Shoulder-length hair is such a versatile length that can be styled in so many different ways.
Let’s talk today about top trendy hairstyles for shoulder-length hair right now.
For each look, we’ll go over how to achieve it, what face shapes it suits best, and tips for styling it perfectly. We’ll also suggest examples of celebrities rocking the look.
So if you feel stuck in a hair rut or just want fresh inspiration for your medium length locks, read on for 13 trendy hairstyles that will have you excited to wear your shoulder-length hair!
The Sleek and Straight Look
There’s something so chic about perfectly straight, glossy hair grazing your shoulders. It’s a polished look that works for both day and night.
To get the sleek and straight style, start by washing and drying your hair with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner.
Apply a heat protectant all over before blowing your hair dry using a round brush to get it nice and smooth.
Finish with a flat iron if needed to get rid of any remaining frizz or kinks.
The key to keeping shoulder-length hair straight is using the right styling products.
Look for anti-frizz serums and creams that contain ingredients like silicone or argan oil.
Apply it to the mid-lengths and ends of damp hair before heat styling.
A touch of hairspray at the roots also helps keep styles in place.
This simple yet glamorous look works on all hair textures and looks great on oval, long, and heart shaped faces.
Some celebs sporting it flawlessly include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, and Kerry Washington.
The Half-Up Style
Half-up hair is such a pretty way to show off shoulder-length strands.
It’s a casual but put-together style that keeps your hair out of your face while still letting it flow loosely around your shoulders.
To get the half-up look, section out the top front portion of your hair and pull it back.
Smooth any flyaways with a boar bristle brush and secure the section with a clip or elastic, leaving the ends loose.
Make sure to leave some face-framing pieces out in the front.
You can keep the half-up style simple like this or jazz it up by braiding, twisting, or teasing the pulled back section for extra volume.
Use pomade, wax, or texturizing spray to add texture and hold.
The half-up is great for square, oval, oblong, and diamond face shapes.
It works with straight, wavy, or curly hair.
Some stylish celebs rocking this trend include Selena Gomez, Emma Stone, and Camila Cabello.
The Top Knot Bun
When you need your shoulder-length hair up and out of the way but still want to look stylish, a top knot bun is the perfect solution.
To get this look, first spritz dry hair with a texturizing spray and use your fingers to tousle the locks, adding volume at the crown.
Smooth the front sections back and gather all the hair into a high ponytail atop your head.
Twist the ponytail around itself into a bun shape and secure with bobby pins.
For a messy, undone vibe, gently pull out pieces around the edges of the bun.
Or keep it sleek by smoothing flyaways and loosening a few face-framing tendrils.
Add accessories like a headband, scarf, or glasses to complement the style.
Top knot buns look amazing on oval, heart, long, and diamond face shapes.
They work equally well on straight, wavy, or curly textures.
Some stylish celebs who sport them include Rowan Blanchard, Olivia Munn, and Lucy Hale.
The Fishtail Braid
Want an elegant, eye-catching look for your shoulder-length strands?
Try a fishtail braid!
This beautiful braiding technique creates a thick, rope-like plait that plays up medium length hair.
To fishtail braid your hair, start by spritzing it with sea salt spray for texture and volume.
Take a section near the nape of your neck and split it into two even pieces.
Take a small strand from the outside of one section and cross it over into the opposite section.
Repeat, alternating sides and gradually adding more hair as you braid up towards your crown.
Secure with a tie.
For a looser, more relaxed look, gently pull the braid apart width-wise using your fingers after securing the end.
You can braid all your hair or just a portion, leaving some pieces out to frame your face.
Fishtail braids work with straight, wavy, and curly locks and look great on oval, heart, long, and diamond face shapes.
Some style icons wearing this braided trend include Kim Kardashian, Blake Lively, and Sophie Turner.
The Textured Lob
The textured lob, also known as the textured long bob, is the ultimate cool-girl cut for shoulder-length hair.
