If you’ve got medium length hair, you’re honestly in the sweet spot. It’s long enough to pull off updo styles and braids, but short enough that it doesn’t take forever to dry or style. Yet somehow, a lot of people with medium length hair end up rotating through the same two or three looks on repeat — a messy bun, a basic ponytail, and wearing it down. Sound familiar?
The good news is that medium length hair — typically defined as hair that falls somewhere between the chin and the collarbone — is one of the most versatile lengths out there. You’ve got options that work for lazy Sunday mornings and black-tie events alike. Whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, thick, or fine, there’s a style that’ll actually suit you.
Below, we’ve rounded up eight of the best hairstyles for medium length hair, with real styling tips for each one so you can actually recreate them at home. Let’s get into it.
1. The Classic Lob (Long Bob)
If you’re thinking about a cut rather than just a style, the lob is basically the gold standard for medium length hair. It sits right around collarbone length and works on almost every face shape — a rounder face benefits from layers that add length, while a more angular face looks great with a blunter cut.
What makes the lob such a consistent favorite is how easy it is to style. You can wear it pin-straight with a flat iron for a polished, put-together look. You can add a slight bend with a large-barrel curling iron for something a little more relaxed. Or you can literally just let it air dry, and it’ll look intentional.
If you’ve been wearing the same length forever and want a change without going dramatically short, asking your stylist for a lob is a low-risk move. Make sure to mention whether you want blunt ends or soft layers — blunt ends tend to make thinner hair look fuller, while layers are great for removing bulk from thicker hair. Either way, this is one of those cuts that grows out gracefully, which is always a plus.
2. Beachy Waves
Beachy waves might be the single most requested style for medium length hair — and for good reason. They look effortless, they work with your natural texture, and they somehow manage to feel casual and polished at the same time.
To get the look at home, you don’t need to live near the ocean. A one-inch curling wand (not a clamp iron — a wand) is your best friend here. Wrap sections of hair around the wand in alternating directions, hold for about 10 seconds, then release and let the curl cool before touching it. Once you’ve done your whole head, shake everything out with your fingers and hit it with a light-hold salt spray or texturizing spray.
If you’ve got naturally wavy hair, you’re already halfway there. Try the “scrunch and diffuse” method — apply a curl cream or mousse to damp hair, scrunch it upward toward your scalp, then use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer on low heat. This enhances your natural wave pattern without frizz.
The key to beachy waves that look real rather than just “curled” is variation. Don’t curl every section the same way — leave a few pieces near your face straighter or wrap them differently.
3. Sleek Half-Up, Half-Down
The half-up, half-down is one of those styles that feels like it belongs on a Pinterest board but takes maybe three minutes to actually do. For medium length hair, it hits just right — you have enough length for the down portion to look intentional, but not so much that it becomes overwhelming.
For a sleek version, use a fine-tooth comb to section off the top half of your hair from the temples back. Smooth it out with a little shine serum or even a tiny bit of hair oil on your palms, then secure it with a clear elastic or a claw clip. That’s genuinely it.
For something a little more elevated, try pulling the top section into a half-up knot or a small bun instead of a ponytail. Or twist each side section before pinning them back — it takes an extra two minutes and looks way more intentional.
This style works especially well at work or for daytime outings where you want something that looks put-together without feeling fussy. It also keeps hair out of your face, which is underrated on busy days. Dress it up with gold pins or a silk scrunchie, depending on the vibe you’re going for.
4. The Low, Loose Ponytail
The ponytail gets a bad reputation for being boring, but a low, loose version is anything but. When done right, it looks intentionally relaxed and genuinely stylish — the kind of hair you’d see on someone who just came from brunch.
The trick is not to make it too perfect. Pull your hair back loosely at the nape of your neck, then secure it with an elastic. After that, gently tug at the crown to loosen it up a bit — you want a little volume there, not a flat top. Pull a few face-framing pieces out at the front and let them fall naturally.
If you want to kick it up a notch, wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it, then pin it underneath. It’s a small detail that makes the whole thing look more polished without much extra effort.
For finer hair, dry shampoo at the roots before styling adds grip and texture, which makes the ponytail actually hold. For thicker hair, you might need two elastics — one to gather, one to secure — to keep everything in place without the elastic snapping.
This is a great go-to for medium length hair because high ponytails can sometimes be tricky at this length, but the low version works every single time.
