14 Pretty Styles to Try If You Have Medium-Length Hair
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2/15Perfect Waves
Naomi Watts
We're seeing this look everywhere right now, and we love it because it's messy in an unforced, sexy way. "This is the new, modern shag, and it's easy to add bangs to it," says Matt Fugate, a hairstylist at Sally Hershberger Downtown salon in New York City. To get texture, say it with us: salt spray, salt spray, salt spray. After washing, rough-dry or air-dry your hair most of the way, then work a salt spray in from roots to ends, tousling with your hands to distribute the product and encourage the waves. Once it dries, you'll have natural, touchable waves.
3/15Sleek Center-Part Lob
Kendall Jenner
Jenner's lob is reminiscent of a modern-day Cleopatra. "A center part is like bam! Here are all my features," says Fugate. "It's like a frame that shows everything." And for that supersleek, glossy finish, don't skimp on shine spray.
4/15Voluminous Natural Curls
Chanel Iman
This style is all about embracing your natural curls. The control comes when you play with the cut, color (we're obsessed with her grown-out ombré situation here), and part. This look is especially great for anyone with, er, a large forehead, says Fugate. "It slices it in half, brings one eye up, and adds a balance of asymmetry."
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5/15Bouncy Waves
Kerry Washington
This look is tousled but sophisticated, and according to Fugate, it's ideal for anyone with fine hair. "A lot of the bulk is left in the style, and the hair around the jaw makes it look full, so it's a great go-to when you don't have a lot of hair," he says. Layers do add volume to your style, but when you cut off too much, it can look limp. This is a way to do it without chopping a lot.
6/15Layered Midi
Karlie Kloss
We know: Kloss would look great even with a paper bag over her head. (Oh, to be a supermodel.) But we particularly love her long, face-framing layers here. "This is a happy medium of layers," says Fugate. "It's not overly layered. Ask your stylist to start them at the cheekbones in the front, around the face, with enough in the back to give movement."
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7/15Layered Blowout
Olivia Culpo
According to the Fugate, the key to Culpo's enviable, flippy ends is not actually anything specific about her style or cut—it's the length that makes the difference. "When your ends fall between your collarbones and shoulders, you'll naturally have that flip because of where they sit," he says. "It doesn't have the weight like long hair has, so it's flirty."
8/15An Updo
Janelle Monáe
Who says you can't wear an updo with medium-length hair? Monáe wrapped pieces of gold wire around her hair. If you don't quite have enough for a full top knot or bun, try brining the bun closer to the nape of your neck.
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9/15Messy Topknot and Wispy Bangs
Caitlin Fitzgerald
With medium-length cuts, you're naturally going to have these pieces that don't fit in a ponytail or that poke out of a topknot. Fugate says to let them do their thing. "What's cool is all the looseness and airy messiness around her face," he says. "For so long, no one wanted those loose pieces and tendrils, but now they're the cool, modern thing to do."
10/15Glam Waves
Rose Byrne
For these Jessica Rabbit–style waves, you'll need a set of hot rollers. Wrap three-inch sections of hair around them, then let them sit for a while until they cool completely. When you remove the rollers, you can brush out your curls—the key step here—without having them deflate. Finish with a fine mist of hair spray (we like
) for hold and shine.
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11/15Twist Out
Priscilla Flete
For defined curls like Flete's, prep hair with a curl gel or serum—Flete likes Dove Quench Absolute Crème Serum—and then divide hair into about nine sections. Separate each section in two and use a crossover motion to twist them together, bearing in mind that the larger each twist is, the chunkier the curls will be when you unravel them. For extra definition, coil the end of each twist around your finger. Then use a diffuser to blow-dry hair completely and lock the curls in place before carefully unraveling the twists and combing through the roots with a wide-tooth comb for volume.
12/15Full Bangs
Angela Bassett
Bassett's full, chopped bangs look good on just about everyone, which is why it's so popular right now.
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13/15Brushed-Out Waves
Emily Schuman
We're not calling Schuman lazy at all, but this is the ultimate lazy-girl medium-length style. It's about adding waves here and there and then brushing them out so that they blend in with your natural texture. Plus, when your hair is darker at the roots, it buys you a couple of extra days between washes because the color conceals oil. But if you have fine hair, make dry shampoo your best friend; not only will it extend your wash but it'll also give you more texture to play with.
14/15Off-Duty-Model Straight Hair
Hanneli Mustaparta
What's refreshing about this style is that it looks nearly effortless. It's straight but not so straight that it seems like she used a flatiron for an hour. And as a general rule, don't worry about flattening every single strand when you're using a straightener (lest you want 2004 to call from a Motorola Razr flip phone asking for its hair back). It's cooler to be a little less perfect and leave in some of your natural movement. As for the cut: "This is another version of the shag," says Fugate. "It's almost as if she just grew out her bangs. There are tons of layers."
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15/15Wavy Lob
Lucy Hale
To get these loose waves, use a large-barrel curling iron and a texturizing spray, like Blow Pro Textstyle Dry Texture Spray, for hold. The color also has an interesting effect on this lob. "It gives her hair movement because of the way the shadows are painted through. The subtle pieces break it up," Fugate says. And if you see your stylist pulling out a razor for this cut, don't get nervous. Fugate says it's the best way to accomplish that sort of piecey-ness.
