Medium-length layered haircuts are the best way to create movement, dimension, and versatility with your hair.
Key Things to Know First
- Shoulder-length layered hair must be blow-dried and straightened if you want to avoid flipped-out hair.
- When hair is layered, it typically takes less time to blow dry.
- If you ever want to return to your one-length hair, it will take longer to allow the shorter layers to grow back.
- Talk with your hairstylist about adding shorter, face-framing layers to flatter your face shape.
- The thicker your hair, the longer you’ll want the layers to be to reduce weight.
Here are photos of the most popular medium-layered haircuts. Save your top 3 to show your stylist at your next appointment.
#1: Dimensional Caramel Asymmetrical Bob with Side Bangs
Side-swept bangs on asymmetrical medium wavy bob hairstyles offer all the dimension and interest you want in a medium layer haircut. It’s a pretty top-notch bob that suits all face shapes, including round faces.
#2 Gorgeous Balayage Layers
Lighter ends dance with movement and volume, particularly for straight types inclined to waves. While universally flattering, the color gradient requires upkeep, and the layers demand regular shaping to maintain that gorgeous bounce. For styling, a round brush will be your best friend to maximize the va-va-voom!
#3 Trendsetting Blonde Layers
Opt for a trendsetting look. It looks even better with the natural-looking dark roots to a blonde ombre. Adding layers on blonde highlighted hair is a great way to accentuate the dimension in color.
#4 Stunning Natural Grey Hair
Showcase your maturity with a silver-grey transformation that brings sophistication to natural changes. Ideal for medium-density hair, this layered look offers a voluminous lift, especially for a heart-shaped visage. Commit to the upkeep with toning treatments to preserve the depth of the grey, while enjoying the layers sculpted for crown volume—a match for the seasoned charm of mature skin. Speak with your stylist for a tailored approach to keep this color fresh and your style invigorated.
#5 Youthful Cut with Side Bangs
Look smart and confident with side bangs! The length where it stops a few inches below the shoulders will keep the fullness of your straight hair.
#6 Soft Cut for Straight Hair
This is such an ideal soft cut for straight hair. Looking great in a brown hair shade, this medium-long hair will suit your fair or pale skin. The Bardot or curtain fringe doesn’t only add style but also frames your best facial features.
#7 Classic Layered Shag
A modern and glamorous take on the 70s, shag is one of the best hairstyles. This classic shoulder-length layered shag will add movement and volume to your locks. Do you want to make it look more youthful?
#8 Gorgeous Curled Layers
Try some layers and curl them with an iron to add life to your locks. Adding some layers takes the weight off your hair and gives you a fuller and better hairstyle. Ask your stylist to start your face-framing layers around your chin. Round brush and curl the front pieces away from your face for a layer hair cut with a modern and beautiful shape.
#9 Feminine Layered Hair
This is a very versatile haircut. With the combo of a middle part and soft waves, the outcome looks voluminous and fuller. Complete the elegance of your locks by painting them with a deep, dark hue.
#10 Perfect Layers for Thin Hair
These hairstyles offer the perfect layers for thin hair. It is a blessing when your chosen look can make fine or thin hair look thicker. Jazz up your hairstyle with soft curls to accentuate your blonde, or wear it straight like the model in the picture above for a sleek look.
#11: See-Through Fringe with Medium Layers
If you want to try a new hairstyle with bangs, consider the option of a see-through fringe with medium layers. A textured fringe provides a modern look. Adding layers to a medium or long hairstyle can give your hair bounce and depth. For a better result at home, first, let your hair air dry. After that, use a curling iron when your hair is no longer damp. Finally, apply dry texture spray all over your hair to get the perfect, airy volume.
#12 Silver Curled Long Bob
Darlings, this silver curled long bob is a class act for those embracing their natural grace! While it dazzles, upkeep is key—regular styling to maintain those elegant waves and toning treatments to keep the gray lustrous. For styling, a medium-barrel iron works wonders, and a touch of lightweight serum will keep those curls buoyant yet defined. Ideal for those with some natural wave; it may be a bit of a tussle for the pin-straight-haired lovelies, but oh, isn’t it worth it?
