20 Medium Length Hair Styles Ideas That Are Breathtakingly Beautiful

20 Medium Length Hair Styles Ideas That Are Breathtakingly Beautiful

Medium length hair might be the most underrated length out there. It’s long enough to braid, curl, and pull into a ponytail, but short enough that you’re not fighting with it every time you wash and dry it. If you’ve been stuck in a styling rut or you’re thinking about chopping off a few inches, this list should give you plenty to think about.

I’ve pulled together twenty different looks that all work beautifully on medium length hair, from low-maintenance everyday cuts to styles you’d save for a special occasion. There’s something here for straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, thick hair, and fine hair alike.

Textured Lob With Curtain Bangs

This one pairs a long bob that hits somewhere between the collarbone and shoulders with soft, face-framing curtain bangs. It works on nearly every face shape because the bangs break up the forehead and the layers soften the jawline.

Fine and medium hair textures both do well here since the layers add movement without stripping away density. A round brush and a bit of heat protectant during blow-drying gets you that soft, swoopy fringe. Upkeep is moderate, mostly just regular trims to keep the bangs from growing into your eyes.

Long Shag With Feathered Layers

The shag is back, and for medium length hair it’s especially flattering. Feathered layers throughout the crown and ends give it that rock-and-roll texture that looks intentional even when it’s a little messy.

Wavy and curly hair textures practically do half the work for you here. Straight hair benefits from a texturizing spray and some finger scrunching to fake that lived-in look. This cut suits thick hair especially well since the layers remove bulk, though thinner hair can still pull it off with the right products.

Sleek Blunt Bob at the Collarbone

Sometimes simple really is better. A blunt, one-length bob that grazes the collarbone gives off a polished, modern vibe without any fuss. It’s a favorite for anyone who wants a low-maintenance style that still looks put together.

Straight and fine hair show off the blunt line best, though a flat iron can smooth out waves for special occasions. This shape tends to suit oval and heart face shapes particularly well, adding width right where you want it. A glossing treatment every few months keeps the ends looking sharp instead of split.

Wolf Cut With Wispy Bangs

The wolf cut is that mash-up of a shag and a mullet, and it’s honestly a lot more wearable than it sounds. Heavy layering around the crown creates volume up top while the ends stay choppy and undone.

Wispy bangs finish the whole thing off and add a bit of softness to what’s otherwise a pretty edgy cut. Thick and medium hair textures handle this style beautifully since there’s plenty of hair to layer into. Styling usually just means scrunching in a texture cream and letting it air dry.

Classic Middle Part Waves

There’s a reason beach waves never really go out of style. Parted down the middle and curled with a wand in alternating directions, this look feels effortless but photographs incredibly well.

It works across pretty much every hair type, though curly hair might skip the curling iron entirely and just enhance its natural pattern with a curl cream. A middle part tends to flatter oblong and square face shapes especially. Maintenance is minimal since you can go a few days without restyling if you sleep with a silk pillowcase.

Blunt Ends With Face-Framing Layers

If you love the idea of a blunt cut but want a little dimension around your face, this is the compromise. The bulk of the hair stays one length while a few face-framing pieces are cut shorter to hug the cheekbones.

This is a great option for round or oval faces since the shorter pieces create the illusion of more angles. Fine hair benefits because it keeps most of the density intact. A tiny bit of pomade smoothed over the face-framing pieces keeps them looking sleek instead of frizzy.

Voluminous Blowout Bob

This is your go-to for date night or an event where you want your hair to do a little more talking. A round brush blowout on a medium bob creates serious volume at the roots and a soft bend at the ends.

Thick and medium hair textures give you the most dramatic results, though a volumizing mousse can help thinner hair fake the effect. It suits basically any face shape since the fullness balances things out. This style does take more time to achieve, so it’s better saved for occasions rather than everyday wear.

Choppy Layers With a Side Part

A side part instantly changes the whole feel of a haircut, and paired with choppy, textured layers it gives off an effortlessly cool energy. The asymmetry from the deep side part also does a nice job slimming a rounder face.

This cut works particularly well on wavy hair since the choppiness plays into the natural texture. Straight hair can use a texturizing spray or dry shampoo to build in some grit. It’s a fairly low-maintenance option, with trims needed every couple of months to keep the layers sharp.

Glossy Straight Lob

Not every medium hairstyle needs texture or waves. A perfectly smooth, glossy lob has its own kind of quiet confidence, especially when the ends are cut blunt and polished with a flat iron.

This works beautifully on naturally straight hair, though wavy hair can be tamed with a smoothing serum and some patience. It tends to suit longer or oval face shapes since there’s nothing to soften the jaw. Regular deep conditioning is key here since shine depends on healthy, smooth cuticles.

Butterfly Cut for Medium Hair

The butterfly cut layers hair heavily around the crown while leaving the perimeter longer, creating a shape that opens up and moves like wings when you toss your head. It’s a bouncier, more dramatic take on standard layering.

