Can a haircut give you an instant facelift? It may seem simplistic, but cutting your hair or adding a few layers to your existing haircut may be all that you need to make a major difference in your look. Hair that drags down can have the effect of dragging your facial features down, as well. You don’t need to chop off your hair into the shortest cut imaginable, unless you want a super-short cut, but freeing it of some length will make a difference. Here are six game-changing haircuts to ask for this summer that can give you an instant facelift.
Layered Lob
Going from long hair to very short in one sitting can be daunting. You can think of the lob as the great compromise between long and short, and maybe even a gateway to a bob or pixie (if you choose to go that route later). It lands around the collarbone and, with a few strategically placed layers around the face, can highlight your cheekbones and jawline.
Medium Cut With Face-Framing Layers
A medium shoulder-length cut is another universally flattering hairstyle that takes off some of the weight from long hair (which can make thin hair look thinner), but isn’t so short that you can’t pull it back into a ponytail or bun. Face-framing layers that start below the cheekbone and gradually lengthen until they meet the ends of your hair help provide movement and volume.
Blunt Bob with Bangs
The bob is a chin-length cut that looks amazing on so many, regardless of age. Asking your stylist to keep the ends blunt can help bulk up the hair at its ends, and bangs can help transform your cut into a major style. Work with your stylist to find a bangs style that complements your face shape and hair type — something less boxy and with more layers can make hair look thicker.
Pixie Cut
The pixie is a modern classic. It has short sides and a short back, with more length on top that you can wear slicked back, to the side, or textured with waves, curls, and spikes. The cut shows off your neck and cheekbones and can help make thinning hair look thicker.
Bixie
Can’t decide between a pixie and a bob? Don’t — choose both by opting for a retro-nineties bixie haircut. The bixie is a shaggier version of the cut with shorter sides and a shorter back (but often longer than your typical pixie) and longer layers on top. This cut allows you to enjoy more texture than a pixie can provide, and another upside is that it continues to look great as it grows out and you can get away with fewer maintenance haircuts.
Long Hair with Layers and Highlights
Mature hair is often associated with shorter haircuts because as hair ages and gets thinner, it often looks better with less length at the ends. But there’s no reason why you can’t rock long hair if it’s in great condition. To make the most of longer hair, cut layers that prevent it from falling flat and consider adding a few strategic highlights that add dimension to your hair. These layers and highlights can help make your hair look and feel more voluminous.
