30 Medium-Length Haircuts for Every Hair Type and Aesthetic 

Butterfly Cut

One of the most popular haircuts of the moment is the “butterfly cut,” according to celebrity hairstylist and PURA D’OR partner Clyde Haygood. The cut’s all-over layers contribute to bouncy, voluminous styles.

Wolf Cut

Another one of the most popular medium-length layered haircuts right now is the wolf cut, which has shaggy layering, says Haygood. Both the butterfly and wolf cuts are suited for straight, wavy and curly hair thanks to their ample layering, he says.

Blunt Lob with Straight-Across Bangs

The long bob or “lob” refers to a medium-length bob. A blunt lob with straight-across bangs is perfect if you’re partial to haircuts with defined edges.

Face-Framing Layers

Alton often recommends long face-framing layers. “It’s [good] for those with wavy or curly hair to weigh down any unruly or unwanted frizz,” he says.

Asymmetrical Lob

If you’re partial to cuts that are a little off-kilter, you can go with something asymmetrical like Priyanka Chopra’s layered lob.

Long Layers

Long layers work well for thick hair, says Kevin Marques, FEKKAI stylist at The Mark Salon. “Layers help reduce bulk and add movement, making thick hair more manageable,” he explains.

Collarbone-length with Fringe

Whether or not to get bangs is a haircut dilemma as old as time. Ciara’s long bob with bangs and subtle layering makes a convincing case for throwing caution to the wind.

Side-Swept Bangs

If you tend to go for a side part, you can style longer bangs into side-swept bangs.

Collarbone-Length Blunt Lob

Margot Robbie’s blunt lob is a common request among those who are interested in a medium-length haircut, says Marques.

Collarbone-Length with Micro Bangs

Micro bangs, which hit above the eyebrows, are polarizing. That said, they’re worth considering if you’re after a bold hair transformation.

Lob with Subtle Layering

A lob with discreet layering is ideal for those with fine hair, according to Marques. “A long bob with subtle, light layers adds body without removing too much volume,” he says.

Shoulder-Length Blunt Lob

Few haircuts can make you look as put-together as a blunt bob that just grazes the shoulders.

Collarbone-Length with Curtain Bangs

Considering medium-length haircuts with bangs but not ready to fully dive in? Curtain bangs are longer bangs that can be parted down the center, making them a less intimidating alternative to shorter bangs.

Soft Layers with Wispy Bangs

Wispy bangs pair well with layered haircuts that are on the longer end of the medium-length spectrum.

Curl-Enhancing Layers

If you have curly hair, ideally you’ll ask for a cut that incorporates layering, says Haygood. “The layering of these cuts can clean up dry ends and give volume and bounce to curls,” he says.

Kitty Cut

The recently trending “kitty cut” shares the wolf cut’s bangs and face-framing layering, but overall the layering is more subtle.

Collarbone-Length Layered Bob

Layered bobs are one of the best options for those with naturally straight hair, says Marques. “Adding layers can give straight hair more movement and texture, preventing it from looking flat,” he says.

Chest-Length with Curtain Bangs

Halle Berry got in on the curtain bangs trend with a haircut that extended just past her collarbone.

Long Bangs

Long bangs that reach graze the eyelashes have a cool, lived-in feel, whether they’re intentional or slightly grown out.

Textured Layering

A lot of people who are interested in a medium-length haircut and want a more textured cut look to Alexa Chung for inspiration, says Marques. Lately, she’s been opting for a chest-length haircut with long layering throughout.

Italian Bob

Similarly to the French bob, the Italian bob is a bouncy, layered haircut, but the Italian version is a bit longer. “The Italian Bob is a great haircut to give medium-length hair a fresh crispness and bounce, especially if the ends are dry,” says Haygood. “The subtle layering will create movement and ease when styling.”

Long Bob with Choppy Bangs

Here, Mila Kunis opted for a long bob that just grazed her shoulders along with a darker color than her usual brunette shade.

Curl-Enhancing Layers with Bangs

Rihanna has undergone plenty of hair transformations over the years, with haircuts ranging from close crops to waist-length cuts. This shoulder-length style with layers and bangs was among her mid-length haircuts.

Textured Lob

The textured lob is one of the best low maintenance medium-length haircuts, and they work well for thick hair. “A long bob with texturizing helps thin out the hair and add some lightness, preventing it from appearing too heavy,” says Marques.

Shag

The choppy, layered haircut that took hold in the ‘70s recently made a comeback. “A medium shag with layers throughout can add volume control and a stylish, undone look,” says Marques.

Curly Shag

You can look to celebrities like Zendaya and Natasha Lyonne to see what the shag haircut looks like on curly hair.

Shoulder-Length Blunt Cut

The right medium-length haircut can make fine hair appear more dense. “A blunt cut at shoulder length can make fine hair look fuller and thicker,” says Marques.

Blunt, Chest-Length Cut

If a lob feels too short, you can create the illusion of thicker hair with a slightly longer blunt haircut.

A-Line Lob

The A-line bob, which is longer toward the face, also works as a lob.

Bouncy Layers

With this bouncy, voluminous style, Zendaya defended her reign as the queen of medium-length layered haircuts.