Medium length hair is such a versatile length that suits most face shapes and allows for ample styling options.
If you’re looking for a new hairstyle that is on-trend for this season, medium length cuts are a great option.
There are so many chic and modern medium hairstyles to consider from bobs to shags to layered looks.
For each hairstyle, we will go in-depth on how to style it, what face shapes it flatters, and tips to achieve the look.
Medium length hair is a fabulous option for those who want flexibility in styling without the maintenance of very long locks.
Let’s get started on the hottest medium length hair inspiration!
The Classic Lob
Let’s start with a timeless medium length style that never goes out of fashion – the lob or long bob.
Lobs are characterize by hair that falls anywhere from your collarbone to just brushing your shoulders.
It’s longer than a traditional bob but with a blunt cut finish rather than layers.
Lobs are universally flattering for all face shapes but look especially gorgeous on oval and heart shaped faces.
The key to perfecting this look is choosing a length that compliments your face shape.
If you have a very round face, keep the length on the longer side near your collarbones.
Those with square shaped faces look great with slightly shorter lobs hitting at the jawline to soften angles.
A major pro of the lob is its versatility.
You can create a sleek and polished look by blow drying it straight.
Use a round bristle brush to smooth the ends under slightly for a modern feel.
Lobs also look beautiful with beachy, tousled waves.
To get this textured look, apply a sea salt spray to damp hair before blow drying.
Once dry, use a curling iron to add loose waves concentrating on mid-lengths and ends.
Finish the undone style with a spray wax to keep the waves in place.
For special occasions, you can amp up your lob with bouncy curls or a half up style.
The lob is a perfect cut for those who want a stylish wash-and-go look.
The length is much easier to manage than very long hair.
You can let your natural texture shine through whether it be straight, wavy or curly.
The blunt cut finish gives the lob a fresh look that pairs well with casual or formal attire.
It’s truly one of the most versatile medium hairstyles.
Shaggy Layers
If you’re looking for a medium length cut that is sexy, textured and full of volume – the shag is for you.
This retro-inspired style has made a major comeback and is one of the top hair trends this season.
The shaggy layered look is all about creating as much natural volume and movement as possible.
It’s generally characterized by choppy, face-framing layers with plenty of layering throughout the back as well.
When getting a shag cut, communicate to your stylist that you want to create volume and movement not just layers.
Keep the layers longer in the front to allow for sexy curtain bangs you can style messy or sleek.
Layers in the back should be cut at different lengths to get that natural volume.
Go for a razored look with haphazard ends rather than blunt cuts throughout.
Styling your shaggy layers is key to maximizing volume.
Apply volumizing mousse when hair is wet and blow dry upside down to get lift at the roots.
Use your fingers to tousle sections adding texture.
Styling products like sea salt spray or dry wax spray will help enhance separation between the choppy layers.
To boost volume at the crown, flip your head over and lightly tease the roots before flipping back up.
Let your shag be free with loose, natural texture and movement.
Avoid anything too precise like tight curls or too smooth.
An edgy shag with bangs is perfect for heart shaped faces as the layers frame and soften angles.
Soft, side-swept bangs draw attention downward balancing round faces.
Oval faces look beautiful with shags as well.
Have fun going shorter with cropped shags or maximizing length for collarbone grazing texture.
70s Feathered Layers
Channel vintage 70s glam with a feathered layered medium haircut.
This look features layers that Gradually get longer from top to bottom creating soft, sweeping movement.
The longest layers cascade over shoulders and collarbones with face-framing fringe around the eyes.
Feathered layers are all about looking effortlessly chic.
When getting this style, opt for longer curved layers that start framing the cheekbones.
Ask your stylist to cut face-framing fringe just above or at eyebrow level for a retro yet modern look.
Layers in the back should angle down starting just below the crown.
Keep the layers on the longer side, avoiding anything too short and choppy.
The sweeping movement is created by the graduation of the layers.
Blowdrying is crucial for creating that feathered Texture.
Use a large round brush to sweep sections from roots to ends.
Roll brush under as you get to ends to encourage the layers to sweep back.
The longer top layers will naturally lay over the shorter underneath sections creating feathered movement.
Add waves and bounce with a large barrel curling iron.
Avoid anything too small as tight curls will disrupt the soft layered look.
