How To Cut Layers in Long Hair - The Ombre Layering Technique

Learn more about cutting layers into long hair on the Sam Villa blog! www.samvilla.c...
We're all familiar with how to create the Ombre effect with hair color and how to achieve the perfect dark to light transition. Prepare to take the Ombre technique and apply it to layering long hair! That's right -- Ombre layers. Watch the video as Redken Education Artistic Director Sam Villa & Andrew Carruthers demonstrates this genius layering technique for medium-long hair.
PRODUCTS USED IN THIS VIDEO:
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[@joanneshrinks1949]

Sorry don't like this idea on this girl. My hair is very similar, and I have cried for days because of no weight at my ends... Poor choice of model.

[@chaz449]

I agree with you, Joanne. I don't mean to be overly critical, but I didn't like the way her ends were so thinned out. Her hair is going to fly all over the place. Yuck. And, I'd like to see how it grows out....;9).... It kind of seems like a lazy way to cut hair. I have thick, coarse, wavy, almost curly hair, and I would NEVER let someone cut my hair like that....hell, I've had that done before by people who didn't know whatthehell they were doing.....

[@servedfrshdaily]

I feel a little conflicted on this technique, I've seen a lot of guests with long hair come in with frail/thin/breaking ends because the ends are too thin and overly texturized... you would need a client with high density and a one length to do this on, to not compromise making her ends frail/thin

[@soraninja]

Maybe it's just me but the idea of having thin uneven lengths throw out my hair make me want to cry. You'll get lots of flyaways when you want to do anything with your hair and when it grows out it'll look thin and wispy... I like a nice blunt finish on the end of my hairs and to add volume add EVEN layers

[@kitten_purrrs73]

that's what really makes it blend and have movement and volume ....cutting straight across leaves hair heavy and not as soft ...just hangs .

[@soraninja]

Kittenpurrrs when loved I guess it depends on what hair type one has. You can have layers to give movement and have the very ends of the hair bluntly cut. if that makes sence. I prefer it coz I have curly hair :)

[@kitten_purrrs73]

soraninja ohh yes ..if you have curly hair u deff don't want to thin or texture much ....your curl will look better and fall better by being heavy ...i didn't know u had curly hair.

[@chaz449]

I agree! I guess I'm just showing my age, 62, but we were taught precision style haircuts, where every section blended....ah, the 70s and 80s.....a great time to be a hairdresser.... I can see, and have used, razors and thinning shears for techniques, but after the haircut is basically finished. I feel like I can get much more texture and interest with a good, precision haircut, with skillful application of thinning shears, and done wet. After nearly 40 yrs, I still miss it....alas..... I love watching the Tabatha's Salon Makeover series. She is fantastic....;0)....

[@nm9412]

I felt the same, this girl's got beautiful silky one length hair, now she will deal with unnecessary flyaway layers that will take forever to correct. So no I am not going for this cut.

[@alena7079]

Sam you are awesome! I love your techniques on every video, thanks for sharing with us

[@hospitalcakewalk]

That girl is gunna have to cut off so much hair after this.... wow.

[@bl6797]

hospitalcakewalk They should teach that you can only do this on very straight hair..... you can easily frizz curly hair by channel cutting.

[@leojohnson3045]

@@bl6797 no shit

[@missymarie1637]

I would kill myself if they did this to me omg no one do this this is terrible

[@reyes1341]

Im not even in the industry but I love watching these videos

[@jennacombs2855]

I am a registered nurse... I so love these videos too

[@SalonGuru1961]

I am so not getting this...32 years of styling hair and I honestly have no Idea where this Industry is going. How would you do this cut twice on the same head?? Not to sound negative, it's just that I'm so over all these techniques that have no real substance. Ombre Color? Back in the 70's and 80's we called that dimensional color. Same technique - different name. Read you ingredients on the shampoo bottles these days. First ingredient: Aqua?? Didn't we used to call that water???

