20 Medium Length Hairstyles Ideas That Are Breathtakingly Beautiful

20 Medium Length Hairstyles 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 sitting under a blow dryer for an hour. If you’ve been on the fence about chopping off a few inches or growing out a pixie, this list should give you plenty of reasons to love the in-between length. Here are 20 medium length hairstyles ideas that are breathtakingly beautiful, no matter your hair type or face shape.

Soft Layered Lob

The lob (long bob) with soft layers is basically the little black dress of medium hairstyles. It hits somewhere between the collarbone and shoulders, with layers that remove bulk without sacrificing length.

This one works beautifully on round and oval faces, and it’s forgiving for both fine and thick hair. Fine-haired girls get the illusion of volume, while thick-haired girls get some much needed weight removal.

Style it with a round brush for a bit of bend at the ends, or let it air dry for a more relaxed vibe. Maintenance is low; you can go three to four months between trims and still look put together.

Curtain Bangs With Face-Framing Layers

Curtain bangs have stuck around for a reason. Parted down the middle and swept to either side, they soften the face and add instant movement to medium hair.

They’re especially flattering on square and heart-shaped faces, since the bangs break up strong angles. Wavy and straight hair textures both take to curtain bangs easily.

A quick blast with a round brush in the morning keeps them bouncy. If you’re not into daily styling, a texturizing spray can rough them up for a lived-in look instead.

Textured Shag

The shag is choppy, a little messy, and full of personality. Heavy layering throughout the crown and ends gives it that rock-and-roll texture that never quite lays flat, which is exactly the point.

Thick and wavy hair types tend to love this cut most because the natural texture does half the work. Oval and long face shapes look especially good with the extra width the layers create.

A texturizing spray or sea salt spray brings out the piecey ends. It needs trims every eight to ten weeks to keep the shape from growing out into something shapeless.

Blunt Bob With A Deep Side Part

Sometimes simple really is better. A blunt, one-length bob paired with a deep side part feels sleek and a little editorial without trying too hard.

This shape suits straight or slightly wavy hair best since the blunt ends show off best without added texture. It’s a great option for anyone with fine hair who wants the ends to look thicker.

Flat iron the lengths for a glassy finish, or let a few soft waves through for something less severe. Because the ends are blunt, regular trims every six to eight weeks matter more here than with layered cuts.

Beachy Waves With Long Layers

If your hair has natural wave already, this cut practically styles itself. Long, face-framing layers cut into a medium length base let beachy waves fall with movement instead of sitting flat.

Wavy and curly textures shine here, though straight hair can fake the look with a curling wand. Almost every face shape can wear this one, which is part of why it’s such a popular request in the salon chair.

A sea salt spray on damp hair enhances the natural texture. It’s low maintenance overall, and grows out gracefully since there’s no harsh line to maintain.

Sleek Straight Lob With Glossy Finish

There’s something satisfying about pin-straight hair with a serious shine. This version of the lob skips the layers almost entirely and focuses on a smooth, glass-like finish instead.

It looks incredible on straight or loosely wavy hair, and works well for oval and heart-shaped faces since the length hits at a flattering point near the jaw or collarbone.

A flat iron and a shine serum are your best friends here. Because there’s less texture to hide split ends, plan on trims every six weeks to keep it looking crisp.

Feathered Layers With Volume At The Crown

This look pulls inspiration from a bit of a retro moment, with feathered, wing-like layers around the face and lift at the crown. It reads as glamorous without feeling costume-y.

Medium to thick hair holds the feathered shape best. It’s a flattering choice for round faces since the volume at the crown elongates things a little.

Round brush blow-drying is key for this one, working the layers outward as you dry. A light-hold mousse at the roots keeps the crown volume from falling flat by midday.

Wolf Cut

The wolf cut is a mashup of a shag and a mullet, with choppy layers up top and more length left at the bottom. It’s edgy, a little unpredictable, and genuinely fun to style.

Thick and wavy hair textures make this cut look effortless, though fine hair can wear it too with the right layering. Oval and heart-shaped faces tend to handle the volume up top especially well.

A texturizing paste worked through dry hair brings out the choppy ends. Trims every two to three months keep the shape intentional rather than just grown out.

Blunt Cut With Curtain Bangs

Pairing a blunt, no-layer cut with soft curtain bangs is a nice contrast of structure and softness. The body of the cut stays clean and geometric while the bangs add movement around the face.

This combination flatters square and long face shapes especially well. Straight and lightly wavy hair textures show off the blunt ends best.

Style with a flat iron for polish, or add loose waves for something a bit more relaxed. Keep bang trims on a four to six week schedule so they don’t grow into your eyes.

Voluminous Blowout Bob

This one is all about body. A rounded, voluminous blowout bob relies on layering underneath to create lift and bounce rather than a flat, straight-down shape.

Fine hair benefits enormously from this style since the blowout technique fakes thickness. It also suits most face shapes thanks to the adjustable volume.

A round brush and a volumizing mousse at the root are essential tools here. It’s a bit more high-maintenance day to day, though the cut itself only needs trimming every ten to twelve weeks.

Butterfly Cut

The butterfly cut layers hair heavily around the face while keeping length and fullness in the back, so it opens up like wings when you move. It’s become a favorite for anyone wanting major movement without going short.

