This summer, breathe new life into dull and lifeless hair effortlessly by incorporating additional layers, texture, and carefully-placed haircuts that flatter your face. To enhance volume and movement, particularly for those with finer or thinner hair, we consulted experts and delved into the world of celebrity-approved hairstyles.
After careful consideration and guidance from hair specialists, we’ve compiled a list of nine timeless concepts that can infuse your hair with both elegance and fullness, making them ideal for the upcoming warmer months.
Read on for tips and suggestions from Lauren Udoh, hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Janine Jarman, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Curl Cult, Krysta Guerrero, owner and stylist at Base Salon Chicago and Dr. Roshan Vara, hair transplant surgeon and co-founder at The Treatment Rooms.
9 Chic Volume-Boosting Haircuts & Styles To Try This Summer
1. Italian Bob
If you're looking for a haircut that can make your best features pop while giving your mane an extra boost of volume and bounce, look no further than the Italian bob cut. This style is inspired by Old Hollywood and is a 'do that stylish stars like Zendaya opt for. The Italian bob takes the traditional bob cut to new heights with chunky blunt ends that create an airy, voluminous look that's never heavy or bulky.
It also has just the right amount of length to allow for easy styling options as it's long enough to tie up, but short enough to be worn as is. Udoh says that a medium bob like this is "a sleek and stylish choice for many occasions."
She adds that "it's a versatile cut that looks great on almost any face shape and hair type." The length can be "adjusted to complement your features and create an attractive silhouette," she notes.
"This ever-popular bob provides volume at the crown, with textured layers that frame the face nicely while still maintaining an easy-to-manage style," Udoh explains.
2. Layered Lob with Curtain Bangs
Jarman points out that layers can instantly enhance your facial features and provide volume, and adding bangs to a textured lob (as seen here on January Jones), can also conceal forehead wrinkles and draw more attention to your eyes. "Pair your lob with fringe to cover any wrinkles or receding hairlines and highlight those gorgeous eyes of yours," Jarman says.
She adds that "many of us have hair that gets thinner with age," so adding "texture will help give your look lift and life." After all, wispy, flirty and eyebrow-grazing bangs were all the rage throughout 2023, and we don't expect to see them disappear as we inch closer to summer of 2024.
3. Pixie with a Deep Side Part
Side parts evoke not only Old Hollywood, timeless glam— they also provide instant volume to short hair. As Abdullah points out, "in this manner, you can move the hair from one side to the other, as you wish." The added hair going over, she says, as seen here on Kate Mara's more modern, fresh take, will increase volume in the area as well, especially if your hair is used to being parted down the center.
"If you really prefer a center part, make a short one instead so that the hair in front goes to either side of your face," she suggests. "Then the hair in the center can be brushed back. Any difference that you create when your hair is used to lying flat and completely to the sides will create volume and make a big difference," she says.
4. Wispy, Wavy Shag
A shag is an "amazing cut that is well-recognized for being versatile," Rivera says. A quintessential shag, as seen on Halle Berry, offers "nice variations for both longer and shorter hair." Like the bob, "adding a bang can add a fresh surprise to this look," Rivera suggests.
Abdullah adds that bangs like these are "often used to frame the face and specifically, to give it a youthful appearance." She notes that they also "make your hair appear thicker and are a great way to add volume to thinning hair." The style also "works well for women who want to hide thinning hair in the front."
5. Pixie With Sideswept Bangs
One specific short 'do that can highlight your eyes, cheekbones, and face shape over 50 is a pixie cut with side-swept bangs. "Ever seen a pixie cut where the bangs steal all the attention? This is what you're after: long, side-swept bangs," Abdullah explains. Robin Wright's look above is a great example.
"The rest of your hair should be piece-y and angled. She adds that "the cut should swirl around your head to hide hair loss." Abdullah stresses that a pixie cut with layers still maintains volume that is both gorgeous and easy to manage.
6. Long, Feathery, Face-Framing Layers
"Longer side bangs" and "face framing pieces" a la Jennifer Aniston can "also result in a more voluminous and radiant appearance by drawing the eye to the appealing facial features," Rivera explains.
"In general, this provides for a fresher and more youthful look." If you want to keep your hair longer but it tends to be finer or thinner, Rivera says it is imperative to add layers and/or or face-framing pieces to avoid looking "weighed down" and dull.
She points out that "an added choice is to shorten the hair up a bit to the collarbone or above" to create some texture by "adding subtle layers to soften.
7. Bixie
If you can't decide between a bob or pixie, we have good news. You don't have to! A 'bixie' (or bob-meets-pixie) like Kristen Stewart's is very in for summer, and can be a very flattering and chic choice, Guerrero explains.
There are elements of both styles to play with here in this social media-fave cut, and spring is a great time to find what works for you. "The bixie is a traditional bob haircut that’s combined with a pixie," she says.
"The nice thing about a bixie is its versatility — not only can you adjust the length and opt to have it a little longer, but there is no one way to do it when it comes to the style. The cut is totally customizable based on your preference."
8. Wavy Lob With Sideswept Bangs
Emma Stone's shoulder-length bob and side bangs pairing is elegant and timeless.
"A longer bob is always very flattering," Vara says regarding beauties with naturally finer hair, and it is also a "great way to grow out your gray hair."
Abdullah adds that long, sideswept bangs like these "add length and volume so you don't have to spend hours styling."
9. Wavy Bob with Wispy Bangs
If you have a wavier or curlier texture like Rihanna, adding wispy fringe or delicate curtain bangs can instantly elevate any simple bob. Bangs like these, Rivera says, "can also detract from the appearance of fine or limp hair and can add dimension to a style." She also points out that they can make your hair "look fuller" if you're looking for a refresh.
According to Galvao, one of the most universally flattering and anti-aging haircuts is a layered bob with wispy bangs. Referring to the base of the haircut, he explains, "The shape is usually more rectangular or square, with a very defined linear design, which brings a more modern and sophisticated look with a minimalist style."
Additionally, he notes, "In some versions of the cut there are more layers that add movement and give those ‘cool’ young vibes." Feliz agrees, and says that the ultimate "low-maintenance style that never loses its appeal is a classy bob." He adds that "longer faces may need more framing and layers, while round faces require less." Davis chimes in, "For this style, a bit of undercutting in the back allows for easier manageability, creating a natural bend for easy wash and wear."
The Bottom Line
Rivera suggests that although the nine hairstyles mentioned in this list are reliable options, there exist a multitude of timeless, life-changing and elegant hairstyles that accentuate facial features and provide volume that are worth considering.
To uncover the perfect hairstyle, one must comprehend their facial structure and consult with a skilled stylist. Additionally, Rivera advises that it’s best to always "consult with your stylist on a maintenance schedule but for those trying to regain hair health, make sure to trim every 4-6 weeks."
