medium length hair with waves
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Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair: The Ultimate Guide to Stunning Looks

Medium length hair is the perfect balance between short and long hair, offering versatility and style without being too difficult to manage. In this guide, we’ll explore various hairstyles for medium length hair that are easy to achieve, trendy, and suitable for any occasion, a few celebrity examples who switched from long hair to medium-length hair and i’ll show you my fav hairstyling for medium length hair step by step in a video. It’s worth watching both for at-home styling and for professional use in the salon.

medium length hairstyles

Whether you’re looking for simple hairstyles, cute hairstyles for medium hair, or trendy cuts like the butterfly haircut or curtain bangs, we’ve got you covered.

  • medium length hair 3
  • medium length hair 9
  • medium length hair bangs
  • medium length hair curly
  • medium length hair with waves

The first part is about how to style your hair if you already have medium length hair, while the second part showcases different styles to inspire you if you’re thinking about getting a haircut. At the end, you can see a few celebrity transformations.

20+ medium length hair ideas

Easy Hairstyles for Medium Length Hair

If you’re short on time but still want a polished look, these easy hairstyles for medium length hair are perfect for you:

lob haircuts from medium length hair

Loose Waves

Use a curling iron or flat iron to create loose waves.
This simple hairstyle adds texture and movement to your medium length hair.

This style looks stunning even on the red carpet. It softens everyone’s features, feels effortless, yet remains an elegant choice:

  • rosie huntington whiteley getty images
  • Chrissy Teigen - photo: getty images
  • Hailey Bieber - photo: getty images

I would like to show you a step-by-step video I created for an Instagram competition, where I styled loose waves.
I used a flat iron, but I interrupted the motion halfway through.Once I curled the entire hair, I brushed it out and sprayed a texturizing spray from the roots to the ends. Then, I blow-dried it into the hair with a diffuser for extra volume:

How to Make Loose Waves or Beach Waves
  • loose waves in medium length hair

Medium Length Hair Braided Crown

Create two small braids on either side of your head and pin them together at the back.
This style looks intricate but is easy to achieve, adding a cute and romantic touch to your hair.

medium length hair into braided crown

Low Messy Bun

Gather your hair into a loose bun at the nape of your neck. Allow a few strands to fall naturally for a relaxed vibe.
This look works well for both casual and formal settings.

how to style your medium length hair

Styling tips for Shoulder Length Hair

Shoulder length hair offers plenty of styling options. Here are some flattering hairstyles for shoulder length hair:

Sleek Straight Hair

sleek bob medium length hair

Straighten your hair for a chic and polished look.
Add a side part or center part for a modern touch.
Use a leave-in conditioner after washing and before drying to achieve an even softer, silkier, and more nourished look. Ouai is one of my favs:

Buy it Here: https://amzn.to/3XuV35R

ouai leave in conditioner
kendall jenner sleek bob medium hair
credit: John Shearer / Getty Images

Beachy Waves

Use a sea salt spray and scrunch your hair to achieve effortless beachy waves, or follow my guide from the ‘Loose Waves’ video, with the only difference being that instead of blow-drying in a texturizing spray at the end, you simply scrunch a little sea salt spray into the lengths and let it air dry.
Perfect for a casual, relaxed vibe.

how to make beach waves

Medium Length Hair with Layers

Adding layers to medium length hair creates movement and volume. Here are some stunning layered styles:

Choppy Layers

choppy layers

Add choppy layers for a modern and edgy look.
This style works well for adding texture and volume.

Feathered Layers

Feathered layers create a soft, airy look.
Ideal for those who want a light, feminine style.

  • feathered layers

Wavy Lob

A wavy lob (long bob) is perfect for adding volume and texture to short hair.
Use a curling iron to create soft waves.

wavy lob

Haircut Ideas for Medium Length Hair

The Butterfly Haircut

The butterfly haircut is a trendy style that’s perfect for medium length hair.
It features shorter layers around the face that blend into longer layers at the back, creating the illusion of a short hairstyle while maintaining length.

butterfly haircut

Curtain Bangs with Layers

Curtain bangs frame your face beautifully and add a touch of softness.
Pairing them with layers adds dimension and texture to your shoulder length hair.

curtain bangs with layers
curtain bangs with medium length hair

Styling Tips:
Use a round brush while blow-drying to create volume at the roots. Add waves to enhance the layered effect.
ghd Ceramic Vented round brush
Buy it Here: https://amzn.to/4avaoL6

A few celebrity examples who switched from long hair to medium-length hair:

  • Khloe Kardashian - credit: instagram
  • Khloe Kardashian - credit: pinterest
  • Hailey Bieber - credit : Pinterest
  • Hailey Bieber - credit : Pinterest
  • Selena Gomez long layered hair
  • Selena Gomez Mid length hair

Medium length hair offers endless styling possibilities, from easy everyday looks to more intricate styles. Whether you prefer simple hairstyles or trendy cuts like the butterfly haircut and curtain bangs, there’s a perfect look for every occasion. Embrace the versatility of medium length hair and experiment with different hairstyles to find the one that suits you best!

If you’re considering a bigger change and thinking about going for a shorter haircut, check out our blog summary on pixie hairstyles:
https://hairwellnessabc.com/2025/02/10/pixie-haircut-the-ultimate-guide-to-short-chic-hairstyles/

medium length hair ideas

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This article is based on my professional experience and research. AI tools may be used as supportive aid, with all content reviewed and edited by me.