18 Best Men’s Layered Haircuts for Thick Hair
Taming thick hair doesn’t mean shearing it all off. The secret is in strategic layering! Layers remove bulk, add movement, and create shape that turns your dense locks from a challenge into your best asset. This guide explores the top Men’s Layered Haircuts for Thick Hair, layered styles that are perfect for thick hair, from timeless classics to modern trends. Get ready to find your next signature look that combines manageability with undeniable style, ensuring your hair looks its best in any situation.
1. The Textured Crop
The textured crop is a top-tier choice for thick hair, offering a low-maintenance yet sharply stylish look. This cut keeps the hair short on the sides and back while leaving enough length on top to work with. The stylist then uses precise point-cutting and texturizing techniques to carve out definition and separation in the top layers. This process eliminates weight, prevents the dreaded “blocky” appearance, and encourages a naturally messy, piece-y finish that looks effortlessly cool. It’s perfect for the modern man who values both form and function.
Styling this cut is incredibly straightforward, which is a major win for your morning routine. A small amount of matte paste or texturizing clay is all you need. Simply warm the product between your palms and work it through your damp or dry hair, focusing on the ends to enhance the separation created by the layers. Use your fingers to twist and lift sections for maximum volume and texture. The result is a look that appears intentionally disheveled and full of movement, without ever looking unkempt. It’s the ultimate wash-and-wear style for thick hair.
2. The Modern Shag: Men’s Layered Haircuts for Thick Hair
The modern shag is making a major comeback, and it’s a dream cut for men with thick, unruly hair. This style is defined by its heavy, face-framing layers and a noticeable disconnect between the top and sides. The layers are cut to create a cascading effect, allowing your natural texture to shine through with plenty of volume and movement. It’s a rebellious, rock-and-roll inspired look that embraces the natural volume of thick hair instead of fighting it, resulting in a dynamic and personality-packed silhouette.
To style the modern shag, embrace texture-enhancing products like sea salt spray or a light-hold mousse. Apply to towel-dried hair and use a diffuser to dry, scrunching your hair upwards to build volume and define the natural wave pattern. For a more defined, piece-y look, you can use a flat iron to add bends to the ends of the longer layers. This cut is all about an artful, lived-in messiness, so perfection is not the goal. It’s a statement hairstyle for the confident, creative individual.
3. The Layered Pompadour
The layered pompadour takes a classic, voluminous style and makes it achievable for thick hair. Traditional pompadours can become too heavy and fall flat, but by incorporating strategic layers, the style gains lift and structure. The hair on top is left long but is thinned out with internal layers, reducing bulk while maintaining the necessary length for that signature sweep. This allows the front to achieve impressive height without being weighed down by the density of the hair underneath, creating a powerful, eye-catching silhouette.
Styling this look requires a blow dryer and a strong-hold product like a pomade or styling cream. After applying product to damp hair, use a round brush to pull the front section up and away from your face, blasting it with heat to set the volume. Once dry, you can use your fingers or a comb to refine the shape. The layers will help the style hold its shape throughout the day and prevent it from looking like a solid, immovable helmet. It’s a bold, confident look that commands attention.
4. The Long Layered Flow
For men who want to wear their thick hair long, the long layered flow is the ultimate goal. This style involves adding long, soft layers throughout the hair to remove excess weight and encourage natural movement. Without layers, long thick hair can become a triangular, shapeless mass. The layers fix this by creating a more tapered, oval shape that frames the face beautifully and allows the hair to swing and flow with every movement, showcasing the health and vitality of your locks.
Maintaining this style is all about embracing your natural texture and using the right products to enhance it. After washing, use a leave-in conditioner to detangle and control frizz. A light-hold texturizing cream or sea salt spray can then be scrunched into the hair to define waves or curls. Let it air dry for a casual, beach-ready look, or use a diffuser for more defined volume. The long layered flow is a versatile, statement-making style that exudes a relaxed, confident vibe.
5. The Textured Quiff
The textured quiff is a close relative of the pompadour but with a more relaxed and piece-y finish, making it ideal for thick hair. The cut focuses on creating volume at the front and crown through strategic layering. The top is left long but is texturized to remove bulk, allowing the hair to be styled upwards and backwards with a soft, touchable texture. The sides are typically tapered or faded to create a clean contrast, making the voluminous top the undeniable star of the show.
Achieving this look starts with a blow dryer and a pre-styling product like a volumizing mousse or blow-dry cream. Rough dry your hair, focusing on lifting the roots at the front. Once mostly dry, apply a matte paste or clay, working it through the roots to the ends. Use your fingers to push the hair up and back, creating a relaxed, textured sweep rather than a slick, solid form. The finish is modern, masculine, and perfectly suited for both professional and casual settings.
6. The Layered Fringe
The layered fringe, or “curtain fringe,” is a timeless and romantic style that has been revived with a modern edge. This cut features longer layers on top that are parted down the middle or slightly off-center, framing the face on both sides. For thick hair, the key is to texturize the ends of these fringe layers heavily to prevent them from looking like two solid, heavy curtains. This creates a soft, feathery effect that is flattering on a wide range of face shapes and adds a touch of effortless sophistication.
