The so-called “feather effect” is expected to be our favorite cut of 2024

The feather effect cut It is one of those looks that have a kind of longevity and versatility that can withstand the currents. Especially today when trends develop at the fast pace of social media and follow one another in a tight fashion.

Generally speaking, there are two big trends that come up every season: the super-shaggy layered cut and the smooth, blunt cut. But the feather effect manages to blend the best of both into one cut.

The actress who came on board this week was Lucy Halewho posted an Instagram story noting that she’d joined the “shorter hair club” after a new cut from her celebrity hairstylist Adam Campbell and a soft (and slightly lighter) shade of color created by the celebrity colorist Matt Rez.

In the photo, Lucy sports a collarbone-length cut with softly blunt layered hair.

What is feather cutting?

Feather cuts have been around for decades and were particularly popular in the 1970s (but also in the 2000s, when wavy layered cuts like the one by Alice Cullen (They had a brief revival). The 2020s version, however, is much softer: compared to the strictly straight original with longer locks, in fact, today the tips are slightly layered outwards.

The cut is named after a bird’s feathers, and like a bird, the “feathers” (which in this case are strands) can be fanned out for structure, or blunted for a more fluid shape. This means they can add wiggle and movement, but if you want something a little “cleaner,” you can also hide them discreetly in your hairstyle. As for length, the feather cut looks great on both long and short hair, but we really like the relaxed length of a lob or collarbone cut, which comes down to just the right point to show off those soft ends.

How to wear a feather cut?

Below we’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways to wear the feathercut…