20 of the Coolest Medium-Size Cuts for Nice Hair

I’ve mentioned it earlier than, and I am going to say it once more: Medium-length hair is probably the most versatile size. It is lengthy sufficient to tie again right into a ponytail or bun but brief sufficient to type with out spending an excessive amount of time or effort (talking of styling, take a look at our favourite braided hairstyles for medium-length hair).

As somebody who’s had skinny and tremendous hair her total life, the one size that actually works for me (irrespective of how usually I shake my fists to the sky) is medium-length. If my hair grows too lengthy, it begins to look scraggly and stringy. If I lower it too brief, it appears unhappy and limp. Medium-length provides motion and life to my hair whereas additionally retaining any little quantity of pure quantity that I’ve intact. However there are solely so many cuts you may dream up by yourself, which is why I all however hoard celeb pictures for salon inspiration.

Under, uncover a few of my favourite shoulder-length hairstyles and cuts for tremendous hair together with skilled styling recommendation from hair trade professionals Melanie Bolton and Gretchen Friese.

Notice that a few of the haircuts beneath are featured on thick-haired celebrities; nevertheless, the main target must be on the logistics of the lower, that are all fitted to skinny hair.

Meet the Skilled

• Melanie Bolton is a hairstylist and director of schooling at Circulation.
• Gretchen Friese is a BosleyMD stylist and authorized trichologist. She has over 20 years of magnificence trade expertise and relies in Denver.

01
of 20

Blunt With Gentle Layers

Whereas it is good to keep away from over-texturizing hair with a lot of layers with a view to keep and amplify fullness, that does not essentially imply that you simply should not have any layers. “A shoulder-length lower with gentle layers will nonetheless have a blunt perimeter however can have quantity and motion,” says Friese. All that you must type this look is Kérastase L’incroyable Blow-Dry Reshapable Lotion ($37) and a spherical brush.

02
of 20

Romantic Waves

Nicole Richie’s medium-length hair appears smooth and polished, because of large barrel waves and many shine—we like Sachajuan Shine Serum ($33) for replicating the latter. Richie is proof that you simply need not pretend big quantity for a sublime, crimson carpet–worthy outcome. And fortunate for us, this look can be “quite simple to realize,” says Bolton.

“On damp hair, apply a volumizing product to the foundation so as to add elevate. Subsequent, blow-dry hair easy with a big paddle brush, directing sections upward and drying the foundation from beneath to amp up quantity. Lastly, use a large-barrel curling iron to create unfastened ringlets and end the look with an all-over spritz of dry texture spray to maintain curls from releasing all through the day.” See? Simple peasy.

Take into account including tender child lights to maximise the phantasm of dimension and fullness to your look.

03
of 20

Wavy and Barely Tapered

In the event you’ve bought tremendous locks and a shoulder-length haircut, take a web page out of Zendaya’s guide. Right here, her hair is softly tapered off on the ends and curled all through. The waves add texture and motion, which can assist tremendous hair seem fuller and more healthy. The marginally tousled texture lends an undone really feel, making it the final word cool-girl look.

04
of 20

Beachy Waves

Lily Collins emits youthful, beachy vibes together with her hair’s lived-in texture. Her seaside waves are perfect for these with limp strands since they work to elevate and undulate hair, creating the phantasm of additional physique. That crimson lipstick and people daring brows do not damage both.

05
of 20

Inside or Invisible Layers

Whereas regular layers can have the impact of creating hair look thinner—a particular no-no for these of us with already-thin strands—inside or invisible layers work to create texture and fullness. And in line with Friese, they’re additionally an incredible choice for the one that needs to maintain their hair on the longer facet. “As a result of brief hair helps lengthy hair, including shorter items beneath the overlaying longer items will create plenty of quantity. I like to recommend blow-drying with the BosleyMD Model+ Blow Dry & Styling Gel ($19) and a spherical brush to realize quantity,” she says.

