25 Cutest Hairstyles for Long Hair Right Now

Cindy Marcus
Cindy Marcus Hairstylist, Editor-in-Chief

Long hair is like a blank canvas—endless possibilities, but sometimes it’s hard to decide where to start. Whether you’re aiming for something low-maintenance or looking to add a bit more flair, having a few go-to styles in your back pocket is key. Layering can make a huge difference in adding movement and reducing bulk, especially if you have thicker hair. For those mornings when time isn’t on your side, a sleek ponytail or a messy bun can still make you look polished. But if you’re ready to put in a bit more effort, try braids or loose waves to add texture and dimension. It’s all about finding a style that not only complements your face shape but also fits your lifestyle. Check out these hair ideas to keep your long locks looking fresh and fabulous.

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Woman with soft waves and face-framing layers, ideal for round faces

#1 Soft Waves with Face-Framing Layers for Round Faces

This soft wavy hairstyle with face-framing layers is ideal for round faces, adding definition and elongating the face. The subtle waves create volume and movement, making it perfect for medium to thick hair. The layers are expertly cut to start just below the chin, enhancing facial contours and giving a slimming effect. This versatile style works well for both casual and formal occasions, offering an effortless yet polished look.

Woman with voluminous waves and a middle part hairstyle

#2 Voluminous Waves with a Middle Part

This voluminous waves hairstyle with a middle part is perfect for those seeking a glamorous, yet balanced look. The middle part adds symmetry, while the full, cascading waves create movement and body, making it ideal for thick or medium hair. This style beautifully frames the face and adds a touch of elegance, making it suitable for both casual and formal occasions. Perfect for heart and oval-shaped faces, it enhances the hair’s natural volume and shine.

Woman with glamorous waves and a deep side part

#3 Glamorous Waves with a Deep Side Part

This glamorous hairstyle features voluminous waves with a deep side part, creating a classic and sophisticated look. The side part adds drama and highlights the natural texture, making it ideal for medium to thick hair. These structured waves are perfect for special occasions or a night out, offering a timeless elegance that flatters oval, heart, and square face shapes. The added volume at the roots enhances the overall fullness of the style.

Woman with sleek long layers and face-framing highlights, ideal for thin hair

#4 Sleek Long Layers for Thin Hair with Face-Framing Highlights

This sleek long layered hairstyle is tailored for those with thin hair, adding dimension and movement while maintaining a polished finish. The subtle layers give the illusion of fuller hair, while the face-framing highlights brighten the complexion and add depth. Ideal for fine hair, this style works beautifully with a middle part, creating a balanced, symmetrical look that flatters oval and heart-shaped faces. The smooth, straight texture enhances the sleek, modern feel.

Woman with long wavy hair and curtain bangs

#5 Long Waves with Curtain Bangs

This long wavy hairstyle with curtain bangs offers a soft and romantic look, perfect for those wanting a stylish yet low-maintenance style. The curtain bangs gently frame the face, adding a modern touch to the long, loose waves. Ideal for medium to thick hair, this cut enhances natural volume and movement. The center-parted bangs work beautifully with oval, round, and heart-shaped faces, making this an elegant choice for everyday wear or special occasions.

Woman with sleek and straight long hair with subtle layers

#6 Sleek and Straight Long Hair with Subtle Layers

This sleek and straight hairstyle features long, smooth locks with subtle layers that add just the right amount of movement and dimension. Perfect for those with fine to medium hair, this style emphasizes shine and a polished finish. The middle part keeps the look modern and symmetrical, making it ideal for oval and heart-shaped faces. A great choice for anyone looking for a chic, low-maintenance style that exudes elegance.

Woman with a sleek blowout and long layers in her hair

#7 Sleek Blowout with Long Layers

This sleek blowout with long layers offers a polished and sophisticated look, perfect for adding movement and definition to thick or medium hair. The long layers are designed to frame the face while maintaining length, creating a soft and flattering shape. Ideal for oval, heart, and round face shapes, this style is versatile enough for both casual and formal settings. The blowout finish adds shine and smoothness, giving the hair a luxurious feel.

