slightly messy texture, and the purple and blue blended instead of separated. The dark base keeps it grounded and adds to an overall moody effect that leans grungy in the best way. For an effortless impression over a precious one, this is the direction to go for blue purple hair.

Blue-to-Violet Lived-In Waves

This artwork has a gentle touch to it. The blue and purple colors are soft and have no hard edges. The hues are merged in gentle waves and looseness where they blur the difference between the shades. There’s a feeling as if the color has been lived in for weeks and softened by many washes and exposed to the sun, and I think that’s how blue purple hair looks like at it’s most beautiful. That’s where the waves that have been slightly undone help too, nothing here is trying too hard and that’s exactly why it works.

Violet Undertone Angled Bob

The angle on this bob is super dramatic. It’s way shorter at the back and sweeps longer toward the front, and the color follows that same logic. The shorter sections at the nape are almost black while the violet only becomes visible in the front longer pieces where the hair is thin enough for light to shine through. It’s an architectural haircut with color that also respects that architecture, and the styling’s sleekness keeps the whole thing feeling really sharp and well thought out.

Midnight Ink Pixie

The color here is so dark and so deeply blue that it could be mistaken for black. That is until the light changes a little, and you see hints of navy and the subtlest violet. The cut is a textured pixie with some length on top, and is tapered closely at the nape, and there’s an overall sharpness to the cut that the subtle color enhances without complicating things too much. Sometimes a color job can deepen what’s already there.

Waterfall Layers in Blue and Violet

The V-cut at the back really makes the cascading colors sing. The most vivid blues and purples flow to the point of the V where the color centers in an almost chevron-like design. It gives a present to everyone around the wearer. Long hair like this enjoys a good leave-in conditioner for color-treated hair to keep the ends from drying out and letting the pigment escape.

Hidden Violet on a Tapered Pixie

Here all of the color is mostly hidden, with just a hint of violet near the ear and nape that can be hard to see from some angles. The rest of the cut is a rich dark blue-black with beautiful texture and volume throughout the top. I really appreciate the restraint in this look, because it does take some confidence to commit to fashion color and then decide to keep most of it out of site. The clean modern tapered back is nice and the little touch of purple is a detail for those who look closely.

Cobalt Streaks on a Flipped Mid-Length

The cobalt color in this one, looks almost like neon in color, and stands out in streaks from a darker purple base that remind me of early 2000’s chunky highlights, but in a more refined way. The flipped ends add a little bit of personality and movement so it doesn’t feel too heavy, and the cut at mid-length means that bright blue pieces are concentrated where they can be most visible. It is bolder in color than most of the looks here and it is meant to be.

Midnight Curls with Sapphire Tips

I appreciate how the blue tips on this style is quite subtle and is almost peaking out at the ends. I find the rest of the hair color to be a rich plum black, and then the electric blue tips surprise me (in a good way). The length on this is also good as it allows the blue color to sit without anything being overwhelming. Overall, this shade is a nice way for someone who wants their color to feel like a secret to achieve that goal.

Midnight Blue Stacked Bob

This one focuses on the cut as much as the color. The stacked back gives the bob a real shape and volume. The deep midnight blue with just a whisper of purple through the nape is the sort of color that someone might not even register as a fashion color at first glance. It first reads as a very dark, interesting brunette and that quiet deception is something I personally find really satisfying. The structured shape and the understated color work really well together in a way that feels very grown-up.

Royal Purple Melt on Layered Lengths

The gradient is great here. The dark blue at the crown transforms beautifully into a rich purple and the mid-lengths and the transition is so smooth it looks almost like one color changing temperature. The layers contribute because each one gets caught at a slightly different point in the gradient creating dimension that a one-length cut simply couldn’t produce. It feels rich and intentional, the type of color someone shows off by wearing their hair down and doing nothing else.

Blue-Violet Panel Highlights

The highlights in this style are incorporated in wide, intentional panels instead of fine foils, which gives a bolder, more graphic look overall. The strands are thick electric blue, deep purple, and natural dark base, which are all individually visible, and because the hair is worn so straight, the definition in the colors isn’t blurred. It is a very intentional look. A colorist usually maps this type of look out in a detailed way, section by section, before she begins to paint. With all of this flat ironing, a heat protectant spray is essential to keeping both the color and the condition of the hair gorgeous.

Sleek Indigo Curtain

The blue and the purple are so similar that you can’t even see a difference. You can only see a change in the color because of the angle of the light. The indigo color may shift in some places, but the color also appears to be a single, deep hue. The V shaped layers in the bottom achieve movement in the ends even when the hair is worn straight and makes the look almost flowy. In low light, this type of color appears almost black, but, in bright light it shows its true color. For me, this quality has always been incredibly appealing when it comes to jewel toned hair.

Purple Peek-a-Boo Textured Bob

I appreciate how the purple is hidden underneath the bob and the dark, almost-black top half gives it a more revealing than decorative feel about the color. This is a more playful approach without being too cutesy. The texture and piecy wave gives it a nice lived-in feel and prevents the whole thing from reading too done. I think this will look especially nice as it grows out since the purple hem will shift to a more relaxed placement.

Inky Ribbons on a Tousled Lob

The color placement here is very precise. There are thin ribbons of blue and purple, which are woven into the base of the hair that is very dark, and due to the wavy hairstyle, the colors shift and change. I love that this is the sort of color that one would notice after speaking to someone, not right away, and that adds to the charm. The length of the lob works well for the color placement because it means that those colored strands will stand out and not get lost in the rest of the hair, which would happen if the hair were longer.

Navy Plum with Feathered Ends

I am rather drawn to this piece due to it being one of the more quietly toned ones. The navy and plum colors are nearly identical in value, and the only place you can differentiate the purple from the blue is at the feathered tips. The medium length and soft layering at the bottom create an easily polished look that is appropriate for more conservative environments that a full-blown vivid would not be.

Layered Violet Cascade

The layers are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. Without them, the color melt from deep blue-black at the roots to rich violet at the ends would look completely one dimensional. But with the hair cut in long, cascading layers, every tier of color gets its own moment. It’s like watching something unfold. The longest pieces at the back are the most saturated, and there’s a slight teal undertone near the roots that keeps the transition from feeling too abrupt. This is a lot of hair and a lot of color (which can easily be overdone), but it is all handled really well.

Electric Cobalt Bob

The blue on this bob is so saturated that it looks like it was painted in with ink. It does a wonder with the base color dark purple. I love the contrast and gorgeous tonal push and pull it creates with the blue. I love the clean slightly stacked back cut. It gives the color placement more room to breathe at the face-framing pieces. A bob this polished and with color this bold is an interesting combination. I don’t know what it is about the structure of the cut but it makes the wildness of the color feel intentional rather than chaotic.

Smoky Amethyst Waves

The thing I appreciate about this one is the restraint. The purple tones are soft and slightly smoky, integrated into a very dark base, creating a sensation of color seen through gauze. It is moody without being harsh, and the waves allow the lighter pieces to capture just enough light to show. This would look beautiful on someone who wants to recognize the trend without fully embracing vivid saturation, which is a perfectly valid place to be.

Glass-Straight Violet to Cobalt

With highlights like this, the hair has to be perfectly flat-ironed because every single strand catches the light and you can see the blue and purple highlights as separate rivers. The roots at the top pull it together, but full-pigment color from the ears down is especially striking. Keeping hair this long while retaining straight hair and vivid color is a lot of work and dedication. You have to wash your hair with cold water and use a good color-depositing shampoo. It is worth it when your hair color is this stunning.

This post If You’re Ready for Something Different, Try Blue Purple Hair Colors, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Donna Marchetti, Flagstaff, Arizona: “I’ve been struggling with thinning hair and breakage for about two years now, and I’ve tried every shampoo and treatment out there. My stylist mentioned that my diet might actually be making things worse. Can you break down which foods are really damaging my hair and which ones I should be eating more of? I want to approach this from the inside out for once.”

Donna, I hear you, and honestly, your stylist is one of the good ones for bringing this up, because most people spend hundreds of dollars on products before anyone ever asks them what they’re eating. I’ve been doing hair for a long time, and the clients who walk in with the most frustrating hair situations, the ones where nothing seems to work no matter what we try at the sink, are almost always dealing with something internal. You can deep condition every single week and still have hair that feels like straw if your body doesn’t have what it needs to actually grow strong strands.

Here’s the thing about hair that nobody in the beauty aisle is going to tell you: your hair is essentially the last place your body sends nutrition. Your organs, your skin, your muscles, they all get first priority. Hair is considered nonessential by your body’s distribution system, so if you’re low on key nutrients, your hair is the first place it shows and the last place it recovers. I started paying attention to this years ago when a client of mine, a woman in her late fifties who had the most gorgeous thick hair I’d ever seen, told me she’d completely overhauled her diet after menopause and credited most of her hair health to what she ate, not what she put on it. That stuck with me. So let’s get into it, starting with the worst offenders and building toward the foods that are genuinely going to change things for you.

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8. Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates

Sugar might be the sneakiest hair villain on this list because it doesn’t feel like a hair problem, it feels like a dessert. But what sugar does inside your body creates a cascade that genuinely wrecks your strands over time. When you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates, things like white bread, pastries, pasta made from white flour, crackers, anything that converts quickly to glucose, your insulin spikes. And when insulin spikes repeatedly, it can trigger a rise in androgens, which are hormones that are directly linked to hair follicle miniaturization, the same process that causes thinning in women, especially after forty or fifty.

I had a client, late forties, healthy weight, exercised regularly, came in every six weeks and her hair was just getting thinner and thinner around her temples and part line. We talked for a while and she mentioned she’d been stress-eating a lot of sugary snacks and was having a glass or two of sweet wine every night. I’m not saying I diagnosed her, I’m just a hairstylist, but I suggested she look into the connection between blood sugar and hair loss, and she took it seriously. About four months later she came in and her regrowth was genuinely impressive. She’d mostly cut out added sugar and switched to a lower-glycemic way of eating, and her scalp was visibly happier. The follicles around her hairline were waking back up. Refined carbs also spike inflammation throughout your body, and chronic inflammation at the scalp level interferes with the hair growth cycle in a really direct way. This one is worth taking seriously.

7. Alcohol

Look, I’m not here to tell you to never have a glass of wine, that’s not what this is about. But if you’re dealing with hair loss, breakage, or a scalp that’s constantly dry or irritated, alcohol is worth examining honestly. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it pulls water out of your body, and hair that’s dehydrated at the cellular level is brittle hair. Beyond that, regular alcohol consumption depletes zinc, folic acid, and several B vitamins, and those are exactly the nutrients your hair follicles depend on to stay in the active growth phase.

There’s also the liver connection, which sounds dramatic but is genuinely relevant. Your liver processes hormones, and when it’s overloaded with alcohol on a regular basis, hormone balance can shift, which circles back to that androgen issue I mentioned with sugar. Your body is all connected in ways that your shampoo simply cannot address. I’ve noticed over the years that clients who drink heavily and regularly tend to have a specific kind of hair texture, it’s fine, a little wiry or frizzy at the surface, and it just never quite responds the way you’d expect to treatments. That’s not a scientific study, that’s just a lot of hours standing behind a chair watching patterns. Cutting back, even to just a couple of drinks a week, tends to show up in the hair within a few months in a noticeable way. You can also support your body during this by taking a good B-complex supplement, something like the Nature Made B-Complex that you can find easily and that won’t break the bank.

6. High-Mercury Fish

This one surprises people every time I bring it up, because fish is supposed to be good for you, and a lot of it genuinely is. But there’s a specific category of fish that’s been linked to hair loss through mercury toxicity, and it’s worth knowing which ones to limit. Swordfish, tilefish, shark, king mackerel, and even tuna, especially the big eye and albacore varieties, tend to carry higher mercury loads. Mercury is a heavy metal, and when it builds up in your system it competes with the minerals your hair needs, particularly zinc and selenium, and it can interfere with thyroid function, which is one of the most direct routes to significant hair shedding in women.

I know a woman, not a client but a friend, who ate canned tuna almost every single day because she was on a high-protein diet and it was cheap and easy. She started losing hair pretty dramatically in her mid-fifties and went through a whole thyroid workup, everything came back borderline. Her doctor eventually asked about her diet, and when she cut the daily tuna habit and switched to lower-mercury options like salmon, sardines, and light skipjack tuna, things genuinely improved. The lesson isn’t to avoid fish, the lesson is to diversify and pay attention to how much of the high-mercury varieties you’re eating, especially if you’re eating them several times a week. For women who are already navigating hormonal changes, this is particularly worth monitoring because your thyroid is already working harder than it was in your thirties.

5. Crash Diets and Extreme Calorie Restriction

If you’ve ever lost weight quickly and then watched your hair come out in the shower about two to three months later, you already know this one in your bones. It’s called telogen effluvium, which is just the clinical name for the kind of shedding that happens when your body experiences a significant stress, and rapid calorie restriction is one of the most reliable triggers. Your body interprets a crash diet as a famine situation and starts redirecting protein and nutrients away from hair growth toward keeping your organs functioning. Your follicles hit pause, and then weeks later, all those paused hairs fall out at once.

The frustrating thing is that the shedding is delayed, so by the time it happens, most people don’t connect it to the diet they did three months earlier. I can usually tell when someone has done a very low calorie diet or a juice cleanse or one of those aggressive programs because the texture of the new growth coming in is different from the older hair, almost like you can see the stress event recorded in the strand itself. Hair is basically a timeline of what’s been happening inside you. If you’re working on weight loss for health reasons, that’s completely valid, but slow and steady is genuinely the approach that protects your hair. Something like a 300 to 500 calorie deficit with plenty of protein is so much kinder to your follicles than a 1,000 calorie day. Your hair will thank you, and honestly, the weight tends to stay off better too.

4. Foods High in Selenium (When Overdone)

Selenium is one of those nutrients where the gap between helpful and harmful is narrow, and it’s worth talking about because a lot of women are supplementing selenium without realizing they might be tipping into excess. Brazil nuts are the biggest culprit because the selenium content varies wildly depending on where the nut was grown, and some of them have extremely high concentrations. Eating just a few Brazil nuts a day, every day, can push you into selenium toxicity territory, and one of the most well-documented symptoms of selenium toxicity is hair loss, sometimes pretty significant hair loss.

I’ve seen this show up in clients who are doing everything “right” from a wellness standpoint, eating clean, taking their supplements, adding superfoods, and still losing hair. If someone comes in frustrated because they’ve cleaned up their diet and things got worse instead of better, Brazil nuts and selenium supplements are one of the first things I ask about now. The fix here is pretty simple: if you love Brazil nuts, eat one or two a few times a week rather than a handful every day, and check whether any supplements you’re already taking include selenium before adding more. This is a case where more is genuinely not better, and the hair loss from selenium excess can be pretty alarming before you figure out what’s causing it.

3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids (The Real Ones)

Okay, now we’re getting into the good stuff, and I want to spend some real time here because omega-3s are genuinely one of the most powerful dietary tools for hair health that most women aren’t getting enough of. Fatty acids like EPA and DHA, the kind you get from fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, and mackerel, are deeply involved in scalp health. They reduce inflammation at the follicle level, they support the oil production that keeps your scalp from being dry and flaky, and there’s solid research connecting omega-3 intake to reduced hair shedding and improved strand thickness.

The scalp is skin, and it needs the same kind of lipid support that the rest of your skin does, maybe more so because it’s covered in hair and doesn’t get the air circulation that your face does. When women come in with really dry, tight, uncomfortable scalps that seem to flake no matter what shampoo they use, one of the first things I suggest is increasing omega-3s either through food or through a quality fish oil supplement. I personally take the Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega and have for years, it’s one of the few supplements I genuinely feel a difference from. If you’re plant-based, algae-based DHA supplements are a legitimate alternative because algae is actually where fish get their omega-3s in the first place. Aim for two to three servings of fatty fish per week, or supplement consistently, and give it at least three months before you evaluate the results. Hair is slow.

2. Protein, Specifically Bioavailable Protein

Hair is made of keratin, which is a protein, and your body cannot build hair out of nothing. This sounds so basic that it barely seems worth saying, but the number of women I talk to who are chronically under-eating protein is genuinely striking, especially women who came up in the low-fat diet era of the eighties and nineties where protein was almost an afterthought. The recommendation that keeps coming up in hair loss research is somewhere around 50 to 70 grams of protein per day at minimum, and some functional medicine doctors who specialize in hair loss push that number higher, especially for women in perimenopause and beyond when the body’s efficiency at processing and using protein starts to decline.

But it’s not just about quantity, it’s about bioavailability, meaning how readily your body can actually use the protein you’re eating. Eggs are probably the most bioavailable protein source there is, and they also happen to contain biotin, sulfur, and zinc, which are all separately important for hair. Chicken, fish, Greek yogurt, and cottage cheese are all solid options. Collagen peptides are something I’ve become more enthusiastic about over the last few years, not as a magic solution but as an easy way to get additional protein that specifically supports the connective tissue around your follicles. Something like the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides dissolves into coffee or smoothies without any texture, which makes it genuinely easy to use every day. I add it to my morning coffee and don’t even notice it’s there. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, pairing complementary plant proteins and being intentional about your total daily intake becomes even more important because the bioavailability tends to be lower.

1. Iron-Rich Foods (Especially Combined with Vitamin C)

If there is one nutritional deficiency that I see reflected in my clients’ hair more than any other, it’s iron deficiency, and this is my number one for a reason. Low ferritin, which is the stored form of iron, is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed causes of hair loss in women, and it’s frustrating because the standard iron panel that your doctor runs doesn’t always catch it. You can have a “normal” iron level and still have a ferritin level that’s too low to support hair growth. Most hair loss specialists want to see ferritin above 70, sometimes above 100, for optimal hair cycling. Many women are walking around with ferritin in the twenties or thirties and getting told their bloodwork is fine.

The dietary solution is eating iron-rich foods consistently, and knowing how to eat them strategically. Red meat is the most bioavailable source of heme iron, the kind your body absorbs most efficiently, and I know that’s not trendy to say right now, but it’s true. Chicken liver is genuinely one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet for hair health and is almost never talked about in this context. For those who don’t eat meat, lentils, dark leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard, pumpkin seeds, and fortified cereals all provide non-heme iron, but the absorption rate is lower. Here’s the key that changes everything: eat your iron-rich foods alongside something high in vitamin C. A squeeze of lemon on your spinach, some bell pepper with your lentils, a small glass of orange juice with your breakfast. Vitamin C dramatically increases iron absorption, sometimes tripling it, which means you can get significantly more from the same food just by being thoughtful about combinations.

A supplement like Thorne Iron Bisglycinate is one of the gentler forms if your doctor recommends supplementing, because it tends to be easier on the stomach than ferrous sulfate. But please get your ferritin tested specifically before supplementing iron on your own, because too much is also a problem. This is the one where I’d really push you to get the actual number from your doctor, not just a yes or no on whether you’re anemic. If you have a number, you have something to work with.

So Where Do You Start?

Donna, and everyone else who recognized themselves somewhere in this list, I want to be honest with you about timelines because I think unrealistic expectations are what make people give up on this stuff. Hair grows about half an inch a month, and your follicles need time to come out of a stressed state before they start producing again. Most people who make genuine dietary changes start to notice less shedding in the shower around the two to three month mark, and visible improvement in thickness and texture closer to six months. That can feel like a long time when you’re frustrated, but it’s also a completely achievable window if you actually stay consistent.

You don’t have to do everything at once. If I were giving you a starting point, I’d say get your ferritin tested, increase your protein to at least 60 grams a day, start taking a good omega-3 supplement, and cut back on the sugar and alcohol enough to actually notice a difference. Those four changes alone, done consistently over six months, will show up in your hair in a way that no shampoo has been able to match. Your hair is telling you something about what’s happening inside your body, and it’s worth listening to. I’ve watched clients transform their hair just by taking that message seriously, and it’s honestly one of my favorite things to see.

This post Foods That Ruin Your Hair and Foods That Save Your Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

I get asked about French knot hairstyles the most often, and it’s amusing since most people don’t realize they’ve done the same thing before. Have you ever twisted your hair back, wrapped it around, and pinned it at the back of your neck? That’s essentially what a French knot is. The only difference between this and one that will stay put all day (or all night at a wedding) is technique. And maybe a good texture spray to start.

What really fascinates me is how this style reads differently depending on your hair colour and texture. With very dark and straight hair it can look quite architectural. It appears clean and intentional. If your hair is highlighted or wavy it takes on completely a different look with some dimension where the twist shows some of the ribbons. With that kind of hair you barely need to make it neat. I had a client once who came in very frustrated because she thought her French knot looked too “messy” because she had thick wavy hair and when I pointed out that the messiness was the goal for a lot of Instagram styles she completely relaxed about it. That’s just a French knot for you. The range is wild. Once you get the motion down, it is one of the most forgiving updos to try to do by yourself.

Before and After Fold-Over Knot in Untouched Dark Brunette

It is the hair’s density that makes the knot look good and not the technique. The left picture shows thick, long natural hair and few layers. The weight gives the completed knot volume so padding and extensions are not needed. The fold is low at the nape and the twist is clean so that means the stylist wrapped sections and did not just pin a regular chignon. This style is not for fine hair because it will lose its structure in an hour and the hair will look deflated. On the right, the pieces framing the face are let down and more than it seems, soften the pull and stop it looking too formal. These pieces were cut shorter than the rest of the hair to sit at jaw level. This look is most flattering on oval and heart-shaped faces because the low placement doesn’t add height. The hair is all natural, glossy virgin brunette that is reflecting light to show the twists in the hair.

Undone Mid-Nape Knot with Lived-In Bronde

The nape of the neck looks pretty loose, and having some bits around the ears and jawline suggests that she twisted her hair up without looking. The truth, of course, is that plenty of effort went into achieving that disorder, as she likely used dry shampoo or some form of texturizing spray on her hair prior to having it looped and pinned. When worn down, her hair is medium density and most likely around collarbone length or the little bit below. With fine hair, it may collapse at this length and appear thin instead of effortlessly styled. The bronde hair color, which is warm blonde over darker roots, provides some dimension to the knot, and allows you to see every twist and fold instead of just one solid block. This style is most suitable for oval and heart-shaped faces as the framing pieces at the front soften the temples without adding too much bulk. For rounder faces, the low positioning and the soft side pieces can, instead of elongating the appearance, widen it.

Full Twisted Knot Sitting Mid-Nape in Deep Uncolored Brunette

Wow! Look how big that knot is! To achieve that amount of volume in the twist, I’m thinking you’d probably need really thick hair that’s at least past shoulder length, and you may even require a donut or some sort of padding if your hair is finer. I see the twist that feeds into the knot coming from the crown in tightly visible rope-like sections, so I’m thinking the stylist probably separated the hair into two or three large sections, and twisted them all individually, then wrapped and pinned those into one shape. I really like the face framing pieces and the length is perfect so they definitely won’t get tucked away, which is great for longer and more narrow face shapes because it really softens the look around the temples. If you have slippery freshly washed hair, this style is not going to last! Trust me, you need dry shampoo or texture spray before you start, otherwise it’ll all slide apart within an hour! The color looks like a natural dark brown and the lack of visible processing is a single tone that assists in letting the dimension come from the twists rather than the highlights that fight with the shape.

Coiled Nape Knot in Rich Natural Copper

For fine hair, this will not stay secure. The knot has a lot of volume and a very pronounced spiral pattern, which shows that the stylist rope twisted chunky sections, and that only fills out the shape when there is enough density to fill it all. Look at how the twist is differently reflective across each ridge. It shows off that warm copper without any foils or balayage. The color is likely a single process copper, either a 6C or 7C, and does all the work here because a flat or ashy tone would cause this knot to disappear against skin. All face shapes, especially oval and heart shapes, suit this style because the low off center positioning elongates the neck without adding width. One of the most notable things is the almost complete lack of flyaways which indicates a significant amount of smoothing product was used before styling. This results in a polished look, but it will also feel stiff to the touch. This is best suited to medium to long hair that has natural thickness.

Spiraled Low Knot with Fine Caramel Threading on Dark Brunette

Each cut has its own twisting technique that makes it unique. The hair in each section is twisted in a way that goes toward a single point at the back of the neck. It is recommended to have a good amount of layers in order to achieve this look, uneven layering and density will not do this design justice. To achieve this look, the hair must be medium to thick, and long enough to reach past collarbone. This is because the knots in this technique create volume, and if the hair is too thin it will result in a sad and flat looking style. The mid-lengths with caramel ribbons of foil will only show colour through the coils, so there is no room for error in this technique (gloss or toner is unacceptable). If your face shape is more round, this style will be very elongating, and if your hair is fine, this will require padding or extensions to achieve the desired shape. It’s good to manage your expectations on this before you ask for it.

Heavy Wrapped Knot with Warm Undertones Catching the Light

The knot has been created with a lot of weight and is held in position without the use of any padding or terrible means like pins. You can see that the twist goes into the knot’s base on one side and creates a diagonal line along the back of the head which prevents it from looking too much like a basic bun. Things like that just do not work with fine hair. The twist is really close to being black, but catches the light at the top which means there are warm chestnut strands, which probably means old balayage, or a very subtle gloss over natural dark hair. It provides more contrast with the hair color so that there’s more definition in the texture of the twist rather than everything being flattened into one color. The hair length is medium to long and sits at mid-nape which is a good length for most necks. It should be just past the shoulders when down. If you have a round face then that asymmetric one-shoulder neckline and earrings does a lot of the work, so don’t expect the knot to do much elongating. This style will be a struggle to hold on freshly washed, slippery hair without a lot of product and a prayer.

Oversized Folded Knot in Uncolored Dark Brunette

This style won’t hold with fine hair. A good amount of hair is needed for it to hold, so you would need mid back length or longer, because that folded loop needs enough material to stay full without collapsing within the first two hours of whatever event you’re attending. The knot isn’t twisted or wrapped, it’s folded back on itself like a piece of fabric, and creates a good amount of volume all on its own without any padding or donut underneath. The wispies at the front and nape are really doing the most work here to keep it from looking too stiff next to a low back dress. This dark brunette hair also photographs so blinding with the light and the natural variation across the big smooth surface. Face shapes that are round or wide should know that this style sits high and wide at the crown so adds volume exactly where you might not want it. Ovals and longer faces, this is for you.

Clean Wrapped Knot Sitting Heavy in Dark Virgin Hair

The weight of the knot can be felt from how the crown area lays flat, and this is accomplished without teasing or adding volume to the top. This is all the structural work that the thick shoulder length hair is doing. No donut, no padding. The twist tucks under at the nape and self feeds very cleanly, and this takes enough hair density to hold its shape without showing pins. Fine hair will look stringy and collapse within an hour, so this will not happen. The interesting thing about the surface is that it looks almost wet. The reason for this is that it has been smoothed with something like serum or light pomade which causes every single strand to reflect the light in the same direction. On unprocessed black hair, this style will look gorgeous with this high gloss and surface black look, but will look greasy on any hair that is lighter or more porous. This style suits oval and longer faces really well since there are no face framing pieces. If you prefer to soften an accentuated jaw or chin with face-framing pieces, this style offers you nothing there.

Looped Nape Knot with Toffee Foils on Dark Brown

The work of the knot itself is not the work of the pins. The rounded, full appearance at the nape of the loop is because of the density that is able to hold the shape without the use of a donut or other padding. If your hair is fine or thin, this one would collapse on you. Hair that is at least medium thickness and length that is past the shoulders is needed. The way the toffee foil highlights were positioned standing out the most to me as it appeared that the twist had individual ribbons, creating movement where there could have been a flat dark mass at the back. Those were purposeful color placements and likely babylights that were done midshaft in order for them to pop when the hair wraps. To keep it from looking overly controlled, the face framing pieces that are left out around the ear help. This low placement will help especially on round or square faces as it will elongate the neck without adding bulk. Without a noticeable amount of texture spray applied before twisting, this knot will not survive humidity or a lengthy reception.

Gathered Twist at the Nape with Subtle Chestnut Dimension

Most of the work is being done by the loose tendril and its intentional placement. Without it, the knot would be stiff. The loose tendril makes it more relaxed. The twist is located at the nape and is made by wrapping sections around each other instead of using pins to secure a standard bun. This creates a coiled look that resembles the rope texture that you can see reflecting light. This style works best with medium to thick hair that is longer than shoulder length. Fine hair will simply flatten and become unnoticeable. The base color is a deep cool brunette with some woven chestnut pieces, probably from an outgoing balayage. The variation from the color helps it not look like a black mass in pictures. An open neckline looks best with asymmetric styles like the one-shoulder in the photo. Round or square faces look nice with hair pulled tightly back at the sides without volume at the temples.

Soft Twisted Knot with Foiled Brunette and Wheat Highlights

The knot isn’t secure, which is an issue because loose rolled twists like this one need a medium to thick hair density to remain stable and avoid collapsing into a pancake against the nape, which fine hair will not do. The foiled highlights add visible dimension to the twist with each ribbon of wheat blonde reflecting light individually from the cool brunette base. That “striping” effect is what makes this updo so classy instead of just gathered. The framing of the face is deliberate, and while the pulled wavy hair is nice to oval and longer face shapes, on round face shapes those wispy flyaways can close off the jaw in an unflattering manner. This hair is at least mid-back length, and twisted and tucked with a lot of pins that are hidden inside the roll, making it appear like it took 5 minutes to accomplish. It didn’t.

Wrapped Low Knot with Warm Brunette and Honey Ribbons

Because of the visible wraps, the base of the rope detail is opened up, creating a constructional volume at the nape. For this look to work, you want medium to long hair with a medium thickness. A knot of this size would collapse with fine hair. In this updo, the highlights pop a lot because they define each twist. Without these lighter pieces, this updo would be flat and lose so much interest. The soft volume at the crown and the soft volume at the jaw are the main focus, but it does give a nice lengthening effect on rounder faces. This hairstyle definitely isn’t a 10 minute job, it will take a while to section the hair in the right volume and shape while still keeping it a bit messy on the outside.

Relaxed Coiled Knot with Dimensional Honey Blonde

To avoid it looking like a ballet bun, the twist goes into the knot at an angle rather than all the way back. This gives a visual taper inwards for wider necks and broder shoulders which is a plus. This style works best for medium density hair and will not work on fine hair. The knot will collapse and you will be left to mess with it the rest of the event. The foiled honey blonde color with warm sandy base peeking through gives just the right amount of dimension to give the twist visible texture once it is pinned. If your hair is straight, you will need to prep the hair with waves beforehand, so factor that extra time in. This style is quite flexible in terms of face shape because the front pieces can be adjusted, but I would avoid it for very round faces since the crown volume is minimal. One last final detail is that the wispy pieces framing her jaw are not just fly aways, they were curled and pulled forward to create that effect, and without them the entire look would be unfinished.

Polished Low Knot in Single-Process Brunette

That will not work for fine hair. To achieve that look your hair should be medium or thick. The hair should also be a full length. It should not sink and look flat at the nape. The hair wrap around the base of the knot is very smooth. He does not have any pins or gaps. This means that the hair was smoothed down and then light pomade was applied before having it looped and tucked. It was not twisted tightly. Just that one fold is enough to still do the job. For oval and heart face shapes this looks best because the sides are quite sleek and do not add width. Round faces may find that this pulls too much attention to the jawline. The color of the hair is a solid deep brunette that is cool with no highlights or dimensions. Under salon lights, it looks really shiny, which is part of the goal of this color. The way this color is done limits the reflection and also the dimensions a lot of how light the hair is. Natural light can really flatten this look.

Swept Twist Into a Full Low Knot in Dark Espresso

This updo has been done without padding, and if you look closely, there’s an inward twist of some sort. That means the bun’s base is made of thick self-supporting hair. For example, hair that is too fine will not create this look without having to use a doughnut, or a lot of backcombing, and even in those cases, hair that is too fine will not achieve this look. The uniform, single-process espresso color allows the twist to really stand out rather than compete with dimension or shine. The intentional looseness at the nape, and the face-framing tendril, protect the style from feeling too stiff or overly bridal and I appreciate that. It is also extremely flattering on oval and heart-shaped faces. Due to the low placement and soft perimeter, it won’t add width at the jaw. If you have a shorter neck, this knotted bun will sit right at your collar and you will lose the open line between the updo and your shoulders that makes this version work. It needs to be a minimum of mid-back length to work.

Burgundy-Threaded Low Knot with Gold Clip Detail

The burgundy is not a full color job, it is a ribbon gloss technique on a nearly black base, and shows only when the hair catches the light or is twisted into the knot like this. You would hardly be able to see it without the twist. It needs medium to thick hair long enough to do a full knot at the nape, mid-back length or longer. Fine hair will not support this shape, it will collapse and slide within the hour and there’s nothing that can be done to prevent this, no amount of penning will remedy that. The gold clip is doing less work than it looks like from a structural standpoint, she’s mostly holding one loose piece, so I wonder if the knot was done using a bunch of internal pins and some texture spray. This works best on oval and heart face shapes because the soft pieces that are pulled forward around the temples help to balance the proportions. If your jaw is wider, those wispy pieces should be longer or this style will shorten your neck too much.

Wrapped Fishtail Knot with Warm Bronde Tones

The knotted part is a loose fishtail braid that has been coiled into a low bun. This is the reason the texture looks so clean instead of a regular twist. This style will best work on medium to thick density hair and a length of at least mid back. Fine hair will just flatten to nothing here. With the framing pieces around the face, they’re doing a solid job at softening the pull at the temples and keeping this from being too harsh on longer face shapes. The bronde color (a level 6 brunette with hand painted caramel ribbons) adds light reflection to each section of plait that a solid color would not. This will not last on freshly washed silky hair unless you use a crazy amount of grip product and a ton of pins that you can’t see.

Braided Crown Into a Coiled Low Knot with Sandy Brunette Dimension

The braid that goes straight to the knot is the main part of the trick. Without the braid, the style just looks like a regular low bun. The braid at the top goes around one side and then becomes a knotted coil at the back, and the highlights are the only thing in there that gives it some kind of visual weight or dimension. You’re going to need at least medium length, thicker hair for this style. If the hair is too fine, the knot will look like an afterthought. The sand blonde highlights and the dark brown (level 5) base do a little bit of a balayage color blend, but they also create the separation of the braid, so the overall pattern really does show from a distance. The soft wisps of hair around the front of the ear look good on longer and more angular faces. Also, be warned that this style will not hold if your hair is freshly washed and smooth and you will need a lot of texture spray or dry shampoo, so if your hair is slippery, definitely skip this style.

High Twisted Knot in Natural Black

This doesn’t work with fine hair. For a knot to keep it’s shape without being wispy, it has to be dense enough. The crown looks like it needs a lot of straight thick hair that will hold up under a lot of tension. What I notice most is the clean nape. There appear to be no fly aways or grip marks, suggesting to me that strong pomade was used, and everything was pinned from the inside. The sleekness on dark hair is unforgiving, and every bump reflects the light. This requires medium to long hair, preferably past the shoulders. For the twist technique shown here, you loop the ponytail back through itself to make the knotted fold instead of wrapping it around the base. This looks great on oval and heart face shapes as it heightens the whole look. Round faces can do it as long as the sides are flat. Square jaws, this will expose everything and not in a good way.

Rolled Low Knot with Caramel Ribbons Through Dark Brunette

Most of the work here is done by the twisting motion. The hair is coiled inward on one side, making a horizontal coil that goes all the way to the neck. The caramel highlights capture the light at the bends and folds in hair. Single-process brunette highlights would not be able to do that. You need hair that is medium to thick in density and at least a little past the shoulder in length to achieve this kind of volume and bulk in the knot itself. Fine hair will cause the entire knot to flatten out and within an hour you will lose the dimensional roll. That’s not a maybe. The face framing piece intentionally left out near the ear helps soften the look. This works especially well for longer or oval face shapes because everything being pulled back tight can feel a bit stark. This style relies on a lot of texture spray and very strategic pin placements as opposed to heat. The crown is a bit messy but that is probably a result of the stylist lightly back combing before the rolling.

Smooth Twisted Knot in Cool Platinum Blonde

The twist tucks under to create a fun knotted effect instead of lying flat against the head. This style is ideal for medium to thick hair at least collarbone length. The hair loses its shape in a couple hours with fine hair. The shown platinum is full lift with a pearl toner and the knot has some warmth in the interior because the toner faded in the longer older hair. This is the “real life” effect. This hairstyle will be easier for oval and heart face shapes since no face framing pieces can be added which can be cut for wider jawlines. If your hairline is sparse or receding this style will be very exposing.

Twisted Low French Knot with Copper Balayage

Beginners should be able to pick up most of the skills they have developed, such as value added farming. Food with a high lipid and protein content, high ash, and some sugar should provide added value. Sugar and protein will provide energy for the growth of the young fish. A general rule is that all of the above should contain about 10-12 percent protein as fed. If you can’t make the feed within a few hours, most likely you won’t be able to feed the animals once the feed is delivered. A scoop of the above should be added to each eating single plastic bag to keep the plastic bag as clean as possible. This along with some fine trace minerals and vitamins, worms, and dried earth should allow most of the fry to be developed without any other external food. Fish larvae can be up to about the same age as those of the model animals; therefore, you have to balance the age of the model animals to set the level of larvae you expect to use.

Sleek Low French Knot in Jet Black

This style is not suitable for fine hair, as the knots require solid density. Without it, the knot will collapse to become a sad little nub at the back of your neck. Notice how the tension of the hair at the crown is smooth while there is contrast at the knot, and visible texture, due to the twist. That is the thing that is doing all the work here, and for this style, you’ll want medium to thick straight hair, at minimum to collarbone length. The trick to this style is to loop the length back through itself, instead of wrapping it around the base like a standard bun. This creates a folded, knot-like look as opposed to reading as a typical bun. Leaving a little hair out at the front by the ear adds softness and balances the style so it doesn’t feel too structured against her face. This low style is ideal for round or square face shapes as it will elongate the face without adding width. If your hair has layers shorter than mid-back, you’ll find that the knots will poke out and become very disruptive.

Loose Knotted Bun with Warm Brunette Dimension

The slight off center placement gives it a more relaxed feel that isn’t stiff or bridal and flows nicely. Your hair needs to be medium to thick and at least collar bone length. The fullness of the knot depends on how many times you can loop hair with no pads or fillers. If your hair is fine it will just end up sad and sad and flat. The warm chestnut tone base here is complemented beautifully by the hand-painted caramel pieces that only show their range when twisted. This gives the knot texture instead of looking like one flat color. This style is best suited to oval and heart shaped faces, as the loose strands at the nape and around the temples soften the look without adding any width. Lower neck lengths will be negatively affected by this placement.

Textured French Knot with Ash Blonde Highlights

The knot’s work is based on its density. For this, hair that is at least past the shoulders and medium- thick is needed. A twist that wraps around the low knot needs enough bulk to hold its shape without being deflated. Ash blonde base with warmer low lights running through the twist is worth noticing as it gives visible dimension in the coil that defies single-process color. That lighter and darker strands catching light at various points in the twist is a foilayage technique. If your hair is super straight and slippery, much texture spray will be needed, and even then, the intentional looseness around the nape and ears may be more messy than undone. This is a great style for oval and heart face shapes as the slight volume at the crown creates a good balance for a narrower chin. The shifting of pins will cause this style to be unsustainable after a short period of time.

This post The French Knot Hairstyle Is Having a Very Chic Moment, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

From Margaret Holloway, Duluth, Minnesota: “I’ve been losing more hair than usual lately, especially around my temples and part line, and a friend mentioned she’d been making her own rosemary mint water at home and swears it helped her hair grow back thicker. I’m skeptical but also kind of desperate. Is there anything to this, or is it just another wellness trend that sounds good but doesn’t do much? What do I actually need to know before I start?”

Margaret, I get it. I can see why you feel that way. I’ve had this exact conversation standing at my shaving station more times than I can count, because thinning hair, especially around the temples and the part, is something so many women start noticing in their 40s and 50s and just quietly panic about. The fact that you’re asking questions rather than just buying the first thing you see on social media already puts you ahead.

Here’s what I’ll say upfront: rosemary mint water isn’t magic, but it also isn’t nothing. I started recommending it to clients a few years before it blew up on every wellness blog on the internet, and I’ve watched some genuinely impressive results come out of consistent use. I’ve also watched people expect miracles in two weeks and give up. So I want to walk you through what’s actually going on with this stuff, how to use it properly, and what to realistically expect, because the gap between the hype and the reality is where most people go wrong.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue creating free content like this.

7. Understand What Rosemary Mint Water Actually Does (Before You Make a Drop of It)

Before you go boiling herbs on the stove, I really want you to understand the mechanism here, because when you understand why something works, you’re way more likely to use it correctly and stay patient with it.

Rosemary, specifically the compound rosmarinic acid and a handful of other antioxidants in it, has been shown in research to support circulation at the scalp level and to inhibit something called 5-alpha reductase, which is an enzyme involved in converting testosterone to DHT. DHT is one of the main hormonal culprits behind follicle miniaturization, which is the process where your hair strands gradually get thinner and shorter over time until eventually they stop growing altogether. There was a study published in the journal SKINmed back in 2015 that compared rosemary oil directly to 2% minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia, and rosemary held its own pretty well, with less scalp itching reported in the rosemary group.

Mint, on the other hand, brings something different to the table. The menthol in peppermint or spearmint creates a vasodilating effect, meaning it helps open up blood vessels and get more circulation moving to the follicles. There’s actually a study from 2014 in Toxicological Research that found peppermint oil outperformed minoxidil in hair count and follicle depth in an animal model. Now, animal studies don’t always translate perfectly to humans, but it’s meaningful enough to take seriously.

When you combine rosemary and mint in a water-based infusion, you get something that’s gentle enough for daily scalp use, doesn’t leave a greasy residue like straight oils sometimes do, and can be worked into your existing routine without totally disrupting it. That accessibility is honestly a big part of why it works for people in practice, because they actually keep doing it.

6. Source Your Ingredients Like You Mean It

This is where I see people cut corners and then wonder why they’re not getting results, so I’m going to be a little direct here. The quality of what you use matters.

Fresh rosemary versus dried rosemary is a real conversation worth having. Fresh rosemary, the kind you can get at any grocery store in the produce section, is going to give you a more aromatic, potent infusion because the essential oils in the leaves haven’t had time to dissipate. Dried rosemary works too, and I actually use it sometimes in the winter when fresh isn’t as readily available, but you want to make sure it’s a good quality culinary or herbalist-grade dried rosemary, not something that’s been sitting in a pantry for three years. Same goes for mint. Fresh peppermint or spearmint both work beautifully, and peppermint tends to be a little more potent. If you can grow either of these on a windowsill, do it, because then you always have access and the quality is about as good as it gets.

If you want to add essential oils to boost the concentration of your finished water, I like rosemary essential oil and peppermint essential oil from brands like Plant Therapy or Majestic Pure, both of which are GC/MS tested for purity. You’d only add a few drops to your finished infusion, but it bumps up the active compound concentration meaningfully.

Also, filtered water. Please use filtered water if you can. Hard tap water full of chlorine and minerals is the enemy of both your scalp and your finished infusion, and if you’ve ever noticed your skin or hair feeling different after staying somewhere with softer water, that’s exactly why. A basic water filter pitcher like a Brita or ZeroWater is all you need.

5. Make It Right, Because the Method Actually Changes the Result

There are about forty-seven versions of this recipe floating around the internet, and some of them are fine and some of them are genuinely going to give you a weak, almost pointless product. Let me give you the version I’ve refined over time.

For a basic stovetop infusion, you want to bring about two cups of filtered water to a low boil, then add a generous handful of fresh rosemary sprigs and a handful of fresh mint leaves, or about two tablespoons each if you’re using dried. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for about twenty to twenty-five minutes. The covering part matters, because without it, you’re letting the volatile essential oils, which are the active compounds you actually want, evaporate right out into your kitchen air and not into your water.

Once it’s done simmering, take it off the heat and let it steep covered for another fifteen to twenty minutes, like you would a strong tea. Then strain it through a fine mesh strainer or a cheesecloth into a clean glass bowl. Let it cool completely before you transfer it to your spray bottle or applicator, because putting hot liquid into plastic is a whole other issue.

For your storage container, I really prefer glass bottles over plastic for anything you’re putting on your scalp and hair repeatedly, just to avoid any potential leaching. A set of amber glass spray bottles works well and keeps light from degrading the compounds. You can find them on Amazon by searching amber glass spray bottles. Store your finished water in the refrigerator and use it within seven to ten days, or add a few drops of vitamin E oil or rosemary essential oil to help extend the shelf life a little. Mold is a real thing that happens when people leave herbal waters sitting out, and you do not want to put moldy water on your scalp.

4. Apply It in a Way That Actually Gets to Your Follicles

Application technique is genuinely underrated in these conversations, and it’s where a lot of people lose most of the benefit they’ve gone through the trouble of creating.

Your scalp has to be the target, not your hair lengths. I watch clients spray something on the top of their hair and then rub it through like they’re applying a leave-in conditioner, and that’s just not how this works. The follicle lives under your scalp surface. That’s where the circulation boost from the mint needs to reach, and that’s where the DHT-inhibiting activity of the rosemary needs to happen. Letting the water just sit on your hair shaft does basically nothing for growth.

Part your hair in sections, especially in the areas where you’re noticing thinning, and apply your spray directly to the scalp. I like using a scalp applicator bottle with a pointed nozzle tip rather than a spray bottle for this, because you get much more precise placement without saturating your whole head. Once it’s applied, use your fingertips to massage it in for at least three to five minutes. Not just touching your scalp lightly, but actual movement, making small circles, lifting the skin a little. That physical manipulation boosts circulation on its own and also helps the active compounds absorb.

I usually recommend applying to a dry or damp scalp rather than soaking wet, because the dilution factor on a dripping wet head is real. Do it before bed and let it sit overnight if you can, or apply it in the morning and let it air dry. Either way, you don’t need to rinse it out. The concentrations you’re working with are gentle enough for daily leave-in contact.

3. Set a Realistic Timeline and Track It Properly

Okay, this is where I have to be a little bit of a realist with you, because the wellness content around hair growth treatments online is wildly optimistic about timelines and I’d rather give you the honest version.

The hair growth cycle has three phases, and the one that matters here is the anagen phase, which is the active growth phase. Scalp treatments that support follicle health work by extending and strengthening the anagen phase, which means you’re not going to see much in the first month. I usually tell people to commit to sixty to ninety days of consistent daily use before making any real assessment of whether something is helping. Hair grows about half an inch per month on average, so even if everything is working beautifully, you’re looking at modest visible progress in that window.

What you might notice sooner, though, is less shedding. Several of my clients have reported that their shower drain and their brush started looking less alarming within the first three to four weeks of consistent rosemary mint water use. That’s a meaningful early signal that something is shifting, even before length changes become obvious.

Here’s how I’d suggest actually tracking this: take a photo of your part line and temples in consistent lighting on day one, and then again at thirty, sixty, and ninety days. It sounds a little clinical, but your perception of your own hair changes so gradually that without side-by-side comparisons, it’s almost impossible to accurately gauge progress. I have a client who was ready to give up at month two and then compared her photos and genuinely started crying in my chair because the difference was visible enough to matter to her. She would have quit two weeks before seeing it.

2. Layer It with the Right Complementary Habits and Products

Rosemary mint water is genuinely effective as a standalone practice, but if thinning hair is something you’re dealing with, you’re almost certainly going to get better results if you’re supporting it from a few different angles at the same time.

Inside your body, hair follicles are among the fastest-reproducing cells you have, and they need nutrients to do their job. Biotin gets most of the press, and while it does matter, it’s been a little overhyped as a standalone solution. Where I’ve seen more consistent client feedback is with supplements that combine biotin with zinc, iron, vitamin D, and a marine collagen component. Something like Nutrafol Women has a pretty solid evidence base behind it and several of my clients over 40 have had good results with it, though it’s an investment. A less expensive starting point is just making sure your ferritin levels are not low, because iron deficiency is one of the most common and most overlooked drivers of hair thinning in women over 40 and your regular doctor can check it with a simple blood panel.

On the scalp care side, pairing your rosemary mint water with a gentle scalp exfoliation once a week makes a real difference. Buildup from dry shampoo, styling products, and dead skin cells can literally clog follicles and impede their function. A scalp scrub like the one from Briogeo or even a simple DIY sugar and oil scrub used before shampooing keeps things clear. Also, if you’re washing your hair every day, consider backing off to every other day or every two days if your hair type allows it, because frequent washing strips the natural oils your scalp needs to maintain a healthy environment for growth.

I’d also mention a scalp massager tool, one of those inexpensive handheld silicone ones, as a genuinely worthwhile addition. Using it while you apply your rosemary mint water amplifies the circulation benefit and the physical stimulation aspect, and there’s real evidence from a small Japanese study that regular scalp massage increases hair thickness over time.

1. Know When You Need More Than a Herbal Rinse

This is the one I saved for last because I think it’s the most important thing I can tell you, more important than any recipe or application tip.

Rosemary mint water is a supportive, nourishing, genuinely useful tool for healthy hair maintenance and for mild to moderate thinning related to circulation, DHT sensitivity, or general follicle health. There are some situations, though, where the underlying cause of your hair loss is something that an herbal infusion simply is not going to address meaningfully on its own, and knowing the difference can save you months of frustration.

Thyroid dysfunction, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, is one of the most common causes of hair thinning in women over 40 and it almost completely mimics the look of hormonal hair loss, so it gets missed a lot. If you haven’t had a full thyroid panel done recently, including TSH, free T3, and free T4, that would be my first suggestion before you do anything else. Same goes for ferratin levels and vitamin D, both of which can be critically low in women who otherwise feel basically fine.

Significant hormonal shifts around perimenopause and menopause change the hair growth cycle in pretty profound ways, and there’s a whole category of treatment options for that, from topical minoxidil (yes, it works for women too and is now available over the counter) to prescription spironolactone to hormone therapy itself, and those conversations should be happening with a dermatologist who specializes in hair loss or with your OB/GYN. A dermatologist can also do a pull test and look at your scalp with a dermatoscope to actually assess what’s happening at the follicle level, which is the kind of information no herbal water routine is going to give you.

I had a client, a really lovely woman about your age, who came in distressed about her thinning temples, and we got her started on rosemary water and all the right complementary habits, but something about the pattern of her loss just kept nagging at me. I kept encouraging her to see a dermatologist, which she put off for months, and when she finally went, they found she had alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that looks like hormonal thinning in the early stages but responds very differently to treatment. Getting that diagnosis actually changed the course of what happened for her, in a good way, because she got on the right protocol much sooner than she would have otherwise.

So yes, start your rosemary mint water, use it consistently, support it with good nutrition and scalp care habits, be patient with the timeline, and I think you’re going to be genuinely glad you did. But please also make one appointment with your doctor to rule out the things that need ruling out, because you deserve to know exactly what you’re working with.

Putting It All Together

Margaret, and anyone else who found their way here through some version of the same quiet worry about what’s happening to their hair, I hope this gives you a starting point that feels grounded and doable rather than overwhelming. The rosemary mint water trend has more legitimacy behind it than most of what circulates in the hair wellness space, and that’s worth saying clearly.

At the same time, it works best when you approach it like a practice rather than a cure, something you do consistently over time as one piece of a bigger picture of scalp and hair health. Get your ingredients right, make it properly, apply it where it actually needs to go, give it a real runway before you judge it, and stay curious about whether there’s something systemic that needs attention alongside it.

I’ve seen enough genuinely encouraging before-and-after situations with this to feel good about recommending it. I’ve also been doing this long enough to know that the women who get the best results are the ones who stay consistent, stay patient, and stay informed about their own bodies. You’re already all three, or you wouldn’t have asked such a thoughtful question to begin with.

This post Rosemary Mint Water for Hair Growth, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

An interesting aspect when discussing the term “old money hair” is that the owners of such title would never use it to describe themselves. Take for example a now retired professor and a client of mine all the way back from when I was a freshly minted stylist. She was always punctual for her appointments and would get a chin-length bob every six weeks. She never asked me to do anything trendy like get some highlights or extensions and even though she spent the least at a given visit, her hair never failed to look like the most luxurious of the entire salon. I will always remember that because it takes confidence and real quality to a cut to look that elegant without needing to show off.

The old money bob trend isn’t about showing off wealth with a trip to the fanciest hair salon in town. It’s about a low-maintenance, timeless bob that makes owners look like they have more important things to do every morning than curl their hair for 45 minutes. These bobs are particularly suited to women over 50 because their hair still has the weight to fall nicely and avoids the drag that longer hair can create. The ideal bobs strike a balance between looking effortless and living, and structured and loose. The hair colors that best suit these bobs sit in the tricky zone of whether they’re dyed or natural where they keep onlookers guessing.

Ash Blonde Waves with Silver Roots

What I appreciate the most about this look is the fact that she’s clearly letting the silver grow in at the roots, and the rest of her hair is this lovely ash-blonde that blends so beautifully with it, so there’s no harsh line of demarcation as it grows out. If you’re in the process of transitioning away from color, or would like to go longer between appointments, that is really smart. The soft waves give it enough body to keep it from looking thin, and the understated quality of the style is quite expensive looking. The dark green top against her hair color is also just… chef’s kiss.

Understated Brunette Bob with Warm Streaks

This sums up the idea the best. A clean, subtly textured bob in a dark brunette with a few warm highlights that might be almost unnoticeable. It’s not trying to show off, the part is basic the length is practical, and overall it looks like someone who puts effort into their appearance but without it being a huge statement. There’s that calm confidence in a haircut where the cut, style, and color come together and no one element is trying too hard. That is what old money hair is. And frankly it’s attainable for everyone.

Silver Curled Bob with Coastal Softness

I absolutely adore the look with the gray; it’s really emphasizing the natural curl pattern instead of working against it. The way the silver and white tones weave through the darker pieces underneath is so beautiful. It’s giving the whole thing dimension without any highlighting work (which is the dream if you’re going gray and wondering if you should lean into it). The length is right at the jaw and the curls are loose enough where it feels more elegant than fussy. If your hair has any natural wave or curl, this is the kind of bob that lets it do its thing while still looking incredibly put together. A little lightweight curl cream scrunched in while it’s damp and you’re basically done.

Layered Resort Bob with Warm Highlights

The bob has an incredibly stylish look with the flipped layers and warm caramel highlights that move and shine! The highlights look so good! Warm caramel highlights look so good with the hairstyle! The hairstyle looks really good with the put together look you would see the hair on! It falls into the bob/lob range where you still get the benefit of the layers without losing the overall shape. The highlights are concentrated through the mid-shaft and the ends which means she keeps the roots darker and more natural so the grow out is gradual and forgiving which is great! I recommend using volumizing mousse to create that lift at the crown.

Brunette Bob by the Seine

Here is another classic bob hairstyle that looks great. The hair color is a natural-looking medium brown with a very soft warm dimension and the cut ends right at the chin. It’s center-parted with a slight bend at the ends. There’s no trend involved here, and there’s no way this style is going to date in a couple of years which is exactly why it deserves to be in this collection. You could take a picture of this haircut to almost any stylist and they would know exactly what to do, which, to be honest, is not something we can say about a lot of hairstyle inspiration photos.

Brunette Bob with Caramel at Dinner

What I appreciate most about this bob is the simplicity. It’s a chin-length bob with a straight-across cut, side parting, and warm caramel highlights on mid-dark brown hair. The ends are lightly textured to avoid a heavy look. The style sits close to the head with minimal volume for a modern sleek look. This is the style for a bob that you can throw on any day or any occasion from work to weekends to evenings out, and without having to put too much thought into it.

Warm Chestnut Graduated Bob

I love the graduation on this bob! You can see how it is shorter and fuller through the back then the front pieces are a little longer to frame the face. The warm chestnut color has these fine, almost thread like highlights in it that give it that lit-from-within look without looking highlighted. This is the type of cut that requires a really precise hand with the scissors because the shape has to be built into the haircut itself, it is not something that you can fake with styling. It is worth every penny at a good salon!

Subtle Highlight Bob at the Train Station

At first glance, this bob may seem easy to miss. It seems to have no loud aspects to draw attention to it, but the longer you look at it, the more you appreciate the skilled cut. The shape is well-defined and compact. The cut sits just above the chin. The highlights are so subtle that they are almost non-existent. They are just a few ashy-toned pieces interlaced within a cool medium brown base. Additionally, the side part and the tucked behind the ear as well as the hair gives an asymmetric feel without having any obvious asymmetrical cut or layering. If that makes any sense, this is the type of hair that travels really well!

Copper-Streaked Structured Bob

This bob has true intention. The base is a deep dark brown, almost black, with purposeful light-catching copper-red streaks in the front sections. The cut is slightly angled, longer in the front and a tad shorter in the back, styled very smooth and sleek. Although this is a bolder color choice, the structure of the cut prevents it from looking wild or youthful in an unsophisticated way. I believe the secret to making such a warm highlight work against such a dark base is having everything about the hair very controlled and precise, which is exactly what has been done here.

Sun-Kissed Caramel Bob on the Coast

I love how warm and natural this color is. The bob is also a little textured at the ends. Not blunt, but not too layered either. The side part and the little swoop over the forehead gives a very polished feeling. This specific multi tonal brown to caramel shade is very versatile with different skin tones which is a big reason why I love it so much.

