QUESTION: Hello! I am having trouble with my red hair. It is long (half way down my back) and my hair is very fine, but I have a lot of it. To appear like my hair is thicker, I’ve been told to grow my hair one length with no layers. My hair is a mix of straight and curly. Is this true or a myth?
ANSWER BY: Rona O’Connor: Depending on whether your hair is straight or curly makes a big difference.
-If it’s straight, and you grow it one length, it will of course look thicker on the ends.
-If it’s curly, layer too soon and you cut into the perimeter weight of the cut. You lose the perimeter shape. Layer too late and you will not remove enough of the weight from the shape to have the layers have any real impact on the shape.
If you cut very subtle surface layers into it, this will create more movement to the hair and also release weight; allowing the hair to look fuller when it’s straight or curly. If you run your hands through it it, once it’s layered, it will feel finer because it’s been cut to release weight, but it is actually what allows the hair to expand and look fuller.
To sum all that up: Super straight one-length hair, will feel thick when you run your hands through it because it’s one length and the ends are blunt so will look thicker at the bottom. People with curly hair have to be very careful with getting layers cut into their hair.
Carefully layered fine hair that is straight or curly will look fuller when styled as the layers release weight. So, it really comes down to the look that you want to achieve and what feels best to you.
Photo Credit: Kara Kochalko, © How to be a Redhead