06
of 20

Softly Curled Ends

The key to Elle Fanning’s bouncy hair appears to be the softly curled ends, which maintain any indication of limpness out of the image. Use a 1.5-inch curling iron, like T3 Voluminous Curls 1.5″ Clip Barrel ($95), to get that tender, seamless wave. We additionally counsel washing strands with charcoal shampoo—our under-the-radar secret for clear, bouncy hair.

07
of 20

Lengthy Layers With Comfortable Waves

Whereas these with tremendous strands ought to keep away from a layer-heavy lower, there may be one other sort of layered-look that may be just right for you, and it’s one which we extremely encourage. Ciara exhibits us how incorporating lengthy layers with a slight wave provides the looks of additional quantity, density, and to not point out, romance. Feathery tapered ends additionally assist breathe motion and bounce into her mane.

08
of 20

Child Bangs

In case you have tremendous hair and also you keep away from conventional bangs for worry they’re going to make your hair look sparse, Emma Watson’s child bangs is perhaps the reply. Taking a extremely textured, razored strategy, the brief feathered strands are eye-catching and never stringy within the slightest.

“It is very important apply a contact of medium-hold texture cream on damp hair on the fringe for management and to directionally blow-dry this part from roots downwards, utilizing fingers to separate,” says. “As soon as the perimeter is dry, you may transfer onto styling lengths. End with a spritz of hairspray (Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode Versatile Maintain Hairspray, $32) throughout, to lock in your look.” Simply know this fringe requires common upkeep by the professionals, so in case you’re not dedicated, we recommend passing on this type.

09
of 20

Straight and Tucked In

Jessica Alba’s collar-bone grazing hair appears wholesome and full styled straight and tucked in. “There’s nothing extra elegant than an incredible medium-length lower to maximise quantity, texture, and magnificence,” says Bolton. Flipping ends inward is a straightforward, but efficient, trick in making hair seem to have extra physique. Full the look with an announcement headband.

10
of 20

Face-Framing Fringe

January Jones exhibits us the way to add bangs to a shoulder-length coiffure. In accordance with Bolton, “[It] is the right different for tremendous hair, because it has sufficient size to maintain from turning into stringy and sufficient texture to maintain from falling flat.” The bangs are lengthy and wispy, which mix into the remainder of her wavy hair completely. Though bangs can typically make tremendous hair look even finer, you may keep away from the stringy look by styling them with a texture spray like Moroccanoil Dry Texture Spray ($28).

“This fringe has a stand-alone type, which permits versatility in the way you select to put on your lengths,” says Bolton. “To type, apply a volumizing product to damp hair on the roots. Blow-dry the perimeter directionally, focusing airflow from the roots downward, and utilizing your fingers to tousle. End by styling lengths into the specified look and making use of dry texture spray to the perimeter to supply lasting separation and management.”

11
of 20

Aspect-Parted Wavy Lob

Kerry Washington’s lob appears thick and wholesome, because of a lot of shine and tiny alternating waves. The facet half brings quantity to her roots whereas the blunt ends convey density all the way down to the underside. Principally, it is perfection.

12
of 20

Lengthy, Volumized Layers

Sure, Doutzen Kroes’s hair appears majorly volumized right here, however as fine-haired women know, typically a bit volumizing spray or hair-heightening dry shampoo works wonders on second-day strands. We love OGX Bodifying + Fiber Full Physique Renew Dry Shampoo ($6), which accurately boosts hair up earlier than our very eyes. Nonetheless, her lengthy layers construct upon one another, making the mid-lengths of her hair look majorly dense.

13
of 20

Thick Fringe

These with tremendous hair needn’t keep away from bangs for worry that they’ll make strands seem stringy. The truth is, the correct of bang could make hair seem thicker than it truly is and look tremendous stylish whereas at it.

“If the hair is thick sufficient within the entrance, a deep, thick fringe is a pleasant approach to convey the main target ahead to a thicker part of the hair,” says Friese. “Being lower above the eyes will assist these stunning peepers stand out. I like to recommend utilizing the BosleyMD Volumizing and Thickening Styling Mousse ($18) on moist bangs and blow-drying with a flat brush back and forth after which all the way down to create that full blunt look.”

