How to Cut Layers in Shoulder-Length Hair

If you have a lot of bulk, layers can thin it out a bit to help your hair look more feminine when it’s medium-length. Layers also add volume and can emphasize a new hair color. They should be cut on to hair that is straight and wet. Curly and textured hair cuts are a different matter entirely, although you can cut the same angles on dry curly hair, clipping each curl individually.

Here’s how to create layers with straight hair:

1. Section your hair into three areas. Do this by parting first from ear to ear, behind the ear. Then make a division down the center. With this, you have two side sections and a large back section.
2. It’s optional here to create a fringe or a bang area by sectioning a triangle from the forelock.
3. Cut the sides of your hair by parting a quarter of the right front section, vertically. Then hold it at a 45-degree angle to your head and clip it straight across, parallel to the floor. Do the same with the other three quarters on that side of the head, using a small piece of the hair you’ve already cut to serve as a guide.
4. Clip the left front section in a similar manner, initially using a small piece of hair from the other side as a guide for where to start cutting.
5. Because the back of your head is more curved than the sides, there’s no need to hold the hair at an angle. Instead, divide the back into the nape and the crown and start cutting the hair of the crown in small sections. Hold the hair straight up and clip it across, parallel to the floor. 
6. There is no need to hold up the nape area while clipping. You can just comb the nape down and clip it straight across according to the length of the medium hairstyle.
7. For bangs, which are the most popular, start by creating one vertical section in the middle of the triangle. Hold the hair out in front of the face and cut the length between four and six inches depending on the height of the forehead. Then use the scissors to make short diagonal snips at the edges for a more natural look.
8. Repeat this procedure on the right and left of the center section of the fringe, making them a little longer by using a small piece of hair from the center to show you where exactly to cut.