14 Flattering Hairstyles For Medium And Shoulder Length Hair
Allow these sleek, sophisticated hairstyles to turn heads and do the talking for you!
Gabrielle WhiteMaster Cosmetologist 
Gabrielle is a Master Hairstylist and Cosmetologist with more than 10 years of experience. She graduated from Paul Mitchell School and is licensed in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. She helped to found DashStylists in 2020 and has be... more
jyotsana raoBE Experience: 4 yearsJyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup... more
madhumati chowdhuryMA (English Literature) Experience: 7 yearsMadhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through... more
manjari uppalMSc Experience: 3 yearsManjari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with over three years of experience in writing across different niches, including beauty, health, wellness, and technology. She first discovered her passion fo... more
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Neither too long nor too short, just the perfect length – that medium or shoulder-length hair. So, we picked the best medium hairstyles for women! The best part about this hair length is you can try any hairstyles that would not work on very short hair, but work on long hair; the best of both worlds.
Before You Get Started- For busy people, medium-length hair will be easy to maintain, takes less time to dry, and can be easily styled.
- It can be hard to grow or maintain long hair after your 40s. Hair becomes thinner and coarser, and damages easily. If you have thick hair, opt for a shoulder-length trim that makes you look young and is easy to maintain.
- Trim your mid-length hair once every 6-8 weeks to keep your hairstyle fresh. Get a trim after 12 weeks if you plan to get a different haircut.
- Blow dry your hair and use a round brush to keep it tamed especially if your hair has a coarse texture. Roll the ends inwards to keep it neat and frame your face.
Find half updos, jagged bobs, sleek bobs, and messy buns, a list of medium-length hairstyles right here! Read on.
In This Article
1. Deep Side-Part Wavy Lob
When air-dried, a shoulder-length lob looks excellent, but wavy ends, as seen here, really amp up the style. To recreate the style, use a small-barreled curling iron; for an even more daring variation, add a combination of highlights and lowlights. Don’t forget to apply mousse to your hair before you start curling.
2. Wet Look
The best thing about the wet look is how simple it is to do at home and how little heat is needed. All you need to do is part your hair in a side parting, backcomb the deep side of your hair, neatly comb the top, apply some gel on the top and bottom, and comb it down slick. Easy and elegant!
3. Sleek Bob
When it comes to her hairstyle, Model Natalia Vodianova is someone who will never shy away from taking risks. Rocking a sleek no-fuss bob, the hairdo works well with formal attire as it does with casual wear. Supernova’s dewy skin and minimal eyes are the perfect combo for her red outfit – we love it.
4. Jagged Bob
Scarlett Johansson – other than being our girl crush – is our new hair pin-up. Seen here rocking a jagged bob, the Avenger actress looks absolutely stunning. Her middle parting lets her blonde tresses frame her face, accentuating her green eyes. If you have a diamond face like Scarlet’s, keep your bob a little long, like above your collarbones, to avoid making your face look even longer.
Master Hairstylist from DashStylists, Gabrielle White says, “A Bob in any form is a great hairstyle indeed, it can be so versatile and suitable for all face types.”
5. Half Updo
Rocking the sexiest take on hairstyles for medium hair, Kate Mara tousles her layered cut into a half updo. The actress has given the hairstyle an off-side parting, a great texture, a cute ponytail at the back, and a gentle flick at the bottom of the head. And there’s absolutely nothing we don’t love about it.
6. Messy Fishtail
With natural tones, shiny locks, and messy fishtail braids that could win wars – Erin Richards’ hairstyle is perfect for music festivals, weddings, and parties. The Welsh actress’ caramel blonde shade makes us want to swap our hair color right away. On our way to master our plaiting skills.
7. Braids And Bangs
Actress Amy Okuda demonstrates how to be versatile with braids, soft bangs and medium-length bob in one hairstyle. Nope, we are not complaining! The perfect night out style for medium haired gals, the braids and sexy locks are full of glossy texture. We adore the bangs, which accentuates her facial features, and her thin braids on the crown – another trend that feels very 2015.
8. Braided Bun
Plainly stated, the sleek low bun looks stunning on actress Vanessa Hudgens. With the addition of the simple braid intertwined in the bun, the updo is pretty much perfect. To play copycat with this braided bun, plait your hair and wrap it around like a regular bun. The finished product? A funky yet trendy bun with plenty of details.