Classic Dark Bob with Center Part

Center parts can be difficult with bobs as they tend to flatten everything out, but in this case it works because she has nice body to her hair which allows it to curve in at the ends and she has enough fullness in the cut on the sides so that it doesn’t go limp. The color is a simple dark brown, possibly with a few warm tones that catch the sun but it is nothing complicted. It is a really nice, clean haircut that looks like she has been wearing it for years because she found what works and stuck with it.

Bronde Feathered Bob with Easy Movement

The bronde color gives a natural looking grow out because it’s not too far from either blonde or brown. The most effortless part of the look is the layered feathered look. The movement is there, but the weight isn’t taken away from the hair, allowing for a very casual, warm, and good hair day look. The hair is long enough to be pulled back into a small clip or ponytail. She didn’t spend too much time on the style and the appeal is at a maximum.

Precision Blonde Bob with Lowlight Contrast

The color work on this is stunning. Dark lowlights are woven through a pale blonde to create beautiful striations, reminiscent of the grain in a piece of light wood. The cut is sharp and rests right at the chin, angling forward, while the styling is done smooth with an almost glassy finish from the flat iron. I love how individual pieces of color capture and reflect light. For this look, you’d definitely need to use purple shampoo and get the toner refreshed regularly as it’s a higher-maintenance color situation, but the outcome is absolutely stunning.

Tousled Brunette Bob with Honey Highlights

I love this one’s youthful energy! It has that kind of bob that moves with you and doesn’t look overly styled. The honey-toned highlights give warmth to the look but are more concentrated in the front pieces and at the ends to keep the color grounded in brunette territory. Those ends have a subtle bend, not a curl, and not straight, which creates that tousled effect that looks so good on bobs of this length. The deep side part adds nice volume on the side that is a bit heavier too.

Sleek Parisian Bob in Espresso

This particular bob is the definition of ‘old money’ vibes. The espresso brown is deep and glossy, it has no visible highlighting, and the cut is a classic graduated bob which is shorter at the back and angles down to the chin at the front. The entire look has been blown out to perfection and is extremely sleek and smooth. This bob showcases the less is more ethos of European styling. Achieving this look is going to require some smoothing serum and a good flat paddle brush, but once it’s set, it will definitely hold.

Chestnut Bob with Subtle Dimension

My favorite here has got to be this one. It’s super easy to wear, and has a medium length bob that’s a warm, chestnut brown. The front has some lighter pieces in it for contrast. The layering on this is blended so that it is not choppy. The side part creates an effortless natural swoop that falls perfectly. This is the type of bob that you could wash and rough-dry with your fingers and still look good, and that is honestly the real luxury.

Dark Brunette Micro Bob with Soft Fringe

I think bob length hair is super flattering, especially with that little soft fringe that breaks up the forehead without going full bangs. The uniform and glossy dark brown color gives the hair that expensive look. A solid color lets the cut do the talking and here it’s a nice clean cut that is angled slightly forward. In terms of styling, it’s hardly any upkeep, just a blow dry to make it smooth and you’re done.

Auburn Flipped Bob with Face Framing

This color is what I would describe as a warm auburn nwith some gold pieces in the front, and is the type of nred family color that still looks natural on the nright person. What I enjoy about the actual cut is nthe ends that flip out just a tad, adding that retro nlook that is coming back in a big way. The bob is nchin length and has minimal layers so the cut is nworn more styled than structured, which means it isn possible with this cut to wear it straight and sleek non a different day and it would look like a totally ndifferent hairstyle.

Highlighted Waves with Tousled Volume

This bob has a different vibe than the rest. It’s more relaxed and has a classy outdoorsy feel to it. The sandy highlights have a cool tone that is a nice contrast to the medium brown base. Her waves have that perfect second-day look that nobody can achieve on purpose. The volume at the crown is really nice and gives a lot of lift without being too big. This is really important because on a bob that short it can go from elegant volume to an overly done look really quick. A little texturizing spray at the roots would help recreate this.

Curly Brunette Bob with Wispy Bangs

I adore curly bobs with bangs. Styling a curly bob with bangs that works well is harder than most people think but they really can look amazing. I love how relaxed this style is since it has a lived-in quality. The curls are not all the same size. There are tight curls and looser curls. The bangs are wispy and shorter than the bangs so they stay out of her eyes. The bangs blend into the rest of the curls really well. The dark brown base with warm caramel highlights is amazing. The highlights look great without looking streaky. If you have natural curls and want a haircut this short, do it! Just make sure your stylist cuts it dry since curly hair shrinks and you don’t want any surprises.

Warm Brunette Layers with Copper Lights

The first thing I noticed about this style was the beautiful layers. It has such a nice fluidity from the mid-lengths, and because the copper highlights reflect light beautifully, it softens the overall look. The darker roots that anchor the whole style also ensure it isn’t too over highlighted. This bob also looks like it has had some thought and styling put into it. It looks like there has been a blow dry and some round brush work to make those ends flip, but it honestly doesn’t look like it was a huge time investment. This collarbone length is also one of those lengths that always looks amazing in pictures but can be a bit of a mission to keep tidy because it always ends up flipping out and sitting awkwardly around the shoulders. The good news is that the added layers do tend to help with that.

Deep Merlot Waves Below the Chin

This hairstyle can be described more as a lob compared to a bob. The deep burgundy/merlot shade comes across as rich, and I find that color particularly beautiful on warmer skin tones as well as darker complexions. The waves are the type that come from wrapping sections around a large-barrel iron- loose and shaken out, nothing too tight or defined. It is, in fact, braver than most color choices in the whole collection, and that’s what I appreciate about it. It gives the old money aesthetic a bit of an edge. It really comes down to choosing one bold element to work with, and in this case, the color choice is the focus, leaving the rest of the look more subdued.

Champagne Blonde with Side-Swept Elegance

This color is amazing, and it is doing a lot of heavy lifting in a good way. The color is balanced just right so it can be seen as either a natural blonde with some ash or as a color job that lightened her hair to look that way. The unknown is perfect for the old money look. The side-swept front pieces and bob add a nice modern touch to the cut and with some graduation in the back, the bob is not just one length all the way around. The only downside is that maintaining the blonde will require some frequent salon visits to tone the color. The champagne color we see here is cool-toned and requires some upkeep. If you like to stretch your salon visits, this will be something to remember.

Dark Chocolate Chin-Length Bob

I can’t explain it but I think that this kind of bob haircut is an ultimate classic. It looks incredible the way it is styled with a rich and deep brown color, clean and polished straight across at the chin with a few very subtle highlights. The highlights are just enough to help the hair not look so flat. I love how the ends of the hair are cut with a subtle inward rounded line as that creates an illusion of intentionality in the cut. I would place a large bet that the hair was finished with a round brush for that nice blow dry look. I would say this is one of those haircuts that you can do pretty much anything in, whether that means running errands or going to a nice dinner, the haircut would look great in all those situations.

The Bangs-and-Bob Transformation

It is during these kind of transformations that I wish I could show this to all of the clients that are hesitant about cutting their hair to shorter lengths. The left side, with the longer hair, will certainly have its appeal, but it is very obvious that the hair is stuck and hanging there with no movement. It also does not help that the ends are thinning. On the right, however, we can see that the bob and soft full bangs completely change the frame of the face. The highlights that reach an auburn-brown color can also be appreciated, as they used to get lost in the length of the hair. Bangs, in this case, are the most important detail of the transformation. They are thick enough to be intentional, and soft enough to blend in, which is the perfect combination for when the hair is starting to thin at the temples.

This post Old Money Bob Hairstyles Bring a Classic, Refined Feel for Women Over 50, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The cooler style of the bob has unsurprisingly newly resurfaced, and it’s now referred to as the elfin bob. There is actually nothing wrong with calling it the elfin bob since it’s short and close to the head in style. It actually has a lot of cousins, including bobs of all different lengths and looks. The style described as the elfin bob is cropped and round. There is also quite a bit of hair framing the face. The style is reminiscent of a cross between a jaw length bob and a pixie cut, but the back crown area is fully maintained. It is supposed to be close to the head and then it starts to flair out a bit at the ends. This style has a lot of playfulness to it and would be really cute on almost every face shape.

Here me out on the whole “praises on Mature Women” thing. I keep seeing it, so I figured I’d add my two cents. I went to a wedding last fall, and after the bride and bridesmaids, the mom of the bride with a lovely little elfin bob got all the hair compliments. And this little elfin bob was a warm brunette. Now, this didn’t make the bride feel good at all. Nope. This was all about the mom. And she told me that her stylist was doing a grow out for her. This stylist believed that she had landed at the right spot, and she never went to continue growing the hair out. Most of the time, that is how it happens. As women get to the age of 40, something happens. They start to develop this preference for particular styles. For starters, short hair is great because you aren’t dealing with your hair getting in the way, and it keeps your neck from being covered. Plus, as you grow your hair out, there’s no real reason to stress. The grow out from a pixie to an elfin bob is one of the best styles out there in short hair. It allows you to add a lot of dimension to your hair and have texture, color, as well as movement without having a length that’s too long and has to be maintained.

Dark Chocolate Elfin Bob with Layered Side-Sweep and Hidden Warmth

Instead of looking sparse, look at how the individual, tailored pieces of fringe fall across the forehead. This is purposeful point cutting. This technique is not about hacking away at the ends. The base color looks almost black, but light hitting some fine, caramel colored threads woven into the top layers, makes me think someone put in a few babylights right where the fringe falls in front of the face. This frames the cheek bones nicely and complements a heart and oval face shape by narrowing the forehead. It has a straight to slightly wavy texture and medium density. People with fine, thin hair will love this face frame. For thick, coarse hair, this will feel like the frame will blow out to the side and puff out instead of framing the face. Flat ironing will help to only slightly control the frizzy frame. This will have a round face hair shape looking like it loses all of the angles.

Swept Chocolate Elfin Bob with Layered Crown Lift

The design of this crown shows that the crown is thickest at the top and gets progressively narrower on each side. The design isn’t a coincidence. These cut layers stand on their own at the crown and follow the side of the head and neck. This results in a crown without volume on the side due to thick hair. Hair with thin density can’t give a nice, tall crown on its own. This dark brown coloring is single processed, and has no hair painting for dimension, and works because movement in the hair cut provides dimension and stops boring hair. This cut is so good with heart and oval face shapes because it has a fringe to close the gap of a long face, and brings dimension to the cheeks. For round face shapes, it draws focus to the cheeks. It has a side that meets the temple in an almost undetectable asymmetrical way and the side falls longer than the brow but meets it in a firmly blunt way.

Warm Brunette Shag Bob with Feathered Fringe and Undone Texture

Crown layers are cut shorter than side layers, and they are cut in a pixie style on top. This is the section that adds volume to the style. This crown volume can be achieved without using teasing or a lot of product. The crown layers are cut with internal layering. Crown fringe is razored to fit each client’s face, yet is kept narrow enough to leave some of the forehead visible to lessen the weight on the fringe. This style works well on medium to thick hair that has natural waves or folds. For fine hair that has less density, short crown layers will end up directly touching the head, causing a flat line and losing the shape of the style. Balancing volume is best for longer faces while the tapered side layers even out the overall look.

Short Curly Crop with Rounded Shape and Forehead-Grazing Ringlets

Here is the layering of curls at the temples to the crown. It’s a haircut. The styling of curly hair involves intentional layering to help the curl define the cheekbones and frame the face in a soft pattern. This haircut was completed on dry hair in order to position every individual curl. This haircut will not work on straight hair. For true curls of 3A or a tighter pattern, this haircut will work best on round and oval shaped faced. The haircut balances the shape of rounder cheeks. The haircut does not over engage the shape of the cheeks on longer, slimmer faces. The horizontal volume may make the face appear longer. The curl fringe hits right at the brow, but the curl will drop to an inch past the brow.

Warm Brunette Waves with Copper Catching the Light

The asymmetry on this style is actually intentional. The left tends to carry more volume than the right, which is tucked. This lack of symmetry actually works for the style. Don’t mistake asymmetry for bad workmanship. Usually a cut with asymmetry contains layers that fall in a particular direction. The Fringe in this style tends to rest just above the brow. Because it is point cut, each individual hair will tend to fall on its own. This style will not work on fine, straight hair. This style tends to not look ‘pixie’ if the wearer has natural wave and texture. It is softened even more by the color highlighted warm brown with copper balayage that is highlighted throughout the crown. Oval and heart shaped faces look stunning with this style, especially because the side pieces and fringe prevent a face from looking wider. This style is to be avoided by those with round faces because the fringe tends to close the face.

Choppy Dark Elfin Bob with Subtle Warm Ribbons and Textured Fringe

This cut focuses on the distribution of weight. In this case, weight is concentrated at the crown and then is evenly dispersed among the rest of the layers. The ends are razored and no weight is left at the ears or jaws. The distribution of weight is most important compared to everything else. The choppy bangs are cut to skim the top of the brow to prevent looking harsh. This cut does not compliment my square face. Warm, caramel low lights are woven throughout the base of the dark brown and only visible in the areas where light hits. This cut is easy to maintain in the morning, however there is one thing to keep in mind. “Elfin” haircuts look best when there is natural texture. Every layer on the sides has to be shorter as well to frame the jaw and not cover it. If you are looking for a cut with many styling options, do not get this.

Sleek Side-Swept Elfin Bob with Subtle Blonde Money Pieces

Let’s look at some of the asymmetry of these pictures. The left hairpack tucks behind the ear, whereas the right hairpack tucks over the cheekbone. Learning asymmetry can come from a variety of sources. In this case, diagonal lines of focus over the face are pulling more than symmetry across the face is. The cut is slightlybeyond the jaw line, and with a point cut, there is a soft, hair-like edge and texture instead of a hard, block-like perimeter. There are 2 or 3 face framing layer highlights, which reflect light and are more intentional than standard highlights. This cut is designed for longer faces. The swept side should align to a defined jawline. It is designed for medium density hair textured fine to thick hair. With a lot of hair texture, the limits of control and puffy nature will amplify at the tucked side. If you have a lot of tex-ture, this cut will require at least a daily flat iron touch up. This style will work best on straight hair with a little tex-ture.

Messy Chin-Grazing Elfin Bob with Shaggy Fringe and Natural Wave

This picture shows rounded, volume-hugging layers at the top of the head which are a result of layers being cut short. This is razored layering, a technique that slims the face by the fringe softly touching the brows, which is great for people with round or heart-shaped faces. This cut would also be perfect for people with a lot of natural wave, because straight hair will not achieve this look as you will end up having to straighten your hair to achieve the style in the morning (not to mention front layers falling into your face). This cut has a cool brown base with subtle lighter chunks throughout, giving the hair overall more texture. This haircut has the cheekbones exposed and has a soft, cocoon-like effect to it. A great way to describe this cut is it has a great shape and is a good 5 week trim cut.

Warm Auburn Elfin Bob with Textured Fringe and Ear-Grazing Sides

With the outline extending past the ears, the Round Face Frame also adds volume in the lower part of the face and narrows the middle. The layers in the crown were point cut and left dense with some thickness. With all pieces placed intentionally, this cut lacks movement. The auburn color dims up the skin and works best with warm undertones. Those with pink and cool undertoned skin will see a bit of a clash. This cut works well on ladies with a medium to thick head of hair. Adding some width and evening out the flatness of the cut will be lost on ladies with fine hair. Getting this cut means you are going to have to trim every 4-5 weeks to maintain the roundness and avoid ‘growing out’ which, unsightly and temporary, frames the ears.

Sun-Kissed Shaggy Elfin Bob with Textured Fringe and Lived-In Layers

This is how you know it was point cut. Unless you cut tiny sections, the layers will look uneven. With the warm blonde on top of darker brown, this balayage is a grown out, purposely yet tastefully messy hair color. The cut is ideal for hair that has lots of natural waves and texture. However, if your hair is flat, this style will lose its shape very quickly. It’s also great for heart shaped and oval faces because it balances the width of the forehead and adds lots of openness to the cheeks. Most layers for this hair cut have lots of height and are great for lazy people. Especially since this is for a certain type of person, it’s not meant for people who want to look polished.

Burgundy-Kissed Wavy Elfin Bob with Textured Crown and Ear-Length Sides

See how tresses cascade over the side compared to the height and volume in the crown? Not a mistake. The top layers are designed to be quite voluminous. Waves are very important to the design. The burgundy/red color over dark brown almost gives the hair an overall gloss or a semi permanent color; full color lifts show more at the ends of the hair. This wouldn’t work on straight hair. Volumizing minimal 2 wave hair is a necessity to offset the hair in the crown, which will go flat by lunch, especially with fine hair. Oval and heart shaped face owners will appreciate the style with fullness at the temples and a narrow chin. This style will not work for round or square shaped faces, especially with the width at this length. Look how short the nape is in contrast to the rest of the front with a steep graduation. This allows the style to finish and avoid an unkempt pixie cut. This style requires a major re-shaping every 5 weeks.

Warm Brunette Elfin Bob with Soft Brow-Skimming Fringe

This cut’s weight is distributed well throughout length. It narrows at the nape for ideal hair thinning. It’s ideal for those with thicker hair. The fringe is cut point-angled to softens a strong forehead. It helps avoid a blocky look. It’s ideal for straight to slightly wavy hair and will mushroom out on coarser, thicker hair. Round and oval face shapes compliment this cut, as the length of the cut temples balances the shape of the face. Most won’t notice, but the warm caramel highlights are not balayage – they are fine pieces of foils that add depth and dimension along the surface and are only noticeable in the sun. This is a four to five week cut. Miss an appointment and the shape will not be maintained.

Shaggy Brunette Elfin Cut with Razored Crown and Choppy Fringe

Where is the weight distributed? This is particularly top heavy and most of the weight is distributed through the crown. The crown is razored in a directional fan serving to keep the sides and nape close. The cut is designed in this way to accommodate round faces. The textured length through the top adds the illusion of length, and the sides prevent the face from appearing wider. The length is also designed to draw attention to the length of a long and narrow face. The fringe is slightly shorter and choppier than a complete bang, and is designed to frame straight to slightly wavy medium density hair. Thicker hair will tend to break the design and will mushroom out rather than falling in the sectioned area. If you have fine hair, this style will flatten and not hold any volume.

Textured Elfin Crop with Wispy Bangs and Built-In Movement

In the before photo, hair that length can actually increase the weight of medium density hair and distort facial features in an unpleasant way. This cut alters perception on the face. This cut has an overall short length point cut and side with a laid back crown area in the front. It also contains a side length bang. Heart and oval faces will look great with this style. As for round faces, they shouldn’t bother. Because there isn’t much side length, it can’t create the shape that round faces need. A unique trait to this cut is that, in general, sides get shorter and expose part of the ear, but these sides keep the cut not as harsh. This is a style for people with thin and straight hair. It won’t look good unless you use a lot of hair product. This style is better suited for people with wavy, broken, or curly hair. This style will work great for wavy hair for sure.

Highlighted Elfin Bob with Tucked Ear and Diagonal Fringe

The tucked side is against the head, while the longer side is away from the body. This style is asymmetrical and diagonal, which helps to slim the face and brings the focus to a particular point of the outfit. This style avoids sharp lines. It’s a medium dark brown color with fine babylights and different shades of brown. The babylights add some highlights to the hair without losing the warmth of the color. It’s straight to slightly wavy and has medium density. This style will not look the same on fine type hair that has a natural curl to it. This style flatters round and oval face shapes and looks great on long face shapes because it creates a longer appearance. New hairstyle is needed in 5 weeks.

Curly Elfin Bob with Loose Spiral Fringe and Ear-Grazing Length

The area around the forehead is left a little longer than the rest. Patterns of curls could go off on their own and be difficult to manage if they are all cut at the same length. The rest of the bob was trimmed to dry. This is the only method to give a dry curly hair elfin bob with shape. Oval and heart shaped faces will look great with the volume framing their faces, while the rest will follow close to their face. This style won’t affect straight or wavy hair. To retain the round swirled shape curls are needed. With no curls, there would be no shape and this style would be a pixie with no detail. If your curls are finer and softer, this style will made lose its shape and naturally lay flat against your head.

Ash Blonde Elfin Bob with Shadow Root and Razored Fringe

You can see some of the root dark shadow under the fringe. This is a highlight with NO foil and creates dimension. The cut is a point cut and a length through the ear to frame and maintain length. This is a clean cut through the nape. This works wonders with fine straight hair and even with an oval or heart shaped face. The bangs cover the whole forehead and DO NOT block the face. This won’t work well with thick and coarse hair since it will not hold a shape. The shape relies on the hair being FLAT with a feathered appearance that will best hold a shape for fine hair.

Wavy Copper Elfin Bob with Deep Root and Side-Swept Volume

The first thing to note here is the asymmetry. This draws the most attention here and guides the eye diagonally, leading to cheek fullness appearing sculpted and not just wide. The length reaches the ears, but there are many layers throughout with a crown that’s cut in a point to preserve a lot of the natural wave. The base is dark chocolate and the balayage is copper. All of this creates dimension to the hair without looking like traditional foil highlights. This hair has a thick, wavy texture. Unless your texture is fine and straight, you won’t get the effect shown. Some wave in your hair can even give you the appearance of natural volume. A controlled bend and some wave in the hair naturally frames the face, and the hair density at the crown holds the swept volume at the top without any product to hold the shape. The sides are slightly undercut so they don’t lose their shape to a growing boxy hairline. Round and oval faces look best with this.

Razored Brunette Elfin Cut with Long Wispy Fringe

The fringe on the photo’s pieces is longest from the cheek bone to the edge of the face behind the ear and almost has no length there. Because of the asymmetry, the fringe draws the eye to the center of the face and shortens the side of the face. The fringe has a short razored crown and a lot of texture so it pairs great with short pixie cuts. Oval and heart shaped faces work well with this fringe. If your face shape is round, do not wear this fringe as it does not work to balance the shape. Round faces are wider at the sides and an Oval face is wider at the top and slimmer at the sides. This fringe can be worn parted to the side to work with your facial shape. The fringe has a brown base with mauve undertones. This fringe can be worn with indoor lighting and enthusiastically compliments and adds a dimension to your hair. The browns in the fringe are not dull and it works best in straight to slightly wavy fine to medium hair.

Deep Plum Elfin Bob with Sweeping Side Fringe

Fade quickly. A dark burgundy/plum on dark hair needs a semi-permanent or gloss picked up every 4-5 weeks to stay looking healthy and avoid losing cool tones and a build up of warm, muddy stickiness. Something I have to mention before. The movement and length of the cut is definitely there, and so is the volume. The length of the hair just along the cheek scrapes the cheek bone, but the back of the hair is right on the nape of the neck. The length of this particular cut frames the hair. This cut works best with an oval and heart shaped face. The length along the sides of the face and the diagonal fringe bring the focus to the eyes and the mouth. The length of the sides works well on other face shapes if the hair is dense enough to keep volume on the top and crown, otherwise the length will collapse flat. All hair types of straight to slightly wavy dark hair should try this.

Dark Curly Elfin Bob with Natural Ringlet Framing

This haircut has tight sides with some length left on top to accommodate full ringlets. This haircut was cut on site, curl by curl to maintain individual curl patterns and reduce shrinkage. This haircut won’t work for those with wavy hair that wants to be curly. This haircut will work best with curl patterns type 3B or 4A. This haircut balances a round face shape because of its high voluminous pattern. Each curl will keep its shape as long as moisture is maintained regularly. Without good curl care, the hair will have no shape and will become frizzy.

Tousled Elfin Bob with Soft Curtain Fringe

Two inches are stacked and cut vertically along the crown of the head which falls and tucks behind the chin length bob layers. This adds fullness to the hairstyle without the need for curling or blowout. This requested style has a chin length bob with a heavy texturized round shape designed to soft simple and gentle casual framing. Side wispy fringes wrapped around the center balance an oval or heart shaped face, but would not balance a rounder face. Brunette base with warm undertones and framing highlights without bulk was added. Textured highlights capture light only with volume which would only add dimension to style with curly hair. Waves and natural curls frame the face which this style is designed for.

Feathered Pixie Bob with Piecey Bangs

Why would the fringe separate at the fringe? Probably because of a purposeful cut. A trick called point cutting is the way to go for a functional way to cut bangs without making the forehead seem heavy. This is an elfin short bob with razored ends. This cut hugs the nape of the neck and the ears and leaves length on top in order to be able to sweep to the side and over the brow. This style is great on women with a square or round face as the sideburns are tapered down into almost nonexistent cheek dots and draws the eye down. However, because of the tapered length, women with thick or coarse hair will find this style very frustrating. The piece-y-ness of this style will look messy, but women with oval faces will pull this style off very well.

Choppy Chin-Length Bob with Razored Layers and Warm Highlights

Most of the work in this picture is done through layering. What you do need to observe is how much shorter the crown layers are than the layers around the jawline. The razor provides lift and separation at the top with no backcombing or buildup. It may look easy on medium density hair, but on thick hair it will mushroom on the sides after the cut. Weeks later. Warm honey highlights are hand-painted in the mid-lengths of the hair and leave the root shadow which provides some dimension, yet is not too bold. This picture works well for people with round or oval face shapes since the jaw length pieces help to balance the lower face. Square jaws will feel like this cut closes in. The texture and natural wave are important for this cut to look good on straight hair because it does not look good without some effort for an “undone” finish.

Blunt Micro Bob with Full Straight Bangs

This mushroom cut has a nape that’s tapered and close-cut which helps maintain the round shape but is still different than a bob. If this cut was flat it would look boxy. The bangs are cut blunt and heavy and end at her brow line. They do a great job framing her face. Everything across the forehead will widen a round or square face. This style will not be forgiving for fine hair. Medium to thick straight hair is best to hold the shape as this style relies on density the most. Fine hair will not hold the shape. A dark shiny single process glossy deep blue black is helping to keep the style clean and simple. Trims need to happen every four weeks to maintain the shape so avoiding this will lead to losing the shape.

This post Why the Elfin Bob Haircut Feels Cooler Than a Classic Bob Right Now, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The thing that finally sold me on layered bobs for mature hair wasn’t a celebrity photo or a trend forecast. It was a client who’d been getting the same blunt chin-length cut for twelve years, and one day she let me put interior layers through it and lighten up the ends. She texted me three days later to say she hadn’t used her flat iron once, which for her was like announcing she’d quit coffee. The hair was just falling into place on its own because the weight was finally distributed correctly.

That’s the part people miss when they think about layered bobs. Everyone focuses on the shape, the silhouette, how it looks in a salon mirror right after a blowout. But the real magic is in how the cut behaves when you’re not doing anything to it. Layers in a bob remove bulk where it tends to accumulate as hair texture changes with age, and they create movement that makes color look about three times more expensive than it actually is. A flat surface reflects light one way, but layered hair catches it from multiple angles, and that’s what makes a $150 highlight look like a $300 one. I’ve watched this play out hundreds of times, and I’m still a little obsessed with the mechanics of it. The looks below cover a wide range of textures, lengths, and color approaches, and what I want you to notice isn’t just whether you like the shape, but how the color and the layers are working together.

Rich Auburn Bob with Copper Highlights

Now this is a color I could talk about all day. The base is a deep auburn, almost cherry cola in the shadows, and the highlights are a true copper that absolutely glows under warm lighting. Red-family colors like this have a reputation for being high maintenance and that reputation is earned, but the payoff when they look like this is enormous. The layers are creating movement that lets you see both the deep base and the bright copper simultaneously, which is exactly the kind of interplay that makes layered bobs such a good vehicle for multidimensional color. A color depositing conditioner in a copper shade between salon visits will extend this beautifully.

Warm Honey Blonde Bob with Curtain Fringe

This is a really well-executed blonde that walks the line between warm and neutral without tipping too far in either direction. The lowlight is a sandy beige rather than a true brown, so it doesn’t create harsh contrast, and the highlights are buttery without being golden. It’s the kind of blonde that flatters warm and neutral skin tones equally, which is actually harder to achieve than most people realize. The curtain fringe is doing a lot of work here, softening the overall shape and drawing attention to the eyes.

Toasted Blonde Wavy Bob with Root Melt

This is a great example of how a root melt should look. The transition from the darker natural base into the toasted blonde midlengths and ends is completely seamless, with no visible line where the color begins. The waves amplify the dimension by creating alternating light and shadow, and the overall tone sits in that perfect toasty, sandy range that doesn’t require toning every few weeks to stay flattering. This is the kind of blonde I recommend to brunettes who want to go lighter without signing up for a second job maintaining it, because the grow-out is built into the design from the very first appointment.

Classic Brunette Rounded Bob

Simple, rounded, and polished. The color is a medium brunette with fine highlights that add just enough warmth to keep it from reading flat in photos or under fluorescent lighting. This is the kind of cut and color that translates perfectly from a casual weekend to a professional environment without changing a thing. Not every look needs to be a conversation starter. Some just need to look consistently good, and this one does.

Wavy Brunette Bob with Toffee Balayage

The balayage here is hand-painted with a heavier concentration through the front pieces and gradually less through the back, which creates this natural sun-kissed gradient that makes perfect sense because that’s how the sun actually lightens hair. The wave adds enough body that the bob feels full without being puffy, and the toffee tones against the dark base create a warmth that flatters medium to olive skin tones beautifully.

The Power of a Good Chop: Before and After

This is why I love what I do. The before shows hair that’s weighed down by length, with color that’s grown out and lost its intention. The after is the same person with a completely different energy. The layered bob has freed up movement that the longer length was suppressing, and the fresh highlights are placed to work with the new shape rather than just scattered randomly. Notice how much more the color pops at this shorter length because there’s less surface area diluting the dimension. Everything reads as more concentrated and more deliberate.

Honey-Tipped Pixie-Bob with Soft Fringe

This is one of the shortest cuts in the collection and the color is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of creating the illusion of fullness. The honey-blonde highlights through the top and fringe area brighten the face and add visible texture to what is probably fairly fine hair. On a cut this short, a partial highlight focused on the top section is all you need, and it takes less than half the time (and cost) of a full head.

Icy Platinum Bob with Seamless Layering

Platinum on women over 50 is one of my favorite things to see done well, and this is done well. The tone is cool and clean without a trace of warmth or brassiness, and on naturally gray or white hair, achieving this is actually much easier than people expect because the hair is already pre-lightened by nature. The layering is so seamless here that the cut almost looks one-length until you see the way it falls, with the front pieces slightly longer and the back gently graduated. It’s the kind of understated precision that you feel more than see.

Chocolate Wavy Bob with Caramel Dimension

The wave pattern here is showing off the color work in the best possible way. Each curve catches the caramel highlights differently, creating this undulating effect where the color appears to shift as it moves. The base is a warm chocolate that has real depth to it, and the highlights are concentrated through the outer layers so the color underneath stays rich and dark. This kind of color placement is specifically designed for wavy and curly textures because it mimics the way sunlight naturally lightens the outermost strands. A large barrel curling iron could recreate this wave pattern on straighter hair if the natural texture isn’t quite this cooperative.

Spiced Ginger Bob with Dark Root Shadow

This color is bold, and I’m absolutely here for it. The ginger-copper tone is vivid without being costume-y, and the dark root shadow anchors it so it doesn’t look like it came out of a box. Whoever mixed this formula nailed the warmth, it’s reading as a true spiced ginger rather than leaning orange or pink, which is the tightrope you walk every time you formulate in this family. The chunky fringe and textured layers give it a retro quality that I find really charming, and the whole thing has this warmth that just radiates. If you’ve ever been curious about going red but felt nervous, a bob with a dark root like this is the safest entry point because it never looks disconnected from your natural color.

Lived-In Ash Blonde Wavy Bob

The root situation here is intentional and it’s exactly right. There’s a good inch and a half of natural darker tone at the scalp that melts into an ash blonde through the lengths, and the slight wave gives it that tousled quality that makes it look like the hair just decided to do this on its own. This is the kind of color that genuinely looks better at week six than it does at week one, because the root shadow deepens and the overall effect gets more interesting as time passes. Not every color does that, and it’s worth seeking out the ones that do.

Bronde Micro-Bob with Dimensional Lowlights

This is shorter than most bobs in this collection and it’s giving me real French-girl energy. The color is what I’d call bronde, right in that middle ground between brunette and blonde where neither side wins, and that’s what makes it so wearable. The lowlights through the nape and underneath keep it grounded, and the lighter pieces through the top add lift without looking highlighted in an obvious way. On hair this short, the grow-out is going to be essentially invisible, which makes this a genuinely low-maintenance option for anyone who hates being tied to a salon schedule.

Chocolate Layered Bob with Cinnamon Highlights

A solid, flattering brunette with just enough going on to keep it interesting. The cinnamon highlights concentrate around the face and through the top layers, which means from behind this probably reads as almost solid brown, and from the front it has all this warmth and dimension. That kind of strategic placement keeps color costs down because you’re not highlighting the entire head, and frankly, you don’t need to on a cut this short.

Sun-Kissed Curly Bob with Warm Caramel Ribbons

The color here is what gets me. Those caramel pieces are placed specifically where the curls catch the most light, which means whoever did this was thinking about curl pattern when they painted, not just section patterns. That’s a detail that separates a color specialist from someone who just does balayage on everyone the same way. The layers are generous enough to keep the curls from stacking into a triangle, and the overall effect is rich without being heavy. On naturally curly texture, this kind of bob only needs a good curl defining cream scrunched through damp hair and nothing else.

Salt and Pepper Bob with Natural Gray Blend

I find this incredibly appealing. The gray is coming in mostly at the temples and through the part line, and instead of fighting it, the existing dark color has just been left to create this natural salt-and-pepper contrast. People spend so much money trying to manufacture this kind of dimension with foils when sometimes their own grow-out is already doing it better than I ever could. The bob cut is clean, the layers are subtle, and the color has more visual complexity than most intentional highlight jobs I see.

Textured Dark Pixie-Bob with Wispy Ends

This sits right on the border between a pixie and a bob, and the piecey, textured ends are what keep it from looking too structured. There’s a whisper of warm highlight concentrated at the crown and through the bangs, just enough to stop the dark color from absorbing all the light. A bit of texturizing paste worked through the ends would give this exact finish.

Bouncy Curly Bob with Mocha and Caramel

Curly bobs live in a completely different category than straight ones, and they need to be colored differently too. The highlights here are placed wider apart because they’re going to compress when the hair curls up, and if they were placed as close together as you’d do on straight hair, they’d merge into a single bleached-looking mass. This colorist understood that, and the result is defined ribbons of caramel that move independently through the curls. Beautiful work.

Sterling Silver Bob with Wispy Curtain Bangs

This is the silver I wish more clients would let me do. It’s not white, it’s not gray, it’s genuinely silver with these cool, almost blue undertones that catch the light like metal. The curtain bangs soften it considerably, and the feathered layers through the sides keep it from reading as a helmet shape, which is the biggest risk with a bob this full on fine-to-medium hair. Achieving this tone requires patience, usually multiple sessions if you’re starting from colored hair, and maintaining it without it yellowing takes commitment. But the result is undeniably worth it.

Understated Dark Bob with Minimal Layering

Sometimes less really is the entire conversation. This is essentially a one-length bob with just enough internal layering to keep it from looking boxy, and the color is a deep, cool-toned brunette with no visible highlights. There’s a certain confidence in wearing a color this solid and simple. Not everything needs dimension, and when someone’s natural tone is this rich and even, sometimes the best thing a colorist can do is match it perfectly and leave it alone.

Copper-Kissed Layered Bob with Feathered Fringe

The copper running through this is gorgeous, and I think it’s sitting on a level 5 or 6 natural base, which is the sweet spot for warm tones like this. Copper gets a bad reputation for fading fast, and it does, but on a bob this length you’re going to be in the salon every six to eight weeks for a trim anyway, so a quick gloss at the same time keeps the warmth alive without much extra effort. The fringe is feathered enough that it can be pushed to either side or worn forward, and it’s blending into the layers seamlessly.

Warm Chestnut Crop with Honeyed Dimension

This color makes me happy. It’s a warm chestnut base with honey-toned highlights that have been woven through densely enough to create real movement, but they’re not so thick that you lose the richness of the base. The way the light is catching those crown layers tells me this was probably foiled rather than painted freehand, because the saturation is very even through each highlighted piece. The short, flippy layers suit thick hair especially well, and the whole thing just has this energetic quality that warmer tones tend to give.

Polished Brunette Chin-Length Bob

Clean and understated. The layers here are interior, meaning the perimeter stays fairly solid while the inside of the cut has movement. It reads as sleek from a distance but doesn’t feel heavy when you run your hands through it. The color is a cool-toned medium brown with what looks like just the faintest touch of highlight through the top layers. Nothing flashy, and that’s the point.

Cool Silver Stacked Bob with Soft Graduation

There’s a slight graduation in the back that gives this shape its structure, and the cool silver tone is beautifully maintained. What I want to point out here is the root area. See how there’s a slightly deeper ash at the root that transitions into brighter silver through the midlengths? That’s intentional, and it means this grows out gracefully instead of showing a harsh line at four weeks. Too many colorists try to take silver all the way to the scalp and then the client is back in six weeks feeling desperate. A smudged root like this buys you real time. Using a purple shampoo once a week will keep that tone from going brassy between appointments.

Espresso Bob with Cinnamon Flickers

I love how restrained this is. The base is a deep espresso brown and the highlights are barely there, just enough warmth in the midshaft to keep it from looking like a solid block of color. People underestimate how much a few carefully placed lighter pieces can do on dark hair. You don’t need a full foil to get dimension, and honestly on a bob this short, less color usually reads as more expensive. The textured ends give it that slightly undone quality that keeps it from looking too “done.”

Feathered Champagne Blonde with Lifted Layers

This is the kind of blonde that looks effortless but absolutely isn’t. There’s a sandy lowlight woven through that keeps it from reading flat or washed out, and the face-framing pieces are a touch brighter than the rest, which is the oldest trick in the book but still effective when it’s done with restraint. The layering through the crown gives that lifted, swept-back movement that a lot of women in this age range ask for because it counteracts the way fine hair wants to lay flat against the head. A round brush and about five minutes with a blow dryer is all this needs to look exactly like this.

This post Why So Many Women Over 50 Are Going Back to Short Layered Bob Hairstyles, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

From Megan Sullivan in Muncie, Indiana: “I’ve been losing more hair than usual lately and my stylist mentioned I might want to look into herbal treatments, but I have no idea where to start. There are so many products on the shelves claiming to use herbs and botanicals, and I honestly can’t tell what’s real and what’s just marketing. Are there specific herbs that actually work for hair growth and strength, or is this all just hype?”

Megan, I’m really glad you asked about this because it’s something I talk about with my clients all the time, and I always have plenty to say about it. Here’s the thing about herbs for hair, they’ve been used for centuries across cultures that had no interest in selling you a shampoo. Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Chinese herbal practice, folk remedies passed down through generations in the Caribbean and West Africa, these systems weren’t working with placebo effects. They were working with results.

I started paying serious attention to herbal hair care after a client of mine, a woman in her late fifties who had been through a brutal round of chemotherapy, came back into my chair about eight months post-treatment with the most remarkable regrowth I had seen in years. She credited a daily scalp routine she had built around a handful of specific herbs, things her daughter had researched for her. I was skeptical at first, I’ll be honest, but I started digging into the research and what I found changed how I talk to clients about hair health entirely. This article is essentially everything I’ve learned since then, laid out as clearly as I can manage.

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6. Horsetail Extract: The Overlooked Mineral Powerhouse

Most people have never heard of horsetail as a hair ingredient, and I think that’s because it doesn’t have the same marketing budget as some of the trendier botanicals. But if you’re dealing with brittle strands, breakage along the mid-shaft, or hair that just feels like it has lost its structural integrity over the years, horsetail extract deserves your full attention.

Horsetail, the plant Equisetum arvense if you want to get technical, is one of the richest natural sources of silica you can find. Silica is a mineral that plays a direct role in strengthening the hair shaft itself. It’s involved in the production of collagen, which matters for your scalp, and it helps the hair retain moisture more effectively so that each strand is less prone to snapping under tension. As we get older, our silica levels naturally decline, and you can actually see it in the hair. It loses that elastic quality. It starts to feel more like straw and less like, well, hair.

I’ve had clients in their late fifties and sixties add a horsetail supplement to their routine and come back to me genuinely surprised by the difference in how their hair feels between appointments. It’s not dramatic growth overnight, it’s more that the hair that’s there starts holding up better. Less breakage on the brush, less shedding on the shower floor. One woman told me she had stopped wearing her hair in a ponytail because it always snapped, and after three months of a horsetail supplement she was back to it without thinking twice.

You can find horsetail as a standalone supplement, as a tea, or as an ingredient in hair growth supplements. Horsetail extract supplements are widely available and reasonably affordable. Look for products that specify the silica content rather than just listing horsetail on the label, because the silica is really what you’re after. If you want to use it topically, some scalp serums include it, though I think the internal route tends to yield more consistent results for most people.

5. Bhringraj: The Herb Ayurveda Has Been Right About for a Long Time

If you have spent any time in the natural hair care space, you may have come across bhringraj, sometimes spelled bhringaraj, and sometimes called false daisy in English. It comes from the plant Eclipta alba, it’s been central to Ayurvedic hair treatment for over a thousand years, and the more I’ve learned about it the more I think Western hair care has genuinely been sleeping on it.

What bhringraj is traditionally used for is scalp circulation and hair follicle stimulation. In Ayurvedic practice it’s typically applied as an oil, often infused into sesame or coconut oil and massaged into the scalp, and the idea is that the active compounds, particularly ecliptine and wedelolactone, help nourish the follicle and encourage it to stay in the growth phase longer. There’s actually some promising research backing this up. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that bhringraj oil performed comparably to Minoxidil in promoting hair growth in animal subjects, which is a genuinely remarkable finding for an herbal ingredient.

I first encountered bhringraj oil through a client who grew up in a Tamil household and had been using it since she was a child. Her hair was extraordinary. Thick, long, healthy into her sixties in a way I don’t see often. She was matter-of-fact about it in the way people are about routines that have always just been part of life. She gave me a jar to try, and I used it for about six weeks as a pre-wash treatment, and I will say my scalp felt better and my shedding was noticeably reduced during that period.

Bhringraj oil is the easiest way to incorporate this herb, and brands like Khadi Naturals and Banyan Botanicals make versions I feel comfortable recommending. You can also find bhringraj powder if you want to mix your own treatments, and there are supplement capsules available for internal use. If you’re new to it, start with the oil as a once-weekly scalp massage before washing. Give it at least six to eight weeks before you decide whether it’s working for you.

4. Saw Palmetto: The Herb That Targets Hair Loss at the Source

Here is where I want to be very direct with you, because saw palmetto is one of those herbs where the research is actually meaningful and not just folklore dressed up in scientific language. If your hair loss is related to hormonal shifts, which for women in perimenopause and menopause is extremely common, saw palmetto is worth serious consideration.

Hair loss in midlife women is frequently driven by an increase in dihydrotestosterone, which is DHT, a hormone derived from testosterone. DHT binds to receptors in the hair follicle and essentially miniaturizes it over time, causing hairs to grow in thinner, shorter, and eventually to stop growing altogether. Saw palmetto, which comes from the fruit of the Serenoa repens palm native to the southeastern United States, works by inhibiting the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. It’s the same mechanism as the pharmaceutical drug finasteride, just gentler and without the same side effect profile.

I’ve had more conversations about hormonal hair loss in the last five years than in the entire decade before that, and I think part of it is that more women are feeling comfortable naming what’s happening instead of just quietly accepting it. Thinning at the part line, loss of density at the temples, overall hair that just feels less substantial than it used to, these are real and common and they’re often hormonally driven. Saw palmetto isn’t a miracle, and I want to be clear that for significant hair loss you really should be talking to a dermatologist or endocrinologist. But as a complementary approach, especially for mild to moderate thinning, it has enough evidence behind it to be worth trying.

Saw palmetto supplements are easy to find. Nutrafol, which is one of the more well-known hair supplement brands, includes it as a key ingredient in their Women’s formula. You can also find it as a standalone supplement from brands like NOW Foods or Nature’s Bounty. Some topical serums and shampoos include it as well, and while I think the internal route is where most of the research is focused, a good scalp serum with saw palmetto certainly isn’t going to hurt.

3. Peppermint: Not Just a Tingle, an Actual Treatment

Peppermint gets a bad reputation in serious hair care conversations, I think, because it’s so closely associated with the “freshness” marketing on drugstore shampoos. That association has made it seem like more of a sensory ingredient than a functional one, and that’s genuinely unfair to what peppermint actually does.

The active compound in peppermint is menthol, and menthol is a vasodilator, meaning it causes blood vessels to expand. When you apply peppermint oil to the scalp, you are increasing circulation to the area, which means more oxygen and more nutrients reaching the hair follicle. There’s a well-cited Korean study from 2014 that compared peppermint oil, jojoba oil, Minoxidil, and saline in promoting hair growth in mice. Peppermint oil outperformed all the other groups, including the Minoxidil group, in terms of dermal thickness, follicle number, and follicle depth. That’s a mice study, so I’m not going to overstate it, but it’s a real data point that professional researchers found worth publishing.

What I can tell you from the chair is that clients who do a consistent peppermint oil scalp massage routine tend to report a reduction in shedding and an improvement in the density of new growth over time. The tingle you feel is the increased blood flow, and it does mean something. I use a diluted peppermint oil blend on my own scalp once or twice a week, usually while I’m watching something on TV, just a few minutes of massage before I wash my hair. It’s become a non-negotiable for me.

The important thing to know is that peppermint essential oil must be diluted before it goes on your scalp. Straight essential oil can cause irritation or even burns if you use it undiluted. Mix about five drops into a tablespoon of carrier oil, something like jojoba or sweet almond, and you’ll be fine. Peppermint essential oil for hair is available from many reputable brands, and I like Majestic Pure and Plant Therapy for quality without the inflated price tag.

2. Rosemary: The Herb I Now Tell Every Single Client About

At this point rosemary has had its moment on social media, so you may already know about it, but I want to go deeper than the viral TikTok videos because I think most people are still using it incorrectly or not giving it enough time to actually work.

Rosemary oil became something of a sensation when a 2023 clinical study published in Skinmed Journal confirmed what a similar 2015 study had already suggested, that rosemary oil applied to the scalp performed comparably to 2% Minoxidil in treating androgenetic alopecia, the most common form of hair loss. Two studies, independent of each other, reaching the same conclusion. For an herbal ingredient, that is a remarkable level of evidence. The mechanism appears to be similar to peppermint, improved microcirculation to the follicle, but rosemary also has anti-inflammatory and anti-androgenic properties that add another layer to how it works.

Here’s what I tell clients who ask me about the rosemary trend: it works, but you have to be consistent and you have to be patient. We’re talking three to six months of regular use before you’ll see meaningful results. Most people quit after three weeks because they don’t see a dramatic change, and I understand the frustration, but that’s not how hair growth works. A hair cycle takes time. New follicles need time to enter the growth phase, produce a hair, and get that hair long enough to actually see. Give it six months. Keep a photo log so you can actually compare, because changes in hair density are subtle enough that you’ll forget what your starting point looked like.

I recommend rosemary oil or rosemary hair growth serums that you apply directly to the scalp and leave in, not rinsing out. Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil is one I recommend a lot because it’s affordable, effective, and widely available. If you want a straight rosemary essential oil, Handcraft Blends is a solid option. Apply it daily if you can, or at minimum five days a week. Consistency is almost the whole game here.

1. Amla (Indian Gooseberry): The Single Best Herb for Hair Health, Full Stop

I want to be upfront that calling anything the “best” is always a little risky, and if you have specific hair loss related to a hormonal condition then saw palmetto might matter more to you personally. But if I had to choose one herb to recommend to every woman who walked into my salon, across all hair types, all ages, all concerns, it would be amla without hesitation.

Amla is the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica, a tree native to India, and it is one of the most nutrient-dense plants on earth. It contains some of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C found in any natural food source, and that Vitamin C is critical for collagen synthesis. Collagen is what gives your scalp its structural integrity and what allows hair follicles to anchor properly. Beyond the Vitamin C, amla contains ellagic acid, gallic acid, and a range of flavonoids that function as powerful antioxidants, protecting the scalp from oxidative stress, which is one of the key underlying drivers of age-related hair thinning.

What makes amla particularly special to me is that it addresses hair health from so many angles at once. It strengthens the hair shaft. It nourishes the scalp. It has been shown in research to inhibit DHT similarly to saw palmetto. It has anti-inflammatory properties that support a healthier scalp environment for growth. And it conditions the hair itself in a way that you can actually feel, a kind of smoothness and weight to the strand that makes it look and behave better. Long-term amla users, and there are women who have been using this for their entire lives, tend to have hair that holds its density and shine in a way that’s hard to attribute to anything else.

My favorite way to use it is amla oil as a weekly pre-wash scalp treatment, combined with an amla powder mixed into a hair mask once or twice a month. There are also excellent amla-based supplements for internal use, and I think using both internally and topically gives you the most complete benefit. Amla oil and amla powder for hair are available through a number of brands, and I particularly like Dabur Amla Hair Oil for the oil and Terrasoul Superfoods for amla powder if you want to make your own treatments. For supplements, Organic India makes a well-regarded Amalaki capsule that uses the whole fruit rather than an extract, which I prefer when I can find it.

One thing I want to mention because I think it matters practically: amla has a distinctive smell that some people find strong. It’s earthy and a little tangy. If you’re sensitive to it, use it as a pre-wash treatment rather than a leave-in, so you’re washing it out before you go about your day. It fades completely once your hair is clean. Don’t let the smell put you off what is genuinely one of the most effective things you can add to a hair health routine.

A Few Final Thoughts Before You Start Buying Everything

Megan’s question was about not knowing where to start, and I want to circle back to that because I know this list could feel overwhelming if you’re new to herbal hair care. My honest advice is to pick one or two herbs to start with rather than trying to incorporate all six at once. If your primary concern is thinning and density, start with rosemary and amla. If breakage is your main issue, look at horsetail and amla. If you suspect hormonal hair loss is a factor, add saw palmetto to the conversation with your doctor.

These herbs work, but they work over months, not weeks. Hair grows slowly, follicles respond slowly, and the most common reason herbal treatments get written off as ineffective is that people stop before the results have had time to show up. Take a photo of your hairline and your part right now, before you start anything. Then check back in four months. You’ll be glad you did.

And if you’re dealing with significant sudden hair loss, I want to say clearly that herbs are a wonderful supportive tool but they are not a substitute for medical evaluation. Sudden or severe shedding can have underlying causes, thyroid issues, nutritional deficiencies, stress response, that need to be addressed at the root, pun intended. See your doctor first, and then build your herbal routine alongside whatever they recommend.

Hair health at every age is genuinely possible. I see it in my clients all the time. The women with the most remarkable hair in their sixties and seventies are almost always the ones who have been quietly consistent about their care for years, not the ones who found a miracle product, just the ones who paid attention and kept showing up for themselves. You can absolutely be one of those women.

This post 6 Powerful Herbs for Strong, Healthy Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Layered pixie cuts are becoming a favorite among older women again because they create shape, movement, and the appearance of fuller hair without demanding much daily styling. The key is choosing layers that work with your natural density and growth pattern—not simply cutting everything short.

I especially love slightly longer, graduated layers through the crown when hair is getting finer, since they preserve enough weight to keep the top from falling flat. Strategic point-cutting around the perimeter can also soften the finish, while careful internal weight removal helps coarse or wavy hair sit closer to the head.

In my opinion, the best layered pixies look effortless and grow out beautifully when the crown and perimeter are properly balanced. Keep going to see all the layered pixie ideas worth saving for your next haircut.

Razored Sandy Blonde Pixie with Lifted Textured Crown

Instagram: betoizeppi

The crown does most of the work. The texture initiates some razor texturing which softens, but doesn’t stiffen the crown, and lifts every part of the crown to enhance definition. The blonde color falls under the ash family which has a mixture of roots throughout. This would most definitely work with fine hair and creates a great base without the need to get foils done every 6 weeks. The sides are short and tight while the front is a longer face frame. This is a cut that only fine, and medium density hair should take. The ends should be very fine and should create the lift. This style best suits round and full faced people with the top height and side fringe. This is a very well crafted style that creates a center and side balance that most people are looking for.

Spiky Silver Pixie with Razored Texture and Cropped Sides

Instagram: annaperruqueriaestetica

This style trims the sides almost completely to let the ears show. This can be seen as a sign of commitment because not many people do that. Take a look at how the razored layers of the crown stick straight up with only a tiny amount of product, creating tons of volume and tons of movement with very little bulk of the hair. This style allows you to keep hair density, so that there is that spiky, textured hair on top, while maintaining easy-to-manage, clean sides – as opposed to hair that will just hang and look limp. The skin staying visible is easy to maintain. The top pieces of hair are going to hang straight, if you have really fine limp hair. The silver hair color in this cut almost has a touch of steel. The color in this style offers a dimension that a flat all-over gray does not. This cut is great for people with an oval or heart-shaped face, but not great for round faces. The fringe is short and wispy, and is above the eyebrow line. This ensures the hair will not touch the customer’s glasses. The stylist shows they really took the time to learn about their client and their lifestyle.

Grown-Out Blonde Pixie with Flipped Layers and Curtain Fringe

Instagram: hairlab_cagliari

The biggest part of this style is the big outside flick at the nape. To get that flip, the layers at the crown have to be shorter, otherwise, this is a pixie. A lot of people can’t shape a pixie because growing the hair out is very noticeable. The cut maintains the length of the inner layers to keep the balance of the hair and let it sit nicely. Medium density hair and natural waves. If your hair is straight, it won’t hold that flip out shape without a curling iron everyday. The ombre on this blonde is more of a soft color all over with some roots showing instead of a traditional heavy highlight. This style fits oval and heart shaped faces. This style would make a round face look worse since this cut adds a lot of volume on the sides around the ears.

Warm Brunette Shag Pixie with Flippy Nape Length

Instagram: berkaberka

That little kick at the nape of the neck does a lot of work, but looks effortless. It pushes this style beyond pixie, but still keeps it in shag style. This is perfect for someone with medium length hair that is a little wavy. The crown has some point cut layering that takes weight and adds movement. This cool style has a lot of volume in the top and back while the back is close to the sides. This style is longer and great for elongated face shapes or oval face shapes. This style adds a short, side bang that helps to shorten the face by not fully framing it. With a round face shape this style doesn’t compliment. The color is warm brown and a single process. Then this color is caramel hand painted and added through some of the layers. The nape grows super fast with the flipped length style and will look undone after a few weeks.

Long Layered Pixie with Blended Natural Gray and Sweeping Fringe

Instagram: amber.starnes.hairartist

Here’s how the colorist kept some dark color at the root and the nape and also left some gray and blonde to mix at the mid-length. There’s no harsh line of demarcation. This isn’t a full highlight. It’s more of a gradual, strategic foiling. This methods helps to allow more style to the grow out. The fringe should be grown out to cover and pass the line of the glasses or the side of the glasses. Having a shorter fringe would only get in the way and make the glasses look awkward. This cut would be great for people with medium strait hair or thick hair. Fine hair would lose the shape and become flat by lunch. The ear hugging taper is a good way to keep this length maintained and clean. The short cut makes this cut great for longer faces. Round faces would feel wider with some weight forward. If you are looking to grow into your grays, this is a great way to do without going fully natural.

Dimensional Blonde-Foiled Pixie with Swept Fringe and Clean Sides

Instagram: samangleyxo

The foils only touched top and fringe tips. For this reason, the natural gray tone was left on the sides and nape. This is left intentional. There is no grow-out line and touch ups aren’t required at this interval like other styles with no depth. The top of the style is lengthy enough for the hair to be swept to the side and forward. This style flatters the angular jawline and looks good on round facial features. This style is less flattering for round facial features. Sides are cut with a thin hair pattern showing the scalp. Because of this, this style is not appropriate for those with thin or fine hair. Long hair above the fringe was left the perfect length to fall past the frame of the glasses and this style is very intentional. This would look good on someone with either a yellow or warm gray tone because the ashy blonde will help the hair tone and softer undertones.

Creamy Platinum Pixie with Stacked Back and Feathered Ear Coverage

Instagram: cassandralane.hair

Here, with back-crown stacking, we are able to build volume where finer hair loses volume most. The point-cut layers create softness for your profile and eliminate bulk on the sides of your face. This cut is medium density and is fuller than it seems. The color is definitely Platinum but is warmer and not cool at all, so there is probably some toners done to stop brassy under tones showing natural white hairs that can warm up with time. This cut looks great on round and oval shaped faces. For straight hair, the battle is daily as the hair needs to lie where its directed.

Cropped Brunette Pixie with Textured Top and Tight Ear Taper

Instagram: dapper_fade_studio

The leaves extra length at the nape, but actually serves to draw more attention to the crown, which I appreciate. Longer hair for the back of the neck really showcases the detail put into crown weaving, and I appreciate the detail. This is definitely not a long back of the neck. All of the crowning chop is very disconnected with no blend whatsoever, separating hair and appearing uneven with some natural gray growing through. I actually enjoy character this gray has with uneven growth, over the typical salt & pepper blend. The hair has a fine to medium density with a slight natural wave. This cut is going to really complement someone who has a strong, angular face. The lines of this cut all have sharp edges and angles, almost no curves. Round faces are going to struggle the most with this cut. A tight side burn is incorporated into this cut. If you have a hard time exposing your ears, do not get this cut.

