When we think of feathered hair, we often turn to the decades past. Images of television icon Farrah Fawcett with her classic ‘70s feathered hair spring to mind. But did you know the style is just as popular today as it was then? More than that, feathered hair has received tons of stylish variations and is now successfully used in hairstyles of any length! Read on to learn more about feathered hair and the many ways you can bring that ‘70s flair into the modern cuts.
What Is a Feather Haircut?
Feathered hairstyles first gained traction during the 1970s and were popular with both women and men. Designed to look almost like a bird’s feathers, giving the style its name, feathered hair is the result of layered hair and features either a side or center part. Actress Farrah Fawcett of Charlie’s Angels fame popularized the look, inspiring women to go to their stylist and ask for the “Farrah-do.”
Layer Cut vs Feather Cut vs Step Cut
While there are some similarities between a step cut, layer cut, and feather cut, there are factors that distinguish the three from each other:
Layer Cut. A layer cut involves cutting different lengths throughout your hair. This style results in more volume, lighter tresses, and shorter dry time.
Feather Cut. As noted, layers are one of the features of a feather haircut. However, feathered hair is more than that. Feathering is a technique hairstylists use to give texture to your hair, shaping the end of your locks. Namely, they hold the scissors at a 90-degree angle against the hair and cut in a V-shape. This creates that feather effect.
Step Cut. A step cut differs from a layer cut in the way the hair blends. A step cut tends to be more choppy than a layer cut, allowing “steps” in the hair to be more visible. With a layer cut, the feathered ends blend, producing a more subtle style.
Inspiring Feathered Hairstyles to Choose From
Feathered hair has come a long way since the ‘70s, and we’re loving the new takes on the style. It can work on any type of hair — from straight to curly, short to long. Take a look at these perfectly feathered hairstyles — great for modernizing this classic ‘do!
1. Medium Cut with Light Layers
Want a hairstyle that manages to be soft with an edge? This step cut is a perfect way to achieve that. Great for shoulder-length hair, the layers provide the feather effect, curling out at the ends, while still looking sharp.
2. Soft, Flip-Worthy Waves
Interested in a cut that provides texture and bounce? This soft flip does just that and would be perfect for someone with naturally curly hair. Whether it is straightened or curly, the soft but detailed look will remain.
3. Long, Textured Shag
This shaggy cut option is perfect to keep your hair manageable. A hairstyle with this texture looks best when a little messy, so you don’t have to worry about having it perfectly styled all the time. The feathered layers add a certain edge to the style, while the color keeps it looking soft.
4. Short Feathered Haircut
This classic bob with feathered side fringe makes hair look fuller, which is great for fine tresses. The layered bangs add a flow through the front of the face while keeping the back more voluminous and thicker.
5. Choppy Layers with Lowlights
Wanting to add some thickness to your hair? Then this is the cut for you. These choppy layers combined with the shadowy color create a great texture. Having side-swept layers like this make your hair look thicker, while also accentuating this style’s lowlights.
6. Feathered Layered Hair
Everyone will be obsessed with this retro layered haircut inspired by the 70s. The style will ideally suit any face shape and will make thick hair lighter. Ask your stylist to cut thick front sections of your hair for a side-swept fringe and slightly curl the ends to add sassiness to your feathered hairstyle.
7. Stacked Bob with Feathered Layers
This stacked bob is yet another example of feathered, short hair done right. While some bobs are sharp, adding some feathering is a great way to lighten what can otherwise be a harsh cut. This cut creates a fun look accompanied by some bounce.
8. Medium Length Feathered Hair
Hurry up to make a hair appointment with your stylist to create this absolutely stunning straight bob with feathered layers and face-framing highlights. You can style this cut in 2-3 minutes only, plus it ideally matches any outfit.
9. Neck-Length Layered Bob
Above-the-shoulder feathered styles naturally hold more volume and height, making them an excellent option for ladies with thin strands. A layered hairstyle like this is one is really easy to maintain.
10. Rose Gold Feathered Bob
Glam up your smooth medium length hair with feather effect to create that super cool hair texture, and dye your locks in the rose gold shade for a truly stunning look. Achieve a salon look by adding a bit of texturizing spray and blow drying tresses with a round brush.
11. Gorgeous Brunette Feathered Hairstyle
This stylish flipped up feathered haircut is a great way of adding movement to your long hair. Ask your hairstylist to add feathers in stepped layers to make it easier for you to style your hair at home with a regular round brush.