[@fabulously695]

Biloxi Cub the colour they are explaining is what most people call a balayage, over 30 years ago, in fact it was actually called balayage... its a French technique that has changed little in name or method in all this time, the only thing that has changed since is where people do it, it used to be something only the most expensive Parisian salons did, now everyone knows how to do it. If you have a look at the chemical names in the products it doesn't say - water, suficant, vegetable oil, detangling ingredient, that would be stupid as it could mean a million things, it also doesn't say water, sodium lauryl sulphate, vegetable oil, etc, because there's no continuity, hence why it's aqua, sodium lauryl sulphate, Cocos nucifera oil, behentrimonium methosulfate. It's done for continuity, and because for example, there are several sub types of coconut oil, a person could be allergic to one and not so there, so the scientific Latin name helps people identify potentially allergens, your comment shows your ignorance

[@kristinenewsom311]

Biloxi Cub I do not get this either..at all. 28 yrs. in the business....

[@cesarparedes2749]

Biloxi Cub same I dont get why he is wasting time explaining it on the triangle shapes.

[@yayrafrancisca7919]

Biloxi Cub neither do i

[@wayne6503]

Aqua ,H2O,water,love it

[@dgmlmax]

I want either of you to cut my hair! Please.

[@Deadrocker81]

I must have ADD because I seriously couldn't pay attention to this video for more than 2 minutes...too much chitter chatter and not enough cutting!

[@taylorpayne6592]

Same

[@m.milagrospastorizacolon3448]

Taylor Payne the

[@daniellamoreno3616]

Lenee I fast forward a little cause of all the talking soI think its not just you.

[@mariomarioka8063]

muri

[@nainarai5626]

Daniella Moreno

[@gypsyviolin8685]

Unfortunately, this one is rather hard to watch. The Schtick between these two guys and blatant pushing of S.V. products detract severely from anything one could be learning. Nothing new, I guess you could call it Balayaging with shears.

[@NazaninExplore]

Weird, so many are putting in extensions with otHer peoples hair, and you just thined hair to the max!

[@savithrivenugopal]

I second that! Too much talking and poor end result in this video.

[@chaz449]

Good point!

[@teresas683]

For those stylists that say they don’t understand this...they shouldn’t be doing hair. As with everything, things change - styles, colours. Put your scissors down if you don’t want to change, then you should only do people’s hair who are stuck in that era with you.

[@natalinaden461]

Loved this video, and seeing both sam and andrew!

[@samvillahair]

Thanks for watching and for the comment. I love working with Andrew Carruthers he shares the same passion for education as I do. Keep watching...lots of great videos coming your way!

[@saritashrestha6394]

vat

[@paulyung6450]

Natali Naden

[@TheSupermimi10]

@@samvillahair hi Sam I met you in person about 18 years ago and learn so much from you I'm still use a lot of what learn and I love your enthusiastic attitude positive way to teach!!! Thank you!

[@peace2191]

I am sorry but I would never do this to my clients cas they never come back

[@eachiepeachie]

he's basically just randomly hacked short pieces into the hair.

[@Shantay623]

i'm sure its better than anything you could've done.

[@janinedear-barlow]

@@Shantay623 you don't know them, maybe they could! What the hell do you know...

[@kxoxow]

New techniques?!!...don't fix it if it ain't broken😒

[@kalimatayyeba7746]

Andrew is one of the best teachers of hair academy. For me he is the best. Thank you Sam for the great team of your academy

[@samvillahair]

Thank you so much... Andrew will appreciate that :-)

[@yoshikoyamamoto8721]

I feel sorry for this woman they destroyed her hair it just so uneven cut ! Omg !!!

[@nadiaray5218]

i was skeptical of this technique when the video first started but after hearing Sam and Andrew really explain how this can be used in the salon to give one length hair a little bit of movement, i love it. with the way they did it, it's nowhere near enough to make the hair look damaged like a lot of these other comments are saying. you just have to know what kind of client and hair type to use this technique on. thanks Sam!

[@melkhongjee1995]

hi! sam thnks for showing us how to cut and color our customer hair

[@mak3myda3]

Wouldn't a "shine line" be anywhere your bend it?..

[@jo0mee]

i would never do this to my hair

[@crystyldawn80]

The ombre hair color with the ombre layering reminds me of what damaged hair looks like. Lighter and thinner at the tips.