Soft Gray Layered Crop with Full Textured Fringe

Instagram: bhstylist

Most people don’t know that that fringe has a lot going on. Point cutting gives a short and choppy look, but since it has a lot of layering, this cut doesn’t look blunt and heavy, avoiding a helmet look. The upper layers of the crown are cut long enough to create some lift, but not too long that they stand straight. There is a great mix of gray with dark shadow in this color. The Salt-and-Ash adds some balance, and doesn’t have too much contrast. The layers are best for a rounder or oval shaped face, because they totally balance the shape of your face. If your hair is super thick, or a little course, this cut is not for you.

Smooth Ash Blonde Pixie with Full Fringe and Layered Crown

Instagram: jamesboswellhairdesign

The fringe looks good. It’s the right length, exactly the right length to hit right above the brows, with a tapered circumference to the temples. This is a great way to keep the face from looking narrow or closed. It looks great on any length or width of face. Long delicate layers on the crown are point cut, with a tidy neat line around the ears on the sides. The crown layers are framed by the fringe with a cool dark gray shadow root ash blonde. This is a nice detail that incorporates gray, especially for balancing the thickness of otherwise dark hair. It doesn’t look good on a round face, but would look great on an oval face. A rounded face would not benefit from the length and width of the fringe that tends to push a face out and make it look wider. It should be of fine to medium texture hair since thick hair naturally pushes toward being unruly.

White Silver Crop with Feathered Forward Fringe and Razored Sides

Instagram: la_ninyadelospeines

Because of how these sides are cut, most people will end up seeing their scalp in the mirror when they wear this. This will probably turn a lot of people off from buying this Haircut, Considering this, I think this cut works better for people who have somewhat more densely packed hair or people who have an all-white hair situation. The razored top gives a more spiky quiff look without even needing product – a style that helps especially as the textured fringe panels sit lower than the rest of the hair to help cover the forehead and is a good option to hide a rounder face. For people with square shaped faces note how close the sides are because it can be sharp.

Silver Swept-Back Pixie with Layered Volume Through the Crown

Instagram: studioselmalara

She has all that height without a single ounce of stiffness. Layers are tapered to add uplift and volume without looking unnatural. This cut is based on a natural volume that can be formed using your hair. It should work for most people as long as you have some volume on the top. Those without or with finer hair will not be able to rock this in the long run. The sides are gently tapered to the ears without any buzz cutting, trying to keep a connection to the rest of the style. An amazing silver color that is her natural gray. There is a soft warm tone that makes this color really pop and works great against her skin. Round and oval face shapes will rock this style the best. Those with box-like faces and a strong jawline will probably not look their best in this style. An unnoticeable detail that will frame your whole face is some wispy pieces at the temples that create a softness and minimize the harshness of a full fringe, but without committing to a full fringe.

Brushed-Back Gray-Blend Pixie with Ear-Hugging Taper

Instagram: andreferronatooficial

Look at how the tops layers point downward rather than to the side. This is arguably the most important detail of the cut. It seems simpler because it is essentially a layered point-cut starting at the crown tapering to the ears and nape. It is done with a base of cool brunette and no additional color. There is gray, but only some. I think the cut looks best on hair with a little bit of wave, but will look OK on hair that is just straight. With straight hair that is fine, the cut will just look boring and flat without any movement. This cut is great for round faces, especially fuller faces, because it lacks a fringe. There is really nothing to hide behind, so if you don’t like this style, don’t get it.

Textured Salt-and-Pepper Pixie with Natural Curl

Instagram: amythehaircutter

The side and top are almost bald. This style intentionally point cuts the crown to allow flexibility in maintaining the nape and temples short, while the ends allow the model’s hair to naturally fall to create soft, free-flowing curls. Best suited for thicker medium hair. This style won’t work for straight hair without daily product. If you have a round face shape, this style will work to balance out your face with volume up top and short hair on the sides. The lack of hair color on the model’s salt-and-pepper hair shows that it isn’t always necessary to dye or add a lot of hair color; with this hair texture, it is better to leave it natural and gray. As the length of this haircut is short, it will require getting a trim done every 4 to 5 weeks to keep that length.

Icy Platinum Crop with Textured Crown and Faded Sides

Instagram: shorthairforlife

Most of the skin is shaved to the derma layer on this style. It keeps the shape neat and organized, and doesn’t take a lot of effort. Crown layers, which are less than an inch, can fall where they want. Check out how some of the fringe pieces are cut at an angle and textured to fall above the brow line. This is point cutting. As with any bleached hair, if the ends are blunt and stiff, they will look harsh and are not flattering to faces that are round without robust cheekbones. The fade is featured in this style, and hair that is fine on top means that it will not frame the crown and provide textured volume. The color of this style will require a lot of regular washing with toner to avoid spill color.

Natural Gray Pixie with Precision-Tapered Nape and Textured Crown

There’s a defined nape line. A taper on this cut creates intention over just a short length. This taper sweeps down from the back of the head and is tapered by taking off bulky weight without a hard, blocky line. Point-cutting allows for removal of heavy bulky weight. This cut adds movement to the crown to add dimension while keeping this Natural Salt and Pepper hair color symmetrical and balanced. This cut works best on Round or Oval shaped face because it Frame Ears and jaw better. This thin cut creates a domino effect making Long Faces even longer. It adds a heavy level of structure and needs to be kept short to stay structured. The fringe balances the forehead preventing this cut from having an severe angular effect. Because this cut requires so much maintenance it’s best to get it touched up every four to five weeks.

Shaggy Dark Pixie with Elongated Ear Pieces and Choppy Fringe

Instagram: steven.cgn.hair

Wavy hair naturally cascades in a s-shape and can’t be trained to look straight. This style frames the hair with curls that fall forward. The crown and fringe are razored. The length is more on the sides and combines a micro shag pixie cut. The fringe is left purposely uneven, which creates an undone look. This style looks best on hair that’s thick with medium to high density. Hair around the ears will be thin on fine hair for this style. Avoid it if you want to minimize fullness on top. This style looks best on oval and angular face shapes, but don’t let this discourage you from getting the style. This style has no color work and only natural dark base. The shine is caused by healthy hair. It’s a low maintenance style as The natural dark base is easy to grow out. This cut is the most practical style.

Tight-Tapered Pixie with Honey-Toned Crown Waves

Instagram: rene.hfdzk

This cut lets the sides of hair get really close to the skin. Texture is kept to only the crown (which has been carved to allow 1.5” of natural movement and flexibility). Dark, warm browns have been placed along the base of the hair and a warm honey brown is running through the crown. A close up shows this was a hand painted, light-catching curl. This high level of detail and style takes a steady hand and a stylist who understands the intricacies of a short hair cut. This is an ideal cut for someone with round or heart face. The closer sides show off the jawline. This cut also doesn’t help in the slightest for those who wish to conceal a strong jaw. A nice cut of hair cannot be framed by straight hair and thus will be lacking in the top ribbon wave. This style crown requires at least 2B texture and will flat and look unfinished and military like without the wave. The side will grow out pretty quickly and proportionately so you’ll need to keep getting it trimmed.

Feathered Ash Blonde Pixie with Wispy Side Fringe

Instagram: Running With Scissors

The sides are clipped back using probably a four guard clipper, and the top is left long enough to fall across the forehead in a soft diagonal fringe. The diagonal fringe is a great choice for helping to break up the softer features of a rounder face. The ends of the fringe are softened with a point cut so that the fringe doesn’t look heavy or blunt. This cut also works with fine hair as it doesn’t attempt to create the illusion of volume. Fine hair is naturally thin, so it’s good that this hairstyle doesn’t rely on volume to look good. I personally love that the natural ash color of her hair is not messed with to add a color job, so that highlights or lowlights aren’t added, nor is a toner. The natural gray ash of her hair begins to peak through around her temples. This style is simple. Since this style is a tailored fit for medium to thick hair, generously skipping the recommended three week cut will quickly ruin the look by showing the shaggy undergrowth.

Side-Swept Ash Blonde Pixie with Tapered Undercut

Instagram: teddysantosjr

You can tell the sides of this haircut are significantly angled while with the top of this haircut they are considerably less so. This contrast is actually a big part of what makes this haircut really interesting, and this style looks best on medium to thick hair. With fine hair, a lot of product is going to be needed to achieve the look. It’s an ash blonde over dark hair with balayage or highlights, left close to the roots so it will grow out. Oval and heart shaped faces look great with this style. Round faces will lose definition because the crown isn’t hollowed and there is no hair in the cheek area. This cut needs to be done every four weeks. Missing your cut will make it harder to manage because of how fast the hair grows at the bottom of the style.

Close-Cropped Dark Pixie with Subtle Wave Pattern

Instagram: junetomkynssalon

Since the sides are closely trimmed, this cut relies a little more on your bone structure. Heart-shaped and oval face shapes don’t worry about whether or not to get this cut. The crown is cut just past your length and ends with point cutting to help soften and add texture and layers to the cut. This cut won’t give you blocky ends. This is absolutely meant for hair with some natural wave or ringlet to already have movement. This cut is not for straight, coarse hair. This also works well for fine hairs with medium thickness. You won’t have to worry about any hairs out of place in the morning because it’s a pretty easy maintenance cut. The shape won’t look as nice and clean as it did prior, after a few weeks. This will mean you’ll have to get your hair trimmed a little more frequently.

Tousled Dark Pixie with Forward-Swept Fringe Pieces

Instagram: juliolealcabeleireiro

Each fringe layer is cut at different lengths and pushed to different sides. This type of cut, which is known as a point cut, is useful for dense hair. This is an example of a medium thick, straight to wavy hair that has some amount of body to it. The crown can hold its shape and height on its own with product that is used lightly. The sides are shorter than the back and the hair is almost touching the ears. The hair length is a soft variation of the style of the round face frame to complement its shape. Without the volume on the sides, the face looks wider. As for fine hair, this wouldn’t be a good read. The cut is reliant density of hair for the separated messy pieces to fall across the forehead and this is where the cut is useful rather than it looking flat. The dark natural hair color is not painted and I like this because this cut is textured enough without color working against the movement of the hair.

Warm Strawberry Blonde Pixie with Soft Crown Layers

Instagram: kristinakatsabina

Look at picture one. Longer crown weight was pulling the hair down and creating a flattened face shape. A pixie was a great choice to solve this issue. The stylist did not go for a structured style and kept height and volume while the older style (the crown weight) aids in framing the face and draws out the fine bone structures. Great cut framing thickness with fine point cutting in layers around the crown and allowing the hair to naturally fall. This style works with finer to medium hair types that have more movement to show off this style. Straight blunt cuts hide texture and have the potential of looking flat, so picture one shows why this look is great for framing the face. Clients with thicker and coarser hair will see that layering will not frame their face the same way. Brown with red tones tend to showcase warmth without a dulling effect of an overly ashy brown, so be sure to take advantage to this tone of color.

Dark Layered Pixie Mullet with Micro Fringe

Instagram: danibarroshair

The choppy layers around the crown are cut short and more blunt while prime real estate is kept in the back nape. The back nape has the perfect amount of softness to polish the crown layers. That’s why this particular pixie is a mullet shape with micro blunt fringe and layers that hit behind the ears with shorter layers behind the ear to drape. It is a great style for thick and wavy hair, but would not be very flattering on fine or straight hair. The back of the style would be flat, and it would just be straight, have no texture, and lay flat with no shape. This type of fringe is very unforgiving because it reveals your entire face. As you have a longer forehead, this style tends to be a better complement to you. It tilts the balance more towards heart and oval face shapes compared to the rest of face shapes. The dark natural color frame with some layer has a perfect dimension with the texture, and it creates some very cool light highlights.

Choppy Silver Pixie with Piecey Crown Movement

Instagram: cult.salon.co

You can see how the top layers are left long enough to stand up on their own, where product is not holding them. This is point cutting on the top, and works best for a cut with some wave or texture. Straight hair will just not hold. The sides are tapered, but not buzzed. This balance works well for her narrow face, and long neck to avoid a severe style. This is actually a low density cut. This means a lot of weight has been removed to avoid hair from bunching together. Your cool silver/silver gray hair cut will be visible only after your hair has been toned with a gray shade. The blend of warm gray tones will not cancel the yellow tones like toning can.

This post Why So Many Older Women Are Choosing Layered Pixie Cuts Again, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

One of the hardest lessons that I learnt behind the chair was the fact that messy does not mean thoughtless or careless. In fact, the opposite tends to be true. A really great messy layered cut has thought out intention behind every single piece, from how the shortest layer sits near the crown, to how the fringe breaks up just enough to not look like you missed a section. When a client sits down and says, “I just want it to look like I woke up this way,” I always know that’s going to be a careful cut because you need to design that undone look in the style and structure of the hair – it can’t be copied with product.

For example, one of my clients brings a picture of a French hair style, snapped on a random street style blog, with a three-day unwashed due and messy hair, and wanted to achieve that look on her freshly washed, fine and straight hair. This was also the moment I had to explain that hair styles like the ones in the picture work because of the haircut and the styling (which we refer to as the “no-styling” method). Hair texture, density, and even how greasy someone’s scalp becomes can determine whether a messy-layered haircut settles into that lived-in look and gets flat by noon. If you’re browsing through these and thinking “that one, I want that one”, remember: bringing reference pictures of hair that is similar to yours in texture and thickness will definitely get you closer to the desired results than just showing the shape.

Ink-Dark Shoulder Cut with Swooping Face Frame and Soft Separated Bangs

Instagram: nana_9351

The longest face-framing pieces pull the most weight and are intentionally designed to be longer than the bangs to create two different shapes that open just above the jaw at the cheekbone level. This is not just random layering; these are point cuts created to give the illusion of a more narrow face if you have a round or heart shaped one, without being drastic. This cut is best for medium density hair that is straight to slightly wavy. The bangs are so thin that you can see the scalp and this look is effortless but for mid-textured hair and can look sparse on finer hair. If you have fine hair, these bangs are probably going to be disappointing. It’s going to sit about collarbone length and is going to have interior layers that kick out giving the shape width that it wouldn’t otherwise have with straight hair. That turning does take some styling and is going to require a round brush or some curling method to get the ends flipped under. The color is a single process gorgeous dark brunette, which is low maintenance, but it does mean you lose all the dimension when you’re not in studio lighting.

Rich Mahogany Layers with Center-Parted Volume and Soft Flipped Ends

Instagram: p.s.gemmie

We can tell the ends are doing all the talking here; they kick out at the collarbone rather than fall flat, which means there’s interior layering creating movement under the surface while the outer surface remains smooth. That takes medium to thick density to pull off. Fine hair won’t hold that much volume right through the mid-lengths without some major product build-up. The color sits somewhere around a cool mahogany gloss over a natural dark base, single-process, with a slight violet undertone which keeps it from going muddy. Oval and heart-shaped faces benefit from this center part because the face-framing pieces fall past the cheekbones and help widen the lower half. On a round face this much volume at jaw level would work against you. One thing that’s pretty interesting is the lack of styling that seems to be involved; it’s a rough blowout and a round brush to flip the ends out. It looks effortless because for the most part it was cut to behave this way.

Chin-Length Dark Wavy Bob with Soft Full Fringe and Piecey Nape

Instagram: boutique._.any

Please observe the back. It is longer and thinner than the rest of the shape, almost like a micro mullet, and it’s doing more than you think to keep this from reading as a standard bob. The middle layers were point cut to get that separated, wavy texture without bulk at the jawline. This type of hair won’t look this way with this cut. It needs to have some natural wave, or some sort of perm, to hold those bends. Medium density hair is the sweet spot here because if the hair is too fine it will go flat at the crown and if it is too thick it will balloon out at the sides with this much interior layering. The fringe is fully soft and sits just below the brows, which is most flattering for small oval or heart shapes. With wider jawlines, all that width around the chin area will highlight what you might want to keep more subtle.

Long Black Waves with Side-Swept Face Frame and Interior Movement

Instagram: angelakimhair

The before photo shows adequate length and density, but everything is stuck on one flat plane. In the after photo, most of the length is preserved, but interior sliding layers were cut in so that the hair can separate and move independently. This creates the difference between long hair that just exists, and long hair that looks like a choice. In this case, the face framing pieces are really doing a lot of work. They are sweeping across the forehead and breaking up a longer face shape without the need for full bangs. It won’t air dry like this though. That tousled wave was done with a curling iron and most likely some texturizing spray. So without that, you’re probably a lot closer to the before photo than you think.

Retro Butterfly Shag with Feathered Sides and Soft Arched Fringe

Instagram: mutinyandmanelounge

The shortest sections are at cheekbone level and have been blow-dried back with a round brush to achieve that sort of winged almost Farrah flick flick at the sides. That detail does a hell of a lot of work here. Without it, this cut would have the appearance of being flat and outdated rather than intentional. This cut requires medium to thick density hair in order to hold shape, whereas if fine hair is used, it will collapse through those mid lengths and will most likely do so within an hour. There is an arch in the bangs which are also slightly thinned at the ends, and they sit above the brow. This is ideal for longer face shapes as it breaks up the vertical space, however on round face shapes this much width at the cheeks could be a problem. The hair is left in its natural color; a cool dark brown, and no dimension is added which is the right call because the movement of the cut would be clashed with highlights. As for the styling, this definitely is not a wash-and-go situation, as it will not look like this when air dried.

Black Layered Shag with Curtain-Adjacent Fringe and Tousled Weight

Instagram: haleybmadeline

When you think of a fringe, don’t think of it as just bangs or a type of fringe. Rather, a fringe sits in between those two styles, is a touch off center and merges with the face framing layers without a line. This is why it works. There is going to be a good amount of density to your hair for this to work. There are point cut layers throughout the mid-lengths and ends so it looks soft and you should see a lot of texture at the bottom and then the crown should look full. There should be enough hair to provide volume without having to back comb and put a lot of product in. If this was on fine hair, by midday it would look flat and lifeless. This hair is its longest past the collarbone and the weight is low enough to give some nice lengthening to round and square face shapes. The different directions the ends kick tell me that a round brush was barely used and that’s the point.

Golden Brunette Blow-Out with Swooping Face Frame and Cascading Interior Movement

Instagram: tegankelsiehair

The face-framing pieces are cunning. They have been cut shorter and pnted cut so that they blend into the rest of the hair. The swoop effect is intentional and is better with medium to thick hair as fine hair will just separate and show the gaps. You’d be surprised at how stacked the inner layers are, so there is a lot of movement at the mid lengths to ends without the top going flat. This is a blow dry, and not a curling iron, it will not look like this air-dried. If you don’t want to spend time with a dryer, just don’t. It’s great for oval and oblong face shapes, that curtain of hair along the jaw adds warmth without width. The colour is a low maintenance warm brunette with subtle, almost undetectable sun-kissed pieces at the ends.

Jet Black Blow-Out Layers with Full Rounded Bangs and Rolled Ends

Instagram: arielalexisx

The ends are talking, I see. Each layer has been blow dried with a large round brush and purposefully rolled under, which gives that HUGE curtain movement. This bang will need THICK hair, so if you have fine or medium density hair, you won’t get this volume without some extensions, or a very aggressive blowout and a lot of patience. The bangs are blunt cut at the brow and are full and round which sit across the forehead, and there is soft texture at the edges where they blend into the face frame. On a round face shape, bangs this thick can make you look shorter, so this is best for oval and longer faces. One thing most wouldn’t notice is the internal layers are set high, starting around the cheek for mid lengths that look separated and piecey, even when the perimeter is long and heavy. That’s smart layering for all the hair people who don’t want to lose length. The natural black color has no dimension added, but it still looks rich because of the light. If you are not styling it don’t bother.

Long Brunette Butterfly with Blown-Out Curtain Fringe and Barrel-Curled Ends

Instagram: danyfbeauty

This will look very different without a round brush blowout. The cut looks like it has natural volume and round brush blowout but that is just styling. The short interior layers are cut at the cheekbone level. The longer face-framing pieces are down graduated to the collarbone which creates the stacked look through the mid-lengths. If you have thick hair this cut will reward you. If you have fine hair it will fall flat in an hour. It will also lose all that cascading shape. The fringe is soft, center parted, and point cut so it doesn’t look blunt or heavy. The layers are concentrated from the ears up which is why the bottom looks solid. The ends have that weighted curl instead of just nothing. This shape suits round and oval faces.

Warm Bronde Long Shag with Airy Curtain Fringe and Razored Interior

Instagram: hairstylistrocky

I want to make a note about the fringe; It has been point cut so thin that you can see the forehead through the bangs, which keeps the front from looking too thick with all that hair and allows for a more even distribution. This is a long razored shag on medium density hair that is chest length with inteior layers starting high around the cheekbones to achieve separation and a windswept with out removing to much bulk from the from the ends. The bronde color looks like a natural base and sun faded dimension, probably no foils, just a balayage that lived in really well. Round faces will appreciate how those long, face framing pieces pull everything downwards. This cut will create about three times the amount of volume on anyone with really thick hair and will lose the effortless look. This is only suitable for fine to medium hair.

Bouncy Brunette Butterfly Layers with Soft Rounded Fringe

Instagram: getjad3d

The layers in this cut start around the cheekbone area which adds some nice volume to the sides. This style is best for medium to thick hair. If hair is too fine, those ends will not stay flipped without a round brush, and even then it will fall straight down by noon. The fringe is point cut and rounded just above the brow, so it has enough weight to stay down. The inner layers are stacked to create a bell shape, so when the ends flip under, it looks effortless. The volume rounds best on square and round faces as the cheekbone level volume blends into the overall shape without looking broad. If your hair is straight with no bend or wave, it would not work.

Auburn Mid-Length with Side-Swept Layers and Tousled Ends

Instagram: hairbynadja

The Face framing highlights highlight the face and distract from a rounder face by pulling the eye vertically down instead of horizontally across. The copper auburn color is single process with warmth around the midshaft and because it looks so natural against her freckled face it is not a balayage. The hair is a medium density with a medium texture , and she has layers cut with a razor so she gets some flyaway movement at the crown without sacrificing fullness at the ends. If your hair is thick this cut will not look the same as it will look wide instead. The ends are styled with a round brush so they are flipped out and without that effort they would sit flat. That is the honest trade off for a cut that leans very heavily on texture and movement to achieve that shape. The ends are styled with a round brush so they are flipped out and without that effort they would sit flat and that is the honest trade off for a cut that leans very heavily on texture and movement to achieve that shape.

Cool Brunette Mid-Length with Soft Interior Layers and Choppy Partial Bangs

Instagram: hank_makes_u_handsome

These bangs are not too heavy. They are cut so that the sides remain open and blend into any face-framing pieces. This little detail works for bangs on rounder face shapes as it doesn’t close everything off on the sides. The hair is medium density, collarbone length, and layered through the interior so the ends still feel thick. The ends look a little blunt and the separated, slightly messy movement was added to the mid lengths by the point cutting. On very fine hair, this will not come across as “undone”. It will come across as flat. You want enough natural body to be able to hold the shape between washes because day two, this cut will either look better or it will collapse and thickness will determine which.

Choppy Layered Short Bob with Wispy Bangs

Instagram: collectiveclub.salon

The top layers at the crown lift up, while the sides remain flat and piecey against the jaw. This contrast is key to the style, and is achieved with mid-length and end razor cutting to achieve separation without bulk. This bob is chin length and layered specifically for straight hair of medium density and deep chocolate brown with no color work needed. This bob looks best on fuller faces as the texture around the jawline creates angles where there would otherwise be none. The bangs are soft and long enough to be pushed aside on day three without issue. This shape will not work if your hair has any wave or curl as it will puff where it’s supposed to lay and cling where it’s supposed to be separated, and no amount of product will create the right structure for it.

Sandy Blonde Collarbone Shag with Piece-y Fringe and Lived-In Highlights

Instagram: drewudallhair

Check how the shortest layers hit. They fall at the cheekbone, this works really well to frame without closing in on her face, and that particular placement is only achieved via deliberate point cutting through the interior. The fringe is designed to be thin, with just enough separation between pieces for you to see forehead. This is crucial as thick bangs on a shag this textured would look very heavy and very wrong. The color is sandy blonde with darker roots and hand painted highlights concentrated from the mid lengths to ends. She keeps her roots natural, so the grow out feeds the whole messy concept instead of going against it. For this style, medium density hair is ideal. If you have very thick hair, those interior layers will puff instead of fall, and you will not achieve this relaxed weight distribution. This style is most suitable for oval and oblong face shapes. It is less ideal for round faces as there is not enough length below the chin to balance it. You will need to put some work into achieving this look as it won’t look like this on day one without some scrunching and texture spray and it is unlikely to achieve this look most days without some effort you may not want to give.

Natural Brunette Mullet Shag with Razored Crown and Wispy Fringe

Instagram: hairbytory

If the ratio of shorts to longs makes you pause, move along. The razored crown layers are really coming to life! They add so much height and movement to fine straight hair that would otherwise just hang there. The fringe is thin, a little uneven, and cut into so it doesn’t appear to be a blunt wall across the forehead. This style for sure suits oval and oblong faces best the bangs cut the visual length of the face while keeping it open around the ears on the side. Round faces will be at odds with this cut. The tail stops just past the collarbone which is a tricky length to grow out of if you change your mind.

Long Textured Waves with Blunt Baby Bangs and Hidden Interior Layers

Instagram: lizzhouser

The overall shape is almost entirely determined by the bangs. They are cut straight across and sit above the eyebrows. The rest of the hair is left long and loose. If you observe closely, you can see the internal layers because most of the volume is taken out from the middle, leaving the ends long and heavy. This is called slide cutting and is what creates movement in the hair and also prevents it from falling like a curtain. The ideal hair type to achieve this look is thick, naturally wavy, or curly hair. If the hair is finer it will take a lot of product and effort to maintain this shape. Micro bangs work well on round and oval faces, but if you have a shorter forehead, they can be placed a lot lower on the face which isn’t very flattering as the bangs will cut the face quite a bit. In the right hands, and with enough volume, this is a wash and go hairstyle that will look better the messier it is.

Shoulder-Length Wavy Shag with Choppy Micro Bangs

Instagram: thebangsbabe

The bangs here don’t reach the eyebrows and are not blunt. Instead, they are cut into soft, wispy pieces that separate on their own, which makes them look more natural because of the wave pattern. The shag has medium density and wavy and sits at the collarbone. The short inner layers at the top of the crown create a rounded, lifted top shape. The ends of the shag are left thicker. The shag style looks best on oval and round face shapes because the short layers at the crown create height without adding a lot of width. If your hair is straight, this style is going to look very flat at the top and very bulk at the bottom which is not a styling issue, it is just a texture issue. She looks like she air dried her hair, and that is the point. This type of style does not really have the option of being dressed up.

Wavy Brunette Shag with Barely-There Bangs and Natural Texture

Instagram: annamigonehair

The fringe is styled to sit above the brows which was done on purpose and for good reason on someone with medium to thick wavy hair because heavy bangs with this texture become a fighting a curtain. The layers here are cut to the middle and are slide cut so that the waves are free to shape the hair instead of having to be uniform about it. On straight hair, it will look different from this. Some wave or curl is needed so that the volume can be held at the top and the layers avoid being flat. This shape works best on oval and heart faces. When hair is fine and has low density, the bangs will quickly separate into thin strands and the shag shape will look just as thin.

Medium Ash Brunette Shag with Rounded Bangs and Flippy Layers

Instagram: jrgnbch

The bangs are doing a tiny but distinct thing. They are rounded at the temples and blended into the face-framing pieces so that they don’t sit apart from the rest of the hair. It is that blend that prevents this from looking costume-y. The style works best with straight to wavy hair of medium density and lengths that end around the collarbone. The shag has a lot of layering, which starts high – probably around the cheekbone. The ends are razor or point cut, which gives them a self-flipping effect. If your hair is fine, this cut will just look sparse instead of full. It requires at least medium density support all that volume at the top. The added length and volume through the sides is especially great for oval and round faces as it elongates the look of the face. If your hair is thick and coarse, expect the ends to be a point of contention. The movement in the cut will break up the color nicely, but the natural ash brunette shade is left untouched, with no highlights added.

Dark Chocolate Wolf Cut with Full Feathered Bangs

Instagram: bigbearhair

With bangs there is a lot of detail and the cutting does the talking. The bangs have intention and a soft arc in the point cutting, they are cut thicker in the middle and the sides are feathered so it appears as if there is a solid block across the forehead. This is why it works on rounder faces like hers. The mid length layers can be choppy and without being overly styled like they are in need of a rescue, they sink nicely into that lived in wave. This is medium density hair and most likely it is natural texture with a low maintenance, minimal effort look. If your hair is very fine, these bangs will probably separate a lot and lay very flat within a few hours. If your hair is thick and coarse the whole silhouette will puff out instead of draping and that is medium density hair. The rich single process brunette is low commitment and forgiving at the root which is honestly one of the best things about it.

Warm Brunette Shag with Heavy Fringe and Disconnected Layers

Instagram: lindseyhairpdx

There is plenty to appreciate with the fringe. It is blunt in the center and then all razored out on the sides where it connects to the face framing bits. That sort of change is what keeps it from becoming just bangs. For the layers, the mid-lengths are pretty much all heavily disconnected. The shortest in the cut are around the chin and the longest are over the collarbone which gives a lived in feel without having to use a curling iron. This hair has a slight natural wave to it and the cut really works with that. Those pieces that are cheekbone length are great for rounder and fuller faces as they break up the width. This won’t work on fine hair because it will go flat and lose all of its structure within hours. The warm red brown is natural but it has a richer look when photographed. You can see where the ends are almost a lighter copper. This appears to be a single process as the ends have a previous shade rather than an intentional balayage.

Copper Red Long Layers with Soft Arched Bangs

Instagram: hauntedvanity

I appreciate the detail of the color shift and how warm it gets in the face-frame spots when the copper hits the light. That means there’s likely a solid color for the face-frames instead of a balayage. The bangs are textured with an arch and sit right at the brow line so they’ll move really easily without it being too much curtain. It’s medium density straight to wavy, layers start at the chin and go long so you keep the weight at the bottom and the shorter pieces in the interior will provide a lot of separation. This will look very different in thick coarse hair. That copper is going to fade really quickly, especially without a color safe routine, and the bangs are going to have an awkward grow out around week 5. The style suits round or oval faces as the length helps elongate the look and the bangs break up a bigger forehead without closing off the entire face.

Curly Shag with Textured Fringe That Actually Works with Your Curl Pattern

Instagram: samesamebutdifferent.salon

The bangs are a cut above the rest – quite literally. They are dry cut, but sit perfectly sprining from the curl and aren’t cut to the point where they are too short like wet-cut bangs. This is a medium length curly shag on thick, naturally curly hair that has been cut in lots of aggressive layers in the crown so that the top is lifted and the lengths are full without creating a triangular shape. If this cut were to be done on straight or wavy hair, it would look like a shapeless mullet. It requires some real curl to justify the form. This hairstyle is excellent for round and oval faces as it shortens the appearance of a larger forehead, and the sides of the cut frame the face without it looking too heavy. It is also worth mentioning that this hairstyle will not be messy in a cool way if you have looser than a 3A curl pattern. Without a styling product, this cut will not look messily cool on day three.

Soft Curtain Bangs Over Razored Long Layers

Instagram: hair.with.haylz

Almost all the work is done by the shorter pieces framing her face. The longer pieces that sit below the collarbone are just along for the ride. That contrast is what makes it look more undone than neglected. Layers were point cut to avoid hard lines which keeps the movement soft even without product. Straight to slightly wavy hair with a warm chestnut tone that reads natural and medium density is perfect for this. Round and oval faces will love how the curtain bangs break up the forehead without closing in on the cheeks. If your hair is thick and coarse this cut will puff out at the sides instead of draping. It just won’t do what it’s doing here.

This post Messy Layered Haircuts Make Undone Look Surprisingly Intentional, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

“I’m 67 and recently got a mixie shag because I wanted something shorter and easier to manage, but I’m having trouble getting that soft, piecey look at home. My hair either falls completely flat or looks like I’ve used way too much product. Is there a simple way to style a mixie shag that gives me a little volume and texture without spending forever in front of the mirror?” — Linda R., Scottsdale, Arizona

Linda, a mixie shag shouldn’t take much work in the morning, and you definitely shouldn’t need enough product to make your hair feel stiff. The trick is knowing where you actually need the help. For this cut, I’d concentrate on getting a little height at the crown and keeping the layers light and separated rather than trying to add volume everywhere.

I’d also put the round brush aside for most of the styling. Your fingers and a blow-dryer are usually enough to get those shorter layers moving in the right direction. Then, if a few areas still look flat, you can add texture just where you need it. Here’s the routine I’d recommend to a client who wants her mixie to look good without spending half the morning on it.

Step 1: Start With Towel-Dried Hair

After washing your hair, gently blot it with a towel until it’s damp rather than soaking wet.

Don’t worry about getting every strand perfectly combed into place. I actually prefer leaving a little natural separation in a mixie shag because it helps those short layers fall more naturally once they’re dry.

If your hair tangles easily, run a wide-tooth comb through the ends before you start styling.

Step 2: Add a Little Volume at the Roots

If your mixie tends to fall flat on top, lightly mist COLOR WOW Raise the Root Thicken & Lift Spray around the crown and roots.

You don’t need to spray your entire head. Concentrate on the areas where you want a little more height, especially the crown.

For hair that needs more overall body, work a small amount of Kenra Volume Mousse Extra 17 through the roots and mid-lengths.

Start small. Short hair can become heavy surprisingly quickly when too much styling product is applied.

Step 3: Protect Your Hair Before Blow-Drying

Before reaching for your dryer, mist Redken Quick Blowout Heat Protectant Spray lightly through your damp hair.

Pay particular attention to the longer pieces around your face and nape.

Once it’s distributed, you’re ready to dry. There’s no need to add another styling product at this stage.

Step 4: Rough-Dry With Your Fingers

Here’s where I would skip the brush altogether at first.

Set your blow-dryer to a comfortable medium setting and use your fingertips to move the hair from side to side while drying. Gently lift the roots at the crown instead of pressing them down.

Continue until your hair is about 80 to 90 percent dry.

This creates natural-looking volume while preserving the slightly tousled texture that makes a mixie shag so flattering.

Step 5: Give the Crown a Quick Lift

Once your hair is almost dry, spend about a minute concentrating on the top.

Lift small sections of hair straight up with your fingers or a small round brush and direct the dryer toward the roots for a few seconds. Let each section cool briefly before releasing it.

You don’t need big volume here. You’re simply preventing the crown from sitting flat against your head.

I especially like this technique on finer hair because even a small amount of lift can make the layers look fuller.

Step 6: Shape the Sides and Fringe

Now work on the pieces around your face.

Use your fingers or a small round brush to direct the side layers slightly backward. You’re looking for a gentle bend rather than an actual curl.

For the fringe, move it from side to side with your fingers while blow-drying, then sweep it toward the side where it naturally wants to sit.

Avoid rolling the bangs tightly around a brush. A mixie shag looks much softer when the fringe stays wispy and relaxed.

Step 7: Separate the Shaggy Layers

Once your hair is completely dry, use your fingertips to separate the layers around the crown, sides, and nape.

If your hair still looks a little flat, lift sections and spray a small amount of Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray underneath them rather than spraying heavily over the top.

Then gently tousle the roots with your fingers.

This gives the haircut more texture and helps emphasize those shorter shaggy layers without making them look stiff.

Don’t try to arrange every piece perfectly. Some ends can turn outward while others sit closer to the head. That variation is part of what makes the haircut work.

Step 8: Finish Dry or Frizzy Ends

If your hair is naturally dry, gray, highlighted, or prone to frizz, finish with a tiny amount of VERB Ghost Weightless Fine Hair Oil.

Use less than you think you’ll need. Rub a small drop between your palms first, then lightly pinch it into the longer pieces around your fringe, sides, and nape.

Keep oil away from the crown and roots. That’s where you want to preserve your volume.

Once the ends look softer and more separated, you’re finished.

The 5-Minute Version

You don’t have to repeat the complete routine every morning.

On the second or third day, mist your roots lightly with water and add a little COLOR WOW Raise the Root if the crown has flattened overnight. Blow-dry the roots while lifting them with your fingers, then reshape your fringe and side pieces.

If the shaggy layers need more definition, spray a little Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray underneath the crown and tousle everything with your fingertips.

Finish by pinching the ends into place.

That’s it.

A Few Stylist Tips for Making Your Mixie Easier to Manage

The biggest mistake I see with short, layered hair is using too much product. You want enough product to support the shape of your haircut, but not so much that you can feel it sitting on your hair.

I also wouldn’t worry about making both sides perfectly symmetrical. A mixie shag benefits from a little imperfection. One side can tuck behind your ear while the other falls softly toward your cheek.

And whenever possible, use your fingers before reaching for another styling tool. Finger-styling keeps the layers soft and saves a considerable amount of time.

Most importantly, your haircut should be doing most of the work for you.

What to Ask Your Hairstylist For

If low-maintenance styling is important to you, tell your stylist.

Ask for a soft mixie shag with textured layers through the crown, wispy face-framing pieces, and slightly more length through the nape.

If your hair is fine, I would also ask your stylist to be conservative with thinning shears. Removing too much hair can make a short shag harder to style because there isn’t enough density left to support the shape.

A well-cut mixie shouldn’t require a complicated morning routine. With a little root lift, a quick blow-dry, and some texture through the ends, you should be able to get your hair into shape and get on with your day.

This post How to Style a Mixie Shag Haircut for Older Women, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Having midi hair has been such a game changer, and I hate to say this because I’ve been living under a rock, but once you see these haircuts, you can’t unsee it. It’s just everywhere, and I’ve noticed such a large increase in women with this hair cut, especially this year. Women actually have this hair length because this is often where hair grows to naturally. Instead, we’ve spent so much time either growing or trimming our hair and this length is a no brainer, just along the collar bone to almost hitting it, or even slightly above it. The midi hair length doesn’t need to be anything fancy, it’s just different and makes a statement.

I once had a client who grew her hair for two years. She was so adamant about length that she was complaining about her arms constantly having no volume. I showed her the Italian Midi cuts. Without hesitation she said, “wait, this is that length I had BEFORE growing my hair out, and I LOVED that length — it was my favorite!” Most women have had this Italian Midi length before, but will never know that this hair length is called the Italian Midi and it has been a big deal. The Midi has given thin-haired ladies, and any ladies in general, permission to stop their hair at the length where their hair appears healthiest and fullest, and backward thinning doesn’t begin. One of the most brilliant, simplistic ideas has been given a name.

The Classic Brunette Volume Midi

Collarbone-length with long layers, here is your “Italian” pick! This brunette midi is styled with mid lengths that have a lived-in, full look and are not overdone. The mid-length choppy layers are mouth level and blow out volume. This shape is round. For flat hair, style with volumizing spray at the roots prior to blow drying.

The Bronde Money-Piece Wavy Midi

A bronde wavy midi with money piece highlights and a center part. The face framing blonde is the sugaring spot of the balayage and attracts the focus right to the front without the assistance of back section highlights, which means this type of balayage is great for all hair types, even thinner hair. For the most part, the back section is how the rest of the waves in your hair frame your face. A texture spray works well to hold your waves to keep the look from being too flat towards the end of the day.

The Dark Chocolate Straight Midi with Face Layers

Dark chocolate straight midi, face-framing layers, center-part – we’re talking about hair cut 101. It is a one-length midi. The length isn’t uniform throughout, but rather is longer at the front. For easy volume and fullness, medium-dense straight hair love this style because it requires minimum styling, which to be clear it is an extremely simple design. This one is worn by just blow drying the hair and running a paddle brush through.

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The Warm Brunette Curtain-Layered Midi Blowout

Warm brown with a subtle sheen. This midi features layers with a blowout finish giving it a curtain layered look with the added benefit of time saving as each section does not need to be curled. Internal layers of this midi are perfect for medium to thick hair as they have the perfect amount of weight removal to allow the end of the hair to bounce. This midi is great for people wanting to hold a hairstyle for two days as the hair has been softened to a silk pillowcase.

The Dark Razored Midi with Wispy Pieces

This has a midi length with a razored center part and face framing layers. The layers are cut with a razor giving them a textured finish. It’s on the shorter side of a midi length and looks great when it grows out with length between appointments. It looks great for medium density hair, and will add movement and texture.

The Copper Wavy Midi with Lived-In Texture

A copper-toned wavy midi with define tousled texture and no bangs. This style needs low maintenance and is perfect for you! The texture does most of the work for you and looks effortless. Wavy textures are ideal for medium to short lengths because it helps the hair stay light and helps the texture from looking too weighed down. This style is ideal for textured medium length hair.

The Black Layered Midi with Side Curtain Bang

A voluminous black midi with side curtain bang and flipped layers. Credit: the upside down blow out, for the volume with a light touch through the crown. This style works best with thick hair because it minimizes weight while maintaining the required amount of thickness and shape. Having a side curtain bang, while fringe still frames your face, eliminates the risk of full fringe commitment. This style is ideal for someone who wants to try a fringe.

The Copper Midi with Feathered Curtain Bangs

This copper tone midi has layers with golden sheen and feathered curtain bangs. Reflective layers help copper cuts pop, and this length is a great option to showcase the amazing payoff. Without some work, copper colors usually go on the orange side, so using a color depositing conditioner in between appointments would work to keep those brassy copper strays from popping up. Trimming the longer pieces of the bangs with a razor would be needed to keep the look with the feathered bangs.

The Face-Framed Layered Black Midi

A black short midi with layers down the back and a center part. The longest layers start above the jawline to create a small waterfall effect when the hair is down and falls to the middle of the back. The midi length works with layers that grow out to add more length, without losing its subtle form. It looks great on medium to thick straight or wavy hair.

The Full-Bodied Black Curled Midi

A full-bodied mid length black curl with large barrel curls at the end. Requires 1.5″ large barrel iron. Brush curls out for a rounded, bouncy, full shape. The style will cool curls to a perfect ringlet pattern. Longest patterns look best at the hip. The style is great on thick hair because of the dense nature of the hair and will hold curls pattern.

The Black Layered Midi with Curtain Bangs

This Black straight midi has curtain bangs and internal layers. Face framing long fringe can easily be grown out without the embarrassing stages with this style because they’re layered. Blunt ends add volume to the hair when you pair this style with straight hair. To prevent the layers from separating too much, ask your stylist for point cutting.

The Warm Auburn Flipped Midi

This auburn, layered, side part midi is flawless! That color is doing wonders! Auburn brings out the warmth in a midi like no other. The color perfectly complements wavy hair with a natural movement. You’ll most likely want to use a color safe shampoo after every wash every 5-6 weeks and likely a retouch color (in between). Red requires frequent retouching more than the rest of them. It does deserve a warm greeting for sure!

The Jet Black Blowout Midi with Swooped Layers

Jet Black Blowout Midi with Face-Framing Layers & a Side Part. This texturized midi takes a couple minutes of styling, but can be easily achieved with a blowout and round brush. The hair on this cut is straight and thick, which is perfect for the look. If you’re going to wear this cut, make sure your products have heat protection so the swoop stays all day.

The Rooted Blonde Beachy Midi

With a cool root shadow, this blonde midi adds dimension while leaving some time in between color appointments for the grow out with the two inch root shadow. It looks great on naturally lightened medium brown hair with a beautiful blend. For this cut, length would require layering on the ends to prevent hair looking stringy on finer hair.

The Before-and-After Collarbone Chop with Curtain Layers

A layered brunette midi with face framing pieces and collarbone length. Weight distribution is a much better look for this haircut, and there’s a before and after for that! There’s not much loss if length is a concern, but we lose a lot less when we remove the weight. Post this pic to your stylist if you want to show what length you’re comfortable with. The mid shaft layers give you movement with an air dry, and you can easily add some curl with a curling iron to add an extra soft layer to the style.

The Side-Parted Straight Black Layered Midi

This black midi has a deep side part with long graduated layers that begin at the chin. This style slims straight, choppy hair. This cut has a smaller amount of volume and less waves than other styles. The length is not long, so this style is easier to maintain. Just a quick pass through some flat irons on the front pieces, and you’re done. The style will last you at least 8 to 10 weeks before it needs a trim.

The Jet Black Lived-In Midi

An easy, bold, black midi with just the right amount of layering and a center part. Great for straightening your natural dark hair that’s too thick to do an appointment color, since (when wet) hair tucks itself into a nice, waved style. With just some midi layers, it’s a perfect no fuss style. Now you can have waves without having to spend time and money to do it. This midi ranks as a win-win.

The Wispy-Banged Textured Midi Bob

This texture brunette, choppy bob has midi length bangs caressing the collarbone. Choppy lob has the same length as a lob, however, beveled bangs distinguish it from a choppy midi bob. Razor cutting and point cutting create the ‘choppy’ look, and be sure to ask your hairstylist for a midi bob. This bob looks particularity good on hair with medium density and natural wave.

The Undone Caramel Balayage Midi

Caramel Balayage Midi Style (Undone Waves, Center Part): The color is excellent! Layers positioning provides dimensions. Great haircuts need to have a balance—this one is pretty simple. This length (collarbone) is where most of the hair naturally tends to flip outward. And this is where this style stops (and where you would point to on a wall to get your hair to flip outwards)! So to skip the wall and frustrating hair flipping, wear this!

The Caramel-Highlighted Textured Midi

A midi colored dark caramel brown featuring textured waves and highlights throughout the front and mid lengths. This amazing style is great for you because of the natural grow out as it helps to space out salon appointments of every 10 to 12 weeks. This style will work wonders with your wavy medium to thick hair because of how perfect the texture of the waves will work for all alone styles. When getting this color, most stylists recommend a balayage instead of foils to help your colorist to place highlights accordingly.

The Wavy Chocolate Midi with Full Bangs

A cute wavy chocolate brown midi with trendy bangs at collarbone length and fringe. The bangs are a nice touch and have some texture throughout with ends colored to a dark brown. The texture limited how much weight the bangs had making it a great style for hair like this. As one of the more low maintenance styles with hair like this, all this style requires is curl cream and letting it air dry, as much of the work is done by then. All you need to do to maintain style is scrunching midway and then towards the end when the rest of the style is complete.

The Blonde Midi with Inward-Turned Ends

A brown shoulder-length should-length midi with turned-in ends. Full foil blonde means this color hides grows out the best. Touch-ups are required every 6-8 weeks. This style has tons of volume. A style that is similar to this works great with fine to medium straight hair with the perimeter. The ends of this style of hair are turned in, which can be done post-blowout with a round brush.

The Bouncy Curled-End Dark Midi

Adding a side swept part to your dark voluminous midi works perfectly with a hairstyle done with a 1.25 inch curling iron like the one pictured on style.com. It creates movement in the bottom layer where the curls begin and keeps the root of the hair stuck to your head. This helps take some of the heaviness out of your thick curls. Your stylist should know you want them to cut your layers starting at the bottom to create volume. It also creates something for the back of your hair that can curl in as well.

The Warm-Toned Layered Midi with Center Part

The dark brown midi has a center part and a blowout, as well as hair that is pleated in the back and straight around the face. This hair style works best with naturally straight or slightly wavy hair. There is also something special about this picture because it captures someone’s casual day time hair style instead of the tedious, up do’s we see all the time. The warm undertones in the hair also add to the style.

The Swoopy Curtain-Banged Brunette Midi

Medium-density brunette midi length with curtain bangs and flipped layers. Awesome for medium to thick hair since there is internal layering so you don’t get that triangle shape at the bottom. Bangs hit at the cheekbone and in about 4-5 weeks will hit the chin. A trim will be needed to avoid this. Use a round brush and blow dryer and it will give you the triangle shape at the bottom and end flip.

This post Somewhere Between a Bob and Long Hair, the Italian Midi Finds the Sweet Spot, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Braids are becoming a go-to look for older Black women because they’re beautiful, practical, and incredibly versatile without demanding daily styling. The key is choosing braid styles that protect your hair without putting unnecessary tension on thinning edges, a sensitive scalp, or finer strands.

I’m especially partial to lightweight knotless braids, medium twists, and softly braided bobs because they can give you fullness without the weight of oversized extensions. Keeping the parts slightly larger and limiting added hair near the hairline can also reduce pulling while still giving you a polished finish. And whether you love silver strands or prefer rich color, braids can work beautifully with what you’ve got.

Keep scrolling and find the braid idea you’ll want to make your own.

Grey Cornrow Bob With Twisted Ends

Here’s an easy way to achieve a quick evening look without long heavy braids! Short cornrows accented with twisted corkscrew extensions are simple to maintain. There is essentially no fringe that falls, and the style holds itself in place and stays close to the head. Women who like to have short styled hair and want to protect their hair from the elements, this is perfect for them. The tips have movement, but are not stiff.

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Silver Cornrow Braids With Beaded Ends

Cornrows in the middle of the back of the head are accented by brightly colored beads. Hair beads give this braid personality and help keep the sides from falling, as the extra weight pulls the braid down. This style works well with gray hair because of the silver blend with the natural gray hair. Because each braid is accented by PC tips and hair beads, this style makes more noise and more movement than a traditional hairstyle. This should also be taken into consideration when choosing this style.

Half-Up Micro Box Braids With Top Knot

I have small dark brown knots on top of micro box braids. The first few hours (8+hrs) of getting them done are the worst for the hairline. Micro box braids take the longest to do, but look the best and hold a style. Small braids give less tension to the edges so you can be less concerned with your edges getting pulled out. Plus, this style allows you to pull your hair back half way so you don’t have to pull your hair all the way back.

Two Large Cornrow-to-Curl Pigtails

This style has two-braided cornrow partings with long and tight curly extensions. The side extensions go past the chest while the center part has no extensions and face framing tendrils. There is movement in this style that other styles may lack. It has a fast installation compared to other styles since this style only has two braids. It is intended for people interested in protective styles but do not wish to sit for a lengthy period of time for the installation.

Silver Box Braid Bob With Side Part

A bob with a deep side part and small gold rings on the accents may take a bit more technique to pull off, but is still relatively easy to style. This bob’s gray extension color grows out naturally from the root, so it will look like you have been sporting that beautiful gray hair for some time. This bob length is a great choice, as it is very lightweight and easy to wear each day. The small to medium braids give this look plenty of shape and structure when worn with a bob.

Medium Box Braids With Curly Ends and Silver Cuffs

The braided style pairs loose curls with the face framing the rest of the hair in a bohemian, low bun style from the back of the head. No tool are required to put this style together, because you can let the curly ends down and put a braid along the side of your head. This style then offers the option of either wearing the braid to the side or keeping it tied up at the back of your head. Because of the style’s use of loose curls, this requires maintenance, since the curls have to be moisturized several times a week, so remember to sprinkle some Hair mousse on this style every day.

Long Black Fulani Box Braids With Gold Cuffs

Fulani braids looking effortless with gold cuff braid inserts. These strategically placed cuffs ensure every braid is non uniform. These can quickly be installed because of their size and therefore less tension on the scalp. These are considered a great protective style to sleep in because of the loose fit, but can be worn with a bonnet for additional protection.

Blonde-Highlighted Cornrows With Long Curly Extensions

Blended curly extensions, past the chest, with honey blonde and brown mixed color and cornrows. This texture and color combination will pop! The extensions have a warm blonde color that shines, almost like foil highlights. The braid lightener effect is a safe way to add color and dimension to your hair. It doesn’t require dying natural hair. The extensions should have an ordered curl pattern. If the extensions twist in the opposite direction of the cornrow, there will be a clear disruption in the appearance of the hair.

Half-Cornrow Half-Box Braid Bob With Swirl Detail

A box braid bob with a chin length tuck on one side with an added cornrow swirl. This is a fun way to enjoy box braid bobs. The asymmetrical features add even more flair than your average box braid bob. This style is great for rounder face shapes since the length and angle of the chin helps create definition and angles. This bob may require more upkeep though, since one side is made of cornrows and the other is made of box braids, so cornrows would have to be done first.

Shoulder-Length Black Box Braid Bob

A loose shoulder looks good with a braided thin braid bob. Braids tangle less than bigger braids. Small size leads to a full braid. This also helps with the short time it takes to do it. Braids are great for long hair because they hold your hair out of your long clothing to prevent it from getting stuck underneath your collar or bag or coat. Small braids still take around 3-4 hours to complete.

Medium Knotless Box Braids With Curly Bohemian Ends

This cool mid-back length black knotless braid has a side lean and has a section that’s boho-curly. The style balances the amount of time you have to install and the overall size of the braids. The curly sections of this style will frizz before the braids loosen, so this style actually lasts as long as the curls. Finger-detangling the curly sections and applying leave-in conditioner to the curly sections will help to avoid build up of products and will help the style last longer.

Waist-Length Dark Brown Passion Twists

Dark brown passion twist style that extends past the waist. The mix of dark and light browns brings warmth to this style. Passion twists at this length keep volume and look natural at the roots. Be careful of pulling at sensitive areas of your scalp because it may aggravate those who have thinning scalp/sensitive skin. Those with sensitive skin should hold on from styling this length until their scalp is fully healed or opt for shorter styles.

Black Knotless Braids With Curly Ends and Wavy Tendrils

A long, black knotless braid with wavy face framing tendrils is an awesome style for the summer! When you do a braid out hairstyle, the looser pieces framing the face create a style that is less of a braid out and more casual, which is a nice look. Knotless box braids have less tension on the hair edges than regular box braids, which makes them a better choice for frontal hair thinning. The tendrils do need to be refreshed daily, but all you need for that is water and gel.

Center-Part Goddess Braids With Waist-Length Curly Ends

Long braids on the crown of your head transition into long dark brown curly extensions that reach down past your waist. This style has just the right amount of brown and black. That actually matters and makes this style really dynamic. This style is great because of all the volume. This style length takes a lot of upkeep, so make sure to have some layer maintenance and a satin pillowcase. This style does make the front weigh down a lot, so be sure to tension the front edge of this style.

Side-Swept Cornrows Into Long Senegalese Twists

A long side-parted style with protective cornrows to twisted braids with the ends curled. This style can keep flat hair from looking dull in the crown area, and the added length in twisted braids can provide movement. It’s a great option for ladies that prefer to go a few weeks without a braids touch up (4-6 weeks). Curls can stay fuchsia and defined with the aid of a satin bonnet, so wear one to bed at night.

Radial-Part Fulani-Style Cornrows With Long Box Braids

This style features multiple long box braids that start with cornrows in the style. This style takes around 5 to 7 hours to do. This braiding style takes time and needs skill, so it is a bit pricey. This style can become itchy and flaky because the parts are dry. So to help with this, we recommend a light coating of oil on the scalp.

Silver Shoulder-Length Loose Twists With Curled Tips

A hairstyle consisting of a side part with a braid that ends in twists. These braids are relaxed with a loose twist so they have some causality. The grey hair all around makes this style work best on someone who is fully grey. It is a simple style as it is long enough to be out of the way of the collar but short enough to not get all tied up while sleeping and causing you to have a bad hair day or two.

Swirl-Parted Cornrows With Long Brown Senegalese Twists

Long dark brown Senegalese twist with curved cornrows featuring a crown parting. I like your design! The crown parting adds interest to the area people will look at first. Dark brown extension color on dark skin tones adds a warm tone and is less artificial compared to black. This will take a longer time to style than a normal straight back silk press because of the detail work to create the parting design.

Grey Cornrow-to-Twist Bob With Spiral Ends

Grey cornrows with spiraled tips. The tips curl, giving hair a nice finished look, and grey looks great against her silver. Grey extensions that are more affordable tend to frizz and go gray more often. So if you specify gray braiding hair when you want it done in twists, curls will last longer.

Chin-Length Chunky Black Two-Strand Twists

A thick two-strand twist is added to the center part and down to the chin. Thickness within the twists gives the face fullness without length. This style is a good option for fine hair because each twist has few strands, therefore low tension. This size and length of twists takes about 2 hours to complete the installation.

Shoulder-Length Jet Black Senegalese Twists

This style incorporates a Senegalese twist. This means the tops have cornrows, and the rest has loose twists with fullness at the ends and flatness at the crown. It is ideal for beginners as it is not long and the weight is distributed from the scalp. The tips are brown, so they break the black, which leaves a more natural look rather than having to dye black hair.

Tight Stitch Cornrows Into a Single Low Braid

A nearly scalp level stitch to construct cornbraids in a single braid at the nape. This stitch is great because it looks neat and features woven texture without adding bulk, making it perfect for the workplace. Because cornrows are so close to the scalp there is literally nothing to fall on the wearer’s face. Individual full braids take longer to install, so these take less time to install.

Grey Goddess Braids With Curly Loose Ends

This style has gray braid with loose curls on the side Bryanning them together into a cascade. The top is braided, while the bottom is curled to give it volume, texture, and overall a more balanced look. This style keeps your head from feeling heavy. It’s a lot easier to maintain because it is natural hair, which is gray braid, and gray curl hair, which is used to style it. This is a low maintenance style that you can maintain by using a leave-in conditioner spray between washes. This helps keep your hair curls hydrated and maintaining this hairstyle longer.

All-Grey Straight-Back Feed-In Braids

A fine, straight-back feed-in braid that hits right at collarbone level. Matching braid hair to your natural grey hair conceals the growth of your braid. This braid thickness works great for fine edges because it does not put too much tension. You should have the braid placed loosely in the front of the forehead to conceal the most highlighted area of thinning hair.

