When it comes to boosting volume and bringing life back to the thinning, flat hair many women experience over 40, one of the best options is typically to go with a layered haircut. However, it’s important to remember that not all layers are created equally—which is to say that, if you go with the wrong ‘do, you could end up making matters worse and draw even more attention to signs of thinning.
To discover the common layering mistakes that women who struggle with thinning hair should avoid at all costs, we checked in with hair experts Jean Will, co-founder at NiaWigs, Gina Rivera, Celebrity Stylist and Founder of Phenix Salon Suites, and Rogerio Cavalcante, owner of Second Floor Salon. Read what they had to say below!
1. Heavy Layering
While layering can be a great method for effectively boosting volume in your hair and taking years off of your face, Will and Rivera both warn against going overboard. If you add too many drastic layers to your hair, it could be counterproductive and make your locks look even thinner.
"It’s important to stay away from hairstyles that have a lot of layers. Too many layers may reduce the volume of the hair leaving it limp, lifeless, and thinner," Rivera explains. Will agrees, noting that you should instead "consider doing light layering and avoid heavily layered cuts as it will likely remove the hair’s density and volume."
2. Using Thinning Scissors
Here's another factor you may not have thought of: the scissors your stylist uses will play a major role in the final look of your layered hair. Cavalcante warns against one variety in particular; he says you shouldn't let thinning scissors be taken to your locks when you're sitting in the salon chair. "Instead, stylists should use point cutting, a technique that removes weight," he explains. "This is recommended as it allows for layers to fall seamlessly." Noted! This is just one more reason it's important to choose a great stylist you can trust to do a great job on your cut.
3. Straight, Middle Part
There's one more thing to consider when it comes to reducing the appearance of thinning hair: your part! While this may not apply exclusively to layered hair, it can be especially important for women with layers to consider. Will says a straight part down the middle of your scalp is likely not your best bet if you're dealing with hair loss because it could draw attention to the issue and make your hair appear flatter.
"Using a straight line in splitting your hair into two makes thin hair and fallout very obvious," she warns. So, what are your other options? You may want to shake things up! "You could consider using a zigzag pattern or uneven distribution of hair split for higher volume," she notes. We would've never thought about that!
How To Boost Volume With Layers
While these mistakes should be avoided if you don't want to draw attention to your thinning hair, there are plenty of ways that layers can actually help the cause! Rivera offers a few suggestions. "Long layers can be beneficial in making the hair look thicker if they are cut correctly," she says. "Bobs and lobs with longer layers can add volume."
Additional tips include adding waves to create the illusion of thickness and trying out a "soft bang" to "contribute to the appearance of fuller looking as well as draw the eye to the facial features hair." Overall, Rivera says you should "avoid haircuts that are super geometric and blunt." Got it!