[@janinedear-barlow]

I would think it's damaged

[@cindyriley6825]

Sam is an awesome teacher. I use his techniques all the time. Clients love them and the achieved cut.

[@island661]

This type of point cutting makes me feel bald. No Bueno for my hair texture.

[@cesarparedes2749]

omgosh this video is so frustrating, like be quiet and just show us the cut! I honestly couldn't even finish the video. sorry

[@dollylove237]

I want you guys to cut my hair!!

[@the_panda_loves_sims243]

It doesn't even look good.

[@chaz449]

booorrrriiinnng...yawn....I agree; it made her ends look frazzled and fly-away. I think it would be much prettier with blunt, even lines....wait till it starts to grow out...

[@freedomdove]

Thank you very much for the information provided. I think her hair looks nice. :) So is that where you stop cutting? You don't continue on to do the same thing to the sides? I was also wondering if that type of scissor cut makes hair more vulnerable to split ends if the hair is already prone to them. Thanks again.

[@merfinandruthers]

Well there are a lot of junky comments here, I just wanted to say I thought that was pretty cool. Loved the look of the movement the ombre layers created! Would love to see how it looks curled, also combined with an actual ombre coloring. You hear a lot of "color the cut" but you just flipped that on its head. Sure there are a lot of layers that will could be a bit painful to trim later if you weren't the person who did the original layering, but you get the same issue (with more difficulty) with razor cutting, or increased layers of any sort. I think the movement of the hair was unparalleled so high five. Love to see innovation! :D

[@balwinderjhamat269]

Love it

[@robertodiaz4316]

Thank's Sam & Andrew !!!

[@manchestermoon8170]

I wish you would give a video on naturally curly hair and how to layered it properly

[@cindyherget5196]

Manchester Moon He'll need some real people with great head of curl willing to let him chop on it. I've had my hair screwed up so many times, I trust my hands and scissors. Tip #1) think and play with hair for two weeks before cutting. #2 ) always cut less the first time around you can always cut a bit more off... remember cutting off 1/2" of curl is like 2-3 inches off when it's styled and dry. #3) never cut when mad or depressed #4) get a good pair of hair scissors

[@melinapizano4240]

Can't wait to try this with a balayage and to show this to all the girls at the salon!!

[@gauravrai3543]

I think not much difference between b4r n after hair cut.

[@bgphotograph]

absolutely

[@MinnieTyko]

Only a real man can admit his weaknesses. Love you Sam!

[@MonnVicious]

Really awesome, i love coloring hair, but this changes my vision about cutting hair. We are artists, there's no doubt. I enjoy all your vids :3

[@ryenmaulsby47]

Hello I was wondering how I could do this on my own hair. When I went into the hairdresser I asked for layers like this one picture that had layers at different lengths around the head, but instead I got my hair chopped into two different lengths long and short like a half bowl cut. So I have decided to take matters into my own hands. I have never done my own hair cut (or anyone's haircut for that matter), but I am very artistically capable and would like to know the placement I should but these layers on my head. I like this ombré layering technique because it sounds like it can give my hair movement while being able to keep it long and not weighed down. Also I will be able to control what lengths I want each layer. My hair is fine in texture but there is a lot of it, and if I scrunch it after the shower it is curly but it is easily blow dried silky straight. If you need pictures of my hair and the haircut that I wanted to emulate, I could send them via email, if you could provide an email. Thank you for reading my essay of a comment and I hope your expertise can help!

[@Lyndeejo88]

Ryen, NOBODY Can cut hair these days. I have gone to several hair dressers and explained what I want and how my hair does with the type of cut I am requesting. Its a simple layered shag people. I have been cutting hair for 15 years and I taught myself, and seemingly do it much better than anyone I have paid!