Waist-Length Brown and Pink Marley Twists

Warm brown Marley twists installed to hip length with accents of pink throughout the style. To some people, pink and brown might be a little random, however, pink accents work well with a brown base. I enjoy this style a lot because the base color of brown is very elegant and prevents this style from looking costumey. This particular color palette is very timeless with elders, as it’s not a permanent change in hair color, and it’s done as hair extensions. Accent pieces can even be added as extensions at the braiding shop. Draw guidelines for your braiding artist of how and where you’d like the pieces to be placed.

This post Why More Older Black Women Are Making Braids Their Signature Look, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

“I’ve been spending so much money on conditioners that promise the world and my hair still feels like straw by Thursday. A friend mentioned making your own at home but I don’t even know where to start. Is it actually worth it, or is this just a Pinterest rabbit hole waiting to swallow me whole?”

— Donna Farchetti, Bozeman, Montana

Donna, I hear you, and honestly, I’ve had this exact conversation at my station more times than I can count. There’s something almost embarrassing about standing in the conditioner aisle for twenty minutes, reading ingredient labels you need a chemistry degree to understand, spending $28 on something that smells incredible in the bottle and does absolutely nothing for your actual hair. I went through that cycle for years before a client of mine, a woman in her late sixties with the most incredible silver hair I’ve ever seen, pulled a little jar out of her purse and told me she’d been making her own conditioner since the late 1980s. I thought she was being a little kooky. Then I touched her hair.

What’s happening in a lot of store-bought conditioners is a lot of filler, fragrance, and silicone coating that gives you the feeling of soft hair without actually improving its condition. Your hair feels great for a day, maybe two, and then it’s back to square one. When you make your own, you control exactly what goes in, you can tailor it to your specific hair type, and you’re usually working with ingredients that genuinely nourish the hair shaft rather than just sitting on top of it. It’s not a Pinterest gimmick. It’s actually chemistry, just the kind your grandmother understood.

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7. Avocado and Olive Oil Deep Conditioning Mask

Before I get into technique, I want to say something about avocado that I think gets glossed over in most of these lists. People treat it like it’s interchangeable with any other fatty ingredient, and it really isn’t. Avocado has a fat molecule that’s small enough to actually penetrate the hair shaft rather than just coat it, which puts it in a different category from, say, coconut oil, which mostly sits on the surface. That distinction matters a lot, especially if your hair is on the porous side or if you’ve had any color work done.

The basic recipe is simple: one ripe avocado, mashed until there are absolutely no lumps left (and I mean really work at it, lumps are a nightmare to rinse out), combined with two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of honey. The olive oil adds slip and shine, the honey is a humectant so it draws moisture into the hair, and the avocado does the deep work. Apply it from mid-shaft to ends, because the roots really don’t need the extra weight, and leave it on for at least 30 minutes under a shower cap to let the heat build up and help everything absorb.

I’ve used this on clients with dry, highlighted hair and the difference after one treatment is genuinely noticeable. Not like a miracle, but like someone turned the volume up a little on how healthy the hair looks. Rinse it out thoroughly with cool water, because warm water can make the avocado fat a little stubborn, and follow with a light shampoo if you need to. Do this once a week and within a month, you’ll probably find yourself buying fewer products because your hair just won’t need as much intervention day to day. The cost is almost laughably low compared to a salon conditioning treatment.

6. Coconut Milk and Honey Leave-In Conditioner

I’ll be honest, coconut oil gets more love than coconut milk in the hair care world, and I think that’s a little backwards for certain hair types. Coconut milk is lighter, it doesn’t leave that heavy residue that can build up with repeated use of the oil, and it’s genuinely lovely for fine or medium-textured hair that needs moisture without weight. For thick or coarse hair, you can absolutely use full-fat canned coconut milk and it’ll feel richer.

For a leave-in spray, combine half a cup of canned coconut milk (not the carton kind, which is too watered down) with two tablespoons of raw honey and about ten drops of your preferred essential oil. Lavender works beautifully, and so does rosemary if you’re interested in the scalp and growth benefits that rosemary has been getting a lot of well-deserved attention for lately. Pour it into a small spray bottle, shake well before each use, and spritz onto damp hair before styling.

The shelf life on this is short, about a week in the fridge, which I know sounds annoying but it’s also just the reality of working without preservatives. I keep mine in a little labeled jar on the refrigerator door and honestly it’s become part of my routine in a way that feels nice, like a small act of taking care of yourself rather than just grabbing whatever’s on the bathroom shelf. If a week feels too short, you can add a few drops of vitamin E oil, which extends it slightly and also happens to be great for hair health on its own.

5. Egg and Mayonnaise Protein Treatment

Stay with me here, because I know the word mayonnaise in the context of hair care makes a lot of people want to click away. I had a client, Ruthanne, who came in every six weeks with hair that was so over-processed it was practically translucent at the ends, and after two months of weekly egg and mayo treatments she did at home, I could actually give her a real haircut instead of just damage control. That’s not nothing.

Eggs are one of the best natural sources of protein for hair, and hair is made of protein, so the logic is pretty straightforward. The yolk adds moisture and fatty acids, the white adds protein and tightening action, and the mayonnaise, which is essentially just emulsified egg and oil anyway, acts as the vehicle that makes the whole thing spreadable and helps it adhere to the hair. Use two whole eggs and two tablespoons of full-fat mayonnaise, whisk them together until smooth, and apply to dry hair from roots to ends.

The critical thing here, and I cannot stress this enough, is to rinse with cool water. Not warm, not hot, cool. Because if you rinse eggs with hot water you will be spending the next forty-five minutes picking cooked egg out of your hair and I say this from personal experience, unfortunately. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes, rinse thoroughly with cool water, then shampoo gently. Once a week for damaged or over-processed hair, once or twice a month for hair that’s generally healthy. Protein treatments at the salon cost anywhere from $30 to $80, so this is a meaningful saving.

4. Aloe Vera and Argan Oil Smoothing Conditioner

Aloe vera is one of those ingredients that I think works better in hair care than most people give it credit for, partly because we’ve all seen it as a sunburn remedy for so long that it’s hard to reimagine it. But the thing about aloe is that it has a pH that’s very close to hair’s natural pH, which means it helps the cuticle lie flat rather than stand up and scatter light in that dull, frizzy way. Combine that with argan oil, which is legitimately one of the better oils for adding shine and smoothness, and you’ve got a conditioner that works particularly well on frizz-prone or color-treated hair.

The recipe: half a cup of pure aloe vera gel, two tablespoons of pure argan oil, and one tablespoon of a light carrier oil like jojoba or grapeseed. Mix it well, because the oil and gel will want to separate, and apply it to clean, damp hair after shampooing. Work it through from mid-length to ends, leave it on for five to ten minutes, and rinse with cool water. It’s light enough to use every wash if your hair needs it.

What I love about this one specifically is how it performs over the course of a week. The first day your hair looks great, which you’d expect, but by day three or four there’s still a smoothness and manageability that you just don’t get with products that rely on silicone for that initial sleek feeling. Silicone gives you a great first day and then builds up over time and starts to dull the hair, which is why so many women find themselves doing a clarifying wash constantly and feeling like they’re chasing their tail. This formula doesn’t do that.

3. Banana and Sweet Almond Oil Moisture Bomb

Banana is deeply underrated as a hair ingredient, and I think it’s because people have had bad experiences with it when they didn’t blend it well enough and ended up with little banana bits stuck in their hair for days. Trust me on this: use a very ripe banana and blend it until it is completely, completely liquid. No chunks. A blender works better than a food processor for this, and you can add a splash of water to help it move. Once it’s silky smooth, combine it with two tablespoons of sweet almond oil and a tablespoon of plain full-fat yogurt.

Banana is rich in potassium, which strengthens the hair shaft and helps with elasticity, meaning hair that snaps less when you brush it. Sweet almond oil is one of my personal favorites for fine to medium hair because it’s light enough that it doesn’t weigh anything down but it genuinely conditions, unlike some of the lighter oils that feel like they’re doing something but evaporate before they really absorb. Sweet almond oil is also inexpensive and easy to find, which always matters when we’re talking about a sustainable routine.

Apply this to damp hair, cover with a shower cap, and sit under a hooded dryer or wrap a warm towel around your head for 30 minutes. The yogurt adds a little lactic acid which gently smooths the cuticle and also contributes to the shine, and the overall effect on dry or brittle hair is genuinely impressive. I started recommending this to clients who were experiencing dryness and breakage related to hormonal changes, because that’s a real and common issue for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, and the response has been consistently positive. It’s rich without being heavy once it’s rinsed out properly.

2. Shea Butter and Castor Oil Overnight Treatment

This is the one I’d call the serious treatment, the one you bring out when your hair is really struggling. If you’re dealing with significant dryness, brittleness from heat damage, or hair that’s just been through a lot, this is where I’d point you first. Raw shea butter is extraordinary for moisture retention, and it’s thick enough to act as a real sealant that keeps hydration from evaporating overnight. Pair it with castor oil, which has a reputation for thickness and growth support that is largely deserved, and you’ve got something that means business.

Melt two tablespoons of raw unrefined shea butter gently, either in a double boiler or in short microwave bursts, and mix it with two tablespoons of Jamaican black castor oil and a tablespoon of a lighter oil to thin it out a bit, like sweet almond or grapeseed. Let it cool until it’s soft but spreadable, not liquid. Apply it to dry hair section by section, really working it through, then braid or twist your hair loosely, cover with a satin sleep cap, and go to bed. In the morning, shampoo it out well, possibly twice.

I do want to be real about one thing: this is not a quick-rinse situation, and it’s not a recipe for people who don’t like spending time on their hair. But women who use it consistently, once a week or even once every two weeks, report that their hair feels and behaves differently within about a month. More length retention, less breakage, a softness that doesn’t wash out after one day. If you’ve been spending money on high-end natural hair products, deep conditioning treatments, or salon moisturizing services, this is the DIY equivalent that I genuinely think competes with most of them.

1. Yogurt, Honey, and Olive Oil All-Purpose Rinse-Out Conditioner

After all the specialty treatments and targeted masks on this list, the one I come back to the most, and the one I recommend most often to people who are just starting to explore making their own hair care, is the simplest. Plain full-fat Greek yogurt, raw honey, and extra virgin olive oil. Three ingredients. That’s it. And the reason it works so well across so many different hair types is that each element is doing something distinct and well-understood, and they happen to work beautifully together without competing.

The yogurt provides protein and lactic acid, which strengthens and smooths at the same time. Honey is a humectant and also has gentle antibacterial properties that are nice for scalp health. Olive oil adds the fat and the weight that makes hair feel conditioned rather than just cleaned, and it has a particular affinity for keratin, the protein hair is made of, which is why it absorbs so much better than some other oils. Combine half a cup of full-fat Greek yogurt with two tablespoons of raw honey and one tablespoon of good olive oil, mix until smooth, and use it exactly as you’d use any rinse-out conditioner after shampooing.

Leave it on for five to fifteen minutes depending on how much time you have, then rinse with cool water. You can use this every single time you wash your hair without buildup, without heaviness, without any of the effects that make you feel like you need a clarifying treatment every week. What I love about starting someone here is that it’s low risk. If you’ve never made a hair product before, this is forgiving, it uses things you probably already have, and the results are immediate enough to make you want to keep going. The woman with the silver hair I mentioned at the beginning, this is essentially what she was using, just her grandmother’s version of it passed down through the years, and her hair was the proof that sometimes the simplest things are the ones that last.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

Most of these treatments don’t keep well at room temperature, so make them in small batches and store in the fridge for up to a week, except the shea butter treatment which keeps a little longer because of its lower water content. If you have a latex allergy, check your ingredients carefully since avocado can occasionally trigger related sensitivities. And if you’re using any of these on color-treated hair, the lactic acid ingredients like yogurt can very gently lift color over time with repeated use, so just be aware of that, especially on freshly done reds or fashion colors.

One more thing: don’t feel like you need to try all of these at once. Pick one that matches what your hair is doing right now, use it consistently for a month, and see what changes. That’s how you actually figure out what your hair responds to, rather than rotating through twenty products and never knowing what’s making the difference. Your hair will tell you pretty clearly what it likes, if you give it a chance to speak.

The Bottom Line

Donna, the short answer to your question is yes, it is absolutely worth it, and no, it doesn’t have to be complicated. The longer answer is that once you start paying attention to what’s actually in your conditioner and what your hair genuinely responds to, it’s hard to go back to buying something in a pretty bottle just because the marketing is persuasive. These recipes aren’t a replacement for every product out there, but they’re a foundation, a way of giving your hair real nourishment so that whatever you do reach for after this is working with healthier hair to begin with. And healthier hair, I’ll tell you from years of standing behind a chair watching it, always looks better, fuller, shinier, and stronger, no matter the style. That’s the truth of it.

This post Homemade Hair Conditioner for Soft & Shiny Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

What surprises me most in today’s world of long hair color is not the colors themselves but rather the detail in the requests. A few years back, a customer would sit in the chair and say, “I want balayage,” and that was the definition of vague. Now, I would say most women walk in with six saved pictures and give me the entire rundown of the color placement, desired undertone, and even specify how much of their natural roots they want to keep. It has been a big difference with the detail and specificity of the requests. No more guesses from the stylist!

I have also observed that the full platinum commitments are starting to slow, and the women going blonde are doing it in a way that allows their natural base to do some of the work. On the other end of the spectrum, the brunettes and reds are becoming richer and more intentional instead of just going to warm balayage. I had a client who came in last week and had a photo of a chocolate brown she had been saving for over a year. She was waiting until she felt ready to go that dark, and it was honestly one of the best color appointments I have had in months because she knew exactly what she wanted. Whether you are going warmer, cooler, or somewhere in the middle, these are the long hair colors that people are sitting down and asking for.

Caramel Bronde Balayage with Loose Waves on Thick Lengths

Instagram: courtneyclarehair

The colorist focused the brightness of the color from the middle to the ends of the hair while keeping the roots a bit darker. This is called hand-painted balayage, and it helps create a nice seamless ombre look at the very ends. This can be done on thick, medium, and coarse hair. However, in fine hair, this look will be streaky as the painted sections are closer together. Color grow out will look clean for a long time because the color is painted on a narrow range, and the warm caramel and honey colors are only one single color zone. On thin hair it will look flat, and will lack dimension. The shape of your face here doesn’t matter that much because you see it from the back. The long layers are very minimal and the waves look quite separated due to the internal movement. It’s easy to see how even the wave pattern is, and that suggests it was done with one barrel size for the whole lot in one go and the ends were left unbent. It will be really difficult to recreate this at home because it’s an intentional wave pattern.

Mushroom Brunette Balayage on Long Soft Layers

Instagram: _prettybychloe

The difficulty to achieve and maintain a balayage is very high. This appears to be a hand painted balayage from natural dark brunette roots, cooling and melting to a blonde base that looks almost purple at times. If you look closely, you can see lightened pieces that aren’t even; some strands go through a mid that stops the look from going to an ombre. Thick coarse hair like this carries the gradient well because there’s enough volume for the transition to feel smooth. Thin hair, as opposed to this, does not carry the transition well. The long layers have very few pieces, just enough so that the waves can separate without it being too much weight at the bottom to let the weight be lost at the bottom. Water at your house needs to be hard and purple shampoo won’t save it. You’ll need to refresh your toner before 6 to 8 weeks or you’ll lose the nice tones.

Champagne Beige Blonde with Old Hollywood Body

Instagram: simsensitive

There is much activity going on with the roots. Above, we have some cool lilac tones and some warm beige that makes up the midshaft. This color contrast helps to keep the crown from appearing flat or one-dimensional. The result here is a single process toner on pre-lightened hair and not a balayage which means the color is uniform and glossy in a way that requires dense and healthy hair. If your hair is thin or fine, you will struggle to maintain this level of gloss without it appearing wispy. The length is past the shoulders and with no layers, so all that movement comes from styling and will fall flat before hour four. Unless you have thick hair of medium to coarse texture. If your hair is like that and you are looking for a blonde that feels muted rather than bright, then this is genuinely worth the upkeep.

Honey Blonde Melt with Soft Curled Lengths

Instagram: prettylashhed

Your root area is working overtime. At your crown there is a nice dark blonde that fades into a warm honey colour. That’s a paint and not a foil because it looks like a hack dye job that blended super slowly over several inches. The hair is thick and long past mid-back and is only slightly layered so the ends alone do all the moving. If that colouring was done on finer hair it would look extremely flat, but here there is enough to reflect the light beautifully. If your natural base colour is darker than a 6, expect multiple appointments to achieve this honey shade and be prepared for maintenance. This colour goes brassy very quickly and without a good toner routine to keep it in check, you will be fighting your hair. For those with naturally thick warm hair who sit anywhere from dark blonde to light brunette, this is a super naturally lifted look.

Buttery Blonde Melt on Thick Wavy Lengths

Instagram: amaraahair

This color transition is very tricky to master. The roots are at a level 6 natural ash brown, and blend to a level 9 blonde with no line of demarcation, meaning this was done freehand and took hours. For this look to work, you need a lot of hair so the tips aren’t too blonde and causing that ‘see-through’ effect. The last inch of hair is a little drier than the rest, and that’s the reality of coloring hair that many levels. If you have fine hair, the fade effect will look very stripy. The ideal client is someone with a natural hair color of medium brown, as the grow out looks clean for a long time. If your natural hair color is very dark, starting from light bases to dark ends means you will get grow out that creates harsh lines which no toner will fix as the hair grows out.

Cool Ash Bronde with Fine Foil Highlights on Loose Layers

Instagram: thecolorist_hairsalon

Some ashy or gray tones will show up in some lighting, and the way it is all evened out looks, toned and intentional as you said, instead of just lifted and left. That cooler shift is how the highlights steer clear of looking like just any ordinary balayage. The highlights done here are traditional foils done close to the roots in some areas and further down in others to create that blend of brightness and depth underneath the hair. The hair in question has a medium density with long layers that create movement more towards the middle of the hair and not so much at the ends. Placed this way on fine hair creates a sparse and stripy look, so it is important to have enough hair to fill the spaces between the lighter pieces. If your natural base is darker than a level 5, keeping this tone will be expensive as it will require regular toner appointments due to the warmth that will inevitably show through after six weeks.

Bronde Balayage with Tapered Density Through the Lengths

Instagram: jessie_thecollective

The tips being much thinner than the mid shaft is a great advantage. It prevents the length from feeling heavy or shapeless, allowing the waves to separate instead of clumping together. This is hand-painted balayage done within a very narrow tonal range, probably only two levels of lift at the most. Everything is kept warm in the brown to caramel family. If your natural base is around a level 5 or 6, this really is low commitment, especially with medium to thick hair. On fine hair, those ends will just look sparse. From this angle, not considering face shape, the lack of layering around the front implies that those with a round or square face will not receive any framing benefit unless you instruct your stylist to add some pieces on top.

Jet Brunette with Whisper-Thin Caramel Ribbons on Heavy Waves

Instagram: jemimabethhair

Light pieces within this look can come from through a range of lighting conditions and this is made possible through a fantastic painted balayage technique! The colorist has used a caramel tone and kept in concentrated at the bottom and very few threads above so the crown looks almost black. The effect works especially well on this thick, dense hair that has enough body to hold those loose waves. The look has to be balanced, if your hair is fine or of low density, the scattered pieces will look accidental rather than intentional. The one-length cut with no visible layering keeps the weight nicely at the bottom and the sorts of flat, sleek root areas tell me the top was smoothed with a flat iron before the mids were curled. This looks like a real commitment every time you style and if you want a wash and go colour then this is certainly not it.

Dark Plum Brunette with Wine-Red Depth on Long Waves

Instagram: hairbykatierose

Unless the light hits it a certain way, it’s just dark brown and that can be hit or miss. This almost black base has a subtly reddish violet tone that leans more demi-permanent than heavy lift. See the ends? They’re that beautiful burgundy color, but the roots are nearly black. For this to look it’s best, you need a good amount of hair to really display it. If your hair is finer it’s going to look dark, and that’s about it. For certain, the beautiful highlights aren’t going to show. The really long soft layers are subtle, and added to help create that nice soft wave instead of losing weight at the bottom. If you don’t use color safe products, it’s going to fade quickly and look muddy. On cool and neutral skin tones, it will be beautiful and works on almost all face shapes. The length, and no face framing layers keep it simple.

Near-Black Brunette with Barely-There Chestnut Glow

Instagram: adelencolorist

This color is only reflective under certain light and about how much color is put into it, you will probably be disappointed. Under certain conditions, this color may appear as a solid dark brown. The colorist did a fine hand-painted balayage, meaning she painted warm chestnut tones into the color and then blended it to concentrate at the bottom where the wave pattern lightens. A lot of the work is distracted by dense heavy hair because the weight of the hair is what holds the waves. With finer hair, the same cut and color as this hair would not show as much as what is shown. The ends of the hair are blunt, heavy and layered at the perimeter. Personally, I think that indicates the hair is very full, which I prefer for this kind of body in the hair. If you are dark naturally, and want something that isn’t much of a color change, this is perfect for you.

Cool Ash Brunette with Scattered Light Pieces on Wavy Lengths

Instagram: theknotstudio_

The placement of the pieces is interesting. The fine pieces are not clustered around the face and do not stack like most balayages but are instead woven into the mid-lengths in a more random placement. Placement looks as if the hair lightened naturally over a hot summer. It takes a lot of restraint not to over do it. The base color is a deep cool brunette and ashy foils which means this will not suit anyone very fair or with pink undertones. On olive and mid tones it is brilliant. This is thick, dense hair, and long layers are cut to hold weight at the bottom and the wave shape holds really well because there is bulk to support it. This won’t be the case with fine hair. You’ll end up with flat ribbons where these full waves are and the color will be stripy instead of woven.

Warm Chestnut Gloss with Full-Body Curled Lengths

Instagram: metime_salonbylea

There’s no filter on this pic, given that the color gloss or glaze over a warm brunette base reflects light from root to tip, and shows no signs of matte patches. The amount of density also plays a huge role in size of the curls. If your hair is of medium or fine density, no product will help achieve this and the result will fall flat within an hour. The cut here is one length or close to it with a few minimal layers, so all that weight keeps from the bottom and so the curls can all stack on amazing. For coarse, thick or high density hair, this is genuinely stunning and color like this is the type that looks expensive without being complicated. It is also important to mention the warm copper undertones in the midshaft that can look natural in warm lighting but can pull orange under cool fluorescents if the toner formula isn’t precise.

Deep Mahogany Brunette with Feathered Layering

Instagram: hairstylesbymaura

The layers only start to move from the middle of the back and down. This is on purpose to keep the top half of this section heavy and sleek. The bottom third fans out in soft, feathered pieces. This works with thick, dense hair only. If the hair is fine, the ends would look really stringy because the hair would look as though it was cut to the same length all around. The color looks to be a cool-leaning mahogany, somewhere between dark cherry cola and natural brunette, maybe a semi-permanent gloss over virgin or lightly colored hair. With thin or sparse strands, this depth from a single-process will fall flat and be muddy. It needs a denser head of hair to bounce the light. The point cut ends help the look to not be blunt or boxy, and that is the little detail that makes the entire thing feel modern instead of old-fashioned.

Warm Golden Blonde with Layered Ends

Instagram: long hair color ideas

The honey color of the roots shows how the lighter pieces are on the ends and outer layers. This is a partial balayage which means there is less foil work and the grow out is more forgiving. The long layers are cut with a slight bevel which creates the flipped out movement at the ends without a curling iron. This look works best for medium to thick straight or slightly wavy hair. If your hair is fine it won’t hold that layered shape at the bottom and will look straggly. If you have warm skin undertones this golden tone will be naturally blended. However on cool toned skin it can pull orangey.

Espresso Brunette with Subtle Cocoa Lift on Dense Waves

Instagram: hairbykacie1

You might not believe me, but you will not be achieving salon-quality waves at home. The images of the waves were done at a salon on thick and healthy hair. The stylist used a specific method with a 1.25-inch curling iron to create the wave, then she brushed the curls out in a way to create one singular wave pattern. This color is special because it is close to a natural color, at a level 2 or 3, but it has warmth throughout the midshaft which adds dimension so it doesn’t look flat. The lights also catch only the outer layer of color, giving the hair a glossy, sheer cocoa color. This look works well on people with medium to thick hair that is collarbone length or longer so the waves can show. If you have fine hair, you will not get the same volume or reflective quality. Below collarbone length, the shape of the face becomes irrelevant, because it all does the framing. If you are a dark brunette and want to make your hair darker, a directional gloss in that tone will add something without anyone being able to put their finger on what it is.

Dark Chocolate Base with Red-Copper Peek-a-Boo Pieces

Instagram: amayasalon_hairbeauty

The red tones in this haircut are not placed like a standard highlight, where color is just layered on top. Here, they are woven underneath so that they ‘flash’ when the curl bends, and disappear when it doesn’t. I would say this is a targeted BALAYAGE painted on the interior sections. It is of medium density, collarbone length, and has been textured with either a razor or point cut to give that choppy wave the shape like it hasn’t been styled too much. This looks best on naturally dark brunette hair because the copper-red tones blend seamlessly with the dark base. If your hair is lighter than a level 4, the color won’t have enough contrast against your base. Also, red-copper tones can fade quickly. This is the reality with this color, and no gloss or color-depositing shampoo will fully solve the fading. You will be back in six weeks or watch your hair turn muddy, it’s something to keep in mind before you go ahead with this look.

Warm Toffee Blonde with Bounced-Out Ends

Instagram: mileistic_hairx

The copper strawberry blonde shade you’re interested likely will take several appointments. Each salon is likely to achieve this in a similar amount of time, since it is such a specific hue. Due to this look’s single-process or gloss-layered appearance, it does not have a balayage look that involves a lot of lightness from the roots to the ends, and so it is very uniform from the roots all the way to the ends. This type of uniform appearance is especially stunning on thick hair, as there is ample volume to show off the warmth without looking bland. In contrast, a similar appearance on thin hair will likely look quite dull. The long layers here are quite subtly done as I don’t see a whole lot of light layering, and the face-framing pieces are not particularly severe either. So when it’s curled like this you can see the shape, but when it’s straight it’ll just sit there.  It is important to note that the toffee gold shade will fade very quickly. Several weeks after this appointment, it will become a much warmer, much more orange color unless you use color-depositing products in between appointments.

Strawberry Copper with Golden Foils on Long Textured Layers

Instagram: gina_styles4u

This color could fade quickly. Copper tones require maintenance, as they are the most high-maintenance in the warm color family, and the golden-blonde highlights interwoven through the mids and ends shift in a matter of weeks without color-protecting care. Moving on. What works here is the great quantity and even better quality of the colorist who had foils placed just so in the spot where the light hits to make it look wavy, and great deeper-strawberry copper tone can breastfeed everything to the root and inside from the strawberry blast of color at the base to the ends of the hair. That’s purposeful. The longer layers with a softer internal texture hold the weight from pulling the waves down, and there is good volume here at your mid-back length so the ends don’t look sparse. If your hair is fine or thin you won’t see this result. What you want to compliment the warm base and lighter pieces is warm based dimension plus the bright pieces. Particularly warm skin tones with peach or gold under tones will feel just right here.

Cinnamon Brunette with Copper Ribbons Through the Ends

Instagram: alli.theartist

The copper tips are the most eye-catching part of the style, but the roots are nice enough to provide contrast with the deep roots. This is a hand-painted balayage technique, on very thick dense hair, and the waves are styled not natural which is important because on straight or finer hair those copper pieces will sit much more flat and lose a lot of their dimension. There needs to be volume for this to land well. The base color is a rich chocolatey brown with copper and amber tones feathered through the mid-lengths and concentrated at the ends. This combination not only gives the color a stunning gradient, but it also creates movement that shifts depending on how the light hits it. On finer hair, this will not look like this photo. It will look muddy. This warmth will pull orange within a few washes if you are not using color-depositing products. This is perfect for anyone with medium to thick hair who wants a brunette that also feels nice without going full red.

Rich Auburn with Loose Barrel Waves

Instagram: hairwithbrook

This red color will fade. When a color is this bright, it is almost guaranteed to be a gloss or demi-permanent mixed in with a base lift. Reds always wash out the fastest. What is most impressive is that the tone is so even yet looks so natural. Most all over reds go patchy and hot at the ends. The hair here is thick, long, dense hair past the mid back with long layers cut to keep the weight at the bottom. If your hair is finer than this, then this exact look won’t translate. The density is doing half the work.

Lived-In Sandy Blonde with Seamless Root Melt

Instagram: beautifuladdictionsalon

You can tell there are no extreme contrasts between where the roots stop and where the blonde starts. It takes true artistry to achieve that with foils, and it is the primary reason this colour looks expensive instead of grown out. It appears to be a medium to thick hair density and is styled into some loose waves that display the tonal contrasts between cooler sand and warmer wheat tones underneath. For light natural brunettes, this colour works best as the root shadow is already near their natural base colour. If your natural hair is very dark, it will take multiple sessions and constant upkeep to get there due to the tendency for the toner to go brassy. The one length cut has no layers, which gives that heavy, full curtain effect, but it will look different in fine hair as it will fall flat.

Chestnut Brunette with Sun-Kissed Dimension

Instagram: styledbymadisond

The lighter pieces are placed at the bend of each wave on purpose. The colorist finished with very fine balayage strokes on the top and left the bottom dark to conceal the interior of the hair when it is straight. The medium to thick density is doing the most work here, providing the loose waves enough body to hold without looking like it took much. The same technique on fine hair tends to fall flat. The overall shade lies within a warm chestnut range, without ashes or cool tones. This will wash out anyone with a very pink or ruddy complexion. With this length, the face shape is a non-issue. The cut is straightforward, with long layers starting around the collarbone and minimal interior texturing, which is what keeps the ends looking full rather than wispy.

Copper Caramel on Glass-Straight Long Hair

Instagram: lupitaalanizprofesional

Unfiltered, this is some medium density hair with glosses over a warm copper base with the cuticle lying flat. The color is in the range of caramel and light copper. This is a single process color so there are no highlights or dimension so it will start to fade in just a few weeks if you aren’t using color preserving products. One length cuts like this show every flaw, like thin ends, breakage, uneven density, etc there is no hiding it. If your hair is thick and healthy enough to hold a blunt hemline at waist length without looking wispy, it is going to be stunning. If not, it will look neglected pretty quickly. The back is cut straight across with no layers, which means the weight will be slick and straight. This only works for hair that is naturally straight or has been chemically straightened.

Pearl Blonde Waves with Warm Root Shadow

Instagram: hairart_by_ewelina

The warm root is what helps this to have some depth. Otherwise, the platinum would make this flat and one-dimensional. The root adds just enough dimension at the crown so that you can see the waves clearly instead of looking like one big block of hair. This is a full foil with a toner that was pulled cooler through the mid and ends so they’re a mix of pearl and ice. Fine hair will not be able to achieve this look. It needs the right amount of volume and wave definition, which comes from the proper hair density. If your hair is finer or damaged and you want this blonde, you will end up with unmanageable breakage that you won’t be able to style around. The ideal hair type is thick, medium to coarse. It is also worth noting the ends are straight and healthy with little layering. This is what allows the waves to maintain that rounded look all the way to the ends.

Icy Platinum Blowout with Bouncy Curled Layers

Instagram: paigedaniellehair

A lot is going on in the root area. The light shadow at the scalp with a half inch of natural tone left in is what prevents this platinum from looking like a wig on a mannequin. Under salon lighting, this color almost looks white with a full head of foils lifted to a level 10 and toned cool. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to spend four plus hours in a chair or doesn’t want to come back every five weeks, this is not the color for you. The layers start around the chin and get their shape from a round brush blowout, curled under and set, which means this look is gone the moment humidity or a pillow gets involved. For these curls to hold this much volume, you need medium to thick density hair. Fine hair will fall flat within the hour. What I appreciate is the uniform tone mid-shaft to ends, no banding, no warmth bleeding through which shows good condition prior to the lift, or an extremely precise stylist with no over-applying.

This post From Soft Brunettes to Bright Blondes, These Long Hair Color Ideas Feel So Current, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

When clients ask about whether they should add highlights or try a new color scheme, I usually show them a picture of brunette hair with warm espresso color tones. It’s incredible how a single process dark brunette color balances on the brown with dark, warm coffee undertone, and catches the light amazingly. My clients stopped asking about getting highlights after they never asked about going dark again. Espresso brunette color has that perfect balance and looks dark brown / dark coffee, but not black. It has enough warmth that it will not look dull in harsh office lighting as dark brunette (color) hair usually looks like. That warmth is where dark hair gets flat in color. Needless to say, the warmth is key for real dark hair movement.

The trend I find most interesting is bringing back something very low maintenance but using it as a destination color as opposed to a default. Women who have been blonde with some level of undertone or other colors for years are doing corrective colors to get this dark brown nearly black color. It’s full of gorgeous red tones and then a layer of brown is added to the top to keep the green tones out and ensure the color doesn’t get muddy. The processing that is done when brown is added layer by layer is much better than when someone just asks for a gloss, as there is much more depth and dimension to the color. Bottom line, the ombré process is worth it because of the long-lasting results when done correctly.

Before and After Espresso Transformation

From bronde to espresso brunette. What happens when we don’t care for colored hair? Brassiness is present in the mid-lengths, and the ends are dry and brittle. We can see the colorist’s job. To start, these tones had warmth. To diffuse the color more, cool espresso was applied. This color job can take a lot of time, which may even justify two appointments, because on the residual lightener, some of the color may need to be fully lifted.

Natural-Finish Espresso with Soft Layers

Instagram: kj.hairco

An Espresso Brunette long soft layer hair color with natural finish adds dimension to hair. A lot of the population gravitates to this color, but brown hair formulators have a hard time getting this hair color right. Balancing and supporting layers in this hair cut take the focus off the hair length by avoiding gravity from weighing the shoulders by too much hair. This is a great hair cut for people with medium density hair with little layering because it removes hair bulk.

Blunt Mid-Length Espresso

Instagram: designgallerysalon

Mid-length straight espresso brown brunette with even no-layer cut. This cut helps balance both color and weight in the cut. For straight and fine to medium hair, this style is a great solution to avoid losing volume from layers. The addition of a straight, blunt line at the bottom can make hair appear denser.

Shoulder-Length Espresso Bob with Flipped Ends

Instagram: harportenvarberg

A medium brown shoulder-length bob with flipped out ends. The color of this cut adds distinction to short styles that long styles cannot achieve. Equally as warm as the color, the golden tips show off those undertones at the ends. This works best for medium thick hair with some bend and only requires light styling product. This is probably the easiest style of this list because it uses less hair overall.

Espresso Brunette with Micro-Highlights

Instagram: styled.by_chlo

“A Long Espresso Brunette With Barely-There Micro-Highlights Through the Waves”

This is an interesting shade. An espresso brown base is applied with highlights that are just above the base level in tone. This means the highlights will only show with side light or if the light is behind the hair. This is a lovely shade. If you are looking for espresso brunette, but feel this is too heavy, this hue has lots of movement.

Warm Espresso Fade on Layered Ends

Instagram: hair.byy.ryleigh

If you’re looking for some espresso brown with a little extra, check out this shade. This espresso brown fade has warmer hues that show up after 2-3 weeks. Tones tend to even themselves over time as they wash out. Some people prefer the washed out version of this shade, if that sounds like you, tell your colorist, they will have to use less or no toner at the ends.

Collarbone-Length Espresso on Straight Hair

Instagram: csalaemoke.mesterfodrasz

Straight espresso brown with brown ends that first tuck in towards your collarbone before curving out. This length preserves color the best. It is an excellent length for fine as well as medium thickness hair. As the length of hair tends to get longer, color is more easily lost. Low maintenance length. Expect to touch up the gloss approximately every 6 to 8 weeks.

Extra-Long Espresso with Bouncy Ends

Instagram: pasztorcinti.hair

This long dark brunette espresso ends with cute curls. It may take grow time. Keeping this dark will mean dealing with overlapping dark ends that will inevitably get patchy. Dark colors are stubborn and will resist color changes. So even if you don’t think you will want color changes, ask your stylist for the color formula for the reference so that you can change it in the future.

Deep Espresso Vintage Waves

Instagram: madisonemilee_hair

Brushed-out vintage S-waves. It’s most likely achieved here with a 1.25 inch curling iron. Go ahead and brush that curl out. Different sections of the hair will reflect light differently when comparing curled hair vs. loose hair. This style is perfect for women with medium to thick hair that is a tad weighty, because it will help to keep the curls from losing their shape.

Espresso Brunette with Curtain Blowout

Instagram: hair_inspirationn

An espresso brown with bottom layers that flip out gives this a unique look. An easy way to get this style starts with a flat out and round brush with one side pulled away from the head. Blowout bar stylists love showing their clients how versatile espresso is. The color shown here is neutral-warm 3.

Medium-Length Espresso with Lived-In Layers

Instagram: beauty_by_kenzzz

This is a longer, loose, medium length, brunette wave. The layers are chin length to framing long layers, so touch ups won’t be necessary and this is ideal for a no hassle color. Also, this length is useful for people who are just starting to lose hair around the shoulder area.

Warm Chestnut-Toned Espresso

Instagram: harcompaniet_

This espresso brown has natural wave and is chestnut brown with warmth. Compared to traditional espresso, it is slightly warmer and is best viewed in warm lighting. The wave pattern allows for depth in what can be considered a solid color. To replicate the warmth of this color, going a level 4 gold brown with a level 3 neutral is suggested.

Polished Straight Espresso

Instagram: taylorhartmann_hair

This straightened, long espresso brunette made with beveled ends will help you style your hair with ease. Straightening beveled ends hair prevents layers and creates a finished style. This color is perfect for straight hair. As this color is completely uniform, it requires a lot of precision. One small error is visible, and so this color requires a lot of precision when doing your straight brunette. It can help to protect your hair from damage with heat and can be used as an at-home styling treatment.

Warm Espresso with Caramel Ends

Instagram: kolour_by_katie

Brunette brown color with caramel tips. This style incorporates brown color with a fun touch of caramel. Lighter tips allow colorists to better space touch up appointments. Color depositing conditioner is a great product for clients that are in between darker brown balayage appointments. The color depositing conditioner keeps the dimensions in the mid-shaft of the hair color looking fresh.

Solid Espresso on Thick Loose Waves

Instagram: hairbynganvo

Dark brown color with a bit of natural waves. There is a lack of dimension work, but I appreciate brown color that is done in one formula and done root to tip. Because of the thickness of the hair, this may be an excellent clean style that holds well. This is a great low maintenance color because after the initial color application, all you need is some sulfate free shampoo and a wash about every third day to avoid the color from fading to have a slightly warm brown hue.

Dark Espresso on Long Textured Layers

Instagram: wendyho_artistry

A textured layer in dark espresso. This breaks up a dark mass of hair on the shoulders. This layer works well with thick hair that needs less weight but keeps length. The espresso color has warmth in the thinner ends.

Inky Espresso with Subtle Dimension

Instagram: hairbypkilla

Long inky espresso brown with warm, subtle dimension through the ends. This formula colors hair to appear solid with dimension that only seems to show when the hair is in motion. Think of this formula as layering warm glaze over permanent dark bases. This formula is great for those who don’t have time to stay on top of their roots with little to no grow out contrast.

Shoulder-Length Espresso with Warm Ribbons

Instagram: amyhuynhz_hair

Brunette with ribbon-like highlights shows off a great length for an espresso. Colors look best with medium length hair because they lose dimension and focus. To avoid stretching and losing fullness, I recommend stopping the length at about collarbone-length. I tend to suggest this length the most because I prefer concentrated color throughout the mid-lengths of hair.

True Dark Espresso Blowout

Instagram: visiblechangessalons

Being very dark almost black, warm espresso brown hair adds dimension with carefully placed highlights. From the roots to the layers, this haircut is framed with a lot bend and volume. Showcased best with a blowout, the color has a nice shine if the hair is straight. Without bend, the ends would look like solid black.

Espresso on Nearly-Black Base

Instagram: hair.by.brittanyleigh

This espresso brunette is a dark shade that moves into black with lightened tips. There is almost no warmth, but about the lower third of the strands does present a true black, when exposed to light. This is a great shade for stylists to introduce a dark, rich color to hair with natural levels 1 or 2. This can be achieved by adding warmth to the hair by placing a demi-permanent in a warm 3 or 4 on the natural hair base.

Midnight Espresso with Scattered Highlights

Instagram: hairbyvalerien

Dark espresso brown with face-framing, but never fear, thin highlights. The face-framing highlights night be half a shade to a full shade lighter than the base of the hair. This helps them to not read the same as foils. This color is perfect for those not ready to commit to burning it down to full brown goodness. You should have 12-16 weeks before you’ll need a root touch up.

Straight Glass Espresso

Instagram: librahairstudio31

A blunt straight espresso brownette with high shine. Highlighting straight virgin hair that is free from a root overlap takes a little more work and is more readily available in colored hair. Using a light shine serum and flat iron to style this will complete the look. This technique works well on thinner to medium hair that is naturally straight.

Violet-Cast Espresso

Instagram: pravanahairbyyvonne

Shade of espresso brown leaning toward dark violet. This color definitely has a cool tone, possibly the reason behind the esthetician choosing it. Due to the fast nature of fading on colors that are cool and espresso based, there is a strong possibility this color will lose its purple under tones quickly. A beautiful color for individuals who are okay with washing their hair a minimum of twice weekly. Sulfate free shampoos do not help maintain this color.

Cool-Leaning Espresso Gloss

Instagram: hairby.gabriellacatharine

Mid-length, cool-toned espresso brunette with loose body waves is a natural choice for a neutral-cool espresso. This color would be the right choice if you are concerned about red fading. Regular maintenance of the tone will require a clear gloss or a brown-tinted gloss applied every couple weeks. It all depends on the hair type. For texture, fine versus thick hair will show differently. So, pictures of hair with texture are appreciated.

Uniform Espresso on Thick Waves

Instagram: stefanie.napoleone.hair

A deep, uniform espresso brown is flattering on textured, wavy hair. This particular shade works best with a combination of technique and added dimension rather than a post-coloring process. The natural waves shade and highlight themselves. Ask your stylist for a warm, brown shade to process on the one-inch section as much as possible. Keep the formula light on the copper and neutral on the warm, brown side.

This post Espresso Brunette Hair Is Making Darker Shades Feel Exciting Again, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Diane Kowalczyk, Muncie, Indiana: “I’ve been noticing more and more grey hairs coming in over the last couple of years, and I really don’t want to go the box dye route again, my scalp was so itchy last time. Someone at my book club mentioned using natural remedies to either slow down the greying or help the grey hair look better. Is any of that actually real, or is it just Pinterest nonsense? Would love to know what actually works.”

Grey hair has been getting a makeover in the cultural conversation lately, and honestly, it’s about time. For decades the beauty industry sold us one story: cover it, fight it, pretend it isn’t happening. And a lot of women, myself included at certain points, bought into that story hook, line, and sinker. But the truth is more interesting than that, and so are the remedies people have been quietly using long before there was a box dye in every drugstore aisle.

I’ve been in the hair game long enough, and I’ve sat across from hundreds of women who are somewhere in the middle of figuring out their relationship with grey. Some want to embrace it fully. Some want to slow the process. Some just want their grey to look less wiry and dull. And a surprising number of them have come in asking about natural approaches because, like Diane, they’ve had bad reactions to chemical dyes or they just want to feel like they’re working with their body instead of against it. This article is my honest take on what actually does something and what’s mostly wishful thinking, in countdown order, saving my favorite for last.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue creating free content like this.

10. Saw Palmetto Supplements for Hormonal Hair Changes

This one surprises people when I bring it up, because most folks associate saw palmetto with men’s health products, but hear me out. A significant portion of premature greying and hair thinning in women over forty is tied to hormonal shifts, particularly around perimenopause and menopause, when estrogen levels start doing their thing and the hair follicles feel every bit of it. Saw palmetto is a plant-derived supplement that’s been studied for its ability to help regulate certain hormonal pathways, and while the research is still building, a number of integrative medicine practitioners recommend it for women experiencing hair changes alongside other hormonal symptoms.

I had a client, probably five or six years ago now, who came in frustrated because her hair had gone from slowly silvering to rapidly losing its pigment over about eight months. She was also dealing with night sweats and some other classic perimenopause stuff, and her naturopath had suggested saw palmetto as part of a broader support protocol. She started taking it and came back three months later saying her hair felt different, thicker at the root, and that new growth seemed to have slightly more pigment in the lighter areas. I’m not going to promise you it’ll reverse grey hair, because I genuinely don’t think anything reverses it fully once the follicle has changed. But if your greying feels fast and is happening alongside other hormonal shifts, it’s worth a conversation with your doctor.

You can find saw palmetto supplements at most health food stores or you can search for saw palmetto supplements on Amazon and find plenty of reputable options. Look for ones that are standardized extract rather than raw berry powder, because the potency is more consistent.

9. Bhringraj Oil Scalp Treatments

If you’ve ever spent any time in Ayurvedic wellness spaces, you’ve heard of bhringraj. If you haven’t, let me introduce you, because this herb has been used in traditional Indian medicine for scalp and hair health for literally centuries, and it has more modern evidence behind it than most natural hair remedies do. Bhringraj, which is sometimes called “false daisy,” is believed to nourish the hair follicle, support melanin production, and improve circulation to the scalp, all of which matter when you’re thinking about pigmentation and overall hair vitality.

The oil is typically infused with bhringraj leaf and applied directly to the scalp, left on for anywhere from thirty minutes to overnight, then washed out. It’s a commitment in terms of time, and the smell takes a little getting used to, it’s earthy and herbal and definitely not a salon scent. But the results people report are genuinely interesting: reduced hair fall, improved texture, and in some cases a slowing of the greying process in areas that were just beginning to transition. I’ve recommended it to clients who are in the early stages of going grey and want to be proactive, and a few of them have stuck with it as part of a weekly ritual that they genuinely look forward to.

One brand I’ve seen good results from is Kama Ayurveda’s Bringha Oil, which combines bhringraj with other Ayurvedic herbs in a base of sesame oil. Apply it warm if you can, just set the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes, and massage it into your scalp in slow circular motions. Your scalp will thank you regardless of what it does for the grey.

8. Black Sesame Seeds

This is one of those remedies that sounds almost too simple, and I think that’s actually why a lot of people dismiss it. Black sesame seeds have deep roots in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine as a food that supports kidney energy and, by extension, hair pigmentation and hair growth. The modern nutritional read on them is that they’re genuinely packed with things your hair follicles want: copper, zinc, selenium, and a good amount of B vitamins, all of which play roles in melanin synthesis and overall follicle health.

Copper in particular is interesting here. There’s solid research linking copper deficiency to premature depigmentation of hair, and black sesame seeds are one of the better whole-food sources of copper you can eat regularly without thinking too hard about it. I started adding a tablespoon of black sesame seeds to my morning yogurt probably two years ago, partly out of curiosity and partly because my own temples were getting very silvery very fast in my mid-forties. I’m not claiming they stopped the grey, but my hair has felt denser and my scalp has felt healthier, and I haven’t seen the rapid spreading I expected based on what I was seeing at the time.

You can get black sesame seeds at most Asian grocery stores, or find them easily on Amazon in bulk. You can also find black sesame paste, which is easier to stir into warm oatmeal or blend into a smoothie. Consistency is what matters here, a tablespoon here and there doesn’t do much, but daily over several months is where people report noticing a difference.

7. Amla (Indian Gooseberry) Oil and Powder

Amla is having a bit of a Western beauty moment right now, and for once I think the hype is actually deserved. Indian gooseberry has one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C of any food on the planet, and it also contains tannins and polyphenols that are thought to protect melanin-producing cells from oxidative stress, which is one of the big drivers of premature greying. Oxidative stress, in simple terms, is what happens when free radicals start damaging cells faster than your body can repair them, and the pigment cells in your hair follicles are surprisingly vulnerable to this process.

You can use amla two ways: as an oil applied topically to the scalp, or as a powder consumed internally, sometimes mixed into water with a little honey, sometimes added to smoothies, sometimes taken in capsule form. A lot of practitioners recommend both simultaneously for the best effect. As a topical, amla oil is thought to strengthen the follicle and slow the greying process when used consistently over time. I have clients who’ve been using it for years and genuinely swear it’s slowed things down, and while I can’t sit here and tell you there’s a clinical trial proving that, I can tell you anecdotally I’ve seen some interesting things.

One product worth looking at is Dabur Amla Hair Oil, which has been around for decades and is widely available. For the powder form, look for organic amla powder from a reputable Ayurvedic brand and start with half a teaspoon in warm water in the morning. It’s tart, I’m not going to lie, but you get used to it.

6. Onion Juice Scalp Treatment

Yes, I know. Onion juice. Before you click away, give me a second, because this one has actual peer-reviewed research behind it, which is more than I can say for some of the prettier-sounding remedies out there. A study published in the Journal of Dermatology found that applying onion juice to the scalp significantly improved hair regrowth in people experiencing alopecia areata, and the mechanism is related to its high sulfur content and its ability to boost catalase activity in the scalp. Catalase is an enzyme that breaks down hydrogen peroxide, and here’s the part that connects directly to grey hair: hydrogen peroxide naturally accumulates in hair follicles as we age, and it’s now understood to be a significant factor in the bleaching of hair from the inside out.

So theoretically, anything that helps your scalp clear hydrogen peroxide more efficiently could slow the greying process. Onion juice, applied topically, is one of the more accessible and evidence-adjacent ways to support that. The challenge is obvious: it smells. Aggressively. I will not pretend otherwise. The way I’ve seen clients make this work is to apply it about an hour before they wash their hair, not overnight, and to follow up with a good clarifying wash and a scented conditioner. Some people add a little lemon juice or rose water to the onion juice to make it more bearable.

To make it at home, blend or grate a medium onion and strain the juice through a cheesecloth. Apply it directly to your scalp with a cotton ball or dropper, massage it in, and leave it for thirty to sixty minutes. You’ll want to do this at least twice a week to see any effect over time. It’s not glamorous, but neither is a scalp full of harsh chemical dye, so, here we are.

5. Fo-Ti (He Shou Wu) Supplements

Fo-ti is a traditional Chinese herb that has been used for thousands of years specifically in the context of hair pigmentation and longevity, and it’s probably the most folklore-rich remedy on this list. The name He Shou Wu literally translates to something along the lines of “Mr. He’s black hair,” referring to an old story about a man who used the herb to restore his dark hair and youthfulness. Grain of salt with the mythology, obviously. But the modern interest in fo-ti for hair is real and growing, particularly in the natural hair care and integrative medicine communities.

The herb is believed to nourish what Chinese medicine calls the kidney and liver systems, which are associated with hair health and pigmentation. Some practitioners suggest it can support the production of melanin in the follicle, particularly in cases of premature greying that aren’t primarily genetic. There is legitimate research interest here, though the evidence is still early and I want to be upfront about that. There are also some documented cases of liver toxicity with high doses of fo-ti, particularly the raw, unprocessed form, so this is one where I really do want you to talk to a healthcare provider before you start, especially if you’re on any medications.

If you do get the green light, look for processed (cured) fo-ti rather than raw, and stick to recommended doses. You can find fo-ti supplements on Amazon from brands like Dragon Herbs or Herb Pharm, which are more reputable in the herbal supplement space. This one isn’t for everyone, but for the right person it’s worth knowing about.

4. Curry Leaves

Curry leaves are deeply underrated in Western beauty conversations, and I say that as someone who only discovered them properly when a client from Chennai brought me a small bottle of curry leaf oil she’d made herself in her kitchen. She’d been using it for years, her mother had taught her, and her hair at sixty-two was honestly more pigmented and lustrous than a lot of women I see in their forties. I’m not saying it was entirely the curry leaves. But I’m not saying it wasn’t, either.

Curry leaves contain b-vitamins, particularly B6, along with beta-carotene, proteins, and antioxidants that are thought to support melanin production and reduce oxidative damage to the follicle. They’re used both as a dietary addition, stirred into cooking oil and used in dal, rice dishes, chutneys, and as a topical oil treatment. The most common preparation is to heat the leaves in coconut oil until they turn black and crispy, then strain out the leaves and use the infused oil on the scalp once or twice a week.

If you don’t have access to fresh curry leaves (and a lot of us don’t, unless you live near a good Indian grocery), you can find curry leaf hair oil on Amazon that’s already prepared. It’s more convenient, though I’ll always have a soft spot for the from-scratch version that my client walked me through in so much detail. The smell is warm and herby and actually quite nice, nothing like the onion juice situation we talked about earlier.

3. Coconut Oil with Essential Oil Blends for Scalp Health

Okay, coconut oil gets thrown at every hair problem like it’s a magic wand, and I want to be clear that I’m not recommending it as a standalone grey hair cure, because it isn’t one. But as a carrier oil for building a genuinely effective scalp treatment protocol, it’s hard to beat, and the specific essential oils you pair it with matter a lot when your goal is supporting pigmentation and follicle health.

The ones I come back to for this purpose are rosemary, which has solid evidence for improving scalp circulation and has been studied against minoxidil with surprisingly competitive results; peppermint, which similarly improves blood flow to the follicle; and cedarwood, which is thought to support the follicle’s growth phase. None of these will make white hair turn dark again, let’s be honest. But improving circulation to the scalp means the follicles that still have pigment-producing cells are getting better support, and that can matter for how the grey progresses over time.

The ratio I usually recommend: about two tablespoons of virgin coconut oil, warmed until liquid, with five to eight drops of rosemary essential oil and three to four drops each of peppermint and cedarwood. Massage it into your scalp for five minutes (really massage, not just pat), leave it for at least an hour, and wash out thoroughly. Do it once a week and be consistent for at least eight weeks before you decide it’s not doing anything. For the rosemary oil specifically, Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil has become a bit of a cult favorite and it’s already pre-mixed in a usable way if you don’t want to DIY.

2. Catalase-Boosting Foods and the Hydrogen Peroxide Connection

I mentioned catalase briefly in the onion juice section, but it deserves its own real estate on this list because I think it’s genuinely the most important scientific concept to understand if you’re serious about approaching grey hair from the inside out. Research published in the FASEB Journal back in 2009 established that grey hair is, in large part, caused by the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the hair shaft, produced naturally by the body as a metabolic byproduct. As we age, our production of catalase, the enzyme that neutralizes hydrogen peroxide, declines. The result is that hydrogen peroxide builds up and essentially bleaches the hair from within, gradually stripping pigment from the inside of the shaft.

This is why eating to support catalase production is one of the most logical dietary strategies for anyone dealing with greying hair. Foods that are particularly good at supporting catalase activity include: cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts; garlic and onions; sweet potatoes; and various fruits high in antioxidants, particularly berries and citrus. Some people also take catalase supplements directly, and there are products on the market specifically marketed for this purpose.

One that comes up a lot in the natural grey hair community is Gro-aut Hair Growth and Scalp Oil or catalase-specific supplements like GetAway Grey, which combines catalase with other antioxidants. I have mixed feelings about the marketing around these products, some of it is oversold, but the underlying science of catalase and hydrogen peroxide in hair pigmentation is real and legitimate. A diet rich in the foods above plus a targeted supplement if you want to go further is a reasonable, evidence-informed approach that more people should know about.

1. Consistent Nutritional Support: The B12, Copper, and Biotin Foundation

If I had to tell every woman over forty one thing about natural approaches to grey hair, this would be it, and I mean that. Not a trendy oil, not an exotic herb, not a complicated topical protocol. The single most impactful thing I have seen, over and over, in my years of working with clients and paying attention to their hair changes alongside their health changes, is addressing the nutritional deficiencies that directly affect melanin production and follicle function. And the big three are vitamin B12, copper, and biotin, with B12 being the one I feel most strongly about.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is genuinely common in women over forty, particularly in women who eat less meat than they used to, or who are on metformin for blood sugar management (it depletes B12 absorption), or who have any digestive issues that affect nutrient absorption. And B12 deficiency is directly linked to premature greying in the research literature, not as a vague correlation but as a documented cause-and-effect relationship. I’ve watched clients whose grey hair arrived fast and early get their B12 levels checked, start supplementing, and see new growth come in with noticeably more pigment. It’s not universal, and it doesn’t undo hair that’s already grey, but in cases where the deficiency is the driver, the results can be genuinely striking.

Copper deficiency, which I mentioned in the black sesame section, is the other one to take seriously. Copper is essential for the enzyme tyrosinase, which is directly involved in producing melanin. Low copper means lower melanin synthesis. Biotin supports the overall health and integrity of the hair shaft and follicle, and while it’s the most overmarketed of the three, it’s not without merit, particularly if your diet is limited or your digestion isn’t absorbing nutrients efficiently.

Before you start piling on supplements randomly, though, please get bloodwork done. I say this to every client who asks me about this. Get your B12, ferritin, copper, zinc, and vitamin D levels checked. A functional medicine doctor or even a good primary care physician can run a panel that gives you a real picture of what’s actually going on, and then you can supplement strategically rather than just throwing money at the problem. If you do need to supplement, a good methylated B12 (methylcobalamin absorbs better than cyanocobalamin), a quality hair-focused multivitamin that includes copper and biotin, and a copper-rich diet are your starting point. Brands like Ritual, Thorne, and Garden of Life make supplements that are transparent about their sourcing and easier for the body to actually use.

Grey hair is complicated, and I want to be honest with you: no natural remedy is going to reverse pigmentation that’s already gone. The follicles that have stopped producing melanin have stopped. But what these approaches can genuinely do, especially when you stack several of them together and stay consistent, is support the follicles that are still in transition, slow the rate at which new hair goes grey, improve the overall health and texture of the hair you have (which matters, because healthy grey hair looks completely different from dehydrated, damaged grey hair), and address underlying deficiencies that were accelerating the process in the first place. That’s not nothing. That’s actually quite a lot.