14
of 20

Pinned Retro Lob

Selena Gomez pins her long-layered shoulder-length ‘do to the facet for a retro really feel (the polka-dots and inexperienced shadow additionally help). “Any lower with a blunt perimeter will create the phantasm of thicker hair than a lower with extra texturized or feathered ends.,” says Friese.

An all-one-length is a good choice for skinny hair, however it’s additionally versatile. “It may be worn straight and smooth in addition to wavy and tousled, which may be very in style proper now,” she provides.

15
of 20

Shag With Curtain Bangs

Is there anybody extra certified to put on this ’70s shag haircut than Georgia Might Jagger? We do not suppose so. Her waterfall layers add further physique to this medium-length coiffure, particularly once they’re curled again. 

“For tremendous hair, this look is about encouraging quantity and delicate texture at each step,” feedback Bolton. “On damp hair, apply a volumizing product like Circulation Boundless Physique Plumping Lotion ($22) to the foundation so as to add elevate and a medium-hold texture cream (Verb Sea Texture Cream, $18) by means of the lengths for definition. Create a middle half and dry hair upside-down to 75 %, flipping the hair upright to dry fully. Lastly, utilizing a flat iron, twist layers from mid-shaft all the way down to create a slight flip on the fringe and delicate waves all through.”

The important thing to styling this look is to maintain it unstructured and textured, notes Bolton. Use your fingers to tousle on the root all through put on moderately than brushing or combing, which can trigger tremendous hair to lose texture and flatten.

16
of 20

Slight Wave With Razored Ends

Cara Delevingne considered one of our go-to sources of hair inspo as a result of she by no means disappoints. And whereas lots of her finest hair moments could possibly be described as daring and daring, this lower is easy and understated, but simply as properly makes an announcement. Blunt-razored ends flatter by making strands look thick and dense, which is one thing these with fine-hair can normally solely dream of. The alternating back-and-forth wave lends dimension and motion.

17
of 20

Gentle, Tousled Layers

Emmanuelle Chriqui’s shoulder-length haircut appears trendy with out attempting too exhausting. “A medium-length lower can assist to present tremendous hair the phantasm of size and dimension whereas lowering styling time and offering longer-lasting quantity,” says Bolton. “The trick to retaining medium-length tremendous hair wanting its finest is to maintain the type simplistic and supported by the fitting light-weight merchandise.”

We propose setting this type with R+Co Vicious Sturdy Maintain Versatile Hairspray ($32) after curling hair outward for a extra tousled look.

18
of 20

Blunt Lob

Margot Robbie’s blunt lob goes from polished to rock ‘n’ roll relying on the crimson carpet she’s strolling. Even nonetheless, it by no means appears skinny or scraggly, and we’re pondering that has to do together with her blunt lower, which makes ends seem thicker. Scissored ends showcase texture and the flexibility of this type, which may be worn trendy and edgy.

“A good way to present the phantasm of dimension is to create a delicate shadow root impact,” notes Bolton. She recommends working along with your colorist to that finish.

Recreating this look is easy. All it takes is working a bit volumizing product by means of damp hair, in line with Bolton. After air-drying, apply a texture spray on dry hair, scrunching all through, and end with a spritz of hair spray.

19
of 20

Lived-In With Deep Aspect Half

Parting your hair deep on one facet may give the looks of extra quantity—particularly in case you tease your hair on the root earlier than combing the highest down. “Particularly when the hair on one facet of the pinnacle is extra sparse than the opposite, a facet half is a good choice,” says Friese. “When the hair on the thicker facet is parted to the thinner facet, it’ll fill that facet in a bit to create steadiness and thicker-looking hair.” Ouai Quantity Spray ($26) is nice for retaining that one facet parted.

20
of 20

Lengthy, Face-Framing Layers

Ever since she sported “The Rachel” again within the ’90s, Jennifer Aniston has remained large on face-framing layers. Though there aren’t any layers within the again, the entrance is sheared little by little, making a curtain impact. It is flattering at each angle.