[@timelesshair2275]

Have watched your video of ombre layering and have just applied the tecnic on a cliant to day in my salon, must admit this was a bit scary but the results were fantastic didn't think the cliant would notice but she was highly pleased.must admitted I each a lot of your tecnics and find them amazing must purchased some of your produce when my salon earns some money

[@janetbenitez1918]

Llloovveee ur videos ... cant.wait.for.more great ideas

[@bushratriebener8113]

I need some help. I have curly hair and it is quite thin. I want to get layers to make my hair fuller but I don't know if it would be the right choice. My hair is not particularly long either. Please give me some advice. :(

[@ashleymorris5567]

I love this hc.. i have been a professional stylist for 15 yrs and think that this is super fun... I love how they explain what they are doing because when they tell me why, I can be inspired to use that technique in other creative cuts. I believe that certain style and techniques have a time and a place but all are beneficial to learn. I am a little unsettled in the negative feed back to be honest. Thank you sam and Andrew for this tutorial... I will be using this soon hopefully.💇✌✂

[@GenuineRubi]

I love how at 10:46 he goes, "really cool, man". My thoughts on this video exactly. More videos with you two together! Great techniques, thanks for sharing.

[@Lic.en.derecho]

I hate point-cut and it seems to be have generalized in the whole world. NO ONE shows how to cut disconnected layers that remain heavy and can be distinguished from each other....and one can see them from the back falling making U shapes a couple of inches apart....I AM GOING CRAZY LOOKING AND REQUESTING FOR THAT HAIRCUT THAT NOBODY CAN DO!!.....

[@olivialegree4098]

Awesome technique...very visual interpretation of Ombre design.. the technique cascades like an interpretation of a waterfall. .fluid and seamless

[@Kawsome617]

You two are a great team! Great minds think alike. My goal is to get to your level in hair skills. Thanks for sharing!

[@googleuser4053]

THANK YOU ,THANK YOU ,THANK YOU ! I wish i was your student ,because i learn a lot from your videos ,Thank you for the tips and your time ..love you and hate the fact that i missed the hair show in Orlando .

[@judi2009able]

Sam you're awesome, you really need to marry me,lol

[@daytoremember3099]

it may be a cute haircut but few month later it will need a haircut again, how you gonna cut this short pieces inside? I will never do this to my client, ever!

[@stept2118]

Elena Ward you have to be a pro.

[@daytoremember3099]

and you are?

[@stept2118]

Don't have any skills but I have friends who are.

[@lydiafelix1773]

I agree with your comment!!!

[@mulliganstew72]

You’re a caring stylist and I appreciate that. Mine was not so caring. These cuts take years to fix And not all the deep conditioner in the world will not solve the problem. More styling is required using heat and products to smooth out this frizzy mess which leads to more damage. It is an insidious practice that I wish would go away

[@worldadventuretravel]

Your instruction is by far the best of all the hair cutting videos I've watched, especially for fine hair and volume at the crown. I'm only watching this for DIY purposes so I have to adapt a lot of how you hold and angle the hair to do on myself, but the way you explain the mechanics has really helped me up my game on my long, blonde, fine hair. No mullets, no chop lines, no drag.

[@buttercup9903]

💇🏻🙅🏻🙈 such a beautiful healthy hair was just chunked and left like and unhealthy broken hair. Once a hairdresser did sth like this with my hair, it looked frizzy and broke all the time, just horrible. I remember him feeling super inspired that day, so this is why I learnt DIY hair cuts, you don't know when your hairdresser will feel in some weird emotional state and do whatever they want with your head, no,no!

[@TheButterflybaby9]

Absolute hair geniuses. Love those techniques, can't wait to try them!

[@tararogers9263]

Hi Sam I know this video is old but I create this type of look with zig zag VVVVV partings, starting at the crown. Elevating hair above the crown and using the point cut technique. We call it invisible layers it will give you the same affect. Tara Nicole love you!

[@mulliganstew72]

Sam, can you please do a video on how we would correct and over texturized haircut? I appreciate where you’re going here but I have really curly long thick wavy frizzy layered hair and hairdresser wanted to cut corners on time instead of cutting layers nicely she just tacked away with the thinning shears and shattered my ends. It’s breaking to the touch. She also did some slide cutting. There are no two hairs on my head that are the same length. Please do a video on how we would address this for example cutting the fuzz off And maybe hopefully preserving some length as we go? Help!

