Layered Haircuts and Hairstyles for Every Face Shape

Low-maintenance, high style.

In need of a haircut—and some inspo? Allow us to suggest a layered hairstyle. Whether you’re in the mood to go bold with short hair cut in a choppy shag like Miley Cyrus or want to recreate Gwyneth Paltrow’s classic long hairstyle with face-framing layers, there’s a cut that’ll work for every face shape and hair texture. “I always say, go to a professional. Talk to them, let them see [what they’re working with],” says Justin Anderson, hairstylist and founder of dpHue. But as a rule of thumb, he suggests that those with round faces opt for longer layers, as it elongates the face, and those with more oval face shapes go with shorter, face-framing pieces.

While a layered hairstyle is the perfect way to emphasize certain facial features, it also makes styling easier than ever. Air-dried textures will look more polished, curly hair will stay defined and separated, and fine, thin hair will be blessed with volume. The best part? Grow out is as low-maintenance as it gets. “Everybody’s hair grows out differently, but if your hair is really dry on the ends, you want to go at least every two months to get a trim,” adds Anderson.

For all the inspiration you could ever need ahead of your next salon appointment, keep reading. We’ve rounded up the best layered hairstyles of all time. From on-trend bangs to blended ringlet curls, here are the best celebrity looks.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Long Layers

Not quite sure how you feel about a layered look? Dip your toe in the water with a few long layers like Paltrow. It’s polished, but still adds a little personality to your cut. Plus, if you decide the look isn’t for you, the growout is insanely easy. 

Amal Clooney’s Body-Boosting Cut

Anyone that curls their hair on the regular should take a cue from Clooney. Her gradual layers ensure that each chunk remains defined. If you do switch between a center and side part though, just make sure your front layers aren’t too short.

Eva Longoria’s Face-Framing Look

A layered look can be super subtle—just look to Longoria. While the majority of her shoulder-length cut is uniform, the two shorter pieces at the front draw extra attention to her facial features.

Shay Mitchell’s Angled Layers

Asymmetric layers add unmatched excitement to any style—regardless of length, color, or texture. To achieve the Beis founder’s edgy updo, you’ll want to tell your stylist to add in some sharp angles as well.

Tyra Banks’ Voluminous Curls

Layers and curls are a perfect match. They give the illusion of length and volume, while simultaneously giving the hair a thinner, less bulky feel. It’s a no-brainer summer hairstyle.

Jennifer Aniston’s Gradual Swoop

To achieve Aniston’s iconic hairstyle, you’ll want to ask your stylist for jagged layers. Achieving her perfect inward bend will require a bit of heat styling though. You’ll Guide your flatiron through the ends of your hair with a round brush.

Simone Ashley’s Minimal Waves

Test the layered hair waters with a look like Ashley’s. Her soft and expertly blended cut works great with all hair types and textures.

Kaley Cuoco’s Feathered Feel

Balance out your bangs with choppy layers. This will give your bangs a messy, just-woke-up-like-this feel as opposed to something more structured and styled.

Kate Winslet’s Polished Chignon

Focusing on layers toward the front is ideal for anyone who loves an updo. Similar to curtain bangs, this cut instantly ups the ante on any bun or ponytail.

Florence Pugh’s Surfer Girl Style

If your hair texture falls on the wavy side, take a page out of Pugh’s playbook. A choppy cut (and dip dyed ends, if you feel like it), can add a little extra bounce to your texture.

Rihanna’s V-Shaped Layers

A look that’s longer in the back and shorter in the front is a great option for those with thick, full hair. It helps keep structure, but doesn’t disrupt your natural texture.

Heidi Klum's Sleek Style

Long, eyelash-grazing bangs pair up with a feathered shelf of layers at collarbone-length, make Klum's straight style look extra chic.

Sofía Vergara's Voluminous Vibe

With blunt ends and swishy layers, the Modern Family star's layered cut is perfect for getting a bouncy blowout.

Olivia Rodrigo's Crimped Curls

While the singer's strands are by and large one length, she adds a bit of movement with long layers.

Winnie Harlow's Angled Bob

The model's bob is a different take on a layered look. She has an A-line shape that moves from short to long, while still looking ultra crisp.

Rebel Wilson's Side Swept Bang

With a chunky bang and voluminous layers throughout, Wilson's style is a great option for all face shapes.

Emma Stone's Side Part

Want to give your long layers a more dramatic feel? Change up your part to shorten where the front pieces fall.

Molly Sims' Graduated Layers

Sims has a single mezzanine level of layers just along the collarbone, then snippy layers at the ends to break things up.

Jena Frumes' Layered Ringlets

By piling shorter pieces on top and around the face, tight coils have a more defined shape and need little styling to look fresh and streamlined.

