Feathered
Feathered hair is a layered styling technique where the ends are swept back and away from the face in soft, wing-like shapes, creating a light, airy silhouette with beautiful movement. Made legendary by Farrah Fawcett in the 1970s, the feathered look has endured for decades because of its universally flattering, face-opening quality.
Length: Medium
Texture: Straight, Wavy, Fine, Medium, Thick
Best for: Oval and Round and Square and Heart and Oblong face shapes
Similar Styles
FAQ
Is feathered hair the same as layered hair? +
Feathering involves layers, but not all layered hair is feathered. The distinction is in both the cutting technique and the styling. Feathered hair uses point cutting or razor cutting to create wispy, tapered ends, and it is styled by sweeping the layers outward and away from the face. Standard layered hair can be styled inward, outward, or naturally. Feathering is a specific subset of layered hairstyling with a defined direction and finish.
Does feathered hair work on curly hair? +
Feathering is most effective on straight to wavy hair because the outward sweep and wing-like shapes rely on smooth, directional styling. Curly hair naturally wants to curl in its own pattern rather than sweep outward in controlled wings. However, loose waves and gentle curls can be feathered with a round brush and blow-dryer. Very tight curls would need to be straightened or blown out first, which adds significant time and heat exposure.
How often should I trim feathered hair? +
Every 6-8 weeks is ideal. The tapered, wispy ends that define feathered hair grow out and lose their shape relatively quickly. Without regular trims, the feathered layers become heavy and blunt, and the outward sweep becomes harder to achieve. Your stylist should maintain the point-cut or razor-cut ends and refresh the layer placement each visit to keep the feathered shape sharp and responsive to styling.
Can I achieve feathered hair without heat? +
It is very difficult to achieve the classic feathered look without heat because the outward sweep relies on a round-brush blowout or curling iron to direct the hair away from the face. However, you can approximate a soft feathered effect by setting damp hair in large Velcro rollers placed outward at the face-framing sections and allowing them to air-dry completely. The result will be looser and less defined than a heat-styled feather, but it provides a similar face-opening effect.