#13: Blonde Layered Cut
Try a blonde cut if you love a voluminous bombshell blowout. These haircuts give fine hair the illusion of volume and thickness when blow-dried with a large round brush and a thickening product like Rodeo by R+Co. Extra internal weight removal will help create additional movement and piecey ends.
#14: Cool Bleach Blonde Layers
Icy, cool beach blonde is an ideal hair color for individuals looking for a distinctive look. Global applications offer clean, 100% coverage as this method involves painting all of the hair. However, this approach requires regular maintenance, so ensure you have adequate time for upkeep. I highly recommend investing in a salon-approved hydrating shampoo and conditioner.
#15: Peach-Toned Layers
These peach-toned layers are splendid. Consisting of pink and rose hues, this look is perfect for a fashionista who doesn’t mind some hair color maintenance to reach her greatest hair potential. This hairstyle might require you to lighten your hair. So, your stylist should guide you on how to care for chemically treated hair using masks and treatments.
#16: Gorgeous Face-Framing Layers for Oval Faces
Enhance your natural beauty with gorgeous face-framing layers perfectly suited for oval faces. These medium hairstyles for oval faces are designed to accentuate your facial features. They create a flattering frame. The face-framing layers add dimension and movement to your hair. This haircut draws attention to your best features and balances your face shape.
#17: Very Soft Butterfly Haircut
Flowing layers with a butterfly shape can give hair a new appearance. This cut works well for those who want to soften their haircut with medium layers, not harsh lines. Ask your stylist to create a soft look by point-cutting or razor-cutting the framing around the face is helpful. I recommend using a lightweight, volumizing mousse on damp hair to achieve this layered medium hairdo. Then, blow dry with a round brush for volume. Finish off with a flexible hold hairspray to keep the shape without weighing it down.
#18: Amazing Makeover for Layered Hair
Check out this amazing makeover for layered hair. If your hair is in a phase of growing out from short to long, you may get sections of hair that need to be tamed. Ask about creating some layers to remove bulk and weight and create a nice shape to continue growing it. And when you want to add more bang to your growing hair, try a platinum card of foils. This way, you can get your hair as blonde as possible in one day.
#19: Internal Layers and Curtain Fringe
Shag out your longer hair with internal layers and a curtain fringe. If you want to wear your hair in a more shaggy style, add layers to the interior. They will give your shape more movement. The amount of layering recommended will depend on your hair texture. Finer hair will want to avoid too many layers to maintain the integrity of the length. Your hairstylist will help you decide the perfect balance for your ultimate hairdo.
#20: Natural Silver Cut
If you use shine-enhancing products, your hair will always look chic and youthful. It would be helpful if you talked with your stylist about a proper schedule to keep your cut looking sharp.
#21: Medium Layers with an Off-Center Part
Here’s a cut with an off-center part. Sometimes, the best way to balance your face is by switching up the part. All face shapes look great with an off-center part. You can always switch it back and forth if you cut down the middle and flip to either side. If you always wear it on one side, cut it to how you always wear it so the cut is balanced.
#22: Side Parted Voluminous Curled Layers
A haircut with curled layers for ladies with round faces is ideal. This cut with medium layers is perfect for those who want to add more movement and volume to their hair. It creates depth and dimension, drawing attention away from the roundness of the face. When styling, choose a curl-enhancing product to show the layers and encourage curls to form. A useful tip is to apply product to damp hair, then scrunch and diffuse it to create enviable bouncy curls. It’s an excellent choice for women searching for a low-maintenance hairstyle.
#23: Feathery Layers on Blonde Hair
For a feminine and stylish look, try adding feathery layers to your cut. With just the right amount of texture and volume, you can create a style that will make you feel confident. This style is great for oval, heart, and diamond face shapes. Remember, if you can, say exactly what kind of look you’re going for. It will help your hairstylist create the perfect cut so you can style easily at home.
#24: Modern Shag with a Middle Part
Try a modern mid-length shag parted in the middle. Wearing a middle part is a great way to style your hair when you want to soften the hair around your face. This look is very versatile. You can wear this look curled or straight, a flattering length for any age group.