Jennifer Lopez's Razored Bob

Long in the front, short in the back, and razored up and in throughout. Such a precise cut would look drab if not for the sliced-up ends.

Mindy Kaling's Long Layers

Layers needn't hit you in the face—in fact, they should do just the opposite. Here, Kaling's layers drift gently away from the face to shape your look.

Priyanka Chopra's Face-Framing Layers

To recreate Chopra's soft, loose, face-framing layers, use a round brush toward the crown to add volume that'll accentuate your chin area.

Jeanie Mai's Wavy Bob

Mai went for a choppy layered bob with a subtle hint of color on her ends. Her hair looks even fuller thanks to a bit of texture and volume.

Brie Larson's Angled Bob

Play around with the length of your lob by cutting a few angled layers.

Megan Fox's Long Brunette Layers

Fox's wavy brunette situation can easily be achieved with a medium barrel curling iron. Patiently curl your hair piece-by-piece and maintain the length by cutting layers past the shoulders.

Giuliana Rancic's Choppy Lob

Jazz up a classic blunt bob with a bright hair color, like Rancic's sunny blonde shade, and lots and lots of layers for added texture.

Kerry Washington's Shoulder Length Waves

You can never go wrong with shoulder length curls and a middle part. Washington has the ability to pull off just about any style, and this shoulder-length staple is no different.

Regina Hall's Wispy Curls

To achieve a classic '70s-inspired look, subtly layer the front of your hair and curl the strands away from the face for a feathered curl effect.

Tessa Thompson's Asymmetrical Curly Bob

Thompson adds some personality to her blunt cut curly bob by cutting a few layers within the crown. Layering naturally curly hair is the perfect way to achieve additional volume.

Alanna Arrington's Curly Mane

Curly bangs are a hit when done right! Arrington's bangs are slightly layered to keep the look full and voluminous but not too heavy.

Jennifer Lawrence's Fabulously Frizzy Curls

A little frizz and humidity (thank you, summer) won't do any harm to layers, as Lawrence's natural curls showcase. With layers, the more volume the better.

Zendaya's Face-Framing Curls

Cutting your curls may seem scary, but I promise you, curly bangs will not be a mistake. Layers will give your natural curls so much definition.

Bella Hadid's Brushed-Out Curls

Don't fret if you have naturally fine hair like Hadid. Brushed-out curls and layers will add fullness.

Dua Lipa's Blunt Bob

Who says your bob has to be one length? No one. If you're looking for a fun way to jazz up a simple bob, take Lipa's asymmetrical layers as inspo to experiment with length.

Ciara's Feathered Lob

Modernize Farrah Fawcett-styled feathered hair with a center part like Ciara's. Parting your layers straight down the middle is a classic trick to accentuate your facial features.

Kate Mara's Asymmetrical Pixie

Short hair serves layers well with lots and lots of volume. Mara's wispy side-bangs add a dimension of eccentricity to this choppy style.

Taraji P. Henson's Texturized Bob

Henson opted for choppy layers and thick, side-swept bangs to create an anled bob that looks full, not frumpy.

Sarah Hyland's Subtle Texture

Keep a lob from falling flat by cutting a bunch of long layers that start at the jawline and gradually thin out towards the ends. Lightly curl random sections around your head, raking through the curls while they're still warm, to add even more body and definition.

Dakota Johnson's Layered Bangs

Wispy bangs that melt into long, face-framing layers automatically add definition to Johnson's face.

Gabrielle Union's Glossy Curls

Long, thick hair can weigh down a lithe face, so make like Gabrielle Union and thin out the bulk with feathered layers that fall softly around your cheeks and shoulders.

Chrissy Teigen's Waterfall Layers

Thicker hair plus longer layers makes for the perfect opportunity to curl them out in cascading mermaid waves.

Poppy Delevingne's Beachy Waves

Beachy waves work especially well on long layers that start from the chin down. Just think of all the hair-flipping potential.

Kate Middleton's Spirals

On gorgeous layers like Middleton's, use a medium barrel iron on your ends to achieve spirals of varying lengths.

Sienna Miller's Wispy Waves

When you've got piece-y layers like Miller's, achieving this adorable, wispy style is as simple as wrapping hair lightly around a straightening iron for subtle waves.

Zoe Saldana's Windswept Hair

On finer hair with super subtle layering, add some body by spritzing some texturing spray throughout your hair and scrunching at the roots.

Kate Hudson Dark Roots

Hudson keeps this straight, layered look interesting with dark roots that draw the eye.

Drew Barrymore

Give your natural waves some dimension with layers that start past the shoulder. Smooth out your ends with an oil and you're good to go!