15 Fashionable Medium-Length Hairstyles for Women

Maybe you’re considering a medium-length hairstyle because you’re tired of dealing with your hard-to-manage long hair but still want something fashionable. Maybe you’re looking to add volume to fine hair. Maybe you just want to make a change to your hairstyle but you aren’t ready for anything too drastic.

Maybe you just fantasize about looking like your favorite celebrity.

Whatever your reason, there’s a surefire solution for every kind of shoulder-length hair. We’re talking bobs, lobs, layered, and angled. You can find hairstyles for diamond faces to hairstyles for oval faces. No matter what you want to do with your hair, medium-length hairstyles give you plenty of ways to rock your locks.

Here are some mid-length hair ideas to help you make the most of your shoulder-length hair.

The Barely-Outta-Bed Lob

A quick brush and tease is all you’ll need with this always-chic, medium-length hairstyle. Don’t be afraid to go just past the shoulders, especially if you have wavy hair. This is a great way to shape your hair without making lasting cuts.

Calling the lob super-easy is selling it short. Instead, it’s one of the most versatile mid-length hairstyles.

The lob’s a great stepping-stone hairstyle for those seeking a comfortable conversion from long hair.
Lobs give long hair new life, drastically changing your look without needing a severe change in your style.
Lobs are a great base for other hair complements like bangs and layers.

The Shag Baby

If you’re looking to take your hair from hands-on to no-fuss fast, the ageless shag is always an option. Your hair ends should just kiss your shoulders and the flighty layering shouldn’t start any higher than your eyes. This will add dimension to your hair, especially if you have fine hair. The result will make your hair look full without requiring a time-consuming routine to get it there.

Slicked Back

Slicking back your straight hair can be one of the more stunning hairstyles. It hasn’t gone completely out of style since those music videos in the 80s and always seems to make a celebrity comeback when it gets close. This might not make the list of most beautiful hairstyles, but it always makes a statement.

Try to Be Blunt

A blunt cut can help control thick hair and is a stylish complement to side-swept bangs. A blunt cut is a great option for those with shoulder length hair who are looking for a quick, fashionable hairstyle.

Use Your Hair to Frame Your Face

Layering your hair around your face in different ways can have a drastic effect on your features, making this one of the best medium hairstyles for round faces. Starting all the way down at shoulder length can also add life to straight hair.

Change Your Hair with a Bang

There are many beautiful hairstyles for shoulder length hair that pair great with bangs. While your overall look sometimes points to a certain style of bangs as a complement, different cuts (side bangs, straight/full) can have different effects on your appearance. For example:

Full bangs: Add this to your list of hairstyles for round faces because the thickness helps your face appear less full.
Side bangs: They use your hair to create lines that draw attention to your eyes, which makes beautiful hairstyles out of even the easiest shoulder-length hair. This a great hairstyle for diamond faces and small foreheads.
Thin: Airy bangs create great hairstyles for oval faces because they provide a focal point to your hair while highlighting your features.

So, even if you’re already a believer in medium-length hairstyles, keep in mind that you can always shake things up with just a few snips of your hair.

Side Part

This hairdo does a great job of keeping your hair in place while keeping the strain off your follicles. This is a great look for pretty much all hair types, including wavy hair and curly hair. It’s not one of the more head-turning hairstyles, but it’s a great medium-length hairstyle option for round and oval faces.

Keep It Down the Middle with a Center Part

A few pins is all you need to secure a stylish look that’s great for wavy hair or straight. This medium-length hairstyle highlights one of the best benefits of having hair that length: being able to tuck it behind your ear. While many hairdos for medium-length hair may start out in a different style, they often end up here because of how low-maintenance it is. But that doesn’t mean it can’t look good, too.

Find Your Angle

Sharp angles in your shoulder-length hair can create some stunning hairstyles. Straight hair instantly looks more modern, making an angle cut a bold, but beautiful, choice for someone looking at medium hairstyles.

Add a Little Color to Your Hair

Experimenting with changes in your hair doesn’t always need to include scissors. Say you already love your shoulder-length hair and how your side swept bangs make your eyes pop, but you still want to try a little something different. Adding a little (or a lot!) of color is an easy way to tweak your style.

You don’t need to jump from blonde hair to black to make a statement. Be careful though, there are some things you want to consider before giving the dye a try, especially if you’re pregnant.

Clip Back Your Curls

This method offers easy styling for simple shoulder-length hairstyles, giving you a way to tame your curly hair. Plus, using a clip will keep you from using a hair tie, which can pull your hair away from your scalp and damage your strands.

Lots and Lots of Layers

Layers have long been a must-have in most medium-length hairstyles and its easy to see why. Layers can add volume and depth, making natural hair that’s thin appear much fuller. Layers also let wavy hair shine by going from unruly to stylish.

Here are some examples of different fashionable ways to use layers for your hair:

Textured layers: These add volume and depth throughout your hair
Face-framing layers: These layers are cut into the hair at or just below the chin to accentuate your jaw and chin, making it one of the more popular hairstyles for oval faces
Flippy layers: This sassy retro hairstyle uses layers that flip out. To modernize it, isolate the flips toward the ends of your hair and incorporate long, side-swept bangs for a fresh take on the medium-length hairstyle.
Stacked layers: These layers are most often used in angled cuts. It refers to cutting the hair shorter in the back to accentuate the volume upfront.

Soft Side Braid

This simple staple has always been a lovely hairstyle for those days you don’t need to dress it up too much. Putting your hair in a soft braid or a loose ponytail if your hair isn’t long enough, can get your wavy hair under control without straining your follicles with a tight tug.

Change with the Seasons

This is an especially useful idea if you’re going from long, natural hair and want to give several medium-length hairstyles a try. Start with a lob and introduce a new change to your hair with each season. Here’s an idea of how to naturally progress:

Winter: Cut your hair into an easy lob
Spring: Frame your face with some layers
Summer: Introduce side bangs
Fall: Continue adding textured layers or go with a completely different medium-length hairstyle, like an angle. There’s no wrong choice here.

Seasons are a fun way to mark the time with your hair because it goes along with every other change you make with each season, from your clothes to your decor.

While it may be the best season to experiment with your hair, summer has its own natural hair care tips.

Change How You Care for Your Hair

If you’re not satisfied with how your medium-length hairstyle is working out for you, it may not be the style, but how you’re taking care of it. You may want to look at adjusting some of your habits with some super-simple, all-natural remedies.

Want an example?

Did you know that many people claim rinsing hair with cold water helps solidify and distribute the natural scalp and hair oils?

The Verdict?

Whether you have blonde hair or brown, fine hair or full, there’s a medium length hairstyle that’s perfect for you. Plus, adding side bangs, full fringes, or a splash of color means your hairstyle can always feel new.

There’s a reason there are so many shoulder-length hairstyles. It can be functional and stylish at the same time and that should be the only reason you need.