The gently curved lines of feathered layers are ideal for softening square face shapes.
A side part works well for rounder faces to add length.
Oval and heart shaped faces look gorgeous with feathered fringe grazing the eyes.
Play with part placement and fringe length until you find the most flattering fit.
Have fun channeling your inner Farrah Fawcett in this totally retro medium hair look!
Textured Inverted Bob
For a modern take on the classic bob, try an inverted or graduated bob.
This look features stacked layers in the back cut shorter to longer as you move up toward the front.
The sleek inverted style allows for lots of movement and texture.
It’s a flattering medium length option for those looking for something both polished and eye-catching.
When getting an inverted bob cut, ask for an angled stacked look in the back with shorter layers curving in toward the neck.
Keep the front and top layers longer, near the collarbones to add movement.
The graduating lengths in the back remove bulk for fine or thin hair types.
For thicker manes, keep the layers on the longer side to avoid taking out too much density.
Blowdrying upside down encourages volume with lift at the roots.
Use a round brush to smooth the front pieces encouraging them to sweep forward.
The inverted layers in the back will add shape and movement as they fall.
For sleek styling, keep it smooth with a straight look.
Or add waves, curls and messy texture for an undone vibe.
The inverted bob works well for oval and heart shaped faces, adding angles with the stacked layers.
Keep the front long and sideswept for round faces to elongate.
Square and diamond faces look great with an angled bob hitting near the chin.
Play with an asymmetrical side part to soften angles on boxy face shapes.
There are so many ways to personalize the inverted bob to flatter your features.
The Tousled Midi Bob
For effortless elegance, the tousled midi bob is a gorgeous medium length option.
Midi bobs taper just above the shoulders which is often the most universally flattering length.
The tousled style features added texture for a relaxed vibe.
It’s great for those who want low maintenance medium locks with minimal styling needed.
Ask your stylist for a cut that hits 1-2 inches below the chin/jawline and tapers slightly longer toward the front.
Keep the ends blunt but ask for some subtle face framing layers around eyes.
Avoid anything too choppy which would disrupt the smooth styling.
For fine or thin hair, add layers throughout the back to remove bulk.
The key is embracing your natural texture whether it be straight, wavy or curly.
Let your hair air dry or lightly blow dry with a diffuser attachment.
Finger style mid-lengths and ends breaking up the hair.
If your hair is straight, add soft bends with a curling iron.
Use styling cream to define waves and curls.
Finish with a mattifying spray wax to add texture and separation.
The goal is relaxed, natural movement.
The midi length flatters oval, long and heart shaped faces.
The chin grazing cut softens square jaws.
The sideswept styling helps downplay wider cheekbones on round faces.
Part it is the middle for diamond faces to add symmetry.
Make it your own by playing with part placement and curl direction.
The tousled midi bob is chic, refined and effortless.
Rooty Balayage Lob
For a modern take on highlights, ask your colorist for hand-painted rooty balayage.
This look features natural looking babylights concentrated at the roots and mid-lengths.
Strategically placed highlights help frame the face.
Rooty balayage adds dimension while looking low maintenance and understated.
It’s the perfect way to enhance any medium length cut.
The key is concentrating the highlights at the root area and avoiding any foily chunky strips.
Your colorist will hand-paint fine babylights following the shape of your cut to look natural.
The closer the highlights originate at the root, the more rooted the look.
The babylights seamlessly melt into your base for a sophisticated look.
Have your colorist add slightly more intense highlights around your face.
A subtle pop of brightness around the eyes and cheekbones will help lift your complexion.
The rooty money pieces as they’re called are strategically placed.
Avoid putting babylights only in the front which can look unnatural.
The most flattering balayage has dimension all around.
The beauty of rooty balayage is that your regrowth blends beautifully.
As your natural color grows in, it creates a root shadow effect.
This makes touch ups much lower maintenance than traditional highlights.
Treat your highlighted locks with a purple shampoo to fight brassiness as tone can shift on lightened hair.
Schedule a gloss every 4-6 weeks to refresh your look.
Layered Curly Lob Haircut
Embrace your natural texture by getting a layered cut tailored to your curl pattern.
Curly lobs are shaped to enhance and encourage natural curl formation.
Layers remove weight allowing curls to pop while face framing pieces flatter.
