How To Style Short To Medium Hair?

The pixie cut is a short, edgy hairstyle that can be accessorized with textured layers and a side part. Classic haircuts like the bob can be worn straight and elegant or with free waves. Layers: Adding layers to medium hair can add volume and movement, and it can also be fashioned with side-swept bangs or a center part. For an elegant updo, choose from a sloppy bun, braided Updo, or twisted ponytail. Medium hair can sport a laid-back, beachy vibe by creating loose, tousled waves with a curling iron or sea salt spray.

3 Tips For Short Hair

• Create Effortless Waves

If you’ve recently cut your hair into a bob or lob, create cool waves with a flat or curling iron. Apply a smoothing serum, then blow dry your hair with a round brush. Focus on getting your hair smooth – it doesn’t need to be perfectly straight. Once it’s dry, take medium-sized sections of your hair and use a flat iron or curling iron to create a slight bend at the ends, both towards and away from your face, for a natural feel.

• Rock A Low Chignon

Having short hair doesn’t mean you always have to wear it down. A low chignon is sleek and sophisticated while also being super low maintenance. While this look tends to work best on those with straight hair, a flat iron can make this look possible for any hair texture. Once your hair is prepped, gather it into a low ponytail and separate it into two sections. Wrap one section into a bun and the second section around it. Secure it with bobby pins, and you’re good to go!

• Go Au Naturel

If you have natural waves or curls, having short hair is a great way to embrace them. Use a microfiber towel to dry your hair after you wash it to make the most of your natural texture. Microfiber towels help your hair dry faster and eliminate the need to rub your hair, which can lead to damage and frizz. Once your hair is slightly damp, work in a leave-in mousse, balm, or cream with your fingers and let your strands air dry.

How To Style Short Hair?

Whether you’re side-eyeing the undercut or looking for ways to update a pixie, here’s how to style short hair for women, as shown in our favorite looks. Scroll on, and feel free to screenshot to your heart’s content.

• Undercut 

We see this look on just about every other street-style star we come across these days. You might love the look and think it’s super cool but feel afraid that this short haircut can only be worn one way. So not true! If you’re considering trying this undercut on super-long hair, opt for a look that allows you to do both—wear your hair up and down. Have your undercut start right at your temples or just at the nape of your head. When you wear your locks down, no one will ever know!

• Ducktail Crop

If you fancy having your hair fall to the side sometimes, get a length that offers you that option. A curly crop cut near the ear but slightly longer on top can achieve this look. When learning how to do short hair in this style, you can easily switch it up by smoothing your hair down on each side like the popular vintage 1950s ducktail, which seems to be having a moment.

• Slicked-Back Hair

Want a really firm way to keep your short locks in check? Then you need to try the ultra-chic wet-look hair trend, as seen on street style celebrities, designer runways, and tons of A-list stars (To get this look at home, check out our step-by-step tutorial). Best achieved on straight/straightened hair in pixie, bob, or lob lengths, this look has serious star power and adds instant polish, literally and otherwise, to any outfit.

• Mullet-Inspired Crop

How do short hairstyles with a strong retro influence (case in point: ’80s hairstyles) gracefully pull them off? Simply ease your way into the look. If you love the mullet, for instance, find the perfect balance. Ask your stylist to cut your hair, so you can switch up this style without your longer back section (the tail) becoming too jagged. Keep the layers more subtle, as you want everything to blend seamlessly, especially when it’s time to switch things up. Do so by styling your bangs in new ways—slicked-back, swooped to the side, or even spiked or slightly curled, as above.

• Versatile Lob

Looking for a short haircut that’s not too short or too long? Don’t bob it; lob it! With certain hairstyles for short hair, the beauty is definitely in the details; most women find more value with a cut that looks great in its own right but also offers a myriad of styling options should the need arise. If this is your concern, a lob is a perfect look for you.

5 Ways to Make Your Hair Look Shorter Without Cutting It

For anyone whose hair doesn’t grow at lightning speed, finally having some length can feel like quite an accomplishment. But then comes the opposite dilemma: boredom. You start to feel that itch that makes you want to do something different like cut all your hair off. So what’s an aspiring Rapunzel to do? Fake it, of course!

Try one of these clever techniques to give yourself a faux lob, bob, or even a pixie — all without a trip to the salon.

1-Faux Lob

Bobs and lobs are everywhere, but if you’ve spent the past few years growing out your hair, you may not want to rush into a shortcut just yet. Famously worn by Claire Danes at the 2015 Emmy Awards, the faux bob is the perfect solution for all you scissor-shy folks.

2-Tucked-Under Bob

Seeing how long this woman’s hair starts and how long it looks by the end is almost shocking. If you have very long locks and are more skilled with hair techniques like braiding, give this one a whirl. It will change your look.

3-Asymmetrical Faux Pixie

Ready for a seriously dramatic before and after? This tutorial takes your long, curly hair and turns it into a pretty, faux pixie cut — without the stress of watching your coils collect on the salon floor.