Medium to thick hair shows off the layering best since there’s enough hair to create that separation. This style pairs really well with curtain bangs if you want even more face-framing softness. Styling usually involves a diffuser or round brush to encourage the layers to flip outward.

Soft Curls With a Deep Side Part

Loose, romantic curls set on a deep side part feel a little more elevated than your average curling iron look. The uneven part adds asymmetry while the curls themselves keep things soft and feminine.

This suits fine and medium hair particularly well since a curling wand can create fullness that wouldn’t otherwise be there. It flatters most face shapes, though it’s especially nice on square faces where the curls soften strong angles. A light hairspray holds the curls without weighing them down.

Tapered Neckline Bob

This bob keeps length in the front while tapering shorter toward the back, creating an angled, A-line shape. It’s a subtle but noticeable twist on the standard bob and gives the whole look more dimension.

Straight and wavy hair both show off the tapered shape nicely, and it works well on thinner hair since the graduated layers create the appearance of more volume underneath. Round and square face shapes tend to benefit most from the added length up front. Upkeep is fairly steady, with trims every six to eight weeks to maintain the taper.

Beachy Waves With Balayage

Pairing loose, undone waves with hand-painted balayage highlights gives medium hair a sun-kissed, just-back-from-vacation feel year round. The color does a lot of the visual work, adding depth even when the style itself is simple.

This combination works on almost any hair type, though it looks especially natural on wavy or curly hair. Balayage tends to suit warmer skin tones best, though your colorist can adjust the placement for cooler tones too. Maintenance is lower than traditional highlights since the grow-out looks soft rather than harsh.

Blunt Bob With Micro Bangs

For anyone feeling a little bold, pairing a sharp blunt bob with short, blunt micro bangs is a striking combination. It’s graphic, a little retro, and definitely a style that gets noticed.

This look works best on straight or slightly wavy hair since it relies on clean lines. Oval and heart-shaped faces tend to handle the shorter bangs most easily, though it can work on other shapes with the right length adjustment. Daily styling is quick, but the bangs need trimming every few weeks to stay crisp.

Half-Up Braided Style

Medium hair is honestly perfect for half-up styles since there’s enough length to braid but not so much that the braid feels overwhelming. A simple three-strand or fishtail braid pulled back from the crown keeps hair out of your face while showing off the length underneath.

This style adapts to nearly any hair texture and works whether your hair is freshly washed or a couple days old. It’s a great option for thick hair that tends to feel heavy in a full updo. A bit of texturizing spray beforehand makes the braid easier to grip and less slippery.

Soft Layers With a Center Part

This is the low-key, everyday cut that still manages to look polished. Soft, blended layers throughout add gentle movement without any dramatic shape changes, and a center part keeps things simple and symmetrical.

Fine to medium hair benefits most from the subtle layering, which prevents the ends from looking stringy. It suits oblong and heart face shapes especially well. Styling is as easy as air-drying with a light mousse or doing a quick blow-dry with a round brush.

Curly Shag for Natural Texture

Curly hair deserves cuts that actually work with its shape instead of fighting it, and a shag layered specifically for curls does exactly that. The layers reduce bulk and let each curl pattern spring up individually instead of weighing the whole thing down.

This cut is ideal for medium length curly or coily hair looking for more definition and less triangle-shaped bulk. A curl-defining cream applied to soaking wet hair, followed by air drying or diffusing, brings out the best shape. Regular trims matter more here since split ends disrupt the curl pattern quickly.

Slicked-Back Wet Look Bob

This is a bolder, more editorial option that works great for nights out. Hair is slicked straight back from the face using a strong gel, leaving the bob shape visible from the sides and back while the front stays sleek and close to the head.

It looks sharpest on straight hair, though wavy hair can be smoothed with enough product. This style tends to suit angular face shapes since it draws attention to the cheekbones and jaw. It’s more of an occasional look than a daily one given the amount of product involved.

Dimensional Lowlights on a Long Bob

Not every color update needs to be bright or dramatic. Adding lowlights a shade or two darker than your base color to a long bob creates subtle dimension and makes the whole style look richer without a big commitment.

This works well on any hair texture and is a nice option if you’re not ready for highlights or bleach. It suits cooler and neutral skin tones especially well, though a colorist can adjust the tone for anyone. Maintenance is minimal since lowlights blend into regrowth more gracefully than lighter color.

Tousled Waves With a Voluminous Crown

Closing out the list is a style built for texture lovers. Loose, tousled waves paired with extra volume at the crown give medium hair a full, effortless look that feels a little undone in the best way.

Thick and wavy hair textures create this look almost naturally, while fine hair can get there with backcombing at the roots and a texturizing spray throughout. It flatters most face shapes thanks to the balanced volume. This is an easy weekend style, quick to do and forgiving if it’s not perfectly symmetrical.

However you decide to wear it, medium length hair gives you room to experiment without committing to anything too drastic. Try one of these looks the next time you’re at the salon, or use a few as a starting point and ask your stylist to tweak the details for your specific texture and face shape. Half the fun of this length is how many different personalities it can take on.