Woman with layered long hair featuring volume and soft waves

#8 Layered Long Hair with Volume and Soft Waves

This layered long hairstyle is all about volume and soft waves, creating a lush, full-bodied look that enhances natural thickness. The layers are designed to add movement and lift, making it perfect for those with thick or medium hair. The soft waves give the style a romantic touch, while the volume adds a touch of drama. This look works beautifully for oval and round face shapes, offering a flattering and effortless style.

Woman with a voluminous blowout hairstyle featuring soft layers

#9 Voluminous Blowout with Soft Layers

This voluminous blowout with soft layers creates a glamorous, bouncy look that’s perfect for adding body and movement to your hair. Ideal for thick to medium hair, the layers are expertly cut to enhance volume and provide a natural lift. The blowout gives a sleek finish with a touch of elegance, making it suitable for both everyday wear and special occasions. This style is particularly flattering for oval, round, and heart-shaped faces.

Woman over 60 with flowing layered waves in silver hair

#10 Flowing Layered Waves for Women Over 60

This flowing layered hairstyle is perfect for women over 60 looking to embrace their natural gray or silver hair with style and grace. The layers add movement and volume, while the soft waves create a flattering, face-framing effect. This look is ideal for medium to thick hair and works well with oval, square, and heart-shaped faces. The style enhances the hair’s natural texture and shine, offering a youthful and elegant appearance.

Woman with a layered blowout hairstyle for thick hair and face-framing layers

#11 Layered Blowout for Thick Hair with Face-Framing Layers

This layered blowout is perfect for managing and styling thick hair, offering a polished yet natural look. The face-framing layers soften the edges and add movement, making it easier to style and maintain. The layers help to reduce bulk while adding dimension and shape, making it ideal for oval, square, and round face shapes. This style is versatile and works well for both casual and formal settings, giving thick hair a light, airy feel.

Woman over 40 with voluminous layered waves hairstyle

#12 Voluminous Layered Waves for Women Over 40

This voluminous layered hairstyle is perfect for women over 40 who want to add fullness and bounce to their look. The layers create soft, flowing waves that frame the face beautifully, enhancing your natural features. Ideal for medium to thick hair, this style adds movement and volume without overwhelming the face. The subtle highlights throughout the hair give dimension and a youthful glow, making it a flattering choice for any occasion.

Woman with 90s-inspired space buns and loose waves hairstyle

#13 90s-Inspired Space Buns with Loose Waves

This 90s-inspired hairstyle combines playful space buns with loose waves for a fun, trendy look. The two high buns add a touch of youthful energy, while the loose waves keep the style relaxed and casual. Ideal for medium to long hair, this look is perfect for anyone wanting to experiment with a retro vibe. The face-framing pieces soften the overall look, making it flattering for oval and heart-shaped faces.

Woman with a long layered cut for natural curly hair

#14 Long Layered Cut for Natural Curly Hair

This long layered cut is perfect for showcasing natural curly hair, adding shape and definition without sacrificing length. The layers are strategically placed to enhance the hair’s natural texture, creating a balanced and voluminous look. Ideal for thick, curly hair types, this style helps manage volume and reduce bulk while keeping the curls bouncy and full of life. It’s a flattering choice for oval and heart-shaped faces, offering a fresh and lively appearance.

Back view of a half up twisted crown hairstyle with soft curls

#15 Half Up Twisted Crown with Soft Curls

This half up twisted crown hairstyle offers a romantic and effortless look, perfect for weddings or casual events. The twisted crown adds a touch of elegance, while the soft curls create volume and movement. Ideal for medium to long hair, this style works best for those with natural waves or curls but can also be achieved with a curling iron. It’s a versatile option that flatters most face shapes, especially oval and heart-shaped faces.

Woman with a sleek high ponytail and smooth waves

#16 Sleek High Ponytail with Smooth Waves

This sleek high ponytail with smooth waves is a chic and versatile hairstyle that elongates the neck and highlights facial features. Perfect for medium to thick hair, this style pulls the hair up and back, creating a polished look that works well for any occasion. The subtle waves add a touch of softness, while the wrapped hair tie detail gives a clean, seamless finish. Ideal for oval and heart-shaped faces, this ponytail is a modern classic.