If you have naturally wavy or curly hair, a layered lob is a fantastic medium length option.
Look for a stylist experienced in cutting curly textures.
Explain the curl pattern of your hair and areas prone to frizz.
Ask for face-framing layers cut to complement your bone structure.
Layers in the back should taper to the neck removing bulk.
Avoid blunt cuts which encourage curls to clump into a triangular shape.
Internal layers will encourage defined curl formation.
A curly cut is all about cutting your hair dry to see the natural texture and curl pattern.
This allows the stylist to tailor the shape optimally.
Refrain from tying your hair up for several days pre-haircut so curls are untethered.
Explain your usual routine and styling preferences to your stylist.
At home care is key to maximizing your curly cut.
Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to counter dryness from layering.
When hair is soaking wet, apply a curl cream focusing on mid-lengths and ends.
Let your hair air or diffuse dry encouraging the curls into place with your fingers.
Finish with an oil on the ends for frizz control and high shine.
Your tailored curly lob will enhance your gorgeous natural texture.
Shoulder Length Shag with Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are one of the biggest hair trends and look amazing paired with shaggy layers.
This medium haircut features bangs swept to one side of the face that seamlessly blend with the layers throughout.
It’s a great style for adding movement and frame to medium length locks.
When getting this cut, ask your stylist for eye grazing bangs angled from the arch of one brow down to the opposite side.
The length near the eyes should hit at cheekbone level or longer to create that sweeping curtain effect.
Face-framing layers on both sides will incorporate the bangs for a seamless blend.
For the shag layers, go for lots of choppy texture keeping the length near the collarbones.
Layers will remove bulk and encourage natural volume and movement.
Ask for them to be cut shorter in the back tapering down to the neck.
Keep the top and sides longer to create that coveted shaggy effect.
Blow drying technique is key to bringing this look to life.
Use a paddle brush to sweep the bangs across the forehead at an angle and blow them under to curve toward the face.
Lift hair at the roots with a round brush aiming the crown area up and forward.
Scrunch mid-lengths and ends with fingers as you blow dry to maximize texture.
The side-swept bangs are incredibly flattering for wider forehead shapes and will soften round face shapes.
They work well with heart, oval and diamond face shapes too.
Make it your own by choosing the side you sweep your fringe and layers towards.
This medium length cut is sexy, touchable and full of volume.
The Piece-y Pixie Cut
If you’re ready to go shorter, the piece-y pixie is a chic medium length option.
These modified pixies feature tapered sides and back blended with longer, choppy layers on top.
The mix of short and long creates lots of texture for a modern look that’s anything but boring.
Ask your stylist for closely tapered sides and back with subtle tapering.
Keep the top layers long, near eyebrow length, allowing for playful styling options.
The top layers should be heavily texturized with notching and point cutting.
The more the long layers on top are texturized, the more piece-y the final look will be.
Have fun styling your piece-y pixie in different ways day to day.
Tousle the longer fringe forward and upward for lots of height.
Or sweep them off the face for a super sleek look.
Play with parting the longer layers in opposite ways.
Use wax or putty to add definition as needed.
The shorter sides and back serve as the perfect foundation for showcasing edgy top layers.
The pixie length is ideal for oval and heart shaped faces to draw focus to gorgeous bone structure.
Those with round faces can create the illusion of length with volume on top.
Square shapes benefit from closely cropped sides to soften angles.
Have fun going super short on the undercut area or experimenting with fun colors!
Chin Length Textured Chop
The textured chop describes any medium length bob that has been heavily texturized.
This look features lots of point cutting and razoring to remove bulk and boost volume.
The chin length cut provides the perfect foundation for showcasing edgy, shattered ends.
Embrace your inner rocker chic with this rebellious layered look!
To achieve the textured look, ask your stylist to point cut and heavily razor the ends.
Avoid blunt lines which would minimize texture.
The more your stylist can remove bulk by slicing into the ends, the more shattered the effect.
Have them break up the silhouette with short layers around the crown to build volume.
Ruffle your textured chop into place with your fingers as you blow dry.
Add definition by applying styling wax, spray wax or texture spray.
Style it smooth and sleek one day for office polished.
The next day, spike up the ends or do a faux hawk.
You can also embrace the natural texture of your hair.
