Reluctant as we may be to admit it, gone are the days of salt-enriched beachy hair and sun-kissed highlights. With autumn upon us, the cold-weather blues may leave your hair feeling limp—but fret not, because these celebrity-stylist-approved looks will be sure to get your fall follicles out of their rut.
I met with award-winning stylist Kyan Douglas of What Not to Wear, Queer Eye for a Straight Guy, While You Were Out, Ten Years Younger, and Rachael Ray. The Queer Eye Grooming Guru worked alongside Cutler Salon Creative Director Dean Holcombe to create some breathtaking looks, all based around one common (and extremely versatile) theme: layers. Daunting as it may seem to take on this totally new look for some of you, it’s actually supremely simple to achieve a gorgeous layered look for any face shape and hair type. Here are some of Kyan and Dean’s best suggestions to get a look you’ll love:
· Long layers are universally flattering for virtually any face shape, especially square or round ones. Try to make your first layer start just below your chinbone—the staggered layers after that will give your hair (not your face!) great body, and help to focus the volume towards the ends of your hair, rather than the sides of your face.
· If your face is heart-shaped, or if you have a petite cheekbone structure, then softer, slightly tapered layers work well with medium-length angles to frame your face. The angles will draw the focus to your face without seeming overwhelming.
· For longer and more ovular face shapes, angled layers in varying lengths will help to lighten your hair’s body and give it some lift—the added volume will prevent your hair from falling flat and elongating your face.
· If your hair is fine or thinning, a shorter ’do with choppy layers will help to create a much fuller texture and leave your hair looking thicker.
· Contrastingly, if you find your hair to be unmanageably thick (don’t worry by the way—Kyan says this is “a very good problem to have”), then layers should be sheared in an angular fashion throughout your hair’s entire body, including the deeper bottom layers. Doing so will give you a much more lightweight, effortless ease that won’t let your hair’s density weigh it down.
The final verdict? Come fall time, layering is definitely not exclusive to clothing. Applying a layered look to your hair is a tres-chic way to give a brand new personality to an otherwise flaccid look, and the ultra-versatile cut can be made to work for anyone.