[@claudiacantu9631]

Me encantan todos sus videos ..como quisiera encontrar un gra estilista como usted que hiciera videos en mi idioma ..tengo q tener a mi hija.traduciendome jaja me encantan sus tecnicas ...felicidades

[@littlebeebs1]

Seems really cool ! But the camera editing sucks . They keep jumping changing the view just as he is revealing something. He will say “ Look at this !” , then the camera view completely changes so you can’t see the big reveal of what he’s done or about to do .

[@adinadaneila8143]

Hi,I need your help with something.I bleached my hair and also used a colour stripper,then i coloured my hair red,but now,my hair will reject the hair dye.after 3 washes all the colour is gone,my hair looks ginger.I know red colour won't last too long,but mine doesn't last at all.dunno what else to do.thank you

[@joellebahm4305]

I loved this video! I find there are people who love that blunt cut but lately I’ve been asked for more layers to take out some bulk and add some movement so this was a great way to think differently and use a new technique. Thank you!

[@colleenwest5547]

Hi Sam it's Cole West. You snarled it again. I am so excited about this technique . I am on it! Thanks again. Let me know when you are back in OC. Ca.

[@adonnicabarela1750]

We dont have many great hairdressers here in las cruces , I'm currently the new girl on the block and getting closer to receiving my license but in the mean time I continue to expand my knowledge and I've learned so much from you!!! You're the shyt sam villa and thank you for your free education channel 💛💋

[@DebraWeite]

great video guys. Been a fan of both of you for a long time. I'm curious..do you think this would be a good technique for adding layers to hair extensions?

[@jessicapreston985]

AMAZING technique! My question is would you do anything to the sides around her face? I understand you wouldn't want to remove a lot of bulk and make it too thin though

[@vulcans0soul]

Cutting layers is an awful trend invented by stylists! It practically forces the women to go to the salon on a regular basis because it looks horrible once grown out. It is a sure way to ruin your hair for years... and it is the main reason long haired people avoid salons like the plague.Stop advertising layered cuts for longer hair! Layered cuts are only useful for shorter hair and certain hairtypes. Straigth fine hair looks ratty and thin with layers, if you dont wash and style everyday. And this is a sure way to ruin it further. All the old ladies with short hair are victims of bad hair salons. My own hair is classic length and I never have a bad hair day! I braid it, bun it or do a half up. I can wear it playful or tidy whenever I want. But my mother looks like a monster every morning because of the short hair and has to go to the salon every two months. I despise every stylist doing this!

[@FM-uk3nm]

this guy may know a little about hair but he talks too much and he reminds me of a hairstylist i know in my city he cant stop talking and he looks like a bundle of nerves.

[@chavezbacalila]

I see what they are doing breathable spaces for straight hair.. gives moment.. I dislikes the post alotof hair gone.. however works for someone with thin no movement hair.. not mine.. full and think that's why I rock a lob.. but this is great for causing movement and volume to limp hair

[@cholo9869]

he's just texturizing ,not sure about the tickling hair part the first guy isn't even really cutting the hair its falling from the roots if you look close ,real triangles leave points of weight,but he talks really fast .

[@MissSlickOne]

Just HAPPENED to run across this video. Her hair is gorgeous! Great cutting tips, amazing!!

[@a.karatas953]

This is a perfect technique for arab, turkish and asian thick hair. they have so many hair, you can thin it out like this. a friend of mine is hairdresser. she cuts her hip long hair always by herself. it takes 1.30h. she just thins her hair with slice technique and keeps thick ends. she has so many hair , that it works. but if you have normal european or thiner hair, do not do this, it will look like a mess after 2 or 3 weeks if the client do not use the flat iron with and if the client do not uses ceratine supplements for a healthy look. This is a very great technique for shows on stage with thick hair. People will ove the action. i have seen a lot of client from tony and guy. they used to thin out long hair witch slicing and so on. they came to me and were so sad after 5 weeks. i just layerd their hair 2 or 3 times and they were much happier, because their hair looked healthier after.

[@maddynstuff3441]

I feel like this is so much work for such an invisible look. Why would you just add layers or take some texture shears to the hair? What’s so special about this technique?

