Can’t decide between going short or long? Not only are medium length hairstyles fully in trend again, but it is also a versatile length that can be styled in numerous ways! With this curated list of inspirational medium-length hairstyles types, you can match your hair type, face shape, and lifestyle perfectly to your needs and wants!
Shaggy and edgy hairstyles? Fine, those are best for young and bold women who love to create unique looks with statement jewelry and clothing. Are you feeling soft, contemporary, and more classic looks? Very, these are more common for women of all ages since they are easy to style.
Medium length hairstyles are 100% trending right now. Longer styles used to be popular but now medium length styles are taking over because of its practicality, edge, and confidence. If you are planning to cut your long hair or grow your short hair out and you are searching for the best way to style it, then you’ve found the right place here!
Beautiful Medium Length Hairstyles
Whatever hair type or hair texture you have, you’ll definitely find a style that is suitable for you. From curly and straight styles to layered looks, there are many hairdos that you can try for your medium length hair. If you have hair prone to being messy and out-of-control then a tousled look might be worth a try.
From waves to retro styles, Emma Stone shows that she knows how to style her mid-length hair. For a softer look, create some side bangs just like Selena Gomez. If you have thin hair and you want to make it look voluminous, then consider going for blunt ends. For thicker hair, choppy cuts are best with many layers to break up your hair.
Whether your short hair is growing out, you’re in a transition phase from short to long, or you’re looking to go shorter, then this is the perfect list to find a cool and inspirational style that works for you.
1. Dark Brown Lob with Curls
This fabulous hairstyle features a chocolate brown color and caramel highlights, as well as a contrast between straight hair up top and curly locks at the bottom for some added volume. Having curls at the shoulders also prevents your medium length hair from curling outwards.
2. Choppy Rocker Lob
This layered hairstyle with tapered edges and a bit of a fringe is a choppy rocker style and will add an edginess to your look. A dark color and pointy ends at an angle will create that cool, low-maintenance style you’re going for.
3. Wavy Mid Length Cut
A medium wavy hairstyle is quite popular among celebrities since it is very versatile to styling tools. Here, this simple layered look is given some casual waves and a beachy color palette that manages to blend glamor and effortless hair.
4. Classic Voluminous Bob
This classic bob has layers but a fixed shape with blunt ends. The blunt ends can give the illusion of thick hair for those thin hair beauties out there, and the very dark hair color brings out the eyes. This can be considered a medium length version of a classic long hair look with a middle parting.
5. Edgy Blonde Bob Pixie with Bangs
You can liven up your blonde locks with an ice blonde color and give your hair some shape with this medium cut with feathered layers and distinct bangs. As the bangs flow across the main stream of your hair, it acts as a cute accent that gives variation to the haircut.
6. Medium Length Ombre Hair
Beachy waves and an ombre dye can make you look young and carefree. Opting for a more casual and relaxed medium length hairdo will allow you to be on-the-go without having to worry about styling it.
7. Feathered Mid Length Hairstyle
This curly, feathered bob defines “wind in the hair” and movement due to the curly flicks that provide volume and body. The irregular layers give more lift and keep your hair structured without needing to use too much texturizing spray or heat.
8. Layered Shoulder Length Hairstyle
Emma Roberts is wearing a layered ‘do that looks elegant yet basic. With thinner hair, gentle layers and waves just above the shoulders as well as a straight flowing side fringe, you get a soft and relaxed hairstyle.
9. Asymmetric Straight Lob
This avant-garde pin straight lob features an asymmetric shape with distinct layers. It is an ultra-cool look that works with any face shape and has a smooth finish. Being a style icon herself, Rihanna is certainly one to take inspiration from.
10. Thick Medium Length Hair with Baby Bangs
These short and mini bangs draw attention to the eyes and are fashion-forward and complement a standard mid-length layered cut. Trying out a new hairstyle doesn’t necessarily mean having to completely do a 180, it can simply mean adding layers or bangs.
11. Blonde Graduated Bob with Long Fringe
This graduated bob in blonde has a sweetheart quality to it as it maintains a feminine and girl-next-door feel. It is a timeless cut that softens the facial shape and features and can adapt to many styling concepts, especially with the long side swept bangs.