4-Tucked-In

This method is almost too easy to believe, yet it works. Simply wear a turtleneck or large scarf and tuck your hair into it, giving the illusion of a long, neck-hugging lob. Hello, new go-to winter style!

5- 1920s Headband Bob

This tutorial is trickier than the others, as it involves multiple techniques and a large hair accessory, but it’s well worth the effort. Just look at how glam it turns out!

5 Ways To Style Medium-Length Hair

When I think of medium-length hairstyles, the words time-consuming come to mind. If you have medium-length hair, you probably know what I mean — attempting to do anything more than a ponytail seems like a tough task, and it can be easy to get caught in a hairstyle rut. I’m talking about the tendency to do the same hairstyle over and over again — I’m a culprit and can shamelessly confess that I fall into this category.

So let’s take a trip down memory lane. Think back to the last two weddings you attended; what hairstyle did you do? The same hairstyle? I thought so, me too.

To help you (and me) escape the hairstyle rut, we reached out to a few celebrity stylists and asked them to share their favorite medium-length hairstyles. If you could do with some hairstyle inspiration, read on.

1- Sleek Bun With Twisted Back Detail

A sleek, slick bun takes a little patience to achieve, especially on medium-length hair, but it’s a good go-to if you want a look that is simple and chic.

To recreate this style, Virtue ambassador and celebrity hairstylist Rena Calhoun says to start by applying a quarter-sized amount (or slightly more for thicker hair) of Virtue Unfrizz Cream all over damp hair, combing it through to make sure it’s evenly dispersed, then blow-dry the hair as smooth and straight as possible, to eliminate any frizz.

“Combine Virtue’s 6-in-1 Styling Paste and a couple of drops of Healing Oil, and mix by rubbing it through the palms of your hands,” says Calhoun. “Create a center part with a tail comb, run your hands through the entirety of the top of your hair, and use a boar bristle brush to brush it smooth into a low ponytail.”

“Once you’ve secured your ponytail with an elastic band, take another dollop of Styling Paste and combine it with a couple more drops of Healing Oil to add shine,” the hairstylist continues. “Mix the products in the palms of your hands and apply them to the ponytail while twisting it into any shape. You can do a figure eight, a more abstract, or a classic donut shape.” To finish, leave the ends out and secure the rest of the hair with bobby pins throughout.

2- Braided Bun

According to celebrity stylist and curl expert Sophie Gutterman, low buns on medium-length hair don’t have to be plain. You can make a bun look super chic with gelled baby hair, a braided extension, and minimal effort.

To recreate this style, start applying All About Curls High-Definition Gel, then use a boar brush to slick your hair back and secure it in a low pony. “Add Hidden Crown Extensions on the base of the pony and create a long braid,” says Gutterman. “Wrap the braid into a tight bun and secure it using bobby pins.” To finish the style, spray it with All About Curls Finishing Spray, then perfect the edges with more gel using a toothbrush to brush down your baby hairs.

3- Textured Updo

Creating a hairstyle on medium-length hair might seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. This textured Updo gives off an effortless, playful vibe, and it’s really easy to do.

“To create this style, I apply a golf ball-sized amount of Virtue Curl Defining Whip to damp hair,” says Calhoun. “I run the product through the hair with a wide tooth comb to create definition in each curl and minimize frizz.”

Following this, the stylist scrunches the hair to define the texture and uses a diffuser on low speed and low heat to dry the hair. “To keep the look feeling soft, pull a few face-framing pieces out of the front around the hairline near the parting of your choice,” says Calhoun. 

“Starting at the temples, use your fingers to loosely section out the top 1/3 of your hair and secure it into a ponytail. Create a second and third ponytail below the previous, grabbing a similar-sized section.” Now you should have a single row of three consecutive ponytails. Using a pea-sized amount of 6-in-1 Styling Paste for some hold, twist each ponytail into a bun and secure it with pins.

4- Half Up, Half Down

If you have medium-length curly hair, you probably get away without doing much styling to your locks, as the curls are a style of their 𑁋 they always look cool. But, if you want to change things up a bit, Gutterman recommends having half of your hair up and half down.

Scooping up the front of your hair and letting the curls hang will not only help to elongate your face, but it’s also a great way to add more volume and height to your curls. “To create this style, I apply All About Curls Bouncy Cream and High-Definition Gel to wet hair,” says the stylist. “Next, I diffuse the hair using the T3 AireLuxe dryer and Soft Touch 3 diffuser attachment and section it mid eyebrow to mid eyebrow, using an elastic. I finish by wrapping a piece of hair around the base of the ponytail.”

5- Braided Crown

This style is one of our favorites and looks great if you’re going for a summery boho vibe. To create this look, apply a golf ball-sized amount of Virtue Curl Defining Whip to damp hair. “The Curl Defining Whip is wonderful even on straight hair; it brings out all of your natural texture when scrunched in and diffused dry,” says Calhoun.