Styling is deceptively simple. Apply a light texturizing spray or cream to damp hair and use your fingers to create the natural part, coaxing the hair to fall on either side of your forehead. You can let it air dry for a soft, lived-in look or use a blow dryer with a concentrator nozzle to add a slight bend. The beauty of this style is in its imperfect perfection; it’s meant to look a little piece-y and undone. It’s a low-fuss, high-impact hairstyle for the modern gentleman.
7. The Tapered Layered Cut
The tapered layered cut is the perfect balance of clean and creative. This style features a classic taper on the sides and back, where the hair gradually shortens from the top down to the neckline, providing a sharp, clean foundation. On top, the hair is left significantly longer and is cut with various layers to add texture, movement, and shape. This combination allows you to have a neat, professional appearance from the sides while the top retains all the volume and personality that thick hair can offer.
This cut offers immense styling versatility. For a sleek, office-ready look, you can comb the top back with a light pomade. For a more casual, textured appearance, you can use a matte product and mess it up with your fingers. The tapered sides ensure the style never looks unkempt, no matter how you wear the top. It’s a foolproof formula that works for almost every face shape and lifestyle, making it one of the most reliable and popular choices for men with thick hair.
8. The Layered Comb-Over
A classic comb-over can often fall flat or look too rigid with thick hair. The solution is the layered comb-over. This version incorporates texture and layers into the top section, making it more pliable and dynamic. The layers are cut to follow the direction of the comb-over, allowing the hair to lie flatter and more naturally against the head without sacrificing volume. It removes the internal bulk that can cause the style to “flip” out awkwardly, resulting in a smoother, more sophisticated silhouette.
To style, apply a medium-hold pomade or cream to towel-dried hair. Using a comb or brush, style your hair over to one side, using a blow dryer to set the direction and add lift at the roots. The layers will give the style a softer, more natural finish with less product than a traditional comb-over requires. You can choose to keep the look sharp and defined or run your fingers through it for a more relaxed, textured effect. It’s a polished yet modern take on a business classic.
9. The Layered Mullet
The modern layered mullet is a bold, fashion-forward statement that has been reclaimed from the 80s. The contemporary version is all about texture and fluidity. It features short, textured layers on the top and sides that gradually transition into longer, heavily layered lengths in the back. For thick hair, these back layers are crucial—they remove weight and create a feathery, dynamic tail that moves, rather than a single, solid block of hair. It’s a rebellious cut that celebrates individuality and texture.
Styling a modern mullet is all about enhancing the separation between the layers. Work a texturizing paste or dry wax through the top and sides to create a messy, piece-y effect. For the back, you can use the same product to define the ends and encourage a “shaggy” look. This style thrives on looking a little undone and artistic, so don’t aim for perfection. It’s a high-impact look for creative industries and anyone who wants to make a strong sartorial statement.
10. The Medium-Length Layered Cut
The medium-length layered cut is the “Goldilocks” of hairstyles—not too short, not too long, but just right. It’s an incredibly versatile length that allows for plenty of styling options. The layers are integrated to break up the density of the hair, adding shape around the crown and ends. This prevents the hair from appearing boxy and promotes a natural, healthy bounce. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, or curly, this cut works with your natural texture to create a manageable and stylish everyday look.
You can wear this style in multiple ways: swept back for a polished look, styled into a loose quiff, or simply left to fall naturally with some texturizing product for a casual, day-to-day vibe. The layers make it easy to control and style, as they remove the resistance that thick hair often has. It’s the perfect foundation haircut for men who like to change up their styling routine without committing to an extreme length or a high-maintenance fade.
11. The Layered Fade with Texture
This style combines the sharp, clean lines of a fade with the dynamic movement of textured layers on top. The fade can be a low, mid, or high fade, seamlessly blending into the longer hair on the crown. The top section is then point-cut and texturized to create a choppy, defined finish. The stark contrast between the tight sides and the messy, voluminous top is a cornerstone of modern men’s grooming, offering a look that is both disciplined and effortlessly cool.
Styling is quick and effective. After a shower, apply a volumizing mousse and blow-dry the top section for maximum lift. Once dry, rub a small amount of matte clay or paste between your palms and work it into the roots, twisting and pulling sections of hair to accentuate the texture created by the layers. The goal is a “lived-in” look that appears both intentional and easy. This cut is a favorite for its ability to look sophisticated and edgy at the same time.
12. The Layered Curly Cut
For men with thick, curly hair, a standard haircut can lead to a pyramid shape. The layered curly cut is specifically designed to avoid this. A skilled stylist will shape the curls by cutting layers into the hair while it’s dry, allowing them to see how each curl falls naturally. This technique removes weight from the bottom and crown, encouraging the curls to spring up and form a more rounded, defined shape that frames the face beautifully, from the crown down to the neckline.
