12 Trendy Medium Hairstyles For Dark-Skinned Women

From bobs to braids, you can now make a fashion statement with these trendy hairstyles.

Reviewed by Casey Simmons, Curly Hair Expert
Written by Jyotsana Rao, BE
Edited by Shatabdi Bhattacharya, BSc
Fact-checked by Pahul Nanra, BA (English Hons)  • 

Dark skin looks so beautiful. It highlights your facial features, like eye color, and has a natural glow. So, we have listed amazing hairstyles for dark skin to accentuate your face shape and hair type. From bobs, topknots, ponytails to braids, keep reading to find versatile hairstyles for people with dark skin.

Scroll down to learn how to achieve those styles.

protip_icon Before You Get Started
  • All haircuts and styles can go with dark skin, provided they suit the face shape first.
  • For naturally kinky hair, keep chemical and heat styling minimum as natural curls are damage prone.
  • Your skin undertone is important when considering hair coloring options. If you have warm undertones, go for vibrant colors. For cool undertones, ashy shades are ideal.
  • Metallic hair accessories give a beautiful contrast against dark skin. Use gold, silver, and rose gold hair accessories to your advantage.

1. Asymmetrical Blunt Lob

Asymmetrical Blunt Lob1
Image: Shutterstock

Thandie Newton grabs everyone’s attention with this black asymmetrical blunt lob. She slays this razor-sharp ultra-chic cut with boldness and style This edgy hairstyle softens the cheekbones and complements her sultry makeup perfectly.

2. Sleek Low Ponytail

Sleek Low Ponytail1
Image: Shutterstock

This sexy diva is always on top of her hair game. We absolutely love how JLo effortlessly sports this slicked-back ponytail with grace and confidence. This versatile hairdo paired with a power suit or a plunging neckline gown will definitely make you stand out from the crowd.

3. Shaggy Bob

Shaggy bob hairstyle for dark skin tones
Image: Getty

Actress Halle Berry turned heads at the Golden Heart Awards with her gorgeous, shaggy, medium-length bob. We adore her mix of warm highlights and lowlights, and the subtle texture of her mid-length beachy waves. The American actress sports a soft middle partition with the extra volume that accentuates her facial features.

protip_icon Quick Tip
Since Shaggy Bob needs to appear voluminous, spray some dry shampoo on your scalp or use a texturizing spray before styling your hair.

4. Side Braids

Hairstyle for dark skin tones with side braids
Image: Getty

Recording artist Vaja keeps it simple with her version of side braids on her shoulder-length hair. She sports a stylish hair pin that gives her hairdo a touch of bling, and we love how the rest of her hair is left open.

5. Topknot

Topknot hairstyle for dark skin tones
Image: Getty

Actress Thandie Newton looks super sexy when she shows off her curls. Having said that, this curly hairstyle she rocked at the premiere of Good Deeds is chic and contemporary, and a perfect hairstyle for you to keep cool in summers. Make use of bobby pins, soft hair ties and hairspray to keep your hair secure without causing any breakage or damage.

protip_icon Quick Tip
The temple area for this hairstyle needs to be clean. You may use a spoolie brush and hair gel to lay the edges for some extra oomph or just sweep the baby hair behind.

6. Low Side Bun

Low side bun hairstyle for dark skin tones
Image: Getty

The vivacious Jordin Sparks looks smoldering hot with her loose low side bun. Easy to recreate and good to look at, to achieve this messy look pull a few strands of your hair loose from your bun at the back. The singer contrasted her undone low-slung bun with minimal makeup and plump lips, the perfect accompaniment to her Oleg Cassini dress.

7. Pumped-Up Ponytail

Ponytail hairstyle for dark skin tones
Image: Getty

We love the way Kerry Washington has rocked her pumped up ponytail at The Details premiere in California. To achieve the actress’ hairstyle, flat iron your medium-length hair to achieve a super-smooth look. Next, tease the top section and gather your hair towards the crown into a very high ponytail; secure it with a bobby pin underneath. For an extra impact, amp up yours with a high-gloss serum after it’s dry—and go.

8. Voluminous Wavy Hair

Voluminous bob cut hairstyle for dark skin tones
Image: Getty

If you are one of the lucky ones with natural thick, wavy hair, then why not let them loose? And even if you don’t, take a clue from Queen B, who looks gorgeous swapping her natural curls for some show-stealing waves – and still looks utterly gorgeous.