12. Straight Hair with Tousled Ends
There are a lot of hairstyles that will come and go, however, this classic medium length hairstyle will always be fashionable. With straight hair that tousles and bunches up gently at the ends of the hair, Keira Knightly’s demure hairstyle can suit many.
13. Casual Mid-Length Waves with Bangs
Just like long hair, a standard medium haircut can be upgraded and made unique by adding layers, curls, and styling techniques. Kerry Washington rocks her classic dark hair with layers, a non-distinct parting, and a waterfall side fringe.
14. Mid Length Black Bob
This sleek bob has a rich dark color and a side part to slightly offset the uniform hair shape. A no-nonsense, glamorous look, the classic bob can be given movement and shape with subtle layers.
15. Feathered Mid-Length Hair with Fringe
A feathered layered hairstyle can make your entire appearance more dynamic, especially when dyed a bright color. These extreme razored layers makes your hair piecey and fun, creating an aura of youthfulness.
16. Emily Blunt’s Mid Length Celebrity Hairstyles
This sleek and sultry mid-length bob with a center part is a smooth, timeless look. Simply running a flat-iron through the hair is enough to keep its shine and maintain a look that could never go wrong with any outfit.
17. Mid Length Curly Hairstyles
Jessica Alba’s highlight lob boasts brightening highlights, effortless curls, and total character. A medium brown color can bring out tanned skin and darker eyes.
18. Straight Hairstyle with Side Part
Some styles can work on thick hair but not so much with thin hair. This uneven parting gives the hair a bit of an asymmetrical shape, where the bulk of the hair is swept to one side. The parting mimics a shaved side, which is an edgy and modern look.
19. Square Bob with Long Bangs
For a simple styling option, go for a short bob hairstyle. Selena Gomez sports this classic bob with the ends turned inwards but adds a touch of modernity and style with the intense long waterfall fringe.
20. Inverted Ombre Soft Waves
This unique inverted ombre color already makes for a special medium length style, along with the soft and delicate blonde waves that barely touch the shoulders. Instead of dying your roots, you can blend your natural hue into your present color.
21. Medium Length Piece-y Waves
One of the most well-loved features for medium length hair is bangs. This piece-y cut features classic waves and full side bangs that flow into the bulk of the hair. For ladies with fine hair, these waves remain bouncy with subtle layers while creating volume.
22. Cute Simple Shoulder Length Hair with Waves
This short vintage look includes multi-layered dimension and choppy ends for a fresh and youthful look. Having disconnected layers and curly waves creates that effortless, romantic vibe that can jazz up a t-shirt and jeans look or complement a beautiful gown.
23. Straight Side Parted Layered Cut
This slick, sleek look tapers to the head and features flipped-out ends. The ends can be achieved by round-brushing away from the face. Side bangs prevent this simple style from falling flat and lacking volume.
24. 70s Style Medium Length Curls
This modernized, 70s-esque hairstyle involves a honey blonde color and beautiful curls that are reminiscent of Farrah Fawcett’s flyaway style. An iconic look that provides symmetry and frames the face, it is suitable for any face shape.
25. Layered Haircut
Gentle layers around the face can give you a softer and elegant look, while choppy and pin straight ends that defined the “Rachel” hairstyle for Jennifer Aniston give the haircut angles and shape.
26. Blonde Mid-Part Medium Length Hair with Layers
Reese Witherspoon has a wavy lob that can be achieved even for those with straight hair. Simply let wet hair dry in a messy bun and leave in for a while, then when let loose, your hair will be left with natural waves that look just like Reese’s.
27. Voluminous Front Wave for Straight Hair
Flipping your hair over to one side and choosing a side part can create a voluminous front wave to create shape and volume. With naturally straight hair, you can simply add in a couple of layers to the ends of your hair and create some quick curls with a curler.
28. Choppy Shaggy Hairstyle
The choppy-shaggy medium length hairstyle is a bold cut that creates natural movement and doesn’t require much maintenance. It combines the beachy and edgy rockstar looks to create a special ambiguous aesthetic.