Start with the bloodwork. Add the dietary changes. Pick one or two of the topical treatments that feel sustainable for your lifestyle and stick with them for a few months before you decide. Hair changes slowly, and so do the things that support it. Give it real time and come back and tell me what you notice.

This post Remedies for Grey or White Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The most interesting phenomena in a salon presently is not as much about the haircut as it is about the talk that precedes the cut. Women in their 40s and beyond are about clarity like never before and walk in with a picture of what they want, almost as if they had been saving an image of that style and just waiting on the perfect moment and stylist to come by. This is what is truly important.

There was a client who just last month had been saving a photo of a chin length bob, and she had avoided getting it cut all those years ago because her last stylist explained that this cut would not work with her hair type. She walked in after finally finding me, and we gave her the cut, because it had always been more about the internal layering and the curl pattern, not the texture. This is the issue I have found 90% of women in my chair this fall have been dealing with.

The cuts aren’t as interesting as the way women are opting to get a little more personal and patient with the stylists behind their dreams.

Warm-Toned Textured Chin-Length Bob with Wispy Bangs

Coffee brown razor cut bob with piecey bangs. Great movement with every layer. Separation is held all day with texturizing spray on slightly damp hair before a low heat diffuse. Awesome for medium to thick, flat hair on the roots. Ask your stylist to keep the sides disconnected so bangs don’t grow flat against your face. They will grow to be shape and will not lay on the face.

Layered Brunette Shag with Full Bangs

Try a layered shoulder length shag,keeping in mind that the edges are trimmed to shorter lengths with a full bang. The classiest shag is achieved by keeping the lengths of the edges and shorter crown. You’ll need a trim every 3-4 weeks on the bangs to prevent the style from giving you the “eye ball” look.

Highlighted Brunette Layered Collarbone Cut

Brunette collarbone length cut with a side part and layering that flips out below the chin. These layers can help discourage straight hair from falling flat. Keep the shortest length of the layers at chin level to avoid looking round in the face.

Dark Brunette Chin-Length Bob with Wispy Fringe

A casual style to try is the dark brunette chin-length bob with wispy bangs. Wispy bangs can be used to fill in gaps in your face. Balance a smaller face with bangs without having to fill your entire face with hair that requires shaping. However, know this type of bangs looks best with straight to slightly wavy hair. If you have any innate curl in your hair, these bangs will likely become curled short bangs. After straightening your hair with a flat iron, wisp bangs take about 30 seconds.

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Warm Brunette Shoulder-Skimming Textured Lob

This lob features a shoulder length cut and beautiful, warm brown highlights. An added wavy finish look gives this some texture and is made with the use of a curling iron. This makes it simple to add more texture to this look by point cutting the ends, which works best on hair that is of medium thickness and is naturally wavy. This haircut works by going against the natural flow of the hair, as it is designed to be a low maintenance style.

Side-Swept Brunette Tapered Pixie

Another Victory of Badass Vibes.

This adorable, edgy pixie has a side-swept, half-shaved undercut with a very low maintenance pizazz. This cut is for you if you want a easy-to-maintain foundation that is sturdy. Feel free to mess around with the upper section of the cut to alter the aesthetics of the cut. The upper section of this pixie is thick with top density, and is built to fill in more than the rest of the pixie is built to cover. It also hardens the shape of the haircut. This hairstyle is designed to look good after a shower; it’s built to be styled after blown drying the hair for shape. This style works best with women with thick, straight hair.

Long Dark Brunette Layers with Balayage

This cut features a layered long, dark brown hair style with a side framing part to add definition to your stylist’s starting length on your shoulders and length to your chin. Your internal layers should not be too short, otherwise the hair will begin to look unkempt. Style your hair by blow drying it with a large curved brush to create volume and draw it to the side.

Auburn Curly Chin-Length Bob

A dry cut can be a great option to try for that auburn curly bob that will land right at your chin. Only someone who is comfortable with curly hair should attempt a dry cut because curly hair shrinks more during the wet to dry process, meaning they can easily lose shape. This can be especially seen with that fabulous warm reddish brown which interacts beautifully with curls to give dimension. When you want your hair to look the way you want to, bring reference pics of curly bobs, not photos of people with straight hair who have the bob and are trying to have a curly bob.

Jet Black Side-Parted Lob

A classic chin to shoulder lob, as shown, works best with a blunt cut with a straight and clean-lined perimeter. Make sure to ask your stylist to do a blunt cut. The side part brings the shape to the cut weighted more towards one side, hanging loose. The cut requires very little upkeep as the style retains its shape throughout the in between appointments growing out after eight weeks to a clean line.

Highlighted Short Feathered Pixie Crop

Very short with the feathered texture and a pixie cut that has very light layers that are razored. In this case, the razor cut leaves space and works well with pixies to look low maintenance. This cut is very flattering to women who have thicker hair. The neckline and the ear area will start to grow out in 4 to 5 weeks.

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Curated by [total-workspace](https://total-workspace.github.io/).

Chin-Length Brunette Wavy Bob with Warm Ends

This chin length dark brown bob, with balayage rooted in semi dark brown and caramel tips, takes the technique of balayage to new creative levels. This is perfect for that classic hair grow out look and even makes for a great excuse for having just one color done at the salon for longer than usual. This bob is pretty much one length, but the shaping is mostly due to the bob’s wavy texture. This particular bob is very low maintenance to style and is perfect for those who want a trendy bob in their everyday life.

Dark Brunette Textured Wavy Pixie

Dark pixie with a wavy, textured top that is grown out. It’s a very flattering wavy pixie length, as it shows that a little bit of growth makes a difference. It would prevent the ‘shag’ effect that is infamous with longer pixie styles. Overall a very cute cut with great style. This length will need to be trimmed every 4-5 weeks for sure. I’d recommend a matte paste to hold the top in place. Great cut for 2c-2c textured hair.

Honey-Highlighted Layered Neck-Length Bob

Dark blonde hair with honey highlights in a layered neck length bob with a side part looks good to medium density hair. To achieve lift at the front, blow dry the top layers with a round brush pulled back. Styling this way won’t lose its volume through the day. Hands down, the secret to achieving that put together look is contributing to the Rumpled Lady Effect; that means not washing your hair for a few days.

Deep Plum Chin-Length Rounded Bob with Micro Bangs

A deep plum rounded bob looks best at chin length with short blunt bangs. This cut takes commitment as you will need to frequently trim the ends and continually color the hair. Bangs just above the brows might also mean you’ll have to come in for a trim ever three weeks. Blunt bobs that are straight and have fine to medium hair length work well with this hairstyle. Each layer of the bob must have a smooth straight line to insure the ends are blunt.

Dark Brunette Wavy Chin-Length Bob

A dark brown wavy chin-length haircut with a few highlights. This cut has waves that make it more interesting. The waves push the sides of the bob out while retaining the shape of the bob. This bob is perfect for naturally wavy hair because it doesn’t take much effort to style. The placement of these highlights is small, however it really accentuates the shape of the hair. Without these highlights, the haircut is dull.

Rich Auburn Long Layers with Side-Swept Bangs

The copper-red tone of this hair color is absolutely stunning! Like any hair color, lighting will change how the hue appears. Natural lighting best represents color formulas, so take a look at this one outdoors. The cut has layers that focus internally. This adds thickness to the hair at the ends. When the color is warm and reddened shade of copper-red, it has great warmth and dimension. This color would look stunning on someone with a dark hair color with warm red undertones.

Salt-and-Pepper Short Curly Crop

This is a natural curly salt and pepper pixie cut with a tapered side. The hair curls create the natural shape of the cut. Out of all the cuts I get to style, this is one of my favorite cuts to do. Your sides are tapered just a little and the top is long enough so the hair can curl around and create the shape. Gel your hair slightly while it is still damp, and style using a hair diffuser. That’s pretty much the extent of the styling you would need to do for this cut.

Black Choppy Textured Bob with Wispy Bangs

A black choppy fringe with a neck-length bob. These bangs are sparse with shorter pieces across the forehead instead of one big fringe. This style works well for fine hair because point cutting adds a ton of density. This is a wash-and-go cut after practice.

Brunette Chin-Length Bob with Subtle Highlights

A stacked chin-length bob features slight back stacking that is perfect for layering. It creates roundness and volume without having to style too much. It balances well with straight hair or curly hair types. This bob looks great with a trim every 4 to 6 weeks.

Copper-Kissed Warm Brunette Long Layers

A warm copper mid length long face frame bang features a conservative layering technique on the front of the cut and almost totally unlayered at the back. It’s simple in the back. This design is best for straight or slightly wavy medium density hair. For this cut, I would say the most beginner friendly approach to growing is holding the face frame bang at the lip line.

Black Cherry Asymmetrical Bob

A black cherry angled asymmetrical smooth bob. Bright colors always grab attention, and this bob has it. It starts out dark, but the dark color has depth and has a nice splash of burgundy that becomes more visible once it moves. This color can help you stand out and is a commitment color as it needs to be redone in 5 to 6 weeks. This bob does not require a lot of work after the angle placement and just needs to be flat ironed for some shine.

Dark Brunette Highlighted Shoulder-Length Shag

Shoulder length brunette with caramel ribbons highlights. Displayed in this style, the ribbons are placed between layers and are visible in the bends, so the dimension really shows in this section. This naturally bendy style works best with waves in a medium thickness of hair. Simply use some curl cream and diffuse your hair, and you’re good to go. This style looks especially great on wash and wear days.

Dark Chocolate Wavy Lob with Curtain Bangs

A dark chocolate layered wavy lob with curtain bangs. These bangs present a great mid length layering option. While also allowing your hair stylist room to play with the layers in mid length, they also sit nicely around the perimeter of your face. This has a strong balance to the length of your hair. A view of your back profile is helpful for your stylist to decide where the weight line should be. The lob is collarbone length when the wavy is pulled straight.

Dark Feathered Tapered Pixie

Dark brown side-swept pixie. This style will need to be cleaned up around the ears and neckline every four to five weeks. The layering on the sides will give fine to medium density hair the appearance of volume. This style is easy to manage with a lightweight pomade and creating a line with your fingers through the top.

Shoulder-Length Layered Brunette Blowout

A layered cut with face-framing and curtain bangs, with a trim to shoulder length. No after pics needed to illustrate what a difference trimming/removing weight makes. Layers startabout chin length. As far as face framing goes, position sections as if they end at the cheekbone and leave the rest to bend naturally. Blow dry using a round brush to achieve the ends of the curtain bangs.

This post The Haircuts Women Over 40 Are Taking Into Fall, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The first time a client asked me for a “bell-bottom haircut,” I genuinely thought she was messing with me. I was picturing literal bell-bottoms, like flared jeans but on a head, and my brain couldn’t quite get there. But once she showed me the reference photos, it clicked immediately, and I felt a little silly for not connecting it sooner. It’s basically layers that are concentrated toward the bottom half of the hair, so the ends kick out and flare while the top stays relatively smooth and close to the head. The silhouette really does mimic the shape of bell-bottom pants if you squint at it, which I guess is the whole point.

What I find interesting about this cut is that it reads as very intentional without requiring a ton of daily effort, at least on the right hair type. Thick and medium-density hair takes to it naturally because the weight at the bottfom does most of the work for you. Fine hair can pull it off too, but you’re going to be reaching for a round brush more often to get that flip at the ends. The whole thing lives or dies on where the layers start, so that’s the conversation to have with your stylist before anything else happens. Too high and it’s just a regular layered cut, too low and it barely registers. There’s a sweet spot in there, and honestly it changes depending on how long the hair is, which is probably why I see it done wrong as often as I see it done right. I say that with full awareness that I’ve been on the wrong side of that ratio at least once or twice myself.

Before and After Shoulder-Length Bell-Bottom Transformation

Here is a comparison of long flat hair vs shoulder length hair with bell bottoms. This is helpful because this style adds shape to straight fine hair. The stylist removed several inches and put in lots of face framing layers. This style really adds volume to a hair type that is usually flat due to the layers at the bottom.

Brunette Highlighted Textured Bell-Bottom Bob

A chin-length bob paired with thick and textured bell bottoms, caramelized to a dark brown and back-lit to create dimension and texture falls at the end of the finishe. This design allows structure and the placement of color to emphasize the shape of the haircut instead of the highlighted color. Thick, textured hair is the best candidate for this style. The length is kept above the shoulders to allow for movement and dimension of the hair. Razor cuts add texture and movement and will keep the style looking thick and bold. Reach out to your stylist before your appointment to let them know you prefer liberal razor cuts for your new style.

Long Black Straight Bell-Bottom Blowout

This exaggerated bell-bottom is made with straight, black hair that sweeps to the side. The layers begin to fall around the mid-chest and continue to fall in an even layer. Everything above the layers sits flat against your head since the rest of the hair is straight. The ends of the hair will flip out naturally during a simple blowout, and it is great for straight, thick hair. Maintain the flared effect by asking your stylist to keep the short layer right around the collarbone.

Copper Red Voluminous Bell-Bottom With Curtain Layers

A copper red bell-bottom with multiple layered curtains and a lot of hair and a lot of color, so keep in mind there is some care required. The layers start just below the chin and sweep out to the ends in a bell-bottom shape. The copper demands a sulfate free shampoo . It really shows off the bell-bottom shape, so if you don’t want to keep the copper between the frequent salon visits, consider a copper alternative.

Plum-Tinted Bell-Bottom Bob With Straight Bangs

This bob features a plum tint with straight across bangs. The bob’s tint is subtle enough to pull off a natural color in low lighting. But, in bright lights, you can see the bob’s tint has a plum color cast to it, and that’s probably why a lot of customers get this tint. The structure and goal-orientation of this bob is more focused than a curtain bang style. Because it is more structured, this bob would be great for straight, thin hair with less volume. It is more focused on structured lines than on volume.

Rich Chocolate Blown-Out Bell-Bottom

This chocolate shoulder length blowout pairs well with bell bottoms. This is probably the most formal interpretation of the cut that I’ve shown here. This requires attention to detail because of its formal style. Each section of the blowout is intentionally rounded with a round brush and cooled so it holds the shape. This is for straight to slightly wavy, thick hair. This style shows the cut the best for special occasions.

Highlighted Brunette Chin-Length Bell-Bottom Bob

A “caramelized” brown bob fellated by a center part and highlights throughout the outermost layers. The pockets of hair with the shortest layers falling on the flipped, outermost pieces of the hair give shape to the style. It’s great for medium hair density. If you have natural waves, it can help hold the bend when the hair is styled in this way. On the spectrum of bob lengths, chin-length variations grow out extremely quickly. You would need to trim this style often in order to preserve the style from growing beyond what would look aesthetically pleasing on someone with a smaller frame. A 1/2 inch grows from chin-length to layered neck-length; in this case, 1/2 inch extra can ruin the style.

Warm Brown Feathered Bell-Bottom With Long Bangs

Warm Brown Feathered Bell-bottom with Long Face-framing Bangs. This cut has approximately ⅓ of hair segments with feathering separated into sections that can move freely (and swivel with your hair). This cut is well suited for the dry method of curling hair. The behavior of curls using various methods can differ greatly, and this cut demonstrates such example. This style falls flat on hair that is thin and fine. However, for hair that is full and thick, this cut works exceptionally. With this style, hair length at the ends can remain long, while maintaining volume of hair.

Dark Brunette Textured Bell-Bottom With Piece-y Bangs

Dark brunette with bell bottoms and bangs with a textured shoulder-length cut that features piece-y layers ending in textured, separated fans. This cut breaks up clumpy hair ends by point cutting. I recommend this for thick and medium hair that may normally resist style attempts and makes it easy to style using a texturizing spray when dried naturally.

Black-to-Copper Ombre Bell-Bottom With Bangs

Shoulder-length black-to-copper with bell bottoms and choppy bangs. The bell bottoms and some thin layers show that there’s a bit of a color transition (which I believe is on purpose to represent layers). The copper section (where the flip begins) has two very different under and over sections, signifying that the hair is growing out. The copper color (and dark) will need more maintenance because the dark shows the copper growing out. The choppy bangs are a razor cut, so expect growth in around 3 weeks.

Strawberry Blonde Shoulder-Length Bell-Bottom

Shoulder length, bell bottoms, with side swept bangs, and strawberry blonde. This color is really easy to manage for natural bases that are mixes of darker blonde and light browns. The bottom layers will start to flip out once you process down the hair. This length of hair is really easy to style and hold the shape of whatever you style it into. A clean flip is caused by a heated velcro roller set at the ends while they cool. This is the easiest of all cuts if you have medium density hair.

Black Shoulder-Length Bell-Bottom With Subtle Layers

Shoulder-length bell-bottoms. Layering on these look similar to Bell-Bottoms, but the shape is more of a subtle movement. These may be the Bell-Bottoms of your dreams if you’re looking to add the trend without highlighting yourself. The bell-shaped drape falls over your ears and is one layer on each side.

Deep Auburn Bell-Bottom Bob With Full Bangs

This auburn chin-length bob features bangs with a bell-bottom and flipped ends and highlights the brown-red tone. This cut is great for many hair types but is particularly optimal for medium to thick hair. The bangs of this cut will frame your face around the brow area, but will only look good if you trim the bangs every couple weeks.

Dark-Rooted Blonde Wavy Bell-Bottom Bob

A bell bottom bob with shoulder-length waves is great for voluminous wavy hair. The wavy finish of the hair means you won’t have to flat-iron your hair as much to achieve the look. A root shadow helps keep the maintenance low with manual coloring, as the demarcation line won’t show as quickly. Ask your stylist to place the layers at your jawline for the perfect balance of length to this style.

Warm Brunette Long Curtain-Layered Bell-Bottom

This has some warm brown tones with long, curtain-like layers that cover the face. This particular cut has more of an “undone” or “grown out” appearance with these layers. This would be a good way to ask your stylist to “connect” the layers as opposed to “disconnect” the layers in order to give an “undone” look. This is a great low-maintenance cut as it won’t mess up or change the appearance as the hair grows out.

Shaggy Dark Brunette Long Bell-Bottom

A long brown bell-bottom with bangs. This style features layers that start much higher on the bangs, giving it more shag style and chopping layers more. This is a great style for thick curly to wavy hair as it holds the movement the style offers. This is a great easy style for those who want to look effortless.

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Answering the question at the end of each input helps ensure that the rewrite follows the instructions.

Curly Golden Blonde Short Bell-Bottom

This textured honey gold curl is a bob with a middle-length flare to bell-bottom style. The bangs should be shorter and the rest of this style is easy to manage as the curls shrink to the head. Because this style is curly, it is much more difficult to style than a straight style. This style is cut dry to make sure the bell-bottom shape is even. The bangs should be left long because of the shrinkage of the curls.

Dark Chocolate Shoulder-Length Voluminous Flip

This dark chocolate brown shoulder-length style has bell-bottoms. It has extreme volume at the top with textured layers starting from the crown popping out the shoulder with some swing. These layers are shorter than the rest of the hair, and help hold flat hair in place. I recommend this style as the layers hold the shape of the hair and keep the style intact without showing regrowth for a while.

Tousled Brunette Collarbone Bell-Bottom

Relaxed, yet stylish. This 70s cut has curtain layers that honor the normal volume and thickness of a head full of curls. The layers are cut wavy so the hair can fall however it wants. The shortest layer is curved around the cheekbone, making it a great way to instruct your stylist on how to layer to retain the volume. Great for people with naturally curly hair. This lets them style it less often and wash their hair less as well.

Bronde Layered Bell-Bottom With Side Part

This long, bronde bell-bottom with a side part has layers and starts darker at the roots and lightens up. Braids help keep the ends of the hair from sticking out too much. If you have thick hair consider this style or it may look messy because the weight falls at the ends, therefore it may look more natural when hair is hanging. Style this using a medium heated round brush and directing the hair away from the face and towards the sides.

Deep Red Wavy Bell-Bottom With Curtain Bangs

Wavy, bell-bottom, shoulder-length hair with a curtain bang style. The coloring with red helps to define the layers with the wavy style. Waves eventually stretch the flare at the bottom in a way that straight hair would not. This style looks best on hair that has been worn previously. Also, red tends to fade. Avoid using shampoo that will result in drab hair by using a red color-depositing shampoo.

Dark Brunette Collarbone Bell-Bottom With Wispy Bangs

Dark brown belted bell bottoms that are long and pumpkin spice colored. Bell bottoms always have a cool and comfortable look so all you need is some medium to thick hair lengths for this messy look. The longer layers that serve to frame the face will help minimize a stringy appearance. Similar to a longer bob, you can dress this up, making this style very flexible and comfortable.

Warm Chocolate Shoulder-Length Flip

A Brown shoulder-length bell-bottom with tiered layers. These layers are cut at the shoulder to be flared and only reach past the bottom of your shoulder. The ‘flare’ for these layers actually takes minimal length and is super cool! A good amount of texture helps this style the most because it holds the bend the best, but a volumizing mousse before blowing hair dry will still help style this for sure!

Black Shoulder-Length Bell-Bottom With Bangs

Shorter black bell bottom bob with curtain bangs and a shoulder length flared bob. A lot of the hair is cut at the sides and top to create this bob and focus on the flared bottom. I prefer my bobs shorter. A shorter bob will provide a frame while a longer bob won’t. Those with straight or wavy hair will appreciate this bob, though a shorter bob is easier to maintain volume. Plan on getting this trimmed in the 6 week range.

Ash Brunette With Highlighted Bell-Bottom Ends

Ash brunette hair is long, ends face-framing and flared. Color placement is important, especially for lighter ends. The flared style is often overlooked, but light pieces frame and define the flare. Great for all hair types, especially people with medium to thick hair and good volume. It requires a large barrel curling iron like this, which gives a unique volume and body to the hair.

This post The Bell-Bottom Haircut Is Bringing a 70s Shape Back in a Very 2026 Way, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

From Natalie Brooks, Duluth, Minnesota: “I’ve been struggling with dry, brittle hair for years and my stylist keeps telling me to deep condition more, but honestly my hair feels dry again within a day or two no matter what I do. Someone in my Facebook group mentioned making a homemade hydrating hair mist and I thought, that sounds too simple to actually work. Can you share a real hydrating hair mist recipe that might actually help? I’m in my 60s and my hair has gotten so much finer and drier since menopause.”

Natalie, I hear you, and I want to tell you something that took me an embarrassingly long time to understand even as a stylist: deep conditioning alone is never going to solve chronic dryness, because moisture without retention is just moisture that’s leaving. The conditioner works in the shower, opens up the cuticle, delivers hydration, and then by Tuesday your hair is thirsty again because nothing is there holding that moisture in between wash days. A hydrating mist is the missing middle step, and it is genuinely one of the most underrated tools in a hair care routine, especially for women in their 50s and 60s whose hair texture and porosity have shifted.

I’ve been making variations of hydrating mists for clients for years, sometimes in my kitchen the night before an appointment, sometimes right there at the sink. The recipes are simple but the ingredients actually matter, and I want to walk you through the best ones so you’re not just spritzing water on your head and calling it a day. Dry air in places like Duluth during winter? You need something that actually holds onto your hair, not just lands on it.

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7. The Basic Aloe Vera and Water Mist (A Great Starting Point)

Before we get into the more layered recipes, I want to start here because this is where most people should begin, especially if your hair is on the finer side like Natalie’s. Over-formulating right out of the gate is a real mistake I see women make when they go down the DIY hair care rabbit hole. They add twelve ingredients and then don’t know what’s working and what’s making their hair feel heavy. Start simple, then build.

The base is two things: distilled water and pure aloe vera gel. Not the neon green stuff from the drugstore sunburn aisle, which is full of alcohol and fragrance. You want something like pure organic aloe vera gel, ideally one that lists aloe as the first ingredient. I’ve used Lily of the Desert and George’s Aloe and liked both. Mix roughly three parts distilled water to one part aloe gel in a small fine mist spray bottle, shake it up, and there you go.

What makes this actually work is the aloe itself, which is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air and helps your hair hold onto it. For fine hair especially, it adds a little bit of structure without any weight, and it’s one of the gentler things you can put on aging hair. Keep this in the fridge if you’re not adding any preservative, and use it within a week or two. Spray it on damp or dry hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends, and just let it dry naturally or follow with a light oil if you want more sealing action.

6. Rose Water and Glycerin Mist for Softness

This one is my personal favorite for clients who complain that their hair feels rough or straw-like. I started recommending it about five years ago after I tried it on my own hair during a particularly brutal winter in the salon where we had the heat cranked up constantly and the air was completely devoid of moisture. My ends were snapping off. A client of mine, a lovely woman in her late 60s who had the most beautiful silver hair I have ever seen, told me she used a rose water mist every single day, and I started paying attention.

The recipe: about half a cup of pure rose water (Heritage Store makes a good one), a quarter cup of distilled water, and half a teaspoon to one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin. If your hair is very dry, lean toward the full teaspoon of glycerin. If you live somewhere humid already, less glycerin, because glycerin in very high humidity can actually make hair a little puffy, and nobody’s asking for that.

Rose water on its own is mildly conditioning because of its natural plant compounds, and it smells genuinely lovely without any added fragrance, which matters a lot for women whose scalps have become more sensitive over time. The glycerin is the workhorse here. It’s a humectant, just like aloe, but heavier-acting, and it coats the hair shaft in a way that keeps moisture from evaporating throughout the day. I spray this on after styling, lightly, not soaking the hair, just a couple of passes, and the softness my clients feel by their next appointment compared to when they weren’t using anything like this is pretty noticeable.

5. Green Tea and Silk Protein Mist for Strength

Here’s where I’ll say something that might surprise you: not all hydrating hair mists are just about water and moisture retention. If your hair is dry and also breaking, which happens a lot after menopause as estrogen drops and the hair structure actually changes, then you need something in your mist that addresses the protein side of things too. Moisture and protein are partners. You can’t just hydrate hair that’s structurally compromised and expect it to stop breaking.

Brew a strong cup of green tea and let it cool completely. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and has been shown to support a healthy scalp environment, and for fine aging hair, it also adds the tiniest bit of body. Combine about half a cup of that cooled green tea with a quarter cup of distilled water, a teaspoon of hydrolyzed silk protein, and optionally a few drops of rosemary essential oil. The rosemary I add not just for scent but because the research on rosemary oil and hair growth and scalp circulation is actually pretty compelling.

The hydrolyzed silk protein temporarily fills in gaps along the hair shaft, which is what gives you that immediate smoothness and a reduction in breakage. I usually tell clients to use this mist two or three times a week rather than daily, because protein overload is a real thing and it can make hair feel brittle if you overdo it. You’ll know you’ve overdone it when the hair starts feeling stiff and almost crunchy even though it looked great for the first couple of weeks.

4. Coconut Milk and Honey Mist for Deep Nourishment

I almost didn’t include this one because it sounds more like something you’d put in a smoothie than on your hair, and I was skeptical myself when I first heard about it. But I tried it on a client who had done a lot of damage to her hair from years of color and heat, and honestly it changed the texture of her ends noticeably within about two weeks of consistent use. So here we are.

Canned coconut milk, not the carton kind from the refrigerator section, is full of fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft in a way most synthetic conditioners don’t. Honey is another humectant but it also has mild antimicrobial properties and a softening effect on the cuticle. Together they make a mist that feels almost like a leave-in treatment, and for very dry or coarse hair, that’s exactly what you want.

Combine two tablespoons of full-fat canned coconut milk with one tablespoon of raw honey, then dilute with about three quarters of a cup of warm distilled water to make sure the honey dissolves fully. Shake vigorously every time before you spray. Because of the coconut milk, this one does not keep well at room temperature, so refrigerate it and use within five days. It sounds high-maintenance but once you get into the habit it’s honestly easy, and the results are worth it. I spray this on towel-dried hair before letting it air dry, and I skip it on days when I need volume because the coconut milk is rich enough to flatten fine hair if you’re not careful with how much you use.

Look for organic full-fat canned coconut milk and raw unfiltered honey for the best results here.

3. Flaxseed and Lavender Mist for Frizz and Flyaways

Dry hair and frizzy hair often travel together, and I think this recipe is the most underappreciated one on this list. Flaxseed gel gets talked about a lot in the curly hair community but straight-haired women, especially those with fine, aging hair that’s gotten a little wiry and flyaway, can absolutely benefit from it too. I started recommending it to a client of mine who had beautiful thick silver hair that was becoming increasingly difficult to manage with age, and she called me two weeks later to say her hair had never felt so manageable without feeling heavy.

To make flaxseed water, boil a quarter cup of whole flaxseeds in two cups of water, stirring constantly, until the water thickens slightly and turns a little slimy. Strain out the seeds and let the liquid cool completely. This is your flaxseed water, and it’s full of a natural gel-like substance that coats the hair shaft, smooths the cuticle, and reduces the static electricity that causes flyaways. Combine about half a cup of that flaxseed water with a few drops of lavender essential oil and a teaspoon of aloe vera gel.

Lavender essential oil isn’t just fragrance here. It’s been linked to improved scalp health and some studies suggest it may support hair density over time. I also just love the way it smells, and if you’re going to be spritzing something on your hair every other day, it might as well be something you enjoy. This mist works beautifully on dry hair when you’re touching up a style, just a light layer over the surface, and it smooths down those wiry strands that pop up along the hairline and part. If you’ve ever been frustrated by that gray-hair texture that seems to have a mind of its own, this one is worth trying.

2. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse-Style Mist for Scalp Health and Shine

I know, I know. The smell. Bear with me for a second because this one does something the other mists on this list don’t quite do in the same way, which is that it actually adjusts the pH of your hair and scalp, and that matters more than most people realize. Over time, especially with product buildup and hard water (which is very common in the Midwest, Natalie), the hair cuticle can lift slightly and stay lifted, which is why hair looks dull and feels rough even after conditioning. A very diluted apple cider vinegar mist essentially smooths that cuticle flat again, and the shine improvement is immediate.

The ratio needs to be gentle. One tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar with the mother, like Bragg’s, to about one cup of distilled water. At that dilution the smell dissipates as it dries, I promise. You can add a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil to the bottle if the scent still bothers you. I use this as a final spritz after washing and before my leave-in, not as an everyday thing but maybe once or twice a week, or whenever my hair is looking lackluster and flat.

For women dealing with a dry, flaky scalp, which often goes hand in hand with hormonal changes and the dryness that comes with aging, this mist is genuinely helpful. The acidity of the vinegar helps balance the scalp’s natural environment and can reduce some of that flakiness. I have seen stylists recommend this for decades and dismiss it as old-fashioned, and then quietly use it themselves. It is one of those things that is a little unglamorous but consistently effective, and I’d rather tell you what actually works than what sounds impressive.

1. The Complete Hydrating Cocktail Mist (The One I Actually Make and Use)

This is the one I make for myself. I’ve been tweaking this recipe for probably three years now, and while I adjust it seasonally, the core is the same, and it covers every base I’ve already talked about: humectants for moisture retention, a protein component for strength, something to smooth the cuticle, and a scalp-supporting essential oil blend. It sounds like a lot when I list it out but it comes together in about five minutes and one bottle lasts me a couple of weeks.

Here’s exactly what I use. Start with half a cup of distilled water, then add a quarter cup of rose water, two tablespoons of pure aloe vera gel, one teaspoon of vegetable glycerin, half a teaspoon of hydrolyzed silk protein, a teaspoon of very diluted apple cider vinegar (just enough to bring the pH down slightly), and about eight drops total of essential oils. My personal combination is four drops of rosemary, two drops of lavender, and two drops of peppermint, but you can adjust based on what you like. Pour it all into a 4-ounce glass fine mist spray bottle, shake it well, and keep it in a cool spot.

I spray this on damp hair before air drying, and I also use it as a refresher on days two and three when my hair needs a little revival. The difference between my hair on weeks I’m consistent with this and weeks I forget or run out is actually significant enough that my own clients have commented on it, which is a little embarrassing but also kind of gratifying. One thing I want to stress: ingredients matter enormously in DIY hair care. Using distilled water instead of tap is not precious, it genuinely makes a difference because tap water minerals can cause buildup and affect how your hair absorbs everything else you’re putting on it. Use a gallon of distilled water from the grocery store, it costs almost nothing and it changes the whole formula.

If you want to take it one step further and you’re dealing with significant dryness and breakage, I’d add a few drops of argan oil to the bottle, just three or four drops, which gives the mist a very light sealing quality on top of all the humectancy. This is the version I’d recommend for anyone in a dry climate or dealing with the hormonal hair changes that come with perimenopause and menopause. It’s not a magic fix, but used consistently, it genuinely helps your hair hold onto the moisture it gets from washing rather than letting it evaporate by afternoon.

A Few Final Notes Before You Start Mixing

Natalie, and anyone else reading this who’s been dealing with the frustrating cycle of condition, dry out, condition again: a hydrating mist is not a replacement for good conditioner or the occasional deep treatment. Think of it as the layer that holds everything else in place. It works best when you’re also eating enough healthy fats, drinking enough water, and not over-washing, because all of that affects hair moisture from the inside in ways no topical product can fully compensate for.

Also, if you’ve never done a DIY hair product before, please do a small patch test somewhere inconspicuous before going all in, especially with essential oils. Scalp sensitivity is real and increases with age for a lot of women. Start with less of the essential oils than you think you need, you can always add more to the next batch.

And if you want a ready-made option while you’re gathering ingredients, there are some solid commercial hydrating hair mists worth trying as a reference point. I like Briogeo Farewell Frizz and the Mizani Miracle Milk as benchmarks for what a good hydrating mist should feel like, and making your own that gets close to that quality for a fraction of the cost is entirely doable once you know what you’re doing.

The biggest thing I want you to walk away with is that dry hair, especially mature hair, needs daily attention, not just a weekly deep conditioning session and then nothing until the next wash. A mist like one of these used consistently a few times a week is what actually changes the baseline texture over time. Give it a month before you judge it. Hair is slow to show you it’s grateful, but it does eventually.

This post Hydrating Hair Mist Recipe, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

If you want a short haircut that feels fresh without losing softness, the baby bob is one of my favorite choices. This extra-short bob usually sits between the cheekbone and jaw, so the right length should be chosen around your face shape, hair density, and natural texture—not just a reference photo.

For finer hair, I prefer a clean, minimally layered perimeter because it keeps the ends looking fuller, while thicker or wavy hair often benefits from subtle internal weight removal to prevent the shape from puffing out. I also love how a baby bob can highlight your cheekbones and make everyday styling surprisingly quick.

Ready to find your perfect cut? Keep scrolling and save the baby bob ideas you’ll want to show at your next appointment.

Copper-Kissed Choppy Bob with Piecey Micro Fringe

The fringe has been cut very high so that it sits a good distance above the eyebrows. The fringe has been cut so that it is not blunt. The different lengths on the ends creates a less geometric look. This cut goes down to the ears and has some choppy layers. The warm copper and deep brunette bas are so beautiful and catch light perfectly. The shimmery effect gives the hair a little more volume than it really is. This style will suit oval and heart shaped faces but a round face will look even more round. There is product used here to create a ‘messy’ look, but hair that is straight will not fall like this. If your hair is curly the shape will be very different at this length.

Wavy Caramel Baby Bob with Textured Brow-Skimming Fringe

When describing this haircut, we first look at the nape of the hair. The hair has been cut in different lengths to remove some bulk, with the top pieces left thick which helps to form a shape that is rounded, almost mushroom-like, and full, while the hair itself doesn’t feel heavy. This looks best with wavy to curly hair, with at least medium density. If the hair is straight it will sit flat and lifeless in this shape. The caramel balayage pieces are longest right at the waves where light hits the tops of the curls, and the natural darker roots are left so that grow out doesn’t look bad. This is not for round face shapes as the width at the cheeks has no where to go for a cut this short and full, this cut looks great on oval and heart shapes. The fringe is doing a lot enough to say it is a casual cut, but thick enough to look full, and it has been cut dry, following the natural waves, not wet and hoping for the best. On humid days this haircut will really expand.

Undone Jaw-Length Bob with Razored Layers and Sun-Faded Highlights

Notice how the longest pieces barely graze the jaw and the back is substantially shorter. This creates lift without any stacking. The graduated internal layering was performed with a razor rather than shears, which is why the tips look slightly feathered and almost translucent. If your hair is thick or even of medium density, this cut will appear effortless, but with fine hair, it may very well fall flat by noon. The color is a natural mid-brown with some hand-painted blonde face-framing pieces that were left to grow out for a low-maintenance look. This length is ideal for oval and heart-shaped faces because the coverage over the jaw is very well balanced. Round faces will not have as much definition in this area. One more thing is that this amount of texture limits you from styling it super sleek, so if that’s something you would like, then this is not the cut for you.

Cool Brunette Jaw Bob with Tucked Sides and a Barely-There Fringe

On the left, the hair is tucked behind the ear and on the right, it is falling out. That difference is not an intentional style choice, it is something that is built into the haircut. There are graduated layers on the inside of the haircut that make it look intentional to swing either way. The bangs are cut so that they are nearly invisible, and that prevents the look from being overwhelming. This style looks best on medium density straight hair, and is most flattering for oval or heart-shaped faces where the jaw doesn’t need to be covered. Round faces will find it too exposed. If your hair is super wavy or curly, it will not hold this style, and you probably will not enjoy the daily battle. The color is a single-process brunette cool which is low-maintenance, but can really flatten fine hair, even if it looks nice in photos.

Textured Dirty Blonde Crop with Shaggy Fringe and Lived-In Wave

Most people may not see that the fringe is above the eyes, which makes the whole cut look more polished, and less grown out. Most people also may not see that the bangs are cut into uneven lengths and are slightly razor cut so that it appears purposefully messy. A lot of the interior texture is removed from the fringe to keep the fringe from looking bulky, while the outer shape keeps it round and full. This look is best suited for people with pronounced oval jawlines where the width at the cheekbone keeps the whole look balanced. With a rounder face shape, this amount of volume will be very unflattering. The base and colour of the hair is left darker intentionally so that the roots grow out and blend without looking neglected for weeks, and for it to be in a natural wave or have natural texture, or it will just go flat.

Warm Brunette Rounded Bob with Honey Ribbons and a Soft Brow Fringe

What stands out here is the perimeter. It is sculpted to the jawline in one continuous inner curve that gently hugs the chin. Notice how the ends curve on their own? That is a sign of medium density hair that is of a softer texture. Not hair that was forced into shape with a round brush. Coarse, thick hair will not behave like this. The bangs fall just above the eyebrows and they have been point cut so it breaks softer into sections rather than one heavy solid. There are a few light, fine, honey highlights woven and sheered at the mid-lengths just enough so that it appears light reflecting off the hair rather than an obvious color job. This cut suits oval and heart shapes the best as the rounded shape structure does not add width. Square jaws may feel boxed in. This style aims for an effortless look, but it does require some commitment. It will need to be reshaped every four to five weeks, or it will lose that precise inner curve completely.

Dark Tapered Bob with a Single Platinum Streak and Long Side Fringe

The platinum piece at the front is really standing out, especially since the rest of it is dark. Point cuts at the ends keep this chin length bob from looking too blunt and help the perimeter taper naturally at the neck. It’s best suited to medium density straight hair and to oval or heart shaped faces, while round faces may lose definition quickly. The long side fringe sweeping across the brow adds asymmetry and helps the cut look less drastic which is perfect if you’re not sure about going short. This won’t look as clean on day three.

Jet Black Choppy Crop with Heavy Razored Texture and Blunt Baby Fringe

Having the hair shaved at the nape of the neck shows more of the neck which helps prevent this from being a typical bob cut. This is a distinguishing feature of this hairstyle. The weight of the hair as seen in the picture is almost all the way to the top then a few razor cuts will fan out and create movement which is a quality that full dense hair rarely achieves at this length. The bangs are thick and blunt and sit above the brows. This cannot work on a round face since it makes it look wide at the center. But it can work on straight or oval faces. This look will only work with thick hair. If you have fine hair then this will just lay down flat in the areas where you need that shaggy, wind blown look and no product will be able to create that illusion.

Rich Brunette Rounded Bob with a Blunt Micro Fringe

There is a lot of detail to the fringe that is both blunt cut and short enough to sit above grazed. That is a commitment not many are ready to take. This is a true baby bob, ear length, with the inner weight left dense so it holds that rounded shape on its own. Look at the ends of the hair, look at the ends of the hair, see how no obvious layering is there, that’s a blunt cut using natural hair density to create that inward curve. This cut best suits medium to thick hair. In fine hair, that shape will collapse straight away. Consider this cut if you have a round or fuller face as it will emphasise the cheeks. That is not for everyone, just a consideration. The dark brown has a very slightly warm undertone which catches the light at the crown and provides volume and dimension to the hair, preventing a flat look.

Warm Copper Wavy Bob with an Intentional Asymmetry

This is not bed head, it’s just a bit of styling asymmetry. While I appreciate the chin length bob, it does need to be polished. You copper color job looks like a single process with a warm glaze at the ends. A quick look at the ends shows more gold around the face, with deeper color at the roots. The color, while emphasizing the copper tones, does not look flattering. Just with this length on round and oval faces, it opens the neck and doesn’t overly emphasize the jaw. The round and oval face is the only one to open the neck and not overemphasize the jaw. The more structural waves add a little more fullness to the look on medium density hair. I imagine this cut gets frustrating in the summer months. Wavy textures can puff out at lengths instead of falling the way you want. Plus, copper fades pretty quickly, regardless of the shampoo. If you want movement in the hair, ends with more layering. That specific detail is the one to mention to your stylist.

Sleek Platinum Chin-Length Bob with a Deep Side Part and No Fringe

Although the ends are not blunt, the soft look comes from the light interior the perimeter doesn’t look like a ruler line. The cut is a straight across jaw line cut with no layering, so the weight sits exactly where it should on straight, fine to medium density hair. This will not suit thicker hair, as it will push outwards and completely lose that clean drape. The deep side part does a lot of heavy lifting here, opening up the face and giving the whole shape asymmetry without any actual asymmetric cutting. This oval and heart face shape will love this as the jaw-length line won’t compete with a strong chin. Round faces will feel wider. The color is a cool-toned platinum with what looks like a natural root at about a quarter inch which makes regrowth look intentional and not overdue.

Dark Curly Crop with Warm Undertones and a Loose Forehead Curl

The crown curls are tighter than the rest of her face framing curls. What this means is the stylist dry cut and shaped each individual section according to its own spring factor instead of creating uniform sections. That’s the whole game with curly baby bobs. When the length gets stretched below the ear, due to the curl pattern, it will pull up to mid ear instead, creating a rounded, full shape without too much bulk. With someone with a rounder face, this much volume at the sides without length below the jaw would really widen everything out. Here, it works because her face is more oval with pronounced cheekbones. The warm caramel pieces are subtle enough that you only catch them in the light meaning the whole thing won’t read flat in one dimension. This cut won’t behave the same in a row two days. If this frustrates you, this isn’t the right option.

Cool Brunette Chin-Length Bob with Clean Interior Weight

It has been an industry secret for a long time, but not for a straight time. McCarthy has done a stellar job explaining what happens in your first few meetings. Jeff then narrated how the technique worked and showed it to the class. You might have realized that the ends of your hair do a little turning of their own when it is blow dried straight. That is not the style, it is the cut. The inner sections have had enough removed so that it casts, or bends, under, without looking like a blow dry. It is an all one length bob that just skims your jaw and has been heavily side parted with no layers. It works best on hair that is straight or slightly wavy and of medium thickness. If your hair is on the thicker side, it will poof out instead of sitting flat like this. If you have a round face, I would suggest steering clear of this cut as the chin length line and inward curl will only emphasize it. Oval and angular shapes will get the most out of it. The colour is a level 4 brown which is cool. It also has no added dimension to it, which keeps it all feeling quiet and unfussy. Because it is short your hair will need a trim every 5 weeks as even at this length, a quarter inch of growth can completely change the shape.

Short Curly Bob with Honey Pieces and a Rounded Shape

Your layers that end up being dry cut show how every curl just sits how it wants to.

If you look at the back in the mirror reflection, you’ll see a compact rounded shape, not a triangle. That’s one of the worst things that can happen when curly hair gets bobbed by someone cutting it while it is wet. There are some mid length pieces that are honey toned and catch the light. They are placed sparsely enough that they almost look like sun damage instead of highlights. This curls out like a full halo on medium to thick curly hair with a defined curl pattern, fine curls won’t be able to hold this much volume. If your face is long or narrow, the width this shape creates at the cheekbones is genuinely flattering. Ovals can just wear it without thinking about it. Round faces will feel rounder, that is not a maybe. To keep the front from looking heavy, the fringe curls are kept loose and separated across the forehead and the whole cut lands right around the ears so it doesn’t go onto the neck.

Peachy Strawberry Bob with Soft Full Fringe

This color is going to wash out fast. A peach-strawberry color on this light of a base is going to need gloss touches every 3-4 weeks. Skipping a round will make it a dirty blonde, and that is not a cute look. For the cut, this is a textured baby bob that hits right at the jawline. With the razor cut ends, it creates that separated, airy flip movement that you see poking out at the sides. You can see that the fringe is full, but it is cut thin enough so that you can see skin through it which stops it from looking too heavy on a small face like hers. This is a great design for fine to medium hair density as the texture does the job where volume is lacking. With thick/coarse hair, this same shape will become huge. It will especially suit round and heart shaped faces as the jaw length pieces add width where it is needed and the fringe helps to shorten a longer forehead. If your face is already wide, this is not the cut for you as it will only emphasize that.

Rounded Brunette Bob with Blonde Accent Pieces and Thin Curtain Fringe

The blonde pieces at the front are designed to enhance the look. They brighten the face in an airy way as the hair is tucked behind the ear. This approach makes the hair look really dimensional without the ‘stripiness’ caused by foils, or the overused slicing technique. The shape is jaw length, with a little rounding at the end, creating that rounded look with no stacking at the back. The fringe is a bit invisible, separated, and very sparse. If you have a round face, then that much roundness on the perimeter will emphasize that and won’t be a good thing. It’s really best on oval and heart shapes. The ideal hair type is medium density and straight to slightly wavy. If your hair is thick, this will crumb at the sides and lose the clean tuck you see in this photo. No amount of product fixes that.

Curly Baby Bob with Warm Brown Ringlets and Natural Fringe

Curls are supposed to do the work and this cut dry style is shaped to let each individual curl choose where to land as the overall length is right at the ears with the bangs curling just above the brows. The warm brown tones only shine in the mid-lengths so those highlights look like they were painted on the stretched curls to avoid striping when they spring up. Most people skip details like most people skip those details when they come in with a reference. This cut works best on tight coiled, dense 3B/3C hair types because it will hold its self shaping. It will definitely be different for looser waves or fine hair as it may fall flat and lose volume where it is most needed. Faces that are oval and heart shaped will wear this style well as the side fullness balances a narrower chin. It’s important to know that shrinkage will make this look much shorter than expected on wash day. If you’re nervous about going short, this style will be a big test for you.

Platinum Piece-y Bob with Dark Root Shadow and Side-Swept Length

The back of your neck is shaved so closely that it’s almost at the length of a pixie cut. At the top, there is enough length to reach the forehead and brush the cheekbone. That contrast is amazing. Putting a root shadow in otherwise dark hair like yours makes the platinum look more purposeful, as opposed to grown out, and keeps you from having to come in for a full bleach-out as frequently. This is good for round and wider face shapes as the diagonal fringe creates a line that pulls the eye down and not across. This shape is best with medium-density hair that is straight to slightly wavy. If the hair is thick and coarse, it’ll resist the over direction on the top section and puff out on the sides. If the hair has any type of curl, this is not the cut for you.

Tousled Jaw-Length Blonde Bob with Choppy Fringe

The side fringe stands out because it’s been so finely point cut that it breaks into wispy pieces. This makes it feel light, even with the wave in the hair. The whole cut finishes at the jaw with just the right amount of internal texture so that all the pieces separate easily, and with fine to medium density hair that has a natural wave or bend, that texture will create movement by itself. On the contrary, this won’t be the case with thick straight hair which will create the infamous ‘helmet head’. The blond, with rooted, cooler mid tones, and warmer end pieces, helps to provide dimension to the hair and keep it from looking too done. It’s probably a balayage on top of a natural dark blonde base. Face shapes such as oval or heart will wear this length and style well, because the jaw line softening pieces leave the bone structure exposed. A hair type that is coarser or more curly that this length will shrink more than expected and the fringe will not sit nicely.

Brunette Ear-Length Bob with Subtle Caramel Threading

Note how the perimeter sits neatly behind the ear on one side and just nudges past it on the other. This is intentional design and actively avoids the appearance of a simple short bob. Interior graduation technique helps build volume at the crown and keeps the ends closer to the head. This is why it appears so full without added weight. This style is designed for medium density hair that is straight to slightly wavy. Due to the lack of length below the jaw, round or wider face shapes may find this style to be challenging. If you have a well-defined jawline or an oval shape, then this is for you. The caramel highlights are hand-painted which is why they are a softer and more subtle look. For most, this cut will not air dry well.

Chin-Grazing Brunette Bob with Lived-In Wave and Feathered Micro Fringe

This fringe style might look a little strange and most people would just keep scrolling. This fringe is cut to just above the eyebrows and point cut into separate pieces so that the fringe drapes rather than a solid block. This is how the shape avoids looking blunt or heavy. For the length, stopping right at the chin, some internal rounded layers will soften the ends and kick them out a little. This style works best with medium density hair because thicker hair will be too poofy. If you have a round face, this style combination is not great, because there are no features to draw the eye down and create a longer look to the face. It’s also really good for oval and heart face shapes. One thing to really notice is the hair color here is so natural, a true level 3 to 4 brunette with no added highlights, so there’s no color variation. This means that the cut and texture will have to do most of the talking, and a commitment to the shape is wearing it well.

Chin-Length Baby Bob with Rooted Blonde Dimension

The weight is at the ear and then almost disappears at the nape so the graduation is doing all the heavy lifting here for this shape to be close to the head without clinging. This is a true baby bob on finer to medium density hair. It is softly point cut at the ends so nothing looks blunt or heavy. The rooted ash blonde with the lighter pieces around the face gives it that dimension at this length that a single-process color just can’t replicate. This will suit round and oval faces as the length at the front creates a slight diagonal that narrows. If your face is already long, this will stretch it more. On thick or coarse hair this shape will not lie as flat and relaxed. It WILL push and fight you every morning.

Dark Textured Baby Bob with Wispy Fringe Pieces

One ear is showing on purpose. The stylist has made an uneven point cut on the perimeter, so the hair falls in different lengths, which stops this from looking like a helmet despite it sitting above the jawline. This works on medium density hair, maybe fine hair if you have enough of it, because the cut is meant to create the most texture, not the volume you’d have to create. Round faces will struggle with this length. It stops right where the fullness is in the cheeks, and there is nothing below to visually pull the eye down. It’s actually flattering on oval or heart shapes the most. The dark, single-process color means no maintenance on regrowth, which is a real plus. The grow out will not be easy, and you will feel it four weeks in.

Soft Blonde Bob That Lives Right at the Ear

The ends kick out a little instead of curling under, and the result is intentional. They did point cuts so the polished shape wouldn’t show and so the hairs natural texture would show. This is a chin-grazing bob; the cut sits just above the jawline. The rooted blonde and dark pieces woven through the crown add some dimension and prevent the look from being flat. Round and oval faces will feel the most at home here. Someone with a stronger, more angular jaw may not want this length to emphasize that. This cut will look messy very quickly in a matter of five to six weeks with the minimal time between this length and looking unkempt.

Warm Blonde Ear-Length Bob with Separated Fringe

The work with the fringe is interesting. Because of how it is cut, thin and separate, the heavy feeling is lifted even though there’s real density through the sides. This cut is a bob with very minimal layering that ends at the earlobe, and the color is rooted warm blonde with fine lowlights woven through to make the grow-out look natural. It looks best in medium density straight to slightly wavy hair. This length is really good for round or heart shaped faces, as it opens up the jawline without adding volume. If your hair is thick and coarse, this shape causes a lot of problems. It will puff out at the sides and will lose the clean line. No product is going to fix that.

This post The Baby Bob Makes Short Hair Feel Light Without Looking Too Sharp, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Diane Merriweather, Coos Bay, Oregon:
“I’ve been using argan oil on my hair for years and it just sits on top and makes everything greasy. My friend uses the same oil and her hair looks amazing. I bought a deep conditioning oil treatment last month and same thing, total waste of money. What am I doing wrong? Is it the oil itself or is it me?”

Diane, it makes sense that you’d feel this way. A lot of people have been in the same situation. The answer to your question is actually one of the most useful things you can know about your own hair, and once it clicks, you’ll look back at every product that never worked and suddenly understand exactly why.

Here’s the thing about hair oils that nobody in the beauty aisle is going to tell you: the oil isn’t the problem. Hair porosity is. It’s the single most overlooked factor in hair care, and I honestly think it explains more product failures than anything else, including heat damage, hard water, and bad technique combined. I’ve had my hands in hair for more years than I can count and the number of women who’ve sat in my chair frustrated with their hair, convinced something is wrong with them, when really they’ve just been using the wrong weight of oil for how their hair is actually structured… it’s a lot. It’s genuinely a lot.

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First, Let’s Talk About What Hair Porosity Actually Is

Your hair’s porosity is simply how well it absorbs and holds onto moisture. Think of the outer layer of each hair strand, the cuticle, like roof shingles. When those shingles lie flat and tight, water and oils have a harder time getting in, but they also have a harder time getting out. When they’re lifted or damaged, things get in easily but they escape just as fast. And some people are right in the middle, where the cuticle has a nice normal amount of lift, and most products work reasonably well for them.

Low porosity hair has those flat, tightly packed cuticles. High porosity hair has cuticles that are raised or even chipped, often from chemical processing, heat, or just genetics. Medium porosity is the middle ground, and honestly, it’s the easiest hair type to shop for, which is probably why so many products are basically formulated for it by default.

You can do a rough porosity test at home by dropping a clean strand of hair into a glass of water and watching what happens over a few minutes. If it floats for a long time, you’re likely low porosity. If it sinks pretty quickly, you’re probably high porosity. If it floats then slowly sinks to the middle, you’re in that medium range. It’s not a perfect science, but it’s a decent starting point.

Now, the reason this matters so much when it comes to oils specifically is that oils vary enormously in their molecular size and weight, and that determines whether they can actually penetrate the hair shaft or whether they’re just sitting on the surface coating it. Some oils seal. Some oils penetrate. Some do a little of both. Matching the right one to your porosity type is genuinely the difference between hair that looks nourished and hair that looks greasy or still feels dry no matter what you do.

7. Coconut Oil for Low Porosity Hair (But With a Catch)

Okay so coconut oil is everywhere, and I have complicated feelings about it. For years it was the miracle oil the internet was obsessed with, and for some people it really does work beautifully. But for low porosity hair? It can be genuinely terrible, and here’s where I’ll actually contradict what you might have read.

Coconut oil has a small enough molecular structure that it’s one of the few oils that can actually penetrate the hair shaft, which sounds ideal, right? But here’s the catch with low porosity hair specifically. Because your cuticles are so tight, getting anything inside requires heat. Applying coconut oil cold to low porosity hair often means it just sits there because the cuticle won’t lift enough to let it in. Then you wash it out and your hair feels stripped and waxy at the same time, which is one of the more frustrating hair feelings I know of.

The way to make coconut oil work for low porosity hair is to apply it with heat. Warm the oil slightly, apply it to damp hair, cover with a plastic cap, and then sit under a hooded dryer or even just wrap a warm towel around your head for 20 to 30 minutes. I’ve had clients try this after years of hating coconut oil and come back genuinely surprised. The Viva Naturals Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is one I’ve recommended for years because the purity is consistent and it melts really cleanly.

That said, if you’re not willing to use heat with it, coconut oil and low porosity hair are probably not friends, and I’d skip it in favor of something else on this list.

6. Argan Oil for Medium Porosity Hair

This is almost certainly the answer to Diane’s original question, so Diane, read this one carefully. Argan oil is phenomenal, it’s lightweight, it’s rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, and it works beautifully as both a penetrating treatment and a finishing oil. For medium porosity hair. That last part is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Medium porosity hair has cuticles that are raised just enough to accept moisture and then close back down to hold it, which means argan oil can do its job the way it’s meant to. It gets in, it nourishes, it seals, and your hair looks healthy and feels soft without the grease. Your friend whose hair looks amazing with argan oil almost certainly has medium porosity hair. The oil is working with her hair structure, not against it.

For low porosity hair like Diane likely has, argan oil’s molecular size puts it in a kind of awkward middle category. It’s not heavy enough to coat effectively as a sealant and not penetrating enough to get past those tight cuticles without help. So it just sits there, which is exactly the experience she described. It’s not a bad oil. It’s just the wrong oil for her hair.

The OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco is one of the more accessible options for medium porosity hair and it’s widely available, but if you want something more concentrated and less diluted with silicones, Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil is worth the splurge. A little goes a long way and you’ll feel the difference in quality immediately.

5. Jojoba Oil for Low Porosity Hair

Here’s one I genuinely love recommending because jojoba is technically a liquid wax, not an oil, and that distinction actually matters. Its molecular structure is remarkably similar to the sebum your scalp naturally produces, which means your hair tends to recognize it and not reject it the way it might a heavier oil. For low porosity hair, this is kind of a big deal.

