The Best Haircuts For Long Hair Are Anything but Boring

A common misconception about having long hair is that your options are limited in terms of the haircuts you can get at the salon. Sure, short haircuts like the pixie or bob can make for great dramatic transformations, but there are plenty of haircuts for long hair to pick from if you want to change things up without chopping off too much.

While even something as small as a hair dusting can make a huge impact on the overall health of your hair, there are also plenty of other cuts and layering techniques for longer lengths that can add major volume, movement, and texture. Plus, it's a guaranteed way to ensure that your longer hair doesn't elongate your face in a way that doesn't suit you. (If you've ever seen an Afghan hound, you know what we mean . . . even if they are cute.)

To help you land on the best haircut for long hair, we're breaking down our favorite pro-approved options here, plus a few inspiration photos to bring with you to your next salon appointment.

Best Haircuts For Long Hair

First, it's worth noting that no haircut is one size fits all. Every style can be tailored by your hairstylist to suit your face shape and lifestyle. That said, there are lots of popular options that can make a huge difference.

For example, the shag haircut has made a strong comeback with its effortless, undone vibe. Simply ask your hairstylist for a long haircut with lots of layers and wispy bangs to boot. If your style is more polished, you might opt for a long haircut with bangs that are crisp and bluntly cut to make you feel instantly put together. The "clavicut" haircut, on the other hand, is good if you're in the process of growing out your hair. And, of course, you can always add subtle curtain bangs to your hairstyle for a minor yet impactful tweak. Again, you don't need to chop off five-plus inches of hair to see a difference in your look — never underestimate the power of a good trim.

Long Haircut Ideas

By making a minor change to your long hairstyle, you can turn your grown-out ends into something you'd see on your Instagram discover page — and potentially find your new signature look in the process. Keep scrolling to see the very best haircut trends for long hair to get you started.

Long Haircut With Layers For Thin Hair
Getty | Edward Berthelot

Long Haircut With Layers For Thin Hair

Just in the mood for a trim? Adding face-framing layers can instantly give your haircut a fresh look — especially if you have thin hair. Hairstylist Anabel Santos at the Sally Hershberger Nomad Salon in New York City says face-framing layers mixed with long layers are great "for more movement and body while keeping the perimeter full."

Same-Length Haircut Long Hair
Getty | Edward Berthelot

Same-Length Haircut Long Hair

According to Michael Dueñas, celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Support Creatives, one-length haircuts à la the 1990s are super popular right now. "The style is enticing because it is easy maintenance with a lot of flexibility," Dueñas says.

Long Haircut For Thick Hair
Getty | Emma McIntyre

Long Haircut For Thick Hair

The shag is a great long haircut for thick hair and super trendy right now. "The two popular shag styles are the ultracurly, ultralayered and then straight with long curtain bangs that sweep," NYC hairstylist Devin Toth says. "The curly shag is very round with a pure release of texture. It will be a seamless transition from bangs to short layers to long layers to bottom length. The straight shag can be styled however you want, but it generally has longer layers with the focus of the style being the bold curtain bangs — sweeping but not fully connected to the rest of the style."

Long Haircuts With Side-Swept Bangs
Getty | Christian Vierig

Long Haircuts With Side-Swept Bangs

Everyone, from our editors to A-list celebrities, is trying this retro haircut, and we can't blame them — it looks good on everyone. "Curtain bangs are making a comeback because of the '70s inspiration in the current fashion scene," says Michael Bowman, a stylist at NYC's Rob Peetoom salon. You can wear this haircut one of two ways: long and subtle or short and textured. "A more modern twist would be to make the bangs a little shorter and textured in the center, so they can also be worn as a full textured fringe on days you want to change it up."

Mullet Haircut For Long Hair
Getty | Presley Ann

Mullet Haircut For Long Hair

The mullet — or the "chillet" (a chill mullet) as celebrity hairstylist and cofounder of Nine Zero One salon Riawna Capri likes to call it — is the updated version of the retro mullet that's perfect for long hair. "It's a more modified and more fashion-forward version of the mullet," she says. "The definition of a mullet is short at the front and sides and long in the back. Hair in the back isn't longer than the hair in the front, but it has the illusion or silhouette of a mullet, as opposed to an exact copy."

Long Haircut With Invisible Layers
Getty | Edward Berthelot

Long Haircut With Invisible Layers

Layers are your best friend if you have long hair. "Invisible" layers are a dry haircutting technique that works on all hair types and textures. "The term 'invisible layers' refers to removing weight and adding movement into a haircut while creating a finished look with minimal or no layers at all," Omar Antonio, hairstylist and global top artist for Sebastian Professional, tells POPSUGAR. That means you can keep your length but remove some of the heaviness that usually comes with extra-long hair.

Blunt Long Haircut For Thin Hair
Getty | Edward Berthelot

Blunt Long Haircut For Thin Hair

Blunt haircuts are not exclusive to short hairstyles — they look beautiful on long hair, too. A soft, blunt haircut is sophisticated but not as razor sharp as traditional blunt cuts. It also grows out beautifully.

The "Clavicut" For Long Hair
Getty | NurPhoto

The "Clavicut" For Long Hair

Still in the process of growing out your hair? No problem — try the "clavicut," which looks good on all hair types and face shapes. "This style features back strands resting on the nape of your neck with the face-framing strands dipping an extra inch or two until they kiss your collarbone — an edgy yet sophisticated hairstyle, all at the same time," says master hairstylist Edward Tricomi of Warren Tricomi Salons.

Layered Long Haircut For Curly Hair
Getty | Edward Berthelot

Layered Long Haircut For Curly Hair

"With newer and better ingredients in hair care and more awareness around avoiding chemical and heat damage, people are able to grow out their hair to longer and longer lengths in a healthier way," says David Lopez, celebrity hairstylist to the likes of Ashley Graham and Hailey Bieber. This resonates for all hair types, but especially those with curly hair. An easy way to give your style a refresh and make sure it doesn't fall flat is by adding long, flowy layers for additional body and movement.

The "Jellyfish" Haircut For Long Hair
Getty | Christian Vierig

The "Jellyfish" Haircut For Long Hair

Long haircuts can be edgy too, and the "jellyfish" is proof of that. The style is a half-short, half-long style that combines the classic mullet with a bowl cut and looks like the outline of a jellyfish.