Thick and medium-density hair textures show off the layering best, and it flatters round and square faces by softening the jawline. Wavy hair especially brings out the “fluttering” effect the cut is named for.

A diffuser or loose curling technique enhances the shape. It does require more frequent trims, around every eight weeks, to keep the layers from blending into a shapeless mass.

Chin-Length Bob With Textured Ends

A shorter bob that skims the chin, finished with pointy, textured ends instead of a blunt line, feels modern and a little playful. It’s a great way to test a shorter length without committing to something razor-sharp.

Straight and fine hair types tend to like this one because the texturizing keeps things from looking too severe. Round and oval faces both wear this length comfortably.

Use a texturizing spray or wax on the ends for that piecey finish. Trims every five to six weeks keep the shape from softening into an ordinary bob.

Long Layers With Money Piece Highlights

Sometimes the cut stays simple and the color does the talking. Long, subtle layers paired with a money piece (bright highlights framing the face) bring dimension without a full head of color.

This works on nearly every hair texture and length within the medium range. Fair and medium skin tones tend to see the most contrast from the highlight placement, though a colorist can adjust the shade for any skin tone.

Style as usual with your preferred method, whether that’s waves or straight. The layers need standard trims every ten to twelve weeks, while highlights typically need refreshing every three to four months.

Tousled Lob With Undone Waves

This is the “I woke up like this” hairstyle, even though it usually takes a few minutes of actual effort. A lob cut with undone, tousled waves feels relaxed and a bit French-girl coded.

Wavy and curly hair textures are naturals for this look. It’s flattering across most face shapes since the waves soften whatever the bone structure is doing.

A texturizing spray scrunched into damp hair, then air-dried or diffused, gets you there. It’s genuinely low maintenance, both in daily styling and in terms of trim frequency.

Rounded Bob With Middle Part

A rounded, slightly angled bob with a clean middle part has a soft, almost doll-like quality. It’s a sweet, polished option that reads as put-together with barely any effort.

Straight to slightly wavy hair suits this shape well, and it flatters oval and heart faces particularly nicely. A middle part balances features symmetrically, which is worth keeping in mind if you usually part to the side.

A flat iron smooths the ends under for that rounded shape. Trims every six to eight weeks keep the curve from growing out into a longer, shapeless line.

Choppy Layers With Wispy Bangs

Wispy, see-through bangs paired with choppy layers throughout give off an effortlessly cool energy. The bangs are light enough to not feel heavy, and the layers keep the rest of the hair from feeling flat.

Fine and medium hair textures both work well here, since the choppy layering adds texture without needing thick hair to begin with. Long and oval faces especially benefit from the horizontal line the bangs create.

A light texturizing cream on dry hair enhances the wispiness. Bang trims every three to four weeks are needed to keep them from becoming too heavy.

Medium Length Curls With Defined Ringlets

For naturally curly hair, embracing the ringlets at a medium length can look genuinely stunning, especially with layers cut in to encourage the curl pattern to spring up rather than weigh down.

Curly and coily textures are the obvious fit here, and this style flatters oval and heart-shaped faces particularly well since the curls add width at the sides.

A curl cream applied to soaking wet hair, then air-dried or diffused, keeps definition without frizz. Trims every ten to twelve weeks help maintain the curl shape as it grows.

Asymmetrical Bob

An asymmetrical bob, cut shorter in the back and longer toward the front, adds an unexpected edge to an otherwise classic shape. It’s a good option for anyone wanting something a little different without going too dramatic.

Straight and fine hair types show off the angled line most clearly. Round and square faces tend to benefit from the elongating effect of the longer front pieces.

Flat ironing keeps the angle crisp and visible. Because the asymmetry is precise, trims every six weeks are important to maintain the intended shape.

Half-Up Braided Style

Not every entry has to be about the cut itself. A half-up style with a small braid woven through the crown works beautifully on medium length hair, since it’s long enough to braid but short enough that the style doesn’t feel overly fussy.

This works on virtually any hair texture and most face shapes, since it’s more about the styling than the cut underneath. It’s a favorite for those in-between days when hair isn’t quite clean enough for down styles.

A bit of texturizing spray before braiding gives the braid more grip. There’s no real maintenance beyond your regular trim schedule, since it’s a styling choice rather than a cut.

Blunt Lob With Balayage

Rounding out the list, a blunt lob paired with hand-painted balayage brings together clean lines and soft, sun-kissed color. The contrast between the crisp cut and the blended highlights is what makes this one so popular.

Straight and wavy textures both display the balayage nicely, and it flatters most face shapes given the adjustable length. Warmer balayage tones tend to suit medium to deep skin tones, while cooler tones often flatter fair skin, though a colorist can customize this either way.

Style straight for maximum shine or wavy to blend the color even further. The cut needs trims every eight weeks, and balayage typically gets touched up every four to six months since it grows out more gracefully than traditional highlights.

Whichever of these medium length hairstyles ideas catches your eye, bring a few photos to your stylist and talk through what will actually work with your natural texture and face shape. Medium hair really is the sweet spot for trying something new, since even a big change is never more than a few months of growing out away.