Because it’s so similar to what your scalp already makes, jojoba doesn’t need to force its way into a tight cuticle the same way other oils do. It works more at the surface level in the best possible way, balancing moisture, preventing water loss, and leaving hair feeling genuinely conditioned without that heavy coating that’s the nightmare of every low porosity hair type. I’ve recommended this to clients with very fine, tightly wound hair who thought they just couldn’t use oils at all, and jojoba changed their mind.

It’s also excellent for scalp health, which I think is underrated in the conversation about hair porosity. A healthy scalp produces better quality sebum, and that affects how your hair behaves at every level. Sky Organics Jojoba Oil is a reliable option that’s cold-pressed and unrefined, and the price point is reasonable enough that you can use it generously without stressing about it.

Apply it to damp hair, not soaking wet, just damp, and use maybe three or four drops worked through your mid-lengths and ends. Low porosity hair doesn’t need a lot and will tell you immediately if you’ve used too much.

4. Castor Oil for High Porosity Hair

Castor oil is thick. It’s genuinely thick, almost absurdly so, and that thickness is exactly why it’s one of the best options for high porosity hair where the cuticle is lifted, damaged, or porous by genetics. High porosity hair loses moisture so quickly that lightweight oils basically evaporate off before they can do much good. You need something that’s going to stay put and actually seal those raised cuticles down.

Castor oil creates a barrier. It coats the hair shaft, helps reduce moisture loss, and because it’s so rich in ricinoleic acid, it also has some genuinely good effects on scalp circulation, which matters if your high porosity hair is also breaking or thinning. I’ve had clients with chemically processed hair, especially those who’ve done multiple color services or years of relaxers, who found that castor oil used weekly as a pre-wash treatment made a noticeable difference in how their hair held up over time.

The caveat is that castor oil is too heavy for low and medium porosity hair. On low porosity hair it will just sit on top and make everything feel weighed down and greasy, which circles back to Diane’s exact problem in reverse. On high porosity hair, that weight is a feature, not a bug.

Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil is the one I reach for first. The roasting process that creates the black version gives it slightly different properties than regular castor oil and I think it performs better for hair specifically, though the regular cold-pressed version works too. Mix it with a lighter oil if the texture feels too intense to work with on its own.

3. Grapeseed Oil for Low to Medium Porosity Hair

Grapeseed oil doesn’t get nearly as much press as argan or coconut oil, and I find that a little baffling because it’s one of the most versatile options on this list. It’s lightweight, almost water-thin in texture, high in linoleic acid, and it absorbs into the hair quickly without leaving much residue. For low porosity hair especially, that fast absorption matters because you’re not fighting against a closed cuticle for very long.

It also works nicely as a heat protectant, which is something I appreciate from a practical standpoint. Its smoke point is quite high, so if you’re using it before blow-drying or flat ironing, it gives you some protection alongside the moisture benefits. I started recommending it more seriously a few years ago when one of my regular clients, someone with very fine low porosity hair who was terrified of anything that might weigh it down, needed something she could use daily without her hair going flat by noon. Grapeseed oil was the answer, and she’s been using it ever since.

For medium porosity hair, it works beautifully as an everyday finishing oil or mixed into a deep conditioner to boost absorption. It’s also one of the more affordable options, which I always think is worth mentioning because good hair care doesn’t have to drain your bank account. NOW Solutions Grapeseed Oil is pure, affordable, and comes in a size that lasts a while. It’s a workhorse product and I mean that as a compliment.

2. Avocado Oil for High Porosity Hair

If castor oil is the heavy-duty sealant for high porosity hair, avocado oil is the nourishing treatment that actually gets inside and does repair work. It’s one of the few oils with a molecular structure large enough to have real penetrating ability while still being rich enough to provide the kind of fatty acid content that high porosity hair is constantly losing. It’s also full of vitamins A, D, and E, and a meaningful amount of protein-adjacent nutrients that help strengthen hair that’s prone to breakage.

High porosity hair, especially hair that’s been color treated, bleached, or heat damaged over many years, is often also dealing with some degree of protein loss from the cuticle layer being compromised. Avocado oil won’t replace a protein treatment, let me be clear about that, but it supports the kind of ongoing maintenance that keeps things from getting worse between more intensive treatments. I think of it as the difference between putting a bandage on something and letting it fester.

It’s also genuinely pleasant to use. Unlike castor oil, it’s easy to work through the hair, has a mild neutral smell, and rinses clean without leaving a film. I like it as a pre-poo treatment for high porosity hair, meaning you apply it to dry hair before shampooing, let it sit for at least 30 minutes, and then wash as usual. It softens the cleansing process and your hair comes out of the shower feeling less stripped. Cliganic Organic Avocado Oil is pure and cold-pressed, which matters when you want the full fatty acid profile intact.

1. Sweet Almond Oil: The Most Underrated Porosity-Friendly Oil That Almost Nobody Talks About

I saved this one for last because I think it’s genuinely the most versatile option on this list, and it’s also the one I have to explain most often because nobody seems to know about it. Sweet almond oil sits in a beautiful middle range of molecular weight that makes it suitable across all three porosity types with a little adjustment in how you use it, which is rare. Most oils really do work best for one type, maybe two. Sweet almond oil has a flexibility to it that I’ve come to rely on.

For low porosity hair, it absorbs reasonably well without heat and doesn’t build up the way heavier oils do. For medium porosity hair, it penetrates and seals in one step, which is efficient and lovely. For high porosity hair, using it slightly more generously gives you a nice combination of penetration and surface sealing that helps retain moisture longer. It’s rich in oleic and linoleic acid, both of which are really well tolerated by hair, and it has a natural slip that makes detangling easier, which is something I hear about a lot from clients with high porosity natural hair who are dealing with tangles and breakage.

I started recommending it years ago to a client in her 60s who had fine, low porosity silver hair and was struggling to find anything that didn’t make it look flat and dull. She’d been through argan oil, coconut oil, a couple of fancy hair serums, nothing was working. We tried sweet almond oil and within two weeks she came back and said her hair felt soft for the first time in years. That one stuck with me. Fine silver hair is a unique situation because the texture changes as melanin leaves the strand, and it often becomes more porous even when it looks low porosity, so finding an oil that could work at multiple levels was the key.

NOW Solutions Sweet Almond Oil is the one I recommend most consistently because it’s pure, affordable, and the quality is reliable. A few drops on damp hair before styling, or used as a scalp massage oil a couple of times a week, and most people notice a genuine difference within a few weeks. It’s also mild enough for sensitive scalps, which is worth knowing if that’s a concern for you.

One More Thing Before You Go Shopping

Porosity can change over time, and it’s worth keeping that in mind as you’re experimenting. Color services, heat styling, medications, hormonal shifts, and even just aging can all shift where your hair falls on the porosity scale. I’ve had clients who used the same oil for a decade and then suddenly it stopped working, and the reason was almost always that their hair had changed even if they hadn’t noticed it gradually happening.

If you’re in perimenopause or post-menopause, your hair texture and porosity may be shifting in ways that explain why things that used to work no longer do. It’s not in your head. It’s genuinely happening at a structural level. Doing the porosity test once a year isn’t a bad idea just to check in and make sure you’re still working with the right products for where your hair actually is right now.

Diane, my honest guess based on what you described is that you’re dealing with low porosity hair, and argan oil was simply never going to perform the way you wanted it to no matter how much you spent on it. Try jojoba or sweet almond oil, apply to damp hair with warm conditions if you can, and I’d be willing to bet things start to feel different pretty quickly. You weren’t doing anything wrong. You just had the wrong oil.

This post Oils Suitable for Your Hair Porosity, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

I think the most interesting experience that changed my opinion about layered pixie cuts took place in a parking lot of all places. One of my clients whom I had not seen for about four months walked past my car, and even though I didn’t recognize her, it wasn’t because her hair looked bad. In fact, the grow-out made her look more suited than the fresh cut. I vividly remember her expressing worries about not being able to come in sooner, and I remember thinking The best version of this haircut might actually be the one at week twelve.

That is the magic of a good layered pixie, especially for women over sixty, because when done correctly and if the stylist uses the right amount of weight on the top and sides, the cut actually lasts longer than the typical four to six weeks between appointments because the grow out looks intentional and is not a sign that it’s time for a trim. Instead it becomes a part of the cut. It is freeing to not feel like a style punishes you for living life. All of these styles, from crops that soften as they lengthen to layered styles that look directionally different, but keep their shape, share that idea.

Feathered Silver Crop with Swept Fringe

Instagram: akira__sato

This salt and pepper blend has so much natural dimension that it almost doesn’t need anything else going on, and the cut seems to understand that. It’s kept really close through the sides and back with just enough top length to create that really soft directional sweep. What I appreciate is how the layers sit really flat without looking plastered down, which almost always means the stylist used a razor or point-cut with a super light hand. This is the kind of pixie that looks intentional even when you haven’t done anything to it.

Salt and Pepper Chin-Length Bob with Bangs

Instagram: riot.doll_glamour

This haircut is more of a bob cut and not a pixie but I’m adding it here because it is specifically the type of shape a pixie grows into when you leave it for a few months. The bangs have been styled to sweep around oppose the glasses, which is a super nice design detail to have for anyone who wears glasses on a daily basis. The gray is a nice cool tone gray with dark pieces underneath that keep the bob from looking flat and give it some nice depth.

Effortless Chin-Length Textured Bob

Instagram: hairbychristinegwin

I’ve saved the best until last because this feels the most authentic to me. I’m getting some natural gray hairs coming through, the texture is a little wild, and the cut is doing what it needs to do without drawing attention. It’s a chin length bob with a few layers through the middle to prevent it from being too thick and the slight wave gives it a personality that a blow dry would actually detract from. This is the haircut of a woman that has far better things to occupy her mind than her hair and it looks brilliant for exactly that reason.

Warm Strawberry Bob with Full Bangs

Instagram: style_lounge_beauty

The stacking at the back provides this bob with a fullness that the hair may not have on its own, and the bangs are doing precisely what bangs for glasses wearers should do, and that is framing the face without overpowering the frames. The strawberry blonde is a warm neutral that is suited to many skin tones and is one of the more forgiving colors with regard to outgrowth because the root shadow just blends. If you have finer hair and are after a bob that gives the illusion of having more volume than it actually does, this graduated shape is definitely worth asking your stylist about.

Sun-Kissed Bob with Blunt Bangs

Instagram: beauty_by_amanda22

This color seems to have real sun exposure, not salon highlights. It has just the right amount of brassy warmth at the ends with darker roots, which looks difficult to create unnaturally. The blunt bangs are thick enough to make a statement, but there are enough gaps in the bangs to not look so heavy. The bob is a simple one-length cut that sits just above the jaw. It has the California casualness, where you can tell she most likely just air-dried it without a second thought.

Dark Salt and Pepper Swept Pixie

Instagram: michelle.k.harrison

This type of gray hair can be described as predominantly dark, with some lighter shades starting at the temples and hairline, almost as if painted. The hair is cut to be swept back with a good amount of height at the crown which makes for a strong profile, and the sides are cut close but are not clipped. The whole thing has a sculptural quality to it which makes me think of black and white portrait photography, most likely because of the way dark and light are arranged in the same stroke.

Classic Gray Side-Part Pixie

Instagram: salaruido

Minimalist designs and styles are popular for a good reason; they work. This pixie cut has hair parted to the side and cut so that some of it sits flat on the head with a clean line around the ear. There’s no visible product or fancy styling, just a crisp cut on hair that is beautifully silver. The way the orange shirt clashes with the cool grey is interesting in a way that makes me think it was a conscious choice. Regardless, it works. This whole image reminds us that with a good cut, there’s not much more that needs to be done.

Warm Copper Textured Pixie with Tapered Nape

Instagram: paulashairparlour

The nape taper is neat and tight, bordering on barbershop precision, then the top just goes off with all the texture and movement. The tight vs loose contrast is such a win when it comes to shorter haircuts as it provides visual interest from all angles. The warm copper colour has a nice burnt quality and autumnal vibe, and the pieced-out layers on top give it an editorial edge which could easily be styled smooth for a different event.

Pewter Gray Tapered Pixie with Soft Bangs

Instagram: themaneelle

The taper on the sides is a good example of how to do it well, going gradually enough to avoid any harsh lines, yet close enough to the skin to keep the whole cut structured. What stands out to me here is how the longer top pieces are styled forward and to the side instead of combed back. This creates a youthful look without it being done too obviously. The pewter gray features a blend of warm and cool tones that gives an interesting effect in different lighting, even in photographs, so I imagine it can look even more cool in real life.

Copper Blonde Soft Curl Bob

Instagram: x_vic.works_x

I adore the retro charm in how the edges curve and the volume is high at the top. The warm golden undertone in her copper blonde hair beautifully complements her complexion. The style has the look of something self-created with rollers and a little practice. It’s polished but not stiff, dressy enough for a lunch date but not so done that she would feel overdressed at the grocery store. Often the most ideal hairstyle is the one that syncs with your lifestyle.

Plum to Pink Bob Transformation

Instagram: angela.thehoopdancer

Transformations like these are the reason I love what I do! The before picture shows some long plum colored hair, that looks kind of tired, and in the after picture, it’s a new person! The hair is now brighter and more defined. The face is now the focal point instead of being hidden in the long hair. The pink bob is at jaw level and you can see how the cut changes everything. It shows that sometimes the most transforming thing isn’t a new color, but removing the length so the person can shine!

Highlighted Bob with Natural Gray Blend

Instagram: espacoedilenemoreira

The highlighting technique used here is awesome! Rather than combatting the incoming gray at the roots, the colorist cleverly blended the gray with some woven blonde and light brown pieces to create a seamless transition. The bob is a well constructed and slightly graduated shape that fits perfectly behind the ear, and the weight at the bottom holds it in place. For clients in the early phases of going gray, this kind of technique is a sanity saver.

Silver White Bob with Soft Fringe

Instagram: jbuckhamhair

What draws my attention is the way light is seen translucently at the ends. That is a translucence you see only in some very fine white or silver hair. The cut realizes this by being simple. It is a one length cut with soft bangs that don’t really ask a lot from the hair’s texture. There is no effort placed to create volume where it doesn’t exist, and that honesty regarding the hair’s natural state is what makes the look work so effortlessly.

Icy Platinum Lob with Soft Waves

Instagram: ___aura_studio_

In this stage of the grow-out journey, the hair is beyond a pixie and beyond a bob, landing around the shoulders and sporting those effortless waves. The upkeep of the platinum is also impressive – no banding or visible warmth shows either the colorist is really good, or she’s super consistent with her appointments. The texture here is most likely from a 1.25-inch curling iron (perhaps with the ends out), or, honestly, it could just be from sleeping on it a little damp and letting it go.

Warm Auburn Chin-Length Bob

Instagram: instkellyleao_

Simple style, but not simple. Each end of the hair cut has a little bend that breaks it up from looking too harsh or too dominating. This style is like a tailored blazer, perfect to wear anywhere, and only gets better over time. There are different hues in this auburn color which helps create more depth and dimension. You wouldn’t get this depth and richness with a single-process color.

Warm Honey Blonde Layered Crop

Instagram: rachaellou.blush

The warmth of this color makes her skin appear radiant. That really is the true measure of whether a blonde tone suits someone. The cut is longer layered pixie with enough length to get tucked behind the ear on one side, and bangs that drape lightly over the forehead. It sits perfectly between a pixie and a short bob, and as it grows, it will move more into bob territory without looking unkempt. This is a wonderful option for those who want to go short, but aren’t ready to fully commit to a really short crop.

Silver Feathered Bob with Layered Body

Instagram: amethyst.stylist

A pixie has grown out into something different and the result is stunning! The back and sides have layers that are feathered to create a scalloped effect, where each layer flips a little outward, or tends to curve under depending on the natural growth direction. The blend of silvers, and darker grays, is a natural ombré that no colorist would be able to replicate, and a light flexible hold hairspray would keep the movement where it is and not lock it into one place.

Shaggy Brunette Pixie with Caramel Highlights

Instagram: amethyst.stylist

This cut has a large shag influence with the deliberate length at the nape and the choppy layers, which are disconnected, throughout the mid and top sections. It has a small-town rock and roll feel, and I really enjoy seeing this on women who aren’t trying to look younger or older, just trying to be themselves. The caramel highlights are smart color placement as they are concentrated where the light hits naturally, and it is low maintenance as it won’t need constant upkeep. This is a cut that practically demands you to tuck it behind your ears and forget about it.

Natural Curly Pixie with Loose Ringlets

Instagram: adamharant

This style of haircut is meant to look good only if you know how to manage curly hair, as each layer is responsible for forming different curls as they dry. In this case, curls at the nape of the neck are tighter while those at the crown are looser. This creates an organic roundness that can never be achieved with straight hair. The grow-out period of a curly pixie cut is actually more forgiving than that of a straight pixie cut since the curls will overlap and “cascade” in a natural, full way.

Lavender-Toned Platinum with Full Fringe

Instagram: lolitas_hairstudio

The platinum hair combined with a lavender wash can be styled in a magical or really chic way. Here, it is absolutely chic. The fringe is bluntly cut, and the rest of the hair is tapered closely on the sides and back. This creates a really heavy look to the bangs. The pink glasses and mustard-colored top scream of a basic understanding of color coordination, and the hair just goes along with it! So fun! To keep that lavender tint in between toning appointments, use purple shampoo.

Rich Brunette Layered Pixie with Volume

Instagram: indiana_coronado_hair

The stylist captured all exterior hair to make the generous swoop shape, and pull it away from the face, getting some height. The color is a deep cool-toned brunette that reflects light at the highest points of the wave, and adds dimension that a flat color would lack. This longer pixie sits in that in-between spot where it could grow to a short bob without any awkward phases, which is exactly the kind of cut that inspired this whole post. On finer hair, you’d require a volumizing mousse at the roots to achieve this effect.

Ash Blonde Close Crop with Wispy Bangs

Instagram: ronie_hair_london

I really like how subtle this haircut is. The layers are really faint, just enough to stop everything from lying totally flat, and the fringe is so wispy that she does not have any hard edges. Pairing this with the big glasses, she really has this whole intellectual artist vibe happening. The haircut being so well fitted, it looks almost invisible which is a big bonus. This is definitely a cut that could go another 3-4 weeks past overdue and still look totally intentional.

Silver Swept-Back Crop with Lift

Instagram: hair_avedacaroline19

From this profile view, you can see how the layers are stacked. It shows real lift at the crown with no product crunch, so it’s clear that the layers are graduated in a way that builds volume with graduates layers rather than using hairspray to hold a shape the cut can’t support. The silver hair is completely natural and has that gorgeous combination of lighter and darker strands that gives depth. She is someone who wears statement jewelry, and this kind of simple cut balances it out perfectly.

Cherry Red Pixie with Soft Volume

Instagram: salaoebarbeariakf

It’s interesting how often I see people coordinate the color of their hair with their glasses. I see the pairing of hair and glasses frames while I’m in my chair quite often, and it even happens subconsciously. This color red is cherry, which is warmer than the earlier seen burgundy, and with more of a copper undertone. The layers are left slightly fuller at the crown to create some soft height without any rigidity. It’s a nice looking cut, which seems like a small detail, but really it’s not.

Polished Blonde Side-Sweep

Instagram: felipemartinshair

This is the type of haircut that people bring in photos of, and then we spend twenty minutes discussing whether their hair can actually achieve this. This type of cut is very hair-density and hair texture dependent because for the forehead sweep to work, there must be enough hair to create that smooth curve, and the sides have to be kept clean. The highlights on top give the hair dimension but don’t disrupt the line which is ideal for this style. A small round brush and a blow dryer on medium heat and you can achieve this look in about five minutes every day.

Textured Micro Fringe with Wavy Crown

Instagram: dinkob

I’m sure some might disagree, but I love this one. The micro fringe is a brave choice that can be divisive, but on the right person it draws focus to the eyes and cheekbones beautifully. There’s some natural wave in the crown and that’s being allowed to just exist, not styled or smoothed out, and that is really nice. The combination of that casualness and the precision of the bangs gives a feeling of great contrast that I find very European. This cut will grow out into something even more fascinating, with the fringe becoming more side swept and the crown gaining even more movement.

Deep Burgundy Tapered Pixie

Instagram: auraavedasalon

I mean this as a compliment- the color commitment is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. The burgundy is rich enough to hold the simplicity of the cut, which is a fairly standard tapered pixie with a wispy fringe. It’s a noticeable difference from a safe neutral. On someone who might otherwise play it safe with a neutral, this kind of move alters the whole energy without touching the structure. It’s important to note that a red this saturated and vibrant will require a color-depositing shampoo to keep it looking fresh between appointments, because reds, unfortunately, fade the fastest.

This post 27 Effortless Low-Maintenance Haircuts for Women Over 60, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

What I find funny about bobs for women over 50 is that many of the best ones seem spontaneous. A woman walked in who was fed up With long hair that had lost its density, or a woman who had a shoulder length cut for 15 years and said “just take it.” Then they find themselves looking back and see that they should have done this a long time ago. The best short hair seems like it would be traumatic, but that is often not true. Particularly with short hair that bobs For women over 50, it actually is the bob that makes the most sense.

Something I really like is the versatility of the short bob, and this goes for all women, but especially women over the age of fifty. Across all of these it caters to how their hair is changing, instead of trying to fight what is naturally happening. The short bob gives the versatility to work with what naturally is the case across all women over 50. The interesting thing is knowing what cut perfectly fits your face. Some of these are very clean cut and simple, while others actually require some manipulation to get it.

Razor-Cut Black Shag Grazing the Jawline

The crown layers are cut with a razor so they do the work of kicking out and separating without looking too stiff. The longest pieces barely touch the jaw, while the interior layers are much shorter. This cut helps create a lived-in fullness that looks effortless in photos and, in reality, requires little fuss. This cut works best with medium to thick, straight, or slightly wavy hair. With fine hair, it will fall flat and lose all texture in less than an hour. The single-process black does something subtle – it helps the movement between layers become visible because the light catches the sheen of the black differently on each piece. This cut works best on round or oval faces. If your face is long and narrow, all the vertical layering will only stretch it to look even longer.

Tousled Jaw-Length Bob with Rooted Blonde Texture

The part would normally fall to one side. However, the off-center part works to mitigate that symmetrically cut bob look. This style features a razor cut bob that hits the jaw with internal layers that provide an bend that looks natural, no need to use a curling wand every day. The lived-in blonde color features dark roots left below the natural root shadow with about 2 inches so the grow out looks intentional rather than neglected. For this to hold its shape, you need medium to thick density hair. Fine hair will go flat by noon and lose every bit of that volume through the crown. This length suits round and oval face shapes well because the jaw-grazing edges create a frame without adding width. If your face is longer or more rectangular, this length can cut you off at the wrong point and make everything feel narrow. It is also worth knowing that this style can only look effortless if the cut is precise.

Textured Chin Bob with Soft Rounded Fringe

The bangs are short and rounded; they sit above the brows and are cut with a slight choppiness which keeps them from appearing heavy and gives the whole haircut an intentional feel rather than just grown out. This is chin-length bob with razor-textured ends and sufficient internal layering to provide soft pillowy volume through the sides without any stacking. This style works for medium-density hair with a natural wave. Round and oval faces will suit this style as the texture at the jawline breaks up the outline instead of framing it like a helmet. If your hair is straight, this may not work for you. The wave is doing a lot of the work in order to avoid a flat mushroom shape that will take effort every morning. The colour is a single-process warm light brunette which is low-maintenance but can look flat in certain lighting.

Wavy Copper Chin Bob with Soft Wispy Bangs

I really appreciate how the copper color is more prominent because the colorist held it warmer and lighter toward the ends and deeper and cooler at the roots without creating a strong grow out contrast. It still reads as natural even though it isn’t. The cut is at chin length and paired with loose undone waves and a soft fringe that is point cut thin to the point she shows forehead. Medium density is best here. If you have thick hair, it will puff out at the sides and lose the relaxed drape. This is a great look for oval and heart shapes as the chin length weight and wispy bangs balance out a narrower jaw. If you have a round face, the width at cheek level won’t help. This shade of copper is going to fade fast and sometimes noticeably within two weeks.

Lived-In Blonde Chin Bob with Razored Texture

Take a look at the ends of the hair. The ends are not uniform because this is razor cutting and not point cutting. It keeps the hair cut from looking like a helmet at chin length on fine to medium hair densities. The colour is a dirty blonde with rooting and lighter pieces near the front which is a natural and low-maintenance look. For oval and heart-shaped faces, this hairstyle is good as the length is at the jawline which does not widen the face. For round face shapes, it can be a struggle though. That length at the chin with a lot of texture tends to focus the look on the width rather than balance it. No amount of styling will change what is done in the cut. Something to mention is the wave pattern from side to side being different which indicates her natural hair texture is being used instead of a uniform curl from an iron. That type of cut is great for day 3 hair. That type of cut will not work for your hair if it is thick and coarse as the razoring will create bulk where it is not needed.

Blunt Jaw Bob with Soft Side-Swept Fringe

The ends of this hair style have been minimally cut, removing bulk but still retaining the blunt edges. This attention to detail avoids the style from appearing to be an unoriginal chin-length bob. The style sits right at the jawline which is perfect for an oval-face shape as they do not have to balance out any features. However, this cut may present issues for round faces as the widest point is right at the ends of the hair. The hair color appears to be a warm, medium brown with the faintest hint of copper. This is likely due to a single-process gloss as the color is very reflective and uniform, which is not common with permanent hair dye. This style of cut is best suited to fine or medium density hair as they will not form a triangular shape at the ends as a result of the thickness of the hair. The side-swept fringe also appears to be grown out past the cheekbone and is blended into the rest of the hair. This means you will have to maintain a deep side part or the shape of the hair will be unbalanced.

Shaggy Blonde Pixie Bob with Rooted Fringe

Take note of how the bangs have been cut with a point-cut technique. The bangs appear a bit thinner at the temples and fuller at the center of the fringe. This style avoids the helmet head look, which is an important detail. This hairstyle is a grown-out pixie cut that is ear-length to jaw-length. The shaggy layers at the top give the style lift without the need for styling products. The shadow at the roots really creates lift while the blonde locks give some dimension to the hair. This style suits round and oval face shapes, but not square jaws because the layering at the sides isn’t thick enough to balance the look out. If you have thick coarse hair, your hair will not look like this. The shape is reliant on fine to medium grad hair softly which will give the style the best look. If your hair is difficult, you will find it a struggle to style this look.

Chin-Length Dark Shag with Soft Curtain Bangs

You can see that the layers are cut to be shorter at the crown and left longer and choppier at the jawline. That is what gives it relaxed movement and stops it from looking thin at the ends. That graduated internal layering takes medium to thick hair and makes it feel weightless. With fine hair, this exact cut will fall flat within the hour. The bangs are also point cut and were made to be wispy. They sit above the eyebrows and are textured enough to split towards the center, and this actually frames round and oval shaped faces optimally. One last note, the rich dark brunette reads as single-process, and without some dimension through the mid-lengths, she may end up looking heavy fast if she has very dense hair. This is a great wash-and-scrunch cut for someone with natural wave or body who wants to stop fighting their texture.

Soft Brunette Micro Pixie with Wispy Fringe Detail

If you look closely at the fringe, you’ll notice some pieces are cut to just above the brow, mid-forehead, and others barely reach the brow. That shows some real restraint with the point cutting technique (one of the most common cutting techniques) and it’s what keeps it looking effortless rather than blunt. The very top has just enough length (about an inch and a half) to give a wave, and that works well because the sides and nape are cut very short. Round and oval shaped faces will wear this haircut very well. If you have a long face, this cut could emphasize the narrow features because it has so much exposure at the temples and cheeks. This cut works best with medium density hair. With very fine hair, the wispy fringe can go from looking intentional to looking sparse, and with a cut that short there’s no way to hide behind product when the whole cut is two inches or less.

Soft Chin Bob with Blonde Money Pieces and Deep Side Part

What gives this piece its overall structure, is the way the sides have been layered internally. This adds roundness to the overall look without overly adding weight at the jawline. That little bend towards the ends is no curling iron, but rather the natural outcome of point cut layering with medium density hair. The blonde elements, which are face framing, hand painted, and kept fine enough to appear as light reflecting on the hair rather than highlights. This cut works quite well for round and oval faces because of how the deep side part works to create this elongating asymmetry. Without effort, your hair will not have this much body. If it is very straight and/or very thin, it will just hang. Conversely, if your hair is coarse and thick, the ends will curve outwards instead of in giving you this shape that you didn’t ask for and losing that coveted inward curl.

Warm Brunette Ear-Length Bob with Side-Swept Fringe

Observe how the weight is placed precisely at the cheekbone area, this is intentional. The bulk on the interior has been point cut, maintaining the roundness, while avoiding excessive pouf on the sides, particularly for those with medium to thick straight hair. This is a genuine ear-length bob, differentiating it from a grown-out pixie. The clean and intentional perimeter line makes a significant contrast. The side-swept fringe blends beautifully into the rest of the hair, which is a great feature for oval and heart-shaped faces. However, this length can be quite unflattering for round faces, as it hits at the widest part and creates a stagnant appearance. The color is a warm chestnut with very fine highlights, almost imperceptible, woven through the mid-lengths to reflect light without being overly noticeable. This cut may look unflattering on fine hair, as it will cling to the head without any layers to provide volume from underneath.

Chin-Length Curly Bob with Warm Caramel Ends

Look at how the color is only at the ends of the curls, and is not painted through the midshaft. That’s on purpose. A balayage on curly hair this short has to touch where the curl bends outwards, or else it looks like a stripe. The placement is nice here. This is a chin length bob dry cut into the natural curl pattern, with layered graduated shorter towards the crown to keep the volume up, lifting rather than pulling down. This works really well for medium to thick curly or wavy hair. Thin curls will lose this shape within a day. For those with a rounder face, this length can widen things as it hits right at the jaw with no length below to create a downward line. It is best for oval and heart shaped faces. One thing to know: humidity will shrink this cut by an inch or more, and will throw off the proportions.

Warm Copper Chin Bob with Soft Inward Bend

Everything bends inward asymmetrically which gives this style its character. This is a single-length chin bob on medium density straight hair with minimum layering so the weight sits low and the shape holds itself. The copper hue is warm but not too red; probably a demi-permanent gloss on a light brown base. Oval and heart shapes suit this style best as the jaw-length perimeter will soften without adding width. Round faces will struggle with this length. It will hit right at the widest point and just sit there. If your hair is textured, you will need to put a round brush through this every wash to get this smooth bend. Without waves or frizz, this gives you the best chance for effortless clean bends.

Feathered Copper Pixie with Golden Strand Work

Let’s talk about the copper. Notice how the gold accents were painted only on the top layers and left the base warm and rooted underneath? This keeps the whole piece from looking like one flat color. The cut itself is a heavily layered pixie with razor-textured ends that create a nice feathery and piecey movement throughout the crown and the fringe. It needs medium to thick density to pull off that much texture without going see-through. On fine hair, this will fall flat within an hour. This looks especially great on round and oval faces because of how the side-swept fringe and ear-length pieces narrow the proportions, and her soft jawline proves that. This color will not age gracefully between appointments. Copper fades fast and those golden accents will shift warm, so expect upkeep every four to five weeks if you care about keeping it intentional.

Wavy Shag Bob with Soft Fringe and Toffee Balayage

The bangs on this cut add a lot to the look because they are cut soft and choppy, which helps them blend into the waviness of the hair instead of being heavy and sitting down on the forehead. This makes the cut look more intentional and makes it look less like a grown out cut. This is a chin length shag with bob with some length interior layers. This allows the hair to be naturally wavy and lets the hair be voluminous without going too wide. The toffee pieces placed randomly in the hair help it look more dimensional and help the hair look less like a solid block of color. Round faces look great with this look. The crown of the hair and the bangs help to add some height to the look. For straight thin hair, this cut will look very different. The texture and fullness is what makes the look so voluminous. The layering looks to be done with a razor to help keep the ends more soft, and you can see how some pieces are at different lengths. The weather will change the look a lot, and not always in a good way.

Rich Auburn Chin Bob with Soft Layered Fringe

Take a moment to feel the weight at the cheekbone. It is intentional. The crown layers are done in a way that adds height without the poof (crazy volume). The layers taper down to thicker strands near the jaw to avoid widening a round face. This copper tone is a single process with a root shadow that is a little darker. This is what gives the color its dimension without having to do highlights. It looks expensive. If your face is narrow or angular, this length and fullness will not be beneficial because the volume sits right where a round face needs structure, and where a long face does not need anything. This is ideal for medium to thick hair. Fine hair will lose that crown height before lunch. The fringe is also working, sitting just above the brows and blending into the sides so there is no harsh line and growing it out will be a breeze.

Ash Blonde Side-Swept Pixie with Shadow Root

The design for this icy blonde pixie looks great because of the dark root. Without that color, the look would be flat. The stylist definitely found balance in the color, as the contrast at the crown becomes quite natural due to the root shadow that blends into ash platinum. The haircut has clean tapered edges around the ears and nape, and real length is only kept up top and in that long sweeping fringe. Hair that is straight to slightly wavy and of medium density is the ideal type. This fringe will not lie like that if your hair is coarse or very curly. It definitely won’t. This cut works best on oval and heart-shaped faces because the bang sweep nicely balance the width of the face. The close sides also show the jawline nicely. Round faces won’t get that angular look though. One detail to especially point out is the point cutting that ends of the fringe, which keeps the tips looking soft and not blunt. This creates separation at the forehead that’s nice and piece-y.

Choppy Brunette Pixie with Toffee Pieces

The most important aspect of the style is the razored ends. Without them, the hair would be too long and the style would be too top heavy. Instead, the texturizing allows the hair to separate into pieces and allows each piece to hold its own shape in the desired direction. The toffee highlights are only on the pieces that are brightest at the top and at the edge, while the sides and back are darker brown. This is meant to keep the style from being too uniform. This style works best with medium or thick hair that has some wave or natural bend to it. This type of style will not work well with fine hair because it will cause product build up that will look greasy. Oval and heart shaped faces will suit this style best. For round faces, there is not enough height or angularity to the cut to offset fullness through the cheeks.

Short Curly Crop with Warm Chestnut Depth

The cut is a tighter fit than it may appear. The trick many people miss is that the mass at the top may make it appear that the whole head is full and rounded, but the weight is actually removed around the ears and nape to prevent the shape from going excessivly wide. This cut is designed for naturally curling and densely coiled hair. If your hair has looser waves, or curls, or is on the thinner side, you won’t get this result. The color of the hair is a rich chestnut brown base. The warm tones catching light through the curls are likely from a few hand-painted highlights rather than foils. These highlights create a sun-kissed look instead of a stripy effect. This look is ideal for oval and heart-shaped faces. Round faces will be more challenged, as there is no length to balance the width that the curls added at the crown. This style of cut looses its purpose after four or five weeks.

Swept-Back Undercut Pixie with Mocha Dimension

At first, the fade on the sides looks tighter than it actually is. It could be a zero or one and then faded up two inches from the bottom. The contrast is doing all the work for this cut. The top swept back would look flat otherwise. To hold this volume, medium to thick hair that is straight or wavy is needed. Fin hair will collapse the style by noon. The client’s hair features a cool mocha base with subtle weave highlights. This gives a natural dimension and avoids stripiness. The fade on the left side is clean, but the right side is asymmetrical. It adds length and balance to the face. This look is suitable and flattering for heart-shaped and oval faces as the height on top elongates the appearance of the face, and the close sides expose the jawline beautifully. However, round faces will an exposed look that can be difficult to style. This is ideal if you are looking for a fresh haircut every 3-4 weeks. The sides fade quickly losing the shape and clean-ness.

Layered Brunette Pixie with Piecey Crown Volume

Before you look at the after picture (which we will also provide), look at the picture you see above. This is what medium density hair looks like prior to being styled. It is flat to the roots, the ends are frizzy, and the hair is shapeless and directionless. The pixie on the right addresses all of these concerns. The internal point cutting adds volume and separates the hair. This allows the hair to look as if it has doubled in volume. The top is longer, which avoid the style becoming flat to the head. The fringe area contains short cuts, and the front has longer pieces. This works wonders on oval and heart shaped faces, but round faces may struggle a bit because they lack the length on the sides to create that counterbalance. Most people will be surprised to hear that her hair color is still the same. It is the cut that makes her natural brunette hair appear richer, and that is because the damaged length has been removed. If your hair is fine or straight, that textured, tossed look will only last a day without product.

Tapered Pixie with Warm Blonde Dimension

The root shadow does the most work here. That dark base at the crown creates the illusion of thickness and lifts the entire top section, which is crucial because this cut depends on the volume at the crown to maintain its shape. Without that contrast, this would look flat on anyone with fine or medium density hair. The ear taper is fitted and clean, point cut so it’s close without being too shaved. Oval and heart shapes find this flattering, but round faces will face challenges. The length at the top sweeps forward into a soft side fringe that will ease the forehead and that little bit of extra texture stops it from looking too much like a helmet. If your hair is coarse, thick or extremely wavy, you’ll struggle to get this shape to cooperate with you the way it does here. You’ll be fighting it every morning.

Textured Brunette Pixie with Caramel Ribbons

This may take some time to fully appreciate what has been done. The fine pieces of caramel blended into a rich brunette base help the hair have some interesting dimension. A pixie of this length all in one dark color can feel heavy and shapeless. Look at how the color is placed on the points of the hair that are textured, lifted, and separated. This is intentional placement, not an all over balayage. The cut is layered (:razor cut:) through the top with shorter sides, and enough length on top to give the illusion of choppy, directional movement to the front. This requires a medium to thick density of hair. With fine hair, it will just lay flat. Oval and heart shapes do best with this as the wispy front softens the look without concealing the bone structure. If your face is round or square, this much volume at the top and none on the sides will definitely exaggerate width. Every four weeks, you’re back in the chair.

Curly Pixie with Sun-Kissed Highlights

Both sides are cut short and close to the head in a tapered style, while the top is left long enough for the curls to form fully. That contrast is what makes this style stand out . The curls themselves are all different in size with some winding tighter which shows that the stylist is working with the clients hair texture as opposed to the clients hair being over manipulated. The highlights are painted and they only fall on the curls that are hit by light which leaves the base darker underneath and also makes the nape area darker. If your hair is straight, this cut won’t look like this. Full stop. Genuine curl pattern of 3A and above is required and the density needs to be medium to thick in order to achieve the volume on top without it falling flat by noon. The exposed ears and close sides narrow things visually while the curly crown adds height so this look is ideal for oval and heart-shaped faces. Round, fTheace’s however, will look wider. The grow-out is the real drawback because once those tapered sides start pushing past a few weeks, curly regrowth at the temples gets unruly fast and the shape dissolves.

Swept Brunette Pixie with Honey Lowlights

The volume at the crown is doing all the heavy lifting and it’s possible because the sides are kept close and the layers through the top are point cut to fall forward without stacking. The longest pieces barely graze the cheekbone on one side while the other ear is almost fully exposed. That asymmetry is intentional and it flatters oval and heart-shaped faces especially. Round faces this exact shape will widen you. Fine to medium density hair is ideal for this because thick hair will fight that airy lift and just sit heavy. The honey toned highlights are hand painted where the light would catch so that the brunette base doesn’t read flat. This cut will not look like this in three days without some product and a heat blast at the roots.

This post More Women Are Finding Confidence in Going a Little Shorter, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The funniest thing about burnt cinnamon as a hair color is that it sounds like something you would scrape off a pan, but once you see it on hair you get why everyone is going crazy over it. It is that weird in-between color of auburn and copper that warm but doesn’t go into orange which is what most red colors get wrong. Last year I had this client who took out a photo of a cinnamon stick and I thought she was joking. But honestly, it was one of the best references ever because it showed the depth and warmth she wanted better than a Pinterest board.

Burnt cinnamon works where most warm tones fail because the base is a very dark chocolate brown. So the copper red strands look like depth, not just a color block. It is the kind of color that looks like it could almost be natural on the right skin tone, which is hard to do with anything in the red family.

The maintenance is more forgiving than you’d think, as the dark root is incorporated into the design so the regrowth blends in instead of creating a harsh line. If you’ve been hovering around the idea of going warmer but keep chickening out, this is probably where I’d start you.

Long Layered Burnt Cinnamon with Curtain Fringe and Root Depth

Root shadowing is perfect in this case. The base remains dark chestnut which merges into a deep burnt cinnamon through the midlengths, the copper highlights only getting bright where the layers fall forward. Because this is a hand-painted color (non foiled) the transitions look more lived in versus your typical striped effect. The layering starts just below the chin and gets heavier towards the ends which allows the bottom half a lot of movement without compromising the fullness at the crown. For this look, you need medium to thick hair. Fine hair won’t be able to support that volume through the top and no amount of round brushing will do what natural density is supposed to do. Oval and heart face shapes look lovely with this because the curtain fringe opens right at the cheekbone. If you can go without color-depositing products, be aware this color will fade quickly to a muddy orange-brown and the upkeep is definitely not low maintenance. The warm copper tones will be the most striking against warm skin undertones and will wash out cool complexions. It is worth noting once more that the warm copper tones will be most striking against warm skin undertones and will wash out cool complexions.

Collarbone Lob with Burnt Cinnamon Balayage and Deep Chocolate Root

The copper reflects light in a certain direction, which is intentional. This specific balayage has burnt cinnamon color at the mid-shafts and ends and the rich chocolate root color does all the grounding work. With this density of medium to thick hair, the color looks dimensional and warm without it looking stripey. Fine hair will not be able to hold this many tonal changes in a clean manner. The collarbone touching lob has a blunt perimeter and no visible layers which is why the ends are full and weighted. If you wash your hair hot and often, this color will fade quickly. It definitely suits warm and neutral skin tones and on cool undertones, it may pull too orange in a way that no gloss will fix.

Waist-Length Burnt Cinnamon Balayage with Copper Saturation Through the Ends

Many people mistakenly assume copper adjuster gradients are accidental. This means the colorist is able to adjust the saturation whilst still keeping the burnt tone. This amount of colour and length will create a thin and stringy look, which will happen in a few weeks. This is why you need thick hair to get this. The dark chocolate root is not just for aesthetics, it stops the look from going jack-o-lanterns. The artist used a more muted colour for the face framing pieces to ensure it wasn’t just about the contrast. It will warm fade, which is a gift and a problem. This also means it will require a lot of maintenance for cool toned naturals. Long layers ensure the hair doesn’t drag flat.

Straight Long Layers with Burnt Cinnamon Foils on a Cool-Toned Dark Base

Cinnamon blends can take a long time to create, especially with a lot of foils. As you can see, the base color of the root is almost cooler neutral. This allows the underlying copper pieces to stand out more than they would on a naturally warm brunette. This color combination works best with medium to thick straight to slightly wavy hair that is at least mid-back length with long internal layers. This helps to avoid a blunt look at the ends. If your hair is finer, this may lead to more significant damage because there will be no hidden breakage spots, and the foils will become more visible over time. This is an excellent style for oblong and oval face shapes as it helps to soften and trim lengths without adding width. If there is no maintenance on your toner and you do not refresh it regularly, this look will quickly fade and become muddy. On a dark base, maintaining this level of copper saturation can be a significant commitment and it will muddy easily over time.

Warm Copper Ribbons on a Dark Cinnamon Lob with Loose Beach Texture

Because the copper sections are on the top strands, they are the most prominent features of the design. Therefore, the dark base underneath will only show when the hair moves, creating a depth effect that a solid color would not. This is a medium density, shoulder length, texture with a heat tool that creates waves rather than curls, so the bends are uneven and slightly crimped at the ends. This will suit warm and neutral skin tones, while cool undertones will clash with it. If your hair is fine, this level of dimension will read busy and the strands will look too thin. The lob has no real layering structure below the jaw, only internal texture and so it’ll lose this shape quickly without styling.

Waist-Length Burnt Cinnamon with Razor-Cut Layers and Copper Foils Scattered Through the Interior

If you want to see the initial layered threads of copper color, movement is needed. Without movement, it will just look like a solid rich dark brown color. This is a tactical decision, and it will only pay off if you have sufficient hair density for the different inner layers to separate. Fine haired individuals will eventually just compress that end and conceal the target. High, about the chin, and quite aggressively to the ends for that late flipping end def. no round brushing required. This is what thick, medium to coarse, hair should do. The copper hues will harmonize beautifully with your skin if you have olive or warm undertones. If you have cool undertones, the copper will likely look orange in an unflattering way. One thing that no one seems to mention about these full saturation warm tones is how fast they fade. This is especially true in the mids where your hair gets the most direct sun exposure.

Textured Bob with Burnt Cinnamon Pieces Concentrated at the Ends

The bottom third part of the image has more color saturation than the top. This creates the appearance of something being lit from below, which is an effect that most viewers don’t notice. The colorist intentionally did this. The roots were left a deep chocolate color, and the panels that were painted in a warm, hand burnt cinnamon color get stronger towards the blunt slightly textured ends. This creates the effect of warmth pooling at the ends, rather than evenly distributing that warmth throughout the entire head of hair. This bob with internal soft layering at chin to collarbone length will move like this on medium to thick hair. For fine hair, it will collapse and give the appearance of patchiness to color instead of dimension. This color does show up best on warm and neutral toned skin. Cool undertones will have a worse experience with it. The cut itself gives an oval face shape and heart face shape the best look, as well as running the risk of looking too structured just beneath the chin. However, a person with a rounded face will find that this length, which sits at the level of the jawline, will create width instead of length. This color, combined with the length, will require a lot of maintenance, as burnt cinnamon tones fade quickly and will look dull with frequent washing.

Full-Length Burnt Cinnamon Waves with Copper Foils Catching Every Curve

Copper is placed on the very top layer of each wave, with the deeper chocolate remaining hidden. This isn’t just a simple balayage; it’s a coloring technique that keeps in mind how curled hair changes in shape (this will not reflect on straight hair). The amount of hair is also important. The larger the amount of hair, the more tone layers there will be which creates more depth and dimension. On the other hand, with fine or thin hair, the copper foils will appear more flat and less interesting. For this, warm olive and medium skin tones work best. If you have cool or fair undertones, then there will be too much copper saturation and it will clash with your skin, without giving a bronzed effect. Long layers are kept to a minimum and done more towards the inner layers so that the ends do not look too bulky. Lastly, be aware that copper at this shade will lighten and fade pretty quickly, and unevenly.

Tousled Collarbone Cut with Burnt Cinnamon Saturation on a Dark Cocoa Root

Many people will overlook how little of the root area is lightened, but this is where the color saturation mid-lengths does all the work. After about 2 inches of root area is lightened, that deep cocoa base is only starting to transition. This is what prevents it from looking too processed. This is a collarbone length haircut with long internal layers and curtain bang face framing layers that is suitable for medium to thick density hair with texture. This will not work on fine hair. In fact, if you have fine hair, you will not achieve this result. The layers will lie limp, and the color will look thin and stripey rather than woven. This look is best for oval and heart face shapes because the side swept layers that frame the face soften the look without adding extra width. The burnt cinnamon was hand painted heavily through the mids and ends almost like a color melt that stops short of the root. The copper tones reflect light in a warm way against a medium skin tone and catch light very nicely. Just be careful as this colour fades very quickly and will go orange if you don’t use colour safe products.

Sleek Lob with Burnt Cinnamon Foils Woven Through a Dark Chocolate Base

Here, the primary focus is the copper foils, and they are closer to the mid shaft. This means they will keep the roots dark and low maintenance while the tips light up like they’re lit from behind. This is a one length lob on medium density straight hair, with no layers, and that’s exactly why the colour looks so clean. Curly and wavy hair won’t achieve this. The foils would blend, and muddy together, rather than being in the distinct ribbons that are seen here. If your natural base is dark brown, you’re in luck! The contrast between the chocolate root and burnt cinnamon panels is what makes this look work. Skin with cool undertones will completely fight this colour and no toner will change that.

Long Natural Curls with Burnt Cinnamon Hand-Painted onto a Deep Espresso Base

The color is put on the outside of the curls, leaving the inner spirals dark. This makes the color rather appear dimensional than just a flat orange, since there is a contrast between the outer and inner sections. This technique is ideal for more dense, tighter curls than it would be for traditional foils. Burnt cinnamon is a warmer color, and on the ends where the curls are thinner and more exposed to light, it gives a nice natural gradient effect. For this color, straight hair would give the look of a much darker root color than what is intended, and would look a lot darker than it needs to. Curls that are less tight or that are more wavy will have less of that definitional ribbon effect at the end. This color requires a lot of upkeep to keep the tones from looking too brassy, as it melts out quickly. The summertime will really dry out and crunch up the curls, especially as they can become brassy, dry and crunchy very quickly.

Long Razored Layers with Hand-Painted Burnt Cinnamon on a Deep Auburn Base

There was a lot of thought that went into how the placement of colour. The cinnamon pieces are placed directly around the face frame and through the mid-lenghts, minus the ends, which keeps the warmth, from reading flat or one note throughout all that length. This creates a good effect for medium to thick densities. Finer hair won’t support this many interior layers without going kind of wispy at the bottom, and that’s not a styling fix. The start point for the razor layering is high, near the crown, this provides movement and keeps the weight where it counts in the back. Those front pieces that sweep back give an added benefit to round or fuller face shapes. The warm reds like this fade quickly and a colour this saturated will shift noticeably in about three weeks without colour depositing products so keep that in mind. If you’re not up for maintaining it the grow out will look muddy.

Heavily Layered Burnt Cinnamon with Face-Framing Pieces That Actually Move

Let’s discuss what’s happening with the color. The burnt cinnamon color is almost all in the interior layers. That way when the hair moves or hits the light, there is a little flash of warm copper hair that peeks out from under the dark chocolate brown hair. That is not balayage, though. The copper is painted further into the mid shaft. It is more concentrated on pieces that fall forward around the face and through the longest layers in the back. On fine hair, this layering would collapse into nothing. You need a medium to thick density for it to hold this type of movement without looking stringy. The razor work through the ends keeps everything from looking heavy. This is why those ends catch light more individually instead of clumping together. If you do not use color safe products, this color is going to fade super fast to a flat copper hue. For oval or heart-shaped faces, these curtain fringe pieces are very flattering as they pull focus towards the cheekbones. This much softness framing everything round faces would lose definition.

Burnt Cinnamon Pixie Cut Transformation with Layered Crown Volume

Let’s start with the photo showing the before hairstyle. That fine hair was thinning around the crown area and the hair length was pulling everything down and exposing the thin areas. Even without the color change, the haircut itself would have been a huge win. The copper highlights were painted on each strand over a deep burnt cinnamon base, oriented through the upper layers where the light is aimed, creating the illusion of a lot of hair up top. The stylist focused her stacking on the back and left length and movement through the top area of the crown and the bangs zone which is a great look for rounder faces because it creates an upward effect. The color will fade quickly as a result of the low maintenance nature of copper and cinnamon fine hair. This is why we see such a rapid change if the hair is more porous…within about 3-4 weeks. If color-depositing products between appointments are not part of the plan, do not be surprised when the hair looks unintentional. For fine or thinning hair that has been worn long as a default setting, this is the type of hairstyle that really alters a person’s face.

Razored Collarbone Wolf Cut with Burnt Cinnamon Woven Through Every Layer

The way the color and texture have been placed with the additional pieces looks really nice. The burnt cinnamon color pieces are located where the razor work pushes the ends out, so a warm copper color will texture light right where the reflective pieces are. The effect shown here will not be visible on straight hair, so a natural wave is required or a rough-dry with your hands to separate the layers. The hair has been cut with multiple blending techniques so it does not look thin on the ends and gives a shaggy, lived-in look. This cut is most suitable for oval and heart shaped faces. If your face is round and full, the width at the jawline will work against you. This light burnt cinnamon color will fade in the first 3-4 weeks to a peachy color and if you don’t plan to use a color-depositing product in between appointments to maintain it, you’ll lose what makes this color interesting.

Waist-Length Waves with Burnt Cinnamon Foilyage on a Deep Cocoa Base

The copper pieces here is thinner than it seems which is why it reads warmer instead of chunky and that precision foils. This is foilyage and it’s woven through long hair with minimal layering. There is enough density to support the dimension without looking stringy on the ends. On fine hair those bright cinnamon ribbons would all clump together and lose total separation. For medium to thick hair only. The dark root is so deep that regrowth won’t be noticeable for weeks which is something you don’t usually get with tones this rich. These will be great for warm olive and medium skin tones. Cool undertones will clash with it and the colour will look imposed instead of earned.

Blunt Chin-Length Bob with Burnt Cinnamon Ribbon Placement

The copper ribbons are placed with intention. The warmest pieces are at the perimeter, where light touches the ends, and the crown is in a warmer cinnamon base. That is the contrast that prevents this from being a basic auburn. The colorist chose fine foils over balayage, so the color lines are quite distinct and almost graphic against the dark roots. This is a blunt, one-length bob hitting right at the jaw which needs medium to thick density for a clean bottom line. The ends will separate and look straggly within a day on fine hair. This length is most suited to oval and heart shaped faces, as the jaw-grazing hem adds width where it is necessary. If your face is round, particularly with full cheeks, this length will draw attention to the widest part of your face and do you no good. If you do not stay on top of your gloss appointments, the colour will quickly fade to an orange-gold.

Long Textured Waves with Burnt Cinnamon Foilyage and a Deep Cocoa Root Melt

Keep in mind that as you lose a few inches your hair color will appear much different. This is caused by the copper concentration at the ends. This is a root melt with fairly dense mid-length foils that will give the client about 6 weeks’ time to not have an obvious line of demarcation. This is for coarse to medium hair. Fine hair will appear muddy with excessive tonal shifts. Long layers with enough internal texture will permit the waves to separate naturally, creating what appears to be a different light source. This will be most suitable for those with warm skin tones and an olive or golden undertone. Individuals with cool pink undertones will not appreciate this. This orange also has a very fast fade.

Curly Bob with Burnt Cinnamon Foils on a Dark Base

The copper elements added here are almost entirely on the outer curl surfaces. This means they will reflect light only when the curls fall open. That is a choice of foiling style, not an accident. With straight hair, this placement would look like chunky highlights from 2004. So this only works if you have a natural wave or curl in a medium to thick density. The bob is just below the jaw and is undercut a bit at the nape so the back doesn’t go triangular, which is the number one complaint about bobs from curly haired people. If you have a round face, this length at the jaw will not be good. It will make your face look wider. Without color safe products and cool rinses, the burnt cinnamon shade along with the bright copper ribbons will shift to a muddy strawberry and will fade quickly, especially those brighter copper ribbons.

Shoulder-Length Burnt Cinnamon with Feathered Layers and Shadow Root

Take a look at the amazing details within the face framing coloring. The midshaft color is a warm cinnamon brown at the start and shifts toward a cool, darker color at the end. This makes the hair color look like it is pulling some nice highlights towards the cheekbones without creating an all orange head. This style works best with medium density and medium textured hair. The best length is shoulder length with some inner layers that are razored to flip out at the ends. Ovular and heart shaped faces look the best with this style. If you have very fine hair, the feathered layers will lie flat very quickly and you will lose all the movement that will make this cut work. The shadow roots will start with a dark deep brown that will fade to burnt copper. For about six weeks after your appointment, you will have a nice grow out period as the copper will look warm and not disconnected from the bottom. For the right person, this look is amazing.

Mid-Length Curly Shag with Burnt Cinnamon Painted Through Every Coil

The cinnamon color was painted on each individual curl so it stands out more on the outside of the curls, while the dark color underneath is noticeable in the valleys between the curls. Because of all that texture, the curls do not have any visible color that would appear like chunky 2004 highlights. This is a natural 3B curl pattern that is shoulder length with rounded layers and a curly fringe at brow level. The volume frames pretty much everything so the face shape becomes less important. The warm copper tones wash out first and since the cuticle is more open, this color will fade quickly on curly hair. It will not be long before you are living with a muted version of this color. You will have to come back in six weeks to get it redone, but with this much curl density, it’s a great idea. If your curls are finer than the majority, then the layering may end up thinning it out in a way that will just look sparse.

Stacked Burnt Cinnamon Bob with Copper Ribbons Through the Mid-Lengths

Selecting where to place the copper pieces offers reason to believe the grow-out will look intentional and not neglected in four weeks. This is a layered bob with a chin-length front and back along with volume and stacking for a shorter look. The ends of the outer flipped layers will need a medium to thick density to hold fine hair and collapse into the neck against the layers. Longest hair pieces cut along the angled jaw create a beneficial look with rounded or square faces. The effect will give an additional elongating look to longer faces. The base color of burnt cinnamon will give a warm brunette copper appearance with hair woven in a slanted pattern and foils angled like cuts. This will create a warm and balanced look for color dimension to avoid a striped effect. Hair that is porous or lightened quickly will fade faster with the color, and the upkeep with red is not forgiving.

Burnt Cinnamon Layered Short Bob with Copper Highlights

Notice how copper is at the top layers while the under layers are a deeper brown anchoring things? That’s intentional. A colorist painted those strands to reflect light from the top and not add too much warmth to the whole head, which prevents it from looking orange on anyone with cool or olive skin tones. This is a stacked short bob with internal layering that creates volume through the back and tapers close to the nape. It requires medium to thick density. Fine hair will collapse in this area, and you will lose the entire shape within a week of washing. This looks great on oval and heart-shaped faces as the side swept fringe and ear length layers soften the look without adding too much width. If you have a round face, this will not do you any favors. The color will quickly fade to a flat copper if you do not use color-depositing products. You will also have a lot of upkeep required as you will need short hair touch ups every five to six weeks because it shows regrowth quickly.