A little messy yet still chic, it’s an effortlessly stylish look.
Getting the textured lob cut is easy.
Simply ask your stylist for a blunt or slightly angled bob grazing your collarbones, with internal layering and razored ends to create movement.
This choppy silhouette adds loads of texture and body.
When styling your new lob, enhance its natural texture by applying sea salt spray to your damp strands before scrunching with a diffuser.
Finger comb for a piecey, undone finish.
You can also bump up the volume with mousse or texturizing powder.
The textured lob looks fabulous with natural waves and all face shapes, especially oval, long, heart, and diamond.
Some celebrities sporting this hot haircut include Khloe Kardashian, Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone.
The Deep Side Part
Parting your shoulder-length hair to one side creates a gorgeous framed look, with a cascade of strands falling across your face and neck.
It’s an easygoing yet glam style.
To get the look, create a deep side part from your forehead back to behind your ear.
Use the tail end of a rat tail comb to ensure your part is straight.
Style the heavier side swept across your forehead and cheekbone and tuck the other side behind your ear.
Amp up the parted style with waves or curls added to your mid-length strands and ends.
Styling products like mousse, salt spray, or pomade also help enhance texture and volume.
Frequently change up the part direction for added volume and body.
The deep side part is universally flattering and looks amazing with straight, curly, or wavy hair on oval, heart, round, and square face shapes.
Hollywood stars showcasing this trendy style include Margot Robbie, Selena Gomez, and Zendaya.
The Shoulder-Grazing Layers
Long layers are a fabulous way to lighten up shoulder-length hair and add loads of movement.
Having your haircut in long layers that cascade down your shoulders creates gorgeous dimension and natural volume.
Ask your stylist for long layers that start falling below your chin and continue down to graze your shoulders.
The layers should be seamlessly blended together, getting gradually longer towards the bottom.
Keep the shortest layers around your face for a framing effect.
Blow dry your new layered hair with a round brush, directing the sections downward to encourage the layers to turn under naturally.
Flip your head upside down and tousle with fingers to further enhance the movement.
Long layers look beautiful on all hair types, from stick straight to tight curly.
They flatter oval, long, heart and diamond face shapes.
Some celebs with fabulous shoulder-grazing layers include Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox.
The Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs have been everywhere lately, and for good reason.
This face-framing fringe is incredibly flattering with shoulder-length hair.
Curtain bangs softly shape your features while still keeping hair out of your eyes.
To get curtain bangs, ask your stylist for swoopy chin to cheekbone-length fringe that seamlessly blends into the rest of your hair on both sides.
Make sure the bangs are slightly longer in the middle and tapered thinner towards the ends.
When styling, use a round brush to sweep your new fringe off to the sides across your forehead, smoothing any frizz.
You can wear your hair down to show off the bangs or pull the rest of your hair back for a focal point up front.
Curtain bangs look amazing on oval, heart, square and oblong face shapes.
They work with straight, wavy or curly locks.
Hollywood icons rocking this look include Brigitte Bardot, Zooey Deschanel and Jessica Alba.
The Bouffant Ponytail
When you want your shoulder-length strands off your neck but still want a voluminous, eye-catching style, the bouffant ponytail is just the thing.
This glammed up pony combines a teased crown with a sleek tail.
To create a bouffant pony, mist hair with texturizing spray and tease the crown area with a comb to create major lift.
Pull hair into a smoothed back high ponytail, securing with an elastic.
To get the pouf, gently tug on the teased crown hair so it blends into the ponytail.
Finish by wrapping a section of the ponytail hair around the elastic to hide it.
Set the style with flexible hold hairspray.
For added polish and panache, curl the ponytail ends under or out with a curling iron.
The bouffant pony looks dazzling on heart, oval, round and square face shapes.
It’s ideal for straight or wavy hair and perfect for a special night out.
Some stars who have rocked this red carpet pony include Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Kristen Bell.
The Classic French Twist
The elegant French twist is a sophisticated go-to hairstyle that works beautifully on shoulder-length hair for any occasion.
