Layering might sound like something we Southerners do around tailgating time — perhaps a cardigan worn over a collegiate polo finished off with a “say something” scarf. Lord, have mercy. It’s too hot for those kinds of layers right now!
I’m talking about layering hair. When it comes to layers, not all haircuts are created equally, and one size does not fit all. I remember my first attempt at cutting layers in beauty school all those years ago, when the Farrah Fawcett shag was all the rage from Hollywood to Hattiesburg. Later, that “friend” we all let into our living rooms, played by Jennifer Anniston, had everybody’s heart all a-flutter over the “Rachel,” which was a choppier, more face-framing shag with layers. Basically, layering hair is when one-length hair is cut into a variety of different lengths to create a specific desired end result.
Layers can breathe life into a thick head of hair by infusing movement, removing bulk, and coaxing the hair into moments that flatter every facial shape. Different tools are used to design intricate modern layers. The razor can sculpt a fringe that dances along the cheekbones, igniting an otherwise boring cut with a new energy. The shears can freehandedly slide down and throughout the lengths of a shag for a one-of-a-kind cut that is as unique as the woman who wears it. The texturizing shears that resemble your grandma’s old pinking shears come in a myriad of styles for carving the hair into spectacular layers right before your very eyes. Layers can be hidden within the interior of a bob to add lift, volume, and a bit of “oomph.”
While in New York City a few years ago, I was mesmerized as Nick Arrojo, celebrity stylist from TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” vigorously shook a woman’s long mane of hair from left to right while simultaneously whacking through it with his opened shears. It was artistry at its best, pure genius.
When it comes to layers, it’s so much like an ensemble. The style comes in knowing what to take off and what to leave on. Ask your stylist for layers, and then sit back and be wowed.
Former Columbus resident David Creel owns Beautiful With David salon in Jackson. Contact him at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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