Copper-Kissed Feathered Pixie with Deep Cinnamon Base

The copper pieces in the crown area stand out the most because they are situated in the light reflection and light movement area. This is a razor cut feathered short style with a deep burnt cinnamon base and hand painted copper top pieces. The nape is left tight and close, but the crown is big and textured, so this cut needs medium to thick hair density. Hair that is too thin will not support the lifted shape in the upper layers. This style is good for round and oval face shapes because the short tapered sides elongate the face. The color will fade very quickly, especially the copper highlights, and to avoid it from turning into a flat orange look, you will have to use color depositing products to extend the time between salon visits. This looks amazing on warm and olive skin tones because the cinnamon color looks rich and not muddy, especially if the skin tone is warm or olive.

Short Textured Crop with Burnt Cinnamon Ribbon Highlights

The crown is the point of visual separation, as the painted copper strands are thin and placed closely together, which prevents the piece from looking overly costumy. The restraint indeed makes a difference. This is a razor textured pixie that is designed to allow enough length on top to be swept forward and has enough taper at the nape to remain clean. It works best on medium density hair because finer hair won’t be able to support the separation of the strands. Individuals with round or full face shapes may find it difficult to pull off this style because of how short the sides are cut. If your skin tone is on the cooler or pink side, this particular shade will clash with your skin and no gloss will remedy it. The ribbon highlights will only reflect light at the surface, so the deep cinnamon base does the majority of the work.

This post Burnt Cinnamon Hair Is the Rich, Spiced Color Taking Over Fall, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Question from Margaret Hollis, Boise, Idaho: “I have wavy hair that gets so dry and frizzy, especially in the winter. I’ve tried a few drugstore serums but nothing seems to really help. My waves look more like a puffball than anything pretty. I’m willing to spend a little more if it’s worth it. What oils actually work for hair like mine?”

Margaret, you are speaking my language, and I mean that sincerely, because wavy hair is probably the most underserved hair type when it comes to real, useful product advice. Most of what gets marketed to wavy girls is either formulated for straight hair with a spritz of something beachy, or it’s aimed at tight curls and way too heavy for a wave pattern. That middle ground, the 2a to 2c range where your hair can’t quite decide what it wants to be, is genuinely tricky to care for, and the frizz that comes with it is not just a hydration issue. It’s a porosity issue, a cuticle issue, and honestly sometimes just a humidity issue that no product is going to fully solve. But the right oil gets you a lot closer than anything else will.

Hair has been my craft for more than fifteen years, and the number of clients who come in having been burned by heavy products that weighed their waves down, or silicone serums that just sat on top of the hair without doing anything real, is genuinely a lot. Oils are different. The right one actually penetrates the shaft, seals the cuticle, and gives that frizz something to calm down about. The wrong one just makes your hair look greasy by noon. So let’s talk about which ones are actually worth your money, in order from great to the one I keep recommending above everything else.

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8. Sweet Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil is one of those things that’s been sitting in the natural hair conversation for a long time, and it earns its place there, even if it’s not the most glamorous option on this list. What I like about it for wavy hair specifically is that it’s genuinely lightweight, which matters so much for a wave pattern that loses its shape the second something too heavy lands on it. It absorbs reasonably well, it smells pleasantly neutral, and it’s available basically everywhere, including your grocery store.

I used to keep a bottle of NOW Solutions Sweet Almond Oil in my kit for a while, mostly for scalp massages and as a pre-shampoo treatment, and I noticed that clients with frizzy wavy hair who used it that way consistently, meaning applied about an hour before washing, came in with a lot less damage over time. It’s not a styling oil, that’s an important distinction. You wouldn’t put this on your hair after it’s dry and expect it to smooth your frizz through the afternoon. But as a treatment you sleep in, or one you apply before your shower, it’s genuinely doing something.

The reason it lands at number eight is just that the benefits, while real, are more preventative than corrective. If your hair is already frizzing out by lunchtime, sweet almond oil applied as a pre-wash isn’t going to fix that in the moment. It’s playing a longer game, which is valuable, but it’s not the answer to your most immediate problem. That said, if you’re someone who loves a simple, affordable, no-fuss option and you’re patient with results, this is one I’d genuinely recommend adding to your routine. It’s one of the better kept secrets in affordable hair care and it tends to suit people who are sensitive to fragrance or who want to avoid synthetic additives in their products.

7. Grapeseed Oil

Here’s something that might surprise you. Grapeseed oil is one of the lightest carrier oils you can put on your hair, lighter even than most products marketed specifically for fine or wavy hair, and it has a really nice silkiness to it that I find works beautifully on the mid-lengths and ends of a wave. It’s also pretty high in linoleic acid, which is a fatty acid that helps with moisture retention, and for hair that’s chronically dry like Margaret described, that’s genuinely relevant.

The styling application is where grapeseed actually outperforms sweet almond for wavy hair types. Because it’s so light, you can work a few drops through damp hair before you diffuse or air dry, and it won’t drag your waves down. I’ve had clients with 2b waves who swore by grapeseed oil as a pre-styling treatment and honestly their hair looked amazing, shiny without being greasy, and the frizz was visibly reduced compared to when they were using nothing.

Where it falls short is longevity and intensity. If your hair is very dry, very porous, or if you live somewhere with genuinely harsh winters or high humidity depending on the season, grapeseed oil alone might not be enough to get you through the day. It’s a bit of a fair-weather friend in that sense. It works beautifully when conditions are reasonably cooperative, and it struggles when they’re not. So I put it at seven because it’s genuinely a great option for some people and some situations, but it’s not the most reliable all-around solution for the kind of frizz problem Margaret described.

6. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is heavier than the first two and that’s actually the point. If you’ve got thick wavy hair, the kind where each individual strand has some real substance to it even if your waves are loose, avocado oil is going to feel like it was made for you. It’s rich in oleic acid and vitamins D and E, and it has this gorgeous slip to it that makes detangling a completely different experience. I used it on a client a few years ago who had extremely dry, color-treated waves, and she looked at me like I’d performed something magical, which I hadn’t, I’d just applied a good oil correctly.

The penetration on avocado oil is genuinely impressive. It’s one of the few plant oils that research suggests can actually pass through the hair shaft rather than just sitting on top of the cuticle, and for dry hair that’s the difference between your hair actually getting moisture and your hair just looking moisturized for an hour. Used as an overnight mask, a small amount worked through dry hair before bed and then shampooed out in the morning, it can make a noticeable difference in softness and manageability within a few uses.

The reason it sits at six rather than higher is just that it’s easy to use too much of it. And with wavy hair, too much oil means your waves go limp and your roots look unwashed even if they aren’t. The technique really matters here, a tiny amount on the ends, warming it between your palms before you touch your hair, and you get a beautiful result. A little too generous and you’ve spent your whole morning diffusing only for your hair to look defeated. Avocado oil for hair is sold at most health food stores and online, and honestly the pure cold-pressed versions outperform the blended ones by a lot in my experience.

5. Rosehip Seed Oil

Rosehip is mostly talked about in skincare circles, where it’s genuinely earned its reputation, but I want to make a case for it in the hair conversation because it does something specific that the others on this list don’t do quite as well. It’s high in trans-retinoic acid, which is a naturally occurring form of vitamin A, and it has a really lovely effect on the hair cuticle over time, making it smoother and more reflective. For wavy hair that looks dull and frizzy rather than shiny and defined, that cuticle-smoothing effect is significant.

I started recommending rosehip oil to clients about four years ago, mostly on a hunch after seeing how well it worked on my own hair, which is a loose wave that goes full disaster mode in dry indoor air during winter. I was layering it under a light leave-in conditioner on damp hair and diffusing, and the difference in how my waves held their shape through the day was real enough that I noticed it. Not like a miracle, but like my hair was actually behaving.

It is a dry oil, meaning it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling, which puts it firmly in the usable-for-styling category rather than just the treatment category. Something like Teddie Organics Rosehip Seed Oil or similar cold-pressed versions are worth looking at. The one thing I’d say is that it has a slightly earthy scent that not everyone loves on their hair, so if you’re sensitive to that, keep it in mind. It’s not overwhelming but it’s there.

4. Castor Oil (Specifically Jamaican Black Castor Oil)

Okay so castor oil is thick. Like, really thick. And if I just said that without context you’d probably wonder why it’s on a list for frizzy wavy hair, which tends to need lighter products. But Jamaican Black Castor Oil, which is processed differently from regular castor oil, has a long track record in the natural hair community for genuinely improving hair density, reducing breakage, and most relevant here, sealing moisture into the cuticle in a way that holds up through humidity and dry air alike.

The technique is everything with this one. You are not applying JBCO directly to your waves as a styling product. What you’re doing is mixing a small amount with a lighter oil, maybe grapeseed or rosehip from earlier on this list, or using it purely as a scalp treatment to address the dryness at the root level rather than just the ends. Dry scalp contributes more to overall hair dryness than most people realize, and treating it directly changes the texture of your hair as it grows in.

I have a client, she’s been coming to me for about six years, and she had this situation where her hair was just chronically brittle at the ends and nothing held moisture. We spent months trying lighter oils and leave-ins, and it wasn’t until she started doing a weekly JBCO scalp massage, something like Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil, that we really started seeing improvement. It’s not a quick fix and it’s not a styling product in the traditional sense, but for the long game, for actually rehabilitating dry frizzy wavy hair, it earns this spot.

3. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is technically a liquid wax rather than an oil, which sounds like a weird distinction but it actually matters for how it behaves on your hair. Because its molecular structure is so similar to the sebum your scalp naturally produces, it absorbs in a way that other oils just don’t. It doesn’t sit on top waiting to either be absorbed or transfer onto your pillowcase. It sort of becomes part of what’s already there, which is why it feels so balanced and why it’s so hard to use too much of it compared to something like avocado or castor.

For frizzy wavy hair, jojoba does two things particularly well. It smooths the cuticle without weighing the wave down, and it helps regulate moisture, meaning it’s one of the few oils that works reasonably well in both dry and humid conditions. Most oils are very good in one environment and struggle in the other. Jojoba is more adaptable, which for someone like Margaret in Boise dealing with dry winters is valuable, but it also means it holds up better in summer humidity than most alternatives.

I’ve used Sky Organics Jojoba Oil and a few other brands, and honestly the quality is pretty consistent across cold-pressed versions. A few drops on damp hair before diffusing, or even smoothed over dry hair to tame flyaways without resetting your style, and it just works. It’s been in my personal kit and my professional kit for years at this point, and it’s one of the oils I hand-sell most often to clients who are newer to using oils in their routine because it’s the most forgiving.

2. Argan Oil

Argan oil has been mainstream for long enough that it’s easy to be a little dismissive of it, like oh that again, but the reason it became so popular is that it genuinely performs well on a wide range of hair types, and wavy frizzy hair is absolutely one of them. It’s rich in oleic and linoleic acids, high in vitamin E, and it has that particular quality of making hair look healthy rather than just coated, which is the difference between a good oil and a mediocre one.

What I appreciate specifically about argan for wavy hair is how it behaves when the hair is styled and dried. A lot of oils are great in the wet phase and then either disappear or turn greasy as the hair dries. Argan stays present in a good way, it keeps that anti-frizz effect going through the day, and it adds a softness to the wave that makes it look intentional rather than accidental. That sounds like a small thing but for wavy-haired people who often feel like their texture is just something happening to them rather than something they’re actually styling, it makes a real difference.

Moroccanoil Treatment is the one most people know, and I’ll say it deserves its reputation, though Moroccanoil Treatment does contain some silicones in addition to the argan oil, which is something to be aware of if you’re trying to keep your routine silicone-free. For a pure argan oil option, OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco or a straight cold-pressed argan oil from a brand like Leven Rose works really well and is significantly more affordable. Either way, argan is close to the top of this list for a reason, it’s reliably excellent for exactly the problem Margaret described.

1. Marula Oil

Marula oil is the one I reach for first when someone sits down in my chair with dry, frizzy, wavy hair and tells me nothing has worked. Not because it’s trendy, though it has had its moment, but because of what it actually does at the structural level. Marula is extracted from the seeds of the marula fruit, native to southern Africa, and it has one of the highest concentrations of oleic acid of any plant-based oil, somewhere around 70 to 78 percent. Oleic acid is particularly effective at penetrating the hair shaft, which means marula isn’t just sitting on your hair looking pretty. It’s actually getting in there.

The texture of marula oil is what wins people over immediately. It is lightweight in a way that genuinely surprises you for how rich it is. The first time I used it, I expected something heavier given how much oleic acid it contains, and instead it absorbed almost immediately and left my hair with this softness that felt like it was coming from inside the strand rather than being applied on top. For wavy hair that wants to be frizzy the moment conditions aren’t ideal, that distinction really matters, because surface coating wears off and penetration doesn’t.

I keep coming back to it for dry winter hair in particular. The combination of high oleic content and antioxidants including vitamin C and E means it protects the hair from environmental damage while it’s treating it, so it’s not just a reactive product. It’s actually helping prevent the brittleness and porosity that lead to frizz in the first place. For a client dealing with chronic dryness and an unpredictable wave pattern, that dual action is exactly what you want.

On the styling side, a few drops of marula worked through damp hair before air drying or diffusing gives that lived-in, soft wave look that so many people are trying to achieve without ever finding the right product to get there. It doesn’t crunch, it doesn’t flake, and it doesn’t make your roots look oily even if you get a little generous with it. Marula oil hair treatments are sold under a few different brand names now, and I’ve used The INKEY List Marula Oil as well as straight cold-pressed versions, and both perform beautifully. If I could only recommend one oil to someone with Margaret’s exact description of her hair, dry, frizzy, wavy, and frustrated with products that haven’t delivered, it would be marula, every single time.

A Few Things Worth Knowing Before You Start

Using oil on wavy hair is as much about technique as it is about which oil you choose, and I want to be honest about that because no product is going to do the work if the application is off. Less is genuinely more, especially with a wave pattern that’s fighting to hold its shape. Start with two or three drops, warm it between your palms until it’s absorbed into your skin a little, then smooth it through your hair from mid-length to ends. Your roots almost never need oil, and applying it there is the fastest route to hair that looks unwashed by mid-afternoon.

High porosity hair, which is very common in hair that’s been colored, heat-styled frequently, or just lives in a very dry climate, actually absorbs oil faster and better than low porosity hair, so if that sounds like yours, you might find that oils work better for you than they did for a friend with different hair. Low porosity hair needs a little heat to help oil absorb, so if you’ve been applying oils and feeling like they sit on top without doing anything, try applying your oil to hair that’s been warmed with a few minutes under a shower cap or a warm towel.

And one last thing, layering a few drops of oil over a water-based leave-in conditioner is almost always more effective than using oil alone for very dry hair. The leave-in brings the moisture, the oil seals it in, and together they do something neither one accomplishes on its own. It’s one of those combinations I keep coming back to because it just works, and for hair like Margaret’s, that combination with marula oil on top is where I’d start.

The Bottom Line

Margaret, your hair isn’t hopeless, and the fact that drugstore serums haven’t worked doesn’t mean you’re beyond help. It probably means you’ve been using products formulated around silicone or alcohol that were temporarily smoothing the cuticle without actually addressing the dryness underneath. Real oil, the right one applied the right way, is a different experience entirely. Start with marula if you can find it, or jojoba if you want something more widely available, and give it at least three or four weeks before you judge the results, because this kind of deep hydration work doesn’t happen overnight. Your waves are there. They just need something that actually speaks their language.

This post Best Oils for Dry, Frizzy, Wavy Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

The middle part of your hair may be over, but it should be. Half-way through 2023 it became the expected part for women everywhere and defaults usually aren’t the best for most of the population. The side part is virtually too simple to care about, yet it is an amazing trick for fine or thinning hair. Even a slight shift of the part to the side creates the illusion of denser hair at the root. Some hair, if you are going against the natural growth of the hair, will actually lift off the scalp and create more volume. One of my clients parted her hair dead center for 15 years and one of the first services I did for her was moving her part after I sent her home to the left by two inches. She looked at me like I pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Congratulations, you guessed it, I just changed her part. Everything else in her hair remained the same.

A side part also differs from others because it helps frame the hair around your face. The center part has a habit of highlighting all the asymmetrical features of your face and hairline, front and center. A side part you can control and help conceal the trouble spots of your hairline by parting the heavier section of your hair to cover the thinner spots of your hair and create a balanced volume.

So if you’re wondering why we have a few variations on some of the styles, some of which may appear much more simple, that’s the idea. The subtleties of a haircut should never be underestimated, and a professional can always make magic look effortless. The best hairdressing techniques are the ones where it isn’t even clear that a technique has been done (at least to the untrained eye).

Dark Chin-Length Bob with Lived-In Movement and a Casual Sweep

This section of the style is almost nonexistent, and that’s what is appealing about the style. Instead of a formal part, the hair has a lean to the side that is finger combed. As for the formal cut, it stops at the chin and has a bob haircut with very little layering (maybe some point cuts) so blunt ends don’t happen. Fine hair particularly will not hold this style without the use of product, and will just fall flat. Round and oval face shapes will particularly look best wearing this length because it stops at the chin without framing or full eyes. It has a focus on asymmetrical simple length and line, so there is no color work and just healthy natural black. For very straight flat hair in the roots, this style will be flat, and not have the shine and volume the style is designed to have.

Curly Copper Pixie Swept Off the Forehead

Copper is an avid worker, and this is not a one-task kind of job. The darker root switches up this technique by stopping curls from falling flat, and adding dimension to the style by creating texture and volume. The cut is a pixie with layers that allow the stylist to side sweep the hair to one side. The back of the head has a clean cut and is side parted with a lazy S, which adds character. This is a style that will only look good on people that have curly hair types that are 3A or more. Straight hair will just fall flat. People with round or oval shaped faces will look good pulling this style off, since the hair will be hanging on top of the head, creating the optical illusion of having a smaller face. This style is not recommended for those with long face shapes since the top of the head being textured with no width will add volume to elongated faces. This style is only for those that are committed, as if you do not use color depositing conditioner to keep the copper tones, your hair will be brassy.

Mid-Length Brunette with Wispy Face Framing and a Quiet Side Part

The part is off center slightly and this really adds a lot to an oval-shaped face, where a balanced asymmetry adds dimension to the face. Mid-length hair has lots of internal layering with some point cutting so this hair won’t fall flat and weigh the rest of the hair down. This also adds movement from the hair below the jaw line. This cut has sort of medium density, straight to slightly wavy hair. The framing side pieces are very pretty and have super fine pieces that were done dry so that they won’t fall flat on top of one another and can easily fall straight. This hair has a glossy natural brown color with some shine. For fine hair, this cut has a lot to offer with movement, and for thicker hair, some sort of styling is required to achieve the desired look.

Mid-Length Dark Brunette with Loose Body and a Swept Root Lift

Most of the work is done in the root area. The side part of this style actually helps create lift at the crown. As the crown area builds volume, so too does the thickness and density of the hair. You can achieve this by directing the hair against the grain of gravity, without backcombing or build up. The layers are long and point cut to remove weight from the inner most length without creating steps. The hair is full and connected. Texture is added with an overall one length cut that contains lots of layering. This cut is best suited to coarse hair and flat mids and roots of fine hair that quickly become stringy. The color is a cool-leaning brunette and has a gloss for shine. This style is great on an oval or heart face as the length is kept to just past collarbone length to prevent the style from looking too heavy. The volume at the crown is great for a narrower chin.

Collarbone Brunette Lob with Invisible Layers and a Low Side Sweep

This piece is slightly off center, but only needs to be an inch from center to achieve its goal. This small asymmetrical design adds dimension and helps to convey the primary focus without stylish design. Check out the shorter face framing pieces on the right that tuck behind her ear. The pieces on the left fall in front and graze her jaw. This is not a coincidence. The inner layers have been point cut so they can move independently to open and create textured ribbons. This is a lob in medium to straight to wavy texture that hits at the collarbone and is one of the best lengths for round or oval facial shapes. On fine hair, it will lay flat and touch the neck. The color is a cool toned brunette with some light pieces woven into the mids to give the appearance of no weight to the color. If you are looking for a cut that will look done without needing to spend a great deal of time styling it, this is the style.

Glossy Dark Layers with a Blown-Out Side Sweep

This is not a full part. It’s more like a side sweep with a round brush blow out. This is also partially why this part isn’t stiff. This part needs a lot of hair to keep the mid length volume and avoid collapsing. This style won’t work with thin hair. This part starts splitting more beneath the jawline instead of laying blunt and straight to the end, which is more of a style to keep the part more of a unit as opposed to many sections. This has no color at all, natural and healthy dark brown hair with a lot of shine. The part works for many face shapes, especially Oval and Heart as it brings the focus to the forehead and builds balance to the bottom section. This is a very sad part to have if you have thin hair. It will also lose all volume in just a few hours.

Short Curly Crop with Natural Volume and a Casual Side Direction

Notice that the side is nearer to the head on the other side of the curls. The side part is responsible for all the volume gathering to that side, where there is actually no part. This is a dry-cut pixie on thick, naturally curly hair. The curls are free to fall wherever. It works best for round, and oval shaped faces. This shape will be affected differently and be unpleasant for you, if you have 3B curls or looser. The side is shorter. There is natural ear exposure which prevents the side from looking heavy. Most people probably won’t notice the exposure, and it can really affect the whole look.

Jaw-Length Brunette Bob with Flippy Ends and a Relaxed Sweep

The ends kick out because the layers have been point cut, otherwise they would fall flat without movement. So it does NOT look like a helmet! The side part is slightly off-center which creates a cute, asymmetrical movement, with no commitment to a large sweep. It looks great in hair that’s a medium density with a natural wave. You’d have to blow dry it straight every day if you have fine hair, or use a big round brush. Rough drying would SUCK for thick hair because it would just make the layers pouf. This is a total winner for oval and heart face shapes since the jaw length layers are a nice frame without shortening the face which is a win. It’s probably NOT for you if you have a round face since this length will make you look wider. The color is single process dark chocolate brown, which also looks a dark brown. It’s a solid dark brown with no visible shiny chunks so it looks clean.

Warm Brunette Lob with Toffee Accents and a Swept Part

As you can see from the pictures, where the part meets the comb is much less important. The main work is started by the finger-directed part, not the comb. This lob is collarbone-length with medium density hair with long layers on the inside and toffee-colored midshaft with the most length, where the leaning more natural light movement will show. The color is close to base and may be two tones lifted. This is expensive color work. This may look like a grow out challenge and fine color work. Long face-framing pieces fall past the jaw line, and on fine hair and flat hair, this will fall back to the center. The shape is held and is a strong, voluminous style. For fine hair, this will collapse to center quickly.

Curly Auburn Collarbone Cut with a Natural Side Fall

This part is very unspecific and basically describes where hair naturally wants to fall. It is about creating a look that is intentional. This look requires a collarbone length cut. This will keep your curls from falling in a triangle shape. The auburn color with a warm undertone looks great on people with a natural dark base. The base is very natural meaning it is not a drastic color change. The light reflects in the curls because of the color. This is a very flattering look with medium to thick curls/waves. Fine curls will sag and lose volume in some of the layers. This works well on round face shapes. Fine layers to the side help create a longer line and draw focus away from the round shape of the face. If your curls are tighter than 2C, expect this to be more of a bob.

Dark Chocolate Long Layers with a Barely-There Side Sweep

This look isn’t as much of a part as a healthy drift. The layering that frames the face guides the hair into a somewhat messy center part. This style is achievable on the thicker types of straight or a slight wave. There aren’t a lot of issues with this look in particular because the long, interior layers are point cut and leave a good amount of weight behind. This style naturally leaves hair energized and moving and doesn’t lay flat on the face. This style would probably lose volume for fine hair quickly. The base color is dark brown, but there are warm brown highlights that are practically microscopic and add texture to the look. This color is only really visible through certain lighting. This style isn’t going to do much for anyone with a round face, but it is a great style for oval or heart shaped faces.

Ear-Length Crop with Dimensional Blonde Pieces and a Soft Sweep

How strange that the pieces that take the longest to cut will end up on the jawline of one side of the face, and will be significantly shorter on the other side of the face right behind the ear. Asymmetry is what adds dimension to these types of haircuts. If the symmetry was to be maintained; it would look bland. This is done with a base of medium bronde and hand-painted blonde highlights which are strategically scattered amongst the hair layers to lift the hairline and add volume to medium density hair. This cut does not compliment very curly or coily hair unless the inner layers are modified also. This haircut is designed for straight to wavy hair which has a bit of texture to it. This haircut lengthens and adds shape to the face so anyone with a long, thin face should avoid this haircut. The diagonal line on the forehead, combined with the length on the side of the face creates a haircut that tends to elongate a thin face. The razored ends on top of the crown are meant to look somewhat piecey and separated. A texture will form if the hair is not trimmed every 6 weeks and will look unkempt.

Rich Brunette Long Layers with a Casual Side Sweep

Observe the lack of sharpness and precision in the placement and maybe an inch off-center. It creates an effortless feeling. The hair naturally falls where it wants to with the root direction. The long layers start from the collarbone and end at the tips of the hair. Movement is left loose with point cutting to avoid sharp, weight lines. This is an ideal style for thick or medium density hair. It will not hold shape without a lot of hair product and heat. The color is kind of dark chocolate brown, but it has some mid-shaft ribbon highlights which are very subtle and can’t be seen on a screen unless you are looking for them. To catch some light and read as highlights they exist. Round faces can work this style, because the length and diagonal line of the part will create elongation. If your face is longer or narrow this length will just pull your face down.

Textured Pixie with Swept Side Part and Warm Highlights

The before pic shows a lot of hair totally lacking in excitement. The after shows a pixie cut with a bit of texture on the top and tapered sides, with a deep soft side part to help open the face. Most people will not even see the warm honey highlights that are layered in this very short pixie. The undercut being natural brown hair brings great contrast to the cut. This style is great for someone with medium to thick hair and either an oval or heart shaped face. This cut will work for a lot of people, as will a lot of short haircuts. However, for someone who this style doesn’t work for, the cut will not look good. This cut does not work for people with fine hair, as it will not create the piecey texture. This cut also creates more of a wide angle along the face, so it does not work for someone with a round face. Balance it with a long shape.

Dark Layered Shag with Curtain Fringe and a Soft Side Shift

The density allows the short layers to avoid flattening by noon. Without this, the short layers of this medium-to-coarse hair with natural wave would go completely flat. Heavy razoring through the midlengths brings movement and completes the look. This style is easily identified by the side part that sweeps it to the side (though it is more of a side part and the curtain fringe naturally falls to either side). Layers around the face are long, and are actually point cut, meaning shorter pieces are graduated at different lengths than being cut completely flat giving way to a smooth look to longer lengths. Shoulder length hair framing each side of the face draws the eye up and elongates the face, great for both round and heart shaped faces. While not ideal for square jawlines, this style should not be ignored.

Dark Lob with Berry-Toned Ribbons and a Clean Side Sweep

The ends taper nicely into a length that works well for styling hair without losing pieces and the restraint actually does most of the work. This is a lob that skims the collarbone. This style is constructed using medium to slightly wavy hair. It has fine streaks of berry plum. The base is dark. This color is subtle and can be seen as a hand-painted ink rather than a foil, as it only shows in lighter circumstances. This style is great for people with an oval or heartshaped face as it elongates the face without overcrowding the jaw especially if you have a rounder face. The cut won’t look good on thicker, less wavy hair as you will need to flat iron the hair if you want to pull off this style.

Shoulder-Length Textured Lob with Honey Balayage and Soft Sweep

The power of a good asymmetrical haircut is that this style does not even feel like one. The root being lifted with the hair being ‘off centered’ creates the perfect balance and texture to the style. The main hair length is brightened with a hand painted color to create depth. Honey and toffee are the perfect colors to compliment the darker color in this textured lob. The darker root color in this style is a perfect way to keep this style from looking dated and striped. This style can actually make a face look wider if your face is already round. This is a perfect length for a style to balance an oval or heart shaped face. The point cutting in the layers gives adequate separation while sustaining a great amount of volume. If you’re looking for a style that works well with fine hair, look no further. Use your flat iron to get the texture and add product to keep the hold in the wave. Coarse hair loves this style while fine hair does not hold the shape for long. This style is great for medium textured hair.

Feathered Brunette Pixie with a Deep Side Sweep

This one is hardly a style, and here’s why. It’s basically a razor top with a side part, and of course looks natural and effortless. This style works well for fine, straight hair, of medium length. This one also needs density of hair in order for it to stay up. Otherwise, it just lays flat. Round and oval face shapes are also good candidates for this style. The fringe creates an angle the face is lacking. I must say, I look at this style and for the first time I think about the work this hair requires every day just to make this happen. It adds a bit of tapered volume to the sides and length to the top of the head. I am mesmerized. There really doesn’t seem to be any work done with the color here, but maybe that’s the style. The hair is super straight and super rich.

Tousled Long Layers with Burgundy Undertone and Curtain Fringe

This style doesn’t include a part, so hair is able to fall in a way that is slightly to the side, and the loose shape is doing the most. The unstructured loose shape and open wavy pattern is great for long, thick hair. The layers are cut to remove some weight through the mid-lengths. Because of this, the wave pattern stays opened instead of clumping. This hair is a deep brown, and up close, there is a slight burgundy. It is most likely a gloss or demi that finishes the highlights. Burgundy only comes out when hair is exposed to light, so this looks great for people with flat or fine hair, and has enough texture to retain volume and shape. The loose, undone shape is great for an oval or heart shaped face because of the length of the fringe which softens the placement of a more narrow forehead. If you are looking to try a curtain fringe, this style a great place to start. This style fades fast, and the burgundy will be gone within three or four washes.

Voluminous Brunette Sweep with Warm Mid-Length Highlights

Volume is mostly on one side. Root area is pushed back with round brush and long layers do the work. Its thick concentrated toffee balayage below the chest length hair. If you have fine hair, it will loose volume pretty quickly, so you need to build a lot of density. Because of the length of the hair around crown and the sweeping diagonal of hair across the forehead, this cut is perfect for round and wide face shapes. Even though there is no cut in fringe, the long layering allows for a curtain effect which works well to grow out this style.

Choppy Neck-Length Shag with Warm Toffee Pieces

The side swept fringe incorporates a great deal of inspiration in modern short layered haircuts. Texture is created with point cutting or a sharp razor. The layers are created in a place that allows your hair to lean and fall to one side. The hair in front of the ear and the “Curtain” at the temple are allowed to grow out in length. This haircut will look great on a brunette base with some toffee highlights. The highlight placed under and around the face will create some dimension and glow as the hair moves. This is a great hairstyle if you have some medium wavy hair, but not as straight. It will not suit straight thick hair because it will lose all of the structure it has and puff to the sides.

Long Layered Side Part with Face-Framing Pieces

The part isn’t sharp, it is maybe an inch off the center and hair falls naturally across it. It sort of looks natural and intentional all at once without looking rigid. The internal layers start at the cheekbone with short pieces that sweep outward and end in long texturized styles that hit at the chest. Heavy hair texturizing is the focus of this style. With fine, low density hair and hair without much body, this style would look terrible on you. Thick hair is needed for this to look good. Fine hair cannot be faked at the root. These styles especially flatter face-framing styles on oval or heart shaped faces because the openness of the face contrasts the heavier curtain piece that balances it. This style uses a lot of natural hair texture and loose bends that bring all the layers together. Straight hair lacks this dimension. Straight hair layers will lay completely flat and have no dimension.

Textured Chin-Length Bob with Copper Ribbon Highlights

This copper isn’t a solid color. It’s dark brown with a light caramel hue reminiscent of a ribbon weaved throughout. The darker brown color is more concentrated in the front and ends. This color adds the right amount of warmth without being a dull red. This color looks excellent on hair with medium density and natural wave or texture. The straight lines on the perimeter keep this cut from being too square and slim so it looks good with the lines. The asymmetrical off center part sweeps naturally across the forehead. The shape and how it sits looks the best stylistically on oval and heart face shapes. This style would not be good on a round face, as it would only make your face appear to be even more round and there isn’t any way to fix this by styling. This cut will look good on hair with a lot of volume, but it will take work to maintain the look.

Curly Mid-Length with a Subtle Warm Balayage

Your observations are correct. This cut is more complex than it seems. The side part allows for curls to fall with more volume on one side, while the rest of the hair falls on the other side and creates symmetry and dimension. The side part also complements her face shape without disrupting the natural curl pattern. This hair type is medium density and 3A. The tapered, cut dry layers help each curl pop and not fall to form a triangle. Warm caramel hand-painted lowlights through the mid-shaft of the hair bring dimension to the brunette look with a reflective light that curls normally do not have. If your curls have more looseness, then the side part may fall flat by noon. This is not a styling problem, but a density and curl problem. This style is most suited for medium to thick hair in order to keep the heavier side of the part.

Collarbone Waves with Warm Caramel Foilyage

The first part where I didn’t specify anything makes the biggest difference here. This hair appears to have landed itself. This is medium length hair with lots of layers, off center part and a foilyage technique. This hair cut is super smart and easy. Making a side part works with almost every face shape, especially oval or round. Getting and keeping the centered wave through the hair takes hot tools and a lot of product. This hair cut even looks good on the second day if you don’t mind the heat and styling tools.

This post The Soft Side-Part Is the Easy Switch That Makes Hair Look More Polished, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

I had a woman in her sixties ask for a ” manageable” haircut. I quickly learned that she actually had no intention of blow drying her hair ever again, so she was going to need something that looked intentional without on her end. We kept it short and textured with some movement through the top and she sent me a picture the next day. She had just toweled her hair off and it looked like she had spent lots of time on it. That’s the whole point of wash and wear.

What many don’t realize about these styles is that there are a lot of cuts that truly are not ‘wash and wear’ and still receive the ‘wash and wear’ label. If you need a round brush, a diffuser, and three different products to make it look like the marketing photo, that is a lie with good marketing. The images posted here dry well and look good on their own, regardless of whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, thick, thin, or in that oddly mixed/complicated range most of us are in. Some of the styles are super short (which are obvious choices), and some are a little longer than you’d expect for this category, and that’s where I think it gets really interesting. The secret is almost always in the layering and the texture, and also finding a stylist who understands what your hair does when no one’s watching.

Layered Brunette Bob with Face-Framing Highlights and Beveled Ends

Instagram: eduardoesplugues

The ends of your hair naturally curve inwards. They also don’t have any styling, meaning that this is a wash and wear cut, not a blowout that you’d have to chase every morning. The layers in the crown section allow the hair to not sit flat and heavy like a helmet for people with medium to thick hair. Fine hair won’t be able to hold this shape. The honey-toned highlights are only through the top layers, meaning the undersides are left dark, which creates an illusion of depth and movement without having to get a full dye. Longer front pieces may narrow your face, which is nice on rounder shapes, and these layers also do that. If your hair is limp or thin, this cut will collapse by noon and leave you very annoyed.

Jet Black Choppy Bob with Piece-y Bangs

Instagram: swamp.mermaid.beauty

The sections of fringe in this style are actually very strategic and are peak at the brow and thin at the temples. This prevents the style from constricting the face as what most frames do. This is a chin length razored bob on medium density hair. Hair of this density makes that shape all the more possible thanks to the natural texture which holds the shape overall. The ends of the style are drawn to frame the face. This is done using a point cut where the frayed edges are drawn to kick out in different directions. This is a very bold look considering Black hair color with no dimension. For people with cool or fair undertones, this would not look great at all. On her, with this color wash, it complements her skin very well. Thin hair will not give volume to the hair unless it is being grown out. Your bangs will fall flat by noon. Round shaped faces are recommended to avoid this style as the full fringe and chin length hair will give the perception of a smaller face frame.

Choppy Brunette Pixie Bob with Gray Grow-Out

Instagram: hairforthepeople

The gray comes in at the roots and temples, but the lovely brown brunette currently retains its length. This is not a bad ombre. This classy lady is letting nature take its course. What a cool cut for an even cooler natural hair transition! Chic wispy fringe breaks the monotony of the hairstyle and allows length to retain a simple, sleek style. For finer hairstyles, this cut might actually help give the illusion of thickness. Short layers are modern and this great natural oval-shaped cut is great for elongating the face. Rounder face shapes would not appreciate this cut as there is little to no width on the sides. Even though the cut is simple, shape was very much part of it. The style provides a hands-off hairstyle for the morning.

Dark Brunette Feathered Short Bob with Wispy Fringe

Instagram: mie.cocoro

This shape does an incredible job of conserving volume at the crown and bringing it down to the nape. This graduation technique is designed to lessen the flatness and straightening effect of finer or even medium length hair. Some side-swept layers are used to blend lengthy fringe and draw attention away from the bangs. Because of the forgiving nature of the style, it’s perfect for growing out hair. Unfortunately, it’s not designed for thick or medium lengths of hair. This particular look would require several thinning scissors passes and it may still completely alter the style as shown. The length at the jawline would enhance the roundness of the face and therefore should be avoided if you have a round face. The dark brown color of this hair should be preserved to enhance the neutral nature of this coloring.

Brunette Swept Pixie Bob with Feathered Movement

Instagram: luizacaetano.conception

This back falls just to her ear and sweeps back, framing the face, and helps keep the jawline open without showing too much neck. The point cutting technique through the crown leaves piecey tops without any stacking, and this is a good cut for medium density hair. Hopefully you don’t flatten the swept back sides too much if you have fine hair. The color is a nice single process in a medium warm brown that is close to her natural hair color. One thing to mention is that this style will grow out awkwardly fast, so don’t expect to go more than 5-6 weeks without a trim, but with the cut being this good, I’m sure this is a trade off a lot of people would be willing to do.

Blonde Stacked Bob with Razored Volume

Instagram: jeanclaudeelmoughayar

Your Crown is impressive. I see lift without even needing to use product or a round brush and I have to give credit to the cut for that. The lift is from graduated stacking and textured razor layers. It is a short stack bob on medium density straight hair and has a natural gray and dark blonde base with dimensional blonde highlights. The fringe falls across the forehead and blends with the length that hits the jawline. The oval and oblong face shape cut would look good on you. For the round face shape, the lack of length below the jaw would not minimize the width, however; the volume at the crown would help offset roundness. For thick hair the puff is going to be sideways and away from the nape, so volume isn’t going to work. This cut needs thin hair and the side volume to work. There is some dimension to the color in this cut with lighter pieces on top and throughout the front to blend the gray and help with the grow out for 6-8 weeks.

Warm Brunette Stacked Bob with Face-Framing Highlights

Instagram: olgakursitis

Look how the graduation in the back pushes all the volume forward and up. This is actually doing the heavy lifting for people with medium-density hair that tends to lay flat. It’s a stacked bob with longer pieces in the front and shorter layers in the back crown. The fingers reflect brunette tones on the underneath layer to add dimension, and it doesn’t even really take a full color commitment. This looks great on round and oval-shaped faces. It will draw your face down even more if you have a narrow and long face. One thing most people will not notice is how the interior of this bob is point-cut to remove all the bulk and has a clean perimeter, which keeps the style from looking like a helmet. It will not air dry into this style if your hair has any natural wave.

Dark Curly Bob with Natural Bounce

Instagram: espacosheilalopesoficial

If you’re a curly haired individual, listen up! Those asymmetrical curls are not because of a poor hair cut—they actually do grow that way on their own. It definitely takes some gravity and time for the curls to grow that way, which makes that “carved” look, but each curl will find its own place and position rather than being symmetrically positioned. This short and simple but stylish look can be pulled off on chin length hair. It’s also extremely easy to maintain since it’s a wash and wear style. Since product helps pull off the look, it’s extremely important to use a good product to evoke the style, like a volumizing gel. Just allow the hair to diffuse on its own or air dry. This bob is a great length to pull off for people with round or oval face shapes because the curls around the hairline help bring dimension to the face.

Salt and Pepper Chin-Length Bob with Wispy Bangs

Instagram: saraparker.doeshair

Straight across bangs show a little of the forehead while stopping right at the brow. This face framing style is best for softer faces. This chin length bob has subtle layers that stop at your jawline. There is natural graying of hair that has excellent dimension and depth and would be difficult for colorists to recreate. It’s growing out her silver and the dark gray pieces at the root create contrast usually achieved by time consuming and expensive foils. This cut is perfect for medium density hair that’s straight to slightly wavy. This cut will pouf out the sides and lose the line of the cut on thicker hair. It will feel boxy on a round face. It will not be a wash and wear style. You will have to use a dryer and flat bristle brush to achieve the look.

Silver Wavy Shag with Wispy Curtain Bangs

Instagram: lolojane

The textured ends curl in opposite directions and work perfectly for a chin-length shag to incorporate and enhance natural curls/waves. This look is definitely on the wild side after a wash, and this is where texture and interior layers come into play. These bangs are wispy and separated and will work perfectly for a sloped, small forehead, as they are not heavy and blunt. This cut works the best with the hair type that is specific as a wave/curl combination. This cut is not formal and is not a good choice if you are focusing on symmetry, as every step you take out the door will irritate you. I personally like to work with hair colors in the Vanilla and Chocolate range, and these shades add a nice 3D effect even without any color treatment. This cut is perfect for an Oval face shape, as it controls pose volume to the top layer with a nice side layer to prevent blowouts. Fine hair and thick hair will both benefit from this cut.

Sleek Collarbone Lob with Warm Chestnut Gloss

Instagram: kary_hairstyle

Graduated blunt cut perimeters are clean and look great, but that precision also triggers a major drawback. Any kind of wave or cowlick will continuously challenge that shape, and as such, it won’t air dry nicely on any hair that is medium density and straight. The longest pieces of this hair, which land just past the clavicle, will not do well to frame the face. As a front piece is cut a bit shorter, that subtle forward angle will draw the eye down to the center of the face, and lengthen the overall look without the use of any layers. This warm chestnut single-process color is topped with a clear gloss, which gives the hair a wet-shine finish and diminishes the appearance of depth, dimension, or highlights. It seems that a single tone does the trick, but the richness of the color and the severity of the cut means the color won’t look flat. If your hair is coarse and thick, expect this blunt line to fan out wide at the ends, which is likely to create a triangular end shape instead of a streamlined look.

Curly Shag with Short Layered Crown and Collarbone Length

Instagram: parloursaloninc

The top layers are noticeably shorter than the layers at the nape. This kind of dramatic graduation is what gives the crown all its lift. It is cut dry, which matters significantly on curly hair. Wet cutting this shape would leave you with a completely different result once it dried. The fringe is cut at the eyebrows and loosely curls into the face. This is very suitable for longer or oval face shapes. For round faces this much width at the cheeks is not flattering. The warm brunette base has some natural sun-lightened pieces through the top that keep it from reading flat, though this isn’t a formal color job. This is one of the easiest shapes to maintain for medium to thick curly hair. If you want something that you can scrunch and leave alone, thin curls will look stringy in those longer bottom layers.

Warm Highlighted Ear-Length Bob with Tucked Layers

Instagram: blendhairboutique

The hair sits flat and tucks behind the ear, which means there has been some precise layering (or graduation) at the back and sides, and cutting the weight line high enough for the hair to curve under by itself. This is a medium to thick hair cut. The hair won’t maintain the tucked shape if it is fine, and instead, you’ll find pieces of hair sticking out at odd angles. As for the color, the warm brunette base has fine foils that are woven towards the front, which keeps the color low maintenance, and the face framed and colored. This length is good for glasses as it completely clears the temples. Round or square faces will benefit as the slight forward sweep at the cheekbone creates a lengthening effect. If your hair has a wave or a curl, heat will be required because this won’t lie as smooth as shown.

Textured Copper Pixie with Soft Layered Crown

Instagram: luxandroses_

The copper in this warm red is gorgeous, and of course it’s going to take some work to upkeep! Maintenance will be needed every four to five weeks, or the roots will be showing, and I mean a fair skin tone may not appreciate that! The cut is a short, textured pixie, with layered point cuts stacked through the crown to build some height, while keeping it tapered tight around the ears and nape. The volume difference you notice between the top and how close the sides are cut is on purpose and is what keeps a round face shape from looking any wider. If your face is narrow or angular, the proportions may not work in your favor. This cut is ideal for medium to thick hair, especially if it has a natural wave, as the tousled movement on top is what this is all about. If you have fine hair, it will go flat by noon and may become a bit of a mess.

Silver Graduated Bob with Wispy Fringe and Stacked Back

Instagram: jillianleonehair

The graduation at the back is building up volume right at the occipital bone where fine straight hair collapses. The weight line that angles from the nape up towards the jaw gives this shape fullness without bulk. The fringe is point cut and wispy, falling just past the brow so it blends into the sides rather than being a separate part. This cut suits straight to slightly wavy hair at medium to fine density best. It is not the best for round or fuller face shapes as the chin-length sides and rounded back can widen the face. The natural silver is beautiful and light steel tones below the dark steel catch the light differently than the bright white on top. That contrast is untoned and is the way it is because no toner could replicate that contrast as well. The downside is that it is a real graduated bob that will need to be trimmed every 4 or 5 weeks or it goes soft and shapeless very fast.

Soft Wavy Chin Bob with Wispy Straight Fringe

Instagram: planthair.studio

Look at how thin and straight the bangs are cut contrasted with how the rest of the hair has a natural wave to it. That contrast does all the work here, and it only looks right when the wave is natural, not styled. A razor was probably used on those bangs to make them look feathery and less blunt. This is a true wash and wear cut for the medium density hair with some natural texture. On round faces, a chin length and wispy fringe create enough vertical pull to keep it all balanced. If your hair is thick or coarse, this shape will mushroom out at the sides within a week of your appointment. The natural dark ash brown is left untouched, no color, and the few silver strands woven through just read as dimension and not something to fix.

Curly Salt and Pepper Pixie Grown Out to the Fun Stage

Instagram: littledarlingdearest

The curls are wrapping the show and the stylist was smart to leave the top alone while shortening the sides and nape enough for the shape to hold without any fussing. That’s the whole trick. This is a grown out pixie at the exact point where natural curl starts to really perform, about three to four inches on top. A little point cutting to remove bulk without flattening the curl pattern is all that is needed. It also won’t work on straight hair, straight hair won’t even look close. For this to work, you really need at least a solid wave, ideally a true curl, with medium to high density. What is also striking is the gray left completely uncolored. The dark and silver combination mixed naturally to create a dimension that, surprisingly, a single process color would actually flatten. Round and oval face shapes do well here since the added volume on top creates the illusion of length to the face. One thing to be sus about is this cut will change shape with humidity like every day. If you are not down for that kind of unpredictability, this is def not the right choice.

Warm Caramel Highlighted Pixie Bob with Stacked Nape

Instagram: hairbyjanetbiggers

The build-up and structure at the back of the head show stacking work as it addresses where the hair tends to go flat with medium density. This haircut is a long pixie with layers that graduate at the back of the neck and longer pieces that have been razored through the crown and side areas that are tapered and swept forward into a fringe. The top highlights create an optical illusion of thicker hair without the stripy effect as the bottom remains a warm brown. This technique is better for straight-textured hair and shapes of the face that are oval or oblong. Round faces should keep in mind that the length will hit the biggest part of the jaw. Once the nape has exceeded four weeks of growth it will mean that the shape has become a collapsed one. This is a style that will not endure a skipped appointment at your standing booking.

Salt and Steel Gray Pixie Bob with Swept Back Crown

Instagram: itsme.jenn

The crown has been cut to the right length so that it can be swept back while maintaining volume without any product being used. The sides have been tapered so that they can be tucked behind the ears and sit clean against the temples. That is point cutting. Point cutting is where some of the top layers are cut to reduce bulk without losing movement. The natural grey color has a lot of real depth. There are dark steel tones underneath and brighter silver tones on top that reflect light. That contrast looks nice. This cut works well with medium density hair that is straight or slighly wavy. However, if the hair is very fine the swept crown will flatten in a couple of hours. Round faces should know this profile view is forgiving, but from the front, all that volume lifts upward and can widen the forehead if there’s no fringe to anchor things. It’s worth asking your stylist about this.

Wavy Dark Shag with Nape Length and Natural Texture

Instagram: katiebuttz

Notice the layers at the crown, they are stacked to wave and create the volume that the nape pieces then taper away from. This contrast is the whole cut. It’s razor-cut through the mid-lengths, which is why those ends look softer and a bit more irregular than blunt, and that technique is what makes it genuinely wash-and-wear for someone with medium to thick hair that has some wave or curl to it. It will fall flat and look limp within hours. The short wispy pieces around the ear and temple help frame the face without the commitment of a full fringe, which works well on rounder face shapes because it pulls the attention forward and up. One thing to know is that this length at the nape can start to look scraggly quite quickly between cuts, so you have intent for trims every five to six weeks to keep the shape intentional.

Ash Blonde Grown-Out Pixie with Soft Side Sweep

Instagram: hair_by_kelseybenns

Check out the picture before the cut and after the cut. The longer version on the right just lays flat against her round face and makes it look wider. The left picture’s shorter cut alters the whole shape of the head as the side swept bang draws a diagonal line across the forehead and the ear length layered cuts take the weight off the jaw and define the face. The cut is to give a shape to a fuller face. The ash blonde with some silver highlights looks good even when it’s not styled, which is a good option. Hair that is fine to medium density like this will look good with the ‘point cut’ texturing shown on top, which gives the look of more movement and volume than the hair naturally has. If your hair is more wavy or curly, it won’t work to look this clean. It really does need a shape every five to six weeks or it will go back to looking like the before picture.

Chin-Length Silver Bob with Soft Side Part

Instagram: tracykileyhair

The back is slightly graduated which helps create a soft shape and helps avoid the hair from lying flat against the neck. This is the kind of detail that helps make it a wash and wear cut instead of one you have to round brush every morning. The color is her natural silver and it looks great like this as long as the hair has enough density to reflect the light evenly. Fine hair at this length tends to look a little transparent. If your hair is thin around the temples or crown, this will really expose that. This shape also best suits oval and elongated faces as the chin length sides creates width in the perfect spot. Rounder faces will feel a little boxed in.

Strawberry Blonde Layered Bob with Long Wispy Fringe

Instagram: olgakursitis

That hair color is so pretty! The warm strawberry blonde hue compliments her freckled complexion. The color choice also shows that the careful selection of hair color was an intentional choice. The use of layers also helps break the boxy appearance which is a common occurrence with jaw-length bobs. The gentle sweep across the forehead and the fringe definitely helps with the not fully committing to bangs. The added length does provide a widening effect especially for round faced people. Oval and oblong forms get the best benefit from the added length. The hair also lacks the ability to hold a lot of texture or waves so if those are what you want you will get a very flat look.

Close-Cut Brunette Pixie with Feathered Fringe

Instagram: secondayhair

The fringe has been point cut into small irregular sections that lie flat on the forehead, creating a soft finish rather than a solid line, and that’s what really makes this haircut stand out. This is an extremely short pixie cut, with clean tapered sides and back, and just the right amount of length on top to show some texture and direction. The base colour, left as is, also means zero maintenance for the next few cuts. It won’t work on round faces. This length shows everything, and without the angular jaw and defined cheekbones as seen here, it can really flatten your face rather than frame it. Straight to slightly wavy, medium density hair will hold this shape the best as the pieces need to lie in a specific direction. If your hair is coarse or curly, it will stand up rather than soft and will need to be trimmed every four weeks to keep the nape and sides looking sharp.

Platinum Crop with Tapered Sides and Textured Top

Instagram: hairby.brooklynpelletier

The sides are taken down tight, almost skin tight at the temples, and that taper is doing all of the structural work here. Up top, there’s maybe an inch of length which is point cut to create that light, piecey texture that you see catching the light. This is a platinum toner over what looks like naturally fine hair and the honest truth about the cut is that it hides nothing. Round or full faces will feel exposed. If your bone structure carries the weight, this cut rewards you for it. The color requires you to bleach to the scalp every few weeks and that commitment is real. It will yellow fast without a consistent good purple shampoo routine. What I notice is how the slight warmth left in the roots keeps it from looking clinical which tells me, whoever did this, was intentional about not over-toning.

This post Wash and Wear Hairstyles That Make Getting Ready Easier for Older Women, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

From Elowen Vaylen, Bozeman, Montana: “I’ve been reading about coffee rinses for hair and I’m honestly not sure if it’s just another internet trend or if there’s something real to it. My hair has been thinning a little at the temples and the shine I used to have just isn’t there anymore. I color my hair at home to cover some gray and I feel like it’s getting duller by the month. Is a coffee rinse actually worth trying, or should I skip it?”

Elowen, I love this question so much because I get a version of it in my chair probably once a week. Someone comes in with a screenshot from Pinterest or a reel they saved six months ago and they finally just ask me. And honestly? My answer surprises people. Because I actually think coffee rinses are one of the few DIY hair treatments that have real merit, and I’ve been quietly recommending them to clients for years.

I started experimenting with coffee rinses myself after a period where my own hair went through a rough patch. I was doing a lot of color work on myself (never a great idea, I know), drinking too much caffeine, sleeping too little, and my hair looked exactly as tired as I felt. A colleague of mine, a natural hair specialist I deeply respect, mentioned offhand that she’d been doing coffee rinses on her clients with thinning concerns and the feedback was genuinely positive. So I tried it. And then I started tweaking it. And now I have opinions, a preferred recipe, and a few firm rules about how to do it correctly so you’re not just pouring cold leftover breakfast coffee on your head and wondering why nothing happened.

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What a Coffee Rinse Actually Does to Your Hair (Before We Get Into Recipes)

Before we get into the actual recipes and methods, I want to spend a minute on the “why” because I think it matters and it’ll help you understand which version of the rinse to use for your specific situation. Coffee contains caffeine, obviously, but it also contains antioxidants, and it has a slightly acidic pH, which is actually a really significant detail that most articles gloss over.

Your hair cuticle, the outermost layer of each strand, lays flat when the pH around it is slightly acidic, and that’s when hair looks shiny and feels smooth. When it’s disrupted by alkaline products, which includes most shampoos, hard water, and unfortunately a lot of box hair color, those cuticles lift and your hair looks dull and feels rough. Brewed coffee sits at a pH of around 5, which is close to the natural pH of healthy hair, so rinsing with it helps smooth the cuticle back down. That’s where the shine comes from, and it’s real, it’s not a trick of the light.

The caffeine piece is where the thinning question gets interesting. There’s actual peer-reviewed research, published in the International Journal of Dermatology, showing that topical caffeine can stimulate hair follicles and counteract the effects of DHT, which is the hormone most associated with hair thinning, particularly at the temples and crown. Elowen, you mentioned your temples specifically, and that pattern in women often has a hormonal component, so this is not nothing. It’s not going to reverse significant hair loss on its own, but as part of a consistent routine, it genuinely supports a healthier scalp environment for growth.

The antioxidant content helps with scalp inflammation too, which is an underrated contributor to sluggish hair growth that most people don’t even know they’re dealing with. You can’t always feel inflammation. It’s just quietly working against you.

7. The Basic Starter Coffee Rinse (Do This One First)

If you’ve never done a coffee rinse before, please start here and resist the urge to immediately jump to a more elaborate recipe. I say this as someone who skipped this step herself and ended up with a slightly sticky situation because I added too many things at once and didn’t know what was working.

Brew two cups of strong, dark roast coffee and let it cool completely to room temperature. This is non-negotiable. Hot liquid on your scalp can cause irritation and it’ll open the hair cuticle rather than smooth it, which is the opposite of what you want. I use a dark roast whole bean coffee that I grind fresh because the antioxidant content is higher in fresher coffee, but honestly any plain brewed coffee works, just make sure it has no flavored syrups or additives in it.

Shampoo your hair as normal, rinse out the shampoo completely, and then slowly pour the cooled coffee through your hair from roots to ends. Use your fingertips to massage it into your scalp for two full minutes, not thirty seconds, two minutes. Set a timer because two minutes feels surprisingly long when you’re standing in the shower. Leave it on for at least twenty minutes if you can manage it, and if you want to sit with a shower cap on while you do something else, that’s even better.

Rinse with cool water, not hot, and follow with your regular conditioner. Your hair will likely feel smoother immediately, and the shine shows up pretty quickly. The first time I did this I genuinely stood in my bathroom tilting my head under the light for longer than I’d like to admit.

Do this once a week for a month before you evaluate. One rinse won’t tell you much.

6. Coffee and Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse for Maximum Shine

Once you’ve done the basic rinse a few times and your scalp hasn’t thrown a fit, this is the version I reach for when someone tells me their hair is looking dull and lifeless and they’ve tried everything. The apple cider vinegar brings an additional layer of pH correction and it also helps strip away mineral buildup from hard water, which is something that ages hair significantly and most people never think about.

Brew two cups of strong coffee, cool it down, and then add two tablespoons of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. I like Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar because the “mother” is intact and it’s what I’ve always used, but any raw ACV with the mother works fine. Stir it well and pour it through clean, shampooed hair the same way you would the basic rinse.

The smell. Yes, I know. It’s a lot in the shower. I promise it dissipates completely once your hair is dry. I used to warn clients about this and they’d look skeptical, and then they’d come back the following week with shiny hair and sheepish expressions.