5. Curtain Bangs with Layers
If you’ve been on TikTok or Instagram in the past few years, you’ve definitely seen curtain bangs everywhere — and they’re popular for a reason. They’re soft, they’re face-framing, and they work with medium length hair better than almost any other bang style.
Curtain bangs are parted down the middle and swept to each side, framing your face without covering your forehead entirely. Unlike a blunt fringe, they don’t require constant trimming, and they blend into the rest of your hair as they grow out, which makes them much lower maintenance.
Pair them with long layers through the rest of your medium length hair, and you’ve got a combination that adds movement, dimension, and a little bit of that ’70s-inspired retro energy that never really goes out of style.
Styling-wise, a round brush and a blow dryer are your best tools. Use the round brush to sweep the bangs outward and slightly down while directing heat from the dryer — it creates that soft, curved shape that makes curtain bangs look so good. If your hair is naturally wavy, a little smoothing serum before drying helps keep it from getting frizzy.
This is one of the more commitment-level options on this list since it involves an actual cut, but most stylists say curtain bangs are one of the more forgiving bang styles to grow out if you change your mind.
6. The Textured Shag
The shag haircut has been around since the ’70s, and it keeps coming back because it genuinely works. For medium length hair, a shag adds layers, texture, and a ton of personality without requiring you to cut off a lot of length.
A shag is characterized by its choppy layers throughout — at the crown, the mid-lengths, and the ends. It usually includes some kind of fringe or face-framing layers up front. The finished result has a lot of movement and a slightly undone, rock-n-roll quality that doesn’t look messy so much as intentional.
For straight hair, a shag gets styled best with a diffuser or some scrunching with a texturizing cream to bring out any natural texture. For wavy or curly hair, the shag basically styles itself — the layers let your natural curl pattern shine through without getting weighed down.
This is one of the best hairstyles for medium length hair if you’ve got thick hair that tends to feel heavy or poofy. The layers remove bulk and make it much easier to manage. Just make sure your stylist understands the difference between a proper shag with point-cut ends and a standard layered cut — they’re not the same thing.
7. A Simple Side Braid
Braids are often thought of as a long-hair move, but a simple side braid works beautifully with medium length hair — as long as your hair reaches at least past your shoulders, you’ve got enough to work with.
A side braid is exactly what it sounds like: gather your hair to one side, split it into three sections, and braid it down to the ends. Secure it with a small elastic, then gently tug on the braid to loosen it up and make it look more relaxed. The slightly undone version almost always looks better than a tight, slick braid.
This is a fantastic option for second-day hair when you’ve got some texture and natural oils working in your favor — it makes the braid easier to do and honestly looks better than on freshly washed hair, which can be too slippery to hold its shape.
You can also dress it up with small baby’s breath flowers tucked in for weddings or events, or keep it simple for a workout or outdoor activity. A side braid keeps hair out of your face without feeling as severe as a regular ponytail, which is nice on days when you want something a little softer.
8. The Voluminous Blowout
There’s something about a good blowout that makes everything feel more put-together. For medium length hair, a voluminous blowout is one of those styles that works for literally any occasion — a date night, a job interview, a wedding, or just a Tuesday when you want to feel like yourself again.
To do it at home, start with a heat protectant spray on towel-dried hair. Then, working in sections, use a medium round brush and blow dryer together — pulling the brush downward along each section while directing the heat from root to tip. Lift the roots by directing the airflow underneath the hair while the brush lifts it up.
Finish with a cool shot of air from your dryer (most modern blow dryers have this button) — it helps set the style and adds shine. A light-hold hairspray keeps things in place without making your hair feel stiff or crunchy.
The blowout is especially great for fine or flat hair that needs some help with volume. Medium length hair is actually easier to blowout than very long hair because there’s less weight pulling everything down. Invest in a quality round brush with a ceramic or boar bristle barrel — it makes a noticeable difference in the results.
Medium length hair is genuinely one of the most flexible lengths to work with, and hopefully, these eight styles show just how much range you actually have. Whether you’re after something quick and easy for a weekday morning or something a little more polished for a night out, there’s a hairstyle here that fits.
The biggest takeaway? Don’t let yourself get stuck in a rut with your go-to style. Experimenting with different hairstyles for medium length hair doesn’t have to mean a drastic chop or a big commitment — sometimes it’s as simple as trying a new braid or picking up a texturizing spray. Start with one new style this week and see how it feels. Chances are you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.