To polish and define the texture of the hair, create oscillating waves or “s-waves” around the face using a one-inch curling iron. Next, part the hair in two down the center and braid each section securing it with an elastic band. “Spray Virtue’s Texture Spray onto each braid and gently pull apart the braids to create some volume,” says the hairstylist. “Flip each braid up to the top of the head to create a crown, and secure with pins.”

15 Medium-Length Hairstyle Ideas To Copy This Spring

For the longest time, mid-length hair was just seen as a growing-out phase you had to endure until you either chopped off your hair again or grew it out completely. But in recent years, the medium-length cut, which falls between the tops of your shoulders just below your collarbones, has risen in popularity with hairstylists and celebs, thanks to the fact that it truly looks good on everyone, and because it’s so dang versatile.

So whether you’re currently stuck in the mid-length phase or looking to cut your hair a bit shorter, rest assured: There are infinite cuts and styles you can try with it. Below are 15 of them to prove it.

• Straight And Sleek

To make your haircut appear less like you’re growing it out and more like an actual style, as seen on Lucy Hale, schedule trims every six weeks to keep your ends looking fresh and blunt (which, in turn, will help prevent breakage).

• With Fluttery Bangs

Choppy cuts are having a moment this spring (lookin’ at you, Karlie Kloss), and if you want to take the trend up a notch, ask your stylist to add some soft, textured bangs, like Tami Williams’s that fall over your eyebrows and frame your face.

• A Piece-Y Updo

With a mid-length cut like Vanessa Hudgens’s, you can scoop your hair into an updo and still have some loose, face-framing pieces.

• An Ultra-High Half-Ponytail

If your shorter pieces in the back aren’t quite long enough for an ultra-high ponytail (sad times), wear half of it up instead, like Jasmine Sanders.

• A Half-Up Bun

Hairstylist Justine Marjan says mid-length cuts are the best for showing off your outfit, and a cool half-bun like Yara Shahidi’s makes the look even more fashion-forward.

• A Textured Ponytail

Medium-length hair only looks short—Nina Dobrev’s textured cut is still long enough to pull into a ponytail.

• Textured Waves

Adding a little wave and texture to your cut will make your hair appear slightly shorter and more layered without you having to cut it. Check out Lana Condor’s win-win situation.

• A Wet Look

The only way to make a wet style look even cooler is to pair it with a shoulder-grazing cut. And with a length like Selena Gomez’s, you don’t need to worry about styling creams and oils ruining your top.

• A Low Half-Ponytail

Half-up doesn’t have to mean super high. Wear your half-pony low against the nape of your neck, like Olivia Holt’s, for a different (yet just as cool) style.

• Twisted And Pinned Back

Olivia Culpo’s twist-and-pin look is an old favorite for growing out bangs. Swap out your plain bobby pins for trendy jeweled barrettes to make the style even more of a look.

• A Braided Updo

Braids, while slightly trickier to create than ponytails are still possible for shoulder-length hair. If Aimee Song’s boho braids are your thing, create a tight braid, then gently tug at your short layers and flyaways for a little added texture.

• Double Buns

Another variation of the half-up style, these braided double buns with bows are made cute, not cutesy, thanks to the textured, mid-length cut.

• Parted And Clipped

Not a pro at styling your hair? Anybody can snap a clip, and that’s all it takes to cop Kendall Jenner’s nostalgic hairstyle on days when you have no idea how to style your short hair.

• Glam Waves

Tight ringlets can turn your lob into a bob quickly, but a few strokes of a paddle brush is all it takes to loosen the curl into Sophie Turner’s soft, glam wave.

• Flipped Out

It’s amazing what a flick of a straightener can do for your overall hair vibe. Switch it up from your usual stick-straight style with Zoey Deutch’s ’60s look.

FAQ’s

What are some popular hairstyles for short to medium hair?

The bob, pixie cut, shag, and lob are a few trendy haircuts for short to medium hair (long bob). To create a unique style, you can also add layers, bangs, or highlights.

Can short to medium hair be styled straight?

Yes, straightening short to medium length hair is possible. To get a sleek, straight appearance, use a heat protection product and a straightening iron.

Can I have bangs with short to medium hair?

Yes! Bangs are a fantastic method to give your short to medium hair a fresh look. Depending on the shape of your face and your sense of fashion, think about getting side-swept, blunt, or wispy bangs.

Can short to medium hair be styled into an updo?

Absolutely! Buns, twists, and braids are just a few of the many updo designs that may be created depending on the length and thickness of your hair.

What are some easy styling tips for short to medium hair?

Try experimenting with various hair products, such as mousses, gels, and waxes, to give your hair more volume and texture.
For more volume at the roots, try blow-drying your hair upside down.
To give your hair body and curl when blow-drying, use a round brush.
If you want to add dimension and movement to your hair, think about adding layers.