#25: Blonde Side-Parted Messy Haircut
Consider textured messy layers with a deep side part if you have medium-length hair. This cut is very versatile. It’s for anyone looking to give their coif some extra volume or texture. The layers can be blown out from roots to tips or curled into soft waves using mousse or serum. It depends on what type of product best suits each individual’s strands.
#26: Blowout Brunette Hair
There is nothing like a bombshell blowout with a ton of volume. To achieve this at home, make sure you have a great spray to add volume to your roots and blow dry up with a round brush. If you can, set your hair after your blowout with Velcro rollers. Do this for about 30 minutes to ensure the longevity of your blowout.
#27: Modern Day Shag with a Middle Part
A modern-day shag with a middle part is commonly worn in today’s styles. It pairs well with most to all densities and textures. If your hair is straight, a wand or curling iron are great tools to create a tousle in your hair. You can lightly refresh as needed. A flexible-hold hairspray that is also a heat protectant is a helpful at-home product.
#28: Medium Layers with Internal Layering
Medium-length layers, cut with internal layering, will add fullness to your hairstyle. I don’t recommend asking for many layers if you have fine hair. When you want to have lots of texture, use a large barrel curling iron. Then, once your hair is curled, spray it with texture spray.
#29: Blonde Layers with a Swoop Bang
Are you growing out your curtain bangs after a great wear? You might want to change things up, and a swoop bang gives a fresh style so you can enjoy the grow-out. Blonde color with layers helps showcase the dimension and pairs well with a style change.
#30: Stunning Blonde Hair with Curled Ends
When styling your hair, you may be able to get away with some air-dry cream. Or, finish your locs with a hot tool for curled ends. When working with chemically treated hair, I strongly recommend you pair heat styling with heat protection. Firewall by AG is a shield of silk that adds shine and manageability.
#31: Lived-In Grey Cut with Dark Roots
This lived-in grey cut with dark roots is the best of both worlds. Dark roots can help you maintain an ashy blonde because it doesn’t go to the roots. A gloss every 4-8 weeks can help you maintain the grey color. I suggest adding a strengthening and hydrating masque once weekly to keep your hair healthy and strong.
#32: Medium Face-Framing Layers
Medium, face-framing layers are a wonderful hairstyle for your collarbone-length, wavy hair. The key to the perfect length of the layers in hair is to decide which part of your face you want to accentuate. When in doubt, first go a little bit longer, wear it for a while, and then you will know if you want the layers even shorter.
#33: Side Fringe on Medium Hair
A lob cut is great for fine hair. Consider cutting this into a triangular shape to leave length around the front. Soft layers around the face create a beautiful face-framing look. It’s easy to manage, best with a light styling product, and ideal for medium to fine hair. It’s also great for women who still love a ponytail but want a more stylish look. It’s recommended for an oval, round, or square face shape, as it can show off your look!
#34: Buttery Blonde Internal and External Layers
Haircuts with internal and external layers are ideal for women with thick hair types. I suggest doing dry texturing after the wet haircut is finished. This allows soft, airy movement and weight removal. If you need to, you can also add a soft curtain bang to add a little lift around your eyes and face.
#35: Textured Bob with Bangs for Thick Hair
A thick, blunt textured lob makes every sharp feature you have to stand out without effort. If you’re proud of your brilliant bone structure and collar bones, this cut is for you.
#36: Gorgeous Haircut with Stacked Layers
Have your hair look fresh and full with a medium-length haircut with stacked layers. Cut off all your split ends for a clean and fresh style. Short hair around your face will give the appearance of softness and add tons of body. I would use texturizing shears on the layers to lighten for weightless lift and movement.
#37: Ginger Hair with Fluffy Curled Layers
Be the center of attention with ginger hair with fluffy curled layers. Warm tones will reflect light, and your hair will look luxurious and shiny. Adding soft, flowing layers will give your hair more volume and movement. Add some soft curls to have a gorgeous style. Use a boar bristle brush to brush out the curls after they are set to get soft, voluminous locks.
