Layered haircuts have been popular for decades, and for good reason. The stacked look can add volume, movement, and shape to all hair types and lengths. However, layered styles also come with some potential drawbacks. As with any cut, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of layered hair before taking the plunge.
In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide quick answers to common questions about the disadvantages of layered locks. Then, we’ll do a deeper dive into the cons of layered hair throughout the rest of the article.
Quick answers on the cons of layered hair:
– More maintenance – Layered hair requires more regular trims to keep the shape looking fresh. The layers can grow out quickly.
– Doesn’t work for all hair types – Very curly or thin hair often looks best in a one-length style. Layers can make these hair types poofy or scraggly.
– Risk of damage – Overlapping layers require thinning with scissors or razors. This can cause split ends, especially for already damaged hair.
– Time consuming styling – Blow drying and styling layered hair takes more time and effort. The layers must be styled individually.
– Doesn’t grow out well – Growing out a layered haircut can be awkward. The length will be uneven as the layers catch up to the longer pieces.
Now let’s explore the drawbacks of layered locks in more detail.
More High Maintenance
One of the biggest disadvantages of layered hairstyles is that they require more frequent maintenance. The layers build in volume by thinning out sections of hair around the crown and hairline. This strategic cutting creates the cascading effect that characterized layered cuts.
However, those perfectly tapered layers don’t stay perfect for long. The shorter layers along the top and sides grow out faster than the length in the back. Within 4-6 weeks, your immaculate layered shape starts to lose its definition. The layers blend together and fall flat.
To keep your layered cut looking fresh, you’ll need regular trims every 4-6 weeks. This maintains the contrast between the layers. Some people don’t mind frequent salon visits. But for others, the upkeep makes layered hair high-maintenance.
The maintenance intervals can be even shorter for dramatic layered styles. For example, a short layered bob or pixie cut may need a trim every 4 weeks.
Maintenance Frequency For Layered Hair:
| Hair Length | Trim Frequency |
| Short layered bob or pixie | Every 4 weeks |
| Medium layered lob or shag | Every 5-6 weeks |
| Long layered style | Every 6-8 weeks |
If you don’t keep up with regular trims, the layered shape will grow out very quickly. Your hair will lose that feathered look. Without careful layering, the bottom can also become heavy and drag down the roots.
Not Suitable For All Hair Types
While layered cuts work wonders on straight, smooth hair textures, they can be tricky on curly, coiled, and thin hair types.
Tight curls and coils have a natural layering effect. Adding more layers on top can create a shapeless, poofy mess. The layers separate and expand the curls rather than controlling frizz. Shorter layers also shrink up more on curly hair as they dry. This can leave curly layered cuts uneven.
Fine, limp hair doesn’t always hold a layered shape well. Too many layers can make the hair look even more sparse and thin along the top and sides. The layers also remove the weight needed to hold straight, fine hair down. Without enough density, short layered fine hair can stick out all over rather than framing the face.
Some examples of hair types that usually look best with minimal layering include:
Hair Types That May Not Suit Heavy Layering:
| Tight curls | Coiled textures |
| Loose waves | Thin, silky hair |
In these cases, subtle long layers may still help reduce some bulk. But dramatic, choppy layers often don’t complement the natural volume. Alternatives like one-length cuts or face-framing curtain bangs are lower maintenance. They create shape while working with the natural properties of the hair.
Increased Risk of Damage
Excessive layering can also damage hair. Those wispy ends are usually created through thinning techniques like:
– Point cutting
– Razoring
– Texturizing
– Slithering
These methods slice into the hair shaft. The uneven ends help blend layers together and create movement. But they also expose hair to split ends.
Point cutting slices into the ends at an angle. This causes splits to travel up the hair shaft and creates multiple damage points. Razoring uses the sharp edge of shears to remove thin slices of hair. It causes ultra fine, fragile tips that break easily.
Texturizing and slithering use special shears. The blades have notches or teeth that grasp and pull out pieces of hair. This roughens the edges for added volume and separation. But it also leaves the ends extremely thin and prone to breakage.
Layering Techniques That Increase Split Ends:
| Point Cutting | Razoring |
| Texturizing | Slithering |
If your hair is already damaged from heat styling, color processing, or environmental exposure, extensive layering can worsen the problem. The thinning required to create layers compounds existing split ends. This leads to increased breakage over time.
To limit damage, ask your stylist to avoid too much thinning if your hair is compromised. Longer layers with soft blending will be more protective. It’s also crucial to have split ends trimmed regularly to prevent further cracking.
Time Consuming Styling
Achieving perfect layered hair requires meticulous styling from root to tip. Each layer must be individually smoothed, shaped, and set into place.
With one-length styles, you can usually get away with quick all-over blow drying. But layers need special attention during styling to look polished. This adds significant time to your daily hair routine.
Proper blow drying technique is key. Each layer should be wrapped around a round brush to direct the flow of air. Shorter top layers must be smoothed forward and down to prevent poofing. Longer interior layers should get blown back and under.
The angles matter too. Aiming the dryer across layers gives movement, while blow drying straight down locks layers into place. The ends also need light tension from the brush to elongate layers and enhance their shape.
After blow drying, layered locks often benefit from targeted styling products. Applying mousse just to the crown adds volume at the roots without flattening longer layers. Using pomade or texture spray on the ends prevents flyaways.
No matter how you style them, layered cuts simply require more effort than one-length looks. For those short on time, it can become a chore dealing with all those meticulous layers daily.
Annoying Growing Out Process
While layered hair can feel high-maintenance to style, it’s even more difficult growing it out. The biggest nuisance is contending with uneven lengths.
As your layers start to grow out, the bottom gradually catches up to the top. But the process happens gradually over many months. During the awkward in-between phase, your hair length will be noticeably shorter on top.
This unevenness can make long layered hair tricky to part and style. Shorter pieces around the face tend to stick out and look shaggy until the interior layers catch up. Getting all the mismatched lengths to smooth together takes patience and strategic styling.
Trimming just the longest pieces every few months helps balance things out. But you want to avoid cutting the top and sides too often. This will only prolong the grow out period. Avoiding short layers around the face also keeps the length looking more even.
Here are some tips to make growing out layered hair less awkward:
Tips For Growing Out Layers:
| – Get interior layers cut just below chin length | – Part hair to the side |
| – Add side bangs or face framing layers | – Use clips or pins to smooth top layers |
| – Style hair half up | – Blow dry forward & under |
The annoying grow out phase is why some people stick with short layered cuts. The awkwardness of collarbone length layered hair puts them off from growing it longer. Just be aware that you’ll need patience over several months when transitioning from layered to one-length.
Conclusion
Layered hair comes with pluses and minuses. When done right, the layered look can boost volume, add movement, and enhance your face shape. But the wrong layering can also create more work and damage for certain hair types.
Assess your hair’s properties and thickness. Very curly, coiled, and fine hair is often better suited to minimal layers. Prioritize an easy routine over trendy styling. Damaged or fragile strands also don’t need the extra stress of excessive thinning.
Experiment with shoulder length or longer layers rather than dramatic stacking. This creates subtle volume while allowing hair to grow out gracefully. Get ready to commit to frequent trims every 4-8 weeks for maintenance. Also budget extra time for blow drying and smoothing layers during styling.
Weigh all the potential drawbacks before getting any new layered cut. With reasonable expectations going in, you can make the look work beautifully for your hair type and lifestyle.