Woman with an elegant easy updo featuring soft twists and face-framing tendrils

#17 Elegant Easy Updo with Soft Twists

This elegant easy updo features soft twists that create a polished yet relaxed look, perfect for weddings or formal events. Ideal for medium to fine hair, this style works well for those with shoulder-length or longer hair. The subtle volume at the crown and soft tendrils framing the face add a touch of romance, while the secure yet gentle twist at the nape ensures comfort throughout the day. This updo is a great choice for round and heart-shaped faces.

Back view of long V-cut hairstyle with soft layers

#18 Long V-Cut Hairstyle with Soft Layers

This long V-cut hairstyle with soft layers is perfect for those looking to add dimension and shape to their hair. The V-cut creates a cascading effect that beautifully enhances the natural length, while the layers add movement and texture without sacrificing fullness. Ideal for thick or medium hair, this cut works well for oval and round face shapes. It’s a versatile option that can be styled straight, wavy, or curly to suit any occasion.

Woman over 50 with long layered haircut and soft waves

#19 Long Layered Cut with Soft Waves for Women Over 50

This long layered cut with soft waves is an elegant choice for women over 50 looking to add movement and dimension to their hair. The layers create a flattering shape that frames the face, while the gentle waves add volume without overwhelming fine to medium hair types. This style is ideal for oval, heart, and square face shapes and works beautifully with natural or highlighted hair. The middle part gives a balanced look, perfect for a polished, everyday style.

Woman with 50s-inspired Hollywood waves and deep side part hairstyle

#20 50s-Inspired Hollywood Waves with Deep Side Part

Channel classic 50s glamour with these stunning Hollywood waves. The sleek, deep side part and smooth, sculpted waves create a timeless, polished look that’s perfect for special occasions. Ideal for medium to thick hair, this style enhances natural shine and adds a sophisticated touch to any outfit. Best suited for oval and heart-shaped faces, these waves require precision styling and a strong-hold hairspray to maintain their iconic shape throughout the day.

Woman with 70s-inspired shag haircut, long layers, and curtain bangs

#21 70s-Inspired Shag with Long Layers and Curtain Bangs

Embrace the 70s with this effortlessly cool shag cut. The long, choppy layers add volume and texture, making it a great choice for those with medium to thick hair. The curtain bangs frame the face beautifully, softening angular features, and adding a touch of retro flair. This cut works best on oval and heart-shaped faces and is perfect if you’re looking to enhance your hair’s natural wave and body with minimal styling.

Woman with 80s-inspired high ponytail and voluminous waves

#22 80s-Inspired High Ponytail with Voluminous Waves

This 80s-inspired high ponytail combines nostalgia with modern elegance. The sleek, pulled-back top emphasizes your facial features, while the voluminous waves cascade down the back, creating a dramatic effect. Ideal for medium to thick hair, this look adds height and movement, making it a fantastic choice for round and square face shapes. The wrapped hair tie detail adds a polished finish, making it perfect for both casual and formal settings.

Woman with long Y2K layered haircut and blonde money piece highlights

#23 Long Y2K Layers with Blonde Money Piece

This long Y2K-inspired layered haircut brings back the early 2000s with a modern twist. The soft, face-framing layers add movement and dimension, making it perfect for those with fine to medium hair density. The blonde money piece highlights at the front create a bold contrast, giving the look a fresh and trendy edge. This style works best for oval and round face shapes and is ideal for anyone looking to add some nostalgic flair to their long locks.

Woman with 60s-inspired voluminous blowout and soft waves in brown hair

#24 60s-Inspired Voluminous Blowout with Soft Waves

This 60s-inspired voluminous blowout brings the iconic big hair of the era into the modern day. The soft, cascading waves and extra volume at the crown add a touch of glamour, making this style perfect for medium to thick hair. It works particularly well for oval, heart, and square face shapes, providing a flattering lift. The rich, warm brown hue enhances the hair’s depth, while the bouncy curls maintain their shape with a bit of light-hold hairspray.

Woman with waist-length thick twists and braids hairstyle

#25 Long Twists with Waist-Length Braids

These long, waist-length twists are perfect for anyone looking to protect their natural hair while maintaining a stylish look. The twists are thick, giving the hairstyle a full and voluminous appearance, which is ideal for medium to thick hair types. These braids are a low-maintenance option that can last several weeks with proper care, but they do require a bit of time to install. Best suited for oval and heart-shaped faces.