new thread
I was talking with a female friend of mine last night, and she graciously gave me some fasion advice.
Once we came to an understanding about my hair (I refuse to cut off my ponytail, no ifs, ands, or buts), she recommended that I "Layer" my hair.
Because I'm the sort of person who tends to just grow my hair out by leaving it be, I'm not exactly up on this process. Would somebody be able to explain to me what layering is, and what it looks like?
For reference: I have "extra-long" hair. It goes down to about a handspan past my chin, and I recently got the last half of my ponytail bleached light and medium blonde (from dark brown), so my hair now looks somewhat like a brown and white foxtail. This is something I've wanted to do for over a year, so I'm extremely protective of the bleached portion. Would layering involve cutting it off?
Thanks for the help!
I was talking with a female friend of mine last night, and she graciously gave me some fasion advice.
As a professional men's hairstylist I can only say that Ravenlocks is absolutely correct! Layering is the specific method for thinning bulky hair without losing length. The results? Just what Ravenlocks wrote above: hair that is stringy, limp, thin AND (let me add)UNMANAGEABLE. If you stop to think a moment, just what is the "AWKWARD STAGE" all these longhair contributors to this board talk about? It is the growing out of "layered" hair until it can be trimmed "blunt" or become manageable by virtue of its sheer length..
From reading your post, you seem to favor wearing your hair in a ponytail. As both of these responses have already told you what the results would be. If your wearing your hair down most of the time and your fashion conscious, then maybe having it layered would be a worth looking into. Funny you mention this topic, because recently my wife is trying to convince me to layer my hair (She is a stylist). I told her not now because I still have a goal to reach that is uncommon between us. My argument with her is that once she does it, I am left to only wearing my hair they way she cut it. A pony tail would not even be a choice for me if I feel like wearing one. I also told her that just because one man in a magazine is weraing his hair that way, it does not mean my hair will look the same. I would also have to style it everyday and there is a possibility of bad hair days where my hair may not want to go that way. That bulk that is removed will eventually grow back in, meaning I would need for her to maintain it. I do not wish to productize my hair everyday either to keep it looking that style ever single day. Basically I told her no way, at least not now. Once I obtain my goal and at that time I wish to have a bit of change, that I might have her layer it then. I also mentioned to her that I don't care much for her short hair, but I don't hound every week to grow it out longer and the conversation dropped.
Wow...that's exactly the sort of response that I was hoping for.
Not that I wanted a lot of people who said, "Don't layer your hair", what I wanted was a lot of people who said, "You should do X, and here's why". And that's what I got. X just ended up being don't layer your hair.
I'll probably take your advice and keep my hair mostly how it is. I am considering taking some of my bangs and trimming them to chin length and letting them hang down and frame my face, which I think might look kinda cool. But layering certainly looks like a no, right now.
Thanks a lot, everybody. You really did give me a lot of help.
Sounds like a reasonable arguement, but I don't think layering necessarily forces you to wear your hair the way it was cut. Most of women I know aged 18-30 have a layered cut, and they have no shortage of styles which they wear.
I actually think that layered hair in a ponytail looks quite cool.
BR Gallaghers post above does raise a point about it been a technique to control thicker hair, so I'd definitly be against it if you have thin hair. It could leave your hair looking rather limb.
As for the hair getting "poofy" I think that depends on the length of the layers. On the women I know, their top layers are still shoulder length and the lower layers fall to mid back. With hair that length you should still have enough weight to control it.
Hmmm, well I guess each strand of my hair is considered thin, just that I have many strands of hair which makes my hair look fuller, along with the waves. She has agreed to let me grow it out longer to see how my hair will look, before re-visiting the layering. Thanks for the informative response Sorted!
Weird, I always was under the impression that layering made your hair poof out even more??
you are correct if you equate "poofy" with unmanageable, flyaway, etc. Hair that is cut blunt is weightier and therefore more esily controlled.
Hmm, think anyone could post some pictures or show some links for pics of hair that is layered and un-layered?