[@jodileigh571]

Not sure I'm crazy about the end results. Looks too much like a low key mullet

[@janinedear-barlow]

Sorry but I think structured layers are ombre enough. If you go too thin the hair won't look good. Also there was no structure and sections. How are you supposed to recut it when she gets splits?

[@rb.wilson3647]

This is such an awesome technique!! I have her hair type exactly and this is what I keep trying to get my stylist to do to mine but my layers always come out very dense and chunky :( This is such a lovely cut!

[@Moonrise361]

I have to say, you are both great hairstylists for sure, but I absolutely hate those cissors. For short or long hair, the use of them always ends up making the hair look thin with less body. Like people will think they are loosing hair after they went to the hairstylists who use those. If you don't want hair that look thinner, tell your hairstylist you do not want him to use the thinning cissor.

[@morz37damar91]

its amazing way to cut mr. sam god bless u always and good luck to your business. its me maria from Philippines but im working here in dubai hairdresser

[@annegram9194]

Thank you for inspiring new thoughts and ideas . Change is imperative in our industry or we don’t grow ! Love it !

[@desireen2245]

Ummm I don’t see any technique. Just how to texture hair but where is the parting and actual technique to make these layers even?

[@liverbird_55]

*When Andrews did his 1st cut into the ombre section of hair he did the left side fine then doing the right side on the way down he completley disected her hair and it was not what he said he was doing as hes meant to be cutting an ombre layer and not disecting a huge chunk of hair off, iv noticed in most of Andrews cuts he disects alot of the time and never just takes his layers to the tips of the hair as i dont think he can do it, which is a simple technique realy but he realy cant do what he says, that was definately not meant to happen, and if i was this girl i would be so annoyed at these two just hacking chunks of my hair of in random places, this is not a technique nor is it normal to do several different styles of cuts on ones head, she needs go see an expert now to get her hair fixed, i can recomend (Mike Karg) hes a genius when it comes to cutting hair*

[@Salonroxie]

A name put to what I've been doing for years!

[@patyloa]

What's about the front hair? If you client want some layers, should just slices cutting or point cutting?

[@AyeWitness]

Sam you just made a DOGS DINNER of the lassies hair!!!!!

[@snow-whiteeva6922]

You are awesome!!! I really like your all of videos!!!! And I always see your every video!!!! You are rock!!!!

[@narcisajames1047]

This looks like texturizing to me, very nice. If I use the razor will that give the same effect? Thank you!

[@Ansar866]

Hi Sam I see you are very passionate with hair, Sam I alway got trouble with my hair hair fall fragile do you have any tips how I can treat my hair

[@annakatrinatena7875]

V shape cutting

[@dhanghale3761]

Thank you very much you guys are awesome...I work in Paris as a hair dresser😊

[@Samiachy]

It was really nice to watch both of you teach us something new together... both your passion really shines through :) Thanks

[@spiralstarekase]

Could you just be more vague and talk more in circles? Thanks.

[@YvetteCousin]

This reminds me of damaged hair.... I am not sure what it is about this cut...

[@katetaylor2816]

Oh no!!!! The video has reverted back to the begging while the sound has carried on.

[@BaazigarQueen]

Only Chitter n chatter no work..please talk less n work more so that we can understand what's going on 😒

[@laefffy]

He's talking about girls walking with their high waisted pants.. kinda pervy

[@brandonacosta3268]

I think is a great technique for split ends and great for thick hair, but not for thin hair and what happened with the sides.

[@morz37damar91]

the hair extensions is defence than the original! but that girl is original hair its real haair. by the way im hairstylist so i know that if the hair extensions or not .

[@LS-ng1sf]

Everyone's hair is not straight. Where's your wavy, curly long hair tutorials

[@welcometothebreadkingdom]

wish they would shut up and just show us.

[@sharonlatour6230]

I had a hair dresser slide cut my hair. i have fine textured hair and the slide cutting made it so frizzy and thin. :(

[@hugger1ify]

Thank you both of you for sharing really much useful technique , thumb up .

[@hugger1ify]

Thank you both of you for sharing really much useful technique , thumb up .

[@panchovilla7932]

Exelently!