This chic updo keeps all your hair in place while showing off your gorgeous neck and shoulders.
Start by brushing hair back and gathering it into a low ponytail at the nape of your neck.
Twist the ponytail up in a spiral shape towards your crown and use bobby pins to securely fasten in place.
For a looser style, leave the ends out.
For sleek sophistication, tuck the ends under.
Mist hair with firm finishing spray to smooth any flyaways or frizz.
Add dazzling hair accessories like a crystal hair comb for extra glamour.
You can also leave a few strands out in front to softly frame your face.
French twists complement oval, heart, square, and diamond face shapes.
They work equally well on straight or slightly wavy hair textures.
Timeless icons like Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Meghan Markle shine in this classic updo.
The Boho Braid Crown
Want a relaxed yet romantic look for your shoulder-length tresses?
A boho braid crown is just the thing.
Multiple braids intricately woven across your head create a whimsical flower crown effect.
Start by parting clean, damp hair down the middle.
Take a section near your hairline and divide into three pieces.
Begin a basic three-strand braid, only braiding down halfway.
Pancake the braid by gently pulling the sides to make it fuller.
Repeat, braiding sections across your entire head.
Leave the ends loose and untucked for a freer feel.
Finish by lightly pulling on the braids to loosen them and create a effortlessly undone look.
Mist with sea salt spray for texture and volume.
The boho braid crown looks enchanting on oval, heart, round, and square face shapes, complementing both straight or wavy hair.
Celebs like Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez and Lucy Hale exemplify the romantic, carefree vibe of this trendy braided style.
The Shoulder-Skimming Curls
Big, bouncy curls that hit right at your shoulders are such a fun, voluminous look for medium length hair.
This playful curly style shows off your hair’s natural texture while pumping up the volume.
Start by washing and conditioning with curl-enhancing products.
Work a nourishing curl cream through damp strands from roots to ends.
Diffuse hair upside down, scrunching as you go to encourage curl formation.
Or let air dry.
Once hair is fully dry, gently rake your fingers from scalp to shoulders to break up any uniform ringlets.
Carefully separate larger curls into thinner spirals for extra fullness and definition.
Finish with a curl refreshing spray to hold the shoulder-skimming shape and add shine.
Finger comb for a soft, touchable texture.
These touchable curls look fabulous on oval, round, heart and square faces.
Curly hair divas like Lorde, Tracee Ellis Ross and Yara Shahidi rock this youthful curly look flawlessly.
The Middle Part Lob
The middle part lob – a collarbone-grazing long bob parted down the middle – is an ultra chic look for shoulder length hair.
This straight haircut exudes Parisian girl vibes with its minimalist styling.
Ask your stylist for a blunt cut lob that falls between your chin and collarbones.
For smooth swing, make sure the ends are all one length.
Add in some short face framing layers around your cheekbones.
Style your new lob with a centre part, using the edge of a rat tail comb to ensure it’s straight from forehead to crown.
Apply smoothing serum through the lengths and ends and blow dry straight down.
Tuck both sides evenly behind your ears.
This mod haircut works beautifully with straight or wavy hair on oval, heart, diamond and long face shapes.
Its shiny, sleek texture is perfect for thick or thin hair.
Fashion icons like Alexa Chung, Lucy Boynton and Rooney Mara dazzle in this trendy parted lob.
Shoulder-length hair is such an adaptable hair length that looks gorgeous when styled so many ways.
Having a few go-to looks along with the right styling products can help you take your medium length locks from blah to beautiful.
Changing up your part and texture frequently keeps styles fresh and fun.
Don’t be afraid to get creative – a single flatiron or curling wand can transform your hair into something new.
Most importantly, choose flattering styles that enhance your hair’s natural texture and compliment your face shape.
With so many possibilities, you’ll never get bored rocking your shoulder-length hair!
Experiment until you find your favorite looks that make you feel confident and beautiful.
Your hair will thank you.