29. Lob with Curtain Bangs
This wavy ombre hairstyle is a messy look with curtain bangs to show off your face while maintaining the original shaping qualities of bangs. Curtain bangs were popular in the 70s and have cycled back in trend just like many 70s-90s fashion trends.
30. Mid Length Hairstyles Ideas
This deep part look with curly waves instantly gives the hair more volume. These bouncy locks have a gravity-defying quality, and can even be enhanced with volumizing spray for staying power. If you’re looking for more, you can even add in creamy highlights for that extra star quality.
31. Wavy Medium Length Hairstyles
Ciara’s highlights make this style look totally gorgeous. Playing around with the structure of the highlights can create magic on how the light will hit your hair, and the effortless waves help the hair maintain volume and stop it from becoming flat.
32. Voluminous Waves
This glamorous movie star look has total volume that can be created with a round brush. With flowing layers and a complex long side bang, Rachel McAdams crafts and complements her classic beauty with this simple blonde hairstyle.
33. Ombre Waves
Try out this sleek style on Jessica Alba with gentle waves and a classic brown to blonde ombre. This straight look with texture is suitable for all face shapes and styles, being an all-rounded look that can be designed and styled how you wish.
34. Sleek Bob with Fringe
This sleek bob sported by famous supermodel Heidi Klum is fashion forward, chic, and sultry. Going for a shorter look in comparison to longer hair makes your locks easier to manage and creates a natural volume.
35. Ashley Olsen’s Straight Hairstyles
This style is chic and sophisticated and features layers that flip in to frame the face. These layers are flattering and hit all the right places to really make your features stand out. With a standard cut and layers, you can easily achieve this look by using a curler or a round brush and hairdryer.
36. Varied Bob for Angled Faces
Women who have angled faces have a narrow forehead and cheekbones. With this haircut, your best features will be emphasized. It also makes use to varying textures with waves and straight locks in the front and ringlet curls in the back.
37. Angled Lob
This dark lob gives lots of asymmetry with the uneven sides, side part, and choppy yet sustained layers. The black color brings intensity and mystery, and can bring out the eyes.
38. Standard Lob with Highlights
Lobs are beautiful and in-style with any texture. It complements a multitude of face shapes, complexions, and hair textures. The soft and blunt ends gives a subtle layered look to give slight texture and movement.
39. Layered Bob with Baby Fringe
Baby bangs are coming in hot this year, being a modern touch to give texture at the forehead. It also provides youthfulness by making the face smaller. In this case, the slightly choppy straight layers offset the bangs by creating shape around the head.
40. Feathered Hair with Bangs
Mid-length hair is manageable and easy to style. When it comes to casual layers that flick in multiple directions, it creates a little bulk and weight to a hairstyle that would otherwise lay flatter and have less dimension.
41. Simple Side Part ‘Do with Layers For Medium Length Hair
This simple ‘do is made special with subtle layers and a deep side parting with a sweeping long fringe. Side-swept bangs and medium hair are an unbeatable combo, as many celebrities on the red carpet have been seen to use side bangs as a versatile and stylish feature.
42. Choppy Side Part ‘Do with Layers
Similar to the last hairstyle we looked at, this one combines choppier layers, a side zig-zagging part, and a sweeping fringe. The bangs on a slant elongate the face and contrast with the short choppy ends.
43. Wavy Blonde Medium Hair with Long Side Bangs
This versatile look presents as a relaxed yet put together style that is pleasing to the eye. In this image, Hilary Duff’s softer, spontaneous curls make the look appear effortless.
44. Thick Wavy Medium-Length Hair
This style is suitable if you want a more practical look that is low-maintenance. The look makes use of the two straighter and shorter strands to frame the face, and lets the rest of the hair flow down in curly waves.
45. Blonde Highlights and Feathered Fringe for Medium Hair
If you’re lucky enough to have an oval face, you can pretty much sport any hairstyle that tickles your fancy as it is best for experimenting with different hairstyles. The layers create tons of movement and excitement, while the soft, feathered bangs transform the nature of the face.