Massage your scalp, leave it on for fifteen to twenty minutes, rinse with cool water, and condition the ends. If you color your hair at home, this rinse is particularly good for you because it helps close the cuticle after color application and the result is that your color looks more vibrant and it tends to last longer between touch-ups. Elowen mentioned coloring at home to cover gray, and I’d suggest doing this rinse two or three days after you color, not immediately after, to let the color fully settle first.

5. Coffee and Castor Oil Treatment for Thinning Areas

This one is specifically for the thinning concern, and it works differently from a rinse because you’re applying it before you shampoo rather than after. Think of it more as a scalp treatment than a rinse, and it targets the follicle directly which is where you want to be if growth is the goal.

Mix half a cup of cooled strong coffee with one tablespoon of Jamaican Black Castor Oil. You’ll need to shake or whisk this pretty aggressively because oil and liquid don’t want to cooperate, and you’ll want to apply it quickly before it separates again. Section your hair and use a dropper bottle or your fingertips to apply it directly to the areas of concern, so in Elowen’s case, that would be the temples and anywhere else she’s noticing thinning.

Castor oil is thick and rich in ricinoleic acid, which has shown real promise in scalp circulation research, and combined with the caffeine in the coffee, you’re giving your scalp a fairly significant stimulus. Massage it in gently for about five minutes using small circular motions, cover with a shower cap, and leave it on for at least an hour. I usually tell clients to do this on a lazy Sunday morning when they’re not going anywhere.

Shampoo it out thoroughly, you might need two rounds of shampoo to get the castor oil fully out, and follow with your usual conditioner. Do this twice a month rather than weekly because the castor oil can build up if you overdo it.

4. Coffee, Coconut Milk, and Honey Rinse for Dry or Brittle Hair

If your hair is dry, or if it’s been through a lot of chemical processing and feels brittle and rough to the touch, this is the version that addresses all of that at once. It smells genuinely wonderful, which isn’t the main point but it doesn’t hurt.

Brew one and a half cups of dark roast coffee, let it cool, and then whisk in three tablespoons of full-fat coconut milk and one tablespoon of raw honey. The coconut milk adds fatty acids that penetrate the hair shaft and provide real moisture, not just surface coating the way many conditioners do. The honey is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air into the hair, and it also has gentle antibacterial properties that are good for scalp health.

I’ve used Thai Kitchen Organic Coconut Milk for years in various DIY hair treatments and it’s consistently good, full fat is essential though, the light versions don’t have the same fatty acid content and they won’t do the same thing. For the honey, raw and unfiltered matters more than the brand, though I’ve been partial to Wedderspoon Raw Manuka Honey when I’m splurging.

Apply this to clean, damp hair from roots to ends, cover with a shower cap, and leave on for thirty minutes. The longer you leave it, the more the fatty acids have time to work. Rinse with cool water and see how your hair feels. The first time one of my clients tried this, she called me to tell me her hair felt like it did in her twenties. I believed her.

3. Cold Brew Coffee Rinse for Color-Treated Hair

Regular brewed coffee and cold brew are not the same thing for this purpose, and I want to be specific about why. Cold brew coffee has a smoother, less acidic profile than hot-brewed coffee, which sounds like it would make it less effective for hair, but for color-treated hair, the gentler acidity is actually better because it smooths the cuticle without risking any color lift. Hot brewed coffee at a strong concentration can, in rare cases, slightly alter light hair color over time, though this is mostly a concern for blonde or very light gray hair.

For a cold brew rinse, steep coarsely ground coffee in two cups of cold filtered water for twelve to twenty-four hours in the refrigerator, then strain it well. I use a Toddy Cold Brew System at home because it strains really cleanly and I don’t end up with grounds in my hair, which is an experience I would rather not repeat. Dilute the finished cold brew with an equal part of water before using it as a rinse, so you’re not starting with something overly concentrated.

This rinse is safe to use weekly on color-treated hair and it genuinely extends the life of darker hair colors, browns, auburns, and naturally dark hair going gray, because it refreshes the depth of tone without adding any actual pigment. Elowen, given that you’re coloring at home to cover gray, this is probably the most practical version for your regular routine because it won’t interfere with your color and it’s easy enough to make a batch and keep it in the fridge for the week.

2. Coffee and Rosemary Rinse for Hair Growth

If you have been anywhere near the hair internet in the last two years you have heard about rosemary oil for hair growth, and yes, there’s legitimate research behind it. A clinical study compared rosemary oil to 2% minoxidil for hair growth and found comparable results without the scalp itching side effect that minoxidil often causes. Combining rosemary with caffeine, both of which work on scalp circulation and follicle stimulation, gives you a treatment that is working from two different but complementary angles.

Brew two cups of strong coffee, and while it’s still hot, add ten to fifteen drops of rosemary essential oil and a small handful of dried rosemary leaves if you have them. Let it steep as it cools, then strain it. The essential oil is where most of the benefit is, the dried leaves add a little extra but they’re optional. I like Plant Therapy Rosemary 1,8-Cineole Essential Oil because it’s the specific chemotype of rosemary most associated with hair growth benefits, and the quality is consistent.

Apply this to a clean scalp, massage for three to five minutes, and leave on for twenty minutes before rinsing. The massage component is genuinely important here, not just for absorption but because mechanical stimulation of the scalp on its own has been shown to support hair thickness over time. Use this two to three times a week if thinning is your main concern, and give it a solid three months before you assess. Hair growth is slow and you need patience more than anything else.

I started recommending this combination to clients about a year and a half ago and the consistency of the feedback has been remarkable enough that it’s now my go-to recommendation for anyone asking about natural hair growth support.

1. The Complete Coffee Hair Mask (The One I Actually Make for Myself)

This is the recipe I’ve landed on after years of tweaking, and it’s the one I make for myself when my hair needs real attention, not just maintenance. It combines the best elements of everything above into one treatment that addresses shine, growth, moisture, and scalp health simultaneously. It’s not a weekly thing, I do it once or twice a month, but when I do it I genuinely look forward to it.

You’ll need one cup of strong brewed dark roast coffee, cooled completely. One tablespoon of Jamaican Black Castor Oil. One tablespoon of raw honey. Two tablespoons of full-fat coconut milk. Eight drops of rosemary essential oil. And one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, added last after everything else is mixed together so it doesn’t curdle the coconut milk before it’s incorporated.

Whisk everything together in a bowl or shake it in a bottle. Apply to your scalp first, massaging in with your fingertips for a full five minutes, then work it down through the lengths of your hair to the ends. Pile your hair on top of your head, cover it with a processing cap or a good shower cap, and then wrap a warm towel around it if you want to add a little heat to help everything penetrate. I usually watch something on my laptop for forty-five minutes and then rinse it all out with cool water and a thorough shampoo.

What happens to my hair after this treatment is the reason I keep making it. The shine is noticeable within hours, and it holds for several days. My scalp feels calm rather than tight, and over the months that I’ve been doing it consistently, I’ve noticed real improvement in the density of my hair at the hairline. I am not making dramatic claims about overnight transformation because that’s not how hair works and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. But consistent, patient use of something that genuinely works, that’s where you see results that mean something.

A few practical notes before you make it: always do a patch test if you’re using a recipe for the first time, apply a small amount to your inner arm and wait twenty-four hours. Dark roast coffee can temporarily tint very light or gray hair slightly, so if your hair is fully silver or platinum, test on a small section first. And please, let the coffee cool. I know I’ve said it multiple times but I’ve heard enough stories to know that some people are very impatient in the kitchen.

Wrapping It Up, Elowen

Elowen, I hope this gives you a real answer and not just a list of things to try. My genuine recommendation for where to start is the basic coffee rinse for two or three weeks, then layer in the rosemary version if growth is your priority. The full mask is worth making once a month when you have the time and the ingredients on hand.

The most important thing I can tell you is that natural treatments like these work slowly and they work consistently, meaning they reward the people who stick with them and don’t do much for people who try once and give up. Your hair didn’t get dull and thin overnight and it won’t recover overnight either, but you can absolutely shift its trajectory without spending a fortune or putting more chemicals on it. Your instinct to try something gentler and more natural is a good one, and in this case, the science actually supports it.

Go make yourself a strong pot of dark roast and save a couple of cups for your hair. You deserve both.

This post Coffee Hair Rinse for Dark, Shiny and Strong Hair (Natural Hair Growth Remedy You Need to Try), was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

I have been quite amazed by the number of clients in their 60s who get blunt bobs and ask for layers, when the last thing they need is more going on. One of my clients had been going to the same hairstylist for 15 years and had a layered haircut for so long, but as she got older and her hair got thinner, all of the layers made her hair look even thinner. When we changed her style to a chin-length blunt bob, she looked like she had a lot more hair than when she came in. A blunt perimeter gives the hair a solid look, and for thinner hair, aged hair or hair that has been highlighted in the past, this look is really great. No fancy products are required to make it look good.

I have also found that the blunt bob style cut also just simplifies everything. There is so much less to worry about, no more awkward growing out phases, no more worrying about layers going in the wrong direction and for more maintenance cut that tends to happen when there are a lot of layers. For all of these reasons, a blunt bob can give you a variety of different looks because you can play with the finish. It can be straight or wavy, or allow gray hair to be included in it. So if you are thinking this cut might be too simple, it can actually take on so many different looks.

Collarbone Bob with Balayage Warmth and a Textured Perimeter

In the first image, the hair in length accumulation was dragging everything down. It was thinning on the ends and causing the eyes to look past the jawline, since there was nothing to grab on to. The cut sits just below the chin with a blunt base and the stylist point cut into the ends to achieve choppy lived in movement without removing bulk from the interior. The balayage placement is what makes this most successful. The color is focused around the face and through the mid lengths, giving dimension to what was previously flat single-dimension brown. The wave is styled (not natural) so it is honest if you don’t want to use a flat iron or wand and it won’t look like this. With some natural texture, this cut holds shape well on medium density hair and is particularly flattering on oval and heart face shapes. If your hair is very fine, that blunt perimeter will quickly expose sparse ends.

Textured Chin-Length Bob with Lived-In Warm Ends

The perimeter has a blunt cut while the interior has been point cut just enough to allow the waves to separate without losing weight on the ends which is the detail to appreciate here. A truly one-length bob on medium density hair with this amount of wave would puff out at the sides and lose its shape within the day, so whoever did this definitely knew to take out just the right amount of bulk through the mid lengths. The colour is a deep cool brunette with warm balayage tips that show only when the hair bends. Ovals and hearts will love where this hits on the jaw. Rounds, less so. It will widen you.

Icy Silver Bob with a Long Side Sweep and Clean Weight Line

Hair that is cut from side to side not only creates a nice frame around the face but also gives a bit more volume to the area around the crown, which is ideal when it comes to styling fine hair as that is the area where the hair starts to thin out. This style features a single blunt bob that hits right at the jawline. This length works to hold the shape and contour of the look that you are going for. It’s also worth mentioning that the blunt cut on the ends of this hair at collarbone’s length gives the illusion of having thicker hair than what you really possess. The silver hair is really nice and I appreciate the lack of warmth. It must’ve gotten toned really well, or she just decided to cut out all of the warm bits, which is a huge commitment. If you’re still holding onto the warm pieces, a uniformity like that will not happen naturally and will require maintenance. On round or oval faces this length is ideal, while square jaws may find that the horizontal weight line adds to the width.

White Silver Bob with Soft Inward Bend and an Effortless Side Part

The hair is white silver and has no graduation. Meaning the cut is straight across, at the jawline and of medium density. Thanks to delicate soft inward curves the hair does not appear flat, and is actually most of what is creating the shape. The hair does not have a forced part. Styles and parts tend to look stiff. The design is meant to be more soft and flowy. This style will also suit round or oval shaped faces best because the inward bend at the jawline will add some dimension. If your face shape is already narrow, this will be a bit too much. This style is very maintenance heavy. The blunt cut with silver hair is going to show uneven pieces after only five weeks. Once the hair gets longer and the style becomes ragged, it will just look very unkempt. The inward curves will break the lines and add some shape.

Plum-Toned Bob with Soft Fringe and a Blunt Perimeter

The `plum` color looks amazing! The solid color can look like a deep brunette, but it has a wine-reddish hue that catches the light and actually compliments blue and green eyes. Way better than a natural brown. The shade is most likely a demi-permanent glaze over a dark base so it’s going to fade nicely, and it won’t leave harsh roots. The fringe is cut to sit just above the brow, and because it’s separated, it doesn’t look too heavy on a rounder face shape. Her hair is chin-length, medium density, straight, and a solid weight line. It won’t work for anyone with a strong cowlick at the forehead because that fringe needs to lay super flat or it will all fall apart. The color is medium maintenance while the cut is generally low maintenance. You’ll have to come in six weeks or live with a muddy brown because the plum tones wash out quickly.

Auburn-Kissed Brunette Bob with a Tucked Ear and Seamless Perimeter

The front area has some unique copper thread technology to keep the area around the eyes warm without making the entire head a color project. The cool deep brunette base will show more regrowth and the auburn face framing pieces were probably hand painted. One side goes behind the ear and one side goes in front. That asymmetry is designed to help rounder faces because it cuts a diagonal across the jaw. The cut is chin length, one-length perimeter, medium density, and straight texture. Anyone no with a strong natural wave is going to need to round brush it to the point of commitment to a wave, but on straight hair with a slightly bent wave it is a self styling look.

Graduated Brunette Bob with Honey Foils and a Clean Jawline

The back is shorter than you might expect. In the mirror, you can notice how steep this goes from the nape to the jaw, and this is what gives it crown volume without layering. That graduation is really doing the work. Honey foils are almost exclusively to the front sections and around the face, leaving the back dark and rich, which is a smart way to get dimension without doing a full highlight. This is for medium density hair which is straight to a little wavy. On round faces, that steep angle is really nice. If your hair has any real curl or thickness, this cut will fight you every single morning.

Wavy Gray Bob with a Blunt Base and Natural Curl Pattern

It is difficult to fall along the hidden work of the blunt perimeter. That wave pattern conceals the single-length line, which is exactly the intention since it creates density ends ’without creating the appearance of“ a wall of hair. The cut sits at the jawline, and her natural curl has just enough peicey irregularity to suggest this isn’t flat-ironed and waved. It’s her texture unbothered. Hair that is straight will not have a lot of this. It also won’t have this kind of bend; it will look like a helmet on your head. Medium density hair is best for this style, because if it is too thick the sides will balloon past the jawline. The gray is all natural with no toning which means some strands pull warm and some pull cool, and that combination is read as dimension without any color appointment. This length flatters oval and heart-shaped faces best. Round faces will feel wider at the jaw.

Collarbone-Grazing Blonde Bob with Tousled Bend and Dimensional Lowlights

The layered look is complemented perfectly by the lowlights. Without the dark base around the crown and nape, the look is just going to be flat and washed out. They did a great job keeping the contrast in the lowlights very narrow as to not lose the natural look of the layering and instead look like chunky highlights of 2007. The hair is just below the jaw, has a slight wave, and is of medium density, She has a blunt cut with a wave and may look like a straight edge along the bottom of the hair, but the ends look fairly textured. The hair is bent in one solid direction, flat ironed, and then curled in a big barrel curl to break the line. All of that ends up keeping it from looking too solid. A rounded face shape can end up losing jaw definition wearing this style, but an oval or heart face cut shape look great with this length. If the hair is flat and fine down to the roots, getting this look will be very difficult with minimal effort. The volume over the ear is from the side part being pushed to one side, and that tuck, along with the asymmetry, makes it look a lot less intentionally styled.

Wavy Brunette Bob with Toffee Accents and a Blunt Base

The wave pattern on the blunt edge of the cut give the illusion of hiding a line when it is actually doing the opposite, and that’s the point. The blunt cut at chin height creates extra density in the medium density hair that wouldn’t exist if there were layers, and the wave gives the illusion of the cut being effortless rather than stiff. The toffee hand painted balayage is kept dark at the roots for a low maintenance look. If your hair is straight naturally, then this will not be the case. You’d then have a clean geometric bob which is perfectly fine, but it is a totally different haircut. Round faces should be mindful of this length as the width of the wave at the jaw creates undesirable fullness. One thing to note is that the waves on both sides bend away from the face which opens up the cheekbones to prevent the whole shape from collapsing inward.

Silver-Streaked Bob with Bent Ends and a Dark Root Anchor

The weight line being even at all sides demonstrates that it was cut straight along the perimeter and not at an angle. This discipline is what provides the shape fullness at the chin level, and it is doing quite a bit for medium density hair that would otherwise fall flat. The silver base color has an intentional shadow root, meaning the darker base at the scalp is intentionally left exposed. So, this isn’t quite a full platinum commitment. The tone is cool to eliminate any warmth, and the stark contrast between the dark root and icy ends makes it look very dimensional all without the use of foils. This is a strong cut for oval and heart shapes. Round faces will find all that width at the jaw area quite unforgiving. The bent ends may seem effortless, but straight or very fine hair will need to have texture added through heat and product for it to hold that look every time.

Dark Chocolate Bob with Fine Caramel Ribbons and Wispy Fringe

These highlights are very thin and only put through the ends and fringe area. Not placed all over. That is what makes it not look cheap. This is ideal for medium density hair so it doesn’t look stripey. The back is slightly graduated for volume and sits just below the chin, and the bangs are point cut so they are less heavy. This is not going to work how you want it on round faces. The chin length line and soft bangs really compress everything in between the forehead and jaw and visually, there is nowhere for the eye to go. This is really good for oval and heart shapes. If your hair is coarse or thick, the sides will push out and you will lose the close to the face drape.

Soft Gray Bob with Loose Bend and a Blunt Hemline

The dry ends hair together with the perimeter creates a seamless finish to the medium density hair. Here, the gentle waves do most of the styling work. Grey hair has natural aging and with purpose pieces of silver framing the face. The combination of colors adds to this style. Gentle waves open around the cheeks and can be very flattering to oval or heart shaped faces. The style is likely difficult to achieve and is more likely to require the use of heat styling and straight fine hair. The cut is a solid bob with all the weight at the bottom. This creates volume and that is the aim.

Very thick, coarse or hair the same weighted fullness is added to the ends, will lose the clean shape and style. It may puff and move out of the hair.

Silver Chin-Length Bob with Precision Perimeter Weight

The perimeter line is certainly doing the most here. It is blunt cut and clean at the chin with no graduation, which is what gives the ends that visible density catching the light. The hair is medium texured and on the finer side of medium density, and coupled with the one length cut, it makes it look thicker than what it probably is, no product hacks included. Notice how the slight forward angle creates a longer front piece that just tucks under the jaw? That is intentional and especially flatters oval and oblong shapes. Round faces with this exact length lose definition. Gray this bright needs to be genuinely silver or white, otherwise, you’re going to be in trouble. If yours is still in the muddy yellow-gray transition phase, this cut is going to expose that fast.

Platinum Choppy Bob with Piecey Bangs and Lived-In Texture

The perimeter of this style may look blunt, but there’s more going on here! The layers have been razor cut, which creates that tousled, separated movement around the mid-lengths. It’s that contrast that stops it from looking flat. This is chin length on hair of medium density and the bangs have been cut wispy and long enough to split and open in the middle, which is important because a thick, straight across fringe would fully close off the face on this same cut. Those parted bangs are doing a great job if you have a rounder face shape. The platinum is stunning, and you’re fully committed to no shadow root and no lowlights breaking it up. That level of blonde on naturally grey hair means you’re going to have to tone it every few weeks because it yellows fast, so that’s worth knowing before you sign up. This cut genuinely thrives on second and third day hair, which is rare for bobs this short.

Chin-Length Bob with Blended Gray and Sandy Highlights

This colored work has very soft highlights, but it is really nice. The sandy blonde highlights with the brunette base make growing out grays look more intentional. It takes a good colorist to understand that. Good placements using fine foils to highlight around the face and crown where grays show up first helps grays look intentional. The cut sits right at the chin. This works on medium density hair that has been parted slightly to the side. The bangs have been long and pulled to the side so that they sit back behind the ear. This is a good style for oval and heart shaped faces. The blunt looking perimeter is a sign of not a lot of internal texturizing. That mostly to ensure that ends don’t look to thick or helmet like. This style will not work if you have coarse hair. The hair needs to be able to lay flat otherwise you’re going to have a fight to get it to lay flat it every morning. If you have fine to medium hair that is naturally straight, this hairstyle will be really good.

Ash Blonde Blunt Bob with Soft Interior Layers

Here’s an explanation of how the perimeter is clean and blunt at the chin but the interior was point cut just enough so the ends can naturally curve in. That is the trick. Without those hidden internal layers, this texture of hair would hang flat and the blunt line would feel heavy instead of intentional. The ashy blonde is toned perfectly to mute any warmth from the natural base showing at the root, which keeps the grow out looking intentional instead of messy. This length is honestly really flattering on oval and heart shaped faces as the tapered weight sits nicely at the jaw on a narrower chin. This length will round faces out and lose definition. If your hair is coarse or thick this cut will exactly pouf at the sides and fight you every single morning.

Rich Brunette Bob with Full Fringe and Clean Perimeter

Let’s start with the blonde blunt cut fringe. It bangs just above the eyebrows and completely transforms the overall look of the bob. The fringe shifts the center of gravity of the bob so that it’s anchored more to the front instead of just hanging heavily at the back. The bob sits at jaw level and is cut in a single length with a blunt finish and no layering, which will require a medium to thick density. Thin hair will neither be able to support the weight of the cut perimeter nor give enough volume to the fringe to create that polished look. For added dimension, a uniform, high-gloss, rich chocolate brown will work, but if you’re covering gray, this will be high maintenance, as the regrowth at the fringe line shows much more quickly. This style is best suited for oval and heart face shapes. Round faces will find the style less flattering, as the horizontal lines will create a boxed-in effect from the bangs and the hem.

Steel Gray Bob with a One-Length Perimeter and No Parting Games

The perimeter line looks good and takes care of all the work. This is an actual one-length cut, no graduation, no internal layering, just a clean horizontal line at the jaw. What I appreciate is that the ends are not entirely blunt. There’s just a little bit of a natural bevel from the inward curve of the texture, which gives it some shape without any styling. That is medium-density hair that has been left alone, and if your hair is coarse or thick, this same cut will push outwards and sit wider than you want. This length best suits oval and heart shapes as the jaw line length doesn’t compete. The natural gray is all grown out and the range from silver at the temples to the darker strands beneath adds dimension. Skipping color saves money but the trade off is real. Gray hair tends towards dryness and if you’re not keeping the cuticle smooth it can look flat in certain lights.

Cool Blonde Bob with Shadow Root and Deliberate Center Part

The shadow root gives nice depth to the crown so the fine, straight hair doesn’t look flat. The outer edge is blunt and just sits below the jaw and the colorist has kept it all in the cool range, which does ashy blonde pieces over natural gray base, and so the grow-out will be forgiving for weeks longer than warmer formula would allow. See how the center part is clear of the root corridor? That sort of looks intentional if your hair is dense enough to fall over both sides without gaps. If your hair is thin and it separates, then this parting will work against you. This length flatters oval and oblong faces as the jaw-line weight creates width in the right places. This cut will not play nice with any wave or curl pattern unless you’re prepared to flat iron it every day.

Warm Copper Bob with a Side-Swept Deep Part and Blunt Ends

The copper hue adds more value to the haircut. There are several steps in the process of coloring the hair, and besides the pigmentation, the mid shaft of the hair is going to be melted to a dark auburn and copper color (rich copper). The placement of the color in the mid shaft adds dimension and depth, especially since the cut is shorter. The perimeter of the cut is all closed blunt and clean finishes at the chin. There is just the right amount of texture to allow the hair to swing in, instead of looking like a helmet. The ends are cut so that they tuck in on one side and kick out on the other. This is medium density hair behaving like that voluntarily rather than from styling. If you want to maintain this color for a while and not look neglected, you’ll have to be copper color will fade quickly and look brassy. With this length oval and heart shaped faces will be suited best. With this length round shaped faces will feel wider at the jaw.

Chin-Length Blunt Bob with Warm Highlights and Soft Bangs

The perimeter line is where all the work is done. That blunt, one length base at the chin gives the illusion of thickness even on medium density hair, and you can see how the weight sits nice and clean without flipping out. There are fine babylights in warm caramel that are woven through a cool brunette base which keeps the color from reading flat under the salon light or the natural light. The bangs are more point cut and wispy, not blunt like the hem, and that contrast is what makes the whole thing feel intentional instead of one note. This will suit oval and heart-shaped faces as the chin length line doesn’t widen anything. It will be difficult for round faces. The length hits exactly where fullness resides in the cheeks, and without longer pieces to break that up, I feel there’s nowhere for the eye to go. A true blunt line like this will not behave the way it does in this photo without daily heat styling if your hair has any sort of wave or curl pattern.

Dark Glossy Bob with a Deep Side Part

That color is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Jet black on medium-density hair means commitment to gloss treatments so it doesn’t read flat in a few weeks. The cut is chin length, slightly graduated in the back to push front pieces in, which is how/why it grips her jawline so well on an oval face. If you have a rounder face, this will actually widen you at this exact length. The deep side part adds an asymmetry that prevents the bluntness from being too stiff, and there’s a bit of a bevel from round-brushing at the ends which gives the whole thing shape. Without that, fine hair will just hang. This is not a wash-and-go cut.

Salt-and-Pepper Blunt Bob with Natural Gray Transition

With the presence of silver around the face, that is not foiled in. That is natural graying, and the stylist was wise to leave it untouched and framing. The highlights do the framing work. The cut sits just above the collarbone, one length no layers, and medium density here, which is why the blunt edge retains its shape so well. On fine or thin hair, this cut will be flat by noon. This length is best suited for oval and heart face shapes as the weight sits at the jaw line without adding bulk. If your face is round this won’t work for you. The interior has most likely been point cut just enough to take out some bulk to not disrupt the clean bottom line to keep the movement natural.

Jaw-Length Brunette Bob with Subtle Warm Ribbons

When observing closely, one side appears to tuck under while the other side kicks out. This isn’t styling, it’s just how hair moves naturally. Medium density hair behaves this way when cut to a true one-length line. It’s not a rigid look but rather lived in. The color displays a cool brown base with a few fine ribbons of caramel woven face-framing to add dimension under the salon lights or sunshine. This length works well for oval and heart shapes as the jaw-length perimeter highlights the chin without making it appear wider. If you have a round and full face, this length is gonna fight you. It will sit right at the widest part of your face and just linger. The haircut is straightforward, it’s just a clean perimeter and no layers to make the grow-out complicated so it’s relatively low maintenance once you’re in it. Hair that’s thick or coarse won’t be able to sit this close to the head so they will require thinning shears, and that changes the whole vibe, you know?

This post It’s Easy to See Why Blunt Bobs Work So Well on Mature Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

Most articles will tell you that the shixie is neither a pixie nor a shag, but how it’s actually unique is that the shixie is pixie length, with the layering of a shag. Each behaves uniquely so the shixie is a lot more forgiving than a pixie and a lot more intentional than a shag. A shixie still keeps length which allows for a lot of flexibility. I have clients come in to the salon and spend up to forty-five minutes debating between the length of a bob and a pixie. The selling point for them, is when I show them a shixie picture. They say “that’s it” like they’ve been waiting for someone to show it to them. I’ve noticed this is common.

One of the selling points of the shixie is that you actually get to grow out the haircut. Because most pixies look intentional for only a maximum of six weeks, the shixie prevents this neglected look. With the layers still holding the shape, the shixie actually grows out in a way that other pixies don’t. This is really a valid reason to have the shixie, especially if you live a busy life and have to be flexible with how far apart you set your salon appointments.

Sandy Bronde Shixie with Stacked Crown and Wispy Perimeter

The layers in the crown area are cut shorter to add height, but the layers above the ears and nape are longer for a wispy and airy look. The contrast does all the work. Texture is from a razor through the mid lengths. The hair isn’t thin or flat looking, it’s more worn in and separated. This color is a warm bronde. The face is brightened and contrasted by the concentration of highlights through the fringe, which is more full and dark in the back. For this cut looking its best, I would say medium density hair is the best hope. A classic case of fine hair and no volume. If you have hair like mine, you will be disappointed trying to maintain this cut. This cut looks best on oval and heart shaped faces. The fringe softens the look, but doesn’t close the face. This cut is low maintenance, but definitely worth it!

Warm Copper Shixie with Feathered Crown and Textured Sideburns

Sideburns are detail essentials here, shaped and razored to give that wispy effect against the skin. It gives just the right amount of separation from a basic pixie cut. The crown adds height with short layers that razor off weight and add texture and fullness. This style is not ideal for fine hair. The hand-painted balayage offers an extremely natural and subtle lighter dimension on top. The warmth from the copper-brown shade really adds movement to the style. This frame complements well for an oval and heart shape face. This short length style does not provide enough hair to give enough of a frame around the face for a round-shape face.

Warm Brunette Shixie with Tousled Crown Height and Copper Ribbon Highlights

Some short layers can make a big difference, especially when you’re hiding a flat, long hairline. Short layers help to frame your face rather than hiding it. This style is mostly point cutting to create volume towards the crown, and is purposely made messy. It’s supposed to appear unstructured. Thin copper pieces are woven through dark brunette base and catch light without forming a highlight, and that means this style works with medium to dense hair. It won’t with fine hair because it won’t hold the volume without product, and would look unstructured not long after it was styled. Round faces should avoid this style due to no length to pull it down.

Honey Blonde Curly Shixie with a Loose Textured Fringe and Tight Perimeter

This cut has less of a fuss and is easier to style than most shapes made to look like crowns. Large, special side cuts and temples with almost no hair look nice and let your curls and a thrown together looking, though, not actually thrown together, crown stacked on top with the shape not looking too overly wide. The photo shows an example of a beautiful, natural warm honey blonde hair color that is not totally artificial and balances 3A curls so well. For oval and heart shaped faces, the short, layered bangs will flatter that face shape and open it up. The tutu shape will not vaunt looser or natural, wavy curls. If you had curls point cut to fringes, they will curl, and stay in place above your eyebrows, and straight hair cannot do that.

Curly Brown Shixie with Tight Tapered Sides and Loose Crown Volume

Tapered sides help show the curl pattern beneath the surface of the hair. Without the contrasting color, the curl pattern would lose its shape. This point-cut Shixie requires curly or wavy hair in the 2C to 3A range. This cuts the brown hair and maintains the low-maintenance dye free natural look and encourages natural definition. On an oval or heart-shaped face, this frame softly conceals the forehead without camouflaging it. The curvature created by the sides and volume will create an unbalanced appearance for round-shaped faces. The curls at the crown will be left longer to encourage coiling, and the fringe is shorter and looser to frame the volume. This cut will need to be performed daily to prevent frizz and keep the style.

Cool Brunette Shixie with Textured Crown and Tapered Sideburns

The top and forward region carries most of weight in this style, with sides that brush against the ears and almost no volume. This helps to distribute where weight is needed. Several visible crown points help to prevent this style from looking like it causes hair to thin at the top. Since this style works best for longer fringe sweepers, it complements and frames the face well for oval and heart shaped faces. It also looks great on many other face shapes, but round and square faces should avoid this look, since there is no way to add length to the sides. A base of natural brown was left low maintenance, and this works great on straight or wavy hair, because this has very low maintenance and little to no style needed. Texture paste is what you’ll need for that separation without any additional styling.

Wavy Black Shixie with Stacked Texture and a Soft Curtain Fringe

That crown! All the height and volume with not a product on it. Natural waves help all this incredible amount of height. This stylist used a technique with point cutting and really let each section define its own layline rather than cutting closely relative uniform layers. Because of the wavy texture in this style and length, it looks absolutely adorable. The fringe also has a nice cut and looks great on her because the slightly separated cut gives dimension to her face while a straight across cut would probably look worse. A person with straight or fine hair does not look nearly as cute because this style takes advantage of wavy curls. When curls are even a slight amount wavy some would call this style low maintenance, you really should try it!

Jet Black Shixie with Choppy Crown Texture and a Short Pieced Fringe

This cut requires a lot of confidence since it doesn’t involve much hair to cover the forehead. If you wear this, you need to be comfortable showing off your forehead. The hair up top has been aggressively point cut to create a style similar to bedhead. The hair on the sides is essentially a whisper, nothing more than hair that almost scrapes the ear. This cut is going to need some texture from natural hair to avoid falling flat. The cut does require texturized hair but without the natural hair wave or curl some will find it a bit boring. This cut adds a lot of length and therefore works best with round or oval face shapes. The length helps elongate a long face shape. Fine hair won’t work well with this style since the black single processed hair creates contrast that can make fine hair types look flat. There is a lot of grow out with this cut so avoid it if you can.

Spiky Cool Brunette Shixie with Swept Crown and Clean Sides

The crown has a lot of intricate detail. The cut is designed with a point so the top of the crown can be spiked while keeping the sides short. This style looks best on medium to thick hair. Fine hair will crunch. There is almost a complete razor cut on the sides and temple area. This essentially cuts out bulk in the style. Oval and heart face shapes will like this style. Round face shapes will have to pass. There are still width issues on the sides. It is dark brunette and has no color modifier. This really helps show off this cut because it is such a simple and clean style.

Shaggy Dark Brunette Shixie with Choppy Fringe and Ear-Grazing Length

The weight distribution is excellent. The bulk is at the crown with barely any weight at the nape. This stops it looking mushrooming and is due to razor work and not just point cutting the ends. This style is suited to hair with some natural wave. Straight and fine hair won’t do this. The fringe is perfect length to show off the brow line and therefore should be worn with caution on square faces as there is nothing to create length. Heart or oval shapes are perfect for this. The color is a natural cool brunette with some warm pieces through the top layer. This cut looks great for at least 4 weeks and doesn’t need styling. After that it is long enough to elongate and grow out and still look purposely styled.

Golden Bronde Shixie with Heavily Textured Crown and Baby Fringe

Notice the even weight distribution. It’s heaviest in the crown with the sides and nape evenly cut toward the ears to showcase them. Thinking about weight distribution in this way complements her oval face shape by elongating it. If you have a round or square face shape (like some readers might), this weight distribution actually elongates your face as well. However, if your face is more on the longer side, then this weight distribution placement will not look good on you. The color is a warm brown and there is a base color with some fine babylights making this a bronde. The color variation is what allows the hair to have a beautiful texture at this length. Layers without this color would look choppy, but due to the color, these look amazing without flatness. You can see the choppy pieces due to the point cut, which is irregularly connected to the rest of the pieces. It is an obvious point cut due to the layers ending choppy, that stubborn comb and scissors technique would never do. This cut would not be good on someone with thick, straight, flat hair. It takes texturizer and a lot of styling to get this cut to look good.

Shaggy Warm Brunette Shixie with Wavy Texture and a Short Wispy Fringe

The Natural Wave is the showstopper of the design, so we can appreciate the shape of the cut. To achieve this look, you will have to style your straight hair everyday. So, think carefully before making the final decision to get this cut. This crown section is cut with heavy point cutting to allow the layers to separate. Fullness will appear and the look will appear effortless once the texture comes together. This style is a pixie cut, but is more like a short tidy length at the ears and nape. The fringe is cut short, spaced apart to create a short fringe that looks amazing on an oval and heart shaped faces and exposes the forehead. Fine hair will start to flatten within an hour.

Dark Textured Shixie with Jagged Layers and a Wispy Nape

Brushing down all the pieces against the neckline instead of striking them down adds texture to this otherwise standard pixie cut. The thick, dark hair crown has the perfect amount of height from point cutting, leaving a short and cropped side to expose the ear. While not too severe, this style is perfect for those with medium to thick hair. With this style, thin hair will just end up looking flat. Oval and heart face shapes will look the best with the short fringe and exposed jaw. This style will look the worst for those with round face shapes. This style has a simple single dark natural process color. A dark natural color was best to showcase the texture in this style, without needing dimension to it.

Choppy Brunette Shixie with Wild Texture and a Micro Fringe

This fringe is grazing the eyebrow line and is really serving this heavy on top look. The crown is heavily razored and pieced out. Details are even tighter than razor sharp with shorter wisps at the nape for a leftover piece for movement without overall bulk. This is some nice strategic point cutting. The separation between layers is great for texture and shape to keep the overall aesthetic kind of unrefined. This is great for round and oval face shapes. The height at the crown with shorter sides will just elongate your fine hair and face. As for people with medium to thick hair, this style will be great. Fairly texture heavy styles will just end up looking even more drastic on fine hair.

Ash Brunette Shixie with Piecey Fringe and Ear-Length Layers

This pixie/shag hybrid has chopped angle, volume, and nape detailing. An asymmetrical shag is similar rather than a straight pixie cut due to the weight line, which is situated on the cheekbone rather than at the top of the head. Positioning the weight line of a tapered cut on the cheekbone as opposed to the jawline creates the illusion of a slimmer face as opposed to a fuller face. Slightly point cutting the fringe pulls the hair to the skin and reduces bulk on the forehead. This style would look best on someone with an average amount of hair rather than someone with an abundance of hair. Too little layering would result in loss of weight and volume. An ash brown tone cancels any warmth this hair may possess by covering the brown tone with a gray-brown tone.

Blonde Razored Shixie with Shaggy Crown and Wispy Ear-Length Pieces

I built some volume with the razor, but this cut is actually quite a bit of texture which means you really don’t need any product at all, except maybe just a subtle matte paste to handle the flyaways around the ears, which I do recommend, but don’t worry about losing too much length up top, there actually is some length retained that echoes around the ears a bit to help soften the look which helps this top centered cut. If you have fine hair, this is a great option because it helps enhance volume in those areas especially, but if you have thick hair, I definitely expect this to mushroom pretty quickly, so be forewarned. I also think this is a fantastic cut for anyone with an oval or heart shape face, but not so much for those with round face shape, again because of the top volume, but the layering definitely helps with helping to create dimension and a natural looking warm shade of blonde.

Curly Brunette Shixie with a Cropped Fringe and Tapered Nape

Trimming ears means the side length is just right. Leaving space there shows the purpose of this as a pixie (not grown out). This is curly hair hair, of course, so the cuts need to be dry (unshapely curls will create shorter fringe length). This will also help to create some curly definition in the fringe. It will not look good at all if straight and fine hair have this cut. Straight hair will just lack all the nice curly texture and volume. This cut is great for anyone with a 2B curl (straight hair and fine hair will end up looking flat and wispy). Especially for round faces. Because the sides and temples are left short (defining the length), it helps to decrease the roundness of the face. This style is great for short curly hair on oval shaped faces or heart shaped faces if the hair is a little longer.

Tousled Warm Brunette Shixie with Choppy Crown Texture

Look at all that Crown lift with no visible product holding it up! No mousse needed for this shixie cut. This cut preserves length on the crown and fringe while allowing a nice tight nape and exposing the ears. This also shows off a clients natural wave, providing a great amount of dimensional texture which is normally only achievable through the use of a curling iron. Straight hair has no hopes of pulling off this look on its own. This style is great on oval and heart shaped faces because the fringe is loosely framing the face without fully concealing it. Round faces may lack the fringe definition. The warm dimensional brunette base and blonde highlights are great but subtle and may go unnoticed.

Choppy Dark Shixie with Cherry Red Ribbon Highlights

This isn’t a foil or balayage technique, however this seems to be a ribbon technique that is applied at the top layer of the hair and is skipped at the fringe and nape, in order to keep the look from appearing to be costumey. The red coloring keeps this from being a balayage technique. The texture at the crown is razor or point cut to give movement and spikes to the hair. It looks unstructured and largely done without intention. There is micro fringe and is blunt with a slant that goes across the forehead. The hair behind it gets longer and goes toward the ears. It appears to work great on medium to thick hair. This looks great on fine hair, however throughout the day the shape will mostly likely be lost. The texture creates lift in the crown and the hair that falls beyond the ears is longer and keeps the look open. The red color that is throughout the hair balances and compliments the texture on rounder face shapes a lot, since it adds lift around the face. The texture of the fringe lifts and brightens overall. This coloring will most likely start to fade after a few weeks, however, the vibrancy will be most controlled with at home color depositing products.

Sun-Kissed Shixie with Lived-In Texture and Soft Blonde Dimension

At the top, you can see a soft lift. The crown has been point-cut to give the appearance of a bedhead, without looking unkempt. This look is built on layers of hand-painted warm blonde highlights set against a base of sandy brown with the lighter and quieter sides concentrated at the top and on the fringe. This looks great with textured medium waves. For people with oval or heart-shaped face, this look will complement your style by adding length but still not fully covering your face. For straight hair, the effort to maintain this look will not be worth it without daily hair products. This style will unflatteringly expose your jawline with it’s short sides because of the balanced volume. Wispy framing places volume at the sides of your face so it looks longer. I find this style to have balance of volume and shape so it is a great go-to.

Messy Caramel Shixie with Razored Movement and Forward Fringe

Most of the texture here is from the cut, while the product is secondary. Razored layers create lots of lift, and this one has medium density hair with a bit of a natural S-pattern. If you have naturally wavy hair, you may like this. Pin straight and fine hair? This will obviously lay flat on your head. If you’re going for a voluminous look, it will also lengthen your face, making round faces appear less round. This hairstyle for round faces would benefit from keeping the length a bit longer to minimize the cuteness of the short sides. Perfect no styling, wake up and go! Scrunch and go!

Textured Shixie with Curly Volume on Top

These crowns beautifully frame the ears, but this particular crown has an intriguing design. The same material that eases around the ears constricts at the top which creates a curved design that is held by its own tension. This crown has razor texturing on top and a short layer on the nape, allowing nape hair to curl and creating less bulk. This crown will not keep the shape of straight hair. This design is ideal with waves and a good amount of density. This crown balances the chin and looks good on oval and heart-shaped faces, basically any face shape, just not a round face because this crown will make a round face appear wider. This crown is dark brown, no highlights or lowlights, and has lots of texture, which creates natural light and dark spots. This crown takes about 3 months to grow out so if you don’t mind having this crown for 3 more months, you should totally get it.

Layered Shixie with Chunky Blonde Money Pieces

This one has so much dimension at the nape! This layering is avoiding that flat and helmet-like look that a lot of shixies have. The back and sides are short, but have a lot of length at the top and are razor textured to have all the choppy movement. This style needs medium to thick density for it to keep this shape. If you’re blonde, a lot of ‘money pieces’ can be heavily placed to create a single dark brows frame and brunette base. Without layers and dimension, this cut can get boring. Fine haired people will end up with layering that looks stringy, rather than intentional. Wispy bangs paired with side pieces and the shape of the cut that is leaning towards an oval and heart face shape, compliment this cut. This style does have a short and choppy top, so keep that in mind because it won’t hide a bad grow out too well.

Razor-Cut Shixie with Warm Brunette Highlights

See the layers stacked at the crown? The nape is tucked in and clean. Great positioning of the layers does most of the work here, showing off dimensions and wisps that catch the light. The highlights are fine and delicate and are a warm caramel and strategically placed on top of a cool base brunette. The dimension of the highlights separates and distinguish the strands of hair, providing movement and dimension that conventional color would lack. This is a great cut for thicker hair as the razor cuts do not significantly diminish hair bulk and help retain volume by the hair. If you have fine hair or hair that is naturally flat, this cut will not help the hair retain the shape in this photo and will hang limp. Oval and heart faces will appreciate this cut with the longer bangs framing the face. This cut will begin to look baggy and be shapeless in roughly 5 weeks.

Feathered Brunette Shixie with Soft Wispy Layers

Starting with the crown, these layers are stacked and rather than leave the ends blunt, they’ve used a unique technique where they slide their shears in a way to create a feathery effect. This style keeps medium density hair looking fuller. The center of the bob has shorter layers that angle forward and up towards the face while the sides are tapered neatly to the ear and then all the layers gently graduate to the sides. This look is definitely not very flattering for those with rounder faces. The broadness of the style will only enhance the width of your face. The length is very flattering on many face shapes, especially hearts and ovals. Again, there is no real defined part. The length of the fringe depends on the width of your face. The fullest and flattering fringe is left to the person’s discretion to style. And, in the better interest of your mornings, where there will be minimal time for styling, you’ll probably have to keep this look up.

This post The Shixie Makes a Convincing Case for Cutting Your Hair Short, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com

“I’ve been spending so much money on shampoos and serums, but my hair still looks dull and breaks off constantly. My stylist mentioned something about nutrition but I don’t even know where to start. Can what I drink actually make a difference?”

— Donna Krauss, Duluth, Minnesota

Donna, I hear this more than almost anything else behind the chair. Someone comes in frustrated, they’ve been using what I’d consider a genuinely good shampoo, they’re not heat-styling excessively, and their hair just looks… tired. Flat. Breaking off at the ends or worse, at the root. And nine times out of ten when I start asking questions, it comes back to what they’re putting in their body, not on it.

I had a client a few years back, late fifties, lovely woman who drove almost an hour to see me, and she was convinced her thinning edges were genetic. Maybe partly, sure. But when she mentioned she’d been surviving on coffee and diet soda since her divorce, something clicked for me. We talked about hydration, about nutrients, about what your follicles actually need to produce a strong strand. Six months later she came back in and the difference was real. Not a miracle transformation, but real, visible density improvement. She hadn’t changed her products at all. She’d changed what she was drinking.

So yes, Donna, what you drink matters quite a bit. Here are the drinks that I genuinely believe are doing the most work for your hair, ranked from helpful all the way up to the one I think of as almost non-negotiable.

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly believe in. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue creating free content like this.

8. Coconut Water

Coconut water has been trendy for a while now, and I’ll be honest, I was skeptical of it at first because so many things get overhyped in the wellness space and then quietly disappear. But coconut water has actually earned its place, at least when it comes to hair health, and the reason is pretty specific. It’s one of the better natural sources of potassium and cytokinins, which are plant hormones that some research suggests may help support the aging process at the cellular level, including at the scalp.

What I tell my clients is this: your scalp is skin. It needs electrolytes, it needs circulation support, and it needs to stay hydrated at a deeper level than just what you spray on top. Coconut water, because of its natural electrolyte balance, helps with that internal hydration in a way that plain water alone sometimes doesn’t get at, especially if you’re someone who exercises a lot or lives somewhere dry.

The thing about coconut water is that it also has a small amount of biotin naturally occurring, and while the levels aren’t as high as a supplement, getting nutrients from a whole food or drink source means your body tends to absorb and use them more efficiently. I’m not saying it’s a substitute for anything medical. But as a replacement for a sugary sports drink or a soda in the afternoon, it’s genuinely doing more for your follicles than those ever would.

Look for brands like Harmless Harvest or Vita Coco, and go for the plain, unsweetened versions. The flavored ones usually have added sugar that offsets a lot of the benefit.

7. Spearmint Tea

This one surprises people, and I get it, it sounds almost too specific. But spearmint tea has some genuinely interesting research behind it for women, particularly those dealing with hormonal hair loss or thinning along the part. The reason is that spearmint has natural anti-androgen properties, meaning it can help reduce elevated DHT and testosterone levels that, in women, are often quietly behind unexplained shedding.

Hair loss in women over forty is so frequently hormonal and so frequently dismissed. I can’t tell you how many clients have been told their labs are “normal” while they’re watching their ponytail get thinner every year. Spearmint isn’t a pharmaceutical intervention, I want to be clear about that. But two cups a day has shown up in small clinical studies as having a measurable effect on androgen levels in women, and that connection to hair density is real enough that I started mentioning it regularly.

One of my longtime clients started drinking spearmint tea consistently after I brought it up, partly because she already liked the taste. About four months in, she noticed less hair in her shower drain. Now correlation isn’t causation, she also cleaned up her diet around the same time, but she swears by it and honestly, I don’t think she’s wrong. The cost of trying it is essentially nothing, and it’s pleasant to drink.

You can find good loose-leaf spearmint at most health food stores, or grab a quality bag on Amazon. Brew it fresh, let it steep a full five minutes to get the most out of it, and skip the honey if you’re also watching blood sugar, which affects hair too, but that’s a whole other conversation.

6. Bone Broth

I know some of you are already making a face. Bear with me. Bone broth is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated things a woman can consume for her hair, skin, and nails, and the reason is collagen. Not the collagen powder you’re stirring into coffee (though we’ll get to that), but the naturally occurring collagen, gelatin, and amino acids that come from slow-simmered animal bones. The body recognizes and absorbs these differently than a processed supplement, and the gut health benefits that come along with it end up feeding your follicles in ways that are hard to replicate otherwise.

Your hair is made of keratin, which is a protein, and keratin synthesis depends on amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline. Bone broth is rich in all three. When I started paying more attention to my own diet a couple years ago after noticing more hair on my brush than usual (occupational hazard, you stare at hair all day and eventually start scrutinizing your own), bone broth was one of the things I added. I had a cup most evenings instead of a snack, and within a few months my hair felt noticeably thicker to me, not just visually but in texture when I ran my hands through it.

The quality of bone broth matters a lot. Homemade is best if you have the time, simmered for at least twelve hours with good quality bones. If you don’t, and most people don’t, Kettle and Fire is the brand I trust most from a shelf-stable perspective. It’s pricier than the watery stuff at the grocery store but it’s actually gelatinous at room temperature, which tells you the collagen content is real. Warm it up, add a little sea salt, and treat it like a savory drink rather than a soup. It becomes a habit pretty quickly.

5. Green Juice (The Real Kind)

Green juice gets lumped in with wellness trends in a way that makes people dismiss it, and I think that’s partly because a lot of what gets sold as green juice is mostly apple juice with a few spinach molecules floating around in it. That stuff isn’t doing much for anyone. But a properly made green juice, one that’s actually heavy on the leafy greens, cucumber, and something like celery or parsley, delivers a concentration of folate, iron, vitamin C, and silica that your hair follicles are genuinely hungry for.

Silica in particular is one that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s a mineral that supports the structural integrity of the hair shaft, and it’s found in high amounts in cucumber skin and in herbs like horsetail. Women going through perimenopause and menopause often see their hair become finer and more fragile as estrogen drops, and while that’s a complex issue, getting adequate silica helps the strands you do have hold onto their structure better.

If you have a juicer, a combination of cucumber, celery, kale, parsley, a small knob of ginger, and lemon is one I’d genuinely recommend rotating into your mornings. If juicing at home isn’t realistic, look for cold-pressed options at your grocery store and read the label before you buy. The ingredient list should read like a salad, not a fruit smoothie. Some good cold-press brands like Evolution Fresh or Suja do make versions that are legitimately green-heavy and low in added sugar. Those count. The bright green ones with a short ingredient list are your friends.

4. Aloe Vera Juice

This is the one I probably recommend most often to clients who come in with scalp issues alongside their hair concerns, because aloe vera juice works on both fronts simultaneously. Internally, it’s anti-inflammatory and helps with nutrient absorption in the gut, which matters more than people realize. You could be eating all the right things and still not getting full benefit from them if your gut isn’t absorbing well, and aloe supports that process. Externally, some people apply it directly to the scalp, and it works there too, but drinking it consistently has its own payoff over time.

The anti-inflammatory piece is especially important for scalp health. A chronically inflamed scalp, whether from stress, diet, or just genetics, creates an environment where healthy hair growth is genuinely harder. It’s like trying to grow a garden in rocky soil. Aloe’s mix of enzymes, vitamins B12 and C, and folic acid helps calm that inflammation from the inside, and I’ve seen clients with persistent scalp irritation respond really well to making it a daily habit.

It tastes a little strange at first, I’ll be honest with you. It’s slightly bitter with a gel-like texture if you get a good quality version, and that throws some people off. Mixing it into a smoothie or diluting it with water and a splash of citrus helps a lot. Lily of the Desert is the brand I’ve used the longest and trusted the most, their inner fillet version is gentler on digestion than the whole leaf. Start with a couple ounces a day and work up from there. Your scalp will thank you before your taste buds do.

3. Collagen Peptide Drinks

Alright, here’s where things get a little more targeted. Collagen peptides dissolved in liquid have become a legitimate part of a lot of women’s routines over the last several years, and while the supplement industry has a way of overpromising, this is one category where I think the research actually backs up the enthusiasm, at least for hair and skin and nails in women past forty. Type I and Type III collagen specifically support the dermal layer of the scalp, which is where your follicles live, and regular supplementation has shown up in multiple studies as improving hair thickness and reducing breakage over time.

The key word in all of that is “regular.” I’ve had clients try a collagen supplement for three weeks, see nothing, and quit. Collagen is a long game, and you genuinely need to give it three to six months of daily use to see what it’s doing. I started taking it myself partly out of curiosity and partly because I was in my early forties and noticed some changes in my hair texture that felt premature, and by the five-month mark the difference in how my hair felt when I blew it dry was noticeable enough that I’ve kept it up ever since.

You can take collagen as a powder stirred into water, coffee, or a smoothie, or you can buy it as a ready-to-drink option now. Vital Proteins is the one I come back to most consistently, it’s flavorless and dissolves completely without clumping, which is not true of every brand. Ancient Nutrition is another solid option, especially their multi-collagen version that includes types I, II, III, V, and X. Look for products that include vitamin C in the formula or pair it with a vitamin C source, because vitamin C is necessary for your body to actually synthesize the collagen, without it, a lot of what you take passes through unused.

2. Nettle Tea

Nettle tea is one of those things that’s been used for centuries and somehow got lost in the shuffle when packaged wellness products took over, and I genuinely think it deserves a comeback. Stinging nettle is remarkably dense in nutrients that directly affect hair, we’re talking iron, silica, sulfur, B vitamins, zinc, and even some protein, in a form that the body absorbs easily through tea. For women dealing with iron-deficiency related shedding, which is far more common than most doctors test for, nettle tea is one of the most useful things you can add without jumping straight to supplementation.

Hair loss from low iron doesn’t always look like what people expect. It’s not always dramatic. Sometimes it’s just a slowly widening part, or hair that feels limp no matter what you do to it, or strands that break mid-length instead of splitting at the end. When clients describe that to me I always ask about energy levels and whether they’re eating enough red meat or leafy greens, because those are often connected. Nettle tea won’t fix severe anemia on its own, please see a doctor if you suspect that, but for subclinical low iron or as a supportive tool alongside dietary changes, it’s genuinely effective.

I drink it most mornings in the fall and winter, brewed strong with a squeeze of lemon. The lemon isn’t just for taste, the vitamin C in it helps iron absorption significantly, so if you’re drinking nettle specifically for the iron benefit, don’t skip that step. Traditional Medicinals makes a good nettle leaf tea that’s widely available, or you can find it in loose-leaf form if you prefer that. Brew it for five to seven minutes. It has an earthy, slightly grassy taste that I actually like, but if you don’t, a little honey rounds it out nicely.

1. Water, But Specifically Enough of It

I know. You read all the way down here expecting something exotic and I’m telling you water. But hear me out, because I mean this as genuinely as anything else on this list, and I’d be doing you a disservice if I put anything else at number one.

Chronic low-grade dehydration is one of the most common and most overlooked causes of dull, brittle, slow-growing hair that I see in my chair. Your hair shaft is roughly ten to fifteen percent water by composition, and when your overall hydration is consistently low, the shaft becomes dry and brittle from the inside in a way that no amount of conditioner or oil can fully address from the outside. I’ve said this probably thousands of times over the years: if your hair is dry, the first question isn’t what you’re putting on it, it’s what you’re putting in you.

The amount matters and so does the consistency. Not eight glasses one day and two the next. Your follicles respond to steady, sustained hydration, not catch-up hydration on weekends. Most of my clients who are not great water drinkers know it about themselves, they’ll tell me “I know I should drink more water” the same way someone might say they know they should exercise more, and they mean it, they just haven’t built the habit. Getting a large, genuinely nice water bottle that you actually want to carry makes more difference than it should. I use a Hydro Flask 32 oz, and because I like it, I actually use it, which sounds silly but has been genuinely true for years now. A Stanley Quencher works the same way for a lot of women I know, you find the vessel you like and suddenly you’re drinking enough without thinking about it.

There are also mineral waters worth mentioning here, particularly silica-rich ones like Fiji Water or Volvic, which have measurably higher natural silica content than most tap water. Silica, as I mentioned earlier with the green juice, is really important for hair shaft integrity, and drinking silica-rich water is one of the more effortless ways to get more of it. It’s not a magic bullet, but if you’re going to drink water anyway, and you are, you might as well choose one that’s doing a little extra work.

At the end of the day, your hair is a long-term project and dehydration shows up in it slowly, which means rehydration also shows up slowly. Give it six to eight weeks of genuinely consistent, adequate water intake and watch what happens to your shine, your elasticity, and how your hair feels when it’s wet. Those things shift before length or density do, and they’re a good early sign that your body is responding.

The Bottom Line

Donna, you asked whether what you drink can actually make a difference, and I hope by now the answer is clearly yes. None of this replaces a good haircut, a decent shampoo for your hair type, or seeing a doctor if something feels genuinely off. But the products you put on your hair are working with whatever raw material your body is producing, and the quality of that raw material comes from inside, always has.

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Pick one or two things from this list that feel manageable and do those consistently for a few months before adding more. The water thing is non-negotiable so start there. Add nettle tea or collagen if you’re dealing with thinning. Try spearmint if hormones feel like part of your picture. Give your hair the internal environment it needs and then let your products finish the job.

If you want to explore any of the supplements or tools I mentioned, I’ve linked everything throughout the article. And if you have a question like Donna’s, send it in. I love this stuff and I never get tired of talking about it.

This post Drink Your Way to Better Hair, was originally published at Latest-Hairstyles.com