12. ‘70s-Inspired Layers
A medium-length layered cut will help you take your mane to the next level. Opt for front highlights or balayage to show off the feathery texture of your layers and create the illusion of volume on thin hair.
13. Midi Shag with Face-Framing Highlights
Add rock vibes to your everyday look with this mid-length razored shaggy cut with a trendy blonde underlayer. This feather haircut works best with thin to medium textured strands, as thick hair can seem a bit bulky with this layered style.
14. Short Feathered Hair
This feathered jaw-length bob offers plenty of fullness and volume due to its crisp layers running around the crown, while side-swept bangs help achieve a more dramatic effect. An excellent choice for those looking for a way to thicken their fine hair.
15. Short Layered Pixie Bob
When trying out various ways to rock fine hair, women often go for easy-to-manage cuts that are sure to look good as they grow out, just like this layered haircut. Feathered layers on top add extra volume to your thin hair, while short length makes the haircut more lightweight.
16. Voluminous Feathered Lob with Bangs
Pair a trendy layered cut with feathered bangs to achieve this glamorous, ’70s-inspired hairstyle. It looks especially hot on women with blonde hair and blue eyes, oozing that distinctive Hollywood vibe.
17. Long Flowy Feathered Hairstyle
Look how airy this style looks with the curled framing layers. Styled with a large round brush, your shiny blonde hair strands get extra dimension and multiple layers. Be sure, with this long feathered hair, people will be checking you out wherever you go!
18. Feathered Shag for Straight Thick Hair
Turn heads with this stunning feathered shag. It’s easy to create such a flirty and feminine look with multiple short, feathered layers and side bangs. Besides, a pleasant sand blonde hair color perfectly softens and balances this shaggy cut.
19. Long Wispy Feathered Shag
This messy feathered haircut will definitely draw everyone’s attention! Razored layers help to add lift to your thin hair, while front bangs are ideally paired with shorter layers to complete the rocker vibe.
20. Light Brown Pixie with Long Layers
Take the plunge with short feathered hair and cut your fine locks into a long pixie haircut with softly chopped layers and caramel highlights. This short hairstyle will draw attention to the flattering angles of your face and soften this relatively masculine style.
21. Hot Feathered Cut for Long Hair
Feathered haircuts are a great option if you want to achieve a messy look without sacrificing length. Multiple short chops help create an illusion of body waves and give you that bombshell volume you must have been dreaming about.
22. Short Feathered Flipped-Up Hairstyle
Stay up to date and trendy with this black spiky pixie with long layers that’s both sexy and sassy. Pixie haircuts with sharp angles and flipped-up feathered layers work nicely with coarse hair and add a playful touch to the overall look.
23. Thick Feathered Lob with Bangs
Here’s the feathered hair with a fringe that can effectively tame your thick locks and create a chic, modern look! Layers in this medium length feathered hair create an interesting shape, adding lightness to your tresses, and golden blonde hair color makes hair shinier.
24. Medium Cut with Face-Framing Feathering
Feathered layered hair will never lose its popularity! A blonde balayage and side-swept bangs that tenderly frame the face create a flirty and gorgeous glow-up that will definitely draw everyone’s attention.
25. Long Feathered Pixie with Side Bangs
Feathered hair goes with all hair lengths! Feathered bangs is an especially cool addition, as made evident by this pixie cut. This short style is classy, all while still being fun and flirty.
26. Side-Swept Feathery Bangs
Don’t want to look like Farrah Fawcett? No worries! This feathered cut is perfect if you’re not sure if you want to go fully-feathered. The side bangs softly frame the face, while the highlights add some more dimension, emphasizing the layers.
27. Natural Feathers
This hairstyle is perfect for blondes who want to have fun with their hair without going too crazy. The hair is layered, producing that feather-like quality, but it still looks natural. This style merely enhances the natural hair.
28. Voluminous Layers
Interested in adding some volume to your hair? Look no further than this style! The layers in this Indian cut create a voluminous look without being too big. It’s subtle but trendy and a great option if you want to retain your natural hair.
29. Glamorous Blonde Layers
Here is another straight cut that utilizes feathering. The side bang and the ends are layered to create a feathered yet choppy look. Meanwhile, the ombre color matches perfectly with the layers, really emphasizing the cut’s texture.
30. The Sweep-Away Bang
This sweep-away bang is what really gives the cut a feathered flair. The long layers blend well so as not to take away from the prominent bang, which is obviously the centerpiece of this look. This style is great if you want a change but don’t want to lose your long locks. The bang provides a, well, bang.
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