Hush Cuts Are the Latest Way to Add Beautiful Volume to Thinning or Flat Hair
The cut's face-framing layers make hair look thicker, soften wrinkles and slim the face
There’s nothing hush-hush about the way this heavily layered cut is sweeping the world: As of September 2023, it’s racked up over 89.3 million views on TikTok. The hush cut started in Korea and has now made its way stateside and for good reason. Read on to discover how the trendy hairstyle can help shed years from your look!
What is a hush cut?
A hush cut is a haircut with many face-framing layers and shorter layers in the back. This trendy style is all about shorter angles around the face and can also include a curtain bang for a little extra dimension, explains Stephanie Angelone, a hairstylist at RPZL in New York City. (Click through to see more anti-aging layered hair cuts.)
Shorter layers near the eyes that graduate into the rest of hair as seen on Shania Twain above draw attention to gorgeous facial features.
The hallmark of the hush cut, according to celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager, is its wispy or dainty layered effect, as she says “it creates a soft and blended look with layers and a fringe that blend seamlessly.” She adds, “the hush cut is the complete opposite of the wolf cut, which gave us choppy disconnected layers and a shorter disconnected fringe.” (Click through to learn about the wolf cut.)
Best hair length for a hush cut
As for length, Angelone recommends this cut for longer hair. “Since it is face framing and shorter angled pieces in the front, it usually pairs well with some layers in the back,” she says. “But, it’s still long, so you can keep your length while also having volume and less maintenance when it comes to styling.” (Click through to see more long hairstyles that work for women over50.)
All of the layers throughout ensures longer locks, like Susan Lucci’s above, don’t hang lifelessly against the face.
Scott Fabian, a hairstylist at Sally Hershberger NoMad salon in New York City, agrees that this cut works well at any length at the shoulders and longer. “Just keep in mind the longer your hair is, the more you will lose thickness at the perimeter of your hair,” he explains. In other words, it’ll be long and wispy so not a lot of thickness at the ends.
Best hair type for a hush cut
When it comes to texture, a hush cut can cut can be worn on all hair types from curly to straight.
If you have straight hair: Angelone says that getting this cut will add dimension and distribute the weight of your hair better “so your hair will always look alive and voluminous.”
If you have wavy or curly hair: The cut’s movement from layers enhances hair’s natural texture.
The short layers and bangs as seen on Sandra Oh above keep curly hair looking bouncy.
Have ultra-fine hair? Fabian notes that “it will give you volume but could take away from the thickness.” Your hairstylist can help you figure out the best approach for creating this cut on finer locks.
And if you’re curious about the back view of the layers that make up a hush cut, check out the below Instagram video from hairstylist @ntk_hairdesigner.
How the trendy cut flatters women over 50
It makes thinning hair look thicker
Angelone says “it will give your hair life with little effort on styling, and also will add volume and dimension to your hair.” Thanks goes to the style’s variety in length of layers, which “make your hair look more full, especially if you suffer from thinning hair.”
It masks fine lines and wrinkles
Because there’s a lot of layering in the front, this can distract from wrinkles, says Fabian. Plus, infusing bangs into the cut instantly conceals forehead furrows.
It slims the face
The style “will definitely slim your face by achieving body and texture around the face frame,” says Angelone. And all of the texture from layers pulls the eye vertically, which visually elongates and slims the face.
It works for all face shapes
This haircut suits any face shape, depending on how short or long your bangs and front layering are. “It can be tailored to enhance your best facial features using framing and your stylist’s expert eye,” Brager notes.
The hush cut can particularly enhance oval and heart-shaped faces, Fabian says. That’s because it can add volume throughout hair that helps offset an oval face’s narrowness and a heart-shaped face’s angular jawline.
What to ask for when getting a hush cut
Communication is key and visuals also help. As with any haircut, you want to bring a few photos with you to the salon. Fabian adds you should keep them all relatively close in length so you know what you like and don’t like about each photo example.
Angelone suggests asking for short, face-framing angles and layers throughout the back, and if you want to have fun with it, you can ask for a curtain bang as well.
Snipping curtain bangs into a hush as seen on Courtney Thorne-Smith above can also help cleverly soften crow’s feet and hide any thinner areas near the temples.
“Having your stylist use a razor to cut your hair might be the best way to achieve the softness or the seamlessness this cut requires,” Brager suggests. “You can mention that you want the layers and face framing to be subtle and natural-looking.”
Check out the below quick how-to from hairstylist Justin Toves-Vincillone @ahappyjustin on Instagram to see for yourself how a hush cut is created.
The best ways to style a hush cut
How should you style a hush cut? Brager says styling the cut is simple and that it’s versatile as it looks great straight, wavy and curly. Here, her styling tips.
To style it straight and voluminous:
Brager recommends applying a pea-sized amount of Rodan + Fields Defrizz + Oil (Buy from Rodan + Fields, $63) on the mid shaft to the ends of your hair for protection and a glossy finish. “Then, you can enhance the layers and add volume by using your dryer and a large round brush.”
Or you can use a flat iron to easily emphasize a hush cut’s various layers as shown in the below video from TikToker @pandabunnz.
To style it with waves:
Just grab a curling iron and loosely wrap 2″ sections around the barrel. Once all of hair is wavy, spritz all over spray with dry shampoo, like Hairitage Lazy Day Dry Shampoo (Buy from Walmart, $9), to add lightweight texture. Brager says the spray will help define the layers and create a more cool, haphazard style.
Infusing the cut with waves like how Gayle King did above gives the shoulder-length style mega movement.
Already have naturally wavy or curly hair?
To enhance wavy texture, Brager suggests working a nickel-sized amount of a curl cream, like Aveda Be Curly (Buy from Aveda, $34), through hair from roots to ends. Then, let your hair air dry or use a diffuser to bring out more body and curl. And for coily hair, use the curl cream from roots to ends, then layer in a light hold mousse, Herbal Essences Curl Boosting Mousse (Buy from Walmart, $5) to define bouncy curls.
Ready to make the snip? If you’re looking to make a statement with your hairstyle and shed years from your look, a hush cut does just that!
Click through to discover more anti-aging haircuts:
3 Age-Defying Haircuts That Will Boost Your Confidence and Style
Hairstylists Reveal 10 Haircuts for Every Face Shape — And How To Maintain Them
