There are very few hair types and haircuts that can survive without layers. Layers create direction, add lift and help create shape and movement when styling. So unless you have fine hair and opted for a bob, you need layers. Up until now, layers have mostly been a highly structured science. Classic layers are geometric with pronounced angles, and their lines can easily be spotted within your cut. Recently, we stumbled upon a new layering trend that breaks all the rules of traditional layers. Meet: Lived-In Layers.
From TikTok to Instagram, we’re constantly fed new haircut trends and inspiration. We see a style; we love it, we want it. The only problem is, what works for someone else doesn’t always work for you. Their texture, type, and density are unique, not to mention their lifestyle — do they blow dry their hair? Use a flat iron? How does their hair air dry? A big part of this comes down to the weight of the hair and how layers are used to tailor a cut.
Take the 90s haircut, for example. Iterations of this trend have been making the rounds again, accompanied by the Rachel, the Sachel, and the Brachel. What clients love about 90s haircuts are the fullness and volume they create — but what they don’t understand is that because of the heavy weight lines and layers, it takes a lot of work to achieve the style. "When a client asks for a 90s haircut, with the front layer falling quite long below the chin, the weight is kept with no layers, and that it’s a haircut that always needs a blow dry. This is exactly why I consult with my clients and talk through the maintenance of these trends before we cut, so they understand what that haircut requires to get the most out of it,” says David Gogoi of Hersheshons Fitzrovia.
It’s all about lived-in layers
Lived-in layers bridge the gap between your wants and needs. If you want a 90s cut but are worried about the styling aspect, lived-in layers can soften the finish allowing you to enjoy a modern version of it. “Nowadays, I take a different approach to layers. I focus on making them look more lived-in, like it just happens naturally, instead of the classic geometric layers that, in my opinion, need constant styling to make them look good,” says Gogoi.
With lived-in color and lived-in styling all around us, it only seems natural that lived-in layers finally make their debut. The soft, feathered appearance removes weight through classic texturizing techniques instead of cutting heavy lines into the hair. With this technique, there are still short pieces of hair that direct your cut, but they blend so naturally that it still gives off the appearance of a single length cut, just with more movement and texture.