#38: Modern Medium Shag with Layers
You’ll want a modern medium shag with layers. A modern shag is a perfect length to give you style and still be able to pull it up easily. The middle part frames your face beautifully, and the layers enable you to move the part for versatility. When it comes to waves, most of us don’t have the perfect soft curl. I recommend curling your hair with a one 1/2-inch iron, letting the waves cool, and then combing through for a shiny, soft, effortless-looking finish.
#39: Cute Butterfly Haircut with Blonde Balayage
The butterfly haircut with blonde balayage works well for all hair types. The way the layers fall gives your style a nice amount of natural volume. The balayage gives dimension to show off the textures of your cut.
#40: Trendy Medium Shaggy Mullet with Soft Curls
A medium-length shaggy mullet gives a romantic yet rock n’ roll shape with soft curls. This layered cut grows out beautifully when carved with a straight razor. Diffuse or air dry with a Reverie MILK. You can add lift to your roots with Hairstory Powder and shine to your ends with Reverie Balm.
#41: Soft Straight Cut with Bangs
A soft, straight cut with bangs on medium-length hair is a great way to give wispy texture and volume to your fine hair. Wispy curtain bangs frame your eyes without feeling too heavy around your face. Round brush your hair to get soft, flippy strands.
#42: Layered Hair with Feathered Ends
Try layered shoulder-length hair with feathered ends to give straight hair more movement and width. Long curtain bangs frame your cheekbones, and choppy layers frame your jawline. Round brush with a 1.5-inch brush, then finish with a dry wax spray to bring out your layers and add shine.
#43: Two-Toned Long Bob with Face-Framing Layers
If you’re open to experimenting with your hairstyle, try a two-toned layered lob. The haircut is super simple, with longer layers in the back and face-framing layers in the front. Color blocking is the perfect way to spice up a simple haircut, but show your hairstylist pictures of how you want your color placement to look.
#44: Stylish Medium Feathered Cut with Long Layers
When you’re considering medium-length haircuts, try a feathered cut with long layers. The feathered texture happens due to the way the stylist cuts your layers. Make sure to do research on your stylist and see if they have done similar work since there is a specific way to cut layers. To style, have a good leave-in conditioner to reduce frizz and make your blowout sleek and smooth.
#45: ’80s Style Medium-length Hair with Layers
Is an 80s center part blonde hair with choppy layers for you? Try a dynamic haircut like this one if you want a little more edge in your haircut. Ask your stylist for a razored shag with less layering at the crown and more texture around your face. Photo references are always best when establishing the type of layers you want.
#46: Edgy Feathered Shaggy Cut with Heavy Layers
A layered, feathered, shaggy cut completes an edgy rock and roll style. To achieve heavy layers, this requires a medium to thick hair density. Layers with highlights enhance separation and define textured ends. The shorter pieces in the front and throughout the crown lift the roots. To style, blow-dry both sections forward and up for maximum volume.
#47: Adorable Razored Layers with Beach Waves
A haircut with razored layers and beach waves will have much texture and movement. If you intend to ask for razored layers, you have to keep in mind that razors aren’t a great option for fine hair. To make your layers pop even more, try adding multiple tones to your hair instead of one universal color. This gives more contrast to your hair and looks adorable with beach waves.
#48: Trendsetting Medium Straight Wolf Cut
A medium-length wolf cut on straight hair is great if you have fine hair and want volume at the crown of your head. This hairstyle with medium layers gives the illusion of fuller hair due to the volume it gives. Utilize using your hair dryer and a round brush to achieve this look.
#49: Voluminous Bouncy Layers with Curtain Bangs
Voluminous, bouncy layers paired with curtain bangs is also called a butterfly cut. Adding thicker framing layers can beautifully frame your face while keeping a casual, cool girl aesthetic. Try adding hot rollers to your everyday styling routine.
#50: Messy Lob with Shaggy Layers and Bangs
A messy lob with shaggy layers and bangs is a great shape for shoulder-length hair. If you want to, try Hairstory’s Powder dry shampoo for volume and lift. It’ll help create effortless texture while avoiding frizzy hair.
#51: Sleek Haircut with Middle Part Bangs
The more hair you have, the more face-framing layers can remove extra weight and add movement to your heavy hair. The length of the bangs should be according to the amount of time and effort you are willing to put into styling.
