While both of them are considered to be means of hair modification, textured hair and layered hair are often mixed up by newbies in the hair game. However, the pair are anything but similar when push comes to shove.
Textured hair and layered hair are quite popular among hair enthusiasts. Either one of the two can enhance hair quality, reducing the visuals and symptoms of damaged ends. When incorporated into the strands, textured hair and layered hair tend to bring tons of elevation.
Even after having various guides in the palm of their hands, many can’t figure out the obvious giveaways that separate layered hair from textured hair. And if you happen to be one of them, sit back and relax as we unveil to you the showdown between textured hair vs. layered hair!
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Back To Basics With Layered Hair
Layered hair involves a look that typically generates tons of weight and volume into the shaft. It is usually created with a layered haircut, which varies in size.
Layered hair often comes in choppy layouts, which can only be divided into two different categories; short and long.
Short-layered hair typically reprises the components of a bob cut, which requires tons of cutting and layering for healthy-looking, elevated hair. While the most effective bob cut for bringing in layers is definitely an angled bob, many prefer siding with an A-line bob for boosting their facial structure, adding more body to hair, and due to the variant’s low-maintenance properties.
Long layers, on the other hand, can be seen on shag cuts, wolf cuts, mullets, and so on. The strands on long layered hair often look healthier and choppier, but lack volume in contrast to short layered hair. With long layered hair, it is also easier to give one’s face a slimming effect.
In addition to being easy to look after, layered hair is quite advantageous for adding density and reducing frizz. Although anyone can meet the requirements of layered hair, the technique is mostly known for being effective on those with thinning to fine hair. In certain cases, the look is also perceived as an effective remedy for flat hair.
Incorporating layers is quite easy for professionals, but it can be quite a challenge for newbies and novices in the hairdressing industry. Layered hair can’t be created without the layered haircut, which requires tons of sectioning and diagonal snipping until the layers are formed in an uneven yet malleable way.
Even though it is quite easy to wear and style, layered hair can eventually feel quite heavy on the scalp. At that moment, obtaining a quick trim to reduce all the unnecessary body is advised.
How to Create Layers Into Hair
Now that you know about the requirements that you need to meet for adding layers to your hair, your next hair transformation should only be a couple of hours away. However, if you’d like to create it at home or visit your nearby salon without an appointment, be sure to skim through the following tricks and tips.
Make sure the hair is damp
Clean hair always brings forward better styling results due to being cooperative. Similarly, to bring layers into existence, washing the strands thoroughly is quite necessary.
You may use any kind of shampoo to reduce moisture from the scalp. However, to keep the strands well-fed and nourished, consider using nourishing conditioners and hydrating oils.
Create 4 sections around the scalp and clip them
Sectioning the hair into 4 different parts is crucial when adding layers, as it often makes the guideline much easier to fathom.
Doing so also enables the hairdresser or wearer to chop the layers without botching the structure up, which can be a common occurrence when obtaining a layered haircut.
Cut the ends of the strands diagonally to obtain the desired look
Once the hair has been sectioned, use cutting shears to trim the ends off. Hold the scissors in a tilted manner so that the strands aren’t too straight or too uneven.
For best results, try holding the scissors at a 45° angle. Doing so will minimize the heaviness of the hair, which can then bring soft-looking layers into existence.
Use the short-to-long method
Irrespective of whether you’re doing it yourself or with the help of a hairdresser, always remember the short-to-long rule. In other words, for successfully incorporating and pulling off layered hair, remember to keep the strands on the frontal region slightly smaller than the lengths that surround it. The strands surrounding the frontal region of the scalp should be larger in size, but shouldn’t have enough bulk to take up all the spotlight.
Alternative option: pineapple method
If you’re creating layers at home, use the pineapple method to make the procedure faster and more effective. The pineapple method is a haircutting technique in which the strands are accumulated together to form a pineapple bun. Once tied, the ends of the knot or bun are cut to bring forward sharp and healthy-looking layers
An Introduction To Textured Hair
While layered hair only comes into existence through the help of scissors, textured hair can be achieved by using hair products such as hair clay, matte, sea salt spray, and hair mousse.
In simpler terms, textured hair is any hairdo that focuses on the pattern of one’s hair in addition to the length and density. Textured hair often works well with any hairstyle that lacks length, but it works best with wavy and curly hair. Since natural hair often comprises tons of visual components anyway, using hydrating products is often sufficient to bring more texture into the hair.
Textured hair often comes with the help of styling products and the scrunching technique, but one’s genetics also plays a factor. The environment and the hair care routine of the wearer are two more notable contributors that must also be taken into account.