Curly hair expert and owner of Royal Locks Curl Care, Casey Simmons says, “You don’t need a blow out or curling iron to achieve these gorgeous Hollywood gilded age waves. Using sock buns or heatless curlers will do the trick and avoid damage that can come from heat styling. However, remember it is essential you do not use these overnight on soaking wet hair as it can cause mold to grow on your scalp.”

9. Sleek Bun

Sleek hairstyle for dark skin tones with bun
Image: Getty

We want to mimic Zoe Saldana’s 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards hairstyle right about now. Pairing her sleek, tight bun with a dewy skin and that gold accessory, the actress looked absolutely breathtaking! A high-impact hairstyle with minimum effort – a win-win situation for us! In this video, Lia presents a quick and chic solution for natural hair – the sleek low bun without the hassle of hair extensions. With a touch of practicality, she assures her audience, “This low bun is a game-changer for work, school, and even a night out (i)!”

10. Braided Ponytail

Image: Getty

Songstress Alicia Keys rocks an attention-grabbing braided ponytail at the book release of Blue Moon. Started at the crown of the head, the style looked edgy paired with a deep side parting. With hair stylishly slicked back, the style draws attention to her eyes, while her face is left to glow!

11. Straight Bob

Image: Getty

At the Fox presentation in 2014, actress Jada Pinkett Smith sported a cool, face-framing bob that complemented her Alberta Ferretti dress. Blonde ombre doesn’t always compliment darker skin, but we think Mrs. Smith has pulled it off quite elegantly. Besides, the mom-of-two chose a perfect cut to go with the shade – straight bob.

12. Crown Braid

Image: Getty

Well, hello beautiful!

Actress Rosario Dawson attended the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival with a winning crown braid. She contrasted her braids with the sleek bun, glowing complexion and peachy lips. To achieve this flattering look, braid hair on the crown before flat-ironing the rest of the hair. Use a good hairspray to keep everything in place.

Infographic: 6 Stunning Medium-Length Hairdos For Dark-Skinned Women

All those gorgeous ladies with melanin-rich, glistening skin don’t need to glam up in order to look breathtaking. That said, a little experiment with hairstyles can upscale their overall look. But if you aren’t sure what hairdos to go ahead with, fret not! We have got you covered. In the infographic below, we have listed the top 6 medium-length hairstyles for dark-skinned women. Check them out and get ready to mesmerize everyone with your new look!

6 stunning medium length hairdos for dark skinned women (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

As stated earlier, dark skin naturally highlights facial features, and you can add more definition to them by choosing the right hairstyle. From shaggy bob and side braids to sleek bun and braided ponytail, the above-listed hairstyles for dark skin are simple yet stylish and trendy. Afro hairstyles like twists, cornrows, and dreadlocks are also top hairstyles for dark-skinned women. You can also try hairstyles with fashion statements like an undercut, shaved, or colored balayage. Take a look at these hairstyles and pick the one that suits you best, depending on your face shape and hair type. If you are unsure which one to go with, you may try and take the help of a professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hairstyles for round faces with dark skin?

Textured pixie, high bun, messy side braid, high ponytail with curtain bangs, and shaggy bob are some of the best hairstyles for a round face with dark skin.

What are the best hairstyles for oval faces with dark skin?

Long layers and banged bobs are the two best hairstyles for an oval face with dark skin as this help make the face look less elongated.

What are the best hairstyles for heart-shaped faces with dark skin?

Half updos with bangs, curls with side bangs, and pulled-back updos are a few good hairstyles for the heart-shaped face with dark skin as these hairstyles help make the forehead look less broad and highlight the cheekbones.

Key Takeaways

  • Dark skin naturally enhances one’s facial features. The ideal hairdo will help accentuate it further.
  • Use hair accessories made of gold, silver, or rose gold to utilize the beautiful contrast they provide against dark skin tones to your advantage.
  • Some of the popular medium-length hairstyles for dark-skinned women include sleek low ponytail, shaggy bob, side braid, and sleek bun.

hairstyles for dark skin

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team


Experiment with 14 effortless and fashionable hairstyles specifically designed for medium-length hair shown in the video below. Check it out!

Personal Experience: Source

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