#52: Effortless Deep Side-Parted Lob with Short Layers
Try a deep-side parted lob with short layers if you like or need volume and bounce. This haircut benefits girls with a shorter bob or pixie growing out layered hair. The added texture and the length of layers make it more manageable to style and maintain for thick heads of hair.
#53: Two Layer Cut for Older Women
Try a two-layer cut if you’re an older woman and want to frame your face. If you like to wear your hair straight, this is a great haircut. Flat iron your hair, curving it around your face. Use a finishing oil to smooth flyaways and add shine.
#54: Modern Octopus Medium Hairstyle with Bangs
You might have seen this retro style make a modern comeback to the scene. This octopus medium hairstyle with bangs and layers was ultra popular in the early 2000s. This style is sure to add movement to your hair. Your hairdresser may use their shears or razor depending on your density or to frame and flatter your features.
#55: Medium to Long Haircut with Disconnected Layers
A medium to long haircut with disconnected layers is a soft style with a piece-y texture. You need medium to thick hair to make your layers look fuller. Light hairspray is a perfect styling product for hold while still having movement.
#56: Beautiful Light Brown Hair
Light brown hair is perfect, giving you a timeless glow to your tresses. Medium-length hairstyles are so trendy right now as they allow you to style easily while keeping it low-maintenance and simple.
#57: Chic Front Layers with Side Bangs
These hairstyles are so shapely and give your hair a beautiful shape. If your face is extremely narrow, you’ll want to create more volume on the sides for balance. Try blowing your hair out with a medium-round brush to achieve a chic finish.
#58: Full-Looking Swoopy Layers
If you have fine tresses, try swoopy layers on your hair. The perfect way to boost volume with fine hair is to have soft and moving layers. This hair has a weightless effect and will make your hair look full and voluminous.
#59: Messy Layered Shag with Ombre
For fine hair, consider a layered shag with ombré color. Shaggy layers will give fine strands a boost for maximum volume. Ombré color gives the perfect cool girl color without maintenance. Mess up curls with texture spray and your fingers to get the perfect undone finish.
#60: Lived-In Medium Choppy Layers
Medium choppy layered hair on a long bob is fun and easy to style. The more lived-in, the better! Your hair color on this medium to short haircut will look radiant all year.
#61 Perfect Haircut for Women Over 40
This medium-length haircut features softly layered, straight hair with long side bangs. Ideal for those with thick hair, the layers add volume and movement, reducing bulk. The face-framing layers accentuate the eyes and cheekbones, making it a flattering choice for many face shapes. However, the cut requires regular trims to maintain the shape and prevent the layers from becoming heavy.
#62: Natural-Looking Razor Cut LOB
A razored and angled lob is one of the more flattering medium-length layered haircuts for naturally wavy hair. It’s perfectly texturized with internal layers to bring out your hair’s natural wave. Apply a frizz-fighting thermal protectant to your damp hair. I used Shu Uemura Ultimate Remedy Duo-Serum. Take sections throughout your hair and twist them in different directions to bring out your natural wave, then diffuse or air dry. Touch up your waves with a medium-sized wand or curling iron, leaving the ends of your hair out. Mainly focus on the front and crown area. This haircut is ideal for the girl who already has a bend or wave to her hair. The length can be tailored to every face shape, making it flattering for any lady. Styling is a breeze!
#63: Lovely Long Layers for Medium Hair
A cut like this with a great blowout leaves you with an astonishing result! These lovely long layers for medium hair don’t only offer volume but also take away weight and bulk. Try to pair it with a dark golden blonde hue to complement your fair skin tone.
#64: Voluminous Blow Out Medium-Length Layers
A voluminous blowout shows off these gorgeous layers just right. It’s a popular choice for women considering medium-length layered haircuts. Blowing your hair out with a round brush adds tremendous volume and can enhance shine and reduce frizz.
#65: Impressive Curly Bob
Here’s a classic bob that can take curly hair to the highest level. Go all out with a dark brown color to make your curls shine! Finish with a layered back and impressively paired side bang for your perfect look.
