Invisible layers are a softer way to give hair pretty volume and movement

Layers are easily the biggest trend to come out of 2022. See: The Shag, The Rachel, The ’70s flip. But, if you prefer something more low-key, invisible layers may be a lot more on your wavelength. After all, that famous Jennifer Aniston haircut in Friends? It was a style so choppy, Jen couldn’t tame it herself. “I love Chris [McMillan, the hairstylist who created her cut], but he’s the bane of my existence” Jen said previously.  “It just was hard to do! I loved it, but I couldn’t style it on my own.”

Hence, invisible layers. They’re as seamless as they sound, but just because they make less of a statement than ultra choppy layers, they shouldn’t be underestimated. They offer a more delicate solution for those who want to keep their hair more laidback, both in terms of aesthetic and styling. Plus, they create a subtle impact that can make a huge difference to the overall shape and movement of your hair.

“The idea of invisible layers is really relevant for a softer approach,” says Luke Hersheson, CEO of trending London salon, Hershesons. They’re subtle, seamless and almost imperceptible. “You may have layers in your hair, but you don’t want them to feel like clumps or ledges. It’s less of an obvious layer,” Luke explains.

Though invisible layers may not sound like much, in practice, they can be surprisingly effective. Created using thinning scissors or a razor to avoid stark lines, “they’re not cut in a way where the ends are as blunt and ruler-like,” says Luke. “To the naked eye, it might look like it’s more one length, but actually it would give you more shape when you tong it or style it. It will give you a little bit more texture,” he explains. It means the cut offers versatility, as you can style it in a way where the layers disappear into the overall cut for a very smooth and seamless finish, or for days when you want more texture, you can coax them out with texturising spray and tonging to give you lightly mussed-up movement where you want it. They can go undetected in a chic ponytail or left loose one day, then can be amped up with texturiser to give oomph and sexy texture the next.

As for the most important element of invisible layers? Face-framing makes the biggest difference. Nail those careful layers around the face (we’re talking relaxed jaw-length pieces skimming either side of your cheek) and they can be the answer to instant cheekbones.

Here’s six of our favourite ways to wear invisible layers…

Half-waved

This sleek midi cut loved by Kaia could be straightened for a liquid finish, or this pretty half-wave gives just the right amount of cool-girl texture. Rather than an obviously choppy finish, her light layers take a little more detection, but her face-framing pieces fall just below her jaw and there’s some long lightweight layers sprinkled through the body, too.