The features of textured hair can be a good way to make fine strands look thicker, darker, and voluminous. And while it mostly benefits those with 3c-4c hair, adding textures to thinning hair could be quite difficult to accomplish.
Showcasing textured hair is fun, especially due to its firm positioning, which rarely goes out of place when the strands are sealed in using styling products. The strands often look better when the cuticles are hydrated, so be sure to use argan oil, nourishing conditioner and hydrating shampoo on a daily basis.
Textured hair also changes based on one’s diet, lifestyle, hormonal levels and more. For best results, following a diet full of protein and fibre is quite important. Applying some leave-in conditioner is also advised if you work out every now and then without applying anything to your textured hair.
How To Add More Texture To Hair
As stated earlier, the power of the texture your hair carries is often shaped by genetics. However, if you feel that your hair lacks texture in general, we might have ideal solutions for you.
From getting a quick trim to using the right hair products, here are a few ideal ways to add more texture to your hair!
Cut the length short
The easiest way to add more texture to hair is to trim the ends off by a minimal sum. Making this move will not just add more body to the strands, but will also get rid of signs of hair damage.
Cutting the length short will also decrease the length of the hair, but increase the width of the cuticles, which can later be texturized using the scrunching method.
Pre-styling using a dishevelled method
While your hair is damp, you can easily bring in some natural texture by, well, messing up your hair!
Hair products can help you obtain a dishevelled look. However, if you don’t have any useful styling items in hand, try using your fingertips. You may even use your palms to disorganize the formation of your hair and add more elevation around the roots.
Use styling products
If you’re hoping to upgrade the visuals of your hair in quick succession, styling products like sea salt spray, texturizing powder, dry shampoo, and hair mousse should help. Once the products have been implemented, you can also use a texturizing comb to make the layers choppy, edgy, and voluminous.
Textured Hair vs. Layered Hair: Assessing Their Differences And Common Ground
At the end of the day, very little separates textured hair from layered hair. And although the difference in their appearance is an obvious giveaway, certain qualities and attributes also set them apart.
From having different maintenance requirements to requiring a separate creative process, here are some of the differences and similarities that the pair of textured and layer hair share.
Appearance
In terms of visuals, layered hair is more straight-cut and organized, while textured hair is messy and full. Although they look completely different, both options are quite promising for any and every kind of hair, since it promotes hair density and decreases the visibility of damaged ends and frizziness.
Procedure
Textured hair can only be curated using hair products with elevating properties, such as sea salt spray, texturizing powder, hair clay, and so on. In certain cases, one can even use thickening spray and argan oil.
On the other hand, layered hair requires the user to get a layered haircut, a procedure that requires tons of sectioning and cutting. To make the length look healthy, fresh, and voluminous, using hydrating oils, a leave-in conditioner, and a nourishing conditioner is mandatory.
Maintenance Routine
The upkeep routine of textured hair involves using hair products on a daily basis. And although the texture of your hair will benefit from frequent use of sea salt spray, and volumizing hair mousse, going over the limit might damage the health of the cuticles indefinitely.
Maintaining layered hair, conversely, is quite difficult, as the strands often require daily conditioning to look healthy at all times. To keep the visuals in peak shape, getting maintenance cuts every 8 weeks is necessary, which can take a toll on your bank account.
Additional Requirements
Textured hair often requires the length to be trimmed down significantly, as short hair seems easier to work with and more manageable to maintain in the long run. With short hair, creating an array of textured looks is also easier. Textured hair only pairs well with thick hair.
Although the bar is very low if you desire layered hair, know that the components of layered hair aren’t as easy to replicate. To play it safe, however, consider visiting a high-profile or experienced hairdresser.
Additionally, since layered hair requires frequent trims, it can be disadvantageous as a candidate if you’re working around a tight budget!
Final Takeaway: Textured Hair Or Layered Hair?
At the end of the day, both can equally be impactful if all you’re seeking is a drastic upgrade from your existing hairstyle. However, before you make your final decision, consider looking into your hair type.
If you have wavy or curly hair, then you’re in luck, since you can wear a textured look as well as a layered look. Using hydrating curling creams can bring more attention to the texture of your curls and waves, while cutting out the weight of the curls can bring a sublime layered look into existence.
Moreover, for fine to thin hair, a layered look should be much better, since it prioritizes volume over anything. The density-oriented properties won’t just hide signs of thinning with ease, but also rejuvenate the strands, offering much healthier visuals as a result. With enough hair products, textured hair can also be implemented.
Lastly, if your hair type falls somewhere in between thick and thin, know that you can go for either one without an issue. However, if you’d like our two cents on the matter, consider cropping the ends by a significant amount so that you can wear layered hair and have the option to wear textured hair whenever you please.
