Bored with your hair? Girl, same. Instead of chopping it all off or bleaching it and risking your hair falling out, might we suggest another alternative?
If you’re in a bit of a hair funk and want to bring some life back to your locks, we think you should consider getting textured layers. Instead of traditional layers that just add movement to your hair, textured layers also add a sense of volume. Sounds amazing, right?
It seems like everyone and their mother wants textured layers these days, and lucky for you, we were able to tap into the G.O.A.T. of all things hair—Andrew Fitzsimons.
Meet The Expert
Andrew Fitzsimons is the founder of the haircare brand that goes by the same name. He’s worked with celebrities like people like Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Megan Fox, and Jennifer Lopez.
You might know him for his synonymous haircare brand Andrew Fitzsimons or his vast celebrity clientele, having worked with people like Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Megan Fox, and Jennifer Lopez. To know him is to love him, and he answered all of our burning questions about textured layers in our guide, below!
All About Textured Layers
Textured layers aren’t your run-of-the-mill layers—it’s much more complex than that. Which is why our first piece of advice is to go to a pro to get this done—please, please, please don’t attempt to do this yourself.
“When talking about texturized layers, it’s important first to understand the difference between texturizing and layering,” shares Fitzsimons. “Layers are made on the outside of your hair, and you can see where they begin and end. Texture is added in the interior of the hair to certain areas to remove bulk and add volume to a haircut. Both layers and texturizing can add volume and movement by thinning out thicker sections of hair.”
How Do You Know If You Should Get Textured Layers?
Not sure if you’re a candidate for getting textured layers? Fitzsimons breaks down people who will love the look. “Textured layers will work best on those who have a natural curl or wave to their hair,” he says.
“Textured layers may not be for you if you have especially thin hair, because you may want to preserve the weight that you have. You may want to add some texture to your hair if your hair is looking blunt or too heavy on the ends.”
How to Maintain Textured Layers
If you’ve decided that textured layers are for you, you’re going to need to commit going to the hair salon for regular touch-ups and trims. About every two months should do the trick (with the sweet spot being every six weeks).
The more you go, the more fresh your hair is going to look, and the longer you wait in between visits, while it will still look good, you might miss the movement and volume your hair once had.
As far as products go to retaining shine and moisture, Fitzsimons shares, “Anytime you get layers in your hair, the ends of your hair are highly visible, so make sure to keep them moisturized with a hair oil like NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Shine Oil Mist. You can also add a weekly hair mask to your routine. I like to use the Andrew Fitzsimons Virgin Repair Moisture Mask for Dry and Damaged Hair, which will leave your layers soft and smooth.”
How to Style Textured Layers
Curly/Coily Hair
If you have curly or coily hair, getting textured layers is going to provide your ‘do with lots of shape and body. “Layers help accentuate curly and coily hair, and allow for a fuller shape,” Fitzsimons tells Timeless Hairstyles.
“Curly hair is naturally dryer than other hair types, so it’s important to use moisturizing products while you cleanse and condition your hair, like NaureLab. Tokyo Perfect Repair Treatment Masque. Once your hair is clean, lightly comb through your hair and then add a leave-in conditioner like NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Repair Leave-In Conditioner and Detangler. Spray liberally throughout the mid through the ends of your hair and scrunch upwards to help your curls form.”
Thick Hair
Thick-haired people are going to love textured layers. Not only will it provide your hair with some much-needed movement, but it will feel lighter on your hair and so much easier to manage.
“Shorter layers can lose their shape, so if you want to maintain your hair’s current style, schedule regular trims at your salon at least every 6 weeks,” Fitzsimons shares. “This way, your stylist can touch up your layers and re-texturize your locks if they have lost some of their volume or life.” When consulting with your stylist, make sure you’re clear on your vision and that you don’t want your hair to look too blunt or feel too heavy.
Textured Layer Haircuts to Try Out
Natural Curls
If you have natural curls like Khloe Kardashian, we think you’ll adore the haircut that Fitzsimons styled and cut here. “You can clearly see how the layers in her hair help to add dimension and shape,” says Fitzsimons.
“We further texturized them for added volume, which especially looks great when placed in a side part. On damp hair, I applied a quarter-sized amount of the Andrew Fitzsimons Curls Curl Crème to define Khloe’s curls. After drying Khloe’s hair with a microfiber towel, I scrunched the hair upwards to help the curls form. I then used a hair dryer with a diffuser attachment to fully dry the hair. I used a curling iron to touch up some unruly curls and finished the look with the Andrew Fitzsimons Après Sex Texture Spray for added volume.”
Shoulder-Length Wolf Cut
Love Jenna Ortega’s shoulder-length wolf cut? This is another great textured layer haircut we’re obsessing over. “For this, I would allow the hair to air dry to embrace its natural texture, or if you’d like a sleeker look, use a flat iron to straighten the hair in sections away from the face,” shares Fitzsimons.
“Then I would hit the hair with some of the Andrew Fitzsimons Après Sex Texture Spray for added texture, finishing with the Andrew Fitzsimons Prism Shine Invisible Shine Hairspray for added shine.”
Lived-In Waves
For more of a lived-in wave style, look no further than Jennifer Lopez for inspo. Fitzsimons personally worked on this look, and he spilled all the tea on how he achieved it.
“For this gorgeous lived-in wave, I began with damp hair, and used the Andrew Fitzsimons Body Volume Blowdry Hold Spray to ensure that her roots would be lifted after they dried,” he says. “When her hair was fully dry, I used a curling iron to create loose beach waves around her whole head. After the curls set, brushed through them with my fingers and sprayed them with the Andrew Fitzsimons Après Sex Texture Spray to get that lived-in look. Finally, I finished the look with the Andrew Fitzsimons Touch Soft Hold Hairspray to ensure her waves would be voluminous and stay all night.”