The right products are essential for maintaining this cut. A curl-defining cream or gel applied to soaking wet hair will help clump the curls together and reduce frizz. Scrunch the hair and then either air dry or use a diffuser to dry without disturbing the curl pattern. The layers will ensure your curls have movement and body without being overwhelmed by their own density. This cut celebrates and enhances your natural texture, making it easier to manage and more stylish than ever.
13. The Textured Fringe with Tapered Sides
This contemporary cut focuses the style on the front, featuring a textured, piece-y fringe that falls over the forehead. The hair on top is cut with varying lengths to create a disheveled, artistic texture, while the sides are sharply tapered or faded to keep the look clean and modern. The layers in the fringe are crucial for thick hair, as they prevent the front from looking like a heavy, solid shelf and instead create a soft, eye-catching detail.
To style, direct your blow-drying efforts towards creating volume at the crown and then allowing the front layers to fall forward naturally. A texturizing spray applied to the roots can help build lasting volume. Finish with a dry wax or matte paste, focusing on the ends of the fringe to separate them and create that sought-after, piece-y effect. It’s a youthful and trendy look that is perfect for making a style statement without going to extreme lengths.
14. The Layered Slick Back
A traditional slick-back can be difficult with thick hair, as the weight often causes it to lose its shape and fall flat. The layered slick-back solves this by incorporating internal thinning and texturizing. The layers are cut to follow the direction of the style, removing the bulk that fights against the backward sweep. This allows the hair to lie flatter and smoother while still maintaining body and volume, resulting in a sleek but powerful look that doesn’t appear glued down.
Start with damp hair and apply a high-hold, high-shine pomade or gel throughout. Using a comb, sweep all your hair straight back, ensuring it’s evenly distributed. Blow-dry on a low heat setting while combing to set the shape and smooth the cuticle. The layers will help the style hold and prevent it from splitting apart throughout the day. This style exudes confidence and is perfect for formal events or when you want to project a sharp, put-together image.
15. The Shaggy Layers with Bangs
This is a quintessential rock-and-roll hairstyle that is perfectly suited for thick, straight, or wavy hair. It features choppy, disconnected layers throughout the top and crown, culminating in a heavy, textured fringe that covers the forehead. The shagginess is intentional, creating a carefree, artistic vibe. For thick hair, the texturizing done on the ends of the bangs and layers is what makes the style work, preventing it from becoming a helmet and instead giving it a light, airy feel.
Embrace a “less is more” approach to styling. A texturizing sea salt spray or a light-hold mousse is your best friend here. Apply to towel-dried hair and scrunch it with your hands as it air dries or use a diffuser to enhance texture. The goal is to achieve a bedhead look that appears effortless. You can use your fingers to occasionally sweep the bangs to the side or leave them falling straight down. It’s a charismatic and personality-driven hairstyle.
16. The Layered Ivy League
The Ivy League is a polished, classic cut that gets a modern update with the addition of subtle layers. Traditionally a longer version of a crew cut, the layered Ivy League leaves more length on top, which is then texturized to create a soft, touchable finish. The layers allow the hair to be styled with a gentle, natural contour rather than sitting as a single, bulky block. The sides are neatly tapered, making it an excellent choice for professional environments that still appreciate a touch of modern style.
Styling is refreshingly simple. Apply a light-hold product like a cream or paste to damp hair. Use a comb to create a neat side part or simply push the hair up and back with your hands for a more relaxed version. The layers will give the style a soft, broken-up texture that looks refined but not stiff. It’s a timeless, gentlemanly cut that proves you can have a manageable, professional hairstyle without sacrificing the natural advantages of your thick hair.
17. The Textured Layers with an Undercut
This style creates a dramatic and bold contrast. The undercut involves shaving or closely clipping the hair on the sides and back, completely disconnecting it from the long, layered hair on top. This juxtaposition immediately draws all the attention to the texture and volume of the top section. For thick hair, the top is heavily layered and texturized to create a flowing, dynamic look that can be styled in numerous ways, from messy and textured to sleek and smooth.
The styling possibilities are vast. You can wear the top swept over to one side for a dramatic side-swept look, style it straight back for a powerful silhouette, or let it fall naturally for a more casual effect. The lack of blending on the sides means the top has complete freedom to move. This cut is a canvas for self-expression and is ideal for those who want a high-fashion, statement-making hairstyle that is impossible to ignore.
18. The Layered Wavy Style
This cut is designed specifically for men with naturally thick, wavy hair. The goal is to enhance and define the existing wave pattern, not fight it. Long, soft layers are woven throughout the hair to remove weight and encourage the waves to form more defined, springy shapes. Without layers, the weight of thick wavy hair can pull the waves out, but with them, the hair gains bounce and volume, creating a full, healthy, and effortlessly stylish appearance that looks great with minimal effort.
To style, use a curl-enhancing cream or mousse on damp hair to define the waves and control frizz. Scrunch your hair upwards as it air-dries or use a diffuser to speed up the process while enhancing volume. Avoid brushing it when dry, as this will break up the wave pattern and cause frizz. The layered wavy style is the ultimate “worked-on-but-doesn’t-look-it” haircut, perfect for the man who wants to look put together while embracing his natural texture.