The textured chop works with straight, wavy or curly locks.
This versatile cut works well with most face shapes.
The chin length is perfect for balancing roundness in full, wide faces.
The heaviness removed from point cutting minimizes wide jawlines on square shapes.
The volume at the crown elongates oval and heart shaped faces.
Feel edgy, artsy and express yourself with a textured chop!
Angled Medium-Length Cut for Thin Hair
If you have fine or thin hair, consider an angled medium cut to create the illusion of fullness.
Angled bobs and lobs remove bulk at the ends while building volume at the crown.
The angle creates shape while lighter layers on top provide lift.
With the right cut and styling, thin hair can look incredibly full and lush.
Ask your stylist to keep the length in front grazing your collarbones and angling shorter to the back.
Avoid any blunt lines which will flatten and separate thin strands.
Keep the back just above shoulder length and lightly layer the top and sides.
Too much layering can make thin hair look limp.
Volumizing products will help plump strands for a thicker look.
Use mousse on damp hair when styling and blow dry with a round brush lifting up and back.
Direct the airflow up the roundness of your head creating lots of volume at the crown.
Add waves for texture that makes hair appear fuller.
Avoid heavy oils and conditioners than can weigh down fine strands.
Go for soft, touchable texture and bounce.
The cut works beautifully with oval faces to add angles.
Round faces benefit from the length kept near the chin with volume directed up and back.
Heart shapes flatter with angled ends drawing the eye downward.
Square and diamond faces look lovely with collarbone length layers adding softness around the jaw.
Adapt the techniques and you can fake a lush mane of hair!
Effortless Medium Wavy Hair with Babylights
Healthy, bouncy waves are a gorgeous look for medium length hair.
Add dimension with a full head of babylights for a uplifting style that appears effortless.
Airy waves paired with lightened layers result in a showed stopping look that works for day or night.
If you have naturally wavy hair, embrace it with this textured cut and color.
The subtle color will provide the illusion of fuller, thicker hair.
Concentrate the babylights heavily around the face for brightening dimension.
Have your stylist cut in longer layers to encourage soft waves and movement.
Let your hair air dry or diffuse gently scrunching mids and ends.
Use a wave enhancing cream scrunched through damp hair.
Once dry, further define the waves by wrapping 2 inch sections around a curling wand.
Alternate curl direction to build texture.
Break waves up throughout the hair with your fingers for that perfect lived-in look.
Finish with a few spritzes of dry texture spray focusing on the ends for separation and hold.
The soft babylights will catch and reflect light beautifully in the waves.
Your gorgeous, natural texture takes center stage in the effortlessly chic style.
Long Angled Bob For Thick Hair
Women blessed with abundantly thick hair can keep their locks medium length to avoid bulky heaviness.
A long angled bob is the perfect way to slim and streamline very thick manes.
The inverted angle removes excess bulk while layers lighten up top.
Strategic layering allows thick hair to feel manageable and bouncy.
Ask your stylist to cut the front longer, near your collarbones, with an inverted angle tapering to above shoulder length in back.
Keep the layers in the back and sides on the longer side to avoid over-thinning very thick hair.
Layers on top and around the face should be cut to about chin length to encourage bounce.
Blow dry using a paddle brush to sleek the top layers down keeping volume directed back and down.
Flip your head over while blow drying to lift the roots creating volume that lasts.
Use smoothing serum or oil if your thick hair tends to frizz.
Add waves with a curling iron or flat iron for extra polish and movement.
The angled shape works well for square, round and oval face shapes balancing fullness and proportions.
Heart shapes look gorgeous with face framing fringe and layers.
Ask for a center or deep side part on diamond faces to add symmetry to balance your features.
Mastering a thick head of hair is easy with the right medium length cut!
Embrace natural texture with curly or wavy looks or go smooth and sleek.
Frame your best features with precision face framing fringe or curtain bangs.
Add dimension with hand-painted babylights and balayage.
Find the combination that makes you feel most confident and beautiful!
Your stylist can guide you in selecting a medium length cut that flatters your facial features, hair type and density.
Share photos of styles you love to communicate the elements you want incorporated.
Schedule regular maintenance from trims to gloss treatments to keep your hair healthy and enhanced.
With the right cut and care, medium length hair is endlessly versatile.