46. Choppy Bob with Messy Fringe
This look consists of subtle waves along with side-swept bangs. With a messy and varied fringe, as well as an ambiguous parting, this choppy bob has lots of character. Reese Witherspoon shows off this look
47. Gorgeous Hairstyle
For girls who have thinner hair, adding choppy layers can provide more volume. This salty-air texture gives a casual beachy vibe, while the bangs add an air of elegance that complete the look. The blend of dark and light colors also provide extra depth.
48. Voluminous S-curls with Swooping Bangs
This is a cute, voluminous layered style on Emma Watson that is made up of large s-curls that exude a classic glamour. For short faces, big hair and swooping bangs can be the answer — adding sophistication, natural movement, and shape.
49. Ringlet Curls with Slick Combover
With these soft spirals, Gwen Stefani’s blonde hair is voluminous and bouncy. The slick combover creates a completely different texture on the crown and gives contrast and an overall striking look. Combining the slick and flat texture with curly volume can work as a signature style.
50. Wavy Modern Lob
Scarlett Johansson looks radiant with her red hair in a modern lob. The lob look is perfect for everyone and is versatile and effortless for any season. To individualize this look, you can go for a colorful dye like Scarlett, or play with textures.
51. Lob Swept to One Side with Bangs
Charlize Theron’s blonde locks are smooth and are swept to one side. This side-swept look can elevate a casual outfit and provides a charming and formal aesthetic. With long bangs that come halfway down the face, the hair is instantly refreshed.
52. Wavy Chocolate Bob
This wavy bob oozes glamor and elegance with its dark chocolate color and gentle waves. The uneven and choppy ends create shape but also give the illusion of thick hair. Anne Hathaway manages to use this low up-keep style at a formal event.
The Best Medium Length Hairstyles for Your Face Shape
One of the most important factors to consider when deciding on a style is your face shape. Be sure that it can help minimize the features that you find unflattering and compliment and bring out the good ones. Women with round faces can elongate their face by putting more volume on the crown as it can give the illusion of length to your face to make it look more oval.
Opting for a middle parting is also a great idea as it can make your face look slimmer and decrease its width. Bangs may not be necessary, however, if you have a large forehead then side swept bangs can look great and give you the option to hide your forehead or reveal parts of it.
Longer layers also have the elongating and slimming effect and are perfect for those who are interested in going shorter but aren’t ready to give up the long hair look.
If you have a square-shaped face then having curls and softer layers work best for your face shape. However, blunt bangs, a one-length bob, and a middle part are not advisable. Instead, you can opt for side-swept bangs.
If you have a heart-shaped face like Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Lopez, choosing a medium hairstyle can be a bit challenging. A chin-length bob can look wonderful, but in order to create more volume near the chin, curls can do the trick. Longer layers are also great since they can elongate your face.
A triangular-shaped face is quite rare. For women who have this type of face shape, the best hairstyle for you is an a-line bob as it can make your jawline look slimmer. If you go for curls, ensure they flick inwards and not out since it may make your face look wider.
One of the most versatile shapes for hair is the oval face shape. If you’re lucky enough to have this face shape then you are likely to rock any hairstyle that you want! A shorter chin-length bob with soft bangs can certainly attract some attention, while blunt bangs are also excellent if they reach just above the brow.
Women who have oblong or rectangular face shapes might have a more androgynous or masculine structure to their faces. However, there are beautiful celebrities who have this face shape, for instance, Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Having a chin-length bob with the ends flipped out also complements this face shape.
Ready to make the cut to medium?
Using feminine textures and blunt bangs or wispy bangs to lessen the length of the face is always a good idea when you are going to make the cut (or grow) to medium-length hairstyles. Hopefully, we have provided you with enough information and inspiration for you to decide to go with this trending haircut for women.
What medium length hairstyles have you seen so far that you are interested in trying? With medium length hair, you can style it just like longer locks by creating soft waves using your curling iron or applying coconut oil on your hair to make it soft and manageable, making it easier to style.
Raissa Diaz started out as a hairstylist for a long time before she started this blog. Her fascination for hair and braids started when she was only 4 years old, in a salon just around the corner on top of where they lived. She first started braiding away at her six sisters at home and soon she was asked to start helping in the salon. Now, she is here to share the knowledge that she gained over the past 20 years with you, through Beautified Designs!
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