#66: Face-Framing Layers
Gorgeous face-framing layers for medium-length hair are in! This trend is a perfect way to lighten up heavy hair. It’s a layered hairstyle of medium length that offers more volume and texture. Amp up this style by exploring a dark-rooted blonde balayage.
#67: Feathered Layers for Women Over 50
Many of my clients over 50 love layered haircuts for medium hair. The key to this stunning shoulder-grazing chop lies in its blended layers. They result in a natural-looking movement, giving your mane a bouncier finish. These feathered layers for women over 50 will make you fall in love with your grey locks.
#68: Conservative Shag With Bangs
Layered haircuts for medium-length hair look even more stylish with bangs. This is a more conservative shag that was cut with a feather plier razor. It has movement and piecey-ness and looks perfectly disheveled! This look was inspired by Amanda Wall, the creative director of R+Co. This look is for the normal to a fine-haired woman with a lot of hair who craves movement and texture.
#69: Soft-Looking Layered Bob
Here’s a medium-length layered bob haircut, allowing you to rock a textured style. If you always part your mane in the middle, you won’t go wrong with a few face-framing pieces for a softer look. Another reason to love this hair is its ability to wear it all up or half down.
#70: Wonderful Beachy Waves with Layers
Consider a medium-length cut with long layers and lots of texture around the bottom. I love that you can get that great beachy wave when you style it! The best products for this look are Aveda’s Volumizing Tonic at the roots, Thickening Tonic for your mids and ends, and a lightweight smoothing product like Aveda’s Smooth Infusion styling creme.
#71: Mature Middle-Parted Textured Lob
For fine to medium hair with layers, use a volume mist at the roots and a bit of a blow-dry cream from the mid-shaft to the end. This adds that little bit of shine we all love and controls frizz. My go-to’s are the Volumist from Davines and Hair Cream from TO112. For medium-length thick hair, use a combination of the TO112 Hair Cream and TO112 Serum, starting at the ends and working your way up. With this hairstyle, always finish the look with the Davines Texture Spray to give it a bit of definition and hold.
#72 Textured Layers
This medium-length, collarbone-length layered haircut with subtle highlights is ideal for adding movement and volume to fine to medium hair. The soft, tousled layers create a natural, effortless look, while the long side bangs frame the face beautifully, drawing attention to the eyes and cheekbones. Perfect for oval and heart-shaped faces, this cut is low-maintenance and versatile, allowing for easy styling. Regular trims every 6-8 weeks will keep the layers fresh and maintain the shape.
#73: Medium Shag with No Bangs
A medium-length shag without bangs is a perfect choice for round face shapes and will glam up your long tresses. If you are tired of your long hair laying flat, add some layering, shag it out, and create much-needed fullness. As a bonus, mid-length shags can still be pulled up for that workout. Ask your stylist for chin-length layers, and you will be happy you did.
#74: Medium Straight Hair with Long Side Bangs and Layers
If you have a round face, try a haircut featuring medium straight hair with long side bangs and layers. The long side-swept bangs draw attention to your eyes and help elongate your round face. Layers are ideal if you have a lot of hair because they remove weight and create movement in your haircut – talk to your stylist before they start cutting about how short you’d like the layers.
Commonly Asked Questions:
Layers look really good on medium-length hair. The layers will help make the bottom of your hair less bulky and add movement to your haircut.
Most of the time layers do not make your hair look thicker. The exception to this would be women with curly hair, layers on curly hair help to give a fuller look by taking length off to help curls bounce.
Feathered layers are layers that have a diffused line rather than a straight cut. For example, when you use a razor to cut the hair it leaves the hair with varying lengths, think of paintbrush bristles, versus using scissors that make a distinct straight line.
The difference between layers and feathering hair is that layers are a technique used to remove weight and add shape to a haircut and feathering has to do more with creating a softer look and creating movement.
Layers do not damage your hair. If you are concerned about damage from a haircut ask for a consultation and make sure your stylist has had training on the technique you would like. For example, if you want a razor cut shag check that your stylist has attended some razor technique classes and or feels comfortable using that tool.
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