Did You Know?9. Swooped Side Braid
Isn’t this head of hair really something? We think so, too. Christine Teigen’s ombre wavy bob with a swooped side braid is one of the best hairdos we’ve seen. Classy and filled with edginess – the hot side-swept bangs give Christine’s bob some major boost. We’ll be taking this one to our hairdressers. Pronto!
10. High Pony
High at the back, bouffant in front, actress Kate Beckinsale’s high ponytail has taken a retro turn. To recreate this bed-head style, apply some volume serum, backcomb your hair from the top section and pull your hair up into an undone ponytail. Remember, the more flyaways, the better!
11. Wavy Side Bun
Actress Amy Adams channeled ladylike chic with a loose, sophisticated bun at the Annual Golden Globe Awards. The wavy side bun was the perfect complement to Amy’s glowing complexion, dangling earrings and strapless mermaid-style Marchesa gown. Top marks!
Quick Tip12. Messy High Bun
Actress Marion Cotillard attended the Cannes Film Festival with a winning high bun in place. The messy updo is easier than you’d think – just gather your hair into a messy bun on top of your head and cover it with elastic.
Messy low bun is another style that you can try. Christine, a YouTube vlogger, shared her go-to hairstyles for her medium-length hair. One of her favorites is the messy low bun. She explained, “This is something that I go for a lot, especially with my short hair. Even when I go work out it’s one of my favorite go-to hairstyles (i).”
13. Feathered Bob
The feathered bob is a timeless and versatile hairstyle that is characterized by soft, wispy layers which resemble the delicate feathers of a bird. This haircut typically features shorter layers that frame the face and blend into longer layers at the back. The result? A chic and textured look that adds a lot of dimension to the hair.
14. Chic Medium Shag
The chic medium haircut is making waves in modern hairstyling with its wild layers and laid-back coolness. Its choppy and unblended layers give the illusion of thicker, more voluminous hair. This trendy cut is perfect for those who prefer volume in their hair but do not want to grow it out.
Infographic: Benefits Of Medium And Shoulder-Length Hair
We are sure the hairstyles above have already inspired you enough to have medium or shoulder-length hair. But if the thought of having to maintain the hair of this length is holding you back, we are here to help. Below is an infographic that will tell you why one should grow or cut one’s hair to this length. Scroll down to get convinced! Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Medium or shoulder-length hair has been trendy for decades. According to fashion critics and enthusiasts, it is the ultimate not-too-short, not-too-long haircut. The ends of your hair are usually cut at your upper arms or collarbones in a medium cut. This medium length hairstyle is appropriate for many hair textures and hair types, like curly, wavy, straight, and natural hair. It is also more low-maintenance than long hair and suits all facial shapes. Check out these lovely and fashionable hairstyles for medium length hair to gain ideas for your next salon visit.
Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Should medium-length fine hair be layered?
Light and long feathers are suitable for medium-length fine hair. However, avoid overlaying or layers with feathered ends as that can make the hair look sparse.
Which haircut is best for thin medium length hair?
There are a number of haircuts that suit thin medium-length hair such as layered lob, shag with razored ends, face-framing layered cut, a blunt lob, deep side part, and interior layers.
What length is considered medium hair?
Medium-length hair typically refers to hair strands that reach from the shoulder to the armpits. Depending on the type of hair, it can be anywhere between 12 to 18 inches for straight hair and around 24 inches for curly hair.
Key Takeaways
- Medium-length hairstyles are versatile and offer plenty of styles to choose from.
- Hairstyles such as the sleek bob, jagged bob, and chic medium shag are ideal for those who have short medium-length hair.
- Hairstyles such as the deep-side parted wavy lob, messy fishtail braid, and braided bun, are great for those with longer, medium-length hair.
- Adding bangs to medium or shoulder-length hair helps accentuate the facial features and give more texture and edge to the hairstyle.
Unlock the versatility of your medium-length hair with the captivating hairstyles displayed in the video below. Plus, learn a genius claw clip hack if you have thick hair. Elevate your look and embrace your hair’s beauty like never before!
Personal Experience: Source
StyleCraze's articles are interwoven with authentic personal narratives that provide depth and resonance to our content. Below are the sources of the personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Favorite Ways To Style Medium Short Hair (SUPER EASY) | With / Without Heathttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZBfC9R9GJ8
